should SSR reallocate?

[jarestel]

I would like this, too - but I'm not so sure it would be easy to do, because apparently there are many more members who prefer to get into their rooms early (rather than getting a view request granted).

Yes, I've been around long enough to remember the great room-ready vs assigned room wars. It would be easy to do, since as you point out it used to be done this way, but I agree that DVC may not want to do this. Not due to any overwhelming demand from members but simply because it's easier for them to hand out available rooms as guests check in rather than go through the bother of pre-assigning them.

Member demand has been used more than once to justify actions taken by DVC and oddly enough very few members who post here ever remember being asked. Hmmm...

 

[drakethib]

But this exists at every single resort. Everyplace has parking lot, bus-stop, or dumpster views that cost the same as other views. Unless there's a really obvious difference - like Savanna or Boardwalk views - it just seems a little excessive and complicated to try to categorize the views and points.

Agree

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I love SSR, but I would support a change to the point structure.
Owners should get priority booking windows for DTD views and maybe the Preferred Golf Views of the Grandstand Buildings.
I dont think that those that complain about having to stay at SSR as their last resort should get prime locations and views, when you cant get standard views or Boardwalk views without being an owner.
I think the Carousel should be reserved for non owners booking at less than 7 months that cant get into their home resort

I definitely agree!!!

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Dean, are you saying when you book, you book Congress Park or Springs...same points as is, but you know that that's where you will be? I would be fine with that.

exactly.

I wish they would do this. I am an SSR owner and I would be far less likey to go for a 7 month switch if I knew I had a guaranteed DTD view.

 

[simzac]

I just returned from a stay in the 2nd to last Grandstand building to open. I was at the far end, just across from Treehouse Villas.

Frankly, I had to almost beg to get a room AWAY from the main areas. MS insisted on putting a request on my reservation to be 'close', and at check in the CM also tried to convince me to take something close in, or at least one of the closer Grandstand buildings.

I loved the solitude, and those last two buildings will always be my preference. Yet many others will find them 'too far of a walk' etc. Preference is definitely a personal thing!

Sounds like just the place I want to stay at when we eventually stay at SSR. We love to be far away from the hub bub.

 

[IndianaMouseLover]

I love SSR, but I would support a change to the point structure.

Owners should get priority booking windows for DTD views and maybe the Preferred Golf Views of the Grandstand Buildings.

I dont think that those that complain about having to stay at SSR as their last resort should get prime locations and views, when you cant get standard views or Boardwalk views without being an owner.

I think the Carousel should be reserved for non owners booking at less than 7 months that cant get into their home resort

I agree with everything you mentioned. I would really support the priority booking window for the DTD views for owners of SSR.

 

[mello]

I've been saying that ever since we saw the Carousel section. I love SSR, but imho, Carousel really needs a lower point value.

 

[mello]

But this exists at every single resort. Everyplace has parking lot, bus-stop, or dumpster views that cost the same as other views. Unless there's a really obvious difference - like Savanna or Boardwalk views - it just seems a little excessive and complicated to try to categorize the views and points.

I agree that all the resorts have more and less favorable views, and I agree with what you said about obvious differences. I think all the sections of SSR have the same small disparity in views that the other resorts have, but the big disparity is more about the location. Everything is pretty central to something, or has something to recommend it - be it a pool, or the golf course, or DTD, except Carousel. It's pretty far from everything, and there are no amenities out there. Now I don't mind walking, and dh and I walked all around the entire property, and it's a beautiful walk, but I'd hate to have to do that walk from Carousel to everything else each time I wanted to refill a mug, for instance. If they don't restructure the points, they at least need to give Carousel a hot tub and a drink refill station, or let guests there have free bike rentals, or something. There just needs to be something to make people want to stay there.

 

[mello]

exactly.

That could work nicely.

 

[Dean]

While every resorts has room with better view, locations, etc; only BWV and VB have locations that rival SSR as defining the haves and have nots IMO. This isn't the case of a single or few rooms being far worse from a location and view standpoint but a large resort with at least a third of the buildings being in a far inferior location (IMO and apparently in others as well) compared to the rest. IMO it would be far more fair to the owners at that resort to be able to book the location they want. This could easily be done without upsetting the points balance and in the situation described, with little if any manpower dedicated to doing so.

 

[NYMomof4]

One of the main reasons that we like the DVC resorts is for the resort itself (the main pool, community hall at some, etc...) I always travel with kids and a good part of our stay is at the resort vs. day and night at the parks. To be far out at Carousel would really put a damper on the vacation. We have stayed in The Springs and Congress Park so far and loved both locations. Grandstand looks to be a winner too, and the Paddocks have amenities. I like both ideas (lowering points somehow or even raising to guarantee a section if need be) and giving owners some guarantee at booking or arriving.

