SSR - Major Changes to points - Standard / Preferred Categories

[DizDaD7]

You're focused on the wrong year. I understand it can be confusing. If you banked points to make the reservation, they remain in the new use year. Points are never returned after they are banked or borrowed. But, that may be irrelevant, because you'll use banked and borrowed points first, and current year points will be returned.

So, if you made the entire October reservation with banked points, then those 20 points would need to be used before next June; you'd have a full 7 months to use them before they're lost. But, if you used at least 20 current-year points, then those points would be returned. Using the October reservation as an example again, you'd have a full 7 months to use them, or three full months before your banking deadline.

OK, Understood.. Thanks....

 

[Snookies]

You are presuming the preferred location will be harder to get. I think this is not what will happen. I think more than likely most of the year, BOTH will be available at 7 months. However, at busy times of year, if one type is out, it will likely be the standard view that will be out.

Your biggest issue is if you want to stay CP or Springs, your costs went up significantly.

I think you're right on all accounts. I think both will be available at 7 months for at least the first 9 or so months of a calendar year. In the last 3 months of a year, particularly around Thanksgiving and in December, I think std locations will likely fill first. This means a significant increase in point cost for those wanting to stay in 2 bedrooms or larger in high demand times in preferred locations or for those waiting until the 7 month window to see other alternatives before booking SSR.

I like SSR. I own points at SSR. But, I wouldn't want to pay the same point price to stay in a 2 bedroom SSR preferred location that I'd pay to stay in a Boardwalk 2 bedroom garden view. This is almost the case for 2 bedrooms in some seasons. To me, this seems like a significant increase in point price for the same product. Someone posted in another thread that member services said this was done to provide clarity in the booking process. If that was the objective, they could have accomplished it by creating booking categories with the same point chart as was done at OKW with the near hospitality house category. I suspect a more likely objective is to turn SSR into a point burner for any that end up in a position of choosing between booking SSR preferred or not going.

 

[zavandor]

I suspect a more likely objective is to turn SSR into a point burner for any that end up in a position of choosing between booking SSR preferred or not going.

I agree with you.
SSR is the resort for last minute trips. People booking with short notice will fund lowering the cost for stays for SSR members. Being an SSR owner I don't dislike the idea.

 

[Snookies]

I agree with you.
SSR is the resort for last minute trips. People booking with short notice will fund lowering the cost for stays for SSR members. Being an SSR owner I don't dislike the idea.

I hadn't thought of it from that perspective - "People booking with short notice will fund lowering the cost for stays for SSR members." I think that's a great point. I was locked onto thinking about booking either location from the perspective of an SSR owner. If preferred location reservations are made by mostly last minute bookers, then others will pay for the lower costs for SSR owners booking standard if it turns out the standard has to be booked prior to 7 months at least some of the time. When thinking of it that way, I agree - I don't dislike the idea either.

Of course, if preferred location bookings end up being made primarily by last minute non-SSR owners, DVC's objective may really be to keep non-SSR owners away from us SSR riff-raff.

 

[DizDaD7]

I hadn't thought of it from that perspective - "People booking with short notice will fund lowering the cost for stays for SSR members." I think that's a great point. I was locked onto thinking about booking either location from the perspective of an SSR owner. If preferred location reservations are made by mostly last minute bookers, then others will pay for the lower costs for SSR owners booking standard if it turns out the standard has to be booked prior to 7 months at least some of the time. When thinking of it that way, I agree - I don't dislike the idea either.

Of course, if preferred location bookings end up being made primarily by last minute non-SSR owners, DVC's objective may really be to keep non-SSR owners away from us SSR riff-raff.

It's all wait n see at this point...I do think that DVC intends for SSR owners to snatch up the CP, & Springs locations to justify this change in points...If what you and zavandor turns out to be true * ( which I hope ) then yes, it'll make SSR owners ( like myself, a bit happier ).

Once again I do think the want us, *(the SSR owners to grab those 1st) then give the standards out last minute. I can be wrong though..No one knows for sure what is behind the thinking here.

