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

[Lorana]

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.

Great choices! We own at both, and Wilderness Lodge is our favorite for the holidays. We picked up RIV too because my husband fell in love after seeing all the videos (we haven’t stayed yet!) and a resort on the Skyliner for a few nights during Food & Wine is definitely something we wanted. We enjoy split stays.

I don’t know if this is in your budget, or if you plan to visit for a week at a time, or if your wife’s schedule means that you do actually go around the same time each year but just don’t know for certain until 8-9 months out, but if you’re going to purchase at CCV for a studio over the holidays, I’d suggest taking a look at picking up a Guaranteed/Fixed Week. Weeks 48-50 are all 118 points each to purchase as a FW, and weeks 51-52 are 161 points (week 52 is a steal, as that week is 183 points to book in 2022).

We picked up a FW for 47 & 48 not because we expect to use it every year, but because when we DO, we don’t want to worry about being able to book a studio at CCV during that week. It also protects us against increasing price point charts. And if we don’t use it, we can just cancel the week and use the points for something else (or bank or borrow).

If this fits for you, might be worth looking into.

 

[lovethesun12]

Another thing to consider is maybe the Swan/Dolphin for when you want to stay close to Epcot? We love the Epcot area as well and while I've never stayed there if we didn't have the kids with us we would definitely try it out.

 

[CR88]

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.

Great choices! We own at both, and Wilderness Lodge is our favorite for the holidays. We picked up RIV too because my husband fell in love after seeing all the videos (we haven’t stayed yet!) and a resort on the Skyliner for a few nights during Food & Wine is definitely something we wanted. We enjoy split stays.

I don’t know if this is in your budget, or if you plan to visit for a week at a time, or if your wife’s schedule means that you do actually go around the same time each year but just don’t know for certain until 8-9 months out, but if you’re going to purchase at CCV for a studio over the holidays, I’d suggest taking a look at picking up a Guaranteed/Fixed Week. Weeks 48-50 are all 118 points each to purchase as a FW, and weeks 51-52 are 161 points (week 52 is a steal, as that week is 183 points to book in 2022).

We picked up a FW for 47 & 48 not because we expect to use it every year, but because when we DO, we don’t want to worry about being able to book a studio at CCV during that week. It also protects us against increasing price point charts. And if we don’t use it, we can just cancel the week and use the points for something else (or bank or borrow).

If this fits for you, might be worth looking into.

That's an interesting point. Only from this thread have I even heard of a guaranteed fixed week, and we have been DVC owners since 2007. lol I may have to look into that. My wife is on a weekly 3 day 12-hour rotation at her hospital, but the days change, so we don't know for sure when her time off will work out. But, after retirement that would work out perfectly, we could do the same two weeks every December and be happy.

 

[striker1064]

That's an interesting point. Only from this thread have I even heard of a guaranteed fixed week, and we have been DVC owners since 2007. lol I may have to look into that. My wife is on a weekly 3 day 12-hour rotation at her hospital, but the days change, so we don't know for sure when her time off will work out. But, after retirement that would work out perfectly, we could do the same two weeks every December and be happy.

Fixed weeks don't make sense for everyone or even every resort or week, but trying to go to CCV every December with a small contract will be an exercise in frustration and likely end up in you using your points elsewhere if you must go in December (unless you check multiple times per day for openings). If you are sure you can go most years the same week and you only want to stay at CCV in December, a fixed week makes a ton of sense.

 

[sethschroeder]

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.

What data do you have that says different? I can show room breakdowns being across categories like other standard resorts.

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.

Except you are talking about many years not a few years. These resorts don't flip over that quickly.

Many who buy at VGF, BWV, BCV are buying to stay there as well on resale. That's been happening for a number of years.

Also every year we move closer to BWV and BCV the more people buy only to stay there.

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.

Except it doesn't need to be easier as stated it will likely follow the same model as other resorts except CCV where is super hard year round for a Studio because of all the excess points the cabins create.

 

[sethschroeder]

you can't walk anywhere.

Cant walk from CCV either which is part of the decision.

The math I think is impacted when you buy RIV and how many points as for the total cost.

Our difference even with point charts and MFs in 2020 was $2/night for a 2BR in January and $30 in July (which got cheaper thanks to point chart changes).

