Adding points: BWV, or GFV Resale vs RIV or CCV Direct

[CR88]

Hello all, my wife and I are just back from our annual Christmas trip and are strongly considering a 75-100 point add on. We stayed at Poly and Boardwalk and loved both.

We LOVE the grounds of GFV but Magic Kingdom is not our park of choice. We don't have kids and find that we spend most of our time at Epcot with Animal Kingdom and HS being a distant second. We like Magic Kingdom and enjoyed the walkway from GFV but outside of that resort, we would prefer to stay close to Epcot.

We were about ready to purchase at RIV. We loved it, we even had a really nice couple eating next to us tell us how much they liked it and they owned 4 other contracts including BWV and CCV. Everything was great, especially the counter service and transportation to DHS and Epcot, but then we watched a DIS Unplugged review of the resort and they didn't seem to like it much citing blandness and frequent breakdowns with the Skyliner. They said it was nice, but not what they expected from a Disney Resort. We LOVE walking, so Boardwalk would be ideal, we actually logged in about 150,000 steps last week. lol But, the shorter contract works against us because we would just be retiring when it's up. So, RIV seemed like a good fit, especially during Food and Wine.

We have never stayed at GFV or RIV, so that is why I am coming to the forum. We did see the RIV during an open house tour but have yet to see GFV. We currently own SSR with Blue Cards, so resale is fine, but because of the resale restrictions, not with RIV.

Also, a couple of things mentioned while in discussions with other DVC owners.
1. Booking BWV even at 11 months for a studio, 1 BR and 2 BR is difficult when we go (late November early December)
2. Copper Creek is also difficult to get studios even at 11 months for when we go.
3. Grand Floridian is also hard to book studios during early December, even at 11 months.

Normally we should be able to book right at 11 months, but many times because of my wife's schedules, we are booking between 8-9 months out.

Any input would be appreciated. We have been renting annually since we go through our points quickly, and have awesome sources for points, but making changes and modifications is difficult and we don't want to inconvenience the owners we are renting from. My wife is a respiratory therapist so this year has been interesting, we have had to make at least a half dozen changes between our July and December trips because of her schedule changes.

 

[JETSDAD]

Hello all, my wife and I are just back from our annual Christmas trip and are strongly considering a 75-100 point add on. We stayed at Poly and Boardwalk and loved both.

We LOVE the grounds of GFV but Magic Kingdom is not our park of choice. We don't have kids and find that we spend most of our time at Epcot with Animal Kingdom and HS being a distant second. We like Magic Kingdom and enjoyed the walkway from GFV but outside of that resort, we would prefer to stay close to Epcot.

We were about ready to purchase at RIV. We loved it, we even had a really nice couple eating next to us tell us how much they liked it and they owned 4 other contracts incluudign BWV and CCV. Everythign was great, especially the counter service and transportation to DHS and Epcot, but then we watched a DIS Unplugged review of the resort and they didn't seem to like it much citing blandness and frequent breakdowns with the Skyliner. They said it was nice, but not what they expected from a Disney Resort. We LOVE walking, so Boardwalk would be ideal, we actually logged in about 150,000 steps last week. lol But, the shorter contract works against us because we would just be retiring when it's up. So, RIV seemed like a good fit, especially during Food and Wine.

We have never stayed at GFV or RIV, so that is why I am coming to the forum. We did see the RIV during an open house tour but have yet to see GFV. We currently own SSR with Blue Cards, so resale is fine, but because of the resale restrictions, not with RIV.

Also, a couple things mentioned while in discussions with other DVC owners.
1. Booking BWV even at 11 months for a studio, 1 BR and 2 BR is difficult when we go (late November early December)
2. Copper Creek is also difficult to get studios even at 11 months for when we go.
3. Grand Floridian is also hard to book studios during early December, even at 11 months.

Normally we shoud be able to book right at 11 months, but many times because of my wife's schedules, we are booking between 8-9 months out.

Any input would be appreciated. We have been renting annually since we go through our points quickly, and have awesome sources for points, but making changes and modifications is difficult and we don't want to inconvenient the owners we are renting frrom. My wife is a respiratory therapist so this year has been interseting, we have had to make at least a half dozen changes between our July and December trips because of her schedule changes.

Early December is tough (especially for studios) all around. Since you already have points maybe try grabbing a couple of nights at the resorts you are considering? I wouldn't put too much weight on the opinions of others regarding a resort because we all have different tastes. Even if you don't stay at them, maybe visit the resorts, do online tours, etc. to get a good feel for them and decide what works best for you.

