SSR Preferred Area

[kjkelley]

So for those who have stayed at SSR, can I get some recommendations on which area is preferred to stay at (i.e. Congress Park vs Springs)?

 

[tjkraz]

Depends a lot on your interests. Congress park has many rooms with direct views of Downtown Disney, and all rooms are a very short walk from DD. They are probably 5-7 minutes away from the main pool.

In The Springs, rooms arguably don't have as nice a view and are a bit further from DD, but they are right across the road from the main pool and restaurant.

Request whichever holds more appeal to you.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We've stayed there twice - both times at CP (duh). While the view is nice - and I'd recommend it for everyone at least once or twice - this May I'm going to request The Springs. It's only a few minutes (by my watch, anyway ) farther to DTD, and it's going to be the most convenient location. Close to the Town Center: Carriage House, Artists' Palette, High Rock Springs, boat to DTD, OKW. And IIRC, The Springs' bus stop will be the first and last one in the complex.

 

[MikeyNS]

So for those who have stayed at SSR, can I get some recommendations on which area is preferred to stay at (i.e. Congress Park vs Springs)?

Too bad SSR didn't go with the "standard" and "preferred" system like BWV for points. I would really really hate it if we went down to stay (when the whole resort is open) and we had one of the rooms looking out onto the main stretch of road instead of a nice DTD view!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Too bad SSR didn't go with the "standard" and "preferred" system like BWV for points. I would really really hate it if we went down to stay (when the whole resort is open) and we had one of the rooms looking out onto the main stretch of road instead of a nice DTD view!

IMHO, the importance of "view" will fade a few years into DVC ownership. By someone's 5th or 6th trip, it just won't be as important - at least not something to "hate". Besides, none of the current buildings will have "awful" views - either DTD or Saratoga Lake.

I've also read that DVC has said "never again" regarding multiple view/point arrangements.

 

[tjkraz]

Too bad SSR didn't go with the "standard" and "preferred" system like BWV for points. I would really really hate it if we went down to stay (when the whole resort is open) and we had one of the rooms looking out onto the main stretch of road instead of a nice DTD view!

I also doubt that they will go to a multi-tiered point system. However, it's not outside the realm of possibility that they could guarantee the section of resort at the time of booking, much as the Boardwalk does with the "Preferred Boardwalk View" and "Preferred Garden/Pool View." The fact that they have not yet done this tells me that it will probably depend on the volume of complaints generated by those who cannot get the area of the resort they want.

What rooms do you think will be looking "out onto the main strech of road"? The buildings in The Paddock are near Buena Vista Drive, but it is on the parking lot side. The room balconies all face in toward the large pond in the center of the resort. There are a couple dozen rooms in the Springs area that face out toward Broadway, but that's about it.

 

[barryb]

As tjkraz was pointing out there will only be a small number of rooms looking onto Broadway. This is the view from the first springs building. http://www.barrybedford.com/dvc/construction2005/SSR Panaramas/target4.html It's from the stairwell on the 1st floor. The units are to the right of this pic so you would still get a nice view from your room (i think so!)

From the top floor of the 3rd springs building (nearest the springs bus stop) you'll be able to see into High Rock Springs too!

BarryB.

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...] The room balconies all face in toward the large pond in the center of the resort. [...]

Ahem - that's Saratoga Lake, buster - as per the latest Member Clubhouse. Pond, indeed....

 

[sagwanamu]

Can they adjust point system? I thought all combined points in the point chart MUST be the same every year. If they go with multi-tiered point system, only way they can achieve this without complaint is to make the "preferred-view" as is and lower the "standard-view" points and why do they want to do this?

 

[lllovell]

If one goes down, the other goes up. If they get a lot of grumbles, they might and then they can let people choose where to stay and it would take some heat off not getting requests filled.

 

[tjkraz]

Can they adjust point system? I thought all combined points in the point chart MUST be the same every year. If they go with multi-tiered point system, only way they can achieve this without complaint is to make the "preferred-view" as is and lower the "standard-view" points and why do they want to do this?

They could still establish a lower-tier point system for buildings that have not yet been sold. But, contrary to what lllovell said, I don't think it would be very easy to change the point requirements for units already open. Unless I'm mistaken, the points are actually determined on a per-unit (room) basis.

In other words, according to Caskbill's planner, it would take 15107 points to book a 2B for an entire year. So, for every 2B at SSR, DVC can sell 15107 points. While it's within DVC's right to reallocate the points on the calendar, it still must equal 15107 for the entire year. Moving a single room into a "Preferred" category would mean increasing the number of total points for the room, and I don't think that's possible.

