should SSR reallocate?

[TenThousandVolts]

I also voted YES reallocate but would be perfectly happy leaving the points chart as is but being able to guarantee a location or view.

 

[MrsNick]

I'd also be satisfied with no change to point structure, but guaranteed bookable sections.

That said, I do think the Carousel should have a lower point structure. Not just because of distance to the rest of the resort, but because it has no amenities of its own! It does not have its own leisure pool. Yet every other section has its own leisure pool, and the Grandstand's leisure pool is actually a feature pool with a pool bar and refillable mug station.

Honestly, if any section needs a pool and refillable mug station, it is the Carousel due to its location in the resort. As others have said, sections of the Grandstand are actually closer to the HRS pool than the Springs. So, I really don't get what the thought process was when the resort was designed by giving the Grandstand those amenities instead of the Carousel. It doesn't really make sense.

 

[mwehttam]

I'd also be satisfied with no change to point structure, but guaranteed bookable sections.

That said, I do think the Carousel should have a lower point structure. Not just because of distance to the rest of the resort, but because it has no amenities of its own! It does not have its own leisure pool. Yet every other section has its own leisure pool, and the Grandstand's leisure pool is actually a feature pool with a pool bar and refillable mug station.

Honestly, if any section needs a pool and refillable mug station, it is the Carousel due to its location in the resort. As others have said, sections of the Grandstand are actually closer to the HRS pool than the Springs. So, I really don't get what the thought process was when the resort was designed by giving the Grandstand those amenities instead of the Carousel. It doesn't really make sense.

I agree. Looking at a map of the resort, the two main pools are very close. For the Carousel it is long walk to the closet pool and it is a quiet one at that. Very strange that there is no quiet pool at the Carousel.

-Matt

 

[rantnnravin]

i seriously don't think it needs to be as complicated as purported
even the value resorts have preferred/standard locations and those were restructured when it was discovered that some areas were more desirable than what Disney considered "preferred"

wanna talk complicated, look at AKV's point structure
now, if that's not confusing...

am enjoying all points of view here...

 

[loribell]

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.)

I totally agree with you. There really isn't a bad section, people just aren't giving it a chance. I stayed in the Carousel after moving there from VWL in December. I could have waited for a room in another section at check in, the CM asked if I wanted to wait or take a room that was ready. I took the room that was ready. The walks to High Rock Springs, the lobby & AP seemed no longer to my family than the walk from our room in the villas over to the main pool at the WL.

So I voted no. The points are fine the way they are.

For those that are advocating room guarantees for SSR owners think about how you would like that when you choose to stay at one of the other DVC resorts.

 

[dwelty]

I don't think it matters that much, every building at SSR has it's pros and cons.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

For those that are advocating room guarantees for SSR owners think about how you would like that when you choose to stay at one of the other DVC resorts.

Kind of like how it works at BWV only without the points difference. You really need that home resort advantage to get standard or bw views there. I don't own there and would love to snag a standard view room someday- but it seems totally fair to me.
I would like room guarantees available and to be first come first served- giving early bookers an advantage- I am not saying an owner should be able to call 2 months out and be put infront of a non-owner requesting a certain view or location, but the 11 month advantage would help owners secure prime spots at SSR.
I think that would help the situation that so many here complain about regarding SSR- that SSR owners use most of their points elsewhere, creating an imbalance. I think there would be less switching if they had view/location guarantees.

 

[Dean]

For those that are advocating room guarantees for SSR owners think about how you would like that when you choose to stay at one of the other DVC resorts.

Owners at a given resort should have the best rooms and first choice no matter when they book. But at least some way of booking an area directly gives the owners the chance to stay where they want and leaves the left overs for non owners as it should be.

 

[mello]

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

In fact, I'd probably be happier in the long run, since then I would't have to pay more points to book my favorite area, CP! All I'd have to do is plan ahead, which I do anyway lol.

 

[mello]

I'd also be satisfied with no change to point structure, but guaranteed bookable sections.

That said, I do think the Carousel should have a lower point structure. Not just because of distance to the rest of the resort, but because it has no amenities of its own! It does not have its own leisure pool. Yet every other section has its own leisure pool, and the Grandstand's leisure pool is actually a feature pool with a pool bar and refillable mug station.

