Why is there Always room at SSR?

[gmi3804]

Size, location, condo style resort.

Bill

How do you mean? The villas are indistinguishable from the other DVC resorts in terms of size and amenities. In fact, they're some of the smallest in the DVC portfolio.

 

[CMOORE185]

All of that's true but that's not the point. It simply has a lower demand and is larger. And it's also the largest single negative when trying to book resorts at the 7 month window. The reasons are fairly straight forward, it's location and it's points table that's a fair amount higher than OKW. That a given person may prefer it to all others resorts is somewhat irrelevant, it's the collective preference that determines demand.

Of course you are right, I got on my soap box to defend my resort.
But I do believe part of the reason it has lower demand is it's unwarranted reputation. I believe some don't even try it because of this.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

the following are just my opinions but i'll like to express
how we view the ssr resort.

* if this was the only dvc resort, we would have never chose
dvc. because we are not buying a resident, but a vacation
home.

we have no facts- regarding either side of this argument &
i just want to stress that i am looking @ our primary reason
for buying dvc.....magic kingdom. i can't see why anyone
would visit wdw & exclude this theme park; as "comparing"
to the other 3. even in my old age....if we are vacationing
in disney world, this park will always be on my "to do" list.

location, location, and location!

is ssr a nice resort? i don't know. all i know, when we first
looked into dvc, they were selling the beach club. we were
concern over it's location & what problems getting
to the monorail resorts. heavy on our favor.

however, we "turned down"...dvc @ the time (2002)- had
nothing to do with "location". it had to do with losing our
points because are both in the medical professions &
vacation times are "iffy". on this issue...the guide stated
clearly we would lose our points....as they could not be
rented. ok~dvc isn't for us...

we kept doing wdw vacations with dcl cruising. 2008 though
we did the pc cruise & our table mates, not only....great
friendship, but they were also dvc owners...giving us new/
better insights. also , i have great successes in my chosen
career. but without a doubt.....all my successes /& most
precious memories are connected to my darling wife.
nothing else compares/matches the gift of finding your
soul mate. over the years, we build our future to do
anything /whatever we want. so instead of another
"material gift" ( she does love jewelry), i wanted to give her
something that was also connected to our dreams....we have 3
children so we purchased 3 contacts, one each. blt was just the
resort they were building in 2008.

that's our story...so i can see why many think dvc is based on
emotions.

the way i see it/ssr, is not like doing a wdw vacation. we go to
dtd, but it isn't close as going/being near a park.

how do you feel? supposing you are in a deluxe club- when disney
often gives free upgrades all the time ,especially from when they
over-booked @ the values?

also- look how many unloaded the ssr to buy @ the new resorts.

now i can only speak for us, but we have no desires to
sell blt even to get g.f. and/or the poly. why blt? because
we like it here!

, no themes? i don't get that ever, just open your
living room curtains. isn't that space mt.? & a castle?
another favorite theme..are the shelves in the rooms, so
all the disney junk/treasures we collected from each
trip...are displayed. our first christmas trips, has some
of my all-time memories with our "ariel" daughter decorating
her little christmas tree..with the castle glowing in the
background.....how neat is it ?, for a night light? talk about
your "sweet dreams."

long before buying i was reading the dvc section here, &
not posting. from doing "that" gave me this "low opinion"
about ssr..because so many posting their complaints,
"horror stories"..much more than the others.

we think it is unfair, that if we ever "have too cx.", & getting stuck
with the ssr. the system is out of balance due to numbers game-
where ssr owners are always flooding out. some of my
worst feelings came from ssr owners posters. they are the ones
that gave me the opinion that the ssr is the "basement" resort
of all the others.

not claiming this "is" all facts, or even fair. i m just saying it is "how"
we look @ this resort based on the input reading here. while
i am lecturing, don't see a better way to make sure i am
expressing my true feelings toward this resort esp., since
this topic come up the most. and i think the ssr effects our
options , along with some insider manipulation. ( we learn that
from the beginning -our first blt stay. )

i do think after the time shares expired, there are great potential in
selling them as resident homes.

