Dissapointed with SSR

[RobDoc]

It seems that SSR is very spread out. If you are not on top of the pool and HH, you are in for a long walk.

Do they have an internal bus like OKW?

I don't think any of the first 12 buildings (now already open or due to this year) will have a walk further than about 400 yards to the High Rock Springs pool. The far buildings in the Paddock will have a walkway/bridge across the small lake to access the pool area and will NOT have to walk all the way around the roadway to get there. The furthest Paddock buildings will be about the same distance as the furthest Congress Park building right now (but they will have about an additional 10-15 minutes to walk to DD).

Currently, every bus stops at the pool twice (once on it's way into the resort and once on the way out). I expect that eventually that may be cut back to one stop at the pool for every bus, but access will be very easy.

 

[DaveH]

Ok, I did not state what I meant clearly. I felt the combination of the buildings and fence made it feel closed in. Sorry, I did not mean the whole pool had a fence. Sorry to worry anyone. It was all of the stuff together.

 

[tjhsr]

We looked into a resale and visited SSR just before it opened last MAY.DW and I were able to walk all around the resort on a self guided tour.We were well informed about everything as far as size,#of pools walking distances to get around even the dining options.Now this is just my opinion but SSR is a fantastic place to vacation and will always be our first choice for WDW trips!

 

[rinkwide]

...It is my opinion AND my impression from seeing posts on this board that a higher percentage of SSR owners will use other resorts at the 7 month window than the reverse...Part of this is situational. For the first time since there have been multiple resorts, SSR is the only resort selling for a significant portion of time. Thus anyone who didn't know of resale, didn't want to go resale or wanted to buy directly from Disney for any reason, had to buy SSR even if that isn't where they want to stay. And due to the ultimate size of the resort, even a few percentage difference will be a big difference at the 7 month reservation window.

Another significant factor is that SSR is being intentionally sold as an "in" to the DVC system. My guide loves to repeat ad-nauseum that many of his long-time members have never stayed one night at their home resort. Last time he did it I snapped; Look Sparky, just put me on your waiting-list and quit trying to shove the 12 extra years down my throat.

(Well, not really, but I thought about it.)

 

[NMW]

Another significant factor is that SSR is being intentionally sold as an "in" to the DVC system. My guide loves to repeat ad-nauseum that many of his long-time members have never stayed one night at their home resort. Last time he did it I snapped; Look Sparky, just put me on your waiting-list and quit trying to shove the 12 extra years down my throat.

(Well, not really, but I thought about it.)

I agree with this. Before we bought our BWV resale we were talking with our guide about SSR. We told him repeatedly that we were interested in the Epcot resort area in early Dec or Oct/Nov. He assured us that we would NEVER have to stay at SSR. He even went so far as to say that MANY SSR owners will probably never stay there. When we told him that we had decided to buy a BWV resale he kept telling us that we were making a mistake because if we buy SSR we'd get the extra 12 years and still always be able to stay at BWV. By that time, we had found this board and had started to doubt many of the things he was saying. I wonder though how many people were told that and believe it. I know we would have been so dissapointed if we tryed at 7 mos to get BWV in early Dec and had been waitlisted. I'm so happy we found this board! BTW, I can completely understand SSR's appeal and I am not "bashing" it. We just wanted the Epcot area because it is our fav place to stay.

 

[WolfpackFan]

This goes along with the guides telling you how easy and great II trades are and how you can use your points to take Disney cruises. Sure these things are all possible, but not nearly as good a deal points-wise or as easy to get as the guides would lead you to believe.

 

[icydog]

This goes along with the guides telling you how easy and great II trades are and how you can use your points to take Disney cruises. Sure these things are all possible, but not nearly as good a deal points-wise or as easy to get as the guides would lead you to believe.

How do the salespeople get paid? I thought they weren't compensated by comissions. I know there is a correllation between what they sell and their pay but I am not sure how it works. I just know I could sell DVC in my sleep. Considering all the intangibles I've sold, DVC seems like a sellers dream come true.
But I think any guide that tells you to buy SSR so you can trade into the other resorts is disingenuous to say the least. It is not a lie but a misrepresentation of the product. If that were true everyone would buy Vero or HH and try to trade into WDW resorts at 7 months for highly sought after times. It just doesn't work like that and any guide who tells you so is not being truthful with you.

 

[MiaSRN62]

NMW says : When we told him that we had decided to buy a BWV resale he kept telling us that we were making a mistake because if we buy SSR we'd get the extra 12 years and still always be able to stay at BWV. By that time, we had found this board and had started to doubt many of the things he was saying.

