SSR is not about the pool folks...

[ricapito]

Let me restate the obvious because it seems to have been lost in all the banter...

I just reviewed the SSR spa menu, I'm truly impressed. The spa menu is outstanding, first-class. I cannot wait to be pampered and neither can my wife, without having to leave our resort. The spa will be an integral part of every visit for us and many others I suspect. Too often the frantic pace of "doing" Disney with kids leaves us feeling like we need a "vacation from our vacation." We usually spend 3-4K all told by the end of a trip and haven't had a moments peace. SSR solves that problem, the SSR spa is indeed the vacation within a vacation we seek. Finding 3-5 hundred dollars and a few hours in the Disney vacation budget for "us" is what SSR is all about. SSR, unlike some other DVC resorts, is like getting two vacations for the price of one...

IMO members on this board mention the spa at SSR as if it were a side-show, or "supplemental benefit".... and then go on to talk about the pool slide or size of the pool. For those who expected another SAB, that will never happen. In fact I was told that SAB cost more to build than expected, and costs more to maintain than forecast. In so many words, when I bought SSR, I was told SAB will always be the king of pools. It is beautiful, and by all means if that's what drives your buying/staying preferences then how can anyone argue with that? But comparing apples to organges isn't a comparison at all.

With that said, I think that some have missed/underestimated the importance of the spa at SSR. "Spa" is in the SSR name for a reason. SSR does not cater so much to the same DVC demographic as some other resorts do, this resort is being built for and marketed to a slightly different but overlapping demographic IMO. This spa is THE draw for many people who will buy SSR, and so is DTD. I suspect SSR will usher in a somewhat different crowd to DVC as well. SSR is a world class spa and accommodations, that also happens to be across the lake from exciting nightlife and world class shopping and entertainment, all of course on WDW property. There are plenty of waterparks on property if needed...

We're looking forward to mixing the typical hectic theme park schedule with a few spa treatments and knocking a few cold ones back, sans kids, at DTD....or even occasionally sepnding a weekend sans kids at SSR/DTD. SSR is as much about the parents as the kids, with each surely satisfied by the finished product, that's what makes it different.

 

[Poohs Pal]

The Spa and DTD were the big draw for me also. Zero entry pool cinched the deal. As an any day now new GM to be, I'm excited that there will be something to make everyone Happy. Thought the Donald pool to be very cute also. The whole H/A of the pool is something you just don't get elsewhere. The Turf club has excited several family members. I believe this is a resort I can fully relax at, with the parks being an added benefit. Can't wait to visit for the first time. Susan

 

[Pa@okw95]

When I joined DVC back in 95 I thought it was a very up-scale club-resort. After about 3 vacations there it hit me that it was not. This was before DVC was being sold as some kind of savings. I won't get into all the things that made me realize this, but I was very disappointed in what was then and even more what is now. To use your term."crowd", the crowd was very different then what I expected it was when I joined. When you have a "demographic", again your term, like we do today at DVC, things happen that should not because the customer is not demanding and far more accepting of things that happen. Perhaps this will not happen at SSR because of the price now $95 per point, but then again I would not count on it. I will only be going to DVC now in January, I still enjoy the weather down there that time of year. I took my last visit down there during the busy season, I saw enough, of what you call the demographic. I hope you are correct for your sake, and that SSR has a different democraphic demanding better quality of service and getting it.

 

[canda]

I love the spa, so do alot of people who are not DVC. The spa is open to he public. I think some on the boards have the idea or have been led to believe the SSR will be just for DVC. Having a manicure will give you a days access to the SSR heath club and pools. (info is from DisneyWorld.com/spa) Anyone, onsite or off site, will also be able to purchase health club memberships to SSR for their stay. I don't think they will turn away the dad and kids from High Rock Springs Pool if Mom is in the spa spending lots of money.

 

[disneycrazed139]

The spa is definitely a draw to the resort. However, each person owning has their own idea of what will make an ideal vacation. Plunking down several hundred dollars for the spa may not always be in everyone's budget (and if it was the spa facilities couldn't handle the overcrowding anyway).

I think SSR may definitely appeal to more adults and perhaps on some accounts to a different "demographic," but remember that this is what Disney is offering now, and this is still WDW -- a place for everyone, regardless of demographic to enjoy. Park-goers, those that just want to relax, those looking for an upscale experience....all kinds of people and populations will own here, just as all the other resorts.