 

[Sammie]

I think the only way you can definitely say it's the least desired is if all DVC resorts were the same size, which they aren't.

The main reason is it is huge. If the owners there are trading out, they are staying at another DVC that is not being booked at 11-8 months, so in a sense those resorts are not heavily desired at early bookings either.

It is a great resort, fabulous staff. Just because it does not sit walking distance to one park, it is still the most centrally located with quick access to all parks just as OKW is.

As to horror stories, good grief, Grumpy your best horror story was at BLT. We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts and none of them are significantly better as to the actual rooms, the decor is simply different and room size.

 

[CMOORE185]

Lil grumpy is the perfect example of what I mean, he or she said they got their opinion of SSR from reading here, not from experiencing it themselves. I understand why there is a lower demand at SSR but I implore people to not let it be because of negative things said on these forums. Experience it for your selfs.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We are staying here for the first time in 19 days and we can't wait! We bought here and OKW for the same reasons. We like the resort experience. We don't necessarily want to see a theme park when we're not in one. My BF loves golf and I love the spa. Now we don't have to travel for either. We loved it when we visited! The size didn't bother us. The beauty, scenery and calm appealed to us.

People like resorts for different reasons. To each his own.

 

[Dean]

Of course you are right, I got on my soap box to defend my resort.
But I do believe part of the reason it has lower demand is it's unwarranted reputation. I believe some don't even try it because of this.

A point I've made many times since SSR came into the picture. There really are 2 issues, the evaluation of the resort itself and it's impact/usage within the system. They really are 2 different things. You were honest enough with yourself to realize that, unfortunately there are some that can't separate the 2 issues and it's like one insulted their sister.

The way I compare resorts is by thinking if they were side by side in the 2 locations in question. Unfortunately, I think DVD missed some opportunities with SSR though I also thought the Eagle Pines project looked more appealing. That leads you back to the 2 issues that affect demand, location and the specifics of the resort. Location is what it is, it's a negative relatively speaking and it's not likely to change much with the completion of Disney Springs. Side by side, and ignoring size and points, I think it still comes in next to last at WDW with OKW right behind it in appeal to the masses. When you include points costs, OKW passes it easily though it's minimally lower cost compared to some doesn't help as much as I'm sure DVD had hopped. IMO making the points costs higher than OKW was a mistake when looked at in this light but if selling the points was the main plan, they did that though slower than projected & hoped from what I understand.

Personally I'm thrilled for OKW, SSR & AKV which are the lower demand resorts since we always have a car and most of our stays are from trading in and we do enjoy all of the DVC resorts.

 

[beer dave]

I see simple math here. And I am not denying SSR is beautiful and all the other things listed. People buy ownerships.... people reserve stays.... if all owners reserved where they own prior to 7 months, all resorts would be full. If they don't, at 7 months owners can chose where they want to reserve.... most people do not reserve SSR, otherwise it would be full. In this case, size does not matter.

A larger percentage of SSR owners reserve non owned resorts as compared to the percentages of other resort owners reserving non owned resorts.

Again it is a beautiful resort...... one of them has to be the least desired....somewhere in the world, by process of elimination, there is the worst doctor.... and someone has an appointment with him this afternoon....

 

[delilah]

We bought in 2004; the only DVC resort available then was SSR. It was a good time for us to buy, because our son was 6, and we went at least once or twice a year between then and now. However, when AKV became available, we bought there, and stay at AKV most of the time, because we simply like it better than SSR. Of the resorts that were available at the time we initially bought, probably BCV would have been our first choice, because of proximity to Epcot, which was our favorite park. However, we were told it wasn't available, and we didn't know any better. So, before AKV opened, we actually stayed at BCV twice, booking at 7 mo. We have only stayed twice at SSR on points, once for cash for a really good price. We might try it again once the downtown Disney renovation is done.

