Just back and my feelings on Saratoga Springs

[Deb & Bill]

...Or put another way, DVC was never designed to only offer resorts built as villa-only properties, and interestingly the most popular ones in their collection are actually a mix of hotel and time share units.

Funny, I though THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB (the original name for the Old Key West Resort, the FIRST DVC property) was a standalong villa property.

 

[Muushka]

Funny, I though THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB (the original name for the Old Key West Resort, the FIRST DVC property) was a standalong villa property.

Yes. And in addition to the original DVC, HH and VB.

 

[LisaS]

Excellent idea. Nothing's more fun, and I think it would tie-in nicely with the whole Saratoga/equestrian theme. I'd suggest they do it as a pool-side children's activity featuring a giant piñata.

Rinkwide, I think that was one of your funniest posts ever!

 

[tomandrobin]

Correct, because the grand dame of the Epcot area resorts has a name that stands by itself.

What? Are you kidding or are you that ignorant. The Boardwalk is just that, The Boardwak. The Inn and DVC are located adjacent to The Boardwalk. The stores, restuarants, activities on the Boardwallk are not part of DVC ot the INN. The Boardwalk is a Disney venue into itself. Don't be so rediculous to suggest it has anythin to do with the resorts. What about the swan and dolphin resorts. They were there before DVC's resorts were built.

Not resort, the Inn - who does share it, just like the vaunted one at BCV is shared with the Beach Club and Yacht club hotels. Or put another way, DVC was never designed to only offer resorts built as villa-only properties, and interestingly the most popular ones in their collection are actually a mix of hotel and time share units.

The INN is a resort, don't try to be "cute" with word play. Go to the Disney website and see how many "Inns" categories are listed. They fact that they DVC resorts are shared resorts with hotels is not what makes them so popular. Its the location to Epcot and MGM, otherwise VWL would be commanding resale prices in the 90's per point also.

 

[beachblanket]

Yes. And in addition to the original DVC, HH and VB.

The last part of the above is incorrect. VB was built from the ground up and opened in 1995 with both Inn and Villa units.

And if you are trying to imply that DVC was "supposed" to be villa only units, why are over half of their properties now combinations of hotels and time share space - ergo:

Disney's Boardwalk Resort (which like Vero was designed and built from the ground up as a combination of hotel and time share)

The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge (ditto the approach taken at BWV and Vero)

Disney's Vero Beach Resort (ditto again, as previously mentioned)

Disney's Beach Club Villas (which were added to an existing hotel resort)

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas (which are being added to an existing
hotel)

That leaves only SSR, HH and OKW as stand-alone time share properties.

Ergo, they are in the minority, and it's to say the least interesting that with its newest newest resort, DVC is going back to the approach of adding time share units to an existing hotel property.

Of course, that wouldn't have anything to do with the problematic sales history of SSR.

What? Are you kidding or are you that ignorant. The Boardwalk is just that, The Boardwak. The Inn and DVC are located adjacent to The Boardwalk. The stores, restuarants, activities on the Boardwallk are not part of DVC ot the INN. The Boardwalk is a Disney venue into itself. Don't be so rediculous to suggest it has anythin to do with the resorts.

Yes, certainly, the interior theming, pool area and signage inside the property have nothing to do with the 1930s mid-Atlantic shorefront. Just like the little "horsey" in the lobby of SSR has nothing to do with Saratoga springs. Yep, it just happened to be thrown inside a generic middle class condo property.

The INN is a resort, don't try to be "cute" with word play.

Apparently, some have never been to BWV. Walk in the main entrance - there is a single lobby, with the inn rooms off to the right and the villas to the left. There aren't separate entrances, much less any signage stating you are entering or leaving the "Inn resort" vs. the "Disney Vacation Club resort."

You are simply in the Boardwalk Resort.

