Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR)

[dcfromva]

I was wondering how much interest the new DVC resort (SSR) is generating?

The price per point is a little higher $89.00 (without any incentives applied), but the contract is for 50 years!

Here are some of the advantages of owning at SSR:

1. Currently, you can get a $10.00 per point discount, bringing the price per point down to $79.00 per point and you till keep all your points (you give up the Developer Incentive points, however). With a 50 year contract (disregarding the maint. fees for a moment), the per point per year cost would be $1.58!! That is significantly lower than just about any other options available (including most resales). To put this in perspective, in order to achieve a $1.58 per point per year cost for the DVC properties which only have 39 years left on them, the points would have to be sold at $61.62 per point (including all costs associated with the sale)!

2. SSR is "within putting distance" of Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

3. SSR is co-located with a spa.

4. Artist renderings of the pool area looks fantastic!

5. Boat launch away from Downtown Disney. (I was wondering if it might be walking distance, too?)

6. Nightly fireworks from Pleasure Island, I believe. In the flyer, it says, "Enjoy nightly fireworks formthe Resort's fireworks plaza."

7. The 2BR dedicated rooms (the type that we would probably want to book) all have a 2 Queen bed configuration--DS could bring a friend along and neither boy would have to sleep on a pull out sofa.

8. SSR looks like a great place to be based for New Years Eve parties (and going over to the Downtown Disney area).

9. I have heard that the first UY you can buy is Dec 2003. I believe you could actually get 51 years on your contract if you had a Dec 03 UY. In May, when the resort opens, you would get your Dec 03 points. I have not verified this with my guide, yet, but wouldn't that be cool? :bounce: :bounce:

10. Anything else?


-DC :ears:

[Cinderella]

DC what are developer points?

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by Cinderella
DC what are developer points?

Before SSR opens, they are offering a certain number of developer points (DP) per number of DVC points you buy as an incentive. They are not however, 1 for 1. (example: with 150-210, you get 100 DP, 211-261, you get 160 DPs, et'c) These points would have to be used by April 30 2004 (I think) . This is so folks could still book a vacation (other than SSR) before SSR opens May, 2004 using all of the regular DVC point options.

The other incentive (prior to SSR's opening data) is a $10 per point discount. With both incentives, you get to keep your first year's points.

I was trying to figure out the value of the DPs: I was thinking about a contract with 165 points. If I opted for the DP option, I would not get the $10per point discount and would have to pay the full $89. per point price. I would get 100 ponts instead. In my case, this would put the value of these DP points at around $6.06 per point. In addition, I would have to use them up right away! I can't really see any benefit to taking these DPs in lieu of taking the $10 per point discount....


-DC :ears:

[2JsMom]

DC - We are in the *VERY* early stages of considering DVC, and I actually just spoke with a guide briefly yesterday about SSR. He didn't mention maintenance fees - what do those usually run?
Thanks,
Barb

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by 2J'sMom
DC - We are in the *VERY* early stages of considering DVC, and I actually just spoke with a guide briefly yesterday about SSR. He didn't mention maintenance fees - what do those usually run?
Thanks,
Barb
Barb,
The maint. fees are a very big consideration! I am looking for my source document (can't find it right now)--I think it is $3.80to start with per point. This can increase each year. There is a limitation as to how much it can increase in any one year (It is is no more than 10% or was it 15%?)... Historically, the maint fees for the other properties have increased (I don't have the % increase, but it has not be anywhere near the maximun allowed).

The maint. fees are the overwhelming percentage of your costs of ownership. I think about it this way. I calculate how much my points are going to cost me up front and then figure out how much for 1 year: $79 divided by 50 years to get the cost per year per point = $1.58 Add the Maint. fees $3.80 per point. = $5.38 per centage wise, the maint. costs are 70.63% of your cost of ownership..
Each year, as the maint. fees go up (assuming they go up :)) , your maint fees will represent an even greater percentage of your costs. Here is a hypothetical case: Let's assume your maint. fees per point go up to an even $4.00 per point next year. Your per point per year cost always stays the same: $1.58. Your total per point cost would be $5.58. Your maint fees would represent 71.68% of your costs.
As the years go by, let's say one day in the future the maint. fees are $5.00 per point. Total cost= 6.58 and this maint fees would be 75.98% of your cost.... and so on..


