3 Bed GVs

[Mkaiser1]

Hi all,

Decision week is this week I think for us.

I have a query about 3 bed GVs though - do these all tend to book up for home resorts at the 11month window as a general rule, is there nearly always a 3 bed GV available regardless of when you book, or does it vary massively per resort?

 

[scbruno]

You can find them. OKW has the largest Villa and I'm pretty sure the least amount of points are needed so they tend to book quickly.

 

[Marionnette]

BCV, BRV and PVB do not have GVs.

Of the remaining resorts, CCV has only 4, VGF and AKV- Jambo have 6, BWV has 7. Those will be the most difficult to book at 7 months just by virtue of their limited numbers.

OKW has 27 GVs but only 2 are near HH. Those 2 are hard to book if you don't own there. At 7 months, the other 25 book up quickly due to their generous points chart.

SSR has 36 GVs and will be the easiest to book inside the 7-month window.

RIV has 12 but the number of points needed should make it easier to get at 7 months. It's hard to tell right now because the resort has not sold out and only 6 have been declared into inventory as of Jan 21, 2021.

The remaining resorts have mixed availability at 7 months. High-demand periods tend to book up more quickly or have limited availability. And 2020-2022 really won't give an accurate picture. A lot of members with "use it or lose it" points are leveling up to larger accommodations.

Best advice is to purchase where you don't mind staying.

 

[RoseGold]

I did a lot of availability checking at that paid app for a long time before I bought my SSR SAP, because I planned to use them for a GV.

OKW seems to always be booked, because of the point value. And some times of year are difficult, like the peak times you would expect. I tend to travel off-peak, so there always plenty of choices when I was needing to use my points.

Right now, with all these extra points floating around from Covid, everything but OKW is available at 7 months. Go back to 5-6 months to July/August, and it's spotty, but you could make anything work. VGF, OKW, and BLT Lake View are the most booked, but even they have enough gaps that you could book somewhere in there.

My goal was BLT Theme Park view, with AKL backup, and I haven't seen a time period I would travel when that wouldn't work. The AKL GVs look just stunning, so I would be OK with that backup, and it seems to always be wide open. But I travel off peak, and BLT Theme Park is admittedly a real point hog. I also was looking pre-RIV and bought resale, so didn't even consider RIV.

 

[Mkaiser1]

When I look at availability, it appears to me that for most of the year OKW grand villas are the only ones where you need to have it as a home resort to nab them (because of their low point cost). Most of the other resorts have GV's available at the 7 month mark...

A lot more availability than studios, from what I've observed.

This is great information. Thank you!
We'd be coming for at least 10 days. Generally in October. Do you think that would change anything?

 

[Marionnette]

This is great information. Thank you!
We'd be coming for at least 10 days. Generally in October. Do you think that would change anything?

October occurs during Fall Frenzy. Don’t expect BWV due to its proximity to Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. BLT theme park view and VGF probably won’t be available due to the Halloween party.

TBH, I would not expect to get 9 consecutive nights in a GV at any of the smaller resorts at 7 months for an October stay. You might be able to piece together 2-3 nights at different resorts but you’re more than likely to end up at SSR if you want one resort for your entire stay. Maybe AKV-Kidani.

 

[RoseGold]

We'd be coming for at least 10 days. Generally in October.

October is peak DVC, because of the charts (which could change), and 2020 left people with a lot of spare points burning a hole in their pockets. Right now, October is at 8 months and not a chance at OKW, VGF, or BW, Still, AKL/CC/BLT Theme Park pretty open. You'd be able to at least make a split stay, which I like to do anyway.

If you're going to buy this many points and want a GV, BLT might be a good choice for you. Excellent point value, KILLER CHART, and should hold up great for resale. Then you can get the BLT lakeview at 11 months, which is a phenomenal choice and great point value. I mean, how is it 20% cheaper than a RIV GV?