True the spa makes SSR stand apart from the rest in this aspect. Yet SSR is impressive in all its amenities, and different aspects I'm sure will be enjoyed by everyone.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
When I joined DVC back in 95 I thought it was a very up-scale club-resort. After about 3 vacations there it hit me that it was not.

If you were expecting mostly folks in the 28% tax bracket and up, that will probably never happen. The first reason that comes to mind is point rentals. Renting DVC points seems to be a booming business now. If you can get a DVC room for roughly the same price as a Moderate resort, suddenly the properties are open to just about anyone.

 

[Stitch 03]

I do not mean to rain on anyone's parade, but it may not be wise to buy SSR based on the addition of the spa. The reason is that I do not think it is part of the offering. In fact, I believe that when buying in you had to sign a document to that effect.

My understanding is that Disney reserves the right to do whatever they want with the spa. Including closing it or drastically altering its services.

Personally I think the spa is a great idea and an excellent reason for someone to stay at SSR. I would just hate to see new owners be disappointed should the spa disappear.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Do DVC members staying at other DVC resorts have access to the spa, like they would the pool?

 

[Chuck S]

It is a public spa, open to everyone, including people staying off-site...just like WDW golf courses.

 

[pmcpmc]

all the DVC resorts each person will see what they want to see for them .Enjoy!!!!!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

The only DVC resorts that were marketed (and not that well) to a different demographic would be Vero and HH. All of the onsites are marketed to WDW vacationers. The main purpose of the onsites is to get you to Orlando to spend even more vacation money at WDW. Vero and especially HH are more stand alone vacation destinations. The SSR spa is a nice feature, but I doubt it is as big of a purchasing draw as the other "no cost" resort ammenities.

Also, the offsite resorts are not cut from the same cookie cutter mold as all the recent onsites (excluding OKW). I think it would have been nice for DVD to actually change the room layouts as well as the theming in each subsequent resort. Except for their location, BWV, VWL, BCV, and now SSR are almost identical to each other. Blink your eyes and you may forget which resort your in.

 

[disneycrazed139]

On the topic of the spa, wondering if anyone has seen this...

TOP DESTINATION SPAS from 'Conde Nast Traveler'

1. Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Lenox, Mass.
2. Miraval Life in Balance Resort & Spa, Catalina, Ariz.
3. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico
4. Canyon Ranch Health Resort, Tucson
5. Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

This is part of Conde Nast top 45 spa destinations.

look at:
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/lists/spapoll03/dest/dest5

For what it's worth, the results are based on a poll. Here is a description of how the poll was conducted:

"The independent firm of Mark Clements Research, Inc. asked 4.000 readers to rate 224 cruise ship, destination, resort, and urban-hotel spas in North America and the Caribbean that they had visited in the past three years. Each spa was rated excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor on a variety of criteria. Final scores represent the percentage of excellent and very good ratings. Only spas that received the required minimum number of responses were deemed eligible to be included in these ratings"

 

[simzac]

I'm curious, what does SAB stand for? thanks

 

[Disney Doc]

I'm curious, what does SAB stand for? thanks

It's Stormalong Bay - the pool at the YC/BC/BCV resort complex.

 

[Disney Doc]

I'm curious, what does SAB stand for? thanks

It's Stormalong Bay - the pool at the YC/BC/BCV resort complex.

Oops.. sorry.

 

[mitcam]

i

 

[simzac]

Thanks, guess this shows how new I am

 

[BCV23]

The Conde Nast poll was based on the Spa when it was run by WDW....before it closed for construction. I loved the people, services, and products at the spa before it closed. It is now run by Nikki Bryan, an independent contractor who also has the contract for the GF Spa as well as the salons at the resorts. New menu of services. I'll be curious to see if people like the services as well as when it was run by WDW. I know I avoided the spa at GF and would go to the Spa at DI which became SSR spa shortly before it closed even when I was staying much closer to GF.

 

[kweaver]

I'm fairly new to the whole Spa experience...and I've never been to one of the WDW spas...but after looking at the pictures of the SSR Spa...I'm not terribly impressed. I'm hoping it will look a little more luxurious when we're there in June.

FWIW, the two spas I've been to most recently are the Luxor in Las Vegas...beautiful and an incredible massage...and the Marriott Grande Hotel on Mobile Bay...which ranked as high as (if not better than) the Luxor in my book

 

[Disney Doll]

I think that the addition of SSR gives DVCers one more way to enjoy a vacation.

I haven't been in SSR, but have seen it from the water, from DD, and from the road, and it appears to be very nice to me.