Considering a Poly/Riviera 200/150 Direct Purchase

[Tatebeck]

Great thoughts. Thank you. I think I’m leaning heavily towards taking advantage of the magical beginnings. I’ll have to confirm with my guide, but when we initially talked about this, splitting the 300 into two 150-pt contracts seemed to fully qualify for magical beginnings on the full 300. I suppose, if I can let go of the remote likelihood of passing these contracts onto my kids, it would probably make a lot of sense to break it up as 150/75/75 or 150/50/50/50, but if that would nullify the magical beginnings on the smaller contracts, might push me in other direction.

Yes, you can get MB on the entire purchase if you split it up into smaller contracts. That's what we did with our 300 RIV points last year. 135/114/51 with 2 Favorite weeks. All of the promotions and deals go off of the entire amount of points you are purchasing, then they just charge you a few extra fees to split into smaller contracts

 

[airjay75]

Yes, you can get MB on the entire purchase if you split it up into smaller contracts. That's what we did with our 300 RIV points last year. 135/114/51 with 2 Favorite weeks. All of the promotions and deals go off of the entire amount of points you are purchasing, then they just charge you a few extra fees to split into smaller contracts

Thank you. This is what I seemed to understand from my guide but appreciate the extra confirmation.

 

[sethschroeder]

Thank you. This is what I seemed to understand from my guide but appreciate the extra confirmation.

If you need information on Favorite Weeks/Fixed Weeks come over to the thread I have in my signature.

 

[AstroBlasters]

If you need information on Favorite Weeks/Fixed Weeks come over to the thread I have in my signature.

Small contracts, fixed weeks, using delayed payments on a 0% 6m Disney Visa…. all pro moves IMO

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I read the entire thread, and I just wanted to ease your fears a little bit on direct Riviera. We have 300 direct Riviera points and it's still our favorite, bought in 2019 before it was open. We have a September use year because we thought we'd be going in the fall and early December with ease. We HAVE gone early December, and it's far and away our favorite time of year to go, but kids' schedules now prevent it until they graduate high school, and probably college! So another decade of now going February and/or April vacation -- or now Thanksgiving week. All peak weeks.

Just to reassure you, we love Riviera more and more. Each kid will get a direct contract with benefits, boy/girl Irish twins. I had FOMO for PIT and we bought 100 direct points this fall. I don't regret it, per se, because I like the tower and we don't do studios as a family. BTDT, it sucks for us. We like laundry, full kitchen, and privacy with a king bed and separate bedroom.

I would do a test run at Poly before buying. I'm glad we only have 100 points. It's enough to bank/borrow for a special trip every blue moon or to do a split stay for a holiday party trip, but the chaos over there is just no bueno for us. That also goes for Grand Floridian, too, although Poly amenities were crazed with families with little kids all over the place, whereas Grand Floridian is a huge attraction in itself, especially around the holidays/gingerbread house stuff, and we HATED the crowds and chaos.

Hubby and I just did a weekend President's weekend at PIT, and while the tower is awesome and the rooms are really perfected, the constant crowds and packed pools and hot tubs 24/7 was a turnoff. I feel like a major hypocrite, complaining about kids at a Disney resort, LOL, but I get peopled out being in the parks and really crave the quiet resort experience when I come back "home," so weaving between kids throwing a ball in the walkways and taking up all the hot tub space after a long day hoofing it in the park -- woof.

We, ironically, really dislike the theming/lack of theming at BLT, but I think we may try it post refurbishment and may like it since it's quiet and doesn't have a themed lobby to draw a crowd.

I think 150x2 direct at Riviera makes sense, and we don't regret it. 300 is perfect for a 1B peak weeks with enough left over to do a random weekend or go baller and stay longer, or else book a room on the previous night if you do a late flight and don't want to be homeless.

 

[RivGirl]

FWIW, OP, the only reason we went with 150 direct RIV in February instead of 300 was a change in our financial plans for this year. (We needed to allocate some funds to finishing our basement. Sigh.) If that weren’t the case, we would have 100% gone in on 2x150 direct contracts and taken advantage of the higher incentive rate.

 

[airjay75]

I read the entire thread, and I just wanted to ease your fears a little bit on direct Riviera. We have 300 direct Riviera points and it's still our favorite, bought in 2019 before it was open. We have a September use year because we thought we'd be going in the fall and early December with ease. We HAVE gone early December, and it's far and away our favorite time of year to go, but kids' schedules now prevent it until they graduate high school, and probably college! So another decade of now going February and/or April vacation -- or now Thanksgiving week. All peak weeks.

