Tree House choices

[Paticake]

I spoke to my DB, DSIL, niece 11 and nephew 8 about the chance that transportation could be an issue for our Nov. trip. They don't want to change resorts. They really want to stay in the treehouses. Hopefully this will be resolved by Nov.

 

[gianna2006]

You guys are giving me STRESS!!!! The bus situation was already hit-and-miss. A double bus situation has the potential for disaster!!! My party is really looking forward to a treehouse, though, and I've wanted to stay there since I was a little girl. All I can hope is that the kinks will be worked out by the time our trip rolls around in the middle of August.

Does anyone know about the boat launches? I thought I heard a while ago there would be two launches...one to SSR and one to Downtown Disney. Maybe if things are timed right, this can also help the situation.

 

[casper]

I'm wondering what the additions of the Treehouses may do to our annual dues. Now we have several more individual units to pay maint. on, and bus service is going to have to be increased. I don't think there is anyway around the fact that they simply MUST send more buses to SSR. It doesn't take a Goofy to realize a shuttle bus to the Trees that will take everyone to another stop is not going to work. The Trees are not large enough to send their own busses. And SSR already has 5 stops. I don't really want to be on a bus that has 7 stops (sitting for 3 minutes at each stop would be 21 minutes and we haven't even left SSR yet -- If I drove a car, I would be in the front gate of any of the parks before the bus left the complex).

The only thing I can imagine that would work is to divide SSR into two bus services. Treehouses, Grandstand, and Carosel on one route (would have to move the Carosel station to the "main" road. Paddock, CP, and Springs on another route.

But that would be an extra strain on a bus system that seems to be breaking down more and more every year. Probably we are going to have to just get use to a 7 stop route, making an already undesirable system more undesirable.

Of course now, if they want to get fancy, at each stop they could place button switches, one for each park. If I arrive at a stop and want to go to MK, I push a MK button. On the main road, a light would come on telling the MK bus driver that someone is at that stop waiting for that park. This way, if no one at the Treehouses wanted to go to MK, that bus wouldn't even have to stop there (unless someone was wanting to get off the bus there). At Grandstand, a bus wouldn't even have to go through the turnaround (same on a smaller scale at CP). This would save time. However, I don't think Disney is thinking about saving us time anymore. Oh well. Change is hard. Whatever happend to the Disney idea of "finding ways to plus" things?

 

[dopeygirl76]

casper - my DH came up with the same idea on our last trip!!! I had to read him your post and he is soooo proud someone agrees with him. He also suggested a time (internally only) so that once a switch is activated you can tell how long that person has been waiting!! He really thinks the saving on gas (stopping and starting for nothing) and time would out weigh the cost to do those changes!!!

 

[disneynutz]

Your button system is one of the Disney Transportation enhancements that haven't come on line yet.

The new system on the buses is suppose to count passengers on the bus and at the stops. The routing of the bus is then modified based upon the needs of the Guests. If the bus is full, it will be sent directly to it's drop off stops. If it has room, it may be routed to pick up additional passengers.

The counting system on the bus is one reason that Disney doesn't want passengers to board the bus through the rear doors. They even have a "Do Not Enter" on the rear door. It never fails, people rush to the rear doors thinking that they can beat the line at the front door. I noticed that last week the drivers were shutting the rear doors as Guests were trying to enter.

 

[hakepb]

casper - my DH came up with the same idea on our last trip!!! I had to read him your post and he is soooo proud someone agrees with him. He also suggested a time (internally only) so that once a switch is activated you can tell how long that person has been waiting!! He really thinks the saving on gas (stopping and starting for nothing) and time would out weigh the cost to do those changes!!!

While we are into saving fuel for the busses, speed up the resort security gate raising time! There has to be a significant amount of fuel WDW spends each year waiting for a gate to fully raise so a bus can go through..

Back on subject, as an SSR owner, I'm happy to hear that THV will have a bus loop to reduce the impact of the extra bus stops on every SSR guest. The only way including THV on every stop could work if they connected the 2nd THV stop to the Grandstand stop, but then the golf course has a road going through it..

 

[Liljam]

I called a guide last week to confirm what had been stated about the internal only services at THV to SSR Springs area and was told this was true too. We're booked there for Feb. 2010 and our 7 month opens in July. We may switch to OKW or AKV GV at that window just to be safe because we don't want to be switching out with a stroller. We can always wait it out until our toddler doesn't need a stroller in a few years and book at 11 months. We'll have a car, but we usually grab a few beers so we won't drive at all just in case. I wouldn't want to risk being on the furtherest side of THVs or I'd wing it and walk to the GS bus stop during our stay. The golf carts would be nice, but I suspect that it would be an issue as some people staying in the more distant areas of SSR like The Paddock would want them for driving over to CH and so on - not that that's a problem, but I think the supply/demand might be an issue.

 

[christa112]

Can you buy into strictly the Treehouses? I am interested in THV, but not SSR resort.

 

[dvc_john]

Can you buy into strictly the Treehouses? I am interested in THV, but not SSR resort.

No. THV is part of SSR. You need SSR points to book THV at 11 months out.

However, if you buy SSR points they may technically be associated with a unit at THV or with a unit at SSR. But that would have no bearing on using the points.

 

[christa112]

So if I purchase into SSR am I guaranteed a THV?

No. THV is part of SSR. You need SSR points to book THV at 11 months out.

However, if you buy SSR points they may technically be associated with a unit at THV, but it has no bearing on using the points.

