Why not SSR?

[lisaviolet]

I own at BWV and SSR.

Since there are so many wonderful remarks about SSR I'm going to post what I dislike about it. Just to have both sides. It's just my dislikes - certainly not a bashing.

*outside/inside hallways - I dislike this - I'm sure many like it - and it's great for keeping maintenance fees low. And I don't mean I necessarily wanted hotel like for SSR - I prefer OKW over SSR's halls.

*garbage left in the halls by CMs - I haven't stayed there since 2006 so hopefully this has changed - I hated it. The CMs would clean the rooms and leave the garbage for a later central pickup. Yes every resort can have this at times but at SSR -at the time - it was an actual choice by the maids to do one large pickup. Hopefully,.that choice has ended. I hated it SO much sometimes in my part of the hall I would do the pickup.

*point structure - for me it would have been way more intelligent to have the points more in line with OKW

*seeing the "outside world". Personally, I'm not a fan of that on a WDW vacation. And there are areas at SSR where that is easy to do.

One plus that I ADORE:

*resort hopping is very easy with DD right there. Just walk over to DD - no need to transfer. I like that.

Okay carry on and good luck to you OP.

 

[hakepb]

To me the real problem is not the outside entrances, as much as the lack of themeing / design detail in those hallways. There is no sense of arrival when you go into a building, and almost no design detail in the hallways.
Compared to the amount of thought and detail of outside pathways in the parks, SSR's hallways do not feel much more inviting than a school with concrete block walls and basic linoleum tile floors.

What if the designers were thinking of walking to a horse stall? Perhaps they succeeded.

 

[lisaviolet]

To me the real problem is not the outside entrances, as much as the lack of design detail in those hallways. There is no sense of arrival when you go into a building, and almost no design detail in the hallways.

Hey! Maybe that's it. Never thought of the why - just that my eye doesn't like them. Interesting.

 

[Dean]

I own at BWV and SSR.

Since there are so many wonderful remarks about SSR I'm going to post what I dislike about it. Just to have both sides. It's just my dislikes - certainly not a bashing.

*outside/inside hallways - I dislike this - I'm sure many like it - and it's great for keeping maintenance fees low. And I don't mean I necessarily wanted hotel like for SSR - I prefer OKW over SSR's halls.

*garbage left in the halls by CMs - I haven't stayed there since 2006 so hopefully this has changed - I hated it. The CMs would clean the rooms and leave the garbage for a later central pickup. Yes every resort can have this at times but at SSR -at the time - it was an actual choice by the maids to do one large pickup. Hopefully,.that choice has ended. I hated it SO much sometimes in my part of the hall I would do the pickup.

*point structure - for me it would have been way more intelligent to have the points more in line with OKW

*seeing the "outside world". Personally, I'm not a fan of that on a WDW vacation. And there are areas at SSR where that is easy to do.

One plus that I ADORE:

*resort hopping is very easy with DD right there. Just walk over to DD - no need to transfer. I like that.

Okay carry on and good luck to you OP.

Lisa, I'm not sure it matters so much why people like other resorts over SSR (location is certainly the top few on the list) but that they do and use points accordingly. We could certainly go through a similar list of pos and neg for each and every resort if we want but at the end of the day the reasons wouldn't matter, only the end result. Certainly the reasons matter to DVD/DVC in that some might be fixable and as a min, they will help them plan future options/resorts.

 

[lisaviolet]

I'm not too familiar with the World, and It seems like I'm missing something!

I did read that entire thread, thanks! That is the kind of information I was hoping to gather... As far as the bus situation goes, they should at least make the riders show a room key to board the bus... Do they pick up and drop off at THV before SSR or after? Just curious....

Lisa, I'm not sure it matters so much why people like other resorts over SSR (location is certainly the top few on the list) but that they do and use points accordingly. We could certainly go through a similar list of pos and neg for each and every resort if we want but at the end of the day the reasons wouldn't matter, only the end result. Certainly the reasons matter to DVD/DVC in that some might be fixable and as a min, they will help them plan future options/resorts.

.

Dean, I'm not sure it matters so much why you don't get why I write what I write. Sometimes, it's a very mutual feeling.

Short answer - thread title was "Why not SSR?".

