The demise of unrestricted resorts, by year.

[kilik64]

SSR is an old reliable Honda.

With a newer coat of paint.

I never experienced it prior to the refurb, but based on the older pics of the place, I don't think there has been a bigger night and day difference from a refurb at any other resort.

 

[Brian Noble]

I had stays both before and after the hard refurb. It was an unequivocal upgrade. The resort grouns were already lovely, and now the vibe of the unit matches that.

I'm still grumpy about no ice maker, but only a little.

 

[jolynne28]

That sounds like me and I think I have said that somewhere so you are probably remembering correctly lol.

If/when kids come I don't think my outlook will change all that much though other than the timing of our trips. And I think that's when you would want a better home resort advantage anyway right? When you become less flexible as a member.

I have resorts that I like and a mix that are fairly future-proof with direct and resale, and all are paid off so it's only dues. Even after all of our purchases we are lucky enough to not really be hurting for money and are well set up for the future. House almost paid off (less than 3 years left), good retirement accounts, etc. And I can rent some points out when we need a break or can't make it.

And is that 900k per kid or total for all your kids? 900k per kid would be an extra 50k per year from 0-18 seems wildly excessive and I'm sure it can easily be done for much less. Sure you could spend that, but you don't have to. People raise whole families on less after all. The first few years are obviously very expensive, even more so if you have to buy formula and/or pay for childcare of course, but after that there's no way 50k per year should hold.

I can guarantee that kids will change your outlook regarding your trips, but to what extent depends on unknown variables right now. You are more than financially prepared though, most people would kill to have their house paid off in 3 yrs, so well done.

Maybe we’ll revisit this when you get into double stroller territory .

Yeah def not $900k per kid.

 

[LoveToDisney]

It has been fun to be a part of this thread. We bought back in 2004 and added on a few more times after that. Reading about couples and young families joining and enjoying their purchase puts a smile on my face. We like to stay in SSR when we want to save points or can’t get into our BCV/BWV/BLT because so many have SAP elsewhere and want “my” resorts. We used to ALWAYS be able to get a 1BR anytime at SSR but not anymore. Now, the resort definitely fills up. When BCV/BWV’s contract ends and we just have BLT, we are fine staying there or anywhere we can exchange at 7mo since we are direct.

 

[tom1944]

I can guarantee that kids will change your outlook regarding your trips, but to what extent depends on unknown variables right now. You are more than financially prepared though, most people would kill to have their house paid off in 3 yrs, so well done.

Maybe we’ll revisit this when you get into double stroller territory .

Yeah def not $900k per kid.

I bought the year I was heading into retirement. My plan was my wife and I would go down to WDW for a few weeks starting after MLK Day. SSR was going to be fine because the parks would only be a small part of our stays.

I was talking to my daughter and granddaughter about our plans and they both decided they also would love to go. Because of teacher and student schedules January went out the window and we now go in August.

I initially tried to buy at BLT but could not get a price I was willing to pay and so bought SSR. We have yet to stay there and are going into our third trip. So far BLT, BWV and coming up Kidani.

I doubt we will ever go during a holiday season so until my teacher/student situation changes it will be August trips.

 

[Disney got all my$$$]

This is exactly the route I was thinking of.

Wait, I was going to stay at BLT and my favorite park is Epcot. It takes 45 minutes to get there?

 

[Brian Noble]

I've never timed it, so probably not that bad. And, if I remember correctly, it is worse coming back because the Resort line travels clockwise.

 

[Brian Noble]

But it is a bit of a pain to transfer from Resort to Epcot at TTC, because the Epcot line is next to Express not Resort. If I'm going for rope drop from MK area resorts not named Poly, I usually drive. If I am hopping, not as big of a deal.

 

[Sandisw]

Wait, I was going to stay at BLT and my favorite park is Epcot. It takes 45 minutes to get there?

Typically from BLT monorail station? On average it’s been about 30 to 35 minutes.

The shortest we ever made it was 20 minutes and we caught the CR monorail just pulling and when we got out at TTC and walked to the Epcot monorail, it had just arrived so we had no wait.

Anytime we have had any wait it’s be closer to 30 to 35.

 

[eticketplease]

I've never timed it, so probably not that bad. And, if I remember correctly, it is worse coming back because the Resort line travels clockwise.

It’s only bad if MK has closed before Epcot which is rare. We take the express monorail to MK and then switch to the resort Monorail and then it is the first stop at CR/BLT.

 

[Cfabar1]

Typically from BLT monorail station? On average it’s been about 30 to 35 minutes.

The shortest we ever made it was 20 minutes and we caught the CR monorail just pulling and when we got out at TTC and walked to the Epcot monorail, it had just arrived so we had no wait.

