All in GF2 or Split between RIV and GF2?

[PhantomFrog1]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post. I have been using these boards to research DVC for a couple of months and I am very excited to join this group.

I am going to buy 300 points tomorrow when GF2 becomes available for direct purchase. GF is definitely where I want my home base to be. But I have never had a chance to stay at RIV. I know that I would be 100% happy with the 300 points at GF, but I am starting to ask myself if it would be worth it to split the contract and go 1/2 at GF2 and 1/2 at RIV.

I like how I could get some bonus points if I bought at RIV, but the resale restrictions scare me for the long term.

What are some suggestions of some of the more experienced members in this group?

 

[RamblinWreck]

What kind of accommodations would you generally book?

If you think you might ever want a Tower Studio, then you'll probably need some RIV points.
If you think you might want studios during an in-demand season, you'll probably want RIV points.

If you are a 1-bedroom person, I'd probably just get all VGF points.

 

[PhantomFrog1]

So, I have 4 kids all 6 and under (1 is just 5 weeks old).

I will have to see what it feels like to be in a studio vs 1BRV.

But definitely over time I will have to go to 1-2 BRV.

 

[FinallyFL]

I would get all 300 points at GF2 split into 2 contracts of 150 points. This should get you the best price while giving you flexibility to sell 50% if needed. Once you have a handle on how DVC booking works for you then you can consider a second resort.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

GF is definitely where I want my home base to be.

Sounds like you've answered your own question.

But I have never had a chance to stay at RIV.

Don't spend $30,000 on a place you've never stayed, even if you hadn't made the statement above.

So, I have 4 kids all 6 and under (1 is just 5 weeks old).

I will have to see what it feels like to be in a studio vs 1BRV.

But definitely over time I will have to go to 1-2 BRV.

Protip: Say "1BR" and "2BR." BRV is Boulder Ridge Villas.

 

[PhantomFrog1]

Sounds like you've answered your own question.


Protip: Say "1BR" and "2BR." BRV is Boulder Ridge Villas.

Sorry, rookie mistake. Thanks for the protip.

I appreciate it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Sorry, rookie mistake. Thanks for the protip.

I appreciate it.

You get 48 hours of helpful suggestions, at which point we start mocking you relentlessly. We're a vicious bunch.

 

[RamblinWreck]

So, I have 4 kids all 6 and under (1 is just 5 weeks old).

I will have to see what it feels like to be in a studio vs 1BRV.

But definitely over time I will have to go to 1-2 BRV.

I would get the points all in one place.

And with that many kids, you will definitely see the value of being on the monorail!


And you may have a higher tolerance for having no personal space than I do (or maybe you'll plan to take shorter trips than we do), but even with my 2 kids under the age of 3 I'm not even considering staying in a studio. I did one trip in a 1-bedroom last year and absolutely loved it. (Pro-tip: The walk in closet off the master bedroom in the 1 bedroom VGF Villa is easily large enough for your smallest one to use as a private bedroom for their crib!)

 

[FinallyFL]

Also with 4 kids, I wouldn't even contemplate split stays. Double check that 300 points will get you a 2 bedroom during your travel times; you don't want to be consistently short 5 or 10 points every year.

 

[RoseGold]

I know that I would be 100% happy with the 300 points at GF, but I am starting to ask myself if it would be worth it to split the contract and go 1/2 at GF2 and 1/2 at RIV.

No brainer. 4 x 75 VGF point contracts. Sell if you want whatever the next resort is, or to trade in for resale, or whatever. I would much rather be selling or renting out VGF than RIV down the road. 4 contracts gives you a lot of flexibility.

 

[hglenn]

No brainer. 4 x 75 VGF point contracts. Sell if you want whatever the next resort is, or to trade in for resale, or whatever. I would much rather be selling or renting out VGF than RIV down the road. 4 contracts gives you a lot of flexibility.

When points are split into multiple contracts like this do you have to pay the closing costs and such X4?

 

[FinallyFL]

When points are split into multiple contracts like this do you have to pay the closing costs and such X4?

Yes, multiple closing costs and 1 contract may need to be 150 if you are a new DVC owner.