-DC :ears:

[2JsMom]

Thanks for the info, DC. I'm afraid to tell DH, now! That might be a deal breaker for him :confused:

[MY KIDS MOM X3]

We are also looknig at DVC and want to check out SSR. I really like to 50 year contract. For only $5 more apoint is seems like a gret deal. How long is the Developer's points option available?

[uscwest]

I can't even get Donna remotely interested in this but my calculator says that this means that it would cost us $13,350 for a minimum 150 point purchase and then at least $570/year for maintenance fees. What would 150 points get me vacation wise?

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by MY KIDS MOM X3
We are also looknig at DVC and want to check out SSR. I really like to 50 year contract. For only $5 more apoint is seems like a gret deal. How long is the Developer's points option available?

Paula,
These latest incentives expire the day that SSR opens on May 1, 2004.


-DC :ears:

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by uscwest
I can't even get Donna remotely interested in this but my calculator says that this means that it would cost us $13,350 for a minimum 150 point purchase and then at least $570/year for maintenance fees. What would 150 points get me vacation wise?

John,
150 points: There are different point values for different times of the year (and different room types). In Jan, Sept or Dec 1-14, you could get 12 nights in a row (assuming just 1 weekend) in a studio. (Sun-Thurs nights are 11 points a night and Fr/SAt are 20 points a night). There are 5 seasons all together--the highest season is Spring Break and Christmas Break Sun-Thurs are 17 points per night and Fri/Sat are 39 points per night in a studio.
The Fri/Sat nights usually at least double the cost of S-Th, so if you primarily stay over Fri/Sat--you would use the points up really fast!

http://psc.disney.go.com/dvc/images/resorts/floorplans/dssr/SSR-FLOORPLANS-studio.gif
link to DVC web site (http://dvc.disney.go.com/disneyvacationclub/home)
SSR studio layout. Image Source: DVC website
Studio Accommodates four adults
One queen-size bed and one full-size sofa
One bathroom
Kitchenette with wet bar, mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker
Complimentary nearby laundry facilities
Porch or balcony
-DC :ears:

[dcfromva]

Here's the 1 BR:
http://psc.disney.go.com/dvc/images/resorts/floorplans/dssr/SSR-FLOORPLANS-1br.gif
Image Source: DVC website

2BR:
http://psc.disney.go.com/dvc/images/resorts/floorplans/dssr/SSR-FLOORPLANS-2br.gif
Image Source: DVC website

One-Bedroom & Two-Bedroom Villas One-Bedroom Villas have a master suite, living room, kitchen, and private porch or balcony. Accommodates four adults.
Two-Bedroom Villas provide an additional bedroom with a private bath and two queen-size beds. Accommodates eight adults.

Both feature:
Master suite with a king-size bed and private bath with a whirlpool tub
Fully equipped kitchen
Washer and dryer in vacation home
Color cable television with DVD player in living room, and color television in each bedroom
Queen-size sleeper sofa in living room
Private porch or balcony (



Grand villa 1st floor:
http://psc.disney.go.com/dvc/images/resorts/floorplans/dssr/SSR-FLOORPLANS-gv1.gif
Image Source: DVC website

Grand villa 2nd floor
http://psc.disney.go.com/dvc/images/resorts/floorplans/dssr/SSR-FLOORPLANS-gv2.gif
Image Source: DVC website
Three-Bedroom Grand Villas Accommodates 12 adults on two levels
Master suite with king-size bed and private bath with a whirlpool tub
Fully equipped kitchen
Washer and dryer in vacation home
Television with a DVD player in living room
Queen-size sofa in living room
Private porch or balcony
Second bedroom with two queen-size beds, additional bedroom with two double-size beds
Ceiling fans, private bath, and color television in each bedroom