 

[Dean]

I think the only way you can definitely say it's the least desired is if all DVC resorts were the same size, which they aren't.

IMO one can easily state it's the least demand, the thing that can be argued is why.

I've seen negative posts about all resorts whether it be the location or set up of OKW/SSR, the long hallways of AKV/BWV or the Clown pool of BWV. And a large % of negatives posts relative to resorts seem unfounded, unreasonable, unrealistic or related to issues they knew or should have known up front. I would agree with the suggestion to try the resort but would feel it inappropriate to suppress negative opinions of any resort. My request would be to make them honest and reasonable, not that I expect that condition to be consistently adhered to. I think most members are intelligent enough to look at such info and make a reasonable decision.

 

[kamik86]

My biggest issue with SSR is that I don't feel like I went somewhere different there. Its themed to look alot like home... since I live close to Saratoga Springs (the real one in NY state)

OKW, boardwalk, beachclub, and especially AKV (my favorite) all feel like I wnt somewhere different.

 

[mouseaider]

We've owned a small SSR contract for four years now. We bought it because of price, size of contract and banked points. We do not regret buying there at all.

Last September we stayed there for the first time, in the Grandstand section for three nights pre-cruise. Our stay was comfortable.

We've used our points at Kidani, OKW and BWV instead of SSR because we wanted to. We are using SSR points in April for OKW again and we are waitlisted for a BWV, Standard Studio. Why? The cost of points.

It's only 89 points for BWV standard Studio and OKW Studio. SSR is 100. We are not DTD fans so to conserve points we booked OKW.

 

[rseeb]

Sorry, but the reason it is available is because it is the least desired resort. If it wasn't , it would be full. The points are sold out, so if the people who bought there did so because they love to go there, it would be full. SSR was the first resort to be sold with a later contract date, so people initially bought it for the length of contract. (I did) I enjoyed SSR when Pleasure Island was open.... the only reason I stayed there. I don't care for the outside hallways (Key west also) (same reason why OKW is the second last to book) Once the resorts opened with walking access to the parks, these two fell to the wayside. Hence the low point costs on resale. Undesirable.

I am not buying that people who bought there do not want to stay there. I bought Hilton Head back in 2000 because I could get more bang for my buck. I rarely go there in comparison to the other resorts. SSR is a great relaxing resort with 2 great pools and great access to DTD. So I lean more on the size of the resort in non peak months.

 

[daisydog2]

We bought at SSR and love it. We may be in the minority, but we didn't like AKL. It was too far from everything..We have not stayed at any of the monorail resorts...

After going to the parks, we like to have dinner and just relax at DTD... We always say we are going to try other places, but always go back to SSR. We love it!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

We bought at SSR sight unseen because that's the resort that was for sale (direct) at the time that we bought. I think for anyone to "dog it" without having actually stayed there before is like a kid who says they don't like brussel sprouts or spinach or asparagus but who has never even TRIED it. It's not fair. We have only stayed there a couple of times but have enjoyed both trips when we did. We bought DVC so that we could vacation at WDW at any time AND for the ability to stay at a different property on every trip if we wanted to. We enjoy staying somewhere different each trip so that every trip is different from the last. We have no desire to ALWAYS stay at the same resort. We have probably stayed at AKV the most times - usually because of the lower point requirements (we're a tad bit "points challenged" and try to stretch our points as far as possible). We're doing a split stay this summer with half at BCV and half of it at AKV (but splurging on a savanna view for a change) bcuz our DS said it's his fav. resort and he's about to head off to college so this trip is for him.

ANYWAY, I for one am super glad that SSR IS really big and that it DOES almost always have availability. I like knowing that we can plan a last minute trip and find a place at our home resort. We don't feel like "oh that's all that's available". It's our home and we enjoy it when we stay there. We just happen to like to switch things up from trip to trip. I think SSR just gets a bad rap from a lot of people who've never even STAYED there. It's based on rumors and threads like these.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

We've used our points to stay at AKL (home resort), VGF and SSR (and will be staying at BCV over Easter).

