Looking at SSR with a critical eye.

[bpmorley]

GPPNJ made a great point. I never meant to imply that SSR was not themed. I was more or less talking about disney theming. I like that the DVC resorts are not all cartoon character themed. leave that to the AS's and PC. If anyone here has ever been to Saratoga NY, you know that this resort is perfect in theming. I stayed there for 10 days last year and I do like the main pool, but I think something like SAB would be great. Why not build in right in the middle of the resort. Fill in some of that big lagoon and build a mini water park. Then make a "no pool hopping" pool.

 

[sajetto]

GPPNJ I think something like SAB would be great. Why not build in right in the middle of the resort. Fill in some of that big lagoon and build a mini water park. Then make a "no pool hopping" pool.

I really think this is the best option. What else could they feasibly do to make some sort of a drawing card to SSR.

Really, a sister to SAB is probably the easiest and fastest way to improve SSR

 

[allshookup]

Sorry this is the last time I'll adress you on this thread. Others seem to be offerring constructive crtiticism to make SSR the best it can be. You seem intent on arguing whether or not SSR is on site? Also from your pictures under your sig. I'm confused why you feel the need to defend SSR? Also the frequest use of subpar when describing SSR is very appropriate here IMO. I define par as equal to the other existing DVC Resorts. By that definition SSR is indeed subpar. Lets get back to making SSR better and quit the quibbling.


DAVE

Well Dave that is your opinion & you have a right to it, but others have the right to their's also. You call it quibbling, but I see it as people having pride in their home resort & voicing their right to say so. I don't think constantly calling SSR off-site or subpar is helping the resort in anyway and it is not constructive at all. It is no wonder some SSR owners, including myself, feel defensive.

I will be joyfully sitting on my balcony at SSR enjoying a glass of wine at the end of June so unfortunately I can not tell you in person how much I love SSR but I am confident you WILL meet somebody one day that will!

 

[Beca]

GPPNJ made a great point. I never meant to imply that SSR was not themed. I was more or less talking about disney theming. I like that the DVC resorts are not all cartoon character themed. leave that to the AS's and PC. If anyone here has ever been to Saratoga NY, you know that this resort is perfect in theming. I stayed there for 10 days last year and I do like the main pool, but I think something like SAB would be great. Why not build in right in the middle of the resort. Fill in some of that big lagoon and build a mini water park. Then make a "no pool hopping" pool.

ITA!!! For some reason, I think when you say, "No pool hopping", it automatically makes people think the pool is "cooler". I think that is part of the appeal of SAB. It is a really cool pool, but I think it is given this "aura" by saying "no pool hopping". I have said for years that if WDW says "No pool hopping" to BWV, and actively cards at the entrances, we would see a lot of posts saying that "BWV has the best pool slide on property" (which it really does), and the prices of BWV would start to climb.

SSR really needs a small waterpark for a pool...maybe a "natural" themed one.



Beca

 

[bpmorley]

I really think this is the best option. What else could they feasibly do to make some sort of a drawing card to SSR.

Really, a sister to SAB is probably the easiest and fastest way to improve SSR

Thank you. Finally someone agrees with something I said. haha. Actually they could leave the edges of that lagoon and make it a lazy river that would run close to every building. Except Congress Park that would be tough to engineer unless you build a tunnel. You could have it all sand lined so everyone wouldn't try to pack the middle. do you think they would raise the points if they did this?

 

[sajetto]

do you think they would raise the points if they did this?

They can't ever change the point requirement....its in our contract

 

[bpmorley]

They can't ever change the point requirement....its in our contract

That was kind of a joke. But I'm sure they would try. So when is the Wedding? We got married down there last June.

 

[sajetto]

That was kind of a joke. But I'm sure they would try. So when is the Wedding? We got married down there last June.

January 8th and its coming faster than a steam train, it seems.

I'm sure that if a SSR version of SAB comes along our dues will increase dramatically. Most likely they would level us next to the dues paid at BCV or VWL

 

[tomandrobin]

LisaS If that happened , the LAZY RIVER , I would buy enough points for two weeks in a one bedroom peak season. 1 week to do the parks the 2nd week to sit on a float and cruise the lazy river . We have a pool at home I would gladly give it up for a lazy river

Thanks LisaS great Idea

A Lazy River would AWESOME!!!! I love lazy rivers, of course that means there would definately have to be a pool bar.