I do know that if I were to stay here in the past I would've chosen either of the 2 as my top 2 choices....So now I'm wondering if I need to rethink that moving forward..

 

[Anal Annie]

I agree with you.
SSR is the resort for last minute trips. People booking with short notice will fund lowering the cost for stays for SSR members. Being an SSR owner I don't dislike the idea.

While we HAVE booked at SSR on last minute trips (sometimes also with a choice of OKW) as SSR owners we booked our upcoming trip starting Jan. 2nd prior to the 7 month window. So not all trips are there because of booking last minute. I have always considered the points there "reasonable" and if trying to spread our points out to go 2-3 times a year would always consider staying at our home resort. Since we prefer Grandstand for the bus access I'm OK with the lower points for that section. While even the "preferred" points are still reasonable, if the standard views are all gone when we go to book I might just as easily choose AKV Std. view over paying the premium points for a bus that may be full before it ever reaches my stop.

 

[majortom1981]

I wonder if the points shift will make AKV emptier. Some rooms are now cheaper at SSR then AKV.

 

[Bronte]

I hope SSR contacts do increase ... We own 270 points there but really would rather have AKV.
Does anyone know if you have to have all vacations taken before listing on the resale market ???

 

[CMNJ]

I hope SSR contacts do increase ... We own 270 points there but really would rather have AKV.
Does anyone know if you have to have all vacations taken before listing on the resale market ???

No you definitely don't have to have all vacations taken prior to listing-there are often listings that say they cannot close until xx/xx/xxxx due to upcoming vacations. The only thing is that it may decrease some potential buyers from making offers if it would delay closing significantly. I know when we were looking if a contract couldn't close for a few extra months we didn't really even consider it since we wanted to close ASAP. I'm sure not everyone feels that way but something to consider.

 

[Bronte]

Thanks for the info ...
Something to consider for sure. We only have a trip in early May planned with that contract but would not want to give it up.
Owning at ssr is ok but we love akv. We also have a beach club contract but I would never never sell that

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The idea seems solid to me...

Give a cheaper option for "standards" which have been overpriced since day 1....and maximize the downtown Disney locations

 

[tjkraz]

I cannot cite occupancy figures for SSR but it's very clear that the supply of rooms (800+) far outweighs demand.

With more than 60% of the resort decreasing in price, I think Disney/DVC would be thrilled if they could consistently fill (nearly) all of the Standard rooms with members staying on points plus some modest percentage of the Preferred. That alone may drive-up overall occupancy.

Most of the rooms given to CRO via trading programs, given to RCI and made available via breakage at 60 days will probably be Preferred. And I think Disney would be just fine with that.

Those who book last minute will have no choice but to pay extra for Preferred.

 

[beer dave]

The idea seems solid to me...

Give a cheaper option for "standards" which have been overpriced since day 1....and maximize the downtown Disney locations

Unfortunately there is no real fix for this problem. I think part of the name change for DTD was to try to link it to SSR for added occupancy or for an excuse for the point costs.... Once they closed PI, I no longer had a reason to stay at SSR. (or OKW for that matter) The new restaurants are definitely nice, but not the same as PI. They are fine for a bus trip every once in a while.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Unfortunately there is no real fix for this problem. I think part of the name change for DTD was to try to link it to SSR for added occupancy or for an excuse for the point costs.... Once they closed PI, I no longer had a reason to stay at SSR. (or OKW for that matter) The new restaurants are definitely nice, but not the same as PI. They are fine for a bus trip every once in a while.

I actually enjoy Saratoga a lot more now since they fleshed out the pool areas...and the new downtown proximity will be nice.

But it was built on a failed property site, built WAYYYY too big, and the points were too high.

My theory was that was 100% due to the idiocy of the housing bubble and free credit. People armed with $50,000 limit discover cards making impulse buys thinking that they had what they didn't back home.

I bought 28 days before AKV was announced...which our guide didn't mention. It was the only one available at the time. Our guide was fired long ago and he deserved it

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I cannot cite occupancy figures for SSR but it's very clear that the supply of rooms (800+) far outweighs demand.

