No swapping once SSR is finished?

[megrod74]

We bought SSR sight unseen and I have every intention of staying at all the DVC resorts. I'm one of those people who bought SSR because that's what was being sold by Disney and we've been contemplating buying for several years now.

I definitely agree that the home resort advantage will become important with all the new members coming in.
I really think that one thing that Disney could have done to help with this problem is to keep the point structure the same as OKW. That way, one draw would be using less points. I really don't think the proximity to DTD is enough to warrant the extra points. The rooms are the same size as BWV, VWL and BCV, but not near a park. Less points than those resorts but more than OKW. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by megrod74
...(snip)......I really think that one thing that Disney could have done to help with this problem is to keep the point structure the same as OKW. That way, one draw would be using less points. I really don't think the proximity to DTD is enough to warrant the extra points. The rooms are the same size as BWV, VWL and BCV, but not near a park. Less points than those resorts but more than OKW. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe not, but you still bought there. Disney/DVC is about sales - that is where they make the bulk of the money. No need to keep the point structure the same as OKW if sales continue at an acceptable rate.


I actually have a different concern than the OP - I worry about gettting to stay at my home resort (BWV) due to all the non-BWV owners who want to stay there. I worry that DVC will give in to the pressure to decrease the home booking advantage. (By contract, they can decrease it to as little as 1 month). I'd rather see it increase - for the times that I am unable to book as soon as the 11 month window opens.

As an owner who definitely bought where she wants to stay, I'm in favor of more "home resort" perks for owners. For example, I think owners should get preference for requests at their home resort.

JMHO. YMMV.

 

[colleen costello]

Shannon, I love the Lodge and will be sad if it's never possible to stay there. OKW I don't worry as much because its' so large, but even it may be harder to get in the future. Perhaps more trading WILL become the norm. I own at BCV like you, and hope it will be good for "swapping" someday.

One nice thing is there is always CASH! If we were really desperate for a room at the Lodge, we could just stay in the "regular" side. We often add on cash nights to stretch our points. No reason we couldn't do that at the Lodge. Same deal with all the DVC resorts - you can always try to get a cash room from remaining inventory.

It's hard to predict what the Saratoga owners will do. We have taken 7 or 8 trips since buying into DVC, yet have only spent 3 nights at Beach Club Villas. The low points at OKW have lured me repeatedly. Saratoga owners may stay put much of the time because of the lower points.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by CarolMN
I worry that DVC will give in to the pressure to decrease the home booking advantage.

CarolMN, I guess this is possible, but I don't know that DVC would want to throw current owners under the bus in favor of new ones. ( I'm hoping so, anyway ) I think it's entirely possible that we may see a rash of posters here on the DIS in coming years complaining that they can't reserve at non-home resorts because they're always booked, but I don't think DVC would change the system. Even if the booking window did change, we'd just adjust and make our ressies at whatever booking window it was changed to. It wouldn't solve the problem for people wanting to book at non-home resorts unless they eliminated the home resort advantage completely. And that won't happen.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by megrod74
I really think that one thing that Disney could have done to help with this problem is to keep the point structure the same as OKW. That way, one draw would be using less points. I really don't think the proximity to DTD is enough to warrant the extra points. The rooms are the same size as BWV, VWL and BCV, but not near a park. Less points than those resorts but more than OKW. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Higher points means more $$$ for DVD, plain and simple. It's a way of raising the price. Just like when VWL came on board, it should have been a few less points than BWV but it wasn't. Actually the structure at SSR would have been pretty close to where the points should have been for VWL.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by megrod74
I really don't think the proximity to DTD is enough to warrant the extra points.

They threw in the extra 12 years to entice prospective SSR owners.

 

[Tigger1]

With OKW having a new slide, do you think OKW will gain back popularity. It does have larger rooms and is very peaceful. We went to a different resort this year, VWL. We did like it but we all missed home. It was depressing to drive by it and not stay there. We will be at OKW next trip.