Long answer - see the bold by the OP - wanting to gather information about SSR.

It was for the OP. Not simply to trigger you again.

I was writing all my cons - as an owner in case the OP hasn't made a totally final decision. If I had known those points that I listed about SSR (I too bought without seeing the resort - same situation as OP - and would have loved to hear about some of these points and decide for myself if they are non-negotiable issues no matter how ridiculous or small) - I wouldn't have bought there. So maybe - just maybe the OP's choice hasn't been made. And maybe none of my cons of SSR as an owner would make a difference. Who knows. Maybe not one. Not the point - I'm not listing to sway. But just in case. So my points are very relevant.

As for the bold - I find that statement totally patronizing. I'm not stupid Dean - I'm aware that one can make pros and cons at any resort. Obviously. I just so stupidly chose the resort the OP is wanting to know the ins and outs about. Gosh I'm strange.

SSR lovers/owners - I do not hate SSR and understand why so many of you love it there.

And OP best of luck on your decision.

 

[Dean]

.

Dean, I'm not sure it matters so much why you don't get why I write what I write. Sometimes, it's a very mutual feeling.

Short answer - thread title was "Why not SSR?".

Long answer - see the bold by the OP - wanting to gather information about SSR.

It was for the OP. Not simply to trigger you again.

I was writing all my cons - as an owner in case the OP hasn't made a totally final decision. If I had known those points that I listed about SSR (I too bought without seeing the resort - same situation as OP - and would have loved to hear about some of these points and decide for myself if they are non-negotiable issues no matter how ridiculous or small) - I wouldn't have bought there. So maybe - just maybe the OP's choice hasn't been made. And maybe none of my cons of SSR as an owner would make a difference. Who knows. Maybe not one. Not the point - I'm not listing to sway. But just in case. So my points are very relevant.

As for the bold - I find that statement totally patronizing. I'm not stupid Dean - I'm aware that one can make pros and cons at any resort. Obviously. I just so stupidly chose the resort the OP is wanting to know the ins and outs about. Gosh I'm strange.

SSR lovers/owners - I do not hate SSR and understand was so many of you love it there.

And OP best of luck on your decision.

I'm not trying to patronize you Lisa or call you stupid, I'm sorry you took it that way and apologize if it came across as such. I'm simply pointing out that it doesn't matter why, only the end result.

 

[CrazyDuck]

And OP best of luck on your decision.

Thanks for that... I appreciate your posts. I didn't create threads about the other resorts because, truthfully, i have no interest in the other resorts.

Thanks all for your help!

 

[disneygal55]

Thanks for that... I appreciate your posts. I didn't create threads about the other resorts because, truthfully, i have no interest in the other resorts.

Thanks all for your help!

CrazyDuck, all I can say is that it is a lot of money and it might be a good idea to check out a resort before purchasing it. We bought SSR, sight unseen, and were completely underwhelmed by it. To us it looked like a condo complex and hated that you had to walk along the main road to get to the amenities (main pool, food court). We also didn't like the food offerings at Artist Palette. We sold SSR about two years later and purchased AKV (and later resale BCV). We always seemed to have a problem booking another resort at 7 months for the dates we chose so it wasn't as if we could have used our SSR points at another resort. Having DTD so close was a benefit and not having to look for a parking spot there was nice but for us it wasn't enough. You might love it...many people love SSR...but I would never buy sight unseen again because we lost some money on our deal.

 

[lisaviolet]

and apologize if it came across as such.

Thanks for that Dean. I appreciate it.

Thanks for that... I appreciate your posts. I didn't create threads about the other resorts because, truthfully, i have no interest in the other resorts.

Thanks all for your help!

You're welcome. I was saying today that we all have our wants and non-negotiables.

For me - I really struggle with the seeing the "outside world" - not DD but the outside roads/other hotels etc. It just happens to be a huge deal for me. I did ask at the time on the DIS but all the responses were hardly at all - if at all. But my eyes see it dfferently than that - I suspected that it was impossible where I imagined it positioned - but I left it. It's interesting. To others it's no big deal or something that they wouldn't even give a thought to to begin with. And I understand because we are different.