Of the three resorts we have stayed at, SSR was - far and away - our favorite.

Once we complete the "let's try to stay somewhere we haven't" booking pattern, I can absolutely see us making our home at SSR (at least compared to AKL and VGF).

We loved the layout of the resort/pools, and the ability to quickly hop over to DTD for meals and evening entertainment.

I can see the upside of a monorail resort if you are (by need or want) someone who can only tolerate a couple of hours in the park and then need a reasonably convenient way to get back to the room (at least from MK), but there are three other parks that it takes some time and effort to get to, so the argument that SSR is too far out and is not convenient for travel, just doesn't hold much water for me.

That being said, I hear my late grandmother's voice in my head when I read these types of threads, when she used to say "Each to their own, said the farmer as he kissed his cow".

 

[GAN]

ANYWAY, I for one am super glad that SSR IS really big and that it DOES almost always have availability. I like knowing that we can plan a last minute trip and find a place at our home resort. We don't feel like "oh that's all that's available".

Great point! That must really stink.

In a general sense, when you buy into DVC you're buying into all the resorts -all your home resort did for you was give you a 4-month booking advantage over anyone else ...after that, your home resort is as much anyone else's as it is yours.

 

[beer dave]

We bought at SSR sight unseen because that's the resort that was for sale (direct) at the time that we bought. I think for anyone to "dog it" without having actually stayed there before is like a kid who says they don't like brussel sprouts or spinach or asparagus but who has never even TRIED it. It's not fair. We have only stayed there a couple of times but have enjoyed both trips when we did. We bought DVC so that we could vacation at WDW at any time AND for the ability to stay at a different property on every trip if we wanted to. We enjoy staying somewhere different each trip so that every trip is different from the last. We have no desire to ALWAYS stay at the same resort. We have probably stayed at AKV the most times - usually because of the lower point requirements (we're a tad bit "points challenged" and try to stretch our points as far as possible). We're doing a split stay this summer with half at BCV and half of it at AKV (but splurging on a savanna view for a change) bcuz our DS said it's his fav. resort and he's about to head off to college so this trip is for him.

ANYWAY, I for one am super glad that SSR IS really big and that it DOES almost always have availability. I like knowing that we can plan a last minute trip and find a place at our home resort. We don't feel like "oh that's all that's available". It's our home and we enjoy it when we stay there. We just happen to like to switch things up from trip to trip. I think SSR just gets a bad rap from a lot of people who've never even STAYED there. It's based on rumors and threads like these.

I have stayed there at least 6 times. I am not saying it isn't a nice resort-- I am saying it is the least desirable of the DVC resorts.

Resort of last booking, booking of last resort.

 

[Dean]

I am not buying that people who bought there do not want to stay there. I bought Hilton Head back in 2000 because I could get more bang for my buck. I rarely go there in comparison to the other resorts. SSR is a great relaxing resort with 2 great pools and great access to DTD. So I lean more on the size of the resort in non peak months.

Peak times really tell the tale, not off peak times. By definition, if it were as popular as certain other resorts availability would not reach the 7 month window consistently, esp for higher demand times.

The big issue for SSR wasn't that it's the only resort that the info applies to but that it has a lot of points in play and was additive to there other lower demand resorts. HH & VB have historically had even lower demand but SSR points were added to all of the others when it came on board and appears to have maxed out around 2-3 yrs after the sell out was complete. I'd venture to guess that it's more than 50% of the total points looking for a place to stay at the 7 month window, more than all the rest combined.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Lots of owners buy cheap SSR points intending to trade to somewhere else at 7 months. How many times do we read people bragging they have never stayed there but are always able to book elsewhere using SSR points.
I have on the other hand, never read someone who bought --- to stay at SSR.