Why is SSR so much less to buy??

[Louiepipbgeeco]

Hi.
I first looked at DVC 3.5 years ago. I have been waivering every since. I am once again immersed in researching and am quite close to finally deciding to go for it. My question is-- I have been researching current Disney incentives and resale with The timeshare store. Why is SSR selling for so much less?? Is it due to location. So, is it smarter to buy elsewhere in case (god forbid- I many yrs down the road decide to sell??) Help me out guys.
Background you need to know- I go every March (teacher) and that is when I can travel, I will be cruising this March and will bank the pts. So, plan to start small with 100-120pts. And then maybe add later.
Would you do SSR, OKW ( I know it runs out sooner) or AKV???
Advice appreciated.
My eyes are sore from all the research I have been doing. I think I am driving DD insane. But, he said go for it!!!!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Basic economics states that if you have a stable demand, your supply will then determine your "price level". In this case, SSR is the largest of all the resorts currently open, resulting in higher supply being put out in the market at any one time, pushing the price level lower.

Unless there is a major shift in the demand curve or an material change in the offerings at SSR (ie. free APs or something dramatic), SSR will most likely on average sell for significantly less then the other WDW resorts.

 

[Chuck S]

All DVC Resorts will lose resale value as we get closer to their contract end date. As far as SSR being less expensive, there are a lot of little factors working together to have a lower resale price:

SSR is the largest resort in the DVC system, so with more owners, even at the same percentage of owners selling, there will be more contracts available than at other resort. SSRs relatively new age means it sold a lot of points in better economic times, but now those owners that financed may need to sell quick because of wanting to get rid of that payment....so that will also drive down the price. The location would play a role, as well as the overall "condo" style of the resort...While I love the condo style resorts, some owners prefer the DVCs that have an accompanying Disney Resort for room service and valet services.

So while one of these factors probably wouldn't have much of an affect on resale price, together they do.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Basic economics states that if you have a stable demand, your supply will then determine your "price level". In this case, SSR is the largest of all the resorts currently open, resulting in higher supply being put out in the market at any one time, pushing the price level lower.

Unless there is a major shift in the demand curve or an material change in the offerings at SSR (ie. free APs or something dramatic), SSR will most likely on average sell for significantly less then the other WDW resorts.

This might not be appropriate to post but want to say I think it is great the boards are here to offer advice, opinions, etc. from so many different perspectives.

I think this is a great post by jlewisinsyr. I agree that this is the main reason why SSR sells for less than BCV, BWV, WLV, AKV, BLT, but still more than VBR and HHI. I think SSR sells for about the same as OKW that expire 2042 and typically less than those OKW that expire 2057.

 

[poggs]

Hi.
I first looked at DVC 3.5 years ago. I have been waivering every since. I am once again immersed in researching and am quite close to finally deciding to go for it. My question is-- I have been researching current Disney incentives and resale with The timeshare store. Why is SSR selling for so much less?? Is it due to location. So, is it smarter to buy elsewhere in case (god forbid- I many yrs down the road decide to sell??) Help me out guys.
Background you need to know- I go every March (teacher) and that is when I can travel, I will be cruising this March and will bank the pts. So, plan to start small with 100-120pts. And then maybe add later.
Would you do SSR, OKW ( I know it runs out sooner) or AKV???
Advice appreciated.
My eyes are sore from all the research I have been doing. I think I am driving DD insane. But, he said go for it!!!!

Location, location, location.

SSR charges the same points wise (per night to stay) as the Beach club, Wilderness lodge etc but is way out on the edge of WDW.

So unless you want to go to downtown disney all day every day its not close to any of the parks, requiring a sometime unreliable bus journey or drive to get to the parks. Thus some people just think its not worth a high resale cost resulting in the lower price compared to the better located resorts. The resort itself is lovely and easily up to the same standard as the others, just its location is far poorer without there being any correlation in the points.

If SSR was on a par points wise with OKW it would not be so cheap, but its not.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

SSR charges the same points wise (per night to stay) as the Beach club, Wilderness lodge etc...

I don't think that's correct. I believe it's less points to stay at SSR.

MG

 

[silmarg]

Louiepip...

I feel the same way you do... Not sure if I should buy SSR as its cheap and you get max years or AKV as I would prefer to stay there...

but as one DVCer advised (in the location, location, location game) BLT, BCV, BWV and VWL one can reach a park by means other than bus (walk, monorail or boat)... and these make for added appeal as DVCers tend to graze the parks (and not go commando) so they can easily go back and forth to their DVC...

