First of all, I would like to thank Dave for this thread...it really has started me thinking. And, B3...you're comments have really started me thinking as well.
Here's my thoughts: Do owners of other
DVC timeshares besides SSR have any right to complain about the shortcomings of SSR? Absolutely!! Why? Because, if I really feel that SSR is "sub-par" (I know people hate that description....just using it as an example here

), and because the size of the resort is equal to the size of the three smallest on-site DVC's....there is a good chance that will be my "less than 7 month option". That would make the quality of SSR my business. For my family, the bottom line is this....I do not care for SSR, but my dh hates it. He says his vacation time is too valuable to spend in a resort like that (i.e....we will not go to WDW if we have to stay there)...extreme, yes...but true. If SSR were the same size as the resort that we bought into (208 units), this would not be such a concern...our chances of staying there would be very small.
But, let's just look at the rough numbers (these are from memory, so forgive me if I am wrong):
SSR 858 units
OKW 512?
BWV 383
BCV 208
VWL 137
That equals 2098 units on-site.
SSR is 40.98% of all on-site DVC rooms. 41%?!!!! So, the owners of all 4 other on-site DVC's make up 59%, and SSR owners make up 41%? That means that, outside of your 7 month window, the chances of staying somewhere besides SSR become VERY small...that makes the quality of SSR ALL of our "business". As someone who owns in a system that shares availability with that resort, but has been told that we can never stay there (by dh), that really messes with my vacation plans. I hate feeling like I can only book between 7-11 months out, and there is NO flexibility in my vacation days...it is pretty stressful.
So, here's what I have been thinking:
Looking at the size of the rooms, DVC does have a responsibility to make the "desireability" of the resort equal to the % of onsite rooms that resort has. That seems like it will be the only answer to be fair to ALL owners in the "flexible trading system".
Therefore, until polls taken by DVC show that the popularity of the resorts are (in descending order):
1) SSR
2) OKW
3) BWV
4) BCV
5) VWL
Their work should not be done!! I really think Dave is onto something. Nothing can be done about the location of SSR (unless a new park is built, it is never going to be next to a park), but something should be done to make 40% of the on-site DVC owners (SSR or otherwise) think it is the BEST resort ever!!! If that is adding horses, re-doing the theme to a "Mary Poppins" Victorian one, adding a stage show in the theatre, adding "race tracks", a monorail, lowering the points, or WHATEVER would make SSR AMAZING in the eyes of 40% of on-site DVC owners...that is what they need to do.
Then, they need to focus on "improvements" to make the desireability of the other resorts fall in line with the size of the resort as well. I think this is the responsibility they have to owners of ALL resorts. Until then, none of us will be truly happy.
Sometimes, I think DVC feels that just by "saying" something, it comes true (maybe it's all the pixie dust in that place). But, I remember a while back, a new SSR owner posted that she bought SSR because she wanted to own at the "flagship" DVC resort. I think the ink was still wet on her contract...and, this was obviously a term used by her guide. I think B3 is onto something here. I don't know whether all guides use the "buy here, stay there" sales tactic (mine certainly did), but I do have to wonder about a guide who says, "SSR is the flagship DVC resort" when so many others have amenities and features that SSR currently does not have. If SSR had a pool like BCV, was in walking distance to a park OR had a monorail, had poolside food (with waiters), a character breakfast for the little ones, had SV and DTD view options with prices to reflect as such, and room service...I could see a guide saying it was the "flagship" resort....but, not as it is now.
And, maybe cobbler is right. Maybe DVC thought the popularity of OKW would make SSR a great thing...but, they didn't really "reproduce" OKW. They made the rooms smaller, the points higher, and the resort bigger.
I'm not sure why people think that old owners want to just "bash" the new kid on the block? I think the assumption is that tearing down the new resort makes old owners feel better (since they have already laid down their money, and cannot buy into the new resort). Well, I purchased my DVC after SSR was in pre-sales, but before the expansion was announced. I almost cancelled my contract (I was in ROFR) when the expansion was announced. Why didn't I? I believed that just because I didn't care for SSR, that DVC must know better than I, and that MANY other people would LOVE SSR. Honestly, from reading these boards...I do not believe that is the case.
I would be THRILLED if DVC opened a new resort that I adored!! How cool is that? My points could be used at a really cool resort, new options would be added....and, I don't have to do anything. Why would I (or any new owner) possibly want to think badly of a new resort? I can guarantee you that I will be cheering if a CVR, AKV, or PV opens. Would I still prefer my "home"...probably...but, I would be thrilled at the new options.
But, back to my old discussion with Maistre Gracey....even if a resort were on the monorail, right next to MK (such as a CRV), I don't think ANY resort should have 850 rooms, when others in the "flexible trading system" have 137. Even if, on paper a CRV looks "AMAZING"....that could still cause problems with the owners of the 137 resort. Why am I adding this element to the conversation? Because, IMO DVC has an ADDED responsibility to make SSR even MORE amazing than they normally would because they chose to add 300+ rooms to the resort AFTER it started selling. At that time, DVC should have been held to answer the question, "Okay...what WONDERFUL features are you adding to make 41% of on-site DVC owners choose this as their FIRST choice of properties?"
And, that is something DVC should be held to "fix". I own at one of the hardest resorts to get into (BCV). By the numbers above, BCV should be one of the LAST resorts people want to get into. Making BCV worse is not really an option (unless you let maintenance/housekeeping slip even further), but improvements should be made to shift desirability so that BCV is one of the least desireable resorts to stay at.
I know many people will consider this post "bashing", and for that I am very sorry. I don't mean to bash, but sometimes it seems like whatever negative point is mentioned...it is labeled as "bashing" (except, I can say pretty much whatever I want about BCV and no one says I am "bashing"

). I feel that, on these boards there is a sense of "You can only say negative things about a resort if you own there". But folks....in actuality....we all own at all of them!! If you don't believe me....try booking at 6 months, and see where you can stay.
Beca