SSR-Why is it so cheap in resale?

[ldo]

yes, standard category might make SSR more attractive. But I'd still rather have a sleeper chair, option of 2 bathrooms in a 1BR @ AKV-K, or much bigger space at OKW. So, IMHO, nothing "wrong" with SSR, just other, better options for our family.

 

[davidl81]

I love AKV, but the difference in MF between SSR and AKV is what scares me when looking at adding on at AKV. Besides club level and value rooms you can get anything you want at AKV at 7 months 95% of the time, thus I do not see a big advantage in owning AKV over SSR. If you do like the value rooms (and they are a great use of points) or the club level rooms those could justify the difference in the MF.

 

[Dean]

IMO, SSR is going to increase in popularity because of Disney Springs. As hard as it is for me to give up BWV, I find myself actually considering a stay there. DS has so many new restaurants that I want to try and the parks are not quite as important to us as they have been in the past.

AKV may become more popular once Avatar opens and the night time entertainment gets going. I find myself enjoying visits to AK more and more - and it's not the rides that are the main attraction, LOL. We like to go early, go back to the resort mid-day and return in the evening for the nighttime entertainment and fireworks. Staying nearby AK would be a bonus once the new areas and evening activities get going.

Both AKV & SSR are beautiful resorts and I see us wanting to stay at one of those two rather than the MK resorts. Never ever thought I'd say that a few years ago, LOL.

Disney Springs and the booking categories will both have some effect but I doubt it'll be enough to be noticeable at all. If it is enough then expect SSR to get the same or slightly more than AKV due to the dues difference.

 

[skier_pete]

I love AKV, but the difference in MF between SSR and AKV is what scares me when looking at adding on at AKV. Besides club level and value rooms you can get anything you want at AKV at 7 months 95% of the time, thus I do not see a big advantage in owning AKV over SSR. If you do like the value rooms (and they are a great use of points) or the club level rooms those could justify the difference in the MF.

Okay - I'll defend buying AKV over SSR:

1) The cost difference is just under $1 per point. For our 160 point contract, that means $160 per year more for AKV.
2) When we go in October, we are looking at 9/12 points for a value room (weekday/weekend) and 12/14 for standard - the old SSR points were 14/17 - meaning a savings of 2 to 5 points per night. Across 160 points, that either 1 to 3 extra nights stay, or a point savings of 14 to 35 per week - which more than makes up for the $160 extra cost for the points.
3) You claim that you can get into AKV anytime you want, but my observations are that at the busiest times of year (Oct- Dec) getting anything other than a Savannah View room. Our upcoming trip I booked 4 nights value / 4 nights standard, and by 7 months the value and standard rooms were gone.

Again - with the new points structure for SSR - I agree it makes SSR slightly more appealing, and it is back in consideration for me when I add on points - but I just don't see a good argument that it is WAY better choice.

 

[RaymOOOnd]

I love AKV, but the difference in MF between SSR and AKV is what scares me when looking at adding on at AKV. Besides club level and value rooms you can get anything you want at AKV at 7 months 95% of the time, thus I do not see a big advantage in owning AKV over SSR. If you do like the value rooms (and they are a great use of points) or the club level rooms those could justify the difference in the MF.

*shrug* We're also thinking of adding on 100 points to our AKV, which would allow for a grand villa every two years rather than a 2BDR (OR, likely more often what would happen is that we'd use these points for a separate long-weekend trip...probably often at VWL or SSR).

I just went through the simple math (very simple, given a nice round 100pts as the amount of the add-on) re: whether to make this 100pt add on an AKV or SSR contract. The dues difference is truly about $100 extra per year. Even though it's not polite to make assumptions about others' perceptions of money - pfhhthh! Having the ability to book what you really want is worth 100 bucks per year.

The whole dues impact is a bit overblown if you ask me. I understand that over the life of the contract, the dues end up being significant and perhaps more than the initial purchase cost....but if you extrapolate ANYTHING over 30 or 50 years it looks huge. You'd have me spending about $75,000 on coffee over the length of a 50-year contract, if you wished to make that calculation.

