With the TREEHOUSES will SSR owners finally get...

[dwelty]

1. I bought a product. Disney wants to change the product without compensating me?

yes, but don't you remember reading in your SSR contract that in terms of the points chart DVC can do what it likes as long as the number of points do not change?

 

[DaveH]

I want to be able to know, in advance, before I pack, that I have a studio at the carousel, with no nearby laundry facility. I want to know that I will need to reserve a rental car and order a grocery delivery because we will be very far from the main building/food court. I want to know in advance not to bother bringing swimsuits because the pool is too far to drag my little one to.
I think some who don't mind having rooms far away may not have little ones to plan for.
I also don't understand that if those who are opposed to booking categories are so happy with whatever they get, why would they mind finding that out on day one?
also, DVC has made a LOT of changes since we bought in, so that's really not much of an argument. And, this resort is MUCH larger than what was originally proposed.
i could just hear the uproar if BWV owners were losing out on those Boardwalk views to non-owners and CRO guests - oh wait...they did and, consequently, booking categories were born at BWV hmmmm......

I understand your reasons. Are you willing to use more points for getting rooms in what seems to be prime locations? I think the categories need good amount of rooms. If the DTD and near Carriage House rooms are more like the boardwalk view rooms and cost more points. As an owner of SSR I don't see a need if we go back to the assigning of rooms and not changing the assignments when folks get abusive to CMs. Folks with young children and folks with persons who have needs that need special attention due have valid reasons for requests. I liked it better when rooms were assigned by requests by date of reservation was made.

 

[TinkRN]

I don't know if you have been following this post or not, but no one is asking for the points chart to be changed (nor should it be) they just want booking categories. This was done at OKW without changing the points chart. The preferred booking category cost the same amount of points at the standard booking category. It is just based on first come, first served (when you made your reservation, and what you asked for).

I understand what you are saying about the first come, first served (I am assuming you are talking about making a reservation at 11 months out, not getting there at 6 a.m.)
If there were booking categories with no change in points, who would pay the same for the Carousel section as the Springs? Grandstand? It seems that that may be a similar classification to Preferred View or Standard View?

I am curious as to how this would work. We own a small contract and stay at SSR about once every 2 years. Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

[DaveH]

If DVC would do the assignment by date booked and stay with it we would not need categories. If we have categories I am for reassigning point amounts for the preferred by members rooms. So drop one area 2 points a day and increase the desired 2 points a day. Same amount of points needed each year. The more complicated the ressies the more cost to us as owners. You will have less fighting with check in CMs if you want to change from a non preferred area to a preferred area if points are the same. It will happen if points are the same.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

A quick check in Google Earth revealed that the farthest building in Carousel is only about .05 miles farther from the the main pool than the farthest building in Congress Park, of course CP is much closer to DTD.

I'm not sure how I feel about booking categories, on one hand it's nice if your big pre-planner (like me) or control freak to know where you are staying. However, I don't necessarily think that I like the idea of booking categories without at least a small points adjustment. I am curious to find out what everyone considers an undesirable location and why.

 

[kikiq]

One of the issues with SSR is that there is no significant 11-month advantage to owning SSR. This affects members desire to own SSR and thereby its resale value. Reasonable booking categories (with a minimum of 150+ rooms in each) and the tree house category (especially if they keep the point requirements close to a 2br) will go a long way to help restore the market balance for SSR.
bookwormde

But I do have a significant 11-month advantage as a SSR owner. At 11 months, I can book GV and dedicated 2 bdrm units. At 7 months during the busy seasons, those GV and dedicated 2 bdrms are hard to come by. And since at this time, we can only go during the summer, it is an advantage to me.

I just don't get why non SSR owners are so concerned with "SSR being over built" or "market balance of SSR". You don't like the resort, you didn't buy there. And if you did, then you stay somewhere else like some folks do or you sell and buy somewhere else. I don't think I've ever read any SSR owner selling because they thought it was overbuilt(whatever that really means) and who buys a timeshare for resale value?

I get that some folks don't want to walk 1/4 mile, be across the street from the fire station, doesn't like the theming, want more CS, and don't like the condo style buildings. (did I get most of the complaints?) But please if you're thinking about the market share and overbuilding, then maybe you shouldn't have bought into DVC in the first place.

 

[bookwormde]

Kikiq

I do not think I ever said that SSR was overbuilt.

I agree if you want one of the categories you stated at the busiest time of the year then there is 11-month advantage for you but that does not appear to be the case for most SSR owners from anecdotal information.

I did not buy there because home resort is about 11 month advantage for me and the advantages were very limited, (GVs are to expensive and dedicated 2br is not that big a deal to me and I do not travel at the busiest times) For adding on, if the price continues at the current levels or lower and with the tree houses, 2-3 other booking categories and the longer contract length I would give it a hard look.

bookwormde

 

[CarolA]

A quick check in Google Earth revealed that the farthest building in Carousel is only about .05 miles farther from the the main pool than the farthest building in Congress Park, of course CP is much closer to DTD.