It's like BWV. Some HATE the long halls - would never buy there and I understand. However, they are nothing to me. As in no big deal. So it's important to know all the ins and outs so one can decide what's important and what's not.

So I really thought about what mattered to me after the fact. Just in case.

Let us know CrazyDuck. Once again many love it there.

CrazyDuck, all I can say is that it is a lot of money and it might be a good idea to check out a resort before purchasing it. We bought SSR, sight unseen, and were completely underwhelmed by it. To us it looked like a condo complex and hated that you had to walk along the main road to get to the amenities (main pool, food court). We also didn't like the food offerings at Artist Palette. We sold SSR about two years later and purchased AKV (and later resale BCV). We always seemed to have a problem booking another resort at 7 months for the dates we chose so it wasn't as if we could have used our SSR points at another resort. Having DTD so close was a benefit and not having to look for a parking spot there was nice but for us it wasn't enough. You might love it...many people love SSR...but I would never buy sight unseen again because we lost some money on our deal.

I too would never buy like that again. And I sold some to get BWV. And took the hit in points instead of money. But I'm happy with my choice to make that switch.

And I book a lot of last minute trips - so right now it's not a negative to have my SSR contract. In fact, it keeps my MFs lower.

Back when I purchased I had waited ten years to buy. Dreamt and wished year after year. Saved the money up. So when it was time - DVC - at the time - was still doing that "we are ONLY selling XXX". They weren't as open about selling the sold-out resorts direct at that point. And I didn't want resale.

Now I would do resale in an instant. I think it was such a "oh boy" feeling of having the money together finally that I didn't want to do ROFR etc. I mean it can't be needing instant gratification after ten years, can it? Laughing and joking.

 

[Sammie]

Basically and this is addressed to the OP, if you like SSR, I would not worry about anything else.

SSR has one of the highest guest satisficaton ratings of any of the DVC resorts. It simply does not have a huge following of the vocal majority on this forum.

Basically with DVC buy where you like to stay. That is all that is guaranteed. I would not worry about resale value etc, with DVC so much can change to affect that.

 

[Candy Orlando]

I live in Lynnfield World 49 weeks a year and Disney World 3 weeks a year. Every neighborhood, golf course and town hall in both my worlds are beautiful.

Welcome Home!!!

 

[lisaviolet]

It simply does not have a huge following of the vocal majority on this forum.

Really Sammie? No sarcasm - simply thinking this over. In the first couple of years - absolutely - there was a lot of negativity toward SSR. Sometimes daily.

But honestly I truly think the tide has changed on this board regarding SSR. There seems to be a lot of pro-SSR comments/threads. I truly think the positive comments now outnumber the negative. And the best is when those who never wanted to stay there and do - many have come back raving.

 

[Mississippian]

IMO, DVC left a lot on the table at SSR that could have shifted the demand significantly. There are some things they could likely do now but most options that I see as the best ones would not be feasible at this point. Some of the options that I think they could have done include the following.

• Have a points structure closer to OKW. I realize why they didn't but the decision to have higher points than OKW has contributed to this issue.

• 
  I guess this is the biggest problem with SSR in my view. People from other resorts who don't like OKW can nevertheless say, "Oh well, if we have to stay there it's pretty, the rooms are huge and it's cheap." SSR is pretty, but the rooms aren't big and they cost almost as much as those at the hotel resorts.
  
  By the way, I'm now seeing Vero Beach points offered as low as $43. I know the annual dues are higher, but are you sure that's not the better deal, particularly if there is a chance you might ever want to rent a beach cottage?

 

[Dean]

I guess this is the biggest problem with SSR in my view. People from other resorts who don't like OKW can nevertheless say, "Oh well, if we have to stay there it's pretty, the rooms are huge and it's cheap." SSR is pretty, but the rooms aren't big and they cost almost as much as those at the hotel resorts.

By the way, I'm now seeing Vero Beach points offered as low as $43. I know the annual dues are higher, but are you sure that's not the better deal, particularly if there is a chance you might ever want to rent a beach cottage?

Certainly there are variables that may affect ones decisions including that one might use the home resort priority. To keep it simple, I'll keep my thoughts to using the resort as a points cow only. Certainly there is a price point difference that shifts the curve to favor HH & VB. However, remember that the contract has an underlying value which for VB is likely lower than the $43 pp you mention and is certainly higher for SSR. You also give up the option of being able to book at 11 months out for WDW which I feel is a huge difference. IF there are changes to resale going forward, this may further affect both the reasons and the prices.

