SSR and Developer Point Questions

Golden Rose

Princess by Choice
Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
1,093
We just bought AKV, and received 165 developer points that we need to spend at SSR in the next year.

We're going as a family of 5 - my mom and her SO who don't plan to do the parks and mostly just want to play golf and lounge by the pool and DH, I, and our DS (age 3), who plan to do the parks at least most days. I hear about all the different areas at SSR, and I would like to know what more experienced DVCers would suggest that we do. My mom really likes quiet pools and really doesn't like noisy crowded pools, so an area with a close quiet pool is a plus. A play area for our 3 year old would be nice, but we've never had one near us on previous trips to WDW and never missed them. Close to wild ducks or rabbits would also appeal to DS, but I know they generally aren't predictable... Interesting things within walking distance would probably appeal to my mom. The only really important part is a nearby quiet pool, I guess.

We're planning to get a 2 bedroom villa, if that matters.

Also, when would you request a particular area or room? When you make the reservation, or close to your travel time?

On a slightly different subject, what are our options for developer points that we don't spend? We don't have enough points for 6 nights in a row (can't afford a weekend night), but it looks like we'll have about 30 points left over after our trip. Can we sell them? (Except that isn't there some rule about not accepting money for tranfers?) Can we buy extras somehow so that we have enough for one more night? We can't use our AKV points until May, so I can't just use them to add to our stay, but I also don't want to count on getting back to WDW between May and September just to make sure our points don't go to waste. Can you legally trade with someone for points that can be used earlier in the year, or is that frowned on?
 
You got 165 SSR points for one year? We are in the processing of buying and they offered us 160. Hhhmm...I thought about asking for more since it would really help out with my large family. Did you ask for that many, or is that what they offered you?
 
Perhaps you could do 4 weekday nights, a weekend night and pay cash for the last weekday night? That may then use nearly all of your points if you don't mind paying for one night, could also possibly get DVC discount on that night.

The Grandstand is a nice area although the pool is quieter than the main pool it does have a kiddie play area and a pool bar :)

Claire ;)
 
You could also try to find someone who would transfer you the extra SSR points that you need to stay 6 nights. Going rate is between $10-$12 per point for a transfer. Check out the Rent/Trade Forum.

I think that is what I would do - it would probably be quite a bit less expensive than paying cash for a night, even if you got the 25% (off rack rate) Member discount.
 

We got 165 SSR points because we bought 165 AKV points. We'd budgeted $16k for the purchase, and decided to use the incentive money taken off the top to buy a few more points.

I'm also considering taking a second trip next year when I can actually pool my developer points and normal points, but that means we would have to do it between May and August, which is my least favorite time to travel! I thought about calling today (the big day we can first book our normal points), but I just don't want to wait on hold for 45 minutes :-P
 
You got 165 SSR points for one year? We are in the processing of buying and they offered us 160. Hhhmm...I thought about asking for more since it would really help out with my large family. Did you ask for that many, or is that what they offered you?

They match the points that you have purchased-
If you bought in for 160 points that is what amount of developer points you get- We did 200 and are having the same question as to what to do w/ the extra points- I didn't think to use any AKV to add another night- Our AKV will be available by end of June (our original "plan to go" time) That is actually a good idea! Thx
 
Oooh so they matched the developer points based on your AKV purchase! That's awesome! I thought no matter how many AKV points we buy we would still only get 160 SSR! That's great news! Thanks!!!

I can't wait to talk to my guide!!! :lovestruc
 
Am I reading this correctly, that you purchased AKV, but developer points are only good at SSR? Does that make it sound to anyone else besides me that DVC is trying to force people to SSR rather than use up villas at the other DVCs for developer points?
 
Am I reading this correctly, that you purchased AKV, but developer points are only good at SSR? Does that make it sound to anyone else besides me that DVC is trying to force people to SSR rather than use up villas at the other DVCs for developer points?

I agree. Though SSR is the second newest and clearly the largest. I guess they always have rooms. I am/was considering SSR for my home resort, but (at least for now) it seems you can always get into SSR.
 
Inkmahm,

We have never been before so this is great for us- not to mention- I really wanted to buy into a diff home resort but couldn't resist the "special" of the discounts as well as the free developer points-
I know most people suggest not buying at a resort you won't want to stay at often- that is not really the case here- We will probably enjoy as much as any other- the 11 mos window will be our disadvantage for other resort stays for now but I figure- book 11 mos out w/ AKV and then at 7 mos out try for another if we can and if not- we stay at AKV- we will enjoy the resort but the parks are what we'll be doing mostly-
I do imagine that means not as many AKV owners will be at AKV right off but I can use developer points for a stay at SSR and then still use my AKV for a stay at AKV or anywhere else I want - Not limiting AKV new owners to not use AKV but since our resort is not available until May 09 it gives us the opportunity to stay on our points AND free points - We will end up adding on for another home resort later- But I think the SSR stay will be great!
 
Inkmahm,

We have never been before so this is great for us- not to mention- I really wanted to buy into a diff home resort but couldn't resist the "special" of the discounts as well as the free developer points-
I know most people suggest not buying at a resort you won't want to stay at often- that is not really the case here- We will probably enjoy as much as any other- the 11 mos window will be our disadvantage for other resort stays for now but I figure- book 11 mos out w/ AKV and then at 7 mos out try for another if we can and if not- we stay at AKV- we will enjoy the resort but the parks are what we'll be doing mostly-
I do imagine that means not as many AKV owners will be at AKV right off but I can use developer points for a stay at SSR and then still use my AKV for a stay at AKV or anywhere else I want - Not limiting AKV new owners to not use AKV but since our resort is not available until May 09 it gives us the opportunity to stay on our points AND free points - We will end up adding on for another home resort later- But I think the SSR stay will be great!