Maybe switch a few nights at 7 months if you are feeling crazy.

 

[Mkaiser1]

BCV, BRV and PVB do not have GVs.

Of the remaining resorts, CCV has only 4, VGF and AKV- Jambo have 6, BWV has 7. Those will be the most difficult to book at 7 months just by virtue of their limited numbers.

OKW has 27 GVs but only 2 are near HH. Those 2 are hard to book if you don't own there. At 7 months, the other 25 book up quickly due to their generous points chart.

SSR has 36 GVs and will be the easiest to book inside the 7-month window.

RIV has 12 but the number of points needed should make it easier to get at 7 months. It's hard to tell right now because the resort has not sold out and only 6 have been declared into inventory as of Jan 21, 2021.

The remaining resorts have mixed availability at 7 months. High-demand periods tend to book up more quickly or have limited availability. And 2020-2022 really won't give an accurate picture. A lot of members with "use it or lose it" points are leveling up to larger accommodations.

Best advice is to purchase where you don't mind staying.

Thank you for this! This is really informative.

Given the desire to stay in a GV and the duration of the stay we'd need a fair few points. We're so, SO torn with where to opt for as a home resort. We can get some great resale deals and don't mind a big contract given we'd need it, but ideally I think we love Riviera! BWV is very possible (although I'm concerned that we can't ever escape from the hustle and bustle and unwind) and OKW is lovely but I think we'd only be buying it as a home resort because of the much lower cost and I much prefer the idea of a single level GV as opposed to the 2 storey ones at OKW. They are the 3 we have it down to really.

If I thought for a second we could book a GV at Riviera at the 7 month window for at least 10nights, then we'd buy into OKW in a heartbeat.

 

[Marionnette]

Thank you for this! This is really informative.

Given the desire to stay in a GV and the duration of the stay we'd need a fair few points. We're so, SO torn with where to opt for as a home resort. We can get some great resale deals and don't mind a big contract given we'd need it, but ideally I think we love Riviera! BWV is very possible (although I'm concerned that we can't ever escape from the hustle and bustle and unwind) and OKW is lovely but I think we'd only be buying it as a home resort because of the much lower cost and I much prefer the idea of a single level GV as opposed to the 2 storey ones at OKW. They are the 3 we have it down to really.

If I thought for a second we could book a GV at Riviera at the 7 month window for at least 10nights, then we'd buy into OKW in a heartbeat.

There are two 2-story GVs at BWV. Getting a single-story is by request only and not guaranteed, unless you are in the one HA GV.

 

[RoseGold]

My opinion depends on how long you plan to hold your contracts. I can argue BW/BLT/OKW and even RIV or VGF, but your exit strategy is important here.

I also think RIV resale might be a contender. I'd expect it to be following CCV and dropping hard in a few years.

 

[Mkaiser1]

I did a lot of availability checking at that paid app for a long time before I bought my SSR SAP, because I planned to use them for a GV.

OKW seems to always be booked, because of the point value. And some times of year are difficult, like the peak times you would expect. I tend to travel off-peak, so there always plenty of choices when I was needing to use my points.

Right now, with all these extra points floating around from Covid, everything but OKW is available at 7 months. Go back to 5-6 months to July/August, and it's spotty, but you could make anything work. VGF, OKW, and BLT Lake View are the most booked, but even they have enough gaps that you could book somewhere in there.

My goal was BLT Theme Park view, with AKL backup, and I haven't seen a time period I would travel when that wouldn't work. The AKL GVs look just stunning, so I would be OK with that backup, and it seems to always be wide open. But I travel off peak, and BLT Theme Park is admittedly a real point hog. I also was looking pre-RIV and bought resale, so didn't even consider RIV.

Hi RoseGold

You're always so helpful with your responses! Thank you!

Because we'd buy so many points I can get them for $165 at Riviera direct (provided I decide by the weekend). I know they're a bit cheaper at resale but obviously I'd then have the restrictions of not being able to stay elsewhere amongst other things.

