Last minute stay... Only SSR

[suebeelin]

I was looking at a "last minute stay" in the beginning of june. I usually plan 7-11 mo in advance.

Only Saratoga available! Not even two consecutive days at kidani.

I may still be tempted but I feel bad that SSR seems to be everyone's last choice

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are ongoing refurbs at AKL and BCV and even BLT, so there may be some rooms not in inventory.

 

[supersnoop]

I feel bad that SSR seems to be everyone's last choice

There are twice as many rooms at SSR than at AKV. I wouldn't call it the last choice; it simply has more availability.

 

[bobbiwoz]

When I have tried to book last minute stays, I have always said "Yeah, we can get into SSR, let's go!"

 

[TagsMissy]

Give it a chance, you may really like it. We spent a few nights there in a 2br. No complaints at all. We've yet to return but we're trying to get to new (as in we've yet to stay in them ourselves) DVC resorts before returning to places we've been before.

 

[arminnie]

I really love being close to the old Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs). I have a contract at BLT that I am going to sell. We prefer staying at SSR.

 

[CMNJ]

I was looking at a "last minute stay" in the beginning of june. I usually plan 7-11 mo in advance.

Only Saratoga available! Not even two consecutive days at kidani.

I may still be tempted but I feel bad that SSR seems to be everyone's last choice

If you really want to go to Disney that week I would try SSR. It is a really nice resort. I personally just hate having to take the buses everywhere. It (and OKW) remind me of staying at a Disney moderate resort. They are beautifully landscaped but really spread out resorts (with multiple bus stops). We decided to extend a trip last May and were able to rent distressed points less than 2 weeks out VERY cheaply. Obviously SSR was the only place open. The villa was very nice but we did miss the walk to and from MK from BLT.
Bottom line is if I really wanted to go and only SSR was avail I would take it. We stayed in the Paddock area and my toddler LOVED the Paddock pool and kids splash area (way more than the BLT pool/slide).

 

[bumbershoot]

We love SSR. OKW ranks higher for us, but SSR is great.

If I have a (mental) problem with walking long distances for buses, I rent a car. Oh, I rent a car anyway, problem solved.

I have a contract at BLT that I am going to sell. We prefer staying at SSR.

Can't even tell you how much we bought at OKW (or even SSR when we very first took the tour and it was being sold) vs our Bay Lake contract. Well, I feel that way. DH doesn't think about it LOL. I could probably sell Bay Lake and buy OKW and he'd never even notice LOL. Except that he's the owner and I'm the associate so at some point I'd need his signature.

 

[jerseyduke]

SSR is a nice resort. The layout is big, so having small kids and no car might be a royal pain; you may not be able to take a quick walk to the carriage house to get food. My sister hated it (but she had a 6, 3, and 1 year old with her), but because of the difficulty with it's size and small kids, not the resort or room.

With a car, it is a lot more manageable.

SSR and OKW are similar in location, and OKW is usually point cheaper, so it is no surprise SSR is low on the list.

Also, people who want to be DVC members, and are not particular about where they stay, are best buying an SSR contract. Cheap points, low fees. So it is almost certainly the one most traded out of.

But I would stay there in a heart beat if it were all available (I have stayed there in the past), and I think it is a nice resort.

 

[disneynutz]

The SSR point change for Congress Park and The Springs, may create even more availability at SSR in the future.

Bill

 

[ParrotBill]

Yes, it's a fact of life that not long after the 7 month window passes your options narrow down to SSR and SSR pretty quickly. So many people want to stay at the others and there is no "penalty" really to choosing one of the places other than your home resort so many do. it was a big deal to some of us when SSR opened and all the inventory dried up so fast at the 7 month mark. We've become used to it.

We've come to like SSR more than we did at first, especially when we have a car. We are going in April and won't have a car... and had to take SSR as the only available place. I am not sure how to manage getting to the front door for a 5am ME pick up. May have to request someplace closer to the front as my wife has a bad knee and cannot walk long distances.

 

[ParrotBill]

The SSR point change for Congress Park and The Springs, may create even more availability at SSR in the future.

Bill

Huh? I guess I missed something...

 

[disneynutz]

Huh? I guess I missed something...

Disney is increasing the points starting in 2017 point charts for Congress Park and The Springs.

Bill

 

[ParrotBill]

Disney is increasing the points starting in 2017 point charts for Congress Park and The Springs.

Bill

Thanks, I went looking and did not find it yet. So apparently they have so many requests for these areas it's easier to balance demand by making you be willing to use more points. Of course, that means using your points at the other 3 areas is now even lower than it was before! So perhaps that will send more people to stay at SSR than have wanted to before. As an example, for my stay in April, points are 16 or 20 each day for a Studio. Next year, a Standard will be 14/18, and the Preferred will be 17/21. Interesting. Bonus for SSR owners who will get an extra day or two out of their contracts if they stay in standard category!

 

[Minniesgal]

We actually cancelled BWV for Easter to book SSR. My second son decided to join us and I didn't fancy 4 in a 1 bedroom so we went to SSR as we had enough points for a 2 bedroom there and I'm happy about the switch.

Instead of booking dinners at the Swan and Dolphin we have booked DS and are looking forward to walking there.

We also love the SSR pool.

 

[jimmytammy]

I have a tale of two stays at SSR...Our first, we were not impressed, it had not been completed, buses were slow, etc. Went back 2 years ago, felt completely different. Love the feel of the place, the amenities, and now with DS being a place to be worth going too, I wouldnt hesitate to stay at SSR again.

 

[Dean]

I was looking at a "last minute stay" in the beginning of june. I usually plan 7-11 mo in advance.

Only Saratoga available! Not even two consecutive days at kidani.

I may still be tempted but I feel bad that SSR seems to be everyone's last choice

Statistically speaking SSR has the lowest demand on property and it's more than just size but it's a very nice resort. I doubt the change in points booking categories will make any difference and it might actually increase it's availability for the preferred category.

 

[suebeelin]

I think I'll wait to see if distressed points pop up. I loathe to use my "premium" points, which I would be borrowing from 2017 bc we have a dec 2016 trip already booked- sad that having SSR has created this situation within the dvc network ;(.

I prefer my home, BLT and bwv, and am willing to wait a year to stay at the resorts I would enjoy more.

I don't have to go in June, it was just a "hmmm, let's see if it's possibly feasible".

Not dissing SSR-- just with two little kids, Disney springs isn't a destination for us, and the bus is tough with a poor sleeper

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Ensusieasm]

I was looking at a "last minute stay" in the beginning of june. I usually plan 7-11 mo in advance.

Only Saratoga available! Not even two consecutive days at kidani.

I may still be tempted but I feel bad that SSR seems to be everyone's last choice

LOVE SSR! Request Congress Park so you can walk to Disney Springs...and the gorgeous quiet leisure pool there overlooks the lake and Disney Springs. You can float around and watch the giant hot air balloon ride go up and down, hear the music in the distance, see the lights at night. FUN!

 

[zavandor]

The SSR point change for Congress Park and The Springs, may create even more availability at SSR in the future.

Bill

But availability will probably be for the Preferred (more expensive) section. Last minutes booking will pay for owners getting Standard category at a cheaper point cost. I've booked marathon week end 2017 in a Standard section and I'm quite happy with the saving.