SSR owners, did you buy there just to stay at other places instead?

[Meggysmum]

Except that those discounts with free DDP are only available in the UK market. There are no discounts to USA travelers at SSR, except the normal free DDP with full rack rate room. I don't think the offers you refer to truly add to anyone's dissatisfaction with SSR or OKW for any US based owners.

They probably don't for US owners but on UK boards it can be a big issue. Sometimes the cost of a package including SSR, tickets, DDP, giftcard, flights and car can work out at very little more than flights only with Disney tickets. We priced it up last time and the whole package came to £180 more for 4 adults than flights and tickets alone would have been. I can get quite cross at the idea that people can stay at the beautiful SSR resort and get free dining for less than $300 for a week!

 

[jennylyn_b]

We bought SSR because we liked it. It's our favorite dvc and we now have 3 SSR contracts. We occasionally stay at another dvc for a change but to us SSR is our home!

 

[Rmgdisney]

We bought a small contract at SSR resale which we could afford. We have never stood at any of the DVC villas, mostly stood at values in the past. Looking forward to our first (split stay) SSR/OKW this December. Trying the split stay to save on points since we will be going back in 2014.

 

[smcabee]

Didnt read the whole thread but we bought initially into BCV and after staying in SSR we decided to sell 1/2 of our BCV and buy into SSR. We still have enough BCV points to stay there for F&W when we like but overall we prefer the laid back atmosphere of SSR.

 

[catherines_mama]

Yes. We bought because it was lowest pp contract, lowest MF at the time for what we wanted. We've stayed once (AKV) with a 2nd booked this summer (OKW). We will stay at SSR happily if we find we any get in elsewhere. Both times I booked there at 11 and moved at 7 mos.

With the kids we want to explore as much as we can. DH and I have 40 yrs of quiet vacations at SSR in front of us.

 

[catherines_mama]

Like many people, we were on a vacation, went on the DVC tour on a whim, and ended up buying. We bought SSR for the following reasons:
1) First and foremost, we weren't informed buyers. We got swooped up in the emotion of the day and handed over our credit card.

2) SSR was what they were selling. They didn't even mention the possibility of buying elsewhere. I think we brought it up, but were quickly diverted back to SSR.

3) The guide painted a picture of the home resort being in name only. One of the biggest selling points was that we could stay anywhere. When I left the building, it was my perspective that we were buying SSR because that is what they were selling, but it meant nothing in regard to when/where we could stay.

For the most part, we have been able to stay where we want. The last two trips haven't been as easy to get what we want, but we are nonetheless satisfied.

I love DVC.

I want to say this fits us to a tee! It was 12/28/2011. Parks were packed, we needed a breather and thought it'd be fun. I thought big burly DH would never get talked into this. He was the sucker, not me! I don't regret it at all now. We are happy about it and like I said above of we vacation at SSR or BWV we are still on vacation, with our family! And in 20 yrs we can still do that, in 30 with our grand kids. That's all that counts.

 

[sweetdana]

I think most buy what is available at the time, what has the best pricing and dues and most everyone wants to sample the others resorts at some point. After that most settle at their home resort.

Have to remember members can't trade out of SSR into other resorts unless there is a member there trading out or staying at another DVC resorts.

So it works both ways.

That is not really true.. .. as a BC owner might decide at 4 months to go... and would probably prefer the BC, but end at SSR... Certainly that is more the norm than a say a BLT owner hoping to get into the 2 bd at SSR at the 7 month window. *

I would not call this trading out, I would call this ... what is left.


*treehouses aside as those might fit a unique fit to someone booked in a 2bdroom hoping to snag 1. .

 

[Dean]

That is not really true.. .. as a BC owner might decide at 4 months to go... and would probably prefer the BC, but end at SSR... Certainly that is more the norm than a say a BLT owner hoping to get into the 2 bd at SSR at the 7 month window. *

I would not call this trading out, I would call this ... what is left.


*treehouses aside as those might fit a unique fit to someone booked in a 2bdroom hoping to snag 1. .