I think the more meaningful number is yearly, and if that's $100 or $200 dollars more it's probably not breaking your bank if you're the type of person who can afford Disney vacations to begin with.

 

[davidl81]

Okay - I'll defend buying AKV over SSR:

1) The cost difference is just under $1 per point. For our 160 point contract, that means $160 per year more for AKV.
2) When we go in October, we are looking at 9/12 points for a value room (weekday/weekend) and 12/14 for standard - the old SSR points were 14/17 - meaning a savings of 2 to 5 points per night. Across 160 points, that either 1 to 3 extra nights stay, or a point savings of 14 to 35 per week - which more than makes up for the $160 extra cost for the points.
3) You claim that you can get into AKV anytime you want, but my observations are that at the busiest times of year (Oct- Dec) getting anything other than a Savannah View room. Our upcoming trip I booked 4 nights value / 4 nights standard, and by 7 months the value and standard rooms were gone.

Again - with the new points structure for SSR - I agree it makes SSR slightly more appealing, and it is back in consideration for me when I add on points - but I just don't see a good argument that it is WAY better choice.

Please don't take my remarks as anything against AKV, I own there as well as at SSR. And I totally agree if you are booking value rooms then the $1 or so MF difference is easily washed away when you look at the point per night in the value room.

And the $175 a year or so extra really does not make that much of a difference in the grand scheme, my hope is that SSR and AKV have increases in MF that rise about the same every year. I guess I'm just worried that DVC will raise AKV more (I know there is really no logical reason to think this)

 

[Dean]

Okay - I'll defend buying AKV over SSR:

1) The cost difference is just under $1 per point. For our 160 point contract, that means $160 per year more for AKV.
2) When we go in October, we are looking at 9/12 points for a value room (weekday/weekend) and 12/14 for standard - the old SSR points were 14/17 - meaning a savings of 2 to 5 points per night. Across 160 points, that either 1 to 3 extra nights stay, or a point savings of 14 to 35 per week - which more than makes up for the $160 extra cost for the points.
3) You claim that you can get into AKV anytime you want, but my observations are that at the busiest times of year (Oct- Dec) getting anything other than a Savannah View room. Our upcoming trip I booked 4 nights value / 4 nights standard, and by 7 months the value and standard rooms were gone.

Again - with the new points structure for SSR - I agree it makes SSR slightly more appealing, and it is back in consideration for me when I add on points - but I just don't see a good argument that it is WAY better choice.

IMO $160 a year with a predictable increasing divide is significant though it may not be a deal breaker. Whether there is sufficient value for the added cost for a given person depends on other issues. Currently one can get into AKV at any time planning at 7 months out though it might take use of the waitlist for a very few weeks of the year. Whether this will change is uncertain. The long term difference given the same number of points is currently around 20% over the life of the RTU assuming the dues increase at the same rate. If one takes advantage of the value rooms that decreases the difference but only if one is able to buy less points to do the same job.

 

[Ethanandyclaire]

AKV was the better choice for my family of 5. We initially bought BWV as a family of 4. I can see us outgrowing a 1 bedroom at BWV. When we decided to add on by resale, AKV made the most sense to us. We will continue to fit in an AKV 1 bedroom, we would have needed a 2 bedroom at SSR.

 

[supersnoop]

AKV was the better choice for my family of 5. We initially bought BWV as a family of 4. I can see us outgrowing a 1 bedroom at BWV. When we decided to add on by resale, AKV made the most sense to us. We will continue to fit in an AKV 1 bedroom, we would have needed a 2 bedroom at SSR.

But you don't need the home resort advantage to get a one bedroom at AKV. Anyone can grab that room at seven months or even later.

 

[bman388]

$53 seems extremely cheap - even in 2012. When we were looking in 2014 - SSR was going for low to mid-seventies. Prices have risen significantly with the strong economy.

We bought our 2nd contract in May of 2013 on the resale market. 250pts at SSR for $50PP! I'll admit we were extremely lucky on that one

 

[docsoliday1]

Saratoga gets a bit of a bad rap for a couple reasons:

1. It's not close to a park
2. It's big
3. All bus transport

However, it's a lovely resort near golf, has 2 feature pools, proximity to Disney Springs. In the size and busing, it is slightly more comparable to a Moderate resort. The accommodations are definitely villa-like, and work well for large families, 'comforts of home,' and people who don't make the parks a focus of their trip.

