Raise Your Voice: Guaranteed Booking Categories at SSR

[sjdisneywedding]

The only benefit that I see people talking about is the removal of the unexpected surprise. We like Congress Park. We don't to stay anywhere else. If we decide that we always want Congress Park and get it, we might never have the chance to try the Springs. IF we did, we might just find that we'd love that so much better. So, by giving us the chance to select the area we stay in, then we are sacrificing the chance of trying something new.

this is the second time I have heard this type of response and its just mind boggling

you cant plan for yourself to try something new? I really am shocked that people view that as a reason to have room ready--its about the most confusing thing I have ever heard

sacrificing the chance to try something new? you are practically guarenteeing the chance to try something new whenever you want, IF you want

 

[sjdisneywedding]

The only potential issue I can see with this is if folks have their heart set on a particular neighborhood for an extended stay and the area is booked. Then you get into waitlisting and such. But the only area small enough to warrant such consternation is probably the Carousel (with two buildings and 104 units). I just can't see that area being overbooked unless the whole resort is booked.

true and even if they did not get the area they had their heart set on, then the choice is put back in their hands as to what the next step is--they can book another area or change their dates. Much better than hoping and praying for 11 months that you are going to get your area then getting all they way down there and discovering you didnt and possibly actually got an area you absolutely never wanted

I think alot of people are more flexible and giving when they know the situation ahead of time and they can make a decision--they feel like they are in control still. That control feeling is lost with room ready and opens the door for a lot of complaining.

 

[Dean]

this is the second time I have heard this type of response and its just mind boggling

you cant plan for yourself to try something new? I really am shocked that people view that as a reason to have room ready--its about the most confusing thing I have ever heard

sacrificing the chance to try something new? you are practically guarenteeing the chance to try something new whenever you want, IF you want

LOL, DVC members are very spoiled. I have spent my entire timesharing life trying to avoid the unexpected unless there is no other alternative. I research resorts, unit types, checkin and unit assignments, likely availability options and the like. It has been my experience that surprise in the travel world, esp with timeshares, is a bad thing most of the time and neutral at best. The fact that DVC members can even say the words with a straight face just goes against everything I've learned and experienced in timesharing. I wonder if they would call DVC and say, just give me any week, unit size and resort you have available? Can you imagine MS taking that call and what their expression would be. On a more serious note, if one asks for a surprise, you may very well get it. Can we say dumpster view at VWL, 2 BR dedicated units at VB looking at the road, Carousel at SSR with a wheelchair and no car, BWV preferred with vegetation staring back at you, etc. The fact that there are minor variations from the best to the worst room at any given DVC resort is protecting us from ourselves it appears.

 

[BroganMc]

I think alot of people are more flexible and giving when they know the situation ahead of time and they can make a decision--they feel like they are in control still. That control feeling is lost with room ready and opens the door for a lot of complaining.

I know for me at SSR, my priority list goes from Grandstand (I like being first on the bus route), to Springs or Paddocks (near the pools and I get lovely water views) and something else.

At one time the "something else" was Congress Park, but I found I could walk to DTD and CP just as easily from any section.

 

[minnie61650]

not necessarily- for example- at BWV: BWview and preferred view are the same # of points, yet 2 different guaranteed categories. That is what I would like to see at SSR. Even if they did raise points- they would have to lower points elsewhere (in the non-preferred categories)

I think if changes are made you will end up with 2 choices (standard and preferred ) not 5 at SSR and that the points will be reallocated.

I do not foresee MS ever offering 5 choices (1 for each section.)

BW has 2 choice categories (standard and preferred)
VB has 2 choice categories (garden view and ocean view)

AKL will have 4 choices but two of the choices are very limited.
The two limited choices being Value and Club level.

I think your campaign may backfire with DVC becoming mostly preferred ( Grandstand, Springs, and Congress ) and the other part standard (Paddock and Carousel). Kind of the like the way Pop is now.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[tjkraz]

I think if changes are made you will end with 2 choices (standard and preferred ) not 5 at SSR and that the points will be reallocated.

The reason for creating Standard and Preferred locations to begin with is because DVC feels it needs to do so in order to make the property attractive to potential buyers. As Dean said, people were upset about the road view rooms at BWV, which prompted them to bite the bullet and create the Standard View. Let's not forget that the SV cost DVC money. They had hoped to sell those rooms to the same extent as the rest of the resort, but ended up reducing the charts and giving themselves less to sell.