-DC
:ears:

[dcfromva]

SSR 2004 Vacation Points per night:

Adventure Season (Jan 1-31,Sep 1-30, Dec 1-14)

Studio S-Th 11pts
Studio Fri/Sat 20pts

1BR S-Th 20pts
1BR Fri/Sat 41pts

2BR S-Th 27 pts
2BR Fri/Sat 54pts

GV S-Th 67pts
GV Fri/Sat 85pts

Choice Season (Oct 1-31,Nov 1-23,27-30, Dec 15-23)

Studio S-Th 11pts
Studio Fri/Sat 21pts

1BR S-Th 22pts
1BR Fri/Sat 42pts

2BR S-Th 29 pts
2BR Fri/Sat 55pts

GV S-Th 71pts
GV Fri/Sat 86pts

Dream Season (Feb 1-15,May 1-31, Jun1-10, Aug 16-31)

Studio S-Th 12pts
Studio Fri/Sat 26pts

1BR S-Th 25pts
1BR Fri/Sat 50pts

2BR S-Th 31pts
2BR Fri/Sat 65pts

GV S-Th 79pts
GV Fri/Sat 106pts

Magic Season (Feb 16-29,Mar 1-31, Apr1-3,18-30, Jun11-30, Jul1-31, Aug 1-15, Nov 24-26)

Studio S-Th 13pts
Studio Fri/Sat 29pts

1BR S-Th 27pts
1BR Fri/Sat 54pts

2BR S-Th 36pts
2BR Fri/Sat 68pts

GV S-Th 97pts
GV Fri/Sat 117pts

Premier Season (Apr 4-17, Dec 24-31)

Studio S-Th 17pts
Studio Fri/Sat 39pts

1BR S-Th 36pts
1BR Fri/Sat 68pts

2BR S-Th 45pts
2BR Fri/Sat 95pts

GV S-Th 117pts
GV Fri/Sat 142pts

-DC :ears:

[Cinderella]

I talked to a guide yesterday and he told me that the $10 per point discount is only available until October 31st. If you purchase by then you will pay $79 a point vs the $89 that SSR is selling for.

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by Cinderella
I talked to a guide yesterday and he told me that the $10 per point discount is only available until October 31st. If you purchase by then you will pay $79 a point vs the $89 that SSR is selling for.

Cinderella,
Thanks for the update! I was making an assumption about how long the offer was available--and often Disney has a disclaimer on any of these good deals about it being subject to change at any time--so the DVC guide is absolutely the best place to get this information.
Are you tempted by this offer? I don't know what DH would say if I bought more points (after just adding on at BWV)....


-DC :ears:

[Cinderella]

DC - I am tempted everytime Disney has a new DVC resort available. :D

We haven't made the jump into ownership yet. I want to but hubby isn't as quick to jump in. I did order the packet and video though. ;)

[2JsMom]

Originally posted by dcfromva

5. Boat launch away from Downtown Disney. (I was wondering if it might be walking distance, too?)
-DC :ears:

DC - I just got my package and video today and noticed on the map for SSR an arrow labeled 'Walkway to Downtown Disney'. So I'm guessing it is within walking distance.

We're getting more serious in our considerations, now. DH didn't even seem too upset about the maintenance fees. I was thinking we'd only get 150 points, but with $10 off per point, it may be worth it to get more points right off the bat. He even thought we should go and do the meeting with the DVC people when we're there in November, but then we realized that the $10 off offer expires 10/31/03 (of course we arrive 11/1/03 :rolleyes: )

Anyway, we're thinking about financing options - it looks like the interest rates DVC offers are very high, compared to what you could get on a home equity, am I correct?

One other question I just thought of, how do you pay the maintenance fees, annually, monthly...?

Barb

[MY KIDS MOM X3]

Barb, you could def do better than Disney's financing with a home equity, if you that's an option for you. Equity lines are generally running close to WSJP rate which is 4%. Plus you have the advantage of writing off the interest. I know maintence fees can be paid monthly or annually.