Most people who end up "having to" stay there for whatever reason (late booking, etc.) moan a little before they go, but usually come back having enjoyed it. It may not be their instant favorite, but most people who stay there end up finding some of its charm.

SSR is our home resort and we love it. It's quiet, so when you come back from the parks, it truly is more relaxing. One of the things I like is the spa is right there so my wife can go without the stress of will the bus/monorail/etc. get there on time. We alternate park days and relax at the resort days and it just seems to have a more laid back than some others. The biggest con is it does take a long time to get to parks, but then again, OKW is right next door and has the same issue. Taking the boat do Downtown Disney (still can't think of it as the new name) is quick and convenient. If you're wanting to do parks every day and want to be in close proximity to a specific one, then obviously Poly or BLT or GFV are better for MK. AKV for AK. BWV for those who want to stagger home after F&W (not our thing). Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sell you on SSR...just saying for some of us, it is a great resort. Not everyone wants or likes the same things and it'd be a very boring world (or Disney World) if we all did.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sell you on SSR..

No need to sell me on it. I often defend it. A lot of the people I see who are all "nooooo I can only get Saratoga!" have never stayed there.

It's a nice place!

 

[skier_pete]

No need to sell me on it. I often defend it. A lot of the people I see who are all "nooooo I can only get Saratoga!" have never stayed there.

It's a nice place!

I agree it is nice. I personally prefer AKV - which is why I bought there. The "buy where you want to stay" debate has always been worded poorly in my view, and should be "buy where you are willing to / happy to stay". We stayed at SSR last fall as our first-ever owner stay. It IS a very nice resort, but my feeling was I would rather stay at AKV. For the extra $160-200 a year for the same # of points - I was happy to pay that. I realize there is the argument that "I can always get into AKV with SSR points at 7 months", but my observation is this isn't a true statement, at least for studios. Certainly not true for value rooms, but even not always true for standard rooms. So, if you willing to always pay the premium for the savannah view room, then sure SSR can be used pretty much anytime at AKV - but if you are paying the higher points, it's eating up your cost savings. If you are always looking at 1-bedrooms, then it's a different story, but for studios, i definitely disagree with the 100% available notion of AKV.

I always looked at the opposite - i can always be "bumped down" to SSR on a shorter notice trip with my AKV points - because SSR is truly ALWAYS available. The difference now is the standard/preferred category at SSR. If the standard category rooms "sell out" before the 7-month mark frequently, then it becomes a LOT more sensible to own at SSR so that you can book the standard rooms prior to the 7-month window, and then try and get in elsewhere at 7 months as a back-up.

I had been thinking about where I would get more points when/if I have the money to add-on. I had earlier rejected SSR because of the reasons above. I had narrowed it down to more at AKV, BWV (a small contract for fall/F&W use) or BLT. However, the new points distribution puts SSR back in the running for me. I would not like it is I had to go to SSR every trip, but some of the time, well then it would be fine.

 

[docsoliday1]

I agree it is nice. I personally prefer AKV - which is why I bought there. The "buy where you want to stay" debate has always been worded poorly in my view, and should be "buy where you are willing to / happy to stay". We stayed at SSR last fall as our first-ever owner stay. It IS a very nice resort, but my feeling was I would rather stay at AKV. For the extra $160-200 a year for the same # of points - I was happy to pay that. I realize there is the argument that "I can always get into AKV with SSR points at 7 months", but my observation is this isn't a true statement, at least for studios. Certainly not true for value rooms, but even not always true for standard rooms. So, if you willing to always pay the premium for the savannah view room, then sure SSR can be used pretty much anytime at AKV - but if you are paying the higher points, it's eating up your cost savings. If you are always looking at 1-bedrooms, then it's a different story, but for studios, i definitely disagree with the 100% available notion of AKV.