Go to the Disney website and see how many "Inns" categories are listed. They fact that they DVC resorts are shared resorts with hotels is not what makes them so popular. Its the location to Epcot and MGM, otherwise VWL would be commanding resale prices in the 90's per point also.

Yep, the fact VB offer DVC members flexibility in choice (between a slightly less expensive ocean view inn room vs. a more expensive villa) has nothing to do with it's popularity. And SAB (which existed pre-BCV) has absolutely nothing to do with the popularity and high resale value of BCV. Nope, it's just being somewhat close to two theme parks, as opposed to VWL which is a ten minute boat ride from the single most popular theme park on earth.

Yep, location is all that matters, the quality, theming and design attributes of a resort are completely irrelevant.

 

[Chuck S]

I think VWL was added after the lodge was built, which would explain why it is so much smaller. Also at VB, aren't the inn rooms part of the DVC inventory, and owned by members...otherwise we wouldn't be able to reserve them with ponts...so technically VB IS a fully DVC operation, like OKW, SSR and Hilton Head.

So, technically it wasn't until the 4th DVC was in the planning and building stages that a "blended" DVC/WDW resort made its debut.

 

[loribell]

I think VWL was added after the lodge was built.

That's what I was thinking as well Chuck. WL was built and then VWL was added on. You are also correct about the Inn at VB being part of DVC, otherwise we would not be able to book those rooms using points.

By the way, just how long is this going to go on?

I have seen posts about SSR's pool being crowded yet I have never seen it as crowded as SAB.

I have seen posts about it's pool being to small, but there are also three more pools for the resort. Now if you want to talk about small that pic of the BWV pool makes it look tiny. It is the one resort that we have no desire to stay at. Of course that does not mean I am going to sit here and bash it over and over and over and over...well I hope you can all get my point.

People complain about entirely to many things around here and I'm really not sure why this thread has been allowed to continue. There are a couple of people in particular that go way overboard trying to convince people that SSR is a terrible resort. We get it, you don't like it!

You know it's fine if you don't like it but please stop trying to convince those of us that do like it that it is inferior and that we should not like it.

Please do not reserve rooms there when you have waited to late and it is all that is left. Rent out your points and stay at a deluxe resort. I would really hate to run in to you while you are having such a terrible time on your vacation in a villa at a place many families never have the ability to enjoy.

Enough already folks!

 

[Slakk]

That's what I was thinking as well Chuck. WL was built and then VWL was added on. You are also correct about the Inn at VB being part of DVC, otherwise we would not be able to book those rooms using points.

By the way, just how long is this going to go on?

I have seen posts about SSR's pool being crowded yet I have never seen it as crowded as SAB.

I have seen posts about it's pool being to small, but there are also three more pools for the resort. Now if you want to talk about small that pic of the BWV pool makes it look tiny. It is the one resort that we have no desire to stay at. Of course that does not mean I am going to sit here and bash it over and over and over and over...well I hope you can all get my point.

People complain about entirely to many things around here and I'm really not sure why this thread has been allowed to continue. There are a couple of people in particular that go way overboard trying to convince people that SSR is a terrible resort. We get it, you don't like it!

You know it's fine if you don't like it but please stop trying to convince those of us that do like it that it is inferior and that we should not like it.

Please do not reserve rooms there when you have waited to late and it is all that is left. Rent out your points and stay at a deluxe resort. I would really hate to run in to you while you are having such a terrible time on your vacation in a villa at a place many families never have the ability to enjoy.

Enough already folks!

Applause!!!

 

[tomandrobin]

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas (which are being added to an existing hotel)

Wrong....AKV is a seperate resort. No shared amenities, its own pool, check-in, shops, restuarants. Pretty much everything. They are not connected by a walk way or anything.

That leaves only SSR, HH and OKW as stand-alone time share properties.

Still wrong, see above.

Ergo, they are in the minority, and it's to say the least interesting that with its newest newest resort, DVC is going back to the approach of adding time share units to an existing hotel property.

Again, still wrong, see two above.

