Add-on-itis planning

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

My vote is buy another FW at RIV. If you can tolerate studios, you usually won’t have any issues using your RIV points at POLY (at least I haven’t). And having a larger chunk at a resort you already love can’t be a bad thing!

 

[juliebee]

I'll also mention that the incentives for Poly are better now than they were last period if you have D23 Gold (free with Disney+) and the Disney Visa. I haven't tracked the price for RIV, so can't say if it's better or worse right now.

 

[supercarrie]

I'll also mention that the incentives for Poly are better now than they were last period if you have D23 Gold (free with Disney+) and the Disney Visa. I haven't tracked the price for RIV, so can't say if it's better or worse right now.

I have both...tempting!!

 

[Genie+]

I have both...tempting!!

Poly would pair very nicely with RIV

 

[intamin]

Poly would pair very nicely with RIV

For someone who loves Epcot but wants their contracts to last past 2042, a RIV and Poly combo is the way to go. It really makes it so easy to just skyliner or walk to TTC and then monorail to Epcot. We're planning to do RIV/Poly split stays and it's nice knowing no matter which resort we're at, Epcot is easily accessible.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm going through a divorce

Speaking as someone whose divorce was final about ten months ago: There is a lot to be said for reducing the emotional overhang of the past relationship, and doing that is worth spending some money. You might be buying a lot of serenity for that cash. As to what else you buy, that is less important.

However, I would also recommend not making any major decisions until the dust has settled. It will take time for that to happen, but it is easy to make a decision that appears to be for perfectly-logical-reason-X, but really was "I want to not feel this way right now." For example, I did not make any money decisions until after we had the signed separation agreement. That took us about a year into the process, and even that might have been a little too soon. I don't really regret any of those decisions, but I am not sure I would make them the same way if I had waited another year.

And that advice is even before this part:

I'm currently at Riviera on our second to last day of an incredible trip.

This is a TERRIBLE TIME to make long-term DVC purchasing decisions. You are on vacation, having the time of your life---during a period where "everyday life" is a lot less pleasant than it normally is---and DVC is offering you the chance to bottle that vacation magic for decades to come "at today's prices."

 

[supercarrie]

Speaking as someone whose divorce was final about ten months ago: There is a lot to be said for reducing the emotional overhang of the past relationship, and doing that is worth spending some money. You might be buying a lot of serenity for that cash. As to what else you buy, that is less important.

However, I would also recommend not making any major decisions until the dust has settled. It will take time for that to happen, but it is easy to make a decision that appears to be for perfectly-logical-reason-X, but really was "I want to not feel this way right now." For example, I did not make any money decisions until after we had the signed separation agreement. That took us about a year into the process, and even that might have been a little too soon. I don't really regret any of those decisions, but I am not sure I would make them the same way if I had waited another year.

And that advice is even before this part:

This is a TERRIBLE TIME to make long-term DVC purchasing decisions. You are on vacation, having the time of your life---during a period where "everyday life" is a lot less pleasant than it normally is---and DVC is offering you the chance to bottle that vacation magic for decades to come "at today's prices."

I think this is all excellent advice. While this has been in the works for awhile (as has also the plan to add on), there is no harm in waiting longer to see how things shake out in my new life. I am still on the fence about what add on plan to follow, so definitely not making any rash decisions this month.

Out of curiosity, what would you have changed if you had waited another year?

 

[Brian Noble]

Out of curiosity, what would you have changed if you had waited another year?

I might have put a little more into the new house instead of buying DVC.

Might.

When I closed on the house I was 10-11 years away from my preferred retirement date, with a 15 year mortgage. The plan is to keep my expenses below my income, and make extra payments on the principal as I go, Hopefully I can get as close to zero as possible by the time I retire to give myself a little more flexibility. It appears as though that will be plausable, but would have been easier with an extra chunk of capital.

On the other hand, I definitely do not regret buying DVC. It was my "congratulations on the divorce" gift to myself. And in the grand scheme of things, it is much less cringe-worthy than most.

 

[Chili327]

I'm currently at Riviera on our second to last day of an incredible trip. I've known for about six months that it is time to add on as we keep planning more trips, but was waiting until this trip to begin planning our add on strategy.

Current status:
-253 points (153 Riv direct, 100 BLT resale points)
-Mom and 9 year old son traveling regularly together for a mix of solo and together trips
-two long weekend trips a year in a studio, one longer trip (6-7 nights) in a one bedroom - this is the ultimate goal, but we can live with studios. I've been supplementing our points with cash stays for the past year, but am over doing that. We'll do an Aulani stay to replace a WDW stay once in awhile, too.
-my son is at a private school which allows excused vacation time, so travel time of year is generally Feb-April or October-Dec

We fell in love with Riviera and had a very meh experience at BLT on this trip. The BLT points were originally bought at $120 with the intention of being SAP.

Fave resorts: Riviera, Poly, and Cabins at FW and Wilderness Lodge (for my son). We are also DL locals so having additional point access to VDH would be nice. That being said, we do like to stay at all resorts and aren't loyal to those specifically, especially since Riv and Poly are point hogs. We also like Aulani.

Some ideas I'm tossing around:
-keep BLT as SAP for OG 14 resorts, add on 100 points direct at Riviera (maybe wait for a possible better sale later this year) and see if ~350 is a decent number for us.
-sell BLT, buy 150 points direct (likely at Poly or maybe Riv)
-sell BLT, buy a different resort (CCV or Aulani?) resale, and add on direct at a later time if we really need the unrestricted points as well
-sell BLT, consider holding out for Lakeshore Lodge if Cabins end up being part of the association?
-keep BLT, YOLO and add on 150 direct (I have the cash to do this, it is just slightly more than I hoped to spend in the coming year)

Note that in addition to having a rough stay at BLT, there are also some personal reasons for wanting to dump it. (I'm going through a divorce and my husband picked BLT over my strong desire to buy Poly before we confirmed Island Tower was in the same association - so it might not make sense financially, but emotionally I'd like to let it go )

Thoughts??

If the difference between going for 100 and 150 direct points is selling BLT, I'd sell BLT for sure to hit that threshold for incentives. IMO sell BLT and join me over at Poly

Edit: I clearly cannot read, I'm so sorry. Editing out.

At first I was going to say keep BLT as SAP, but then after finished reading, I say sell BLT and got 150 direct VDH. That way you’re guaranteed availability in SoCal, and they are available to use anywhere in WDW