At SSR, the resort will sell-out in a few months with or without any changes to the point structure. Reallocation is an added chore that is not only unnecessary but apparently favored by a much smaller segment of guests.

I do not foresee MS ever offering 5 choices (1 for each section.)

BW has 2 choice categories (standard and preferred)
VB has 2 choice categories (garden view and ocean view)

AKL will have 4 choices but two of the choices are very limited.
The two limited choices being Value and Club level.

And all of those resorts are much smaller than SSR. As has been previously pointed out, most even with separate categories by neighborhood, each of them would be larger than categories at other resorts. For instance, there are more rooms in The Grandstand than there are in the Preferred BW View category at the BWV. There are more rooms in The Paddock than in all of BCV. And so on...

Getting 5 or 6 separate categories may be a wish list, but anything would be an improvement over what we have now.

 

[minnie61650]

.....
At SSR, the resort will sell-out in a few months with or without any changes to the point structure. Reallocation is an added chore that is not only unnecessary but apparently favored by a much smaller segment of guests........

Getting 5 or 6 separate categories may be a wish list, but anything would be an improvement over what we have now.

.

I agree SSR will sell out without any changes.

That is why I said if changes are made.

I think if changes are made you will end up with 2 choices (standard and preferred ) not 5 at SSR and that the points will be reallocated.........

As I see it most of the posters on this thread do not want to be placed in the Carousel section.
The Carousel section only has 90 rooms compared to 720 other rooms.
That means the odds of getting "stuck" in the Carousel section are less than 1 out of 7.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Madi100]

this is the second time I have heard this type of response and its just mind boggling

you cant plan for yourself to try something new? I really am shocked that people view that as a reason to have room ready--its about the most confusing thing I have ever heard

sacrificing the chance to try something new? you are practically guarenteeing the chance to try something new whenever you want, IF you want

We can try something new, and we plan on trying other DVC resorts, even though we LOVE SSR. I think this whole issue is being over analyzed. If given the choice, I'd rather have people who OWN at SSR get their first choice, just as I've heard many people on this board say that if they bought at their resort to stay there and that's what SSR people should do. If you wanted to stay at Boardwalk, then buy there. I think it would be only fair that owners have first selection.

When we went in December, we asked when we arrived if we could stay in Congress Park, and we could, and we loved it. Would it have ruined my vacation had I not gotten what section I wanted? No. But, I deal with that better when I know ahead of time that I'm not going to get what I want.

If they change it, I think it's great. If they don't, I will not need therapy because I didn't get what I wanted. I don't have meltdowns with change.

 

[tjkraz]

IAs I see it most of the posters on this thread do not want to be placed in the Carousel section.
The Carousel section only has 90 rooms compared to 720 other rooms.
That means the odds of getting "stuck" in the Carousel section are less than 1 out of 7.

Just my 2 cents

Personally I think there are a whole lot more layers to it than that. Many of the areas of SSR have a distinctive feel and their own pros/cons. Those who will be relying on Disney restaurants for 100% of their dining may prefer to be closer to the Carriage House. Some will prefer the DTD view or the kids' water play are at The Grandstand.

While I'm sure The Carousel is far down the list for many, that's far from being the sole reason for suggesting this change. It's about satisfying member preference at little cost to DVC.

I know I keep falling back on similar comments, but 5 years ago the BoardWalk didn't have a "BoardWalk View" category. DVC had no obligation to create such a category, other than to better accommodate the requests of guests--mostly owners at BWV. And I don't think I have EVER seen anyone suggesting that the creation of the "BW View" category was a poor decision on DVC's part.

 

[BroganMc]

As I see it most of the posters on this thread do not want to be placed in the Carousel section.
The Carousel section only has 90 rooms compared to 720 other rooms.
That means the odds of getting "stuck" in the Carousel section are less than 1 out of 7.

Just my 2 cents

The Carousel is the least requested true, but people differ on what their most requested area is.

Some just love Congress Park. I'm more of a Grandstand gal. Paddocks and Springs are currently duking it out in my mind for #2. There are those who opt to stay in the Paddocks for the water views and serenity.

So as you can see there's a lot of variance. It's not as simple as folks not wanting to be in Carousel.

 

[DVCKennyD]

I agree SSR will sell out without any changes.

That is why I said if changes are made.




As I see it most of the posters on this thread do not want to be placed in the Carousel section.
The Carousel section only has 90 rooms compared to 720 other rooms.
That means the odds of getting "stuck" in the Carousel section are less than 1 out of 7.

