Dissapointed with SSR

[SoCalKDG]

Hey, we're just sitting quietly over here by the shore of Bay Lake, sipping on an adult beverage.

We're a peaceful group....don't drag us into this thread!

Very funny. Just did 4 days at VWL and found its not really my cup of tea either. Had lots of fun, maybe at Christmas I'll try it again sometime. The 5 nights at BWV's on the other hand, were great, and I could stay there 365 days a year.

 

[Granny]

Just did 4 days at VWL and found its not really my cup of tea either.

Who's talking about tea? That's not what I call an adult beverage!

But, since I find myself inexplicably on an SSR thread (visited, but not stayed there), I suppose I should bring this back on topic.

It still is very confusing to me why people try to "sell" others on their favorite Resort

I have to say that people tend to "defend" their home resorts for a couple of reasons.

1. They have an emotional tie to their "home", and really want everyone else to "get it".

2. They shelled out a bunch of bucks for DVC and don't want people to take shots at their investment.

3. Along the lines of #1, when people see comments that they think are unfair, or untrue, about their "home", they tend to want to correct it since such a comment, going unchallenged, might be construed as the truth.

Now...where's that beverage?

 

[Sully]

We have been to SSR twice and going a third time this summer. We love it. DW and I love the open spaces and room to walk around. Close to Downtown Disney for food. A short walk to Olivia's at Old Key West. The best part, 49 years in contract. Just trade out a 7 months if you don't like the rooms. A great contract for DVC.

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...]

I have to say that people tend to "defend" their home resorts for a couple of reasons.

1. They have an emotional tie to their "home", and really want everyone else to "get it".

2. They shelled out a bunch of bucks for DVC and don't want people to take shots at their investment.

3. Along the lines of #1, when people see comments that they think are unfair, or untrue, about their "home", they tend to want to correct it since such a comment, going unchallenged, might be construed as the truth.
[...]

4. People post before they've had enough adult beverage.

 

[Mississippian]

On my most recent visit to WDW, I stayed at BCV on rented points. I now own at BWV. I talkted to two different couples who had just bought in at SSR and yet were staying elsewhere. Essentially SSR was their lodging of last resort -- as it should be -- and they were taking the opportunity to stay in a more desireable location.

I'd love to see how happy all the SSR people would be if the 7-month window was dropped to one or two months. I can assure you there would be squawking aplenty.

Essentially Disney has found a way to cheat the customers at the other resorts, and I think it is wrong.

By the way, any resort without easy access to the parks, without good dining options, and without room service is "sub par" by any definition of the term. No one should be critisized for calling a sub par resort "sub par."

 

[Daitcher]

On my most recent visit to WDW, I stayed at BCV on rented points. I now own at BWV. I talkted to two different couples who had just bought in at SSR and yet were staying elsewhere. Essentially SSR was their lodging of last resort -- as it should be -- and they were taking the opportunity to stay in a more desireable location.

I'd love to see how happy all the SSR people would be if the 7-month window was dropped to one or two months. I can assure you there would be squawking aplenty.

Essentially Disney has found a way to cheat the customers at the other resorts, and I think it is wrong.

By the way, any resort without easy access to the parks, without good dining options, and without room service is "sub par" by any definition of the term. No one should be critisized for calling a sub par resort "sub par."

Thanks for taking the chance of posting this. I am sure you'll take some heat as well. This is as close to a defense as I've gotten on these boards. I still don't get "beating someone up" for their opinion of a Resort. To each his own. The only part of your post that Im a little shaky on is the part about Disney " finding a way to cheat customers at other resorts". I truly believe DVC thought SSR was ultimately goindg to be the best, most popular DVC Resort. They really thought wrong IMO. I don't believe it was intentionally done. With that said, others, like Dean, have swayed me into believing the 7 month booking window will become very tough to get. I must fess up I am among the SSR owners that will be staying elsewhere. I didn't buy in intending that but that is how it is. Thanks again for posting your honest thoughts and assesssments. Enjoy all your future stays at WDW and elsewhere.

DAVE

DAVE

 

[Alexander]

I guess I'm just not sure how SSR can fully be judged yet. The resort is not completed and the construction truly takes away a lot of the atmosphere.

If one more person tells me that the pool is too small, I will scream! Have you ever been near the main pool at the Wilderness Lodge? Ha! It's full from sun up to sun down! That pool is too small!

Gee Mississippian, I didn't realize that we all had to accept your standards of a good hotel. Have you ever heard of "different strokes for different folks"? Dave totally would agree with you because he hates SSR, but that's his opinion too.

 

[tjkraz]

I'd love to see how happy all the SSR people would be if the 7-month window was dropped to one or two months. I can assure you there would be squawking aplenty.

Could be, but it's a moot point. Since you read the POS before buying your contract, I'm sure you know that the only thing DVC can do to the Home reservation window is make it smaller. By contract, you are only guaranteed a ONE month advantage at your Home, meaning that the current "7-month" windows could become a "10-month" window.

Essentially Disney has found a way to cheat the customers at the other resorts, and I think it is wrong.

