Why is there Always room at SSR?

[mkunichi]

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.

Hopefully this will change with Disney Springs coming online.

But it's also that SSR is so big. Multiples of the capacity of the next biggest DVC resort, right?

 

[Anal Annie]

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.

Actually, if you look at the listings currently on the Timeshare Store, SSR is holding its own as far as price per point these days. It has listings ranging from $74-83 pp while AKV is $75-86, BWV $79-85 and VWL is $77-85. Same ballpark as far as resale prices, really. If you want to buy low to trade elsewhere then look at VB which is running between $39-59 or HHI at $62-71. Even OKW is a comparative bargain at $59-72. I don't think as many people buy there "just to trade" as you might think.

 

[Gillyrose779]

We stayed at SS first week of December and really enjoyed it. Although BC is our favorite we wouldn't mind staying at SS again. The 1 bedroom is nice and we like staying in the Congress Park area- just steps to DTD. Feels like what Epcot is to BC. It gives a lot of flexibility with Disney transportation. For example after fireworks were done at Epcot we weren't in the mood to deal with crowds going to the front of Epcot so we headed over to BC and took the bus to DTD then took our time walking back to SS- I love a good relaxing walk.

I think the open availability is mostly due to the shear size of SS.

 

[Dean]

I have on the other hand, never read someone who bought --- to stay at SSR.

I have, but only a couple of times.

Hopefully this will change with Disney Springs coming online.

But it's also that SSR is so big. Multiples of the capacity of the next biggest DVC resort, right?

I doubt DS will move the needle, much less bring demand up to even OKW. IMO and from what I see, size doesn't matter much unless the size itself turns people off which comes back to demand. A very popular resort that's large will fill up before a less popular smaller resort will when the masses have access. Certainly the chances of having an odd cancelation are greater based on numbers but size cannot explain why it's sitting there open when nothing else is consistently. You see this with the exchange companies consistently, the more popular resorts are the first to fill up and even when there's reduced demand, these resorts are rarely available unless everything is. Now it is true that a larger resort turns some people off and that fact alone may reduce it's demand but it's still a demand issue at the end of the day. Personally this doesn't bother me, not all resorts can be the most popular and it doesn't take a big difference in demand to cause the issues discussed though I do think the difference is pretty large between SSR & the top demand resorts.

 

[a742246]

SSR is my favorite DVC resort whenever I plan on a short Disney stay without going to the theme parks.

Why?

The fitness center.
The Spa.
The open space.
Walking to DTD.
Boat rides up to OKW, POR.
Walking areas.
Golf.
The multiple pools.

It will only get better when the DTD expansion is complete.
There are so any things to do without a car or riding a bus.

I believe SSR makes the best resort for a non theme park vacation.

 

[Anal Annie]

BTW for anybody who thinks SSR never even comes close to being full, it does. Summer before last we had to cancel our VGC / Aulani vacation at the last minute (8 days out) due to a medical emergency with our DS which would prevent him from flying for several weeks. Since we were under 30 days we then tried to move the trip to WDW so we could drive instead and not lose the points (we either HAD to go over the summer before school started back or they would go into holding & have to be used by Nov as we have a Dec UY). We didn't care WHERE we stayed we just wanted a villa SOMEWHERE. There were NO studios available anywhere but we WERE able find ONE 1-bedroom open for 9 consecutive nights at SSR - if we pushed the trip back by a week. I don't know about 2-bedroom availability bcuz we weren't interested in that but if all the studios were booked and there was only ONE 1-bedroom open I would guess they were booked too. This was an August trip. We were actually THRILLED to be able to work something out and the fact that it was at SSR was great for us. We don't normally drive so having a car there was great. We enjoyed the entire trip & enjoyed exploring SSR more (even tho it wasn't VGC & Aulani).

 

[Dean]

BTW for anybody who thinks SSR never even comes close to being full, it does. Summer before last we had to cancel our VGC / Aulani vacation at the last minute (8 days out) due to a medical emergency with our DS which would prevent him from flying for several weeks. Since we were under 30 days we then tried to move the trip to WDW so we could drive instead and not lose the points (we either HAD to go over the summer before school started back or they would go into holding & have to be used by Nov as we have a Dec UY). We didn't care WHERE we stayed we just wanted a villa SOMEWHERE. There were NO studios available anywhere but we WERE able find ONE 1-bedroom open for 9 consecutive nights at SSR - if we pushed the trip back by a week. I don't know about 2-bedroom availability bcuz we weren't interested in that but if all the studios were booked and there was only ONE 1-bedroom open I would guess they were booked too. This was an August trip. We were actually THRILLED to be able to work something out and the fact that it was at SSR was great for us. We don't normally drive so having a car there was great. We enjoyed the entire trip & enjoyed exploring SSR more (even tho it wasn't VGC & Aulani).

