Please Help--SSR or Pop Century

[buck0086]

My DS4 and I will be going to WDW October 15-19. Our family bought 320 points at BLT in May and this was to be our first trip using points. We were going to stay at SSR for 64 points. The AP discount just came out and we could stay at Pop Century for $305. I'm thinking that we might want to do that instead since it is just the two of us. We could save the 64 points for future family vacations. What else should I consider? Thanks.

Buck

 

[quirty30]

Do you already have a DVC reservation for those dates that you will cancel? I too, am thinking about using the AP discount for a CSR stay the end of October, but I'm going to call MS tomorrow to see if I can even get anything with my points. If not, I'll go for the AP rate at CSR; but I'll use my points if I can. You might want to try the same strategy.

 

[buck0086]

Do you already have a DVC reservation for those dates that you will cancel? I too, am thinking about using the AP discount for a CSR stay the end of October, but I'm going to call MS tomorrow to see if I can even get anything with my points. If not, I'll go for the AP rate at CSR; but I'll use my points if I can. You might want to try the same strategy.

I do have a reservation at SSR. But I'm thinking that for $300 I could save 64 points for sometime in the future when I can book 11 months (or 7 for that matter) out.

Buck

 

[rentayenta]

SSR. You bought the points to use them. Unless you are planning a Disney Cruise or something I don't see the need to rat hole points.

 

[Crystal_27]

Buck, even though with both resorts you are going to have to take the busses everywhere with either option, you are still comparing a value to a deluxe. With SSR you are getting better pools, better dining options, free laundry, free Internet, etc., etc., etc. It would be a no-brainer for me to stay at SSR!! Good luck with your decision!

 

[marynvince]

SSR vs. Pop Century?????

That's like Filet Mignon vs. Flank Steak, Mercedes vs. Kia, Disney vs. Universal, Mobile Home vs. Pop up camper, Bottled water vs rain water, cable vs broadcast, Mortons vs Longhorn

I think you get the idea. With 320pts, using 64 will hardly put a dent in your balance.

Enjoy your first trip home in style!

 

[Hessie628]

Stay at SSR!!!!!!! I've stayed at POP.... it just does not compare. Your DS may like the theme at POP b/c everything is so big and bright, but I'd still stay at SSR. It is beautiful and IMO easier to travel to and from. Good luck and have fun on your trip!

-Jessica

 

[logan115]

Do you "need" these 64 points for an upcoming trip, or are you still able to have enough points for your next trip if you use the 64 on this one ?

You and your little one will have plenty of room at POP, and my DS (5) loves POP just as much as SSR/BCV when we stayed there. It's actually hotel snob Mom and Dad that "have" to stay at the DVC resorts.

If using these points doesn't prevent you from getting the accommodations you want for your next trip I'd say stick with your SSR reservation and enjoy your first trip as an owner - why pay $30K out of pocket, than another $300 on your first trip back ?

One other thing to ask, is free dining offered during the period you're going, this could make POP a little better deal, if not I'd say stick with your SSR reservation.

Chris

 

[beccasmom]

We love the extra room the DVC resorts offer and find it very difficult to go back to the regular resort hotel rooms, no matter how nice they may be. Unless you are saving points for a big trip, go w/SSR.

 

[Cmbar]

Just my opinion but I would save the points and go to POP. And the next time I go on a DVC trip I would use those extra point to stay somewher other than SSR. IT is just OK for us. If we had a choice between POP for cheap and "wasting" our points at SSR I would always pick POP. We think they have the best food court and bus service at Disney. But that is just us...


For you, you have to decide what type of trip this is going to be. We bought BLT to have a different kind of trip. If you are going to be spending a great deal of time at the resort then maybe stay with SSR. If you are going to be just running around doing the parks, why do you need bigger accomodation for two people? Personally I would save my points to get better choices on my next trip, like staying at one of the other DVC resorts. Now if you asked whether you should use your points to stay at AKV with a 4year old son, then I would pick AKV over POP for the more exciting and interesting themes for a kid. SSR just seems more like an adult resort ..... I don't think I am helping much! Sorry!

 

[Donna M]

A big part of using DVC is planning in advance, so I'd plan that trip to BLT at least in your head and figure out how many points you need. This way you will know if those 64 points really are needed for the future trip.

We bought points so we don't have to pay cash for the trips.

I'm wondering if your SSR points are the points they gave you for buying into DVC. I don't know much about that since we bought in a long time ago, but I think I read something about using them only at SSR. If you are new to DVC do you feel you understand the banking system well? I wouldn't want you to lose those SSR points.

