SSR

[Jaguar Skills]

Hi all,

We are relatively new to this but are seriously considering buying at SSR. The problem we have is that we will be looking to go next year at some point and therefore want to purchase without having actually stayed at the resort.

It seems a little pointless to us to spend nearly $5,000 to stay there (and then purchase next time) if we can get a fairly decent contract for $15,000 - appreciate that doesn't take into MF.

Can anyone who has stayed there or even better has points there give us their opinions? So far we know it is a big resort, but we love walking. I play golf so that is a big plus for me. Also we love the idea of being able to walk from there to Disney Springs.

We are UK based so it isn't that feasible to try all the resorts multiple times before purchasing DVC.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[zavandor]

The main thing to be aware is that probably all SSR owners will have to book before 7 months and stay at SSR, probably any time of the year for the next 2-3 years. With the resorts currently closed there will be an excess of points in the short term.
But it seems you may like SSR. I think it's a lovely resort, much underrated and the location is extremely convenient to DS and all the food and retail options there. The new refurbishment looks fantastic.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

Thanks very much. But surely if you book it as a home resort, you are guaranteed there whatever? What difference does the 7month window for other SSR owners make? Just trying to understand...

 

[luckygirl0100]

Our home resort is SSR. We have stayed at various resorts but we do REALLY like SSR.
You aren't 'guaranteed' a reservation ANYWHERE. I believe what zavandor was trying to say was that with so many people trying to use points in the next 2 years it will be difficult to get a reservation at the 7 month window so you will need to book earlier (11 months out is the earliest). You can only book your home resort at that time.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

Our home resort is SSR. We have stayed at various resorts but we do REALLY like SSR.
You aren't 'guaranteed' a reservation ANYWHERE. I believe what zavandor was trying to say was that with so many people trying to use points in the next 2 years it will be difficult to get a reservation at the 7 month window so you will need to book earlier (11 months out is the earliest). You can only book your home resort at that time.

Thanks, that makes sense. So even at 11 months out are you not guaranteed home resort?

 

[luckygirl0100]

Thanks, that makes sense. So even at 11 months out are you not guaranteed home resort?

No, you are never 'guaranteed' a reservation. Now, reality is I don't think ANYONE has had much difficulty making SSR reservations at 11 months out, except maybe for the week of Christmas - New Year...

 

[teawar]

It is a beautiful resort and we have loved the amenities. At times it’s compared to a large apartment complex in the US, which is very different from apartment complexes in the UK. A negative for the resort is the buses have multiple stops, but at the same time this can be a plus, because if you miss the bus at the first 2/3 stops, you can possibly speed walk to the final stop and catch it there depending where you are at the resort,

 

[CarolMN]

If you make your SSR reservation when the 11 month window opens, you are virtually certain to get what you want. I have never read that someone didn't. It's as close to a guarantee as you can get at Disney. The refurbished rooms are gorgeous.

 

[ljlaurajane]

We stayed for a week there last year after being offered to transfer there due to issues we were having at Coronado. We loved it hence we want to buy there too. Top pros for me:

1) Easy walk to springs (or boat if you aren’t in preferred)
2) excellent selection of pools. We loved the paddock pool and was excellent for small children
3) found the bus service to be very frequent and didn’t find the multiple stops an issue. Seemed more frequent than most resorts we’ve stayed at
4) love the landscaping, lush green areas and lakes,
5) very peaceful - the fact it’s so spread out means the people are too, very laid back

Cons

1) limited food options- we like the options that are there but it’s far below what is available at other resorts (but Springs is so close it’s not been an issue for us)
2) small gift shop (again Disney springs is right there)
3) rooms are very tired - however the refurb is underway and from what I’ve seen the new rooms look stunning

Where have you stayed on site previously and which have you liked / disliked as that may help advise if you’d like Saratoga (I’m sure you would!)

 

[The Jackal]

We purchased at SSR before ever staying at any DVC resort or even doing the DVC tour. We knew we wanted to go to WDW on a yearly trip. After number crunching SSR was the most economical resort, but it is also the largest DVC resort by far. It has almost twice as many rooms as OKW which is the second largest DVC resort. Sine buying in 2017 we have stayed at SSR, OKW, BWV,. AKV, VGF, BLT and PVB. As you can see, what was supposed to be an annual trip turned into more, usually a spring trip and a fall trip, along with purchasing more point to do this. All the resorts are beautiful and different in their own ways. We love SSR,. The refurbishment is wonderful,. The old rooms were nice but some were worn and outdated. We never had a worn room there but others have. We also bought points at OKW so we could book the grand villas there, since the they are the lowest cost grand villas in DVC. It's a smaller contract and we bank and borrow to get a GV. We obviously can only do this once every 3 years or so. We do this for trips to bring more along. Most of our points are at SSR.

