SSR adding standard view in 2017

[KAT4DISNEY]

I started a thread on the member services section - but if that is repetitive I thought I would post this over here.

My initial analysis says this move is done to make owning at SSR more favorable. With what appears to be slightly more than half of the resort set up as standard view rooms, owners will now have a positive reason to own at this property - in other words - lesser points cost rooms.

Now that it appears that it's just 2 sections that were moved to preferred I'd also think that this is very likely a favorable move. Many times it's been thought that SSR points should have been equal to OKW and now much of it is.

 

[skier_pete]

It's got to be more than Carousel and Paddocks are standard rooms. Based on point distributions - I would guess at least 50% if not more of the rooms will be "standard". (Preferred rooms are going up by more than Standard rooms are going down.)

Carousel and Paddock combined have 7 "Buildings" (2 in Carousel - 5 in Paddock)
Springs, Grandstand & Congress park have 11 "Buildings" (3 in Springs, 4 each in Grandstand and Congress Park)

If only Carousel and Paddock are "Standard" that would be only 38% of the buildings - and that doesn't add up.

I think it much more likely that at least TWO of the Buildings in the Grandstand will also be "Standard" - if not all 4 of them. Alternatively, two from Grandstand and two from Congress Park. (It may all be about being center of resort - not about Disney Springs at all.)

I want to add - I don't see an issue with this - I agree with those that say that at least SOME of the rooms at SSR should be comparable point values to OKW.

 

[Sammie]

TJ said it would be Springs and Congress Park as Preferred. Carousel, Paddocks and Grandstand in Standard.

 

[erionm]

TJ said it would be Springs and Congress Park as Preferred. Carousel, Paddocks and Grandstand in Standard.

Here's his twitter post on the subject:

The only Preferred sections of Saratoga Springs in 2017 are 7 buildings in Congress Park and The Springs. Other 11 buildings are Standard.

 

[disneynutz]

Maybe they are looking to send a ton of standard rooms to Disney for cash reservations, how is the cash price determined? Chase just mailed a DVC room 35% off special for Disney Chase customers.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

The thing is Carousel is still going to be the least desired. I really wish they would add a fabulous hot tub there.

I was told the change was due to the fact that the Springs and Congress Park buildings are the most requested and member feedback supported an increase in points required to be able to book those areas instead of just trying to request them.

Naturally if they raise those points, they had to lower the others to balance out the property.

 

[Anal Annie]

Just spoke to MS to confirm that Grandstand is NOT part of this preferred movement (since Daddio had included it in his post) and it is not (YAY)! This means we won't be stuck having to pay more points for OUR preferred section. I think if they would also add dedicated buses to the 2 "preferred" sections THAT would be worth the extra points!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I started a thread on the member services section - but if that is repetitive I thought I would post this over here.

My initial analysis says this move is done to make owning at SSR more favorable. With what appears to be slightly more than half of the resort set up as standard view rooms, owners will now have a positive reason to own at this property - in other words - lesser points cost rooms. Based on other resorts - these rooms will likely book up first. While SSR owners do not 100% fill up there resort, there may now be a favorable reason to book early.

Analyzing the charts - the changes are more interesting than just two room categories. Look at the point shift:
Deluxe Studios:
Standard - 1 to 2 points LESS per night
Preferred - 1 point MORE per night
Result: Small effect

One-Bedroom Villas:
Standard - 2 points LESS per night
Preferred - 2-4 points MORE per night
Result: Moderate effect

Two-Bedroom Villas:
Standard - 3 points LESS per night
Preferred - 4 to 9 points MORE per night
Result: Moderate effect / Large effect during Magic/Premiere Season

Three-Bedroom Villas:
Standard - 3 points LESS per night
Preferred - 8 to 16 points MORE per night
Result: Huge effect

Based on the points distribution - they are shifting a higher % of points to the 2 and 3 bedroom preferred units than they are to the studios and one-bedrooms. Of course one would expect the amount of points in the change to be greater the larger the room sizes, but in particular, the shift is unusually large in the 2-bedroom units during the two "prime" seasons and especially strong across the board in the Grand Villas. While a standard Grand Villa is only dropping by about 20 points a week, the preferred Grand Villas are going UP by between 60 and 100 points a week - indicating that the "shift" here is that points were taken away from the studio and 1-bedroom units to add more points to the Grand Villas. Meanwhile - a studio in a standard unit went down by 7 points and the preferred went up by 7 points. Again, a MUCH bigger shift in the Grand Villas.

No conspiracy theory here - just saying this is clearly a purposeful move by DVC.

Thank you. You explained to me what I could not understand!

 

[Dean]

The thing is Carousel is still going to be the least desired. I really wish they would add a fabulous hot tub there.

