Resort preferences....with an SSR tilt

[rutgers1]

I have been reading the threads on resort preferences since joining DVC in April. I will admit that part of my interest in doing so was to figure out why SSR tended to be less hyped on the board than several others. After digesting it for the past 8 months, here is what I have concluded:

1) Disney fans tend to be divided into two groups - those who want their resort to be in one big building (like a big New York City apartment building) and those who prefer things to be spread out (like a condominium community). Although I hate to generalize, usually those who are the strongest advocates of the apartment style are those who don't like to walk a distance to restaurants and other amenities because they have really young kids, are getting up there in years, or have a physical condition that makes walking difficult. For those reasons, I totally understand why a resort like SSR or my favorite moderate hotel, Port Orleans Riverside (which gets ripped for the same reasons), are not favorites.

2) Understandably, people want to be near the parks. The old "location, location, location" phrase applies here. DVC could build a shack next to Magic Kingdom, and it would sell at a brisk pace. They could build a 4-star resort 5 miles away, and it would not be as popular.........Considering a large number of DVC members have small kids, it is understandable that they would want to be as close to a park as possible.

3) A smaller resort is obviously going to be more coveted than a larger resort since there is less availability.

With that said, I can totally see why SSR gets mixed reviews. To me, it is a niche resort. It appeals to the person who....
- likes a slower pace
- likes a spa setting
- enjoys proximity to golf and shopping
- enjoys walking the grounds

To me, the beauty of Disney's resorts is that they have everything that you could be looking for. For my wife and I, we would prefer SSR if we had our choice. Our kids would prefer to the Boardwalk for the slide. We know people who LOVE Wilderness Lodge, yet we did not like it at all. That couple did not like SSR because of the expansive grounds, yet we didn't like Wilderness lodge because of the LACK of expansive grounds.

We look forward to many trips over the years, and we can't wait to try out each resort!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Nice analysis.

I have just bought DVC (BLT) because that appealed to us, but I can see us staying at SSR for the location and the theming. The only way I got DH to buy at all was to bribe him with golf. He is just not into Disney (born and raised outside the US, he wasn't exposed to it as a child) so the lack of Disney theming at SSR (and BLT) really appeals to him.

 

[kikiq]

Good job with that analysis. It's pretty much what I've discovered also.

We're SSR owners. It reminded us of some of the Colorado resorts we stayed in when the girls were playing tournament softball. Walking and distance are not issues for us. But the beauty of DVC is there is something for everyone.

 

[starbox]

One thing that I think also lead to some SSR bias is the way it was sold. We went to the preview of SSR years before buying in - and SSR was really ugly when it was being built. It just was. The preview center was there next to the tennis courts - and a building with some models - but there was no pretty pool, no landscaping, no spa, no AP. It was very unappealing.

With AKV and CR, there's clearly an existing resort in people's minds - but SSR was an unknown that was not a very pretty "baby".

Once people actually stay at SSR, they tend to have a changed mind - and the resort is really lovely now (and will just get lovelier as the landscaping continues to mature) but I do think that there was an initial "blech" reaction to it when it was incomplete.

 

[oakmanner]

We our recent empty nesters and we love SSR. We had our choice of SSR or AKV when we purchased and did not like the dark rooms at AKV so we chose SSR as our home resort.

We will stay at as many of the other DVC resorts over the years but are proud to call SSR our home away from home.

Dennis-

 

[disneynutz]

Our kids would prefer to the Boardwalk for the slide. We look forward to many trips over the years, and we can't wait to try out each resort!

What about the slide at Storm-a-long Bay?

 

[Silver Queen]

Interesting discussion. We just purchased membership at SSR in April and recently completed our first trip "Home". I wasn't totally enthusiastic about SSR (partially because we live 20 miles from the real Saratoga), but the price was right and we didn't like the dark rooms at AKV.
After having experienced the resort we love it! The light colors and lovely, expansive grounds were perfect for us. We're looking forward to staying there again as well as at some point experiencing the other DVC resorts.

 

[spiceycat]

you arugment would work for OKW too.

while I love OKW - SSR is not even close.

OKW does not have spa - but it has the bigger rooms - that makes up for a lot. plus OKW is more laid back. SSR compared to OKW is down right fancy.

always nervous around fancy - afraid that I would spill something.

yes so why am I buying BLT - just crazy.

that say stayed at SSR twice - soon 3 times - and do love it. Congress park is wonderful and grandstand is great.

 

[Donna M]

One of the great things about DVC is the ability to try out the different resorts.

We own SSR and think it's beautiful but this Feb. we're staying at VWL and very excited.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think SSR is lovely, and I love the Thomasville furnishings and the granite countertops. There is nothing wrong with SSR. The resort is large and NOT next to a theme park. That makes SSR easier to get into than the other DVC resorts. My desire to own at SSR is much lower because I know that I will have no trouble staying there in the future. The 11 month advantage has little to no value.