 

[mwehttam]

IMO it would be far more fair to the owners at that resort to be able to book the location they want. This could easily be done without upsetting the points balance and in the situation described, with little if any manpower dedicated to doing so.

That would be ideal. When DW and I check in for our July stay at SSR I have no problem to wait for a room if it means a location I prefer (for this trip, the Springs).

-Matt

 

[rantnnravin]

wow! a 50-50 split!

 

[bobbiwoz]

wow! a 50-50 split!

I'm surprised. I voted for the reduced point structure, but I would be happy if you could book an area and be guaranteed to get that area.

Bobbi

 

[Starr W.]

Okay if we can be guaranteed a location(Congress Park, Springs or Grandstand) that would work for me.

If they redid the points required for certain areas, to balance things out they may drop for Carousel, but increase Springs, Grandstand or CP.

 

[Geezer]

I don't see that SSR is different from OKW now. There are a few studios at OKW that don't have a view, but they are the same points as one that has. I don't see that SSR is any different from that unless there are a lot of parking lot views.

 

[emlutz23]

I really don't think a new point structure is necessary. I stayed in the Paddocks last time and had a beautiful view. And I thought it was very convenient that we just walked over the bridge and crossed the road to get to everything. It's all about perspective. What seems liks a long walk to some may be just fine for others.

We used to stay in the FW cabins a lot before we joined DVC and we usually had to rely on the internal bus service there to get around the resort. I like that at SSR I can walk from wherever I'm staying.

I'm just so happy to be at Disney, I don't really care where I am! So go ahead and request your DTD views and short walks, you won't get competition from me!

 

[BroganMc]

I'm in the midst of my trip home so my full write-up reviews and inside tips has to wait another day, but I had to chime in here with a radical viewpoint. I walked all around the resort finding the hidden and not-so hidden pathways at all hours of the day. And you know what I discovered? There really isn't a bad section at SSR.

Congress Park felt the farthest out to me from the Springs, but then it was also the closest to DTD. (Waiting till the ferry runs at 11:15am is a bit of a pain if you want to do some early morning shopping.) The much criticized Carousel has a shortcut route to Grandstand through the golf course (the prettiest walk of all my walks btw) and it's own private lake. It feels like a nice little retreat there. The Paddocks has two bus stops it can use (Carousel and Paddocks) and shortcut walk across that bridge to the Springs. The Springs is on top of everything but has the lake views. And Grandstand has that remote yet close enough to everything. (It's the best place for parties traveling with two powerchairs and/or scooters! The busses are always able to take two there.)

So no I wouldn't have the reallocate points. I would recommend MS allow folks to book sections, but then it doesn't really matter. Anywhere you get put at SSR you'll find something to recommend it. It's just such a new resort the ins and outs aren't as well known to members like OKW is. (BTW I also discovered OKW is a lot more spread out than SSR, much to my surprise. I'd only be happy there by the main section, I believe. No way would I take that walk to DTD on a regular basis. It nearly ran my pwc battery down.)

 

[3DisneyKids]

I don't understand how the Grandstand was grouped with Carrousel.

Grandstand is closer to the main pool area than sections of Congress Park or The Paddock. Also from the Grandstand it's an easy walk to the Springs bus stop, so when going to the parks there's no trip through the resort first, and when coming back from the parks, the Grandstand bus stop is the first stop.

We were at the Grandstand a week ago and thought it was a great location.

And the pool area at the Grandstand is better than any of the other satellite pools.

Not all the villas in the Congress Park area actually have DD views so charging more points for that area would meet with complaints from those who got less than DD views.

The Paddock area has great views toward the water, but are further from the Springs area. Should they pay more points for their water views?

There's something good about every area. And things less desirable about every area.

Well said! Each section of SSR has pros and cons (like all of the resorts), and I think it would be a logistical nightmare to divide up views/sections/points at SSR. As others have said, you can The Springs and thus be close to the main pool and AP, etc., but have a view of the parking lot. So--is this more points because of the location or less points because of the view?

Using these criteria, there would be 10 categories! There are 5 sections (CP, Springs, Paddocks, Carousel, and Grandstand) and then each one would have a preferred view and standard view. Like I said, logisitical nightmare and member chaos.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I voted for the reduced point structure, but I would be happy if you could book an area and be guaranteed to get that area.
Bobbi

Me too! That would be terrific.