AKL does look nice tbf, but it just feels too out of the way. Although it is a single story GV! Argh, should it be back on my radar?!

 

[Mkaiser1]

There are two 2-story GVs at BWV. Getting a single-story is by request only and not guaranteed, unless you are in the one HA GV.

Oh yes! Good point! I forgot that 2 are 2 storey ones!

 

[RoseGold]

AKL does look nice tbf, but it just feels too out of the way. Although it is a single story GV! Argh, should it be back on my radar?!

I wouldn't buy AKL points for this particular purpose, but its GVs seem to be pretty open most of the time. I consider that a wonderful backup for availability. I think a split stay there would be great. If you're missing a few days on one end, I think that's a great option.

 

[RoseGold]

If you're going to buy RIV, buy in 100 or 150 point increments! Then you can always downsize your DVC by selling a couple, leave it to your 11 heirs, or whatever. You don't want to be the guy trying to sell a 1,000 point RIV contract.

RIV would be difficult for me to stomach, when BLT is a superior location and chart, but I'm into math. If I were going to buy into the RIV chart, I'd do it at VGF, which is a fraction of the size and the flagship. It actually has cash rooms going for rates that make you feel sick, and almost as much contract time as RIV. That would require waiting for those 1,000 point VGF contracts to pop up, which does happen. Or, buying a mix of VGF and SSR and trying to make it work or do the split stay.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi RoseGold

You're always so helpful with your responses! Thank you!

Because we'd buy so many points I can get them for $165 at Riviera direct (provided I decide by the weekend). I know they're a bit cheaper at resale but obviously I'd then have the restrictions of not being able to stay elsewhere amongst other things.

AKL does look nice tbf, but it just feels too out of the way. Although it is a single story GV! Argh, should it be back on my radar?!

We toured the RIV GV during our stay last October. OMG! They are fabulous! I definitely want to stay there...someday.

If you decide to go with a direct purchase, you might want to break it down into 2 or 3 smaller contracts. You will still get the incentives for a large point purchase but it will be easier to shed yourself of some points later on if you need/want to downsize. Large contracts sell for lower $ per point and tend to stay on the resale market longer.

 

[gisele2]

Hope to be able to rent a grand villa at BLT in 2022 !

 

[Mkaiser1]

We’ve agreed with our DVC rep to break into a 125 point initial contract and as many after that as we like. The downside is there is a $250 document fee per contract so I’m thinking we’ll go for a few 150 point contracts.

Thank you so much for the help everyone!

 

[mamaofsix]

We’ve agreed with our DVC rep to break into a 125 point initial contract and as many after that as we like. The downside is there is a $250 document fee per contract so I’m thinking we’ll go for a few 150 point contracts.

Thank you so much for the help everyone!

Congrats! If money were no object for me when it comes to points required or annual dues, I would do the same. I understand the argument that was being made for BLT and GFV, but those are only superior if you prefer MK. Our family spends more time at Epcot and HS. BLT also feels so sterile. It's my last choice of places I'd want to stay. Riviera is gorgeous! I've heard a few people on these boards say that, after staying there, it felt even more luxurious than GFV. And - it's likely to be hard to get into after the 11 month mark in coming years.

 

[Bobby2443]

Does anyone have any experience with the Poly bungalows at the 7 month mark? We are thinking of using a bunch of points on them in Feb/March 2022 but I'm not sure how realistic that's going to be ... although sounds more realistic than using them on a VGF grand villa by the sound of things

 

[mamaofsix]

Does anyone have any experience with the Poly bungalows at the 7 month mark? We are thinking of using a bunch of points on them in Feb/March 2022 but I'm not sure how realistic that's going to be ... although sounds more realistic than using them on a VGF grand villa by the sound of things

The Poly Bungalows are wide open at 7 months for that time of year. Even 4 or 5 months out they're pretty open.