According to the outcry on here, it' MILES to those "far unit" Kids can't walk from Carousel to the pool, but somehow they can walk from CP to the pool. I guess that kids today hit the wall at that extra 0.05 miles!

The DIS does NOT believe in letting facts get in the way of thier complaints! People got all over me a while back when I posted something along lines.

 

[CarolA]

yes, but don't you remember reading in your SSR contract that in terms of the points chart DVC can do what it likes as long as the number of points do not change?

Yes, but I have as much right as others to tell them what I want them to do. The "we want booking categories" group is being very vocal. They can't complain that the other side want's thier views heard!

I do appear to have a list to send to the annual meeting is anyone wants on it! (Not sure how I got into this, but I did volunteer!)

 

[toocherie]

from reading everyone's responses, it looks to me like it comes down to a difference between people who like to know that their plans are "set" and people who don't mind finding out last minute where their villa would be and take their chances. For me--I like to know where I am going to be when. I will not be going during prime times so don't think I will have trouble getting consecutive nights in the same room. It would be important to me to be close to the CS/TS/lobby--especially when my Mom--who is disabled--is traveling with me. I would like to know before I leave that I will be in Springs/GS/CP rather in one of the outlying buildings.

Because of this--I would support booking categories.

 

[CarolMN]

If DVC would do the assignment by date booked and stay with it we would not need categories. If we have categories I am for reassigning point amounts for the preferred by members rooms. So drop one area 2 points a day and increase the desired 2 points a day. Same amount of points needed each year. The more complicated the ressies the more cost to us as owners. You will have less fighting with check in CMs if you want to change from a non preferred area to a preferred area if points are the same. It will happen if points are the same.

Some history for those who may not know -

The DVC resorts used to assign rooms (and grant requests) based on the time the reservation was made. They switched to the "Room Ready" assignment method because too many people hung around in the lobbies waiting to get into their rooms. It was more important to get into a room early than to get a request met. Under "Room Ready", when you arrive and check in, you get asigned a room that is cleaned and ready for occupancy (if one exists at that time). I do not see them going back to room assignment based on the time the reservation was made - Room Ready works better for the resort and lots and lots of members prefer getting into their room over getting a reqeust. (If you don't, remember that those who post here represent only a small % of the membership).

It is very unlikely that the point charts will be changed. It is not as easy as many believe. Technically by contract (and that is what counts), the total points required to reserve every room in a unit for every night of the year cannot change. A unit in this context is defined in the contracts (you purchased a % interest in a deeded lease to that unit) and it is not necessarily a whole building. AFAIK, the units are not even all the same (as far as number of studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms). Units were defined to comply with state laws and facilitate sales (not future point chart reallocations). There may not be a legal way to reallocate the points as you suggest.

 

[Amy&Dan]

According to the outcry on here, it' MILES to those "far unit" Kids can't walk from Carousel to the pool, but somehow they can walk from CP to the pool. I guess that kids today hit the wall at that extra 0.05 miles!

The DIS does NOT believe in letting facts get in the way of thier complaints! People got all over me a while back when I posted something along lines.

Carol I have to laugh at some of the outlandish claims that to stay at SSR means you will need to be in prime shape and love to walk miles to get to anything. We stayed in the Paddock section back before Carousel was built and therefore it was the "dreaded" area. We loved it, found the walks to be doable for everyone in our party, including my mom who was terminally ill, had just finished chemo and walked with me each day over to the Springs section to refill her mug and take in the beauty of the resort. I have since stayed in all sections but Congress Park and have yet to find any walks that do my middle age, overweight, out of shape self in!

I see both sides to this issue of booking categories but for me, I hope they don't do it. Often I change plans, add on nights etc., (I usually book my reservation at 11 months out but then will add some days on frequently) and I hate the thought of having to move rooms. That is one of the main reasons I didn't buy a resale at BWV, I don't like all those booking categories.

I am one of those weird people that never requests any section on a WDW resort reservation (DVC or cash) and I have yet to get a bad room. I have gotten rooms in sections that are labled as undesireable by many disers but never had one that was undesireable to me either with the view or location.

But that's just me.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

...I liked it better when rooms were assigned by requests by date of reservation was made.

That is precisely what we are asking for. And I agree with you if they honored requests on a 1st come/1st served basis based on the date the request was made- we wouldn't need booking categories. But they don't.

Also, you asked who would stay in the 'undesirable' rooms if they weren't less points. To me the answer is simple, it is the last minute planners who booked too late to get the higher demand rooms. As it should be. Remember there are soon to be 4 off property resorts competing for wdw rooms at 7 months- they may be glad to get any room at WDW. And you are right- if these rooms are not fewer points- they will be the last rooms at WDW to book up. But so what, something has to be the least popular, right?

 

[Barb]

I wasn't advocating a change in point values. I just wondered if that did happen, based on location and/or views, would that upset the apple cart again?

I am not an owner at SSR, but I do love staying there. As I posted earlier, I've never been in a bad location in the 5 or 6 times that I've stayed there. I wouldn't want to pay extra points for a certain location there.

