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

[castleri]

Bought pre-construction and have had many pleasant stays there. Prefer it to OWK when using a studio as like the sofa and bed option when it is just two of us. Have traded out to all the other DVC resorts at WDW but SSR is right near the top of my favorite list. We actually trade out the BCV points more than the SSR ones. As to the original question- no we did not buy to trade out but have done so when someone really wants to stay somewhere else.

 

[going/again]

Except that those discounts with free DDP are only available in the UK market.

They are much better than that this year.

 

[wendydarling826]

We added on at SSR in 2005. Because our main vacation is in August and our main contract is at BCV, we usually use our SSR points to stay at BCV. The pool at the BC is important to us in August, and the pools at the other resorts can't compare. For trips at other times of the year, though, we have stayed at SSR several times, most recently this March. I have to say that each time we've stayed at SSR we like it more and more. The grounds are beautiful, the restaurants are very good, and it has a very relaxed feel. We are happy SSR owners!

 

[AgentP]

SSR is my home resort, the ability to stay at other resorts is one of the reasons I bought DVC in general but not SSR specifically. I had done my homework but I was definitely a DVC “rookie” when I purchased my contract at SSR, I didn’t know any DVC members and all I knew about DVC was what I learned from researching it on the Internet. Being a DVC “rookie” is one of the reasons that I choose SSR as my home resort, the price per point and AMF costs at SSR provided an affordable introduction to DVC. My thinking at the time was that I would likely add another contract at a later date if I liked DVC and the contract I purchased provided me with enough points to try other resorts and see which ones I liked best. So far I am happy with my decision, I have used my DVC membership for stays at BLT, THV, and a DCL cruise, there are several more resorts I would like to try before I consider an add-on but I will definitely keep my existing SSR contract. I had the opportunity to check out the SSR amenities(restaurants, pools, etc…) during my stay at THV and I found it a very relaxing and enjoyable place to stay.

 

[sweetinmaine]

We bought into DVC in 2005 without ever having visited a DVC resort. Our home resort was SSR. After our first visit we decided that we'd never want to stay there..."too much like Saratoga Springs, NY" which we don't live too far from, "not enough of a Florida feel", etc, etc. Spring forward 8 years and look at my signature below. We've stayed at most of the DVC resorts and we absolutely love SSR! It has the best walking paths, it's so quiet, it's near Downtown Disney and we never have a problem getting a room there. We've purchased and sold several contracts over the years at other resorts but we've never thought of selling our SSR contract. We like it there too much!

 

[disbound09]

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.

I can't wait to be there in about a week. The last time was in 07 so I am anxious to see it grown up now. We enjoy the pools and have never eaten there. I want to go see the GF though locking in a week may be appealing enough to make us give into direct.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

There have been posts usually during the August/September free dining period where people were upgraded from All Stars to SSR or OKW for free, sometimes even 1 bedrooms. Not only UK. They have a hard time filling those rooms for cash and have a demand at the values. Plus those upgraded might be interested in DVC. I think it does add to annoyance about free dining among members.

Honestly, this is what keeps me from booking a reservation at SSR. Friends of mine have been upgraded not once, but twice from an All Star to SSR. On both occasions, the upgrade was due to overbooking.

I can appreciate the need to fill rooms, but a 3 category upgrade coupled with free dining hurts.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Honestly, this is what keeps me from booking a reservation at SSR. Friends of mine have been upgraded not once, but twice from an All Star to SSR. On both occasions, the upgrade was due to overbooking.

I can appreciate the need to fill rooms, but a 3 category upgrade coupled with free dining hurts.

I personally don't think this is a coincidence or an "accidental" overbooking, as it happens year after year. DVC can be pretty sly with its marketing, and I think there may be some targeting going on. There's a pretty good chance they want to "spoil" All Stars guests who meet their desired demographic in the hope it will lead to DVC sales.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I personally don't think this is a coincidence or an "accidental" overbooking, as it happens year after year. DVC can be pretty sly with its marketing, and I think there may be some targeting going on. There's a pretty good chance they want to "spoil" All Stars guests who meet their desired demographic in the hope it will lead to DVC sales.

There may be some truth to this because the friends to which I was referring visit once or twice a year.

 

[Dean]

I can appreciate the need to fill rooms, but a 3 category upgrade coupled with free dining hurts.

While I can see taking the chance on being upgrading and doing cash instead of DVC, I don't see how this hurts you. Someone's else's gain is not necessarily your loss. DVC is a timeshare, not an exclusive club.

 

[WildernessMickey]

Reading these posts makes me think back to how SSR has grown over the years. They added more regular units. They added the Tree House Villas. They added sit down dining with the Turf Club. They added the themed Grandstand pool. Then they added the Paddock pool with another slide and a nice food option. Now they are upgrading the Spa.

I think this is a good example of how DVC has listened to it's clients' comments and improved their product. Only one themed pool for a large resort? Redo the Paddock pool. Not enough counter service options for food? Add a cafe at the Paddock pool. No need for an 11 month window? Add THVs and make them a part of SSR.

