$ doesn't make sense

[yitbos96bb]

I don't like the decor. I've seen photos, which are adequate to tell me I don't like the decor. No reason for me to go into the rooms.

I don't like the location. DTD does very little for me.

I don't like a condo feel. I prefer a hotel feel. I've stayed in condo like resorts - not at Disney, and I don't like them.

We don't rent cars at Disney....we are heavily dependant on walking, buses and taxis. SSR doesn't seem to be a good resort for that.

I don't like lack of room service. We seldom use room service, but its an option I really like having at my disposal.

Do I have to experience something to know I don't like it - or can't I make an informed decision based on photos, information, and similar experiences?

We are staying at DDR next trip and will not have a car. I will let you know how it is. With DTD being relatively close, especially to congress park, to me you have the best bus access of any resort since EVERY resort and park comes to DTD. So if I want to go to Jelly Rolls, I will be able to do it easier from SSR using the busses (just walk to DTD and take the boardwalk bus and then back to DTD later) vs coming from VWL. Not sure why you think it would be bad for someone without a car, unless you don't like walking (which is understandable). Of course, since I believe you said you love to walk to Epcot, a BWV or BCV would be the best choice based on that little tidbit alone.

I would agree with Sammie that you can't really know if you don't like something without experiencing it. Kind of the Don't judge a book by its cover thing. However, I am sure you can get an idea of how you might feel from the research. But to truly know if one will not like it or like it one must try it first. I think his point was it would better to say that you haven't been there but based on what you have seen, you don't think you'd like it. But who knows... The other 3 points seem valid reasons to not want to stay there. Decor is part of ones taste and is more important to some than others (never a big deal to me... if it is cool decor, great... if not then no big deal), The condo vs hotel thing would be a big thing as well (again not important ot me but I could understand that being a big issue)... I agree the no room service this is kind of crummy. I wonder if this will change if they get a TS... probably not but maybe.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Why were my posts removed from this thread? The OP really needs to take some time to get to know the program before buying in. Why am I the only one to find it shocking that someone has paperwork in hand for a program they know nothing about? Would you buy a house you've never seen? Land in Florida that very well may be swamp land? I am begging the OP to cancel the contract before they make a terrible mistake. We have a nice group of poster here on the DIS because the OP needs a wake up call.


DAVE

As much as I usually disagree with Dave, I agree with him. I don't know if I'd cancel, but frankly you should be on the Phone with your guide asking EVERY one of these questions until you get the right answer. They do this for a living and have heard every question you ask. He is right that the guide should explain it better from the start, but OP needs to ASK the guide some more questions to be sure this is the right thing for them.

 

[NMW]

Just curious how can you not like something you have never experienced?

This is just my opinion but I don't think you have to really "stay" at a resort to know if you would like it or not. I think seeing photos, maps, and having a tour are all most people need to know if they like a place or not.

We decided we would not really like SSR without staying there for many reasons. We don't like condo-type resorts and while we have not stayed at SSR, we have stayed at other condo-type places and not liked them. We don't ever rent cars. We like being close to Epcot and MGM. We don't really like DTD. We do it maybe once a trip, really just for dining. DH thinks SSR looks like a gigantic apartment complex, I somewhat agree. We like hotels with a lot of dining options. SSR is very lacking in this area, and yes, I know DTD is close, but it's not IN the resort. I don't want to have to leave my resort by bus every morning just to get a full service breakfast.

I have picked hotels I thought I would like (other than Disney) just by looking at pictures and resort/room layouts and I have yet to be dissapointed with my choices. Who knows, maybe someday we will stay at SSR and be proven wrong. I suppose anything is possible.

 

[disneylady]

I am the OP that Dave "let have it" yesterday. And although I WON'T be inviting him over for Christmas cookies, he did have some valid points.

In my defense, my meeting with the Guide was somewhat hazy. First of all, I was on the Magic, thus under the Magic spell.

Second, all the teens that were supposed to be in the Stack were actually partying at the bottom of the steps to the Stack. Those steps were right outside our meeting room. I had to run back to our cabin for my Key to the World and I had to actually step over teens to get to the elevator. At one point, our Guide opened the door and asked them to give us 15 more minutes and then we'd be out of their way. (That was her professional way of telling them to shut-up and settle down.)

Anyway, although Dave came off as a man that is on the brink of a breakdown, I'm sure he's a nice guy and was only trying to help.

As for the moderator that deleted his posts, I'm sure you felt you were doing what was right, but he did have some good points that I wanted to review today, but they are now gone.

 

[crisi]

I would agree with Sammie that you can't really know if you don't like something without experiencing it. Kind of the Don't judge a book by its cover thing. However, I am sure you can get an idea of how you might feel from the research. But to truly know if one will not like it or like it one must try it first. I think his point was it would better to say that you haven't been there but based on what you have seen, you don't think you'd like it. But who knows...

