Newbie getting ready to buy SSR...I think???

[corvair]

Hi...just took the tour 2 days ago...we really want to buy..our guide was very nice..I would never want to stay there...so here is the thing..we were told you would never have a problem unless you tried to book around the holidays...do you think that is true....going through disney makes more sense to my hubby...longer contract and can use them to finance...we have to decide buy tomorrow....one more question.....i know there is no maid service...but can you get room service for food?....Really want to buy...but I do not want to stay in SSR....any help would be great...thanks...amy

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow! I wouldn't buy SSR if I were you, but if you want to buy from Disney you can get on a waitlist with them for the resort you really want. You may even not have that long a wait, and you can still finance using Disney, but you would not be getting the longer years. I would not buy into SSR and always expect to get into another resort, especially if the resorts that you really want to stay in are either VWL or BCV, I think the chances of getting into OKW or BWV are better, even in December if you book 7 months out.

There are people who own at SSR and do not plan to stay there, so you wouldn't be the only ones with that plan, and those people themselves will be making it harder for you to do what you want, stay somewhere other. It's like there will be "neighbors against neighbors" battling it out at the 7 month window.


Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too would suggest you go on a waitlist for the resort you WANT to stay at rather than buy at SSR if you never plan to stay there. I do see the point about the extra 12 years if you are young enough to enjoy that. Maybe you could go on the waitlist for a contract at your favorite DVC resort and then buy an add-on for SSR to get at least SOME points for the extra 12 years.

 

[MagikMom]

When we first bought in 2002 our "home" was Hilton head. We also just bought points last October at SSR. As long as you can be pretty flexible about where you want to stay you shouldn't have a problem. We've stayed at BWV and BCV booking at the 7 month window without a problem. We don't go during the Holidays so it's not an issue for us. There are so many different resorts to choose from. As long as you're willing to be flexible it shouldn't be a problem. I think that half the fun of DVC is staying at the different resorts! We leave on Thursday for 16 days and we are staying at 3 different places. 3 nights at All Star Sports (to save weekend points) 8 nights at BCV and 4 nights at AKL.

 

[corvair]

Thanks.... I did ask our guide about a wait list for other resorts...but he never really answered that....my hubby really wants the extra years.....I am so confussed.....I would not like SSR....looked rather boring to me....we would want BWV or BCV......and we would go in June...for the most of the time...not sure what to do...need to let him know by tomorrow to get the discount.......does any one also know about room service? thanks..amy

 

[dianeschlicht]

No room service.

 

[CarolMN]

There are definitely times that are not around the Holidays that are difficult to book at 7 months. If you want to stay at the VWL, BCV or get a guaranteed Boardwalk view or a standardf view room (less points) at the BWV, you may very well encounter problems.

For example, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is difficult to book at the VWL. Doubt you could get anything there now, even though it is still 6 months away. (And this is a slow time for the parks). For that same time period, the two BWV views mentioned above have been sold out since before the 7 month window opened and I believe that is also true for the BCV.

Other popular times for the BCV & BWV ocur during the Food & Wine Festival - that's October through mid -November.

It is not impossible to get into the smaller resorts at the 7 month window, but it is not a slam-dunk by any means.

What your guide told you may be mostly true right now, but it is very unlikely to be true for much longer. Read these threads before you decide to buy SSR, knowing that you don't ever want to stay there:

I always have trouble booking at other DVCs except SSR

Hard to make reservations this year

Best Wishes -

 

[bobbiwoz]

There's room service at BWV, (people complained about trays being left in the hallways) don't know about the others.

Bobbi

 

[oogsdaughter]

We just bought into SSR two days ago and were able to book BCV 1 bedroom villa for 6 nights 12/11-12/17 with no problems. We even inquired about VWL and they too had a 1 brm villas available for that week. Now I'm sure the week of xmas is booked, I just wanted to share our experience so far. It all depends on how flexible you are and if the holiday weeks are a priority.

 

[corvair]

Thanks for all the great info...i am pretty sure we are going to buy into SSR.....we will be flexible...there are 4 of us...so we could even go with a studio or whatever is available.....I do know our guide told us..we would get the poiints very soon and then in Feburary would be our usage year...so in Feburary of 2006...we would have 500 points...we are planning to buy 250...that 500 points sounds great....or we could do another vacation this year....and use the 250....I guess it sounds like there is room service at the DVC resorts that also have regular rooms... amy

 

[bcvillastwo]

I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. Our DVC membership is at BCV but we've stayed at HHI, BWV, and WLV and didn't have any problem getting reservations in the 7 month window. Now, with that said, in each and every case we were traveling outside the big travel times (Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.) In addition, I hear that it's difficult to get rooms at BCV and BWV during the Flower and Garden Festival (6 weeks or so in the Spring) and Wine and Cheese Festival (4 weeks or so in the Fall) if you aren't members at those resorts.

I don't want to discourage you but you need to know the facts (or at least what commonly passes as fact on these boards).

With all of that said, I still don't think you can go wrong with DVC.

 

[dianeschlicht]

(snip).....we will be flexible...there are 4 of us...so we could even go with a studio or whatever is available...... amy

I think you will find a 1 bedroom will often be available longer than a studio or 2 bedroom.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I cannot imagine spending that kind of money to buy a resort where you NEVER wanted to stay. How disappointed would you be if that were the only thing available to you? If you plan on booking SSR at 11-months to make sure you have a ressie and then transfer to another resort at 7-months, how disappointed will you be if nothing else for your timeframe is available?

 

[reedycreek]

i just bought into SSR, and although i cant say i will NEVER stay there, i am certainly gonna try for the other DVC first when i am planning my trip. i was not overly impressed with SSR, hopefully it will improve as it gets bigger. but i wanted to take advantage of the good promotions they have at SSR, and wanted the longer contract, so i took a risk. i look at is as, "hey, i am at disney either way, even if i have to stay at SSR, its not that bad, certainly better than all stars, or off site!!!"

 

[ptrbryant]

We really want to own at VWL and resales (other than large contracts) seem rarer there. We stayed at SSR last May and, while it was very pretty and clean, I hate to say it, but I felt like I could be anywhere. We had a great stay, but both DH and DS9, before I mentioned anything, said it didn't feel like part of a WDW vacation like it did when we've stayed at WL/VWL or even POR.
It's tempting, when you look at the additional years at SSR, to think of buying there. And, of course, what's great about DVC is that there're properties for every taste and for many, SSR is a great deal. But, the only DVC we really want to stay at on an ongoing basis is VWL---we'd like to try BCV and HHI sometime. As SSR gets bigger and DVC members increase, I think it's inevitable that the 7-month window will be less and less helpful compared to the 11 month window.
As most people here have always said, you're always safe if you buy where you want to stay.

Karla B.
Hopefully, soon-to-be VWL DVC owner!

 

[corvair]

Thanks for all the great replies...I should of not said I would never stay at SSR...but I would rather stay at the other DVC resorts if possible.....

Reedycreek...we are thinking like you...can't pass up the great promotions...and like you said...just being at disney is great no matter what...

Thanks...amy