Plus in 23 years I don't need to buy another contract as I am getting closer to retirement. Sold 2 of my 3 BWV contracts earlier this year.

 

[RoseGold]

What data do you have that says different? I can show room breakdowns being across categories like other standard resorts.

Well, that breakdown has resulted in very tight studio booking patterns at VGF/CCV.

No one has any idea how booking patterns are going to go long term. Point charts are high, and the resale lock down is a big unknown factor. If the only room that works for you is studios, and you have a tight schedule, then RIV is a big bet on the availability being there in future booking patterns. It's also could be an expensive bet because you will take a big hit if you have to re-sell after buying direct.

 

[DVCsloth]

I don't think that you will take a big hit on Riviera if you re-sell. As long as the economy doesn't tank, I believe the resort will do very well.
You will need to own there to stand a chance at getting standard point charts especially studios. Epcot and H.S. have added and continue to add attractions, the resort is first class all the way and the location is excellent for these 2 parks. You may lose out short term, but if you plan on keeping it, I believe the value will go up if you need to sell a few years later.

 

[sethschroeder]

Well, that breakdown has resulted in very tight studio booking patterns at VGF/CCV.

Except RIV does not follow the CCV model at all and improves on VGF as well.

RIV has higher percentage of Points and Rooms in the Studio Category, less in GV/Cabin category, and higher points/rooms in the Studio/1BR categories.

Resort - Studios	% of Rooms	% of Points
CCV	35.45	14.42
VGF	31.97	14.69
RIV	42.94	22.61

Resort - 1BR	% of Rooms	% of Points
CCV	25.45	21.29
VGF	31.97	30.89
RIV	36.20	41.97

Resort - 2BR	% of Rooms	% of Points
CCV	25.45	27.38
VGF	31.97	42.31
RIV	18.40	27.52

Resort - GV/Cabins	% of Rooms	% of Points
CCV	13.64	36.91
VGF	4.08	12.12
RIV	2.45	7.89

It's also could be an expensive bet because you will take a big hit if you have to re-sell after buying direct.

Except if you buy direct you can book elsewhere just like anyone else. If you are buying resale you already bought at a reduce price.

Lets also not forget that RIV is selling for less direct right now than most resorts. So the lower price is offset by paying less upfront on the direct contract. I purchased RIV for $155/point where as buying CCV would have been $180, BWV would have been $200, POLY would have been $232, BLT would have been $222, and VGF would have been $250ish.

CCV right now you are selling resale around $140? So I would need to sell RIV around $115/point to break even (but I got to pay less up front as well).

 

[CR88]

Great info, I didn't realize there were so many nuances to booking home resorts even at 11 months. In the end, there were no fixed weeks for week 49, so we bought a small contract at CCV. We plan to purchase two more small contracts, 25 at Grand Floridian and 50 at RIV, just for a couple of nights per year, or 4-5 every other year. We have no problem doing split stays, we actually prefer the change to be able to experience the difference Christmas theming and arrange the resorts to match the parks we plan to visit. It is discouraging to not know for sure if we can get 2 studios in mid-December at 11 months, but we liked CCV so much at the tour that we figured it would be worth it anyway, we just cut back on the CCV points we were going to buy. Worst-case scenario, hopefully, we can get a 2BR for our days.

 

[sethschroeder]

Worst-case scenario, hopefully, we can get a 2BR for our days.

Getting a 2BR at VGF and RIV should be plausible if you strike out on Studios. Getting at 2BR at CCV might be hit or miss. The good thing though is if you are doing a split stay between the 3 resorts is that you can simply book the RIV/VGF and when you finally get a night at CCV you can modify your RIV/VGF reservations to switch to CCV.

Still need to be on at 8am at 11 months though if staying that first 2 weeks of December.

 

[striker1064]

In the end, there were no fixed weeks for week 49, so we bought a small contract at CCV.