Tigger

 

[Megangel31]

I've also been wondering about the possibility of a shift in the home booking window because of pressure from non-home resort owners who are continually unable to book at seven months. Even though purchasers are responsible for reading the paperwork thoroughly before signing on the bottom line, Disney's sales pitch is flexibility. As an earlier poster mentioned, "you can stay anywhere" is very much emphasized. Unfortunately, there may be a lot of new SSR owners who will have trouble getting into the smaller resorts and will complain accordingly (especially those who bought into the system knowing they never intended to stay there anyway).

We purchased SSR loving the look of the resort plans and DTD location even though BWV points were also available from Disney because of the conversion of the former Sales Center units. It saddens me to see posts from those who really don't like it, but will purchase because it's what Disney is selling and because they're "always" going to stay elsewhere (BWV,BCV,VWL)

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Megangel31
I've also been wondering about the possibility of a shift in the home booking window because of pressure from non-home resort owners who are continually unable to book at seven months. Even though purchasers are responsible for reading the paperwork thoroughly before signing on the bottom line, Disney's sales pitch is flexibility. As an earlier poster mentioned, "you can stay anywhere" is very much emphasized. Unfortunately, there may be a lot of new SSR owners who will have trouble getting into the smaller resorts and will complain accordingly (especially those who bought into the system knowing they never intended to stay there anyway).

We purchased SSR loving the look of the resort plans and DTD location even though BWV points were also available from Disney because of the conversion of the former Sales Center units. It saddens me to see posts from those who really don't like it, but will purchase because it's what Disney is selling and because they're "always" going to stay elsewhere (BWV,BCV,VWL)

DVC will not bend to the non home resort owners, no reason for them to. If one complains, they will cite the rules as they should. Besides, all any change in home resort window does is affect those that won't or can't plan. Those that plan at 7-10 months now will just do so at 10-11 months if the priority window were shortened to it's min of 1 month. And the reality is that most options will work out at 7 months as long as one calls day by day and uses the wait list appropriately. Exceptions will be certain times of the year, GV and BWV standard and BW view units.

 

[megrod74]

I really think that one thing that Disney could have done to help with this problem is to keep the point structure the same as OKW. That way, one draw would be using less points. I really don't think the proximity to DTD is enough to warrant the extra points.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear; I was referring to the use of the rooms, not the sales of SSR. In other words, spreading people out. Many people probably initially try OKW because it uses less points. I just thought more people might stay at SSR if it had less points / night.
But as Dean pointed out, it's all about $. You'll buy more points if you need more.

 

[spiceycat]

when DVC - OKW was DVC and was the only site until 97? when BWV opened.

My family still prefers OKW.

I like both VWL and BCV, too. I also own (very small contracts) at BWV and VWL.

I think most members who want to go in December have already been told (probably more than once) - that "no room in the inn" thing already.

I just can't see summer being a problem. It isn't now and except for certain holidays - July 4 - I don't see it being a problem in the future. Spring break different situation. It is just so darn hot in the summer time and it won't take a DVC member long to figure that one out.

Now spring break time, Thanksgiving (another of my favorite time) - when the kids are out of school - will probably be a bigger problem. Halloween is also a lot of fun - lots of kids have a fall break in October. MNSSHP is generally for the whole month of October. the middle of Feb starts spring break and it goes until the middle of April most years.

for the adults without kids in school - I can see adding the garden/flower festavial and the food/wine festavial both at Epcot to the list.

but there is whole lot of time that I can't see being busy - one of my favorite months September - just because the majority does not want to travel then. January - same reason. and probably most of the summer - just because of the higher temperature.
I mean do you really want to go with the average temperature high is 90 - when at spring break it is 74.

besides in my humble opinion - SSR is a very FANCY resort - reminds me alot of BWV - most of these members are very happy with their purchase - and it is time - for members who want a more relaxed time - there is OKW, VWL, BCV - this is my opinion yours may different.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I don't know how old the average DVC member is, but I think as we age and visit Disney many times, park proximity (for most people -- I know there are some die-hards out there with a bezillion points) will become less and less important, and the lower points at OKW will become more and more important.

