Saratoga Bottom of The Barrell......

[PoohsGang]

Wow, so many things to comment on and correct, where to begin?

Well, this is going to be random but...
1: You've heard from plenty of people (myself included) who told you that they did not share your awful experiences at the resort. So for you to say "Just my thought as I'm still puzzled as to how such a young resort can be so beat up" without a hint of your opinion being biased (as are all our opinions) makes your opinion sound more like incessant than thoughtful criticism. I stated there last December. Room was fine, pool was fine, restaurants were fine albiet food court was often crowded.

2: Anyone who buys a timeshare in anticipation of reselling it for profit is foolish. The high resales for BCV, VWL and BWV are exceptions, not the rule.

3: You can reasonably argue that, because SSR doesn't have the location appeal many other DVC resorts have, people become disenchanted and decide to resell, especially if they can never get into any of the other resorts in the 7 month window. But that's not everybody. SSR is the biggest resort. I think it's got twice as many rooms than most of the other DVC resorts. That's another reason why there are so many more rooms for resale, and why the prices are lower. And because it's a newer resort, more people bought recently. And a lot of people financed. Now, let's see...what's been going on recently that might make people want to cut losses on a timeshare investment? Oh, yeah, the freakin' economy imploding. Unofficial employment rates greater than 10 percent. 401(k) accounts disappearing. Retirement plans destroyed. Lives ruined. While I'm sure not every SSR resale fits this sad category, it'd be asinine to think some SSR resellers aren't hurting in this economy, and need to take what they can. Whereas many people who bought earlier models, for less money, are already paid off, so it's not as much of a burden on their budgets. Ironically, there's a thread now about how resale fees in those resorts have gone down recently.

4: Although maintenance fees invariably go up, room renovations are always anticipated in the fees generated, so the odds of fees jumping dramatically are slim unless something unforeseen happens, the sort of thing that requires extensive un-planned-for renovations/restorations that insurance for some reason doesn't cover.

So, your "interesting" note? Not so interesting. Yeah, we get it, your experience sucked. You don't seem to get that most people here haven't had your sucky experience. By all means, I hope you get more satisfaction that you've currently received and you should feel within your rights to continue complaining. TO DISNEY. Because now, here, you're beating a dead horse. No one can stop you from sounding petty, but we can point it out. Either be willing to take it up with Disney or let it go.

I did forget to thank you for correcting my posts, Slappy, next time I'll address all my concerns/post to YOU SO YOU CAN CORRECT THEM. Then when they meet your strict guidelines and corrections I will post them as you like them to read........Thanks again.

 

[materbuddy]

I really can't believe this. We have been DVC members since 2004. Our home resort is SSR. We have stayed in other DVC reprts, AKL, OKW, BWV. We think SSR is the best by far. We have never had a problem with any of our rooms at SSR. We go at least 10 times a year. My in-laws just got back from there and they stayed in Congress Park and they had no problems. We always stayed in Poly, GF or Contemp before becoming DVC memebers. Even in the original resorts they were never as run down or dirty like you are stating. Disney just wouldn't allow it. I would really love to see the pictures that you have.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Look another person who found a problem with Congress Park area, Im wondering if that area was one of the first opened? Maybe thats why it is so worn.

I believe the Springs section opened first followed closely by Congress Park, however CP seems to be the most requested because of the view and proximity to DD. So that may partially explain the state of your room (that doesn't excuse it). We've stayed in the Springs several times and have not noticed any severe wear and tear.

I'm sorry your room was in such horrible shape. However, I do think it a bit unfair of you to paint the entire resort as a dump. I would guess that if you stayed in the Grandstand section (the most recent to open) your experience would have been very different. I was shocked to read that you were upgraded to a 1 BR as this is almost unheard of for people staying on points at any DVC resort. I look forward to hearing your report on Disney's response.

 

[slappy magoo]

I did forget to thank you for correcting my posts, Slappy, next time I'll address all my concerns/post to YOU SO YOU CAN CORRECT THEM. Then when they meet your strict guidelines and corrections I will post them as you like them to read........Thanks again.

Wait, I'm confused. In a prior post; you ask me NOT to post in your thread anymore, now you're specfically telling me that in the future your posts will be written specifically for mt feedback. Either my opinion has value or it doesn't; make up your mind.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were being sarcastic.