Just to reassure you, we love Riviera more and more. Each kid will get a direct contract with benefits, boy/girl Irish twins. I had FOMO for PIT and we bought 100 direct points this fall. I don't regret it, per se, because I like the tower and we don't do studios as a family. BTDT, it sucks for us. We like laundry, full kitchen, and privacy with a king bed and separate bedroom.

I would do a test run at Poly before buying. I'm glad we only have 100 points. It's enough to bank/borrow for a special trip every blue moon or to do a split stay for a holiday party trip, but the chaos over there is just no bueno for us. That also goes for Grand Floridian, too, although Poly amenities were crazed with families with little kids all over the place, whereas Grand Floridian is a huge attraction in itself, especially around the holidays/gingerbread house stuff, and we HATED the crowds and chaos.

Hubby and I just did a weekend President's weekend at PIT, and while the tower is awesome and the rooms are really perfected, the constant crowds and packed pools and hot tubs 24/7 was a turnoff. I feel like a major hypocrite, complaining about kids at a Disney resort, LOL, but I get peopled out being in the parks and really crave the quiet resort experience when I come back "home," so weaving between kids throwing a ball in the walkways and taking up all the hot tub space after a long day hoofing it in the park -- woof.

We, ironically, really dislike the theming/lack of theming at BLT, but I think we may try it post refurbishment and may like it since it's quiet and doesn't have a themed lobby to draw a crowd.

I think 150x2 direct at Riviera makes sense, and we don't regret it. 300 is perfect for a 1B peak weeks with enough left over to do a random weekend or go baller and stay longer, or else book a room on the previous night if you do a late flight and don't want to be homeless.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. You are really speaking my language, and I especially appreciate your thoughts about PIT/VGF/BLT. There's this part of me that thinks it would be so nice to have some points at one of those monorail MK resorts, and maybe I will do that at some point, but we haven't stayed at any nor even visited VGF or BLT. Some folks seem to say Grand Floridian might be to your liking if you're a Riviera fan, but sounds like that might not be exactly the case - I think we really need to stay there to see what we think. Our visit to Poly to see the Island Tower (granted, on Easter Sunday) did seem a bit wild and chaotic outside the tower itself - nothing like our 1 night stay at RIV which just had this incredibly relaxing and chill vibe. Enough to keep the kids entertained and busy, but calm enough for Mom and Dad to relax poolside with a glass of wine .

 

[airjay75]

FWIW, OP, the only reason we went with 150 direct RIV in February instead of 300 was a change in our financial plans for this year. (We needed to allocate some funds to finishing our basement. Sigh.) If that weren’t the case, we would have 100% gone in on 2x150 direct contracts and taken advantage of the higher incentive rate.

Thank you - love hearing this. My wife actually asked me earlier, "If we do this, does this mean we have to wait if we want to renovate our bathroom or kitchen?" LOL. Glad our basement was finished by the prior owner . The joys of home ownership!

 

[PolyRob]

I tried to read every comment just to make sure I wasn't being redundant so I am sorry if I am repeating anything.

I know you mentioned you have a plan with credit cards for the purchase. If you're paying direct contracts off and not financing you can request 60 days to pay in full from your guide (90 days is no longer offered). You can also open multiple new credit cards between you and your spouse to get some bonuses to either help offset the cost of purchase, save points for flights, or take advantage of 0% financing.

You also mentioned an Oct UY which means you are in no rush to purchase unless you want to book something in the 11-month window starting March 2026. You're entitled to 2024 Oct UY points until September 2025. If you want the current incentives that is another thing, but if you want to wait and see what's offered in the summer or fall you can absolutely do that. You just need to commit to Magical Beginnings three days before your UY starts so 9/28/25. Your annual dues are billed starting the day you agree to purchase with your guide. If you do that today, you would be paying eight+ months of dues. On 300 RIV points, that is ~$1,812 when your contracts close. If you wait until August or September, you could almost cut that in half.

 

[Disney Spaz]

Welcome Home Poly tower, manually book the rest of the trip at RIV.

I whole agree with this so you can see how you feel about PIT before you buy.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. You are really speaking my language, and I especially appreciate your thoughts about PIT/VGF/BLT. There's this part of me that thinks it would be so nice to have some points at one of those monorail MK resorts, and maybe I will do that at some point, but we haven't stayed at any nor even visited VGF or BLT. Some folks seem to say Grand Floridian might be to your liking if you're a Riviera fan, but sounds like that might not be exactly the case - I think we really need to stay there to see what we think. Our visit to Poly to see the Island Tower (granted, on Easter Sunday) did seem a bit wild and chaotic outside the tower itself - nothing like our 1 night stay at RIV which just had this incredibly relaxing and chill vibe. Enough to keep the kids entertained and busy, but calm enough for Mom and Dad to relax poolside with a glass of wine .