After just 4 years, even my kids are less park-happy. They want to go to Universal and Sea World and my girls want to hit the Orlando malls -- and my wife wants to venture out to Orlando restaurants. So we are happy to park by our door and spend less points.

But even without the above reasons we would want to spend most of our Disney vacations at OKW. It's our home away from home and we love it.

I think that increasing popularity at OKW after another 10 years or so is as likely a scenario.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by spiceycat
I just can't see summer being a problem. It isn't now and except for certain holidays - July 4 - I don't see it being a problem in the future.

I don't know about this. Granted it's hot and crowded in the summertime but for DVC'ers with school-age children, summer might be the only viable option. As membership grows, it's possible summertime might become much more crowded at DVC than it is now. I guess time will tell.

 

[lenshanem]

I don't know about this. Granted it's hot and crowded in the summertime but for DVC'ers with school-age children, summer might be the only viable option. As membership grows, it's possible summertime might become much more crowded at DVC than it is now. I guess time will tell.

It might be SSR will have a larger membership with smaller children as those extra years might seem more appealing than a resale with the shorter contract. Also SSR members might be younger in age. How many times did you read on these boards that SSR's longer contract didn't seem appealing cause they would be like 100 years old then?

 

[spiceycat]

don't assume that do a survey

I assumed that alot of the sales of SSR was young couples and singles - because of PI/DD - SSR is a great location for these who like to party at PI.

I got told HERE that was not true.

Many SSR members claimed THEN to buy because that was the only resort DVC was selling.

you would think they have never heard of resales - probably some of them didn't.

but even when I was a new member at OKW (DVC) many of the members (Florida resident) said that brought because of WDW shopping - so DD is more popular than most guest realize. I mean in the old days it wasn't - but have you been their lately - it always seem crowded to me.

if these are the people who are buying at SSR - then I would expect them to love their resort - like OKW's love theirs.

 

[Peteyi]

Hello,

We have bought at SSR sight unseen two months ago. I am still surprised that my DW went for it...

We were just down two weeks ago and stayed at the AKL (just wonderful) and while we were there we finally got our tour of SSR. We were extremely happy with the rooms and the grounds and the view of DTD. We do feel the pool will be too small once things are in full swing. I will see how things go year by year as the other phases complete. Yes we are concerned about the size. How hard will it be to get the rooms with the good DTD view or the rooms much closer to the main pool. When we bought we did not know about phase III and are a bit nervous..... I am hoping that many SSR owners will try to stay at the other places to allow me to have better choices at home.

Why did We buy SSR:

- We liked the fact that we are near DTD. Our favorite park is always changing and there are days that we will not even go to one, but we like to shop and snack at DTD often. I do hope DTD expands more in the future. More shops and restaurants. Anyone know if there are plans for this?

- We liked the extra time. Yes I will be 85 by then, but my kids will have kids by then and they can enjoy the extra time.

- We did think about buying resale but liked the Disney financing option. It made it extremely easy.

- We were ok with not being able to walk to a Park (though I can see many times when this would be great). But it is not like there is one place that is close to every park. We would still have to take the Bus or drive to the others. We were even happy at AKL and that is as out of the way as you can get (except for the AK). It does not bother me to travel 25+ minutes on the Bus to get to a park (though we never needed to). Plus two of my wife's favorite parks are Universal and IOA. All of the Disney DVC places are about the same distance tfrom there.

- We will eventually try some of the other places as 50 years is a long time.... My sister in law just got back from OKW and loved it. She can't stop talking about it...

So yes I thnk that all of the new SSR owners will make it harder for many to get into non-home resorts, but I can see great potential in SSR and I am hoping I for one never feel I need to go to another place to be happy.

If you really want to turn the tables and free up everyone concerns that there are going to be a flood of SSR owners fighting to get into everyplace else, they should link the Monorail to SSR and DTD. I think that would keep many at home....


Peter