Just back and my feelings on Saratoga Springs

[aDVCguy]

<---- Me at SSR!
Personally, I'm a Happy SSR owner!
If I wanted to I could have bought anywhere in DVC...I
opted for SSR. I realized while there in April 2005 that
SSR will come into it's own. It takes time for all the trees and
flowers to mature into their full beauty and as far as locations
within SSR there's 2 theme pools...what other DVC has that?
Sure, it's larger than others but so what! If anyone has something
negitive to say about SSR...then stay somewhere else!
No one individual is pointing the proverbial gun at you...are they?
I look at SSR as a FULL glass...I'm in WDW and "own" a piece
of the mouse!

 

[Beca]

Maybe this was Disney's biggest mistake with SSR? Maybe they rushed it into the market before it was ready, and they turned off a lot of the early guests and visitors? I just hope you give AKV a better shot than a <1 hour run through just after it opens.

I really don't mean to start anything....I mean, honestly... . But, why do you "hope" someone gives a DVC resort a shot? I love my home resort. I MIGHT stay somewhere else sometime (probably if I cannot book early enough to get my home), but I might not ever stay anywhere else. I am perfectly happy in my choice. Why should owners give new resorts a chance? If we want more options, or feel like a new resort would really appeal to us, sure. But, if not....what's wrong with being happy with just one or two places?

 

[Starr W.]

I really don't mean to start anything....I mean, honestly... . But, why do you "hope" someone gives a DVC resort a shot? I love my home resort. I MIGHT stay somewhere else sometime (probably if I cannot book early enough to get my home), but I might not ever stay anywhere else. I am perfectly happy in my choice. Why should owners give new resorts a chance? If we want more options, or feel like a new resort would really appeal to us, sure. But, if not....what's wrong with being happy with just one or two places?

That works both ways Beca. For all of us that really like SSR, we have had people(not yourself) tell us were slightly off center and what's wrong with you if you want to stay at SSR every trip. We're trying VWL next trip, because of a dare between my DH & myself on the workings of the waitlist.

 

[diznyfanatic]

<snip>... Now the OKWers are just too mature to care anymore. They just sit on their big ol' porches watching the conflagration from their rocking chairs. VWLers are probably too busy counting trees to worry much, and perhaps hoping/dreading a nearby CRV.

Of course, until Disney extends the manmade lakes between Epcot and DTD then allows us to have an all out sea battle, no one can ultimate declare supremacy. It's like the French vs. the English just itching for the Battle of Trafalgar.

priceless!!! BroganMc I always look forward to your posts!

 

[SaratogaShan]

I really don't mean to start anything....I mean, honestly... . But, why do you "hope" someone gives a DVC resort a shot? I love my home resort. I MIGHT stay somewhere else sometime (probably if I cannot book early enough to get my home), but I might not ever stay anywhere else. I am perfectly happy in my choice. Why should owners give new resorts a chance? If we want more options, or feel like a new resort would really appeal to us, sure. But, if not....what's wrong with being happy with just one or two places?

I think the point was that if one wants to criticize a resort, one may want to spend more than one hour at said resort while it is still under construction. Otherwise, we will just call it an ill informed drive by bashing!

 

[jemiaule]

You know, I drove past BWV once. Slowed down to about 20-25 MPH. I didn't like the color of the trim around the windows. I don't think I'll ever, ever stay there... ever.

So, let me get this straight... You walked around SSR for less than an hour just after it opened? That means that it was just after the first phase of construction was complete and work was going on in the next phase. So you basically were walking around near a construction zone, probably before the vaunted SSR landscaping (which it integral to SSR's theming) had a chance to take hold, and perhaps even before that section of the resort was operating at 100%. Even with your DVC experience, do you honestly think you gave it a fair chance? Did you go on your "tour" with an open mind, or with the intentions of seeing what was wrong with SSR? Were you honestly looking to see what SSR had to offer and how it could enhance your DVC ownership, or was the intention to make yourself feel better/smarter/superior for buying at BWV?

She went, looked around, didn't like it and doesn't want to stay there. So she isn't ever planning on staying there, big whoop. I haven't stayed at a this raunchy hotel I have driven past in San Francisco; but I am pretty darn confident I would hate it without having to try it out to know for sure.

People make decisions based on looks every day. Someone may not buy a shirt because they do not like the way it looks. Why would they need to try it on to "give it a fair chance" if they don't think it is nice looking and something they would wear? Someone may not buy a certain model of car because they do not like the way it looks. Why should they waste their time doing a test drive to give it a "fair chance" if they do not like the cars appearance?

I do not feel this can be an arguement like mom used to make about, for example, spinach - "you will never know if you will like it if you don't give it a try".