I don't like key lime. Never really have. Its too sweet for my taste. I do like creme brulee. So I ordered the key lime creme brulee at Narcoosee's - I think its their signature dessert. And I didn't like it. So I "wasted" a good dessert. I could have ordered something I would have had a better chance of enjoying.

I don't like buffets. I know this about myself. My DH doesn't like them either. I allowed myself to be convinced from rave review after rave review that Boma was different and I'd enjoy it. I didn't. So instead of eating at one of the many restaurants we do enjoy - or trying something new we probably would enjoy, we "wasted" a meal trying something no one in the party took much pleasure in.

I don't care to waste a whole vacation at SSR to see if I like something that knowing myself has told me I'm not likely to like. I'm happy at "home" at the BW, my second choice would be VWL, my third BCV. OKW appeals to my "value" side - the big rooms/low points making up for the location. There isn't much about SSR I find appealing. If I had limitless vacation time, I might try SSR, but we simply don't travel often enough to make variety that appealling.

There isn't a lot I regret - but one thing I do regret is decisions that I've made despite knowing at the time they were not the right decision for me. Wouldn't you feel horrible if you talked me into "trying" SSR because I won't know until I tried it and I came back and said "too far out, didn't like the transportation, hated the room decor, missed my interior hallways - my husband spent the whole trip complaining about not being at BWVs - never again!"

 

[JimMIA]

Please don't take this personally, but you folks really need to start over. You have such a profound lack of information about DVC that we can't offer you much helpful advice.

It's too bad your tour/guide experience was less than magical, but you still have to get the basic information before you can make an intelligent decision. DVC is a very large expenditure, and it is a complex timeshare system that may or may not meet your needs.

You need to take whatever time is necessary and really go to school on DVC to gain a good solid understanding of the points system, use year, banking and borrowing, and many other details. The devil IS in the details.

Until you understand the basics, and how they relate to your personal vacation plans, the choice of home resorts is really the last question you should be asking. When you get to the point of worrying about home resort, that's a whole other question which thousands of us will weigh in on with varying degrees of heat and light.

But first, research and see if DVC is right for you as a prepaid vacation concept. If you find it is, then start wondering about resale vs. direct, how many points, which use year (if you have a choice), home resort, and all that stuff.

Good luck!

 

[Daitcher]

To clarify things here, I have not "bought" into anything YET. Paperwork has no ink on it. However, my deadline is fast approaching and I have an immediate decision to make.

Don't sign, you know far too little about this program. I'm not trying to be mean but how can anyone here reading this women's posts say go ahead and sign? Know what you are buying and how it works. Don't sign, take some time to get to know the program inside and out then consider a purchase.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

Dave I understand you feeling that way, and it is certainly your right to feel however you would like.

Having said that, I also choose to believe, your frustration (which was expressed as sarcasm and disbelief) comes from a desire to help the OP.

However, it is their money and they can do what they want with it. They don't need our approval or permission, and unfortunately parts of your replies came out seeming petulant and perhaps jealous on your part. Please note, I'm not saying that you are Petulant or jealous, nor that you were deliberately mean spirited, but to be fair, parts of your reply could have been interpreted that way, and that is why I believe, your replies were deleted!

-Tony

Tony,

Your post is right on. My desire was to help the OP but I got carried away. People are certainly entitled to do what they want with there money. The OP did ask for guidance, however. The most shocking part of this thread is that people see nothing wrong with this. I'm all for the "there are no stupid questions" thing, but that is before a decision is made. This poster has contracts in hand. At the very least she may be wasting DVC's time and money. We all the right to not sign or cancel during the 10 day period but we also have an obligation to know what we are signing on for. Seems like I'm alone in my thinking on this one.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

As much as I usually disagree with Dave, I agree with him. I don't know if I'd cancel, but frankly you should be on the Phone with your guide asking EVERY one of these questions until you get the right answer. They do this for a living and have heard every question you ask. He is right that the guide should explain it better from the start, but OP needs to ASK the guide some more questions to be sure this is the right thing for them.

Wow, I'm not alone here after all. Agreeing with Dave isn't all that bad sometimes. I get pm's saying how much they agree with me but saying it out loud seems to be unpopular. Thanks again, I truly just want to help and don't want to see an unhappy member.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

I am the OP that Dave "let have it" yesterday. And although I WON'T be inviting him over for Christmas cookies, he did have some valid points.

In my defense, my meeting with the Guide was somewhat hazy. First of all, I was on the Magic, thus under the Magic spell.