I am a happy owner at SSR. I stay at other DVC resorts and love the variety, but I am always satisfied with SSR. And having the 11 month window on the THVs is valuable to me. We loved our stay there in December. And with the expansion of Downtown Disney, we will enjoy our future stays even more.

 

[Doug7856]

Reading these posts makes me think back to how SSR has grown over the years. They added more regular units. They added the Tree House Villas. They added sit down dining with the Turf Club. They added the themed Grandstand pool. Then they added the Paddock pool with another slide and a nice food option. Now they are upgrading the Spa.

I think this is a good example of how DVC has listened to it's clients' comments and improved their product. Only one themed pool for a large resort? Redo the Paddock pool. Not enough counter service options for food? Add a cafe at the Paddock pool. No need for an 11 month window? Add THVs and make them a part of SSR.

I am a happy owner at SSR. I stay at other DVC resorts and love the variety, but I am always satisfied with SSR. And having the 11 month window on the THVs is valuable to me. We loved our stay there in December. And with the expansion of Downtown Disney, we will enjoy our future stays even more.

So much of the time we just hear complaints, but you have hit the nail on the head. We continue to love our SSR points and feel that Disney has really worked to address the concerns of members there.

Thanks for the reminder of the many changes Disney has brought to SSR.

 

[disbound09]

Honestly, this is what keeps me from booking a reservation at SSR. Friends of mine have been upgraded not once, but twice from an All Star to SSR. On both occasions, the upgrade was due to overbooking.

I can appreciate the need to fill rooms, but a 3 category upgrade coupled with free dining hurts.

Now that's funny you don't book there because people like your friends keep getting upgraded. That made me chuckle I have some family like that LOL I didn't think you meant it that way.

I am sure Disney has figured out the upgrade to direct purchase link a long time ago. I wish I knew about it so I could take a chance and get all the free dining and the extra room at the All Star prices. If I were them I would always book and enjoy the perks.

 

[yitbos96bb]

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.

Well teach me to judge a forum by it's title... I thought this was going to be another whining thread, but it's one that's actually well thought out and fosters discussion. Kudos.

We bought SSR due to the fact it was what was available at the time. We didn't know anything about the resale market. If I could have done it over, I"d have gotten VWL or BWV on resale but tis what it tis. That being said, I like SSR. It's a nice resort, it has a lot of positives (and some negatives but I can say that about most of the DVCs) plus I like the fact I can book one of the coolest 2 BRs at 11 month in the tree house... of course we usually stay 1 bedroom, so I don't take advantage as much as I like too. My favorite is BWV as I like the BW views (although near impossible to get at 7 months) and the quick walk to Epcot and my wife's is VWL. I hold out hope for the Poly as I will finally break down and add on then. I'd actually consider adding at BWV if the expiration date wasn't 2045. If they ever change that or extend, I might rethink it.

 

[yitbos96bb]

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

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.

Or people grew up, stopped whining, realized that they either accept it or they sell and that most people don't give a great good gosh darn what their opinion on it was... or in the words of The Rock... "Is that what you think? NOBODY GIVES A #*$* WHAT YOU THINK!"

 

[lugnut33]

We bought into SSR because it was cheap on the resale market and we could stay at other resorts. However, in no way would we complain about staying at SSR, it's a beautiful resort and we stayed in the THV for 5 nights. It was fantastic. We also have a November stay booked at SSR.

Our favorite resort has become Kidani Village.

 

[Dean]

Or people grew up, stopped whining, realized that they either accept it or they sell and that most people don't give a great good gosh darn what their opinion on it was... or in the words of The Rock... "Is that what you think? NOBODY GIVES A #*$* WHAT YOU THINK!"

I'm not sure we're on the same tangent so I'll be clear. I was cryptic but my point was that I believe that this issue, when it was more at the forefront, was more related to overly sensitive and emotional owners rather than true bashing, which I see as almost never happening. The reality is now (and was then) that SSR is less in demand than the rest of the WDW resorts even with the additions chronicled AND the affect on the system by the SSR points was dramatic and far reaching and ultimately reached all the way back to the 11 month booking window at each and every WDW resort in place at the time. As I said from the start of this, I see that as the way it is and I don't have a problem with it. It's still a great resort, that's a different question in my mind.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

Does the advent of the DD being refurbished and brand new spa make SSR more attractive? I myself find it great for people in there 30's like myself to golf spa and hit the town (DD) at night for drinks with my fellow travelers.

 

[JWG]

Does the advent of the DD being refurbished and brand new spa make SSR more attractive? I myself find it great for people in there 30's like myself to golf spa and hit the town (DD) at night for drinks with my fellow travelers.

Maybe once it's done and the stuff is there. I don't personally golf or spa, but have the drinking down rotfl. We prefer BLT for TOTWL right on site. I think when Pleasure Island still exhisted, I'd have agreed - easy access to the clubs and back.

We don't dislike SSR, but just don't choose it first given point values at OKW.

 

[IandGsmom]

I have to admit we did buy at SSR with the intention of staying at other resorts but I also would have zero issues with staying there and hope to someday. Right now when we go to Florida, I cant seem to get the family to agree to stay anywhere but the Beach Club! We also own and stay more frequently at Aulani and Grand Californian so SSR is our WDW home