I always looked at the opposite - i can always be "bumped down" to SSR on a shorter notice trip with my AKV points - because SSR is truly ALWAYS available. The difference now is the standard/preferred category at SSR. If the standard category rooms "sell out" before the 7-month mark frequently, then it becomes a LOT more sensible to own at SSR so that you can book the standard rooms prior to the 7-month window, and then try and get in elsewhere at 7 months as a back-up.

I had been thinking about where I would get more points when/if I have the money to add-on. I had earlier rejected SSR because of the reasons above. I had narrowed it down to more at AKV, BWV (a small contract for fall/F&W use) or BLT. However, the new points distribution puts SSR back in the running for me. I would not like it is I had to go to SSR every trip, but some of the time, well then it would be fine.

If I do add on resale, right now I'm considering AKV or BLT as options, but still evaluating others as well. I'm also debating adding more SSR since we like it and so far, with one exception, we've been able to get what we wanted at 7 months elsewhere. I like WLV, but I'm not quite sure why they're so pricey compared to others. We've never stayed at AKV (planning to in Feb 2017), so I'm waiting to find out how much I like AKV compared to others. I'm in the research and planning phase now. Doing the cost benefit analysis on the different resorts...I've seen some cool comparisons where it lists CPP and annual dues per point and number of years left and then breaks it down to an actual cost per point per year. Using that information and coupled with the pros & cons of each resort, I will be able to decide which will be the best option for what we want/like the best. I was considering HH or VB, but I'm seeing the annual dues will eat you for lunch there, especially Vero.

 

[skier_pete]

If I do add on resale, right now I'm considering AKV or BLT as options, but still evaluating others as well. I'm also debating adding more SSR since we like it and so far, with one exception, we've been able to get what we wanted at 7 months elsewhere. I like WLV, but I'm not quite sure why they're so pricey compared to others. We've never stayed at AKV (planning to in Feb 2017), so I'm waiting to find out how much I like AKV compared to others. I'm in the research and planning phase now. Doing the cost benefit analysis on the different resorts...I've seen some cool comparisons where it lists CPP and annual dues per point and number of years left and then breaks it down to an actual cost per point per year. Using that information and coupled with the pros & cons of each resort, I will be able to decide which will be the best option for what we want/like the best. I was considering HH or VB, but I'm seeing the annual dues will eat you for lunch there, especially Vero.

Yes - I am in this same boat. The length of contract has a HUGE influence on me, but doesn't appear to have as big an influence on resale. (As you point out, places like WLV and BCV are TERRIBLE values in large part because of their price versus length of contract.)

 

[docsoliday1]

Yes - I am in this same boat. The length of contract has a HUGE influence on me, but doesn't appear to have as big an influence on resale. (As you point out, places like WLV and BCV are TERRIBLE values in large part because of their price versus length of contract.)

I guess if you're a big Epcot (or staggering home after F&W as someone mentioned) fan, then BCV and BWV are good options, but the cost vs. the benefit, to me, is not close to worth it. My only reservations about AKV are once we've seen the animals, will that attraction wear off and it's pretty far from everything except AK. I'm curious to what will happen with Copper River and the other new stuff at WLV, but I still think they will likely be cost prohibitive (at least for my tastes).

 

[docsoliday1]

I guess if you're a big Epcot (or staggering home after F&W as someone mentioned) fan, then BCV and BWV are good options, but the cost vs. the benefit, to me, is not close to worth it. My only reservations about AKV are once we've seen the animals, will that attraction wear off and it's pretty far from everything except AK. I'm curious to what will happen with Copper River and the other new stuff at WLV, but I still think they will likely be cost prohibitive (at least for my tastes).

Wow, replying to my own post (sad). I guess Blizzard beach is pretty close also, but I do remember the bus to AK seemed like it took forever.

 

[suebeelin]

Wow, replying to my own post (sad). I guess Blizzard beach is pretty close also, but I do remember the bus to AK seemed like it took forever.

Lol. Not sad at all

We picked bwv and, after a few years of bwv we added on BLT, not bc we needed to stagger home but bc we have little kids who sleep poorly. The proximity is so nice when running back for naps or bedtime.