Out of curiosity, which home resort did you want if it wasn't AKV?

AKV and SSR are VERY different resorts. I love AKV (and BWV and VWL...) but have absolutely NO interest at all in SSR.
 
Am I reading this correctly, that you purchased AKV, but developer points are only good at SSR? Does that make it sound to anyone else besides me that DVC is trying to force people to SSR rather than use up villas at the other DVCs for developer points?
Most of the developer points are at SSR - there are very few available at the other resorts.
 
Most of the developer points are at SSR - there are very few available at the other resorts.
But weren't the ones that were given originally with AKV purchases good for any resort, not just SSR? I don't understand why a purchase at AKV results in developer points at SSR.
 
From what I understand - last year, developer points could be used anywhere. This year, developer points can only be used at SSR, Disneyland, or with Interval International. I am sure they are trying to force us to stay at SSR since it is such a large resort...

I suspect that we won't particularly care for SSR, not really our style, but I'm certainly willing to give it a try. (We always stay at the Epcot resorts or at the GF; we really prefer close to at least some park.) We probably wouldn't have bought AKV first if it didn't have the discount and developer points. We've never stayed at AKL before, only eaten dinner there at Jiko and done a bit of exploring. We loved the theming - our DS is an animal nut - and we like Concierge level and hope we'll be able to get it at least once in a while. Really looking forward to trying out Savannah view - not sure we'll even be able to get our son out of the room.

We're planning to buy either BCV or BWV in the next year when we find a good deal resale, or if our guide happens to find us exactly what we want before we find it resale. In the "buy where you want to stay" category, we decided to get pretty close to the minimum points at AKV to give us a shot at concierge and make sure we can get savannah view consistently. We're probably going to get just over 100 points at BWV if we buy from Disney, or try find a resale contract with our UY for between 100 and 150 points. If we find one and close soon enough, I'll borrow from that contract to get the rest of the points we need to extend our trip one weekend night.

I'm a little nervous about renting points or renting our our points, just because I'm a new owner and not sure exactly how it would work. I've read a few horror stories on the boards, and it makes me really nervous. I guess I'll try to figure it out and risk it if none of our other possibilities work out.
 
W

Also, when would you request a particular area or room? When you make the reservation, or close to your travel time?

On a slightly different subject, what are our options for developer points that we don't spend? We don't have enough points for 6 nights in a row (can't afford a weekend night), but it looks like we'll have about 30 points left over after our trip. Can we sell them? (Except that isn't there some rule about not accepting money for tranfers?) Can we buy extras somehow so that we have enough for one more night? We can't use our AKV points until May, so I can't just use them to add to our stay, but I also don't want to count on getting back to WDW between May and September just to make sure our points don't go to waste. Can you legally trade with someone for points that can be used earlier in the year, or is that frowned on?

You can't transfer developer points as you could regular points so you can't trade them. I think the only thing you could do is "rent" them which is really making a reservation for someone else. There is a lot of information about renting on the rent/trade board if you decide to go that route. You also can't bank developer points, they are kind of use or lose.
 
Good question on the unused developer points. I have 28 left over and that is basically two nights at SSR (studio), which is not very useful for my travel plans.

My contract has a section (below) which discusses using the points with other home resort points. I wonder if these means that as of May, I could use the developer points at AKV and get away from using them at SSR. Or does this mean I can use home resort points to use at SSR with these left over developer points?
:confused3

(c) Purchaser may combine Home Resort Vacation Points associated with their Ownership Interests at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, Disney's Vera Beach Resort, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort or Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas (for stays beginning after Purchaser' unit opening date) with the Developer Points for the purpose of making reservations under this Program. Developer Points may not be banked or borrowed for, or transferred to Purchaser.
 
Tecodis,
I have that in mine too and I need to ask my Guide- always come here first though it seems- LOL I take it to mean that combining to stay w/ Developer points at the designation they are good- and yes, mine are also not just for SSR but also Disneyland and II, however SSR is really all we would be interested in at this point for next year- combining when your unit is open in case you need more points for your stay due to point system being different at each resort- Which is what is going on with us- can still do a 5 night stay w/ 20 pts left OR get additional from our AKV to go along w/ developer pts for an added night OR if we go a later time but w/in the 12 mos- use the last 20 developer along w/ an additional *110 AKV for next stay- and still have pts to bank from AKV into 2010- I am sure we will figure it out- I just don't want to leave points on the table and we had only planned for one trip next year although a 2nd trip isn't out of the question... :woohoo:
As to where did we really want to buy- As I browsed each resort I figured more towards BCV, OKV or SSR due to my taste- I do like AKV but we will definitely plan more stays "away from home" so to speak- But if we run into issues we won't be miserable at AKV- I really couldn't pass on free points w/ purchase and other incentives- We also will be doing an add on when it is feasible (sp) and that will be at one of the above resorts (no interest in BLT if there will be a BLT resort)
For us this is still working- just need to figure when our best times to go for each resort is so we can book accordingly- i.e. if SSR is usually open more during May then if that is where we'd like to stay we will try to adjust to May OR if June/July is more available for OKV then we will do OKV- just the odds of having resises done w/ no hassle- OR we book AKV and are sure we have it- no big deal- My 4 boys will love it and that is what this is all for anyway- My kids (yeah right, LOL I am ecstatic...)
 
Hi, we got the matching developer points deal as well. I made a ressie for feb 09 (2 bedroom villa). We will have 4 points left over. I think you can transfer them into II if i read the paperwork right. Now i am just on the lookout for our confirmation #. The MS person said it will take a few days but we definitely got the villa for our dates. SO looking forward to our trip. I downloaded the countdown timer from the DVC member website! Cool!:thumbsup2
 



















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