 

[RoseGold]

BWV has some good value for some room types, even with the shorter contract:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/e...s-total-cost-per-week-year-remaining.3803924/
BUT, you really need to be able to book at 11 months to secure that. Same for VGF studios, which are very scarce. If studios are your plan, and you aren't planning to walk and stalk for 11 month, I'm a pass on VGF and the 2042s.

I'd lean RIV, but we don't know what the studio booking pattern will be because of the locked down resale or when sell out happens. The studios have been selling out some, and that's with only 20% sold right now.

Booking for 8-9 months, maybe a good solution is Poly. It's all studios, pretty much, so availability hangs around a little longer than other crazy sold out places. Even easier to change around with lake view. Actually, maybe a solution is more SSR and just book a 1BR at 7 months, since that's your plan anyway. Maybe you get Beach Club one year, maybe you're stuck at AKL. Maybe you get a Poly studio. At least you can control it, and you can always sell SSR points. It's not like they are the huge commitment a RIV contract is.

 

[Cyberc1978]

We own at BWV and VGF and the resorts are great. I have to admit that all DVC resorts are great. Even though we have kids we don't fancy MK that much. We sometimes stay at VGF as a resort stay only. The grounds are just lovely, it feels like a fairy tale as my daughter put it

You really should buy at the resort you want to stay at, most resorts are difficult during the first weeks of December. If you really want to stay or own at all, then either find a small resale contract or buy one direct at all of them, then one year you stay at ie. 2 resorts and bank the points for the others and the next year you use current UY points and the banked points. Remember to bank the points you don't use for the year after.

 

[Lorana]

It sounds like you loved RIV, want to visit Epcot most, and HS and AK next, and dislike the short timeframe remaining for BWV as you want to enjoy retirement at Disney... and so you should buy RIV. The Skyliner access to Epcot and HS - and thus also the Boardwalk area - is fantastic. Don’t let the DIS Unplugged review scare you if it’s the resort you like; not everyone has the same aesthetic and there’s a lot of people who just don’t like RIV (just like there are people who don’t like AKV, which boggles MY mind). Buying RIV direct also means you get access to all future resorts too. It sounds like where you’d be happiest and I’m a big proponent of buy where you’ll be happy!

 

[DVCsloth]

I would consider Riviera. I own at Grand Floridian and CCV, but if I were to add another contract I would probably add on at Riviera.
The resort is awesome, great access to Epcot and HS. We stayed there in September with GFV points just to try it out and loved it.

 

[sethschroeder]

Riviera, BWV, VGF, and CCV in that order for us.

Prefer Epcot and when I initially had decided to add on direct at CCV quickly had massive regret and cancelled the contract.

Sure CCV is cheaper but it's not where we want to be in location and studios are already super hard to get.

Slowly got past the resale restrictions as not being a big deal honestly and made the jump with good discounts in hand at RIV.

I also own BWV as well.

 

[Carol_]

Blah blah blah repeated points from above blah blah
Buy Riviera.

longer version: I see no reason for you to buy CCV even though I own there and love it, but I’m always looking for 1brs. Riviera seems to hit all your needs at a good price. If you’re looking for studios, buy where you’re most likely to get them.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

If epcot is your resort choice I would choose either RIV or BWV. VGF is a vacation in itself. All resorts are hard to book for December weekends.

 

[Sandisw]

I concur. RIV seems like a really good choice for your parks of choice.

Now, here is a thought if you don’t mind split stays. You could add on some points at RIV direct and then add to it with BWV points as well. If you want pool/garden view and book right at 11 months, you should get that at BWV.

Given everything you mention, I’d lean away from the MK area resorts

 

[RoseGold]

I’m surprised to see so many suggestions continue to lean RIV.

You are booking studios, and you are not doing it at 11 months. I don’t see how we have the data or booking patterns to back that up in RIV, a 20% sold resort already selling out studios.

 

[sethschroeder]

I’m surprised to see so many suggestions continue to lean RIV.

You are booking studios, and you are not doing it at 11 months. I don’t see how we have the data or booking patterns to back that up in RIV, a 20% sold resort already selling out studios.

They stated normally its 11 months out and other times will be 8-9 months out. They also specifically stated they like Epcot area the best.

Riviera is unlikely to stray too far from booking patterns of the other resorts and is pretty much guaranteed to be easier than CCV for a studio. In addition VGF has the reputation of being a "christmas stay" location while Riviera is unlikely to gain this reputation being further away from MK. Then you have BWV which is gone right at 11 months in that first 1-2 weeks of December.

Yes its a guess with only 25% of the resort sold out but its not like any of the others are going to be sitting there at 8-9 months out.