As someone who just bought a week 49 fixed week at CCV, I find this rather difficult to believe.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Great info, I didn't realize there were so many nuances to booking home resorts even at 11 months. In the end, there were no fixed weeks for week 49, so we bought a small contract at CCV. We plan to purchase two more small contracts, 25 at Grand Floridian and 50 at RIV, just for a couple of nights per year, or 4-5 every other year. We have no problem doing split stays, we actually prefer the change to be able to experience the difference Christmas theming and arrange the resorts to match the parks we plan to visit. It is discouraging to not know for sure if we can get 2 studios in mid-December at 11 months, but we liked CCV so much at the tour that we figured it would be worth it anyway, we just cut back on the CCV points we were going to buy. Worst-case scenario, hopefully, we can get a 2BR for our days.

I think it will be extremely hard using 25 points at VGF, ESPECIALLY if you want to use that contract in December.

 

[CR88]

As someone who just bought a week 49 fixed week at CCV, I find this rather difficult to believe.

How did you purchase, resale or direct?

 

[CR88]

As someone who just bought a week 49 fixed week at CCV, I find this rather difficult to believe.

I just checked again, and none of the reputable resale companies have any guaranteed week 49 studios at CCV listed. Did you buy direct? I just e-mailed my agent with The Timeshare Store and my DVC direct agent. At only 107 points, even with an expected premium, I would be all over that if resale.

 

[sethschroeder]

I just checked again, and none of the reputable resale companies have any guaranteed week 49 studios at CCV listed. Did you buy direct? I just e-mailed my agent with The Timeshare Store and my DVC direct agent. At only 107 points, even with an expected premium, I would be all over that if resale.

Ya it would be direct, a fixed week is going to be extremely rare to ever hit resale. They make up a tiny small percentage of total contracts out there.

 

[striker1064]

How did you purchase, resale or direct?

Ah, I thought you meant you contacted direct. I purchased direct.

 

[Judique]

Ah, I thought you meant you contacted direct. I purchased direct.

That's what I also assumed.

Somehow I don't think we are going to see too many fixed weeks listed for resale. They are already showing value due to point changes, plus they have the flexibility of being converted to points to be used at any time of year.

In retrospect, if they had fixed weeks available in the early years, I would now love to have one for BWV to use in the fall. It would be so nice not to have to try daily to get my nights! But that said, back then we weren't looking at these aspects of ownership but were more obsessed with being able to have a timeshare that wasn't a mandatory full week, and that was more flexible than what was on the market at the time.

 

[CR88]

Hello all, and thanks for the info, ESPECIALLY the guaranteed week info!! We just finalized our purchase of a guaranteed week 49 contract at Copper Creek!!!! My wife is super excited. We have been going since our Honeymoon in November of 2005, right after Thanksgiving, which was also my wife's first visit. This past trip was trip number 33. I was talked into going to Disney for our honeymoon instead of my first choice, The Riviera Maya, and I wasn't too happy about it. lol. But, happy wife, happy life, so the house of the mouse was our destination. We both fell in love with Disney at Christmas and honestly, we would have been perfectly content to visit that week for the rest of our lives. And now since I will be about 100 yrs old when the contract is up, it may just be that. lol. I can't thank this forum enough for even letting us know there was such a thing as a guaranteed week. There was about a $7k premium over purchasing CCV points resale, but that was for our week of choice, and over the course of 48 years, that worked out to around $145 per year. Ensuring that we can get a week of Disney Christmas at Wilderness Lodge annually was totally worth it.

 

[Judique]

Hello all, and thanks for the info, ESPECIALLY the guaranteed week info!! We just finalized our purchase of a guaranteed week 49 contract at Copper Creek!!!! My wife is super excited. We have been going since our Honeymoon in November of 2005, right after Thanksgiving, which was also my wife's first visit. This past trip was trip number 33. I was talked into going to Disney for our honeymoon instead of my first choice, The Riviera Maya, and I wasn't too happy about it. lol. But, happy wife, happy life, so the house of the mouse was our destination. We both fell in love with Disney at Christmas and honestly, we would have been perfectly content to visit that week for the rest of our lives. And now since I will be about 100 yrs old when the contract is up, it may just be that. lol. I can't thank this forum enough for even letting us know there was such a thing as a guaranteed week. There was about a $7k premium over purchasing CCV points resale, but that was for our week of choice, and over the course of 48 years, that worked out to around $175 per year. Ensuring that we can get a week of Disney Christmas at Wilderness Lodge annually was totally worth it.

I think you made a great decision! You got what you wanted.