 

[permavac]

I agree with other posters that you have to consider the amenities. Since bus service is needed for both places, that's a wash. But what about the fridge and microwave you would get at SSR? If you are the type to want to lounge in the room in the morning and have coffee or heat up some leftovers, you will definitely miss the SSR amenities so I would just stay there. That's what I usually try to think about - what's important for THIS stay since every trip is different for us. We love staying at Pop by-the-way If it were me and I felt I didn't need the extra amenities at SSR this trip, I would save the points for an upgraded room the next time I went. My DH and I have only done studios at DVC and I would splurge on a 1-bedroom for a future trip. Just another thought.

Terri

 

[allshookup]

I personally would never pay cash for a room now that we have DVC. That's the reason we bought DVC so we weren't dishing out cash. We have 300 points and manage to 2 trips a year in a 1BR so I would imagine 320 should be plenty & even if I was short a few for my next trip, I would borrow before I stayed at POP. Not that there's anything wrong with POP, we've stayed there a couple of times & it's fun, but that food court & main pool can be a mob scene (especially after the parks close) & I'd miss my balcony/patio the most. It's really nice to sit out there with a cocktail, especially while the kid(s) are inside watching their television shows that I can not stand watching for 2 seconds & mine are teen/tween.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like the option of making coffee/breakfast in our room and I enjoy having a balcony. I pick SSR!

For only one night, I was tempted by the AP offer. I have one night in a AKV value studio before our VWL December stay. The price was very low for the All Stars, but I couldn't click on "buy." In the end, I would rather wake up in Jambo, have coffee and enjoy an hour or two at AKV before heading out. We're going to do some Florida sightseeing before going to VWL. We were actually starting out in a Fairfield Inn offsite for free, Marriott points, but we're planning to have dinner that night at Artist Point, and once we enter WDW property, I can't go off site

Bobbi

 

[cogero]

I'm a hotel snob and turned my kid into one (she is 7.5) so she would opt for DVC and not even a studio she would go for a 1bedroom.

We bought our points to be able to get 2 bedrooms when we wanted. So we have plenty though I am trying to get more LOL. thinking of taking collections for gifts on this.

Anyway I would opt for SSR over Pop. Having said that I will say I have never stayed in anything less than a deluxe at Disney unless you count the one trip we took in a rush that someone else was paying for because we had just suffered a personal loss and I could of slept on a park bench and been happy to be away for a bit.

i say if it isn't going to impact you go with SSR

 

[MissyDVC]

Have stayed in both and would definitely choose SSR.

 

[dgaston]

I just changed our Oct F & W weekend to CSR from ASMO because we are out of points after our family extravaganza in Sept. I got CSR for the same AP rate I paid there in 2004. DH is happy as he wants to stay at all the resorts, and I do like the pool, pool slide, and hot tub there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's a no brainer....SSR for sure! Why settle for a value when you can have deluxe accommodations with a full kitchen and jacuzzi etc? It's like choosing canned beer over champaign and strawberries!

 

[GGOOFY1]

Hi Buck, I assume you have a studio at SSR booked at that time. If the points aren't an issue and you aren't concerned about saving them for future trips, stay at SSR. The amenities are so worth it. We have stayed at POP for a weekend to extend our trip and it is like comparing apples and oranges. I did not mind POP, but the rooms are smaller, you can hear water running through the pipes, the walls seem paper thin. We could hear people walking back to their rooms and it sounded like they were in the room with us They weren't even that loud!!! Would I stay here again, SURE!! If it means I can stay at WDW longer, in a heartbeat!! The buses for POP aren't that bad, they do not share with any other resort. This is a plus, since the 3 All Star Resorts share.

 

[Cmbar]

That's a no brainer....SSR for sure! Why settle for a value when you can have deluxe accommodations with a full kitchen and jacuzzi etc? It's like choosing canned beer over champaign and strawberries!

He is staying in a Studio, no jacuzzi or kitchen included! (And I would pick a beer over champaign anyday. That stuff is nasty! But I do love the strawberries) . Anywhoo.. That is the point he is trying to decide. He is two people one of which is a 4yr old boy who I am sure could care less about the size of a room. If Dad/Mom is happy with the size and it means their whole family could go on a nicer vacation next time, I can't even begin to see wasting points to stay at SSR with a 4 yr old. It is bus locked just like POP but with a worse bus situation.

Oh and by the way I was just at POP and while I definitely agree the rooms are small and especially for a family of four, I disagree we heard people walking around and we never heard a toilet flush. We were on the fourth floor in Bldg 9 (right near the bus stop!) and loved it.