SSR Owner - Reservation Frustrations (LONG)

[kweaver]

Hello all -

We purchased at SSR in October (Feb use year - closing in May ). Everything is finalized...we're just waiting to close. The guide we visited with at the models (our official guide is semi-retired and doesn't work on site) spent a lot of time with us. Naturally, we'd done a lot of homework and read everything we could here at the DIS. We really just went to see it in person, figure out how many points we really wanted, etc. We discussed how reservations would work for SSR owners and were told:

1) SSR has an opening date of June 1st.

2) SSR owners can book SSR on or after December 1st for stays on or after June 1st.

3) SSR owners can book at other DVC resorts at the 7 month window, provided that the stay starts after SSR opens.

Makes sense to me, especially since we won't start paying annual dues until June.

Fast Foward to last week. We want to take the kids to WDW in early summer...and they get out of school on May 21st. I've read in several places that SSR's current opening date is May 17th. since SSR will be open, according to what we were told, we should be able to go during the last week of May. I realize that we are within the 7 month booking window if we want to stay at any of the other DVC properties. Hooray! I emailed DH to get his hotel "preference list" and then call MS to make the reservations.

I speak with a gal there (sorry, don't have her name...it was difficult to understand her). She's very nice, but obviously doesn't know a whole lot about the procedures for SSR members. She puts me on hold twice...for at least 10 minutes each time while checking to see how she should handle my request. I was very disappointed when she came back to tell me:

1) I cannot reserve that week in May because SSR won't be open yet. I respond with the fact that many of you have been told by your guides that May 17th is the opening date. She replies that it is the opening date for the first building - but we are not owners in the first building, so we cannot book then!

2) She says we are in the second building, so we won't be able to make reservations until 7 months out from when THAT building opens (this was never an issue when talking with our guide or according to any of the paperwork that I've read). Okay...I ask when WILL that building be open? Her answer is...."We don't know". I know from reading here that they are scheduled to open one per month...so I tell her that. She says we can't make reservations until they know the opening date...and they don't know when they will decide on a date! What good is the 7 month window then? I asked her to check several of the resorts for 1BR availability for the May week and she said they are VERY LIMITED. Great.

She tells me to call my "sales guy" if I have problems with this. I don't want to be a pain...so I just thank her for checking and say goodbye. I go back and re-read post here at the DIS, look at my paperwork - which actually says we're in building 3A. This means that we might be in the 3rd building to open...which would put our vacation on or after July 17th (if the rumors are correct). Now I'm more frustrated, because we have an annual trip to NC every year during the last week of July...and our kids go back to school on Aug 11th!

I decide to call MS back. Frank answered, and I asked if there was someone I could speak to who is knowledgeable about making reservations for SSR owners. He chuckles and says "that would be VERY few of us". We have a good laugh and I tell him about my dilemma. He looks up a few memos...checks his computer...and basically confirms everything I've been told previously. I am to call back at the end of the week and see if they've decided when the owners at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th SSR buildings can start actually using their DVC purchase.

If you ask me , they should honor the June 1st date that we were told (and is also in our contract...though it does say "estimated" in the contract).

 

[pirateeast]

To see if I understand this right, and I was also told the june 1 date, your window to start to make reservation will all depend on when they set the dates to open the building you have bought into? So for 04 toss out 11 month, witch Knew from start, and toss out 7 month booking window's, unless it just happens to work out that way. So us summer travelers that have bought into SSR need to really think about banking our points into 05? Witch i was planing on doing anyway, and from your post glad i was. Good luck and please let me know how it all turns out.

 

[spiceycat]

they are doing SSR like VWL - VWL opened to paying guests before it open to DVC members using points - the rates were pretty cheap - I think it was either 30 or 60 days before you could use your points to save there.

I think that DVC is protecting itself - the first part of SSR may be finished in April (the other DVC resorts were opened early) - but they don't want their members to be disappointed if it is not - so by June 1 (the officially opening day) - they will let you use your points before then it is just cash.

ask how much the cash price is for a DVC member - if SSR is ready before June 1.

expect this price to be pretty low - I was told (on this site I think) that the VWL studios were going for $60 a night - if I had know I would paid cash....

also check with CRO - to make sure you are getting the lowest price.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Hmmmmmmm.....

This is the first I've heard about this "The unit you bought into determines when you can book in '03" policy.