I tend to feel that simply booking categories would have been better. As large as the resort is, having 3 (carousel by itself) would have been workable and reasonable. Or just actively consider and apply requests and give members a priority based on home resort and/or date of booking like in days of old. Overall I see this move are relatively neutral but I suspect that it will slightly decrease the demand overall since members will have to make a choice on more points or a less desired (for many) option. I tend to think the standard will be relatively popular with members. I suspect this means that more preferred will go to CRO, RCI or to cash member reservations than standard. It'll also be minimally negative to cash type exchanges since CRO will collect less on a per point basis if my suspicions are correct otherwise (more preferred to CRO, etc). So what's likely to happen is that cash guests and exchangers are more likely to end up in a preferred location on a % basis.

 

[hakepb]

Maybe they are looking to send a ton of standard rooms to Disney for cash reservations, how is the cash price determined? Chase just mailed a DVC room 35% off special for Disney Chase customers.

Bill

I don't think CRO gets any BWV standard, or is that just Boardwalk view?

 

[skier_pete]

TJ said it would be Springs and Congress Park as Preferred. Carousel, Paddocks and Grandstand in Standard.

This makes more sense.

It really IS tied to Disney Springs. Or at least partly. As someone else pointed out - Congress Park and The Springs are probably by far the most requested. By making those more points (and realize the difference is 10 - 25% higher) they will get more satisfied customers. People that want to be near Disney Springs will have to pay extra. People that want to save on points can do so, just not have to care where they stay.

More than likely this has little effect on myself - since I don't own there nor do I want to stay there if I can help it. It MAY make it slightly more likely for me to eventually get points there - but still probably not. Until Disney Springs has some honest to goodness Nightlife I am not a fan of it.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think CRO gets any BWV standard, or is that just Boardwalk view?

CRO books all the BWV cash rooms as standard view but most get pool/garden. It makes people think they got an upgrade. I think the members would be in an uproar if they were giving the coveted DVC standard view or boardwalk view points rooms to CRO. They just give whatever is left, which is usually pool/garden.

It will be interesting to see if the cash rooms at SSR are booked as standard and preferred. We will not find out until the 2017 cash rates come out next summer.

My opinion is they did this to make the lower points rooms more attractive for SSR, it's almost always the resort with rooms left. If you could save a few points, you may think more about it. Plus it gives owners the first crack at the rooms closer to Disney Springs.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

If it's true that it doesn't include Grandstand, then I'm one very happy SSR owner!!!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Im not an SSR owner, but we are frequent visitors there. I find this great news. I'm a point saver and we love the Grandstand. Not to far to walk to the springs pool, and my kids love the grandstand quiet pool. One of the best trips I ever had was a last minute weekend trip in September. My wife and kids all have their birthdays in a 3 week span so I surprised them all with a 3 day weekend. SSR was wide open, got a room in the grandstand ground floor right across from the pool gate. It was perfect.

I'm not cynical about DVC and their changes. There will always be winners and losers with point reallocations because everyone's preferences/plans are different. All I can do is fistpump when they work in my favor....and so far every time they have. Time will tell if SSR owners gobble up the standard vs preferred.

 

[Dean]

Im not an SSR owner, but we are frequent visitors there. I find this great news. I'm a point saver and we love the Grandstand. Not to far to walk to the springs pool, and my kids love the grandstand quiet pool. One of the best trips I ever had was a last minute weekend trip in September. My wife and kids all have their birthdays in a 3 week span so I surprised them all with a 3 day weekend. SSR was wide open, got a room in the grandstand ground floor right across from the pool gate. It was perfect.

I'm not cynical about DVC and their changes. There will always be winners and losers with point reallocations because everyone's preferences/plans are different. All I can do is fistpump when they work in my favor....and so far every time they have. Time will tell if SSR owners gobble up the standard vs preferred.

Philosophically I agree with you. I tend to look at things from a company, business and personal responsibility point of view. IMO this is reasonable (though not the only approach available to them) and within the rules/legalities. I tend not to look at things for what I get out of it but from an overall system standpoint. I then evaluate how best to use the system to give me the best options possible. I can see the likely possibility that the only thing available at 7 months out is often going to be the higher cost option, at least during certain times. I doubt standard will be difficult for any time there but it may not be available initially at 7 months out and I'll predict the post complaining that one is having to pay more points than they would have previously because of this change.

 

[Daddio]

On the morning of December 24, 2015, we obtained the newly released 2017 point charts and while entering the data into our points calculator noticed the new categories added to Saratoga Springs. For clarification purpose, we telephoned Disney Vacation Club Member Services and were told (after lengthy research by the CM) that 3 areas were included in the preferred view.