We were already owners at OKW when we toured the (then) new VWL in Nov '01. The guide there said something similar to us. We mentioned we'd love to buy an add-on here (but weren't financially prepared at that time) and she replied something to the effect, "oh, you're already owners at OKW so you'll just be able to use your points to stay at VWL" (acting like it was quite an easy thing to do). To date, VWL is the one resort where I can't ever seem to find availability. We've been able to use our points at every other DVC resort (the non-WDW ones included) but I find VWL pretty tough to secure.

 

[dianeschlicht]

And I think VWL and BCV will continue to always be difficult because of their size. Too bad Disney didn't make one of those larger and SSR smaller. It would be nice if they were all of similar size. I really was surprised to see them build another large resort near DTD.

 

[ralphd]

And I think VWL and BCV will continue to always be difficult because of their size. Too bad Disney didn't make one of those larger and SSR smaller. It would be nice if they were all of similar size. I really was surprised to see them build another large resort near DTD.

I like the size of BCV and VWL, size is part of the value we see in the two resorts. That said we also like BWV for the location and amenities.

 

[Stitch 626]

When we are talking about availabilty, our we talking about only certain size accomodations? I called in today to try and get a couple of nights for the Food and Wine Festival this October and got my first choice of dates and accomodations at the BCV. We booked in a 1BR with no problem. The studios were sold out for those nights (I add asked for a 1BR or studio if a 1BR was not available) but since we wanted a 1BR it did not affect us.

Oh, and for those on this thread that want to know, we used 40 BWV points and 8 SSR points. (yes, I am stealing your room I am one of those naughty SSR folks that you have to compete with now )

 

[wtpclc]

Just wanted to dig up a quote from teh past to put things in perspective.

Quoted from Doc on another thread.

"...snip...The first two phases of SSR (those already open or under construction - to be completed this year) will total 552 rooms (maximum possible of 840 counting separated lock-offs) - slightly larger than OKW.

OKW has 531/761, BWV has 383/532, BCV has 208/282 and VWL has 136/181.

Current total of onsite DVC resort rooms (not including SSR) is 1258 with a maximum of 1756. Proposed eventual size of SSR once Phase 3 opens in 2007 will be 828 (1260 counting separated lock-offs). No where near the total of all other DVC resort onsite - let alone including HH and VB (120/123 and 172/208). With HH and VB, the non-SSR total of DVC rooms is 1550 with a maximum of 2087...snip..."

Now, if we assume the number of owners is proportional to the number of rooms, SSR will still have less than half of the total DVC owners. Therefore, chances of SSR owners taking over the world, or even DVC, are slim. In addition, people wanting to trade out of SSR should still be proportional to those in other DVC resorts who want to trade in. Once the construction's finished and people wander over from DTD and see how nice it would be to stay so close to the place where you end your days, others will want to try SSR. JMO. YMMV (and I know it does).

 

[crisi]

While there are certainly no guarantees, I feel pretty confident that there will be future options for people that don't care for SSR as well. They will probably be bigger like SSR which will continue to "unbalance things" but I just don't see SSR being THE END of the DVC resort building.

If they build at the CR, I'd be surprised if it were over 200 rooms - maybe 250. If they build Eagle Pines, it will be OKW/SSR size. When they add a DVC component to existing hotels, those will continue to be small. IMO, the resort DVCs will always have a draw factor higher than the stand alone DVCs - it may be my personal preference, but I think a lot of us would love a Villa option at the Poly/GF/or AKL - where Eagle Pines is more of a ho hum, lets see how they execute it idea.

 

[crisi]

Just wanted to dig up a quote from teh past to put things in perspective.

..snip..."

Now, if we assume the number of owners is proportional to the number of rooms, SSR will still have less than half of the total DVC owners. Therefore, chances of SSR owners taking over the world, or even DVC, are slim. In addition, people wanting to trade out of SSR should still be proportional to those in other DVC resorts who want to trade in. Once the construction's finished and people wander over from DTD and see how nice it would be to stay so close to the place where you end your days, others will want to try SSR. JMO. YMMV (and I know it does).

It isn't the SSR owners against the "rest of the world." Its the "All DVC owners - VWL owners" looking for a VWL reservation at seven months. Or "All DVC Owners - SSR owners" looking for a SSR reservation at seven months.

If resorts are all the same size with the same appeal, the system balances. If there are big resorts with big appeal, and little resorts with little appeal, the system balances. If there are big resorts and little resort with the same appeal, the system goes out of balance. If, as Dean proposes, there are big resorts with small appeal and small resorts with big appeal, the system will cause a lot of disappointment - for a lot of people not wanting to book prior to seven months and stay at their home resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It isn't the SSR owners against the "rest of the world." Its the "All DVC owners - VWL owners" looking for a VWL reservation at seven months. Or "All DVC Owners - SSR owners" looking for a SSR reservation at seven months.