As a VGF owner I can say loving one does NOT guarantee loving the other. VGF is our primary home resort and we truly love it every summer we go and while we have tried almost all the other DVC resorts, we cannot imagine using our VGF points to stay anywhere else. That being said we tried RIV once and expected to love it. However, it was the exact opposite. We did not enjoy the lobby and felt the overall stay fell flat to us. Rooms were okay but didn't give us the home feeling we wanted. The food options were not our cup of tea and it did not feel as relaxing to us at the OG VGF building lobby. Stay there first so you are not disappointed.

Let me preface this part by saying DH and I were married on the Poly Beach that is now gone thanks to PIT. We made fun of the PIT as it was being built and figured we were primarily VGF for our main trips and CCV for the holidays type of people. This past Thanksgiving we saw the Moana 2 DVC preview and DD asked if we could tour the new PIT rooms. Well our original plan to add on to our small CCV contract quickly turned into a larger PIT add on so you just never know.

If Rivera is your heart buy the 300 points there, 150X2 contracts for the kids. I would get the $29 off plus the additional $20 Magical Beginings offer to sell back 2024 points with an Oct UY. I would ask them for your Welcome Home trip to book a stay at VGF and then plan a split stay with PIT for that trip. If you are looking at 2026 for that trip getting a VGF/PIT split stay for the Welcome Home stay would be the best way to try both. If they can't do the split stay I would tell you to book VGF, preferably in the OG building, even if going with a studio, as the lobby is peaceful. Then wait-list for PIT for half of the trip. With the 7 month window not open yet and them declaring more inventory for PIT as points I think you will have a better chance of getting a room at PIT.

What ever you choose please keep us updated.

 

[airjay75]

I whole agree with this so you can see how you feel about PIT before you buy.

As a VGF owner I can say loving one does NOT guarantee loving the other. VGF is our primary home resort and we truly love it every summer we go and while we have tried almost all the other DVC resorts, we cannot imagine using our VGF points to stay anywhere else. That being said we tried RIV once and expected to love it. However, it was the exact opposite. We did not enjoy the lobby and felt the overall stay fell flat to us. Rooms were okay but didn't give us the home feeling we wanted. The food options were not our cup of tea and it did not feel as relaxing to us at the OG VGF building lobby. Stay there first so you are not disappointed.

Let me preface this part by saying DH and I were married on the Poly Beach that is now gone thanks to PIT. We made fun of the PIT as it was being built and figured we were primarily VGF for our main trips and CCV for the holidays type of people. This past Thanksgiving we saw the Moana 2 DVC preview and DD asked if we could tour the new PIT rooms. Well our original plan to add on to our small CCV contract quickly turned into a larger PIT add on so you just never know.

If Rivera is your heart buy the 300 points there, 150X2 contracts for the kids. I would get the $29 off plus the additional $20 Magical Beginings offer to sell back 2024 points with an Oct UY. I would ask them for your Welcome Home trip to book a stay at VGF and then plan a split stay with PIT for that trip. If you are looking at 2026 for that trip getting a VGF/PIT split stay for the Welcome Home stay would be the best way to try both. If they can't do the split stay I would tell you to book VGF, preferably in the OG building, even if going with a studio, as the lobby is peaceful. Then wait-list for PIT for half of the trip of the trip. With the 7 month window not open yet and them declaring more inventory for PIT as points I think you will have a better chance of getting a room at PIT.

WHat ever you choose please keep us updated.

Thank you! You are reading my mind. At the moment, I'm thinking of aiming for late January or early February (2026) for our next trip, and I've been thinking about 3 days at VGF, followed by 4 days at RIV since we really do love it and want to go back. TBH, the more I hear about Poly, the more I think it might just not be for us. The PIT rooms we toured were lovely. The atriums they've inserted on the various floors are very nice. But once you leave that, it seems like crowding and chaos begins! Our kids would love the volcano slide and pool area. I think the little Moana splash pad in the PIT pool would interest them for about 10 minutes and then they'd want to head to the more exciting pool. Still, we probably owe it to ourselves to work in a stay at some point. The tower itself really did seem quite nice.

 

[airjay75]

I tried to read every comment just to make sure I wasn't being redundant so I am sorry if I am repeating anything.

I know you mentioned you have a plan with credit cards for the purchase. If you're paying direct contracts off and not financing you can request 60 days to pay in full from your guide (90 days is no longer offered). You can also open multiple new credit cards between you and your spouse to get some bonuses to either help offset the cost of purchase, save points for flights, or take advantage of 0% financing.