Honestly, if any section needs a pool and refillable mug station, it is the Carousel due to its location in the resort. As others have said, sections of the Grandstand are actually closer to the HRS pool than the Springs. So, I really don't get what the thought process was when the resort was designed by giving the Grandstand those amenities instead of the Carousel. It doesn't really make sense.

I totally agree. Grandstand would be a "prime" area even without the nice pool because of the golf course and the location. I can see that there are folks who want that "away from it all" feeling, but I'd hazard a guess that they're in the minority (mainly I've deduced that from all the complaints on these boards about how spread out SSR is). And I agree... the very fact that Carousel is away from everything is all the more reason to give it some amenities of its own.

I'll say again that I like to walk, and we walked all over SSR, and back and forth to DTD many times, so walking isn't so much the issue for me (though it surely is for lots of folks who've posted negatively about SSR), it's just the fact that Carousel is not only out there by itself, it also is the only area that doesn't have anything to offer, such as a pool, hot tub, drink refills, DTD, golf, or two possible bus stops, for instance. All the other areas have at least one of these things.

A Question for the poster who mentioned the shortcut to Grandstand through the golfcourse. I'm glad to hear about that. When dh and I studied the map we thought that would be a lovely walk. Did they extend the pathway all the way out to the road there by the guard shack?

Anyway, an apology to other SSR owners. I'm sorry to sound so negative, I really do LOVE SSR! It's just that I'm such a compulsive planner that I can't help looking at the resort map and doing a bit of planning myself. If it had been up to me, I would have given Carousel a pool of it's own with a drink refill station, and I would make a beautiful park with benches overlooking the lake and DTD back by the boat launch in the area that's now a parking lot by the tennis courts. I would also move the preview center out once SSR is completed, and the preview babysitting area would become a kids' club (how awesome would it be to have one so close to DTD!), and the ice cream parlor would remain open as a resort ice cream parlor. But that belongs on another thread lol.

 

[loribell]

Owners at a given resort should have the best rooms and first choice no matter when they book. But at least some way of booking an area directly gives the owners the chance to stay where they want and leaves the left overs for non owners as it should be.

I don't really have a problem with owners at a given resort having the best choice of rooms at their given resort but I don't agree that they should no matter when they book; only if they book within their 4 month priority period. I think it would be great to be able to book a specific area but it should only be a guarantee based on when it is booked, not just because they are owners at that particular resort.

 

[HUFF590]

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

 

[murcor]

I would be happy at Congress, Springs, Grandstand or Paddocks.

I cringed at the thoughts that I may have to stay in the Carousel area some day

 

[PECOS BILL]

I think the layout of the resort is great except for just the Carousel.
As said earlier, if a pool was built out there with a drink station I think that area would become a wonderful area. It would be it's own little resort area that all of a sudden I think folks would request.
We've stayed in the Paddock, Springs and the Grandstand. All are great and have there own little idiosyncresies.

 

[BroganMc]

I do like the Carousel section. It seemed more remote (from the street) and relaxing than I envisioned before. A playground, pool or drink refill station would complete the section.

In fact, drink refill stations at all the pools would be worthwhile. All they need is a cubby hole for a soda fountain. Check it when you refill the towels.

Congress Park actually felt the farthest to me when contemplating refilling my mug. Everything else was on the main route to AP.

 

[rantnnravin]

so if they're not planning on putting any amenities in the Carousel, why NOT offer a "value view" section for fewer points per night?

 

[Chuck S]

They can NOT adjust points downward without raising points elsewhere. If they did, they would be guilty of "overselling" the resort under Florida law.

 

[rantnnravin]

that's a given.

 

[Dean]

They can NOT adjust points downward without raising points elsewhere. If they did, they would be guilty of "overselling" the resort under Florida law.

They probably still could be selling less points just like at BWV. But realistically I can't see them increasing points so the only reasonable solution would likely be a booking category rather than a reallocation.

 

[abeyst]

I think a set up like BWV is a great idea. I'd like to have a guaranteed DTD view for the trips when I want that view. I also think it would draw a lot more demand to have a separate DTD (as well as STd and Pfd) categories.

And the points could be more for Pfd and DTD view rooms and less for std view rooms. Sure, some people would complain, but it wouldn't stop them from booking the pfd rooms when they want the view/room location!! It falls right in line with the laws of supply & demand....