SSR Studios Refurb-A Rant

[WilsonFlyer]

I'm sure this post will be somewhat controversial, and maybe this has already been discussed. Full disclosure, this is not a DVC section I frequent. I'm a little hesitant to put it here, but this is where it is probably most appropriate, though I believe there are a lot of people like me who mostly frequent the Mousescellaneous forum and more eyeballs would see it there. Having said that...

Yesterday, we began a week-long stay at a studio for Easter. This is our first stay at SSR since the massive refurbishment. I will begin by saying that aesthetically, the rooms are beautiful. I love the Murphy beds. They are a welcome addition. But, the rooms are a MASSIVE failure in terms of practicality. Moreover, there are a radical departure from what I bought into, and I'm very upset over the change. I doubt and hope I'm not alone.

My DW, my DD17 and me. My wife and I work from home, and while we don't come down here to work, we do have occasion where we have to be connected to what we do. Sometimes several times a day. This is not a choice. This is an obligation. I own my own company. I cannot simply "walk away" for a week, nor do I desire to.

I am composing this on a $15 folding table that looks like it came from Family Dollar (Bless). If you're from the south, you know exactly what I mean. They were also kind enough to bring me 2 $5 folding chairs for kindergartners that likely came from the competition, $5 and Below. Why? Because there is not a single chair in this villa anymore. There is not a single place for an adult or child to sit while two other people sleep in this villa, short of on the floor or a 90 degree balcony, assuming it's not pouring a central FL thunderstorm. And where is the working table/desk that the two nice chairs always sat around? You know. The nice one that had all the outlets just below it or even up on it in some cases? This is unacceptable, folks. I might as well be in a tower studio at Riviera.

Am I honestly the only one that finds this totally unacceptable?? What kind of genius thought this was anything even resembling a good idea? I am sitting on a bench seat. With no back. In front of a flimsy $10 folding table. With a $2500 laptop on it. Leaning over. Typing. And my back hurts. I wonder why.

I'm not sure in what universe this is anywhere near acceptable. This is not what I signed up for. This was not the room layouts I bought into. This is not simply a change in decor. This is a major change in the entire layout of what's available as a guest/owner. Did I mention I'm sitting on some bench with two drawers that are totally useless and sit where my desk could be? Or the new eight drawer dresser under the TV that could hold enough clothes for a family of 8 for two weeks? I think my wife is actually using 4 drawers and her and my daughter bring enough clothes to move in.

I should not be run out of the ability to use studios due to such a major change in design that was not part of what I bought into. I can't even sit down with my camera and dump pictures to my laptop without putting the Murphy bed back up to get to the couch and the table. And God forbid I want to sit and eat a snack with the bed down. In who's mind could this have possibly been a good idea? This is ridiculous. And unacceptable.

 

[stwaldman]

I think these complaints are entirely fair, although the recent refurbs have been generally (it seems) well received, so I could see why DVC went all in on that style in the studios. I feel like it's kinda the nature of the program (where they can't really have different furniture layouts in the same point level) that any directional movement towards one style/layout preference is going to **** off the people who want the other style or layout preference.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

They are driving people to 1 BRs by changing the fundamental layout of what we bought into. Call it what you may, but that is exactly what they are doing. Any they'll probably get away with it. Unless we sue them. Which we all know we won't. And they know it too.

Like I needed another reason at this point...

 

[stwaldman]

They are driving people to 1 BRs by changing the fundamental layout of what we bought into. Call it what you may, but that is exactly what they are doing. Any they'll probably get away with it. Unless we sue them. Which we all know we won't. And they know it too.

Like I needed another reason at this point...

I agree with you, they definitely are making it so that the studios are catered to a particular type of buyer and telling everybody else "your problems can be solved with more points" I don't disagree on that. What will a lawsuit accomplish when half (or more) of the DVC population likes the new changes though?And it's hard to argue they've mismanaged the value and health of the product when it's as valuable as it's ever been. I just think it kinda is what it is, sometimes a product changes to meet current demand. SSR value specifically (direct and resale) has seen a noticable spike since this refurb (no, not all of that should be attributable to the refurb, prices in general went up, but SSR moreso than others for sure). Like, what else are they going to do with that information other than say "we must've done something right here".

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

riviera tower studios have one (almost too) big chair in front of a built in shelving that includes a counter you could use as a dinky desk area. So if SSR has no chairs at all that sucks. Hopefully you own elsewhere for future stays.

 

[kes601]

The lack of a table / chairs was the one thing we found lacking on our short stay in March. It made little sense to me. A small table and 2 chairs would make more sense than the little bench they put in instead.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

riviera tower studios have one (almost too) big chair in front of a built in shelving that includes a counter you could use as a dinky desk area. So if SSR has no chairs at all that sucks. Hopefully you own elsewhere for future stays.

It would be almost foolish to assume that these changes aren't headed everywhere on their next hard goods refurbishment. Other than this week, I could give two cents for all I care about SSR. As a directional decision though, it sucks.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

"In our continuing efforts to enhance the guest experience, today we have removed the old-style kitchen tables from our larger villas. A relic from a bygone era when families used to gather around the table for discussions and family dinner, these types of amenities are simply not needed in today's modern family. We look forward to our family guests to now be able to sit around in a circle on the floor, and enjoy playing Farmville on their iPads together. Or even more fun, they can enjoy shuffleboard on our new modern vinyl floors given this new space now available in our luxurious villas."

The press release goes on to say, "We are so excited to see what this new dynamic brings to our DVC families, and we can't wait to hear all the exciting new things they can now do as a family with this new addition of space."