Second, all the teens that were supposed to be in the Stack were actually partying at the bottom of the steps to the Stack. Those steps were right outside our meeting room. I had to run back to our cabin for my Key to the World and I had to actually step over teens to get to the elevator. At one point, our Guide opened the door and asked them to give us 15 more minutes and then we'd be out of their way. (That was her professional way of telling them to shut-up and settle down.)

Anyway, although Dave came off as a man that is on the brink of a breakdown, I'm sure he's a nice guy and was only trying to help.

As for the moderator that deleted his posts, I'm sure you felt you were doing what was right, but he did have some good points that I wanted to review today, but they are now gone.

Thank you very much for that. I'm not on the verge on break down by the way and I am a nice guy. I was a little harsh with you and for that I apologize. DVC is a great program, make no mistake about that. You just need to understand it fully to make the most out of your ownership. Don't sign now, take some time with it and go in confident and ready. Ask all the questions you want on the DIS, of your guide, etc. Good luck with it.


DAVE

 

[mickeyfan2]

Everybody seems to forget that the original investment in the points has to be figured into the cost per trip. The cost per trip is the amount you paid in dues plus what you would have earned on your original buy in if it was invested. At the end you would still have the original buy in. So in an example here where the person said it cost them $77/night, that is not a true figure. I do not know what their original investment was, but say for 7 nights it was 15K and your 15K was getting 8% return you would have earned $1200. $1200/7 = $171/night so the place actually cost you $77 (point) + $171 (lost investment) or $248/night. Now my numbers could be off due to my assumption of the value of the original investment but I wanted others to see that the value is not as BIG as many claim. If this make it so that your SO will take a vacation each year, but would not otherwise, it is a great investment in your family. If you like the feeling of DVC then it is a great investment in your vacation. But it is not a great investment using just the numbers.

 

[robinb]

I was a little harsh with you and for that I apologize. DVC is a great program, make no mistake about that. You just need to understand it fully to make the most out of your ownership. Don't sign now, take some time with it and go in confident and ready. Ask all the questions you want on the DIS, of your guide, etc. Good luck with it.

Wow. Finally a post of yours on this thread I can agree with. I'm glad you apologized because IMO you went past "harsh" to "nasty" and "over the line".

FWIW, I don't think any of us who answered her question about the monitary comparison encouraged her to sign the papers and send them in without more research. I remember when I bought into DVC 9 years ago I must have spent an entire month doing my research before I bought my resale. I think that everyone should take their time ... and that's the beauty of DVC. They are really low pressure and there is never any of the "buy today or the price goes up!" BS you get from other timeshare companies.

 

[robinb]

Everybody seems to forget that the original investment in the points has to be figured into the cost per trip. The cost per trip is the amount you paid in dues plus what you would have earned on your original buy in if it was invested.

That's called the "Time Value of Money" and I didn't forget about it. I just chose to ignore it in my "back of the envelope" calculation. When we bought our first resale in 1997 we included the TVM in our calculations .

 

[mickeyfan2]

That's called the "Time Value of Money" and I didn't forget about it. I just chose to ignore it in my "back of the envelope" calculation.

But for somebody actually considering the purchase one must not forget this in a calulation. This is a big financial step and should be made with all the information. If one leaves off something, that could easily sway a person's decision. I could see how somebody who owns DVC would have strong feelings about the purchase and make it seem like the right decision. I know that I have considered it, but I have done all the calculations and they don't add up for us. That does not mean they don't add up for others just for us. As I stated there are reasons to do it even if it does not make sense financially, but this person was asking about the numbers so I answered it for them with that in mind.

 

[robinb]

But for somebody actually considering the purchase one must not forget this in a calulation. This is a big financial step and should be made with all the information. If one leaves off something, that could easily sway a person's decision. I could see how somebody who owns DVC would have strong feelings about the purchase and make it seem like the right decision.

Did you read the rest of my post? We did include the Time Value of Money in our calculations when we bought into DVC. I also included inflation and a guesstimate on how much dues and WDW resort rack rates would increase.

I also said in my first "back of the envelope" post in this thread:

Now, that is a *very* simplistic way of looking at it. There is the time value of money (what you would earn if you invested the 12K instead), there is interest paid (if you take a loan), there is inflation and there are dues increases that all effect the true cost of DVC.

When all was said and done (in 2042), we figured that we would be paying Value-Moderate prices for Deluxe accommodations. That was good enough for me!

 

[yitbos96bb]

I don't like key lime. Never really have. Its too sweet for my taste. I do like creme brulee. So I ordered the key lime creme brulee at Narcoosee's - I think its their signature dessert. And I didn't like it. So I "wasted" a good dessert. I could have ordered something I would have had a better chance of enjoying.

I don't like buffets. I know this about myself. My DH doesn't like them either. I allowed myself to be convinced from rave review after rave review that Boma was different and I'd enjoy it. I didn't. So instead of eating at one of the many restaurants we do enjoy - or trying something new we probably would enjoy, we "wasted" a meal trying something no one in the party took much pleasure in.