 

[mwmuntz]

I really don't mean to start anything....I mean, honestly... . But, why do you "hope" someone gives a DVC resort a shot? I love my home resort. I MIGHT stay somewhere else sometime (probably if I cannot book early enough to get my home), but I might not ever stay anywhere else. I am perfectly happy in my choice. Why should owners give new resorts a chance? If we want more options, or feel like a new resort would really appeal to us, sure. But, if not....what's wrong with being happy with just one or two places?

Nope, there's nothing wrong with being happy with just one or two places. I would certainly hope that everyone is happy with their home resorts. If not, then there is something seriously wrong. If you find one or two places that works for you, stick with it! No need to look anywhere else. But it seems to me that there are folks out there who are "supposedly" very happy with their home resorts, but are always putting down the others, almost as if they need constant justification that they made the right choice with their home resort.

I just don't give much weight to a person who is basing their opinion on a "better part of an hour" walkthrough of a resort a few years ago when it was still under construction. Someone who actually feels better about themselves and their decision to buy where they are when they read about another person's bad experience at another resort. What's that all about? I'd be ashamed of myself if I felt that way!

Now the OP is a different story. They stayed there, they experienced it. It looks to me that they went there with an open mind, found some positive things, but pretty much left very disappointed. Their experience and opinion is very valuable to me. I now know that I probably wouldn't want to stay in the Carousel section if or when I ever stay SSR. But I will reserve final judgement on the resort (as a whole) until I actually see it & experience it for myself.

 

[Beca]

That works both ways Beca. For all of us that really like SSR, we have had people(not yourself) tell us were slightly off center and what's wrong with you if you want to stay at SSR every trip. We're trying VWL next trip, because of a dare between my DH & myself on the workings of the waitlist.

Well, to be honest....I think there probably IS something wrong with people who are fanatical about just ONE resort.....

hey wait, maybe I need to think about this one for awhile.

 

[beachblanket]

There was no construction in progress during my walk through at SSR. I spoke brielfy to the DVC sales CM on site, and she did take me along with another visitor and showed us a "display villa" (a 2BR that struck me as being about the same size and with the same general features as the ones I've stayed in at HH and Vero). Obviously, in terms of views (it looked over a canal) I didn't presume it was necessarily representative of everything else on the property.

I then went off on my own and walked the grounds. What struck me overall was (a) the previously mentioned "generic condo-ish" feel of the buildings, primarily due to the exterior walkways (which any architect will tell you is usually done for cost savings reasons, they're cheaper than interior hallways) and the somewhat barren feel of the landscaping.

Granted, the resort was new, so the latter will grow in over time, but couldn't Disney have developed SSR with mature growth they way they did at HH? Again, me smells some DVC belt-tightening.

The long distances between the various buildings actually didn't bother me quite as much - perhaps because I'm an avid hiker and hey, I've been conditioned by those "horrifically" long hallways at BWV.

 

[mwmuntz]

There was no construction in progress during my walk through at SSR. I spoke brielfy to the DVC sales CM on site, and she did take me along with another visitor and showed us a "display villa" (a 2BR that struck me as being about the same size and with the same general features as the ones I've stayed in at HH and Vero). Obviously, in terms of views (it looked over a canal) I didn't presume it was necessarily representative of everything else on the property.

I then went off on my own and walked the grounds. What struck me overall was (a) the previously mentioned "generic condo-ish" feel of the buildings, primarily due to the exterior walkways (which any architect will tell you is usually done for cost savings reasons, they're cheaper than interior hallways) and the somewhat barren feel of the landscaping.

Granted, the resort was new, so the latter will grow in over time, but couldn't Disney have developed SSR with mature growth they way they did at HH? Again, me smells some DVC belt-tightening.

The long distances between the various buildings actually didn't bother me quite as much - perhaps because I'm an avid hiker and hey, I've been conditioned by those "horrifically" long hallways at BWV.

Oh.... my apologies then! It looks like you did give it due diligence. Sorry for jumping to conclusions. Your original post made it seem like you went at a bad time and were quick to judge (kind of like what I did with you!).

Again, my apologies....

 

[Deb & Bill]

They had to tear down a lot of old buildings on the grounds before they could start building at SSR. Once you tear down, it's better to get going on the new construction.

You seem to be really diggin deep to come up with arguments about SSR.

 

[JerJan]

beachblanket wrote: I then went off on my own and walked the grounds. What struck me overall was (a) the previously mentioned "generic condo-ish" feel of the buildings, primarily due to the exterior walkways (which any architect will tell you is usually done for cost savings reasons, they're cheaper than interior hallways) and the somewhat barren feel of the landscaping.

I personally prefer the "GENERIC CONDOISH FEEL" I find places with long henclosed hallways like BWV (for example) to be claustrophobic. Again..... everyone likes different things, if you don't like SSR please stay away...it leaves more room for those of us that chose it as their resort of preference!

 

[beachblanket]

You seem to be really diggin deep to come up with arguments about SSR.

Actually, I haven't had to come up with any - scores of other DIS DVC members beat me to it, ergo, the "condo" design, uninteresting "theming," issues with the resort layout, etc.