The press release ends by saying that DVC fully intends to continue to innovate and create new ways and new opportunities for all of their DVC families to better enjoy their experiences as DVC members. "We are excited about our DVC future, and we can't wait to introduce our even grander innovations in future updates." As a teaser, a representative hinted to a "water play" type area for future bathroom amenities. "We think our guests will simply love this new addition, and that they will appreciate the savings to our environment as we rid the world of yet another nuisance of modern society: half ply toilet paper. But that's all I'm at liberty to say for now."

 

[zavandor]

I agree 100%. I would prefer to have a real table and chairs too.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

It would be almost foolish to assume that these changes aren't headed everywhere on their next hard goods refurbishment. Other than this week, I could give two cents for all I care about SSR. As a directional decision though, it sucks.

Probably a ploy to push people into more expensive 1-bedrooms.

 

[WildernessMickey]

Can you sit on the couch and raise the top of the coffee table to table height?

 

[The Jackal]

Can you sit on the couch and raise the top of the coffee table to table height?

Yes. It lifts up to table height. Their issue is they want to use a table when the sofa bed is in use.

 

[BamaGuy44]

They are driving people to 1 BRs by changing the fundamental layout of what we bought into. Call it what you may, but that is exactly what they are doing. Any they'll probably get away with it. Unless we sue them. Which we all know we won't. And they know it too.

Like I needed another reason at this point...

Why would they need to push people to 1 BRs? Pretty much every villa in every DVC resort is occupied 365 days a year. They don’t have any trouble filling every 1 BR.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Why would they need to push people to 1 BRs? Pretty much every villa in every DVC resort is occupied 365 days a year. They don’t have any trouble filling every 1 BR.

1. To sell more points.
2. 1 BRs are the least booked DVC resorts statistically.

 

[BamaGuy44]

1. To sell more points.
2. 1 BRs are the least booked DVC resorts statistically.

They're the slowest to book, but they all pretty much book. They're not sitting empty. All the points at SSR are already sold, so I still don't see what the motivation would be for them to run a scheme to push people to SSR 1BRs.

 

[brazzledazzler]

We probably won’t book more than 2 nights at SSR for the reasons you explained. We stayed in August and the lack of table and chairs is just wacky.

My beloved moderate, POFQ (our go-to before DVC) has table and chairs…but this “deluxe” studio can’t offer the same amenities?

I doubt it’s a space issue, as the “cozier” BLT studio comfortably has a table and 2 chairs.

I hope the future DVC refurbishments don’t continue to eliminate furniture in the guise of aesthetics.

 

[wnielsen1]

I'm sure this post will be somewhat controversial, and maybe this has already been discussed. Full disclosure, this is not a DVC section I frequent. I'm a little hesitant to put it here, but this is where it is probably most appropriate, though I believe there are a lot of people like me who mostly frequent the Mousescellaneous forum and more eyeballs would see it there. Having said that...

Yesterday, we began a week-long stay at a studio for Easter. This is our first stay at SSR since the massive refurbishment. I will begin by saying that aesthetically, the rooms are beautiful. I love the Murphy beds. They are a welcome addition. But, the rooms are a MASSIVE failure in terms of practicality. Moreover, there are a radical departure from what I bought into, and I'm very upset over the change. I doubt and hope I'm not alone.

My DW, my DD17 and me. My wife and I work from home, and while we don't come down here to work, we do have occasion where we have to be connected to what we do. Sometimes several times a day. This is not a choice. This is an obligation. I own my own company. I cannot simply "walk away" for a week, nor do I desire to.

I am composing this on a $15 folding table that looks like it came from Family Dollar (Bless). If you're from the south, you know exactly what I mean. They were also kind enough to bring me 2 $5 folding chairs for kindergartners that likely came from the competition, $5 and Below. Why? Because there is not a single chair in this villa anymore. There is not a single place for an adult or child to sit while two other people sleep in this villa, short of on the floor or a 90 degree balcony, assuming it's not pouring a central FL thunderstorm. And where is the working table/desk that the two nice chairs always sat around? You know. The nice one that had all the outlets just below it or even up on it in some cases? This is unacceptable, folks. I might as well be in a tower studio at Riviera.

Am I honestly the only one that finds this totally unacceptable?? What kind of genius thought this was anything even resembling a good idea? I am sitting on a bench seat. With no back. In front of a flimsy $10 folding table. With a $2500 laptop on it. Leaning over. Typing. And my back hurts. I wonder why.

I'm not sure in what universe this is anywhere near acceptable. This is not what I signed up for. This was not the room layouts I bought into. This is not simply a change in decor. This is a major change in the entire layout of what's available as a guest/owner. Did I mention I'm sitting on some bench with two drawers that are totally useless and sit where my desk could be? Or the new eight drawer dresser under the TV that could hold enough clothes for a family of 8 for two weeks? I think my wife is actually using 4 drawers and her and my daughter bring enough clothes to move in.

I should not be run out of the ability to use studios due to such a major change in design that was not part of what I bought into. I can't even sit down with my camera and dump pictures to my laptop without putting the Murphy bed back up to get to the couch and the table. And God forbid I want to sit and eat a snack with the bed down. In who's mind could this have possibly been a good idea? This is ridiculous. And unacceptable.

I love a good rant. And, I couldn't agree with you more. I am a 1BR/2BR DVC person, but I find it odd that a hotel room would have more amenities than a deluxe studio such as a basic table and chairs.

 

[Nappy1380]

As a fellow WFH person who has week booked at a SSR Studio in July and has to work a few days, thank you for this post! I will be planning accordingly.