Because of conflicting information being posted, I have just spoken with Member Services (who again didn't know anything of the change) and confirmed that only 2 areas, Springs and Congress Park are included as preferred locations. I was also told that if you pay the extra points, you are guaranteed to be in one of those two areas but not guaranteed to be in a requested area. You can certainly request a specific area but it will be subject to availability at check in.

~ David

 

[skier_pete]

Based on history of DVC - you would think that the lower point option would go faster - however, the interesting part of this situation is there's never been a location where the LOWER point option is the MAJORITY of the rooms. The closest analogy to the SSR distribution is probably AKV - there are two main point categories and a lot of availability.

The standard view rooms typically get taken up before the Savannah view rooms. However, the Savannah view rooms are in the majority pretty strongly. (I think around 60% at Jambo House, and probably more like 70% at Kidani, though those are just "eyeball" numbers.

In THIS case - the Standard View will be the majority - by a 61% / 39% margin. But - will people be willing to pay a 15-20% premium just for the honor of being closer to the main building or Disney Springs. For a two-bedroom villa - you are talking 50-60 more points per week. While some people will be willing to do this, I think the majority of SSR owners or even other DVC owners will not. Therefore, I think it's easy to predict that the Standard Views will "sell-out" earlier than the preferred views.

Now - the big question remains - will there be times of year where the Standard View (or preferred view) "sell out" before 7-months. Looking at the data from my "booking pattern" thread HERE, studios rarely are booked up at 7-months (only a few days a year) and 1-bedrooms are never booked up at 7-months and even being booked at 6-months is rare. However, there is no way to tell how booked any time period is - for instance is SSR 90% booked the first two weeks of December at 7 months? Could we now see times where the standard view is completely booked at 7-months?

One thing is certain - we won't know for at least 15 months.

 

[skier_pete]

Another point to be made - there's been much debate over the years about "what is the best bargain in DVC". The best conclusion I've seen is "Owning SSR points, but staying at OKW on lower points". This now changes, making SSR now clearly the best bargain - "Owning at SSR - staying at SSR in Standard View" is the best bargain at DVC.

 

[Anal Annie]

Based on history of DVC - you would think that the lower point option would go faster - however, the interesting part of this situation is there's never been a location where the LOWER point option is the MAJORITY of the rooms. The closest analogy to the SSR distribution is probably AKV - there are two main point categories and a lot of availability.

The standard view rooms typically get taken up before the Savannah view rooms. However, the Savannah view rooms are in the majority pretty strongly. (I think around 60% at Jambo House, and probably more like 70% at Kidani, though those are just "eyeball" numbers.

In THIS case - the Standard View will be the majority - by a 61% / 39% margin. But - will people be willing to pay a 15-20% premium just for the honor of being closer to the main building or Disney Springs. For a two-bedroom villa - you are talking 50-60 more points per week. While some people will be willing to do this, I think the majority of SSR owners or even other DVC owners will not. Therefore, I think it's easy to predict that the Standard Views will "sell-out" earlier than the preferred views.

Now - the big question remains - will there be times of year where the Standard View (or preferred view) "sell out" before 7-months. Looking at the data from my "booking pattern" thread HERE, studios rarely are booked up at 7-months (only a few days a year) and 1-bedrooms are never booked up at 7-months and even being booked at 6-months is rare. However, there is no way to tell how booked any time period is - for instance is SSR 90% booked the first two weeks of December at 7 months? Could we now see times where the standard view is completely booked at 7-months?

One thing is certain - we won't know for at least 15 months.

I would not because our experience with the buses at Congress Park were that they were sometimes full by the time they got to that stop and we could not get on. If we fly we use DME and do not rent a car so are committed to using buses. Sometimes we drive down - in which case we could drive to the parks BUT we find it's not worth the hassle at MK as the parking is too far away. So back to hoping we can get on the next bus whenever it finally arrives. IMO they should add dedicated buses to those 2 sections to go with the increased points….would be a nice perk…. But this is why we prefer the Grandstand Section…

 

[skier_pete]

I would not because our experience with the buses at Congress Park were that they were sometimes full by the time they got to that stop and we could not get on. If we fly we use DME and do not rent a car so are committed to using buses. Sometimes we drive down - in which case we could drive to the parks BUT we find it's not worth the hassle at MK as the parking is too far away. So back to hoping we can get on the next bus whenever it finally arrives. IMO they should add dedicated buses to those 2 sections to go with the increased points….would be a nice perk…. But this is why we prefer the Grandstand Section…

Our one stay we stayed in Congress Park - we did not have a problem with overcrowded busses, but in general didn't like the whole bus service at the resort - it took too long to get anywhere / get back. Staying in Congress Park was nice as we like to go to Jellyroll's in the evening, and could take a DTD bus back to the resort - which was nice. Overall though - I wouldn't pay an extra 20% for the 1 or 2 times per trip we take advantage of it.