Of course, that wouldn't have anything to do with the problematic sales history of SSR.

Sales have never been problematic, in fact SSR plans to sell out earlier then projected or rumored here on the dis!

Yes, certainly, the interior theming, pool area and signage inside the property have nothing to do with the 1930s mid-Atlantic shorefront. Just like the little "horsey" in the lobby of SSR has nothing to do with Saratoga springs. Yep, it just happened to be thrown inside a generic middle class condo property.

I was not refering to the theming of the resort. The Boardwalk is a seperate entity. Everything located there today can be shut down tomorrow by Disney. The Boardwalk, the Boardwalk Inn and The Boardwalk Villas are there different things. The sign in the picture is for the actual Boardwalk, has nothing to do with the Inn or Villas.

Apparently, some have never been to BWV. Walk in the main entrance - there is a single lobby, with the inn rooms off to the right and the villas to the left. There aren't separate entrances, much less any signage stating you are entering or leaving the "Inn resort" vs. the "Disney Vacation Club resort."

You are simply in the Boardwalk Resort.

Single lobby, yes...Its a shared resort....we all know that.

Yep, the fact VB offer DVC members flexibility in choice (between a slightly less expensive ocean view inn room vs. a more expensive villa) has nothing to do with it's popularity. And SAB (which existed pre-BCV) has absolutely nothing to do with the popularity and high resale value of BCV. Nope, it's just being somewhat close to two theme parks, as opposed to VWL which is a ten minute boat ride from the single most popular theme park on earth.

What are you trying to say? Is there a point to this?

Yep, location is all that matters, the quality, theming and design attributes of a resort are completely irrelevant.

Location is one factor of many. Your opinion is just that....another opinion.

 

[Dean]

While VB has an inn component, it was never built as a hotel property. It was built to supplement WDW vacations hence the over abundance of Inn/studio type options. It was originally planned to be somewhat larger than it is and was scaled back due to slower than expected sales. Another little known fact is that when VB was first being sold, a "unit" for sales purposes was an entire floor. They quickly corrected this blunder with some legal maneuvering.

 

[disneynutz]

Wrong....AKV is a seperate resort. No shared amenities, its own pool, check-in, shops, restuarants. Pretty much everything. They are not connected by a walk way or anything.

The existing Animal Kingdom resort is loosing the 5th & 6th floors to the AKV conversion. I was told that we will check in at the same lobby as regular guests. Future construction will have it's own check-in but that will be several years away.

 

[abk96]

SSR - not even on the long range radar screen

So you haven't even stayed at SSR and you have such a strong opinion on it. That is just too FUNNY!!!!

 

[beachblanket]

I think VWL was added after the lodge was built, which would explain why it is so much smaller.

The villas were added as a second phase to the orginal construction, so yes, they were to some extent an appendage like BCV.

Also at VB, aren't the inn rooms part of the DVC inventory, and owned by members...otherwise we wouldn't be able to reserve them with ponts...so technically VB IS a fully DVC operation, like OKW, SSR and Hilton Head.

First, DVC allows you to reserve any available Disney property using points, not just DVC villas units (as example, I've used points to stay at the Grand Californian at DL - that's a hotel that has no DVC element whatsoever). Go onto the DVC website and you can readily find the point schedules for every hotel at WDW and DL; they're all part of the "Disney Collection."

Secondly, when I made our ressie for our 8/06 stay at VB, I actually got off on this exact tangent (are the inn rooms owned by DVC VB owners?) with a MS CM (as part of a tangent on the availabilty of cash nights). She said they are not, only the villa units at Vero are. She added that the majority of those who stay in the inn are not DVC members, which is certainly what I sensed during our stay there (the typical VB visitor during summer is a non DVCer who is appending a 3-4 day stay at Vero in front of or right behind a stay at WDW).

So, technically it wasn't until the 4th DVC was in the planning and building stages that a "blended" DVC/WDW resort made its debut.