Where in my paperwork can I find which unit I own?

Has anyone else been told this? (no offense, kweaver - we just hear a lot of differing 'facts' from different CMs).

Thanks.

 

[RobDoc]

I'm not surprised at the lack of knowledge you found from MS. They aren't really in the picture until December 1- when they start accepting reservations at the resort. Until DVC announces an official opening date for SSR, MS truly doesn't know a date when you can make that first reservation.

I expect that on December 1st you will be able to make a reservation at SSR for whenever it's opening date may be- even though your building won't open until later.

I'm surprised by the reports that the first SSR building has sold out already- in fact, I find it a little hard to believe- but am truly impressed if it is factual.

SSR is very different from the VWL situation- since there were no true presales for that resort. If I remember correctly, VWL opened in November, 2000 for cash reservations. About the same time, OKW and BWV both sold out and sales began for VWL- with DVC reservations being accepted for dates in February, 2001. VWL sales ended in February, 2002 and presales for BCV began at the same time (BCV opened in July, 2002).

Just sit tight until Decmber 1, 2003. I think you'll be fine (as long as we know the official opening date by then).

Enjoy!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Ouch! What a terrible situation. I would assume that from a legal standpoint, points (units/buildings) that are not yet declared into the condominium can not be used or traded .

Good luck... It would be nice if you could at least get a date...

EDIT: I would think the points are declared into the condo (since they were sold to you), but it apparently they are "usable points" until your building opens.

 

[MickeyMamma]

Sorry for your disappointment, but what you are saying goes exactly along with what we were told when we bought into SSR.

We are in the first building so we have an tentative opening date of May 17. When you get your big packet of paperwork, your unit number is listed on your deed paperwork (I think on the first page) and there is a building map that will tell you where it is.

For people who bought a little later, I am hearing that they are going into Building 2 (yes building 1 sold out already). The tentative opening date for building 2 is June 1 for now - not yet confirmed.

All of this is on the general information sheet that came with the packet.

Here is the short version of what I think you are wanting to know (based on paperwork and talking with my DVC person). This is for people buying into SSR:

1) You cannot stay at a DVC resort until the building/room that you purchased into is available for use. This is to protect current owners of DVC from a flood of new owners without the extra rooms available.

2) The earliest Booking date for SSR stays is December 1, 2003, at which point the 7-month and 11-month windows come into play.

3) For other resorts, it seems like you can book them at the 7-month window for stays that will be after your SSR availability date (which seems to depend on what building you bought into).

4) Other DVC members cannot book at SSR until after 2/1/04 for any stays there so SSR owners get priority for their home resort the first year.

Make sense?

While I can sympathize with your disappointment, this is all spelled out in the papers they sent you. Your guide may tell you things, but unless it is in the paperwork, they are not required to follow it.

And yes, it is frustrating now having an opening date, but I guess they are trying to protect themselves. Better to wait a little bit until they know the opening date then to give the wrong one and tell you "sorry you have to rebook because those dates are not available". I would guess that they will be announcing opening dates by 12/1 so that we can all start booking into SSR.

 

[kamgen]

From what we were told when we added on at SSR was that NO ONE can make a reservation (for SSR or anywhere else) using SSR points before December 1. So that would mean you would be unable to make any reservation now.
Anyone else get this information??

Also, we were just told by our guide that SSR opens May 17.

 

[stacy6552]

Well I just call CR and there is not info on making cash reservations at SSR. So no early opening or sweet cash rate. At least not yet.

 

[kweaver]

Thanks for all of the informative replies everyone.

pirateeast - It sounds like your plan to bank is a good idea. We're considering waiting and going during the week of Thanksgiving (assuming we can get SSR reservations for that week...because Lord knows everything else will be sold out!).

spiceycat - Thanks for the heads up about the cash price. That might be worth looking in to! Joining DVC is going to be a BIG Christmas present for the kids. I'd hate to tell them about it and then tell them that we have to wait almost a year to go!

DrTomorrow - No offense taken at all...I don't blame you for wanting to do your homework on this. This policy is in writing on page 1 of the Product Understanding Checklist (item 7). Your unit number is listed on page 1 of the Purchase Agreement (item 2). Ours definitely shows 3A. I wonder if that means building 2 is completely sold out?