Again, sorry you had a bad experience, as I'm always sorry when peopl have bad WDW experiences. But the stretch you're making - implying that SSR's low resale value MUST be because some rooms are getting shabby - was incomplete at best. You have a valid complaint, but the search to find more wrong than there is makes you sound like the spurned lover who everyone felt sorry for originally, but because she is now looking for more faults o make her ex look even worse, she comes across as trite and bitter: "You know, he never did hang out with my friends, and he never knew my sweater size, and he always took me to the same bars & that one time he decided to go camping with his friends on our 7 month anniversary..." Focus on what was (and still may be) wrong, instead of bolstering a defense that doesn't need bolstering

I've yet to say Saratoga is a perfect experience, only that I, and others, haven't shared YOUR awful experience. I have, in other threads, talked about what DVC could do to make SSR more Disney-magic-like. Taking my criticism aboutyour silly conspiracy theory and turning it into not one but two "well ec-cuuuuuuuuse MEEEEEEEEE!" posts does little to bolster your argument that the stay was lackluster.

 

[Emerald Rose]

Sorry to hear about your experience but we have stayed at SSR many many times (in Congress Park besides others) and have always found it to be immaculate and we have always loved our vacations there.

 

[DVC Mike]

Maybe it is Congress Park. We stayed in the 1100 building when we were there last month, and yes it was really showing its age.

I just checked into SSR this morning and got a room in the 1100 building of Congress Park. Outside of the carpet looking a bit worn, everything else is in great shape, and we are pleased with the condition of the room.

 

[slappy magoo]

I remember this one time...at band camp...Saratoga Springs Resort took a flute and... :zipit:

 

[tjkraz]

Honestly if it was my home resort I would have alot of questions as to what my dues are going toward as it is certainly not maintainence.

Naah, I'm just glad they save those rooms for the non-owners. :fork:

On an interesting note, I have been viewing all the DVC Resale sites and noticed that Saratoga Points sell from $72 to $78 per point, whereas BCV, BoardWalk AKV all are between 92 to 98 per point, also seems to be alot of Saratoga Inventory on the resale Market.

You must have missed all of those BWV and BCV contracts listed for $80-82 per point.

As for AKV, the primary reason their prices are so high is that folks who are forced to sell after less than 2 years of ownership (AKV began selling in 2007) can't afford to sell for less due to the balance on their loans.

The rest is simply supply and demand. There are many more points available at SSR than other resorts (about 4x as many as BCV) and I would grant that it's not at the top of some folks' list of preferred destinations.

One thing I'll guarantee is that SSR is worth more than BCV or BWV come 2030 or 2040. :dazzle:

Just my thought as I'm still puzzled as to how such a young resort can be so beat up. All I can conclude is that they didn't start with the best materials form the get go, Carpets, Sleep Sofa's etc, otherwise why would they be so worn?

Because the rooms are in use 52 weeks per year and many buildings have been open for 4-5 years now. No matter what materials are used, rooms are not going to stay in like-new condition after being occupied by guests for nearly 2000 days.

I can only imagine in time that the dues will go up substantially at Saratoga as eventually (actually its ready for remodeling in mu opinion) they are going to have to remodel and upgrade sofas carpets etc.

ALL of the DVC resorts are undergoing constant maintenance and upgrades. I can guarantee that there are already rooms at Saratoga Springs which have had carpet replaced, a new coat of paint, pieces of furniture replaced, etc.

SSR has a 2009 maintenance budget of over $4.5 million and a reserve fund with over $30 million. Dues are unlikely to receive an unexpected bump due to maintenance needs.

The fatal flaw in your somewhat narrow-minded thinking is assuming that the TWO rooms you have viewed are representative of the other 800+ in the resort. In this thread alone you've got about a dozen people saying that your experiences do not mirror their own. But you've chosen to ignore those comments simply because they do not match your arguments.

Assuming you've been satisfied with your BCV rooms thus far, how do you know that all of the rooms at that resort are in similar condition? We had a room back in 2004 (just 2 1/2 years after the resort opened) which I thought was lacking in its condition. Does that mean the resort is Motel 6 quality?

I wonder if you'll be so quick to label BCV the "bottom of the barrel" next time you see worn carpet or damaged furniture. :zipit:

 

[brent2124]

you said you took pics of the filth. Care to share?

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The fatal flaw in your somewhat narrow-minded thinking is assuming that the TWO rooms you have viewed are representative of the other 800+ in the resort. In this thread alone you've got about a dozen people saying that your experiences do not mirror their own. But you've chosen to ignore those comments simply because they do not match your arguments.