 

[bigsmooth]

Can you buy into strictly the Treehouses? I am interested in THV, but not SSR resort.

Nope. You buy into SSR, and that gets you the ability to book the Treehouse Villas at 11 months (which you will want to do).

I am also glad that the Treehouse Villas will have a separate internal bus system. I read on DVC news that they will have two busses running the loop at a time, that will result in pretty short waits (although I plan on renting a car for Treehouse stays).

 

[dvc_john]

So if I purchase into SSR am I guaranteed a THV?

Not guaranteed. But you have the 11 month window for booking purposes for THV, based on availability when you call.

 

[christa112]

Thanks

Not guaranteed. But you have the 11 month window for booking purposes for THV, based on availability when you call.

 

[surfer_ed]

I need to re-think this whole thing. Always wanted to stay in the treehouses and booked for family next January. BUT I have 2 strollers and maybe a wheelchair for my mom, multiple bus stops could be a deal breaker.

Plus my SIL just invited her mother so that makes 10

 

[jworkkul]

""Just read an article on DVCNews.com that says they are going to have an internal bus service running from 7am - 2am every day that will go between the 2 THV stops and the Springs' stop. So basically, you leave your treehouse, take a bus to the carriage house, then have to get on another bus to get to whatever park you're going to.

I'm thinking of trying to change my reservation at my 7 month window. That's just too much hassle to deal with with little kids.""

We just verified this with MS. I will be giving up my treehouse villa next week at the 7 month mark for either BWV, BCV or AKL or possibly BLT. I especially don't like the idea of returning at night only to have to get off the bus at the Springs to get on another bus to go to our treehouse. Let's hope they change this!

This is like the bus service at the Fort. You must take a bus to the front of the resort and then take another bus to the theme parks. It will be like that here. It would be cool if they did have golf carts.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Multiple resort stops can be confusing.

My brother got on a bus at DTD headed for the Yacht & Beach Club. The bus stopped at the Yacht Club, and a bunch of people got on the bus. The driver forgot to stop at the beach club, and started going to a park.

My brother had never been to Y&BC (he was using this a means to get to Epcot from DTD, and it was his very first Disney trip). He figured out what was going on and told the bus driver who was really mad (at himself), and had to turn around and go back to the Beach Club!

mary

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

Multiple resort stops can be confusing.

My brother got on a bus at DTD headed for the Yacht & Beach Club. The bus stopped at the Yacht Club, and a bunch of people got on the bus. The driver forgot to stop at the beach club, and started going to a park.

My brother had never been to Y&BC (he was using this a means to get to Epcot from DTD, and it was his very first Disney trip). He figured out what was going on and told the bus driver who was really mad (at himself), and had to turn around and go back to the Beach Club!

mary

Yikes!

 

[mom3sonstt]

I've sent a couple more messages to the DVC member services expressing my concern about the bus routes. Specifically that I will be using an ECV - will have to wait however long it takes for an internal bus to come and hope it has an open slot for me. Then go to the other bus stop and wait again for yet another bus. And since this bus stop is the last one before the buses leave the resort that means it will have already stopped at 5 other stops and if "my" spot isn't already taken then the bus will probably be full and it would make it harder to load on and we could have to wait for yet another bus. It sounds miserable. Unfortunately when I mentioned that we may need to re-think our trip they said that they didn't show any other 2BR DVC units available during our time.

They did say they would pass my concerns on to the Member Satisfaction team. My only hope is that by the time we get there that enough people would have complained that they will adjust it somehow. I suggested 2 routes - one going to 3 spots then the Springs and out and the other going to the other 3 spots then the Springs and out or to just go to all 7 and send buses more frequently - every 15 minutes instead of every 20. Yes, the time on the bus would be longer, especially if you are at one of the early stops. Can you imagine the congestion at the Springs stop? They will be hauling everyone from both Treehouse stops there, plus anybody who is already staying in that section, plus anybody who came up there for breakfast or to go to the gift shop or something before heading out.

I can't wait to see a new map with the Treehouses and the roads to them on it. We are curious to see how far it would be to just go to the Grandstand or Carousel stop instead of messing with transferring.

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

Does anyone know where you park for the THV? Will it be close enough and convenient enough to just bypass the busses and park?

 

[Caskbill]

Does anyone know where you park for the THV? Will it be close enough and convenient enough to just bypass the busses and park?

I don't have the link but several months ago someone posted a link to the site engineering drawings.

They showed parking areas near all the villas. Small groups maybe for two or three villas. Looked similar to the way parking is at OKW, multiple parking areas for groups of a few buildings at a time.

The HC treehouses had at least one parking space right next to the building.

As for the bus service, I don't know if all 60 buildings will be opening on June 1st or not. If only part is open then total occupancy will be lower and that may be why they want to start off with a resort bus only. In any case I'm sure they'll be monitoring the situation. The bus service routes a year from now may be totally different.

As for the dues question, don't forget that the treehouses make an increase to the total number of SSR points. A single THV for Jun 1, 2009 thru May 31, 2010 requires 15,084 points. For 60 villas, that means SSR added (and eventually sells) 900,000 more points. With dues of $4.34/point that's almost $4 million in additional dues being collected. The dues on those extra points should offset the maintenance issues, electricity, busses, etc, for the THV's. In fact those dues will also go toward the SSR resort in general, including staff, pool, and so on. There's a chance the addition of the THV's will slightly lower the dues/point for SSR owners. Wouldn't that be nice.