 

[Sandisw]

I am just going to add that you will qualify for the higher incentive for buying them all at one place, unless the incentives are exactly the same.

if you know that you that you really want VGF as a home based, I think that outweighs the rest.

If you don’t buy RIV then you will be looking at 7 month bookings, which means planning for PV which will cost you more than SV.

While I do not think the resale restrictions are a big deal, if they are to you and RIV is not your first choice, then it may be a reason not to buy there until you know you like it enough to buy to not worry about that aspect.

I never thought I’d buy there because of them and fell in love with it Plan to stay every trip for at least a few nights which made the decision easy.

Since you can’t say that having never visited, then it may not be wise when you know VGF is what you enjoy!

 

[PhantomFrog1]

This has been really great feedback everyone. Thank you. I am going to split my 300 points into 2 -150 point contracts and go all in on the GF2.

I am really excited about joining DVC.

 

[DisneyYannuzzFam]

I just bought 250 pts all GF2 (2 contracts 1-150pt and 1-100pt contract to get the blue card). I booked my first trip for early October (less than 7 month window) and am doing a split stay in a 1 bedroom at BWV and Preferred View Studio at RIV. My boys are a little bit older and eventually I know I am going to need 1BR, because well I don't want to scar my children. Studios work for now. I also have a Poly resale contract so enough points to eventually do what I need.

 

[CarolynFH]

This has been really great feedback everyone. Thank you. I am going to split my 300 points into 2 -150 point contracts and go all in on the GF2.

I am really excited about joining DVC.

I'm glad you're getting all 300 at VGF, because you'll be booking 2 BR villas pretty soon. The VGF 1 BR sleep 5 people plus one infant under 3 in a crib (and I can vouch for that closet being their bedroom!), but once that infant turns 3 years old, as a family of 6 you'll have to book 2 BR villas, and you'll need more than 300 points if you want to stay a whole week.

 

[Chuck96]

This board was a treasure trove of both basic and advanced knowledge for me over the past two years of research, as I weaved between buying and renting, resale and direct, this resort or that resort. Soak it in.

Think about Use Years and 7 month availability windows. I have almost memorized a few of the point charts at this juncture. Good luck!

 

[iluvthsgam]

No brainer. 4 x 75 VGF point contracts. Sell if you want whatever the next resort is, or to trade in for resale, or whatever. I would much rather be selling or renting out VGF than RIV down the road. 4 contracts gives you a lot of flexibility.

This is what I did. You will pay the extra $750 in doc fees for the 3 other contracts ($250 per). But I also removed title insurance which saved about $90 per contract, so about $360 savings there. Having a 75-point for sale down the road will easily make up this extra cost.

 

[tidefan]

If you are thinking 1 or 2 bedrooms, I think that RIV is the way to go. There will be a lot of competition now for these rooms at VGF1.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I would just say, can you bump it up to 350 or 400? I would never attempt a studio with all the littles. One- and two-bedrooms are so fantastic for separate nap schedules, more room, laundry, and the full kitchen to do feedings and not having to trek outside the resort to grab food/drinks. So, having said that, the GF point chart, 300 points will *just* get you a one-bedroom for half the seasons, and it's definitely not enough for a week in a two-bedroom. I know it's thousands of dollars, but if there's any way you can do the extra points, the VGF promotion they're doing is stellar right now, and you'll never be able to buy in again at this direct price.

Trust the masses of DVC owners who say their biggest regrets are A) not buying in sooner and, B) not buying more points up front -- addonitis is expensive after the fact.

We bought 100 RIV (that was blue card requirement wayyyyy back in 2019, LOL,) and then added on another 200 points on our Welcome Home trip. We got those bonus year's points each time, so we got used to the double points, took more trips (we foolishly deluded ourselves that we would be fine in a studio once every other year. Ha! You buy APs, which means it's a waste to not go 2x a year, which means you get more excited to do more things that you missed on previous trips and book again, etc., etc.,) and I am KICKING myself I told my husband 200 was all we would need.

We went February vacation for the first time last year and LOVED getting out of the snow -- but school vacations are killer for points and now eat up all 300 of our points for the one-bedroom. I soooo wish we had 400 or even 500!