BWV resale could be a good alternative as well but it depends on your long term plan and age as well.

 

[sethschroeder]

DIS Unplugged review of the resort and they didn't seem to like it much citing blandness and frequent breakdowns with the Skyliner.

I missed this earlier but the show has a specific arms length view of Riviera based on the resale restrictions. Many of the owners of Riviera on this board originally didn't like Riviera based on various aspects but typically came back to the idea of resale restrictions.

As far as the Skyliner breakdowns I think there has been a single breakdown of more than like 30 mins since last December. Now it was closed for quite a while but much of the issue stemmed from it being a new mode of transportation and working the kinks out. That being said it does go down for weather (not a requirement just a safety precaution Disney uses). When at HS you would simply walk to a bus and when at Epcot you would take the boat/walk over to BWV to catch the bus.

I also heavily called out the Skyliner breakdowns last fall. I also figured I would never buy RIV but slowly warmed up and then jumped in.

You can't go wrong with either BWV or RIV for an Epcot resort really. Just comes down to a personal preference I think.

As for reviews here is a few more:

 

[CR88]

Thanks all, great information as usual. We did discuss it tonight. My wife told me that she really likes Wilderness Lodge at Christmas and the more she thought about it, even though we love Epcot, she would like to stay at Wilderness Lodge around Christmas when possible, even if we didn't do any parks. But now, I may be warming up to Riviera for when we do go in the fall. We don't do fall trips every year so a smaller contract may suffice since we could bank our points for every other year Food and Wine. The resell restrictions may not be as much of an issue if we don't plan to sell. What we are considering now is, instead of going after 100 points at one resort, instead, picking up 50 points at CCV and 50 points at RIV. While SSR is not our first choice for December, we do enjoy our stays there and its proximity to Disney Springs. So, in a worst-case scenario, when we can't book early enough, a full or split stay with SSR wouldn't be so bad. Thanks again.

 

[MJ NH]

I own at Riv and CC. I say buy both. Then next year you can add some more points.

 

[striker1064]

Thanks all, great information as usual. We did discuss it tonight. My wife told me that she really likes Wilderness Lodge at Christmas and the more she thought about it, even though we love Epcot, she would like to stay at Wilderness Lodge around Christmas when possible, even if we didn't do any parks. But now, I may be warming up to Riviera for when we do go in the fall. We don't do fall trips every year so a smaller contract may suffice since we could bank our points for every other year Food and Wine. The resell restrictions may not be as much of an issue if we don't plan to sell. What we are considering now is, instead of going after 100 points at one resort, instead, picking up 50 points at CCV and 50 points at RIV. While SSR is not our first choice for December, we do enjoy our stays there and its proximity to Disney Springs. So, in a worst-case scenario, when we can't book early enough, a full or split stay with SSR wouldn't be so bad. Thanks again.

Don't plan on getting a CCV studio at Christmas. They book at exactly 11 months. There are many people who like Wilderness Lodge at Christmas. If that's your plan, look into a fixed week direct to ensure you can always get your room, and add on more points for your Epcot resort later.

 

[DVCsloth]

Don't plan on getting a CCV studio at Christmas. They book at exactly 11 months. There are many people who like Wilderness Lodge at Christmas. If that's your plan, look into a fixed week direct to ensure you can always get your room, and add on more points for your Epcot resort later.

Good point, but at least you will have as good a chance as anyone else at 11 months. 50 points would probably be tough to walk at that time though. You can always waitlist right at 8:00 a.m. and you may end up getting it.

 

[RoseGold]

Riviera is unlikely to stray too far from booking patterns of the other resorts and is pretty much guaranteed to be easier than CCV for a studio.

I don't see how the data backs that up. It isn't even close to sold out and is booking some studios full at 11 months.

In a few years, it also will have a locked in class of resale buyer stuck competing for the same studios, and no one knows how that will impact availability.

Maybe studios will be easier because everyone is trying to use locked down points for grand villas, but I don't see how anyone knows that yet.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Good plan to buy both RIV and CCV. I honestly believe if you have a difficult time reserving your room if you wait list immediately it will come through especially in the 11 month window

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We are impartial as the bulk of our points are at BWV, but at this point I would not even consider RIV. High point chart, resale restrictions, and the kiss of death for me, you can't walk anywhere.

Our plan is to hold until our BWV points until the bitter end and then rebuy when they start selling the next go round on BWV. Yes, the points will be expensive and they will revise the point chart, but I have cheap points to use for 22 more years and a good points chart in the interim. Plus who knows what will happen in 22 years.