Again, I have nothing against those who enjoy the place. It's the segment who bought in not so much out of love for the property (but instead a primary focus on leveraging a membership to get access to the more popular DVC resorts) that concerns me.

 

[wdw4life]

Again..... everyone likes different things, if you don't like SSR please stay away...it leaves more room for those of us that chose it as their resort of preference!

I agree. If you don't like SSR and that is all that is available when you call for ressies then stay home or pay cash for a different resort. It doesn't seem worth it to me to stay at a place where you are miserable.

 

[jakenjess]

Again, I have nothing against those who enjoy the place. It's the segment who bought in not so much out of love for the property (but instead a primary focus on leveraging a membership to get access to the more popular DVC resorts) that concerns me.

I don't understand this. Everyone bought DVC with the understanding that they would have every right to book at any of the DVC properties within the seven month window. I own at SSR, though I've yet to stay there. It's not because I don't like it, it's because of other factors (wanting a 2 BR to bring family and needing to save points by staying at OKW and BWV standard view, both of which I've booked well inside that seven month window), and I've also enjoyed a stay at VB. I will eventually stay at SSR and I'm sure I'll enjoy it very much, just as I have every other DVC property.

I know many people who own other timeshare properties that never stay at their "home" resort but use it exclusively to trade to other locations. I don't see DVC as being any different.

 

[Madi100]

We are BCV owners and have been members for five years now. I booked our trip last week 8 weeks out and all they had was SSR. This was a Mom and Son only trip on his college break, so I was really looking forward to it, and got a studio. I had requested the Springs section. When we checked in, they said all they had left was 2 rooms in the "newest section", Carousel. I knew what the "new section" meant, a VERY far, long walk from the main bldg.

I thought this resort was very beautiful, I really gave it a good shot. But to be perfectly honest, I hated and even resented the huge layout and distance from the main pool and building!! It was the most frustrating experience at times. Just to grab some milk for the morning was huge, thank goodness my son is a runner and he did his run at night and he could grab stuff. I only went to the main pool once and didn't like it at all. Way too crowded and I'm a huge slide lover and didn't like this one at all.

The grounds were very pretty though and I have to say I loved the quiet pool in the Paddocks, but again, a good walk from our room. I really, really missed the whole Beach Club/Boardwalk area so much. This resort reminded me of one huge condo complex. The staff were extremely friendly with lots of "welcome homes" and there was one pool man, named Freddie who I will never forget who went out of his way to give me rides on his car a couple of times.

However, unless this is the very last resort to choose from, I won't be going back. I had a fantasticly great time with my son at the parks though!

I'm sorry you didn't like your stay. We've only stayed once, and we LOVED our location in Congress Park. If we get put in your section next time, I'm sure we won't enjoy it, but will think that there are better areas, but we still LOVE SSR. It's funny, because we totally rely on Disney transportation. When it's just DH and myself, we do a lot of visiting resorts. We do not like being at the Beach Club/Boardwalk area, because it takes 20 minutes just for the buses to stop at all of the places they stop. And, on the Downtown Disney bus, I've always encountered men who were on a conference who had had too much to drink. For the transportation reason alone, I'm scared to try Boardwalk. Maybe someday you'll have an opportunity to try again and get a section you are happy with.

 

[barlitz]

We're booking three 2 Bedroom units next April 08 for SSR for 8 days we're treating some friends and family, We absolutely love SSR and consider it the best of all the DVC resorts. We've stayed at or visited most of the other DVC resorts and always compare them to the SSR. Its like comparing a Cadillac to a Yugo.

 

[MILLZ]

I got an idea! Stay home and dont go its pretty simple. You people have nothing better to do than jump on here and complain about a resort dont stay there I dont see the issue. Its pretty simple to me. I dont like hotel type resorts i prefer condo style so does that make boardwaly or beach club dumps do i feel they need to implode them tomorrow or ill go crazy. No i just wont stay there but to get on here and act like its the end of the world is just crazy be an adult and respect what other people like apparently enough people thought it was a good idea and look at old key west many people are die hards. So my answer is shut the ---- up and get a life.

 

[Slakk]

Actually, I haven't had to come up with any - scores of other DIS DVC members beat me to it, ergo, the "condo" design, uninteresting "theming," issues with the resort layout, etc.

Again, I have nothing against those who enjoy the place. It's the segment who bought in not so much out of love for the property (but instead a primary focus on leveraging a membership to get access to the more popular DVC resorts) that concerns me.

Well feel good about this - your beloved BWV is the last place I would stay so you have one less SSR lover pining for it's perfection. The 11 month rule still applies - you get first dibs the rest of us cannot for 4 months - seems to me you have no fears.

 

[TIGER RADIATION]

You people crack me up just dont stay there its as simple as that or we can act like 3 year olds and jump on here and say stupid things I guess that will solve your problems.

BWV baby!