 

[vanstoj]

Sajetto and Beca, Thanks for your thoughtful posts. I echo what both of you have said. We own at HH and BC and have stayed at SSR. My husband did not like it and thought it was bland. I personally was less than wowed by it but thought that when I was older with no kids it might be a nice restful place to visit. I think that they have made the resort too large and that they would have been better off doing three different themed and special vacation homes, but no sense crying over spilt milk. I do think that SSR lacks atmosphere. A t the very least, a SAB pool and a character breakfast would help draw people to SSR. Also, a free spa treatment might help ! (Highly unlikely).

Why should Disney care what we think. Well for one thing, we are their best advertisement. We reccomend DVC to our friends and family and if we are not happy with SSR and that is all Disney is selling, it is unlikely that we will be telling folks to buy now. Instead, we are probably saying wait and see what comes down the pike.

Secondly, I get the feeling that existing members who usually experience "addonitis" aren't that keen to join up at SSR despite the additional 12 years. Hence, the outrageous wiatlists for BCV, and to some extent VWL and Boardwalk. We have decided that we are holding out for AKL DVC (If only!). However, I think we would be more likely to entertain adding on at SSR if there were something unique or special about it such as a pool like SAB. Right now, owning at BCV we assume tht we will have to make reservations at 11 months out to get into BC and we also believe that we will always be able to get SSR. I don't think that the existing DVC members are clamoring to buy SSR and that could be hurting sales.

 

[greenban]

Question -
If SSR lowered their point requirements to about BW Std or OKW would that make people feel better about it??

Basically, instead of saying what is wrong with it, what would you (B3 or Dave or anyone) say what they would do to change it, or make it better. I think just by doing that it would be accepted more than what is constantly wrong with it. Remember you attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

ETA:
So if I am reading correctly, what would make this resort a true DVC resort, or a 5 star or whatever is adding;

Room Service
Pool side dining
and
Lower point cost (because of it being a condo type resort and location)

Is my assumption correct? These really seem to be the biggest areas of concern. If these things were added do you think people would still want to trade out at other resorts as much?



Oh and my dear ol hubby claims he heard at our annual meeting that they were going to add another mini-themed pool to the newer area. I swear I don't remember hearing this. Anyone??

Hey Guys & Gals!

While I don't (believe that I) resort bash, and I have NEVER stayed at SSR here are my 2.5 cents:

We toured SSR, and found the units themselves beautiful, and well designed. We were disapointed with the exterior, but this was in the midst of Phase I, so there really wasn't much finished landscapping.

However, what was there was good enough to convince us to buy in to the DVC. When we got home, I called to purchase (at the then special), but was told since I called on the 4th day, the special was not available. No matter how I begged and pleaded, they would only sell to me at $79.00 a point.

So I bought an OKW re-sale for much less at TTS. None of this is SSR's fault.

However, from what I saw when I toured, and what I have read on many, many threads here, why would I stay there for more points than OKW? Especially having stayed at OKW, and really loving the resort?

For my family and myself, we won't, and for us it is only a perceived point value thing, nothing against SSR personally. DTD is not a major draw for us at this point. Saw Cirque, ate in most restaurants once already, rented boats and sailed/crusied there and back, shopped more than once (yawn).

So for us, it is a perceived value thing.

YRMV,

-Tony

point value

 

[boatboatboat]

what are the cash reservation prices at SSR vs the other Orlando DVC's?

also it would seem DVC places less "value" on SSR then the other WDW DVC's.

You can buy SSR which has 12 more years and it cost the same as BVC, BWV,VWL,OKW. Why is that? Would seem to me, SSR should sell at a Premuim price......

 

[tomandrobin]

what are the cash reservation prices at SSR vs the other Orlando DVC's?

Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll help add at least 8 more pages to this thread! LOL

 

[tomandrobin]

OK B3, here you go! Have fun with these numbers!

Resort / Range / July 1-8 / Sept 16-23

OKW / 259-525 / 2333.73 / 2099.58
SSR / 259-525 / 2333.73 / 2099.58
VWL / 284-580 / 2614.71 / 2302.51
BCV / 294-590 / 2692.76 / 2380.56
BWV / 294-590 / 2692.76 / 2692.76

 

[Beca]

OK B3, here you go! Have fun with these numbers!