WebmasterDoc - I understand that MS is not going to be completely up to speed on SSR issues yet...but the fact is that anyone who purchased part of the first building can now begin reserving for beginning of summer vacation (assuming they will stay at another DVC resort). I know I wasn't the first person to call about this last week...and I doubt if I was the last! Hopefully they will all understand the procedure shortly. You're right though, we can still try December 1st for the early summer time.

Maistre Gracey - you are correct!

MickeyMamma - Unfortunately, not everyone was told about the building/unit issue. It is in the agreement though...so we should have looked into it more deeply. I've never seen the topic come up here, or I would have asked about it during our tour. Of course, the guide told us the resort opens June 1st and we could make reservations for any DVC resort after SSR opens. Conveniently, there was never any mention of buildings or units. I'm not sure if you were lucky to have a guide who told you about it (meaning most of them don't)...or if we were just unlucky to have a guide that failed to mention it (meaning most of them do).

Kamagen - that is incorrect. (Maybe the guides are trying to take the pressure off the folks at MS who don't know the reservation rules yet! ) The December 1st date is only applicable to reservations for the SSR resort (made by SSR owners). You can make reservations at the other DVC resorts within the 7 month window provided that your stay begins after your "unit" at SSR will open. Opening dates for units other than Unit 1 have not been confirmed.

I guess we'll be sitting tight til December 1st!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

I just put a deposit down on Thurs for SSR. The guide went out of his way to say we can make reservations starting dec 1st. If we can't make reservations until our building opens, they either need some quick retraining or a truth wand waved over them.

 

[CarolA]

I think everyone can make reservations starting 12/1. The OP tried to make a reservation today which is 11/3. Now... if all the buildings are not open on 6/1 then... we won't all get to stay there opening day. Not that I think that will be an issue. I assume people will be making reservations for all thru the summer on 12/1. While the guides have been saying they are ahead of schedule, that might not come to pass so probably if they do open early it will be cash only. Otherwise if they don't open until 6/1 and you have a 5/21 reservation you will be homeless!!!

 

[kweaver]

MarriedAtDisney - Don't worry! We can make reservations at SSR on Dec 1st, we just have to make them for a date after our units open. If you wanted to make reservations at a different DVC resort, you can make them within the 7 month window, provided your reservations are after the date that your unit opens.

The current problem is that we don't have opening dates for any of the units except Unit 1.

If you don't mind me asking, what is the unit number on your agreement?

I hope this post didn't cause you any undue stress!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Thanks kweaver.

Unit 1L. Woo Hoo - I'm in on da ground floor! Ahem. Sorry.

The info is clear if you read it and think about it:

"You may begin to make reservations at Disney's SSR on December 1, 2003 (or at other DVC Resorts as soon as you purchase) for stays beginning on or after your unit is available for occupancy, subject to the Home Resort Priority Period."

Our purchase agreement says May 1, 2004.

I did read it before I signed it, honest! I guess I just didn't take into account what 'unit' meant - bet most folks think it means 'resort'.

Thanks, all!

 

[Scratch42]

Thanks.

So what does the letter after the number mean?

Boy, I've got to reread that paperwork!

TIA

Scratch

 

[adamwe]

Where is the unit # listed? I cant find it on my contract. All it says is Estimated date unit is Available for occupancy : May 1, 2004 I cant find a unit number anywhere where do I look?

thanks , Adam

 

[DrTomorrow]

On my Purchase Agreement, Item #2, second paragraph:

An undivided 0.XXX% interest in Unit 1L of Disney's SSR ....

 

[adamwe]

Thanks I got it now finally It says unit 1k

Adam

 

[Doug7856]

Just curious, people who are in buildings 2 and 3, when did you buy? Our agreement is recent, October 15, and we are in unit 1F. Is there any significance to the letter?

 

[Dean]

Each building will be divided up into "units". Each unit will have X number of points in each use year. So in part the building you buy will depend on your use year. I'd assume December would be less likely to be in building one and late in the year might still be workable. Also if they had a sale not go through, someone buying later could still be in building one.

This is the first time I've heard about different dates for different buildings but it does make some sense. Still, my guess is that once 1 Dec comes along, they will use the first opening date for all. Remember that they did this basic presell for BCV and did not make a distinction between the unit. I do realize that they all came on board at the same time so there are some differences. Note that they did allow people to make reservations using BC points before BCV was open.