Anytime we have had any wait it’s be closer to 30 to 35.

Now and again people complain the monorail system isn't expanded throughout the parks more. I think sometimes what is lost is that it isn't really a very time-efficient system.

That said, I think it didn't go to MGM Studios because Disney was trying to save money...

Those who park hop are far more committed to the cause than I am.... 1 park a day is very much our default.

 

[Sandisw]

Now and again people complain the monorail system isn't expanded throughout the parks more. I think sometimes what is lost is that it isn't really a very time-efficient system.

That said, I think it didn't go to MGM Studios because Disney was trying to save money...

Those who park hop are far more committed to the cause than I am.... 1 park a day is very much our default.

Would they have been even able to do it to HS once that came along?

I always fogured it had more to do with the what was already built up in that area?

 

[Mouseforward]

Every once in a while, a faculty candidate asks me if we get a tuition benefit for our kids. My answer: "We do, It's called in-state tution, and it is one heck of a deal."

After I was hired the first time after college, no one asked or cared what school I attended. Every High School student needs to hear that from their parents.

In todays job market your first job is just that, your first job. I work with, and supervise co workers , who paid 5 times what I did for college.

 

[Mouseforward]

Now and again people complain the monorail system isn't expanded throughout the parks more. I think sometimes what is lost is that it isn't really a very time-efficient system.

That said, I think it didn't go to MGM Studios because Disney was trying to save money...

Those who park hop are far more committed to the cause than I am.... 1 park a day is very much our default.

There is a wonderful young civil engineer who covered this recently in a youtube video. It turns out that the monorail and TTC were a huge blunder in many ways. The reason the boats exist on Bay Lake is due to the monorail inefficacy. The boats were not planned. They even had to drive people in parking trams from TTC to MK before they rushed to get the boats to help the lines.

In a way TTC needs to be completely reworked as it is now archaic since one of its main roles, selling tickets, is barely needed.

 

[Mouseforward]

Wait, I was going to stay at BLT and my favorite park is Epcot. It takes 45 minutes to get there?

The time to Epcot improves when the monorail is down, Busses are faster.

 

[Cfabar1]

There is a wonderful young civil engineer who covered this recently in a youtube video. It turns out that the monorail and TTC were a huge blunder in many ways. The reason the boats exist on Bay Lake is due to the monorail inefficacy. The boats were not planned. They even had to drive people in parking trams from TTC to MK before they rushed to get the boats to help the lines.

In a way TTC needs to be completely reworked as it is now archaic since one of its main roles, selling tickets, is barely needed.

There is one way it was not a blunder, the ability to charge obscene prices for disney hotels to avoid having to use the TTC when going to the magic kingdom...

 

[maui22]

I am old enough to remember the Disney hotel buses dropping guests off at TTC. Departing, then riding the monorail/ferry to MK.

As MK keeps expanding, I can see things getting worse for all modes of transportation at MK area. They really could use a second entrance. Problem is Disney knows Main Street stores make a lot of money.

 

[Mouseforward]

I am old enough to remember the Disney hotel buses dropping guests off at TTC. Departing, then riding the monorail/ferry to MK.

As MK keeps expanding, I can see things getting worse for all modes of transportation at MK area. They really could use a second entrance. Problem is Disney knows Main Street stores make a lot of money.

900 projected rooms at Lakeshore lodge may force TTC changes especially if they expect boats to manage all of it. The issue with the big boats is they drop off tons at once.

 

[Cfabar1]

900 projected rooms at Lakeshore lodge may force TTC changes especially if they expect boats to manage all of it. The issue with the big boats is they drop off tons at once.

I may have a lack of creativity, but I am struggling to imagine what TTC center changes they could make...

Only thing I could imagine is perhaps WL/LSL boats don't go to the main entrance, and instead only go to the contemporary boat slip and you have to walk the rest of the way. I don't envision that being popular.

Also, I doubt that DVC annual dues could fund the TTC or any parcel not part of the association. I'd be curious what you think they could do.

 

[Mouseforward]

I may have a lack of creativity, but I am struggling to imagine what TTC center changes they could make...

Only thing I could imagine is perhaps WL/LSL boats don't go to the main entrance, and instead only go to the contemporary boat slip and you have to walk the rest of the way. I don't envision that being popular.

Also, I doubt that DVC annual dues could fund the TTC or any parcel not part of the association. I'd be curious what you think they could do.

I would run a skyliner from TTC to WL and LL and if the span is not too long use discovery island to make the leap to Contemporary.

That would add non bus transport to EPCOT , and MK

Even Poly guests could then walk to TTC and then Skyline to WL and LL for dining without a bus