It should be full most of the time with the setup of DVC but it happens by default where owners that book can't get other options and others book there when they can't get anything. Even if it were full at times when the 7 month window opened, this wouldn't change the realities or prove demand were near equal. Just like if someone posted they were trying to book a given trip and all that was open was X resort where X was not SSR or even OKW would not prove that point either unless that were a consistent situation. The other issue that proves nothing is that there are some owners who want to stay there preferentially.

 

[gdrj]

For us it is least desirable resort due to:
1- IMO least "Disney Themed"
2- Very large resort, long walk if not located near main pool and QS.
3- Feel of a condo or apt building
4- For us least desirable full service restaurants
5- Bus service when staying there was poor (this coming from someone who stays at BWV).
6- Lack of "Grand Lobby" like many of the other properties
7- Exterior entrances to buildings

We will wait list or do split stays before staying there. With that said, it is my in-laws favorite because it is least themed and doesn't feel Disney.


To each their own.

 

[DenLo]

Many people buy there with the intention of staying elsewhere. Many other resorts people buy them because they want to stay at them.

Yeah, you hear people bragging that they bought the cheaper SSR points and have never stayed there. It is their loss though because SSR is a beautiful resort.

 

[beer dave]

Actually, if you look at the listings currently on the Timeshare Store, SSR is holding its own as far as price per point these days. It has listings ranging from $74-83 pp while AKV is $75-86, BWV $79-85 and VWL is $77-85. Same ballpark as far as resale prices, really. If you want to buy low to trade elsewhere then look at VB which is running between $39-59 or HHI at $62-71. Even OKW is a comparative bargain at $59-72. I don't think as many people buy there "just to trade" as you might think.

You have to also take in to account the maintenance fees (SSR is the lowest Disney DVC) and length of contract (OKW, BWV, and BCV are 12 years shorter than SSR. AKV is the standout with a longer contract and dues similar to the others... Thats why I am waiting for ROFR with AKV. Plus AKV has the savanna, and Club level.

 

[Sammie]

For us it is least desirable resort due to:
1- IMO least "Disney Themed"
2- Very large resort, long walk if not located near main pool and QS.
3- Feel of a condo or apt building
4- For us least desirable full service restaurants
5- Bus service when staying there was poor (this coming from someone who stays at BWV).
6- Lack of "Grand Lobby" like many of the other properties
7- Exterior entrances to buildings

We will wait list or do split stays before staying there. With that said, it is my in-laws favorite because it is least themed and doesn't feel Disney.


To each their own.

Curious about #1 which DVC resort has a Disney theme?

 

[Sammie]

I am sure the size of SSR plays the biggest part in it being available when smaller resorts are not.

For example at BCV if only 5% of the total inventory is available that will only be 14 villas but at SSR that will be 66. That has to make a huge difference.

While some on this forum don't like SSR for various personal reasons, does not necessarily mean that opinion reflects the majority of DVC owners.

I still think it is a situation of numbers. We also have no way of knowing how many SSR members trade out of the system. While again that is not something that is popular with some DISers, it is a popular option for many DVC members.

There is enough variety in the DVC resorts for most everyone to find something they like, I just find it rather arrogant at times on this forum, that some think their opinion reflects the majority of hundreds of thousands of DVC members not on this forum.

 

[Dean]

I am sure the size of SSR plays the biggest part in it being available when smaller resorts are not.

For example at BCV if only 5% of the total inventory is available that will only be 14 villas but at SSR that will be 66. That has to make a huge difference.

That's just it, it really doesn't. A fair % of owners (who knows how many) have bought at the resort they plan to stay at. If BCV had the same demand as SSR both would be equally available or not at the 7 month window. A discrepancy at the 7 month window by definition frames demand. Now the size might play more of a roll once the 7 month window opens though I personally don't think it does in this scenario then either. I've seen precious few posts over the years that suggest people bought there to stay most trips and I'm not recalling a single one where people said they bought there for the 11 month window.

 

[Sammie]

That's just it, it really doesn't. A fair % of owners (who knows how many) have bought at the resort they plan to stay at. If BCV had the same demand as SSR both would be equally available or not at the 7 month window. A discrepancy at the 7 month window by definition frames demand. Now the size might play more of a roll once the 7 month window opens though I personally don't think it does in this scenario then either. I've seen precious few posts over the years that suggest people bought there to stay most trips and I'm not recalling a single one where people said they bought there for the 11 month window.

But wouldn't those other resorts not be available to SSR members to book at 7 months if they are so popular.

Where are the openings coming from?

My point is without actual facts/percentages from DVC we really don't know and are just making guesses based on personal choice.