I could be wrong, but you seem to be saying that the room couldnt have been filthy because others were happy with theirs and never had an untidy room. Odd given that you had previously stated that ware and tear is to be expected, which I would have thought seems to confirm that things can be less than 100% if not restored. :shrug:

As I say, I was less than impressed with my stay, a fact that was discussed at the time with those who I met up with over our stay. SSR just isnt as good as the other DVC resorts, and that is compounded by tiredrooms. IMHO of course.

 

[dixiegirl]

I believe the Springs section opened first followed closely by Congress Park, however CP seems to be the most requested because of the view and proximity to DD. So that may partially explain the state of your room (that doesn't excuse it). We've stayed in the Springs several times and have not noticed any severe wear and tear.

I'm sorry your room was in such horrible shape. However, I do think it a bit unfair of you to paint the entire resort as a dump. I would guess that if you stayed in the Grandstand section (the most recent to open) your experience would have been very different. I was shocked to read that you were upgraded to a 1 BR as this is almost unheard of for people staying on points at any DVC resort. I look forward to hearing your report on Disney's response.

Yes I agree with you about being upgrated for a DVC member, we stayed at WL villas in Jan , we had not one room that was lets say lived in when we entered ( after we went to front desk and Complained about first room) , but two and all they could give us was a handicapped room that was also Lived in as well. All we asked was for a clean room without towels on the floor and on luggage rack , luggage tags and luggage on the floor and a bed that was clearly laid in.....
Not asking for much , just a clean room, we even told them we'd stay in the lodge area...Needless to say after apoligizing and moving us the next day to a clean room that was all they could do for us...What can you do....?:shrug:
Will we stay there again...Probably not... it is a beautiful resort but, Give me my Home Resort.. Congress park at SSR...

 

[marksniles]

the whole place is no better than a Motel 6.

Oh I wouldn't say that. We stayed there last summer and loved it! It was super clean.

 

[slappy magoo]

Oh I wouldn't say that. We stayed there last summer and loved it! It was super clean.

Now, no, don't make it up. It's a dump. PUMBAS said so.

 

[slappy magoo]

I could be wrong, but you seem to be saying that the room couldnt have been filthy because others were happy with theirs and never had an untidy room.

You're wrong.

The poster is saying that a few rooms showing tear is not indicative of the whole resort (one should hope not) just as staying in an impeccable room does not mean all rooms are impeccable (though one would hope so). And while moving from one worn room to another room does little to assuage the "victim" that the resort in general is up to snuff, it still does not mean that all rooms are that bad, though the more one person sees that can be considered lackluster, the more weight that opinion has...

unless, of course, the critic's definition of "lackluster" doesn't match your own.

There's the old, somewhat misogynistic line "show me the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the world, & I'll show you a guy who's tired of hitting that." Most of us may be looking at SSR through rose-colored glasses, but maybe the Negative Nancys are being unfairly harsh in their assessment, too. Just saying.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

You're wrong.

.

Now thats just not possible.

Why is stating what you experienced being negative? Now some of the comments Ive read about buses at FW and the like are truly worthy of a best dramatic performance award, and I wouldnt say that many of the comments about themeing inconsistencies warrant thread space, but DVC accommodation should always be of a high standard, after all they get their maintenance money up front for the year.

As an aside, the night before I flew to Orlando, I stayed in the Hilton, there were a couple of issues in the room, someone was there in minutes to get things sorted. I it too much to expect to get things fixed over a day or two, or is that not what Disney is about?

 

[slappy magoo]

Now thats just not possible.

Why is stating what you experienced being negative? Now some of the comments Ive read about buses at FW and the like are truly worthy of a best dramatic performance award, and I wouldnt say that many of the comments about themeing inconsistencies warrant thread space, but DVC accommodation should always be of a high standard, after all they get their maintenance money up front for the year.

As an aside, the night before I flew to Orlando, I stayed in the Hilton, there were a couple of issues in the room, someone was there in minutes to get things sorted. I it too much to expect to get things fixed over a day or two, or is that not what Disney is about?

If you want to pick nits, fine they're not "negative comments." They're comments about negative experiences. If that parsing soothes the fire in your belly, so be it. Of course, then the comments needs to be base strictly on the experience and not on your emotional state. "The carpets were worn and the room was dirty" is a comment on a negative experience. "SSR is lackluster, no better than a Motel 6" is a negative comment. OK, all the nits are officially picked.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

A fine toothed comb would be more efficient for such problems, or so the moms panel tells me.