Keep us posted where you come out with your decision - I will let you know where we come out.

 

[DVCAustralia]

One point not yet mentioned is that SSR is almost always the last resort to book out, and so there is almost no chance you will miss out on it if you have points at another resort, particularly as SSR members themselves seem to trade out to other WDW resorts more (this may be different with the treehouses but they are only large rooms in a secluded location and so do not suit the majority of stays).
Further, whilst the points are not quite as expensive as BCV and VWL they are significantly more than OKW, the most similar resort, and even some of BWV and AKL. Despite this the annual dues are still not significantly less.
SSR is also used by Disney as the base entry DVC resort for cash stays, and so along with the fact that the set-out is closer to the moderate resorts than the deluxe resorts, its 'value' and exclusivity to non-DVC members is not as high as for other DVC resorts.
Another point is that Disney managed to 'sell-out' SSR before BLT and GCV, but then with the treehouse points to sell and the need to sell a large number of points from ROFR Disney had to start actively sell it again in a much worse economy and in competition with other new resorts.
All in all those selling SSR have not had alot of luck and the point value will be depressed for a while to come, particularly as any further WDW DVC resorts are likely to be add-ons to existing resorts and thus very popular on their own, and there is also the possibility of extensions for the 2042 resorts.

 

[Opie100]

The difference in maintainence fees plays a role as well - high fees at VB mean lower demand (price).

I would have bought at SSR had I not wanted a guarantee that I could visit one of the Epcot resorts during F&WF. Not so much because of the festival - but because that's when our family has time to go to Orlando (Sept-Oct).

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . .SSR . . . . its not close to any of the parks, requiring a sometime unreliable bus journey or drive to get to the parks. . . . . . .

I assume you walk from AKV to any of the Parks?

We have never experienced an "unreliable" bus journey. The busses were never intended to offer an "on time schedule" of operation. They are offered as a perk for those staying on property (or cheat and park at DTD). Yes the busses have there story, but that story is present at every resort.

I'm not sure what is meant by an unreliable drive.

IMHO SSR pricing is strickly market driven. The more supply, the lower the price.

 

[ford91exploder]

An unreliable drive is a bus wait which can be 1 hour or more for ANY bus except DTD - I don't WANT a car at Disney SSR has some real bus issues.

Stayed at OKW for the first time and while the bus you wanted may not have been around there was ALWAYS a resort bus every few minutes.

At AKV the busses were pretty much on time all the time.

Although this trip I began to see why SSR's busses are so messed up, Took an OKW bus to the park - one of the other passengers asked whether the bus was going back to the resort answer was no going to SSR,

If Disney Transportation would just have the busses go A-B B-A I think there would be a lot more predictability in the scheduling

 

[Mindy5767]

It is supply an demand. SSR is the largest resort and has the most villas to offer. SSR is our home resort. We LOVE that resort. We decided to try OKW last fall. My son hated it. I thought the pool and recreation were nice, but the sidewalks didn't connect. At SSR you can walk all over the resort on real sidewalks. At OKW, we were in a building that had a sidewalk around it, as did the other buildings near us, but the sidewalks didn't connect. Whenever we went for the bus, we had to walk in the road (jumping out of the way for traffic) to get there as the sidewalk ended 1/4 way into our bus stop journey. And it was a journey. At SSR, that is not an issue at all. The most spotty bus service we ever had was at OKW, not at SSR. We've always had great bus service at SSR, including our last stay which ended this past Sunday. You can also take a boat from SSR to OKW and on up to PO. Although the studio we had at OKW was physically larger than the one we had at SSR last year, it wasn't as nice. I personally find the AKV to be a bit isolated. Certainly BLT is the most convenient to MK, but the points required for a stay are pretty high. It has far fewer rooms than do OKW and SSR. Its sleek modern look isn't really for me either. I'm a "turn of the century charm" kinda gal. I would someday like to try BCV or BWV for their charm. Its a plus to walk to EPCOT, especially during Flower & Garden! My favorite time to visit. I think which one is best for you is personal taste really. But as far as resale value and maintenance costs, there is a mathmatical algarythm.

 

[Greysword]

Would you do SSR, OKW ( I know it runs out sooner) or AKV???