Resort Range July 1-8 Sept 16-23

OKW 259-525 2333.73 2099.58
SSR 259-525 2333.73 2099.58
VWL 284-580 2614.71 2302.51
BCV 294-590 2692.76 2380.56
BWV 294-590 2692.76 2692.76

That's very interesting. I guess that is why DVC charges fewer "points per night" for OKW and SSR. It's interesting though, that the initial "price per point" is not lower as well. I guess that is becuase of the "flexible trading system"...no matter where you own, you can stay at any of the resorts.

B3....are you reading this?



Beca

 

[boatboatboat]

yes I am reading beca.

interesting.......

It would seem that WDW when asking people to pay CASH at a resort does not place the same value on SSR as it does other resorts.

hmmmmmmmm

Another test that I find very telling is resale price.

Conventional wisdom would say that a resort with 25% more time left prior to an experation date would command ALOT higher re-sale price. Right...........?

looks like in numerous cases SSR is actualy cheaper to buy re-sale.

EYE wonder why?

I would think for someone who is simply looking to buy pts. and doesn't care where they own, that SSR would be the resale of choice. 12 years is alot.......

right?

I may buy a SSR re-sale contract, it looks like it is undervalued.

WDW/DVC didn't just pull theose prices out of a hat. They set them that way for a reason. Nor did WDW/DVC set up the point charts with no fore thought. WDW has established SSR at a price/point below that of most of the other sister WDW resorts.

 

[bpmorley]

Hey Guys & Gals!

No matter how I begged and pleaded, they would only sell to me at $79.00 a point.

So for us, it is a perceived value thing.

YRMV,

-Tony

point value

When did you get a price of 79/point? I bought SSR in June 2004. It was 95/point. We did get $3000 off of the total price(1500 for already staying at a disney resort & 1500 payback for a major complaint with our stay). Which brought it to around 75/point. Had we not been staying on WDW property it would have been 95 solid. A year later I was offered 120 points at 90/point + a free extra 100 points. Never once did I ever see those points at that low of a rate. There also were no resales back in 2004. Actually I've never seen an SSR resale

 

[boatboatboat]

1500 payback for a major complaint with our stay). Actually I've never seen an SSR resale

what happened that made disney give you 1500 back due to a bad stay?

SSR re-sales are at timeshare store. click banner at top of page.

low/mid 80's...........

 

[Muushka]

I just read your entire thread Dave, great post, loved your style .

We do not own at SSR, we have never stayed there, but we visited it. We thought the rooms were lovely. Really much nicer than our home resort (VWL-such a sad sofa in that villa ) But for us the atmosphere is everything. I would love to stay at SSR if I were guaranteed a waterfront villa, but I would be very disappointed to stay there and not at least have a great view (which I know I probably would not get).

So, I think you are right that the resort does need to add some 'zing' to it. As was mentioned, better swimming pool, better dining options, maybe some more 'Mickey' in places is needed. Hopefully DVC management will read this and perhaps take your post in the spirit in which it was given, constructive criticism .

 

[Beca]

When did you get a price of 79/point? I bought SSR in June 2004. It was 95/point. We did get $3000 off of the total price(1500 for already staying at a disney resort & 1500 payback for a major complaint with our stay). Which brought it to around 75/point. Had we not been staying on WDW property it would have been 95 solid. A year later I was offered 120 points at 90/point + a free extra 100 points. Never once did I ever see those points at that low of a rate. There also were no resales back in 2004. Actually I've never seen an SSR resale

Wow!! Seriously...$95 in June?!!! We looked at buying SSR in March '04, and I was offered $79 (if I gave back my first year's points). I didn't realize there was such a big jump between those few months. We opted instead for a BWV resale.

SSR re-sales have been up at TTS for almost as long as the resort has been opened....a lot of people have "buyers remorse" over things they buy...it didn't take long for that to happen to SSR. I heard this happened very quickly at all resorts when they were new.

Muushka....I don't know....I'm gonna have to go "head to head" with you on this one....I'd put my "lovely" sofa at BCV up against yours at VWL ANYDAY!!!! Personally, I think DVC needs to fire whoever picked out the sofas...yuck!!! (Although...the BWV one is not bad). I just don't get the "bad patchwork" action going on at BCV.

Beca