Oh how I hate the SSR trashing!
SSR is open past the time other resorts are full because it's bigger...more units are available.
Each resort has its people who will trash it. But there's really nothing at all "wrong" w/SSR...it's among our top three favorites and for some trips for some reasons our top choice.
I just hate seeing it called "biggest mistake ever"...it's GREAT knowing there's an option 4-5 months out (except super busy times)...
I LOVE SSR altho I admit that because there are so many villas available at SSR that the 11-month booking advantage isn't all that valuable...
I fully agree that some people are gonna love it...
but i think the point as to the problem have been made.
It was built too big...and the problem is that if there are 30-40,000 members who bought at saratoga (like me) trying to swap into the other spots...its way to much stress on the system.
I only go from what i've observed and seen from myself and others who are members.
My in-laws bought in 98 and my mother in law would call anytime she wanted and use the waitlist to move if she wanted (she bought at hilton head and has never actually stayed there)...
that ended in 2005 or 2006...not coincidentally
now its 5 to 7 months out and lots of unmet wait lists...from what we've seen. there are times of the year where you have almost no options other than okw, saratoga, or animal kingdom.
go on the online system and try to get bay lake, beach, boardwalk, or wilderness at the 7 month window in march for october...give it a try.
won't work.
you do bring up a valid point that its usually available for short notice. But if the primary reason you bought
dvc is because of the freedom of movement - like me....saratoga hurts that. it's almost they should restrict short notice booking to saratoga to balance
just too many members out there for the 180 units at beach...or the 105 at wilderness...
can't wait to see what its like getting into the 147 at Grand Floridian...that should be fun.
DVC created a funnel...1000 rooms at saratoga, 660 at old key west, 550 at animal kingdom...
the locations without direct park access funneling into the smaller ones with park access (i understand wilderness is about as convenient as animal kingdom...but let's face it...wilderness is the best look of any disney hotel ever built...and that's just the way it is)
if disney had any foresight...they would have built all locations with the same units...say 300.
now they wouldn't have a problem of too many rooms at saratoga/animal kingdom....too few at beach and wilderness...
and then they could better predict when and where they need to build new units...