I think this is the main question in your post; because, it directly asks about Rule #1 on any website/book/conversation: Buy where you want to stay.

If you would prefer AKV, then thats where you want your points to be. If you like golf or DTD, SSR is an excellent choice! The 11 month window is the key.

Thats my two-cents worth. Good luck with your decision!

- Chris

 

[crisi]

I think this is the main question in your post; because, it directly asks about Rule #1 on any website/book/conversation: Buy where you want to stay.

If you would prefer AKV, then thats where you want your points to be. If you like golf or DTD, SSR is an excellent choice! The 11 month window is the key.

Thats my two-cents worth. Good luck with your decision!

- Chris

I prefer "buy where you won't be disappointed to end up" myself. Unless you can't book more than seven months out, in which case "buy what is cheapest."

As to future resale values - I think that people should intend to buy DVC for the longish haul - and at that horizon its difficult to tell what may happen. The treehouse villas are cool - and in a different economy, might drive up SSRs points. If DVC keeps building, all our point values could crash because of supply. I suspect you'll pay less now, and sell for less later than the other "late expiration" reports - but the "early expiration" resorts probably have peaked and while they'll recover - I don't know that they will recover at the same pace as the late expiration resorts.

 

[tomandrobin]

Disney's best kept secret?!?!

I recommend buy where you want to stay. If you can't book a room during your home resort period, or do not care what resort you stay......then buy SSR.

On a side note, I own almost 1000 SSR points and stay at that resort most of the time. However, I do rent my points on occasion, and have success booking at the 7-3 month window at all of the other resorts.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I bought SSR recently because i could get 120 pts for the same price i could get 100 pts at AKV. I figure i can get something at 7 months out most of the time and if not no big deal. I also think the tree house villas will be really cool to stay at..and probably the most difficult to book because there are only 60 of them. I did not mind the point expiring in 2054 because i will prob be close to dead by then. If we really like DVC we will probably buy another account at a new resort in 20 years and sell our SSR account. Then we can leave our kids the new resort points.

 

[chalee94]

I bought SSR recently because i could get 120 pts for the same price i could get 100 pts at AKV. I did not mind the point expiring in 2042 because i will prob be close to dead by then.

you may not get many responses as the thread was almost a year old when it was resurrected, but i just wanted to clarify that SSR doesn't expire until 2054.

cheaper SSR resales are definitely a good deal if you are ok with staying at SSR (which i would be.)

 

[nolanboys]

I bought SSR recently because i could get 120 pts for the same price i could get 100 pts at AKV. I figure i can get something at 7 months out most of the time and if not no big deal. I also think the tree house villas will be really cool to stay at..and probably the most difficult to book because there are only 60 of them. I did not mind the point expiring in 2042 because i will prob be close to dead by then. If we really like DVC we will probably buy another account at a new resort in 20 years and sell our SSR account. Then we can leave our kids the new resort points.

After taking a tour in Feb while at Disney World and seeing that 180 AKV points would cost us $19000 with incentives, we knew SSR resale was for us. We just purchased 200 pts for $13,600. I understand that many feel it is less desirable, but the cost savings alone for me more than made up for it. We've stayed at OKW twice (cash) and never minded the busses. There were a couple of times we had to wait a little, but we kind of just go with the flow.

Some one mentioned that dues are about the same, but I have to disagree. This was another factor for us when deciding to purchase SSR. We were willing to pay more to buy into BWV, but there dues are so much higher. It's close to $1 more per point. We have 200 points and although $200 doesn't sound like much, our dues for 5 years would most likely be almost $1000 more. I understand why people pay a premium, but I'm cheap.

 

[charvel67]

We bought in at SSR, love staying there, and I have never experienced any bus problems staying on any property there, except overcrowding.. We are buying 250 more points in about a month or two at SSR. The price per point value is too good to pass up.

 

[silmarg]

I posted about a year ago on this thread and noted I was contemplating SSR vs AKV. We ended up staying at SSR (free upgrade from POP!) last August. I decided I have no problem staying at SSR if I HAD to.

So we went ahead an bought 160 points on the resale market. We got ROFRd twice at $65 and made it thru at $67. Seemed like DVD was in a buying mood around year end as lots of contracts were being snapped up.

Now there have been very few ROFRs and SSRs pave passed recently as low as $62.

WHAT A DEAL!

That said, I booked BCV for a few days this fall. And am hoping to get a ressie at VCG for Feb.