SSR or Wait List?

[otter215]

I saw some posts about going on a wait list for other DVC properties; what are the advantages to doing this instead of purchasing at SSR? We will probably sign our final paper work within the next week and just wanted to make sure that we are doing the right thing. Thank you for any help.

 

[Mississippian]

Don't know whether you are serious or just trolling, but I suggest you just scroll down and read the posts concerning SSR. Some love it, many hate the idea of it. I suggest you not buy there unless it is your first choice as a place to stay.

 

[otter215]

We are serious

 

[Mississippian]

I'm glad you are serious. Just scrolll down and read the other posts, and then if you have additional questions, just ask.

 

[utahkennedys]

I agree that you should spend a lot of time reading over the old posts on SSR. This is how I decided to buy OKW via resale. I read everything I could get my hands on.

The advantage of owning SSR is that you have 12 more years over the older DVC resorts. For me, this wasn't a huge issue and we were 31 when we bought. We picked our resort based upon where we knew we wanted to stay, and we liked the low point values at OKW. When we visited SSR in person, I knew it wasn't the right "fit" for what we want on vacation. I was very glad I visited in person...I visited each DVC resort I had an interest in and that is what I would suggest. Some people love the theming at SSR, others don't like it (I am one who doesn't, I grew up in Boston and want a very tropical feel on vacation with palm trees, etc.).

You can also buy the older DVC resorts via resale, and get a better deal than waitlisting for Disney. You can also buy a resale for less points than the direct-Disney purchase of 150 points.

To me, the only reason to buy at SSR is the 12 extra years if that really matters to you. Because of it's size, you could always stay there no matter which resort you owned at, so I don't see any advantage to owning points there. These are just my opinions, and I do read of many on these boards who absolutely love SSR, and then some who hate BWV or OKW, etc. Before I made any huge investment, I would rent points and at least visit several DVC resorts before choosing.

 

[otter215]

Thank you for the advice. I read also about future properties. When do you think Disney might make an official announcement?

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We bought points at BWV in Feb and waited only a few days for the points to come through. We stayed on the waitlist about 2 months this time for our add on points. We wanted them in the same use year which meant we had to wait till they became available. There were points to be had earlier BUT we wanted them with a Sept. use year. I'm of the belief that you should buy where you want to stay. The extra 12 years didn't mean that much to me because I prefer the BW area above the area that SSR is at. I just couldn't see buying what I really didn't like (just my opinion so don't kill me)in the hope that maybe I could make a reservation at another place that I want to be in and that maybe it would be open and available.

 

[tomandrobin]

Buy where you want to stay. Take the time to visit the resorts you may want to own. We did visit some of the other DVC resorts before we bought. Actually, SSR was the last resort we toured. I went there alone, my wife decided to stay back at the hotel and relax. I really liked the resort and the decor. We bought the following week, and my wife didn't see the resort until 2 months later on our first trip back to Disney. But I knew my wife would love it and she does!

We bought SSR, we liked what the resort offers. We really liked the decor of the villas. We liked the Boardwalk Resorts, BWV and BCV, but SSR was more suited to our tastes.

You can buy at any of the DVC resorts, you just might have to wait for the points to come available at a sold out resort. It won't take long though.

To be honest, I don't think you can go wrong at any of the resorts. They are all super, they are all different.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We own at SSR & LOVE it! That being said, everyone's tastes are different.

My advice, first of all, buy where you want to stay. This comes into play with regard to the 11 month vs. 7 month window, particularly if your vacations fall during peak DVC times. Keep in mind that peak DVC doesn't necessarily = peak WDW.

If you can't ever plan more than a few months out then this becomes a moot point. You won't have any booking advantages on short notice so...

The extra 12 years at SSR is substantial IMO. Also, if you can't visit all the resorts in person I think the resort photo galleries, both here on the DIS & on allears, would be worth your time to review.

Oh, and be prepared for "add-on-itis". We added on about 4 months after joining - before we even made our first trip "home".

 

[Anthony1971]

To me, the only reason to buy at SSR is the 12 extra years if that really matters to you. Because of it's size, you could always stay there no matter which resort you owned at, so I don't see any advantage to owning points there.


This statment is not acurate (no offense) I booked in Early December and the ONLY resort avaialble for the days I wanted was Old Key West SSR was booked but would have a few studios avialable the day after I wanted 1 and 2 bedrooms were booked for the entire week and this was after the 7 month window so people had time to change... but no other resort was avialble either.

 

[Spine_DR]

From what i have heard from different people including guides SSR will be sold out some time at the begining of 2007 and there are tons of rumors floating around about the next WDW DVC resort but i dont thin there will be anything office until late 2007 or evan 2008, and probalbly wont sell until 2008 at the earliest. The one thing that they have said is that the nest few resorts will have the same expiration year as SSR.

 

[jdg345]

Buy where you want to stay. Take the time to visit the resorts you may want to own. We did visit some of the other DVC resorts before we bought. Actually, SSR was the last resort we toured. I went there alone, my wife decided to stay back at the hotel and relax. I really liked the resort and the decor. We bought the following week, and my wife didn't see the resort until 2 months later on our first trip back to Disney. But I knew my wife would love it and she does!

We bought SSR, we liked what the resort offers. We really liked the decor of the villas. We liked the Boardwalk Resorts, BWV and BCV, but SSR was more suited to our tastes.

You can buy at any of the DVC resorts, you just might have to wait for the points to come available at a sold out resort. It won't take long though.