I do believe that the resale price and MFs of SSR is very attractive and essentially makes up for the popularity shortcomings. I think the tree house villas will also help bolster the price.

IF Disney were to make trading out or going on a cruise more feasible, then I think SSR would be the ideal resort to own as the TRADER.

Overall, people are beginning to discover SSR for the lovely resort that it has become. In a few years, we may all kick ourselves for not picking up a SSR resale for $72/pt.
Finally, I may be wrong about this, :but I think a lot of BCV resale price can be attributed to the size of the resort. Everyone has an opinion, but I would not pay a $25 premium to own BCV for 12 fewer years over SSR.

 

[tjkraz]

Finally, I may be wrong about this, :but I think a lot of BCV resale price can be attributed to the size of the resort. Everyone has an opinion, but I would not pay a $25 premium to own BCV for 12 fewer years over SSR.

I would agree with that.

We paid $79 per point (new!) for our SSR ownership 5 1/2 years ago. Considering the 12 extra years of ownership over all other options back then it was the only decision that made sense.

Some resale contracts are a bit lower than that now, but we got 5+ years out of our points since the purchase. Even if we had to sell now, I would still consider it a wise purchase decision.

As for buying "new" today, with all of the other alternatives available I couldn't justify paying a similar cost for SSR as AKV or BLT. Those contracts are even longer still and will probably have higher resale value down the road (supply/demand.)

 

[lundve]

I guess we must be odd balls... In the last three years we've stayed at BCV, BWV, OKW, SSR, and VWL. Of those, we much preferred the sprawling condo style and the light colored decor of SSR. Yet, we have two children under the age of three and have traveled with and without a rental car. The key for us is to have two strollers so we can go anywhere. I should say it is not just because we own there.

The only other resort accomodation that came close was a first floor BW room that fronted the quiet pool where some members of the party could come and go as we please without trudging to the closest elevator. Proximity to DHS was a plus too.

However, since I can use my SSR points anywhere I am happily an owner there who is looking to add the treehouse villas this year to my list of places I have stayed.

 

[sajetto]

My situation conflits with your analysis. I adore expansive grounds, the apartment style, and being away from the bustle of the parks. However, I'm not a fan of SSR. I'm not saying I hate it, but I'm in love with OKW and that is where I want to stay other than just a few rare trips to AKV. My husband and I are planning to sell our SSR contract in the near future and replace all of those points with OKW. I can't exactly put my finger on "why" I don't care for SSR, but it isn't for any of the reasons you listed.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

I thought the interiors were pretty but the spa @ SSR is very overpriced.

 

[rutgers1]

Since you mentioned the spa, I did have a negative experience there. I called up to find out how much a massage was, as I wanted to treat my father and myself to one last year, as he had partially subsidized our family's previous trip to Disney. They gave me a price, which I thought was fair for a massage and I called back a few minutes later to book it after confirming the time with my dad. The person asked what type of massage I wanted, and she proceeded to give me a list. I assumed they were all the same price, so I chose "deep tissue." Well, when we went to pay, it was significantly more. I was in no mood to argue with them, but I thought it odd that she gave me one flat price when I said, "How much does it cost for a massage?" She had never mentioned different prices for different kinds of massages.

 

[crisi]

Another reason is that most people will buy what Disney is selling. And then feel an attachment to home - after all they own it. We bought resale, but we bought back when there were far fewer options - and so the die rolled that we ended up at BWV (I wanted VWL, and we made an OKW offer before ending up at BWVs - the only one we'd seen is VWL - at the time VWL was new and very expensive on the resale market, and the OKW contract we found fell though).

Because we own BWV - its "home," and have stayed there and created memories there, it now has a really strong place in my heart. And there is plenty to like about it.

So SSR also appeals to people who have an attachment to the area. With the addition of the THV, you are seeing even more of that - the THVs were a magical place to those of us of a certain age - whether WE ever got to stay there or not, if we knew about them they were coveted. With the loss of the Adventurers Club, we lost some of that (I still hope that they do bring that one back).

 

[LSchrow]

guess we're just confused then

we love BWVs, but not BCVs (we own at both, but greatly prefer the stunning views & quieter, upscale feeling we find at the BWVs. BCVs are just too noisy for us).
we love SSR (2nd only to BWVs) for it's lush grounds, beaytifully appointed decor, & proximity to DTD. however, none of us cared for OKW

we do spend a lot of time at the resort, so care about the recreation (quiet pools, bike riding, etc), views (imho, a balcony with a view of the BW or DTD ~ aka no real life ~ means "vacation" ), transportation options, etc at each. resorts are not simply places "to crash" for us.

so our top 2 resorts are in the two different categories cited.....like as has been said: thank goodness there are so many resorts to choose from