More likely the third. Whatever, it is still clear the majority of DVC resorts are a mix of hotel and villa units.

 

[JerJan]

OK...so apparently beachblanket is right and we are all wrong! Whatever, get over it....move on! I'm personally THRILLED that I will never run the risk of running into beachblanket at SSR which is my FAVORITE resort!

 

[beachblanket]

So you haven't even stayed at SSR and you have such a strong opinion on it.

Yes, I haven't stayed there, but apparently you missed one of my prior posts on this thread - I've seen the place, having walked around it for the better part of an hour soon after it opened. And I 've stayed in enough other DVC facilities to know that the interior attributes of villas don't vary from one to another that dramatically.

That knowledge, my short tour and posts like the one that started this thread have convinced me that my family and I were smart to buy what we did (and when we did, for almost $22 a point less than the going resale price now) - and will never have to second-guess ourselves while enjoying our home over in the more popular Epcot neighborhood!!

 

[Chuck S]

First, DVC allows you to reserve any avaiable Disney property using points, not just DVC villas units (as example, I've used points to stay at the Grand Californian at DL - that's a hotel that has no DVC element whatsoever). Go onto the DVC website and you can readily find the point schedules for every hotel at WDW and DL; they're all part of the "Disney Collection."

You certainly don't know very much about your ownership, do you?

Guess what you can NOT reserve on points? Resort rooms at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk Inn, or Beach Club. Whenever an associated DVC resort opens, you can no longer reserve the regular rooms at those resorts on points. Yet you CAN reserve rooms at the Inn portion of Vero because they ARE owned by members.

More likely the third. Whatever, it is still clear the majority of DVC resorts are a mix of hotel and villa units

Again, incorrect. VB, HH, OKW and SSR are all DVC units. VB, HH and OKW were all open and operating before the blended BWV resort.

VB Inn rooms ARE DVC inventory, and owned by members.

 

[drakethib]

I swear all of this going back and forth arguing over resorts.

At the risk of getting banned by the mods, if this type of immaturity continues, I guess the next thing that happens (the men anyway) is that we have we have a wee-wee measuring contest?????

Geeze, if you don't like the place don't go or don't buy into it. Why the need to botch about it. I don't like BCV so I will not being staying there anymore if I can help it. Is it worth bashing the place? No. although a beautiful place, It is just not my taste. To each his own.

BTW, I would win the contest.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Shoot, where is that applause sign that Linda (the guru of the All Stars Family Suites) has? Go, Chuck!!

drake, you da man!!

 

[loribell]

I swear all of this going back and forth arguing over resorts.

At the risk of getting banned by the mods, if this type of immaturity continues, I guess the next thing that happens (the men anyway) is that we have we have a wee-wee measuring contest?????

Geeze, if you don't like the place don't go or don't buy into it. Why the need to botch about it. I don't like BCV so I will not being staying there anymore if I can help it. Is it worth bashing the place? No. although a beautiful place, It is just not my taste. To each his own.

BTW, I would win the contest.

OH MY GOSH!!!! You are too funny!

 

[beachblanket]

You certainly don't know very much about your ownership, do you?

Really? Then I'm nnow to say the least quite confused...about how I was able to get my MIL four nights at the BW Inn (not Villas, Inn) last May using my points.

I just called her and asked her to fax me the DVC confirmation letter (so I can pdf it and post it here if this debate continues). Perhaps you are referring to some prior policy which changed at some point?

Again, incorrect. VB, HH, OKW and SSR are all DVC units.

We are apparently only "debating" VB (I never said HH, OKW or SSR were "blended.") Whatever the financial structure of VB is/(was?), it is not (like SSR) solely a mass of separate condo-complex type buildings. The Inn structure dominates and is the heart and soul of the resort.

VB Inn rooms ARE DVC inventory, and owned by members.

Then why was I told differently by MS? And no, not by one of the "ah...er...let me check" types of CMs; yes, I know not to completely trust the latter.