We stayed at akv once. It was a gorgeous room (2bd/3bth for two adults and a toddler-- we splurged, obviously). We still hated it bc we had to rely on the bus system. Maybe when kids are older and no longer nap, we can try out akv again and enjoy it, but right now? No.

We wouldn't go to SSR and Okw for the same reasons....

I think everyone has different priorities

 

[POTCfan]

I bought at AKL because of the "buy where you want to stay". While the dues are lower at SSR and you can pretty easily get into AKL, that is only true now. What Disney does in the future may change that dynamic. They can make Animal Kingdom a much more desirable park (like they are trying to do by adding nights and a new land with more attractions), they could reduce the booking window to other resorts (I believe I read that they could reduce it to 2 months, rather than the 7 it currrently is), they could improve transportation (though unlikely, they could create a new monorail loop that ties Animal Kingdom Lodge / Animal Kingdom / EPCOT / Another large DVC resort that would have EPCOT and Animal Kingdom access), create another popular festival at Animal Kingdom similar to how they created Food and Wine, etc.. I don't know what Disney will do next, but they are always changing things in an attempt to pull in more people. I don't mind paying the extra dues knowing that even with whatever changes will happen, I will be able to have an advantage in booking at my favorite resort. Again, I like something about all the resorts I have stayed at (so I am not knocking SSR), but if you love AKL and you are buying SSR because AKL is easy to get into, I think that is a mistake.

 

[sndral]

WDW and DVC are evolving - the snapshot we see now will not be what we experience 5 or 10 years from now.

Demand/availability at 7 months has changed and is changing as more points are sold at new resorts. Currently SSR/OKW seem to usually be available along with Kidani at AKV. Will that be true after Copper Canyon is sold and they open the rumored new big DVC at say CBR? Certainly the bigger DVCs will always be easier to get at 7 months than the small DVCs like BC & VGF, but I don't think we can predict demand going forward. Plus renting points has become a big business, I suspect fewer points are being 'wasted' than in the past because of this. Certainly I think high demand times are getting harder to book.

Likewise MFs change through time. It would be nice if they changed in a linear, predictable way - like tracking inflation or the COLA, but they don't. Some examples:
In 2002 when BC opened the MFs were $3.77 and OKW was $3.22, a $.55 difference. Assuming uniform inflation of MFs the difference should be even greater now, yet for 2016 BC is at $6.13 and OKW is $6.01, only a $.12 difference.
In 2009 when BLT opened MFs were 3.67 and SSR MFs were 4.34 a .67 difference. For 2016 BLT is 5.28 and SSR is 5.44, so down to a .16 difference.
In 2013 when VGF opened MFs were 5.41 and SSR MFs were 4.50 a .91 difference (similar spread to the .98 difference between AKV and SSR this year.) Yet 2016 VGF MFs are 5.71 and SSR MFs are 5.44 so down to a .27 difference.
AKV's MFs have been the highest of the WDW DVCs for the last 2 years, yet in 2007 when it opened until 2012 AKV's MFs were lower than BCV, VWL and BWV. In 2013 they were lower than BWV and VWL. In 2014 they were lower than BWV.
This year AKV had a very small % increase and SSR had over a 5% increase. Will AKV's dues always be higher than SSR's - perhaps, after all at AKV $.35 goes to animal programs and the resort has a lot of international CMs interpreting aspects of their countries. Will they always be $.98 higher than SSR? In 2015 AKV was $1.13 higher, 2014 $1.06, 2013 $1.16, 2012 $.71, 2011 $.50, 2010 $.49, 2009 $.52, 2008 $.50, 2007 $.50.
When I bought AKV I knew the MFs were higher than SSR and assumed they would remain so, my suspicion w/ SSR is that ultimately they will track pretty closely to OKW - currently $.57 more than SSR and $.41 less than AKV. Likewise in looking at my next intended purchase, VGF, MFs are fairly low (third lowest) but my guess is they will ultimately settle near BC (6th lowest and currently $.42 more than VGF.)

So while SSR is cheapest in cost v. AKV when projecting current MFs @ uniform increases going forward plus buy in cost - that could be very different in 5 years if SSR sees a run of high % increases to MFs and AKV does not.