To be honest, I don't think you can go wrong at any of the resorts. They are all super, they are all different.

I agree, we own at SSR and completely love it! When I first started reading the boards, I couldn't understand why some were bashing SSR ... it seems though, looking back, all new resorts are bashed by some population.

All the DVC's have great themes ... I've stayed at SSR, OKW, and VWL on my SSR points. I haven't stayed at BCW or BWV yet, though I probably will one of these days. I prefer to park outside my room versus the 'Hotel Feel', but that's just me ... many prefer the 'Hotel Feel'. DVC gives you plenty of options, and cost wise, SSR was the way to go for me. Dues wise, it was in line with everything else. Yes, I paid more for the points than I would have on a potential resale; however, I also got more time value out of it. IOW: I paid X% more than a resale, but I got X% more time out of it! Just my pennies. ;-)

 

[JimMIA]

Deciding where to buy is not as simple as some make it seem. Home resort only matters when you are booking a stay more than seven months in advance. We do, many can't.

Here's an old thread we started to help new folks, and it starts with a discussion of home resort. There is a lot of constructive input throughout this long thread, on many aspects of DVC, so the whole thing is worth skimming. Bear in mind the thread is over a year old, so a lot of the prices and promotions are no longer accurate.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634

Do a LOT of research before you buy. After the fact is not the best time to go to school!

Good luck.

 

[jdg345]

Deciding where to buy is not as simple as some make it seem. Home resort only matters when you are booking a stay more than seven months in advance. We do, many can't.

Here's an old thread we started to help new folks, and it starts with a discussion of home resort. There is a lot of constructive input throughout this long thread, on many aspects of DVC, so the whole thing is worth skimming. Bear in mind the thread is over a year old, so a lot of the prices and promotions are no longer accurate.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634

Do a LOT of research before you buy. After the fact is not the best time to go to school!

Good luck.

Another great point! We typically make our reservations 1-3 months in advance ... every once in awhile, we'll go 5-7 months, but we usually just don't know that far ahead. The 11 month booking window wasn't really that important to us.

In fact, from what I've been reading, the 11 month window is most important for the smaller resorts (BCV/BWV/VWL) when trying to get a marquee event (FAWF, New Years, etc) and requesting a Studio or a 2BR (And to me, the 2BR limit is because all the studios are taken and there are very few Dedicated 2BR's).

Just my pennies.

 

[JimMIA]

Another great point! We typically make our reservations 1-3 months in advance ... every once in awhile, we'll go 5-7 months, but we usually just don't know that far ahead. The 11 month booking window wasn't really that important to us.

In fact, from what I've been reading, the 11 month window is most important for the smaller resorts (BCV/BWV/VWL) when trying to get a marquee event (FAWF, New Years, etc) and requesting a Studio or a 2BR (And to me, the 2BR limit is because all the studios are taken and there are very few Dedicated 2BR's).

Just my pennies.

Right, but don't discount the importance at those resorts.. I think, as DVC gets bigger and bigger, the 11-month window will become increasingly important at those small resorts...and not just during peak times. BCV and VWL owners, in particular, will hit some snags in getting what they want (we've already seen some evidence of that) and will begin booking earlier, I suspect.

 

[jdg345]

Right, but don't discount the importance at those resorts.. I think, as DVC gets bigger and bigger, the 11-month window will become increasingly important at those small resorts...and not just during peak times. BCV and VWL owners, in particular, will hit some snags in getting what they want (we've already seen some evidence of that) and will begin booking earlier, I suspect.

Agreed ... unless the next resort is something on the Monorail line and/or has equivilent park access. I think that's part of the reason many folks dislike SSR ... it doesn't have a "park draw" to it, so its members are tapping into their BCV/BWV/VWL resources ...

 

[byoung]

I bought from Disney last June 200 pts BWV with no waiting list. Bought there because I love it there. Go to F&W in Oct and I want to stay at BWV thenand also Dec like staying there. As far as the extra 12 years it doesn't matter to me, I'm over 55 now. If I was younger the 12 years might matter.

 

[Stuck In Wonderland]

We own at SSR and love all the resorts we are 28 and to own untill 2054 works for us. We stay at all the resorts and never have a problem booking on a whim for a quick weekend or longer. We bought it to use it how we please not as an investment like so many other post we read. We use our points outside disney as well and what it would cost for us to go on the trip we have planed to Africa would cost us close to halh of what we payed. So in a couple of years we're vacationing for free. To the OP do what ever works best for you. However, I don't think buying into 1 specific resort matters, I have been to the BCV a couple of times which is supposed to be so hard to get into. I will say that we don't go during peak season-no spring break and no Christmas- with that said no problem.

 

[JimMIA]

I think that's part of the reason many folks dislike SSR ... it doesn't have a "park draw" to it, so its members are tapping into their BCV/BWV/VWL resources ...

I think these differences show the good marketing of Disney.

One of the many things I like about OKW and SSR is that they ARE NOT next a park or hotel. Many owners enjoy the convenience and amenities of a hotel-based resort -- I LIKE the peace and quiet of my refuge from the craziness!

That's the genius of DVC: "Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't!"

 

[jdg345]

I think these differences show the good marketing of Disney.

One of the many things I like about OKW and SSR is that they ARE NOT next a park or hotel. Many owners enjoy the convenience and amenities of a hotel-based resort -- I LIKE the peace and quiet of my refuge from the craziness!

That's the genius of DVC: "Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't!"

Exactly!