Cheating implies deception. There was no deception. We each had the same opportunity to read the POS and other program rules, tour the resorts, and understand how things work. Buying into BWV was YOUR choice. You could have easily chosen to buy points at SSR with the longer contracts and lower dues, and used those points to stay elsewhere. You chose not to. You were not deceived in any way, shape or form.

By the way, any resort without easy access to the parks, without good dining options, and without room service is "sub par" by any definition of the term.

By your definition, I could easily argue that any resort without a Community Hall (which BCV and VWL do not have) is "sub par." I could argue that any resort without an attached golf course (SSR is the only one) is "sub par." I could argue that the spa and fitness facilities at all resorts besides SSR are "sub par."

Different strokes, gang.

By the way, SSR was rated by Conde Nast Traveller magazine as one of the best places to stay in the world. The Grand Floridian and Boardwalk Inn were the only two other Disney resorts to make the list.

No one should be critisized for calling a sub par resort "sub par."

As is often the case, it's not the message that matters but how it is delivered.

 

[russct]

Not to sound defensive, but I think we all need to wait until SSR is fully developed, and then make our negative or positive comments. They haven't even developed half of the plan yet.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

If one more person tells me that the pool is too small, I will scream! Have you ever been near the main pool at the Wilderness Lodge? Ha! It's full from sun up to sun down! That pool is too small!

The main pool at SSR and WL are both too small. Since the WL pool services the WL, VWL and boatloads of guests from Fort Wilderness there is likely a bigger crowding problem there...that is until all the units are built at SSR.

 

[tiggercrew]

Curiousity has now gotten the best of me. We just mailed our paperwork back on a resale purchased directly through Disney and we have rented points at several other DVC resorts through the years, but I really am curious about SSR with all the posts lately. How can we take a tour given that we bought in from home? I would really like to see for myself before I make any plans to stay there.

 

[wtpclc]

SSR may not be within walking distance ot a park like OKW & VWL. Wait they aren't either. Hmmm.

The last place open i s always DTD. That's within walking distance. Too cool. What can you walk to from VWL?

Owner at VWL or OKW, no mean to offend. But, when one says that SSR is the only DVC without easy resort access, I feel the need to clarify.

No restaurants???? What's at DTD???

WIll I always stay at SSR? No, just as many other DVC owners will not stay at their resorts. However, I will very much enjoy ataying there and am thrilled with its close proximity to DTD!

Why did we lower ourselves to saying sub par again. The beauty of WDW is there is something for everyone. SSR is definitely for me! I'm sure that there are some resorts that I will like more than others. Personal taste. That does not make any of them sub par.

 

[DrTomorrow]

[snippity] How can we take a tour given that we bought in from home? I would really like to see for myself before I make any plans to stay there.

We did the same thing - bought SSR over.the.phone during Aug/Sept 2003 when we'd already had a FTP trip (at the Polynesian ) booked for Oct 2003. After the sale, we called our Guide (the wonderful Jim McCoy) and he arranged a tour for us. Granted, it was at the BWV Sales Center, as SSR wasn't open yet, but they sent a blue DVC van to pick us up at the PR, he gave us the tour of all the models and gave DW some cotton candy; then they drove us back. Call your Guide; since the center's at SSR now, should be a piece o' cake.

They also have SSR open hours for DVC Members - not sure on the details of this....

 

[pkitty]

Just took our first trip home to SSR on March 1st. I was very pleased with our purchase. Yes it's huge and they're is a lot of walking involved but it is WDw after all...kinda goes with the territory. We took full advantage of DTD and did the 5 minute walk. Took the boat to House of Blues for dinner and Disney Quest then hopped the bus and were back in 10 minutes (it was past midnight and not a great time for my DD and I to walk back). All very convenient as far as I was concerned. Yes I agree that it has that new subdivision feeling but also the plants and landscaping are not tropical either so it seems familiar (we're Canadian and all the trees are familiar) but weird at the same time. It's Florida so you expect lush tropical and palms. As far as the pool goes...we were the only ones in it all week, granted it's still early in the season but there were plenty of people staying there. Arist's Pallette was quiet and relaxing...eat what you want....draw some pictures...read the paper..fill you mug...head out to the parks...suited us just fine. The decor is beautiful...I am sure that most of us only wish our homes looked like this. THe check in was smooth and the staff was well informed....didn't need the bellhops even though there was 2 available...we had a ground level room looking across the quiet pool and into DTD....very nice. Overall I figure if you look hard enough for reasons to complain your going to find them it doesn't matter where your staying. If I have an opportunity to try other resorts I will likely do so but if I have to stay at my home resort of SSR it certainly won't be a hardship but any strech of the imagination. I believe that subpar is a strong word to use in this case. This is a beautiful, well appointed resort with very good service ( I felt it was overkill to be very truthful especially at the resturant...I came up to grab breakfast from one of the staff...it was under the warmer already...she insisted that I go and sit down so that she could bring both platters out at the same time....didn't want to have me make 2 trips....what?I thought this was very considerate and uneccesary all at the same time). Subpar would denote that we actually had something in our travel repatoire to actually compare these resorts to...I personally have done alot of travelling, work and pleasure, stayed in all kinds of accomodation and nothing that I've ever stayed at comes close to what Disney has to offer for the price and quality. So speaking not as a DVD owner but just as a traveller nothing I witnessed during my stay would constitute the rating of subpar. Perhaps your confusing subpar with boring. It's fair to say that SSR is lovely but bland. Possibly as it matures it will loose some of that and develop more character. I am willing to wait it out out and see what happens who knows in a couple of years from know we may be having the opposite discussion and I'll be complaining about the possibility of other DVC'ers booking at "my" home resort. Time will tell.