Again I don't think we can base any factual stats on information gathered from discussions on this forum.

I think more members trade out of the system than anyone on this forum would acknowledge. I know many Disney employees use their DVC membership exclusively to trade out.

 

[Dean]

But wouldn't those other resorts not be available to SSR members to book at 7 months if they are so popular.

Where are the openings coming from?

My point is without actual facts/percentages from DVC we really don't know and are just making guesses based on personal choice.

Again I don't think we can base any factual stats on information gathered from discussions on this forum.

I think more members trade out of the system than anyone on this forum would acknowledge.

The busiest times will give you the info. Basically take the busiest times you know and see what you can get into and what you can't. Of course there are some differences with unit type and booking category within certain resorts but for this purpose I think looking at the overall availability is best. So pick a few times of the year that you judge to be high demand because season or week demand is consistently a more important issue than resort demand for timeshares. Maybe early Dec, Xmas, Spring Break, special events and the like. Then look and see which ones are consistently available at those times and which aren't. By definition those are higher demand than those that aren't available if the findings are consistent. In this situation size doesn't matter because one is in the home resort window and the % of people booking is proportional to the number of villas available. I base my interpretation on multiple factors including discussions with DVC, direct observation, posts here and elsewhere and what gets sent to the exchange companies. That we don't have the actual occupancy numbers or internal demand statistics doesn't mean the interpretations aren't accurate. From what I've heard it's actually likely to be more one sided than it's being framed here. I think what many miss is this isn't a discussion about the quality of the resort as I see it, it's a discussion about the relative demand of the resort and the effect on the system that the points have.

 

[graueMaus]

I think SSR gets an unwarranted reputation as the being the dog of DVC resorts. In reality it has gorgeous grounds, wonderful pools, a beautiful golf course, great view and proximity to DTD, beautiful rooms, and the tree house villas. It is one of my first choices to stay at.

Don't forget it is the only resort without a full spa besides VGF. That would be my wifes answer (and mine after 18 holes of course). Another thing is that is has the THV, which when we bought it was same point cost for 2BR at SSR. Love THV and the resort.

 

[Sammie]

Don't forget it is the only resort without a full spa besides VGF. That would be my wifes answer (and mine after 18 holes of course). Another thing is that is has the THV, which when we bought it was same point cost for 2BR at SSR. Love THV and the resort.

Don't you mean its the only resort with a full spa besides VGF.

 

[hakepb]

Curious about #1 which DVC resort has a Disney theme?

I believe it has improved with the more recent renovations, but there are fewer hidden Mickeys (in a 1BR, the only hidden Mickey was the support under the kitchen bar, unless you had the floor with the hidden Mickey railing. At AKV, there is a small hidden Mickey every 3' in the carpet). no tropical landscaping, no big lobby to enter...

If you check in while the spouse and kids stay in the car, then get to your room and tell your child "we're at Disney World!" They look around and give you a puzzled look. Since they have added a few touches like the horse throw pillows, it now seems more appropriate in WDW.

Which brings the other point. SSR has evolved more than the other resorts (ie adding a 2nd feature pool, now 3 pool bars, landscaping grew from sparse to complete...) and I think many early guests may be somewhat surprised if they re-visited with an open mind.

 

[Dean]

Which brings the other point. SSR has evolved more than the other resorts (ie adding a 2nd feature pool, now 3 pool bars, landscaping grew from sparse to complete...) and I think many early guests may be somewhat surprised if they re-visited with an open mind.

I don't see any of those or planned changes causing people to say they specifically want to stay there routinely. All Disney Springs or the second pool does is lessen the impact if one stays there anyway. To even start to even out the demand you've got to give something that specifically causes someone to want to stay there over the other properties. IMO they missed most of the opportunities up front. Things like lake homes, 4 BR units (lockoff 2 BR's), connecting studios, OKW points schedule, under building parking, a true water park type pool, horse park with riding. The list could go on but it has to be one or more likely multiple such items where people say they specific want to visit multiple times. Even the "I want to try it once" crowd won't make any real difference and most have tried it already including owners there. The THV did help a little until they were reallocated pricing them out for most people for what they are and thus the reallocation of points for the THV likely reduced the demand for SSR as a whole more than the extra pool and DS put together will help it.

 

[CMOORE185]

What sold me on DVC was variety, the idea that wherever you bought didn't matter that much, that you kinda bought in to the system not a specific resort. I didn't want to stay at the same resort on every trip. It has worked out for me as I have found I can get just about any resort at seven months.

What this tells me is the system is working. There is enough demand at every resort that enables me to get what I want at seven months. Although SSR may be the least demanded resort, there is enough demand that it is not hurting the system as a whole.