Every resort has the group of people that prefer it, the group that won't stay there if they don't have to and the in between group. The size (%) of each group AND the ferver that each holds to one group or the other seems to be significantly different for SSR compared to others, even to OKW which has many similarities from a negative standpoint. In addition to the unit size and lower cost, I think there is an emotional component to OKW that doesn't hold for any other resort.

 

[bz8bls]

We intentionally bought at SSR because we don't like being next door to the theme parks. SSR and OKW represent the tranquility that we like after being in buy parks. Also, DH is a golfer so SSR is the perfect location.

We stayed at VWL once and thought it was nice, but just don't like being attached to the hotel (doesn't seem like 'Home Away From Home' feeling. Heck, come to think of it, my real home is not located next to a hotel either.

 

[Mtnman44]

Just to add my two cents:

We are very happy to own at SSR. We enjoy the resort. It is not the ONLY place we want to stay, but we certainly prefer the escape from the theme park atmosphere one in a while. We are excited to try out the treehouses next month. We love the DTD area, walking over to get an Earl of Sandwhich or hit Raglan Road, shopping, etc.

I do think the perception that the majority of SSR owners only want "in the system" and try to trade out at seven months is way overblown. I tend to think that proportionally, the number of trades outs is probably pretty close to most of the other resorts. It just so happens that the larger size of SSR means more actual traders.

 

[Sammie]

Just to add my two cents:

We are very happy to own at SSR. We enjoy the resort. It is not the ONLY place we want to stay, but we certainly prefer the escape from the theme park atmosphere one in a while. We are excited to try out the treehouses next month. We love the DTD area, walking over to get an Earl of Sandwhich or hit Raglan Road, shopping, etc.

I do think the perception that the majority of SSR owners only want "in the system" and try to trade out at seven months is way overblown. I tend to think that proportionally, the number of trades outs is probably pretty close to most of the other resorts. It just so happens that the larger size of SSR means more actual traders.

You would be right.

 

[hbehrman]

We intentionally bought at SSR because we don't like being next door to the theme parks. SSR and OKW represent the tranquility that we like after being in buy parks. Also, DH is a golfer so SSR is the perfect location.

We stayed at VWL once and thought it was nice, but just don't like being attached to the hotel (doesn't seem like 'Home Away From Home' feeling. Heck, come to think of it, my real home is not located next to a hotel either.

So did we, although we have not stayed there yet. Additionally we tend to go to DTD at least twice on our visits for either eating or shopping as DTD is a good place for us to spend time with relatives in the area. I am also a golfer and appreciate having facilities close by. My wife also enjoys a spa on site (and I might as well).

We stayed at POR for the last 4 trips in 6 years and I visited OKW and it did not appeal to us. However we were looking for similar things as POR regarding access, Water shuttle, DTD, and other amenities and SSR has all that we desired and more. Additionally we wanted to be able to get THV if we wished. We did stay this past Oct at AKV, which was great and if we can stay there again we will, however it is not a priority for us. Our plans are to alternate every year between WDW and HHI (which we may add on). Also when the kids get older an it is only the two of us, we feel SSR is the better long term fit.

 

[Dean]

Just to add my two cents:

We are very happy to own at SSR. We enjoy the resort. It is not the ONLY place we want to stay, but we certainly prefer the escape from the theme park atmosphere one in a while. We are excited to try out the treehouses next month. We love the DTD area, walking over to get an Earl of Sandwhich or hit Raglan Road, shopping, etc.

I do think the perception that the majority of SSR owners only want "in the system" and try to trade out at seven months is way overblown. I tend to think that proportionally, the number of trades outs is probably pretty close to most of the other resorts. It just so happens that the larger size of SSR means more actual traders.

I think the perception is reality and there is plenty of second hand info to back up that opinion. To me any new resort that is acceptable to stay at is a good thing since most of my stays are trading in through RCI.

 

[briangib]

Our home resort is OKW but we stayed at SSR when it was the only resort available and had a great time. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.