Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I can always call up and ask. I will be heading down to WDW in January. Might wait till then to check out SS.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Thanks again guys for all the help. If you need help persuading anyone about DVC, send them my way.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I think a studio would be perfect for my needs. I am thinking of purchasing enough "points" to get a maximum of two weeks a year ( I always go to WDW in January and ocassionally in October each year ). I like the layout of the units at SS. I'm not so sure about the location ( I don't really see the location as a minus since my favorite resort is POR and SS is just nearby ). BUT... here are my concerns. To me a stike against SS is that the doors to the units are outside. Since I ALWAYS vacation in January at WDW no matter what, I find the outside doors a drawback. Last January it was so cold and awful having to walk the long walk from my room to the food court OUTSIDE both in the morning and at 1-2 AM. I am also not so sure about how comfortable I would be having with SS since its so spread out. Certainly I would really like to have my "home resort" at the DVC where I would really really like to stay. I understand that ALL DVC properties are potentially available to me. Here is my question. Should I be looking to buy "points" elsewhere at another DVC, go ahead and buy into SS or wait till they build ( or presale ) the Contemp DVC? Or am I just being too overly concerned about this? I figure that there are now over 100,000 DVCers out there so now we are going to begin to see many of the DVC units booked well well in advance. I also think that since SS will upon completion have 900 rooms. Units there will always be available. So why have that as a "home resort"? Personally I would much rather stay at SS than the Contemp DVC. Its just this outdoor unit entry thing that bothering me.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I wouldn't worry about the outdoor entry. You face the same situation of having to walk outside to get to a restaurant at every other DVC resort I've stayed at. At Old Key West it can be a VERY long walk to the restaurant. In fact from many parts of the resort I wouldn't even attempt to walk there -- I'd drive or take a bus. At the Boardwalk all of the restaurants are down on the boardwalk, so you are walking outside there too. If you get a moderate breeze from the lake on a chilly winter day it can be darned cold there! The Villas at Wilderness Lodge probably have the shortest walk. You have to walk outside from the Villas building to the main WL building, but the two are only about 100 feet apart. Maybe it would make the walk seem better if you thought about how at that very moment RoadTrip was freezing his butt off in Minnesota. ;-)
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Oh come on RoadTrip even I have been in cold weather. The coldest I have ever been in is 35F bellow. And I was out snowmobiling in that weather. Depending on where you are you really don't feel it. I appreciate the responce. I thought about it too and thought that you have to walk outside at the other DVCs to get to the restaurants. I just wasn't sure about Boardwalk or Yacht Club. I'm leaning more toward SS anyway.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Now I just need to decide to "take the plung now" or hold off till my trip in January and check out SS at that time. I really need to at least book my room for the Janaury trip this year.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Darn you Tom, I am considering buying DVC on our next trip too. And you have really been making me think about these options moving forward.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm sorry Dave. I just have so many questions to ask. I was hoping to see you when you are on vacation in Oct/ Nov. I might sneak over to SS and check it out then <grin>. I'll drive if you need a ride over!
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden We recently purchased SSR and stayed for a week in a 1 BR in May and loved it. We stayed in the Springs section. The pool was fantastic, the kids had a blast there. The slide was a lot of fun and the zero entry was perfect for our youngest who was 10 months at the time. The outdoor hallways never bothered me. Granted it was in May and not Jan, but even then I don't think I'd mind. I do like the fact that you can park your car right outside. I also didn't mind the location. We tour all the parks, hit several other resorts for dinner thoughout our vacation, so for us it doesn't matter what part of the resort we're in, you're always out of the way from something. Growing up my family stayed in the villas and treehouses several times, and even back then it didn't seem to be an issue. Though I'd be all for bringing back the golf carts. One day in the middle of our vacation, we spent the day at Typhoon Lagoon and made our way back to get ready for dinner. Unfortunately, I had the wrong time for dinner written down, so we debated on whether we should rush to get 5 people showered, dressed and over to Epcot within an hour and a half. We had been going non-stop since we got on the road in NJ, so we took my gaffe as an opportunity to take a break and relax somewhat. We took the boat over to DTD, had a bite to eat at the Earl, did some shopping for the kids, and then went back to SSR to go swimming. It turned out to be a perfect evening. I can remember being in the pool thinking to myself this whole DVC SSR thing was the right decision. I couldn't have been happier. Just then my wife swam up to me and said, "if Disney changed the rules and we could only stay at SSR, I'd be content." Even now, we're planning for our next trip and we've discussed if we're going to book a different DVC resort, yet we always end up leaning towards SSR.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Thanks Fe.... I appreciate the imput. Glad to hear your family had an incredible vacation! I also am leaning toward SSR. I really like the idea of the boat. I know it would really hurt having to give up the boat between POR and DTD. Normally I can careless about DTD and what it has to offer. BUT, my last trip back in Janaury my party capped off a couple evenings there shopping after all the parks had closed. I do believe that DTD is a perfect way to cap off a Disney day! And hey what beats Ghirodelli hot fudge sundae for breakfast? I really like the interior looks of SSR. Having never been there I am extremely pleased to hear about convient parking. I am already considering staying at the WL this Janaury ( unless I buy a DVC between now and January ). Some members of my party are dreading the walk between the parking lot and the Lodge ( we will be driving down this year and staying for a week ). OK, my mind is made up..... ITS SSR FOR ME!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Hummm I am thinking of getting a resale. What are the resale websites again? I know that they were posted here in the past. But not in this thread. You you guys recommend buying resale points? I'm not sure what the going rate is right now for buying point through Disney.
Originally Posted By fireonein I am pleased to say that we used our DVC points to do the Disney Cruise in 2003 with our son, daughter and her husband. We have already book another Disney Cruise using our DVC points for next year with our two grandchildren. Went very smooth and we are looking forward to the Cruise.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Hummm I am thinking of getting a resale. What are the resale websites again?>> <a href="http://www.dvcbyresale.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dvcbyresale.com/</a> <<You you guys recommend buying resale points?>> I'm neither for nor against it. I think in the right situation it is a good option. With resale points the price per point is lower. On the other hand, closing costs are higher and if you need to finance a portion of your purchase the interest rates would be higher. Disney subsidizes both closing costs and interest rates. You can always take out an equity line on your home to finance the purchase -- I'm just against that in principal for anything that does not add value to your home. If I were to purchase today I would probably buy Saratoga Springs points through Disney. But other options may work better for you.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Funny RoadTrip I was thinking the same responce. I will definately pay cash for the purchase. I more than likely will buy into Saratoga Springs. When I visit WDW in Janaury I plan on checking out some of the DVCs.