They could make unsold units a "Standard" category with a lower annual total. But that would mean fewer points for DVC to sell in each room. I just don't see them biting that bullet.

But, as I said, I would like to see them eventually guarantee a specific "neighborhood" (Congress Park, The Springs or The Paddock) at the time of booking. That would give SSR owners the advantage of being able to secure Downtown Disney view when booking at 11 months.

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...] But, as I said, I would like to see them eventually guarantee a specific "neighborhood" (Congress Park, The Springs or The Paddock) at the time of booking. That would give SSR owners the advantage of being able to secure Downtown Disney view when booking at 11 months.

This would great, AFAIC, but isn't the whole "guarantee" issue all.or.nothing? For any given room, they must know what neighborhood it's in, if it's S/NS, HC/NHC, etc. If they can guarantee one "type" of room - which it seems that currently they can't - then couldn't they guarantee all (or let you know that a room type isn't available)?

 

[lllovell]

hmmmm - I see if a bit differently TJKRAZ (and might very well be wrong), but what is keeping them from making a prefered catagory out of certain buildings and then cheapening the others? For example, by the time the 2007-2008 points calendar comes out, the Spring will all be open (and alot more I am sure). If people want a guaranteed DTD view, can't they just say these rooms are this much (raising the points of the CP rooms) and these are this much (lowering the points on say the Springs rooms)? This would obviously only work if the same number of rooms were involved. i.e. 20 2 bedrooms in CP for 20 2 bedrooms in The Springs.

I am asking here. Not sure. But my understanding has always been that they can do whatever they want as long as the total points for the resort don't go up (with the expection of bringing more rooms online - which obviously changes the total).

(ok - I just re-read and you said it wouldn't be easy....I think I get it now.... )

 

[tjkraz]

This would great, AFAIC, but isn't the whole "guarantee" issue all.or.nothing? For any given room, they must know what neighborhood it's in, if it's S/NS, HC/NHC, etc. If they can guarantee one "type" of room - which it seems that currently they can't - then couldn't they guarantee all (or let you know that a room type isn't available)?

Oh, you had to go THERE, eh?

In this case I'm using the BWV Preferred split (Boardwalk View vs. Garden / Pool view) as a precedent. Same points, different guaranteed view.

Let me put it this way...I'm perfectly fine with the system as it is today. My understanding is that the change was made at the BW due to overwhelming member complaint--too many requests for BW view and not enough rooms to satisfy the masses. If the same proves to be true at SSR (i.e., consistently many more requests for Congress Park or The Springs than can be accommodated) then I think DVC should and will make a change. On the other hand, if we consistently request Congress Park and GET Congress Park, there is clearly no need for change.

Regarding the S/NS issue, with less than 2% dissatisfaction rate (albeit in an unscientific poll), I don't think an immediate need for change is indicated.

 

[tjkraz]

If people want a guaranteed DTD view, can't they just say these rooms are this much (raising the points of the CP rooms) and these are this much (lowering the points on say the Springs rooms)?

Because DVC truly is a deeded real estate holding, I don't think it's quite that simple on a unit-by-unit basis. My deed reads that I own 0.XX% of unit XX in Saratoga Springs. I don't think they can arbitrarily change the number of points in that unit, which would also impact my ownership percent in the same unit. (Even though my DVC points wouldn't change a bit.)

Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Oh, you had to go THERE, eh?

In this case I'm using the BWV Preferred split (Boardwalk View vs. Garden / Pool view) as a precedent. Same points, different guaranteed view.

Let me put it this way...I'm perfectly fine with the system as it is today. My understanding is that the change was made at the BW due to overwhelming member complaint--too many requests for BW view and not enough rooms to satisfy the masses. If the same proves to be true at SSR (i.e., consistently many more requests for Congress Park or The Springs than can be accommodated) then I think DVC should and will make a change. On the other hand, if we consistently request Congress Park and GET Congress Park, there is clearly no need for change.

Regarding the S/NS issue, with less than 2% dissatisfaction rate (albeit in an unscientific poll), I don't think an immediate need for change is indicated.

Thanks for the explination you give. That makes sense. Actually I am hoping for complaints because I would love lower points like at BW...I could get even more nights in

 

[lllovell]

lol I don't have a clue either - but what you say makes sense to me.