 

[slappy magoo]

Ah, you're just angry that Fish can't escape a horde of superstitious villagers without the help of The "New" Zorro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Fuo34UNDw&feature=PlayList&p=DBEDDF9A1A968720&index=137

 

[PoohsGang]

Been away from the post for a while doing the work thing today. I'm done Slappy won his comments, attitude nit picking, rose colored glasses, are just too much. (Put a fork in me I'm done) Posters like him really do ruin these forums. I posted a story of what happen to family and friends apparently that has ed old Slappy as well as others off. Its my opinion as to how I feel about Saratoga, it's not fact it's my opinion. The facts were the condition of the rooms I had which I'm addressing with member services. I'm sorry I shared them with the board. Member Services called again today for more info from us ( basically another manager called) but I'm not going to bother posting as old Slappy will undoubtedly tear it apart (just look at the track record on this thread alone) he will disect it, twist it and some how ruin it for all. As you can see I wasnt around to nit pick or disect today, so good old Slappy found someone else. In a nutshell I'm tired of him and I am very sorry that I posted in this forum. Sorry folks if you want to find out what happened (or where I am at now with Member Services PM me)

Ok Slappy, do what your good at tear this response apart...........although I did concede to you Slappy.......you won........ Even as Im writing this your still continuing your crap (my inbox is full of Slap Crap) I havnt even been able to finish this and Im getting crap from you at least I'm back so you won't be bored, unfortunately I'm gone now but you'll find someone else Slappy you always do..... I'm sorry I posted. Are you Happy Slappy?

 

[slappy magoo]

Wow? Upon which mount do they crucify you? Can you see your house from there? First of all, nobody's ed off at you that you posted about a negative experience at Saratoga Spring (if people had nothing to complain about, the forum would be a fairly boring place). People DISAGREED with you, or rather, their experiences at SSR didn't jibe with yours. They were curious to see the level of disrepair of the rooms you described (you did say you took pictures, so, can't blame people for their curiosity, especially if you're the one telling the story. Don't like the comments, don't tell the story). But nobody was ed at you griping over your less-than-satisfactory room.

What I, and I alone, took umbrage with was the uneducated strawman argument that SSR's resale values are ower than other resorts because a few rooms aren't up to par. Hell, if that were the case, every DVC resort would be bankrupt. But because YOUR panties are still in a bunch over your bad rooms, you went all conspiracy theory, looking for connections that aren't there, insinuating that something more ominous is going on than there is, and I called you out on it. Sorry, but I don't get all second thought-y when people make snotty posts then get genuinely surprised when people respond in kind: "I CAN SAY WHATEVER I WANT! NOTICE ME! BOOGA BOOGA! I MUST BE APPEASED! EMPATHY MUST BE THE HANKY TO WHICH I DROWN MY BITTER TEARS!"

"Eh, knock it off, you're embarrassing yourself."

"How...DARE you?! It's people like you that ruin these boards! Good day! I SAID GOOD DAY!"

And yet, somehow, the world keeps spinning. Strange, that...


The way I see it, you saw people not agreeing with you over Saratoga's quality as somehow attacking you for your post, which it wasn't, but apparently, you're a native of Martyrville, it's hard for those folks to tell the difference.

Watch this: HEY! Dixiegirl! I disagree with you about the room quality at VWL! I stayed there for a week, and after an awkward arrival when the keys did not work because the person who checked us in was new and screwed our keys up, we had an awesome time! Our room was clean and the carpet wasn't worn! So there!

We'll check in later and see if dixiegirl gets the vapors because someone disagreed with her. Somehow, I doubt it.

Of course, she also didn't bother inventing elaborate conspiracy theories as to why and how VWL is going into the crapper (I'm envisioning something like "They probably built it close to MK because they had no intention of keeping it up; prime real estate, they can get away with shoddy roomkeeping") like you did with SSR.

Truth be told, *I* wasn't that ed either, though your increasingly erratic posts were a source of amusement. But when people, in their anger or frustration say dumb things, it's often good to nip it in the bud, lest they get all obsessive, like my aforementioned jilted lover analogy. And before you start to complain that you're not really an obsessive: How many times did you opt to use my name in replying to my comments?

You're welcome.

You have every right to be unhappy over a bad experience (as...I believe...I've mentioned...once or twice...which doesn't seem like a ed-off thing to say). But if you're going to make up crazy ____*t just to stir the pot, don't be surprised if someone says "hey, that's crazy talk."