I would have to agree more with Sammie's view than yours but see both sides. Each and every stay at a non home resort is technically a timeshare exchange out even though most DVC members don't look at it that way. While it's true that a higher demand resort owners is more likely to end up at SSR at 4 months out, it's only because that an owner either did not reserve or exchanged out to another DVC resort. No doubt the comparative demand for WDW resorts is not equal and it doesn't take a big difference to make this obvious with SSR being the last man standing so to speak. I would suggest in your example that the issue is reserving at 4 months out tough, not the demand of the resorts.

 

[disbound09]

We bought there because we like the calm amongst the storm. Not a big fan of BCV having stayed there a couple of times. But that is the beauty of DVC if my son in the future wants to go with his college friends I am sure they would prefer BCV. I look forward to trying them all but SSR will always be home.

 

[Hollymom1229]

We bought SSR because we knew we wanted DVC and it's what they were selling in 2004. Also we liked the proximity to DD for nights out at Pleasure Island (turns out that was pointless). We also added-on at AKV because it's our favorite resort. Yes, we have traded out to other resorts and have stayed at BCV, BWV, and OKW along with AKV and SSR. We have grown to love SSR and for trips with larger groups, SSR is almost always what we book.

 

[dwight16]

So do we get limited on the availability at other resorts if people don't use their points to stay at our resorts? I thought I caught a line about that. Part of me still does not understand how the point exchanges work or is every open room fair game at 7 months?

 

[dansamy]

So do we get limited on the availability at other resorts if people don't use their points to stay at our resorts? I thought I caught a line about that. Part of me still does not understand how the point exchanges work or is every open room fair game at 7 months?

At 7 months, every room is fair game to all DVC members. From what I understand, DVC waits until about the 4-6 month mark to send out rooms to RCI for points that members have exchanged into stays through RCI. Other exchanges within Disney owned properties are handled by renting out the rooms to cash renters through CRO. That lets DVC recoup the cost of allowing members to use points to book things like cruises.

 

[Anthony1971]

I'm curious what you did not care for at AKL?

I have only stayed at OKW since 1992, with the occasional day or two extension at POP. AKL is on my list as wanting to stay there sometime, but I haven't been able to tear myself away from the large rooms at OKW.

Chuck
If you are going to stay at AKL stay at Jambo house. I would also say maybe give it 2 tries if you do not like it the first time as it grows on you once you know what to expect.
what not to expect.... OKW is very laid back Jambo house is not.
Kidani is nice but not the same...visit when staying at Jambo..

I do not think you can campare the two resorts but I can say I think the room size is fine it just does not feel small at AKL other resorts although similiar in size felt smaller.
Can say I heard people at BLT say we should have stayed at OKW again (I felt the same but they said it first) but never heard that at Jambo house.

do a split stay if not a week... it is a resort you need to understand it is not like OKW where what you see is what you get.

 

[Dean]

At 7 months, every room is fair game to all DVC members. From what I understand, DVC waits until about the 4-6 month mark to send out rooms to RCI for points that members have exchanged into stays through RCI. Other exchanges within Disney owned properties are handled by renting out the rooms to cash renters through CRO. That lets DVC recoup the cost of allowing members to use points to book things like cruises.

Historically DVC has reserved a fair % of the units to deposit to II or RCI at or just after the 11 month window. While there are indications there has been some shift in this issue, I am not convinced that it is completely different now. There are other explanations as to why resorts are showing up online like they are now mostly at or after 6-7 months. It's also possible, if not likely, that DVD is actually making those reservations earlier than they are being deposited. There are other pools of points that could take rooms out of inventory as well including breakage (which can be back to 11 months and not just 60 days out), points owned by DVD and points for cash type exchanges. Now with the fixed week options at some resorts, that will be a further reduction in inventory available.