If resorts are all the same size with the same appeal, the system balances. If there are big resorts with big appeal, and little resorts with little appeal, the system balances. If there are big resorts and little resort with the same appeal, the system goes out of balance. If, as Dean proposes, there are big resorts with small appeal and small resorts with big appeal, the system will cause a lot of disappointment - for a lot of people not wanting to book prior to seven months and stay at their home resort.

That is exactaly what I meant, Crisi. Dean is absolutely right about the inequities making an unbalanced system.

 

[lllovell]

If they build at the CR, I'd be surprised if it were over 200 rooms - maybe 250. If they build Eagle Pines, it will be OKW/SSR size. When they add a DVC component to existing hotels, those will continue to be small. IMO, the resort DVCs will always have a draw factor higher than the stand alone DVCs - it may be my personal preference, but I think a lot of us would love a Villa option at the Poly/GF/or AKL - where Eagle Pines is more of a ho hum, lets see how they execute it idea.

I am one of the doubting Thomases about the CR, BUT your point about adding onto existing facilities seems right to me. HOWEVER, I do think its your personal preference when you say that the "resort" DVCs have a higher draw factor versus the "stand alone" DVCs. I think this is totally about personal preference. We prefer more of a stand alone feel and you prefer more of what I call a hotel feel. I think over time, this will also take away from the concerns about more SSR people NOT using their points at SSR.

I am simply stating my personal opinion that SSR wont be the last stand alone (as you put it) resort built. I am a believer in buying where you want to stay, so I did. I also believe I bought into a resort system where I can use my points all over and I will do that also (sometimes going AGAINST the common advice about not using points for cruises, etc.) Variety is why DVC attracted me. I am sure at some point, I will hit a resort that doesn't do it for me. Or...maybe I will never get to them all after our stay before Christmas this coming year at SSR with family and friends. Either way works for me.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too do not agree that the stand alone resorts have less appeal. On the contrary, I PREFER the stand alones, but then I don't particularily ike hotel like accommodations.

 

[agotta]

While I prefer the more "hotel" like DVC resorts, I don't see the addition of villas at existing resorts to be a good thing. I like the idea of a DVC resort and a "regular" guest resort. I think for the most part the two should be seperate. That being said I love staying at BWV. I think that the exisiting dvc additions are great, but going forward, SSR is the way to go. It has been a long time since Disney did a DVC only resort and maybe they are just a bit rusty. Taking the opinions of DVC members to seriously/literally instead of focusing on the quality and themeing of the resort. I would love a DVC resort that had better themeing. I know there are a lot of people out there that love the OKW type resort that is quiet and relaxing, but I love the busyness and excitement of a boardwalk type resort.

 

[crisi]

This is why I think stand alone resorts have less attraction and it may not be just me projecting my personal preference:

http://www.disboards.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=6195

The Contemporary 48 18.39%
Animal Kingdom Lodge 64 24.52%
Eagle Pines or Golf Themed 11 4.21%
The Polynesian 46 17.62%
Grand Californian/Disneyland 40 15.33%
Hawaii 19 7.28%
Paris or Tokyo 7 2.68%
Colorado/Ski Type 17 6.51%
Other-see my post below. 9 3.45%

A whopping 60% of respondants think the next resort should be at the CR/AKL or Poly. Only 4% want the DVC standalone Eagle Pines (and it may be the "golf themed" that's turning people off).

 

[icydog]

I would love a DVC resort that had better themeing. I know there are a lot of people out there that love the OKW type resort that is quiet and relaxing, but I love the busyness and excitement of a boardwalk type resort.

One of the things I like most about DVC is the theming. I find wonderful theming in all the DVC resorts however, if a lack of theming is a concern, I wonder at your choice of SSR. The villas are very nice with lovely wood etc, but we saw less theming there than at any Disney Resort, excluding the economies. I was surprised by the lack of pictures in the hallways and anything to tie the hallways with the resort name. Also, since there is no carpeting in the hallways the horse theme is not continued with that feature either.

But I'm not sure how to read your posts. First you decry SSR then you seem to defend the resort. Which is it? I also don't seem to be able to figure out the direction of this thread. First we are talking about how ugly it is, then we are talking about how beautiful it is, then we are talking about how those of you who think it is ugly willl be tying up our rooms, and next we are postulating on the possibility of a resort connecting to the AKL or the CR or maybe even the GF. I think all this is fodder for several threads and is not being given the exposure it needs. By reading the title of your post about SSR I thought that is what the topic would be. Overlapping of topics is fine but this one seems to have gone far afoul of the OP's main intent.