 

[keef22]

It seems to me that the developers have left room at SSR for "crowds". Many of the people who are complaining about the resort are complaining that it feels empty. Call me naive; but could this be because when all of the buildings are complete and at 80%+ capacity, they don't want me bumping into people every time I turn around ? If I want that experience, all I need to do is head on over to a WDW park and walk right in .

I figure if there's one place I'd like "quiet time" on a trip to WDW it would be at my place of lodging. The one time I have stayed on site, I was at the ASM. Talk about a zoo !

We're DVC newbies (just sent in our paperwork today!) and we're not even using points this year for a resort stay. We're heading out to sea in October . (Please don't lecture on "poor use of points...") We ARE however planning a trip home next year using our points in combination with DW's Sis and BiL's points. Looking forward to sharing time with seven people in a three bedroom villa AT SSR!

 

[Alexander]

The main pool at SSR and WL are both too small. Since the WL pool services the WL, VWL and boatloads of guests from Fort Wilderness there is likely a bigger crowding problem there...that is until all the units are built at SSR.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but guests staying at FW are not permitted to use the pools at the WL. They have their own swimming facilities. Now, I understand that many people don't follow the rules, but I don't believe that the pool at the lodge is open to those at the campground. Anyone?

PS--We've been here for 8 days (VWL) and I have yet to see "boatloads" of people coming to use the pool here from FW. The people we've talked to are all staying here.

 

[Daitcher]

Dave totally would agree with you because he hates SSR, but that's his opinion too.[/QUOTE]


Dear Alexander,

I DO NOT HATE SSR. I've stated honest opinions about my experiences during my stay. This Resort is by no means terrible, it is just not for us. Sorry so many here think I'm SSR basher #1 because I'm not. If I didn't have so many other great choices with DVC I'd be more than willing to stay here. We'd just have to adjust how we like to vacation. We all have our favorites and for now BWV is ours. We leave 4/28 for Marriott Grande Vista for 3 days and then on the BCV for 5 days. I'm curious to see how we like that Resort. Sorry if I have led others to believe I hate SSR. My use of subpar may have been a little harsh. It just wasn't for us. We are from Saratoga Springs, NY by the way. I don't know if I've mentioned that recently.


DAVE

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well, Dave, that makes it more interesting; I guess that if there was a "Sonoran Desert Resort" in DVC - complete with lots of sand and cactii,with a Southwestern Adobe architecture - I'd probably not find it so compelling.

As to the "sub-par" comment; look, I don't care if someone says that any resort doesn't meet their needs or suit their tastes. But when it's stated or implied that a resort doesn't meet anyone's needs - the "sub-par" comment, or Mississippian's "was their lodging of last resort -- as it should be" and "Disney has found a way to cheat the customers at the other resorts", well, that crosses the line from 'what I think' to 'what everyone should think'. But hey, this is the DIS DVC forum; c'mere, DAVE - !!!

And - being the give.me.lemons.I'll.make.lemonade kind of guy I am, think about this. Tiger Woods tries his hardest to be sub-par! SSR -- The Tiger Woods of DVC Resorts!

Be well!

 

[Granny]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but guests staying at FW are not permitted to use the pools at the WL. They have their own swimming facilities. Now, I understand that many people don't follow the rules, but I don't believe that the pool at the lodge is open to those at the campground. Anyone?

PS--We've been here for 8 days (VWL) and I have yet to see "boatloads" of people coming to use the pool here from FW. The people we've talked to are all staying here.

Just can't seem to keep VWL out of this thread!


LOL...Alexander, if you were at the WL main pool in the summer as I have often been, you will see literally boatloads of people coming in from FW with their swimwear on, ready to enjoy the WL pool. I've never seen a Cast Member even look at an ID to see if the people belonged there. In somewhat of a weak defense of the boat people, they might assume that since they have Wilderness in their resort name, they have rights to use the pool at WL.

And Dr. T....I'm with you on the "Tiger Woods of DVC".

 

[ArRzrbk]

I just have to add that it is so funny, well, not funny - sad really, that I saw this same kind-of thing when the BCVs were the main game in town. I was trying to choose between BCV, BWV, and SSR at the time.

I saw so many negative BCV posts. It's a-wonder I bought at BCV. So glad I did though. We loved our first trip "home" last week. Hopefully, the same will be true for all of you SSR owners and future owners. You'll think back to all the negative posts about your home resort and laugh.