I don't care to waste a whole vacation at SSR to see if I like something that knowing myself has told me I'm not likely to like. I'm happy at "home" at the BW, my second choice would be VWL, my third BCV. OKW appeals to my "value" side - the big rooms/low points making up for the location. There isn't much about SSR I find appealing. If I had limitless vacation time, I might try SSR, but we simply don't travel often enough to make variety that appealling.

There isn't a lot I regret - but one thing I do regret is decisions that I've made despite knowing at the time they were not the right decision for me. Wouldn't you feel horrible if you talked me into "trying" SSR because I won't know until I tried it and I came back and said "too far out, didn't like the transportation, hated the room decor, missed my interior hallways - my husband spent the whole trip complaining about not being at BWVs - never again!"

I am not saying that you need to try SSR. IF all you ever want to do is stay at the same Hotels everytime, that is cool and your priority. When I go to Detroit on Business, THE ONLY hotel I like to stay at is the Marriott City Center (where all the Superbowl festivities were this year). But I can't say that I don't like all the other hotels because I HAVE NEVER STAYED THERE. I found a hotel I liked and choose to stay there, just like you have found a couple of Disney hotels you liek and choose to stay there. I don't want to stay at Pop Century, but I can't say I don't like it because I haven't stayed there. You could definately say you don't want to stay there; that it doesn't appeal to you based on the lack of room service and the pictures, etc, but at least in saying you don't like Key Lime and Buffets, you TRIED them, and can honestly say you don't like them based on experience. By all means, I wouldn't want you to stay at SSR based on what you like in a hotel. I just agreed with Sammie that one can't really know if they don't like something unless they experience it.

BTW, I agree with you on the Buffet thing. There are only a few I can somewhat enjoy (Breakfast ones usually don't bother me as much), but the food sitting out, grosses me out a bit. I don't mind Family style, like at Ohana's or Whispering Canyon, but Buffet's are not my favorite.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Wow, I'm not alone here after all. Agreeing with Dave isn't all that bad sometimes. I get pm's saying how much they agree with me but saying it out loud seems to be unpopular. Thanks again, I truly just want to help and don't want to see an unhappy member.


DAVE

If you are right or I agree with you, I have no problem in saying so and if I disagree or you are wrong, I will say so as well. I never understood people who are afraid to post because they agree with someone who has an unpopular idea (go look at the Banning smoking at DVC forum for some of mine as one of the few non-smokers to stick up for the smokers) or because they are afraid of being flamed. These people don't know you or where you live, so who cares. There was a guy on a blog I frequent who always threatens people in the comment section. If you threaten to beat someone up on an internet forum because of a comment or a flame war, you really are a loser and there truly is little hope for you.

The people who PM threats are even worse. That is just ridiculous.

 

[WithFaith50]

Everybody seems to forget that the original investment in the points has to be figured into the cost per trip. The cost per trip is the amount you paid in dues plus what you would have earned on your original buy in if it was invested. At the end you would still have the original buy in. So in an example here where the person said it cost them $77/night, that is not a true figure. I do not know what their original investment was, but say for 7 nights it was 15K and your 15K was getting 8% return you would have earned $1200. $1200/7 = $171/night so the place actually cost you $77 (point) + $171 (lost investment) or $248/night...

Using this example, "the person" WOULD be correct if she/he would have had NO intention of investing the money had she/he did not buy into DVC...right?

 

[crisi]

yitbos96bb,

You are right, sematically, I should say "I don't like the IDEA of SSR" or "very few of SSRs attributes appeal to me." Its shorthand to say "I don't like it."

 

[yitbos96bb]

yitbos96bb,

You are right, sematically, I should say "I don't like the IDEA of SSR" or "very few of SSRs attributes appeal to me." Its shorthand to say "I don't like it."

"I don't like it" is very different than saying "very few of SSRs attributes appeal to me." The I don't like it implies that you have been there and things are bad with it... It doesn't appeal to me implies that you don't know if it is good or bad, you just don't want to stay there. When someone is asking if they should stay at SSR and if it is good or not, this is a big distinction... but I do applaud that you stated you hadn't been there. I've noticed A decent amount of DIS people trash a lot of things and then later admit they have never been there.... they are just saying things are bad based on their knee jerk reactions (not saying you did this to clarify). As I said, I just agree with the notion one cannot judge a book by its cover and one cannot truly know if they don't like something unless they have tried it. It may not be appealing to them (such as eating liver) but they don't know if they will dislike it... although as in your case, they have a pretty good idea.

Of course those pre-conceived notions can ruin places too for people... I know I have had pre-conceived notions of a place ruin my time, even when others rave about it.