 

[dansamy]

Historically DVC has reserved a fair % of the units to deposit to II or RCI at or just after the 11 month window. While there are indications there has been some shift in this issue, I am not convinced that it is completely different now. There are other explanations as to why resorts are showing up online like they are now mostly at or after 6-7 months. It's also possible, if not likely, that DVD is actually making those reservations earlier than they are being deposited. There are other pools of points that could take rooms out of inventory as well including breakage (which can be back to 11 months and not just 60 days out), points owned by DVD and points for cash type exchanges. Now with the fixed week options at some resorts, that will be a further reduction in inventory available.

Thank you for your insight. I was under the impression that they held those until after the 7 month booking window. I'm not certain where I acquired that impression.

 

[delilah]

I'm very curious, I see so many SSR owners saying this, that they never stay at their home resort, but wait till the 7 month window to book somewhere else. I'm wondering, if that is the case, why didn't you purchase at the resort that you loved in the first place? Just a totally curious question.

I apologize for not reading the entire thread before replying. We bought SSR back in 2003 or so, when our son was 5. At the time we purchased, the only resort that was available for sale was SSR. Several years later, AKL was built, and we purchased points there. We LOVE <3 AKL, and have 100 pts at both Kidani and Jambo. But, for the sake of trying something different, like BLT, BCV or, this coming December, we are using SSR points to stay at BWV. In retrospect, I suppose we could have waited 4 years for AKL to open to buy. But, then we would have missed the wonderful experience of having a 5-9 year old son enjoying annual visits to WDW. Now, to be perfectly honest, since he (0ur now 15 yo son) loves BLT, I am seriously considering selling the SSR points to buy BLT points. But, for this year, we are enjoying a Christmas-time vacation at BWV. I never use the AKL points to stay elsewhere, since it is my favorite. Of course, the SSR points are paid for, and so, I have to weigh the merit of selling something that I already have for something that is more expensive, or use what I already have. And, since I am lazy, for now, I am taking the chance of switching to BLT at 7 mos. But, we have a trip in two weeks that I waitlisted BLT at 7 mos, and it never became available. So,we are staying at Kidani, where we own points.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Hallelujah ! The SSR dark cloud has passed! Five years ago a post like the one that started this thread would have begun a pages of rants against SSR as a resort.


So happy to see so many owners who enjoy the resort and look forward to staying there. All our points are at SSR. It feels like home to us, but we do also enjoy staying in all the other resorts. The variety that DVC provides makes for a different vacation each time if you want it that way.

We stayed at SSR this spring and I was really impressed with how the resort has 'grown up'. Landscaping is beautiful, food is great, DTD is close and the refresh of the rooms is very nice.

 

[Dean]

Thank you for your insight. I was under the impression that they held those until after the 7 month booking window. I'm not certain where I acquired that impression.

Maybe because recent reports of sightings on RCI have mostly been after the 7 month window.

Hallelujah ! The SSR dark cloud has passed! Five years ago a post like the one that started this thread would have begun a pages of rants against SSR as a resort.


So happy to see so many owners who enjoy the resort and look forward to staying there. All our points are at SSR. It feels like home to us, but we do also enjoy staying in all the other resorts. The variety that DVC provides makes for a different vacation each time if you want it that way.

We stayed at SSR this spring and I was really impressed with how the resort has 'grown up'. Landscaping is beautiful, food is great, DTD is close and the refresh of the rooms is very nice.

More likely the SSR are less sensitive to the realities of SSR because most of those posts taken as negative were in fact the info that follows. That it has the lowest overall demand at WDW and that the affect on the system, related to the exact points of the OP, is at or near it's maximum.

 

[Nicoal13]

Nope, we own at SSR and have stayed there and love it. However, I do enjoy trying the other resorts just like most other owners and have tried them all except BCV and BLT so far.

 

[mdinme]

We bought there because of the value. The contract for ssr runs longer than several resorts, dues are cheap, and you book thv at 11 mo. Wanted a small contract and waited til we got one: 90 points with 40 banked.

Not sure if we'll stay there, kids act like nothing else but BC exists (wife and i find it hard to argue that) but we'd never be disappointed wherever we end up.

Anyhow today was a horrible day...glad Dis is here!