With more than 60% of the resort decreasing in price, I think Disney/DVC would be thrilled if they could consistently fill (nearly) all of the Standard rooms with members staying on points plus some modest percentage of the Preferred. That alone may drive-up overall occupancy.

Most of the rooms given to CRO via trading programs, given to RCI and made available via breakage at 60 days will probably be Preferred. And I think Disney would be just fine with that.

Those who book last minute will have no choice but to pay extra for Preferred.

I have little doubt

 

[beer dave]

I actually enjoy Saratoga a lot more now since they fleshed out the pool areas...and the new downtown proximity will be nice.

But it was built on a failed property site, built WAYYYY too big, and the points were too high.

My theory was that was 100% due to the idiocy of the housing bubble and free credit. People armed with $50,000 limit discover cards making impulse buys thinking that they had what they didn't back home.

I bought 28 days before AKV was announced...which our guide didn't mention. It was the only one available at the time. Our guide was fired long ago and he deserved it

I bought SSR pre build for the longer contract-- wasn't AK considerably higher per point at sales opening than SSR? If it wasn't I would have loved to swap. I guess I could look it up...

 

[tjkraz]

My theory was that was 100% due to the idiocy of the housing bubble and free credit. People armed with $50,000 limit discover cards making impulse buys thinking that they had what they didn't back home.

I don't know about the housing bubble but it smacks of Jay Rasulo's view of Disney theme park fans as sheep. "If you build it, they will come."

Saratoga Springs sold fine on its own, but the demand was mostly driven by the extra 12 years in the contract (compared to BCV, BWV, OKW and all others) and the fact that it was the only product available for a 3.5 year span starting in late 2003. A beancounter or executive with little knowledge of guest attitudes toward Walt Disney World hotels would look at the numbers and think "wow, people really love Saratoga Springs...we need to build more!"

But as soon as DVC added more desirable locations with even more years on the contract (AKV, BLT, etc.), Saratoga came plummeting down to earth.

The original plan of 12 buildings (about 550 rooms) in Congress Park, The Springs and The Paddock would have been more than adequate. 8 buildings probably would have been right-sized for demand. But at 18 buildings, it's become a destination that both owners and non-owners know they can book at any moment in time. Even if you LIKE SSR, I think many feel no great sense of urgency to book there if other options are available.

The limited supply of cheaper Standard rooms will help create some urgency to book at Saratoga. And it has filled out nicely with the pool options, restaurants, golf course and proximity to Disney Springs.

 

[florep1]

Based on previous posts, I've read two different variations on what is included in Preferred. I'm waiting on the official word from Disney whether this would be a good thing or a bad thing for our family. We've always stayed at the Grandstand and will continue to do so when we stay at SSR. Some posts say this will be a Preferred location while some say it will be Standard. The lower point reference would be nice, but it would also mean it will be harder to book. We've stayed at OKW for the last three years, and we have an upcoming 10 day stay there just because we get more bang for the back. I do miss my home resort and we always make it a point to stop by and dine each and every year.

 

[DizDaD7]

Based on previous posts, I've read two different variations on what is included in Preferred. I'm waiting on the official word from Disney whether this would be a good thing or a bad thing for our family. We've always stayed at the Grandstand and will continue to do so when we stay at SSR. Some posts say this will be a Preferred location while some say it will be Standard. The lower point reference would be nice, but it would also mean it will be harder to book. We've stayed at OKW for the last three years, and we have an upcoming 10 day stay there just because we get more bang for the back. I do miss my home resort and we always make it a point to stop by and dine each and every year.

Love the Prime Rib, @ Turf Club...Delish!!

 

[skier_pete]

I wonder if the points shift will make AKV emptier. Some rooms are now cheaper at SSR then AKV.

That's a good point. You definitely could see that effect at AKV and likely also OKW. Both of those "sell out" before SSR, and likely they still will, but maybe not as fast. 7 month savers may be more likely to pick SSR if the points are less. (Myself this would not be the case.)