Just my 2 cents

Hello all,

Have been following this thread for awhile now and thought I would add my .02 FWIW... I really don't believe "getting stuck" in a particular section of the resort is the issue here at all. IMO, the essential issue being talked about is the simple notion of being "owners" at SSR, and what advantage(s) that entails. I'll admit that I'm a relative newcomer here and have only been an "owner" at SSR for about 6 mos. but I believe I know enough about how the DVC "game" works to know when I'm not being given ANY "owner advantage" whatsoever... What the he** is the point of "owning" points at SSR if there are no perks??

On our just completed trip, I guess we lucked out because they still had availability at the Grandstand area at check-in(Sunday at 2:30PM).

This would not require any reallocation of the point structure... It would be a simple matter of "rewarding" the diligent SSR "owner" with the section/neighborhood of choice when they exhibit the foresight and book their accomodations at 11 months. If said area is unavailable, at least you know at 11 months out, not while you are standing there at check-in Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to plan it so my family and I arrive, after a 16+ hour ride from Chicago, at the crack of dawn so i can "increase my chances" of landing the particular area we are interested in! Which, I might add, is the same area I wanted in the first place...11 months prior when i made the reservation to take advantage of the "owners booking window".

KennyD

 

[Dean]

The Carousel section only has 90 rooms compared to 720 other rooms.

If you add the Carousel to the Paddocks, the risk is MUCH higher. Plus certain people may have a much higher risk related to their arrival patterns, esp if they arrive late. One of the things that happened even when rooms were preassigned is that often you could complain and get your room changed to one that had been assigned to someone else. If DVC had enough backbone to just say no, that's the room you were assigned to and it meets your needs and important requests like NS and general location, all of this likely never would have happened.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If I were an OKW owner, I would very much want an elevator building each time I booked. I'm not an owner, but I do request first floor or elevator building and I've gotten it each time (two visits in 4 years of DVC ownership).

I think that OKW and SSR are more alike than not, and OKW members manage without separate categories. Was there ever a discussion of guaranteed sections at OKW? If SSR owners get anything out of this conversation, maybe it will be just booking the section, but then, if you did get Congress Park at 11 months and didn't get a view of DTD that would be a major disappointment, I'm sure.

Bobbi

 

[tjkraz]

I think that OKW and SSR are more alike than not, and OKW members manage without separate categories.

That assertion alone shouldn't be reason enough to simply dismiss the concept.

 

[BroganMc]

That assertion alone shouldn't be reason enough to simply dismiss the concept.

How's that? If OKW owners are happy with their different sections that's their business. Why can't SSR owners want and get something else? By that notion, BWV owners shouldn't have gotten the booking changes either.

 

[tjkraz]

How's that? If OKW owners are happy with their different sections that's their business. Why can't SSR owners want and get something else? By that notion, BWV owners shouldn't have gotten the booking changes either.

I believe you mis-read my post.

 

[BroganMc]

I believe you mis-read my post.

::shame-faced:: Yes I did. Darn contractions! Sorry. Just ignore me then.

 

[mello]

I think it is a perk that will make SSR more desirable.

Any time that members are the only ones with the opportunity to get or do something, it creates more desire/demand. I should think that the majority of SSR members and DVC/DVD would be in favor of anything that makes SSR membership more desirable!

 

[bobbiwoz]

That assertion alone shouldn't be reason enough to simply dismiss the concept.

And in the next sentence, I asked if this idea of separate sections ever came up with OKW. I am not an owner at either, I have not been a member long enough to know the history of ownership satisfaction at OKW...although the free passes would certainly tip the scales in favor of satisfaction at OKW. Was that enough to stop any questions about location of villa?

Bobbi

 

[TenThousandVolts]

If SSR owners get anything out of this conversation, maybe it will be just booking the section, but then, if you did get Congress Park at 11 months and didn't get a view of DTD that would be a major disappointment, I'm sure.

No - that wouldn't be a major disappointment (for me) - it would be a major improvement. For my purposes, location is the major factor as I often travel with my elderlyparents and want them to be close to the Carriage House. I have brought up the guaranteed DTD view because it would be nice to have the ability to book the very low-supply/high-demand rooms with the DTD view (the way BWV and AKV owners can do at their resorts regarding the best views.) If they are going to categorize, they may as well add the ability to book the DTD view- as it would definately increase member satisfaction. But to me, location is the most important.