 

[agirlcallededdy]

We bought SSR resale last year after having stayed at CCV, BC, and touring RIV. We have never stayed at SSR.

For us coming from the west coast, we knew we'd only travel every year or so (flight cost!), and for our family of 5 space was a consideration - so we bought SSR resale in order to get enough points to put us in a 2 bedroom for a week every other year. The value of the SSR pts and MFs were a BIG deal to us. We bought without knowing about the refurb - so I was tickled to find that the new murphy beds were making an appearance at SSR and now we fit in a 1 bedroom making our points go further.

We used our 2020 points at Aulani in Feb and have a SSR week booked in March 2021. We are easy going and willing to stay wherever, so the addage: "buy where you want to stay" had less weight for us. It was buy SSR or not buy - and with SSR we have flexibility to go if we want or not...

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We own at BWV and SSR and prefer SSR. With the refurbished rooms and the proximity to an overhauled Disney Springs, it is a winner-winner-chicken-dinner!!

 

[bashuck]

Thanks, that makes sense. So even at 11 months out are you not guaranteed home resort?

At SSR you'd be fine. The issue is the room types were there is a very limited supply. AKL Club rooms for example, GF studios can be very tough. You would be able to get a Studio/1BR/2BR for sure at 11 months at SS.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

We stayed for a week there last year after being offered to transfer there due to issues we were having at Coronado. We loved it hence we want to buy there too. Top pros for me:

1) Easy walk to springs (or boat if you aren’t in preferred)
2) excellent selection of pools. We loved the paddock pool and was excellent for small children
3) found the bus service to be very frequent and didn’t find the multiple stops an issue. Seemed more frequent than most resorts we’ve stayed at
4) love the landscaping, lush green areas and lakes,
5) very peaceful - the fact it’s so spread out means the people are too, very laid back

Cons

1) limited food options- we like the options that are there but it’s far below what is available at other resorts (but Springs is so close it’s not been an issue for us)
2) small gift shop (again Disney springs is right there)
3) rooms are very tired - however the refurb is underway and from what I’ve seen the new rooms look stunning

Where have you stayed on site previously and which have you liked / disliked as that may help advise if you’d like Saratoga (I’m sure you would!)

Thanks I would always want to go out in the evening for food at DS anyway or at least a beer down there so it suits us quite well.

We havent stayed at any of the disney resorts other than the budget All Star ones. It is too costly for us coming from the UK to try them before making a purchase so we want to know SSR is up our street - which we think from the comments it is.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

We bought SSR resale last year after having stayed at CCV, BC, and touring RIV. We have never stayed at SSR.

For us coming from the west coast, we knew we'd only travel every year or so (flight cost!), and for our family of 5 space was a consideration - so we bought SSR resale in order to get enough points to put us in a 2 bedroom for a week every other year. The value of the SSR pts and MFs were a BIG deal to us. We bought without knowing about the refurb - so I was tickled to find that the new murphy beds were making an appearance at SSR and now we fit in a 1 bedroom making our points go further.

We used our 2020 points at Aulani in Feb and have a SSR week booked in March 2021. We are easy going and willing to stay wherever, so the addage: "buy where you want to stay" had less weight for us. It was buy SSR or not buy - and with SSR we have flexibility to go if we want or not...

Thanks for your comment. You are similar to us as we will be travelling from the UK each time. We are also easy going with regards to accomodation having only previously stayed in budget all stars.

 

[E2ME2]

I have bought 3 times now - Direct in 2011, Add-on Direct in 2018, Add-on Resale in 2020 - ALL at SSR, and we are very happy with our SSR points. Many on theses boards refer to them as "sleep around" points. That's fine by us, and we have used them at several other resorts, which only increases their value as far as I'm concerned! Based on the criteria you shared, I think SSR would be perfect for you!
Come join us !!
ET

 

[Jaguar Skills]

I have bought 3 times now - Direct in 2011, Add-on Direct in 2018, Add-on Resale in 2020 - ALL at SSR, and we are very happy with our SSR points. Many on theses boards refer to them as "sleep around" points. That's fine by us, and we have used them at several other resorts, which only increases their value as far as I'm concerned! Based on the criteria you shared, I think SSR would be perfect for you!
Come join us !!
ET

We almost certainly will. Just waiting for the right price/point.

 

[E2ME2]

We almost certainly will. Just waiting for the right price/point.

What's the best you've seen so far ??
I paid $89/Pt in February!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We own at SSR (among a few other resorts) and it is a beautiful and peaceful resort. We love the treehouses. If you love golf and DS it would be perfect for you. We’re not huge DS people so that wasn’t a huge draw for us. We bought there mostly with an idea of using the points elsewhere, but over the years we have stayed several times there.We prefer other resorts and haven’t stayed at SSR in years, but it is lovely.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

What's the best you've seen so far ??
I paid $89/Pt in February!

I think $92.50 is lowest we’ve seen.