I would and have paid the extra points to stay in the AKV, savannah view. And, I have paid the extra points to stay at the BWV, BW view. Both were worth it to me to have that view.

 

[rantnnravin]

I wouldn't mind spending more points to stay in a preferred location
I wouldn't mind spending fewer points to stay in a standard location

The designation of these would be up to DVC based on the number of requests for each that they get.
I would never presume to impose my own preferences or dislikes on others or suggest that since I don't mind a distance of xyz, others are wrong for minding it.
Some locations away from the main pool/carriage house area have q quiet pool and other amenities. However there are areas that are far-removed from any amenities. If I am booking my stay at exactly 11-months out, I would like to ability to choose not to stay in an area that is amenity-free. Whether it costs more points or not to do so is irrelevant to me - I will pony up whatever it costs for whatever I value. I wouldn't mind keeping the points the same and having the choice to book a preferred location vs. an amenity-free location.
If it doesn't matter where you stay, fine. Make your reservation whenever you want and stay wherever they put you. No harm, no foul. What does it matter to you? If I am not satisfied with "going with the flow" and choose to book at 11-months out to get the location I desire- whether it costs more points or not. No harm, no foul. What does it matter to you?

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

important to me to be close to the CS/TS/lobby--especially when my Mom--who is disabled--is traveling with me. I would like to know before I leave that I will be in Springs/GS/CP rather in one of the outlying buildings.

Because of this--I would support booking categories.

Can't you request special rooms for disabled access, etc? I guess I am confused because wouldn't booking categories create the problem of those not booking at the 11 month window to have to change rooms mid-trip? That would really annoy me! We have never run into this issue because if we are originally assigned a room far away from things at any resort, we ask the cast member (nicely) if there is anything closer. Usually they say these rooms aren't ready yet but they could put us in them only if the our entire stay would allow this placement. We have booked at 11 month window and 3 month windows- no issues either way. Also, dd is 8 and if they can walk around the parks, they can walk around a resort to the pool, especially if they want to swim bad enough! There are resort shuttles for those that don't want to walk...

 

[toocherie]

Can't you request special rooms for disabled access, etc? I guess I am confused because wouldn't booking categories create the problem of those not booking at the 11 month window to have to change rooms mid-trip? That would really annoy me! We have never run into this issue because if we are originally assigned a room far away from things at any resort, we ask the cast member (nicely) if there is anything closer. Usually they say these rooms aren't ready yet but they could put us in them only if the our entire stay would allow this placement. We have booked at 11 month window and 3 month windows- no issues either way. Also, dd is 8 and if they can walk around the parks, they can walk around a resort to the pool, especially if they want to swim bad enough! There are resort shuttles for those that don't want to walk...

Actually, my understanding is that there are handicapped rooms in each part of SSR--i.e. Carousel, Paddocks, GS, Springs and CP. Getting on and off a shuttle to go to breakfast on an ECV is not something I want to have to do (or have Mom do) to get breakfast from the counterservice place in the morning--hence wanting to be closer to Carriage House.

I agree with the PP--if it really doesn't matter to someone who books late where they are then why not implement booking categories? It doesn't mean you are denied accommodations--just that those who are the "early birds" get their choice of where they want to stay.

 

[dwelty]

I understand what you are saying about the first come, first served (I am assuming you are talking about making a reservation at 11 months out, not getting there at 6 a.m.)
If there were booking categories with no change in points, who would pay the same for the Carousel section as the Springs? Grandstand? It seems that that may be a similar classification to Preferred View or Standard View?

I am curious as to how this would work. We own a small contract and stay at SSR about once every 2 years. Thanks in advance for your insight!

This process is already in place at OKW. To answer your question, people who reserve closer to their check in date, and people who don't care about location would book rooms in the standard category. I think the general consensus here is that only about 30% of the resort would fall into the Preferred category. The rest of the resort would be standard (not just Caousel, but the largest section (Paddocks, and a good section of Grandstand). Of course, it would be up to Disney to ultimately decide what buildings fell into which categories. Hope this helps.

 

[Sammie]

I know for sure that the Treehouses as of today will be a booking category, just as a Grand Villa is. Not sure what the point structure is.

As to the rest of the resort, like CarolA, I hope they don't change it but my feel for it based on what they did not say is, they are going to.

And I really fell when they change it, the points will reflect the change. Preferred locations will require a higher point usage than less desired such as Carousel.

This could all change at anytime, as Disney does have a habit of doing that.

it will definitely affect availibility there is no way it cant, if you wish to book a 2 bedroom unit for 7 nights and you can't get all 7 nights say in Congress Park you are going to have to move to get the other 2 nights. Without categories you stand a very good chance of getting all 7 nights in one location by simply booking a two bedroom, location anywhere.

So unless people are willing to move during their stay, Disney may very well end up with more inventory being not booked by members, and maybe that is what they want anyway.

Be careful what you ask for until you examine all the ramifications of doing so.

 

[toocherie]

change at anytime, as Disney does have a habit of doing that.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!!!