You also mentioned an Oct UY which means you are in no rush to purchase unless you want to book something in the 11-month window starting March 2025. You're entitled to 2024 Oct UY points until September 2025. If you want the current incentives that is another thing, but if you want to wait and see what's offered in the summer or fall you can absolutely do that. You just need to commit to Magical Beginnings three days before your UY starts so 9/28/25. Your annual dues are billed starting the day you agree to purchase with your guide. If you do that today, you would be paying eight+ months of dues. On 300 RIV points, that is ~$1,812 when your contracts close. If you wait until August or September, you could almost cut that in half.

Thank you - yes, our guide has been pretty upfront about the 60 days and using as many credit cards as we want. We were not previously Disney Visa holders, but I opened up two separate cards (one for me and one for my wife). That will get us 0% for 6 months for well over half of our purchase. I'm also pretty big into AAdvantage miles and status with American Airlines, so I have AA cards there I will probably use for the rest.

I like your thoughts about waiting, and you're confirming what I thought was my understanding about Magical Beginnings (i.e., you don't have to commit to that on Day 1). That's a lot of time to decide, and I like that flexibility. I guess, the question is, whether the current incentives and pricing will be better, worse, or the same come August or September. Maybe that is a question for you or anyone else. I know April 28th is the end of the current incentive period. What is generally the end of the next incentive period?

 

[supercarrie]

Thank you - yes, our guide has been pretty upfront about the 60 days and using as many credit cards as we want. We were not previously Disney Visa holders, but I opened up two separate cards (one for me and one for my wife). That will get us 0% for 6 months for well over half of our purchase. I'm also pretty big into AAdvantage miles and status with American Airlines, so I have AA cards there I will probably use for the rest.

I like your thoughts about waiting, and you're confirming what I thought was my understanding about Magical Beginnings (i.e., you don't have to commit to that on Day 1). That's a lot of time to decide, and I like that flexibility. I guess, the question is, whether the current incentives and pricing will be better, worse, or the same come August or September. Maybe that is a question for you or anyone else. I know April 28th is the end of the current incentive period. What is generally the end of the next incentive period?

They usually run for 2-3 months at a time. These most recent incentives rolled out on February 11th. The prior period was Dec. 12th through Feb. 10th, before that, Oct 2nd-Dec 11th.

Last summer's ran from June 25th-September 30th, so a bit longer.

Someone will be on here just after midnight on the 28th with updated links to the new pricing sheets, lol. We typically have to wait until the next morning to receive info on any additional savings, i.e. new Welcome Home discounts, Disney Visa, D23 (anything beyond price per point off) and info on flash sales on sold out resorts.

 

[PolyRob]

Thank you - yes, our guide has been pretty upfront about the 60 days and using as many credit cards as we want. We were not previously Disney Visa holders, but I opened up two separate cards (one for me and one for my wife). That will get us 0% for 6 months for well over half of our purchase. I'm also pretty big into AAdvantage miles and status with American Airlines, so I have AA cards there I will probably use for the rest.

I like your thoughts about waiting, and you're confirming what I thought was my understanding about Magical Beginnings (i.e., you don't have to commit to that on Day 1). That's a lot of time to decide, and I like that flexibility. I guess, the question is, whether the current incentives and pricing will be better, worse, or the same come August or September. Maybe that is a question for you or anyone else. I know April 28th is the end of the current incentive period. What is generally the end of the next incentive period?

It's always nice having an honest guide.

Yes, you can always change your mind on MBs after agreeing to the purchase up to the three days before the new UY. The contracts can also be rewritten as long as you have not already closed so you would have 60 days to decide on changing resorts, contract sizes, MBs, etc from when you agree to purchase.

@supercarrie gave great information about the time periods and how the new incentives will be posted. The promotions actually got better in 2023 and 2024 during the summer, but that isn't necessarily always the case. If you did agree during the current promotion and completely change your mind or want to purchase later in the year you always have that 10 days to completely rescind.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I agree with previous poster about doing a PIT/VGF split stay for your welcome home trip. VGF in the original building is very nice.

I like the theming in the Big Pine Key addition, but it seems to have been a cheap flip and the noise travels from room to room.

The OG VGF rooms are very serene and quiet and lovely.

My issues with VGF DVC, itself, is I am spoiled with all the coffee and food options INSIDE Riviera. It's a bit of a hike to grab hot beverages and food in a bag for a family of four from Gasparilla. Yes, it's under a covered walkway, but when it's driving rain or 100 degrees with 100 percent humidity -- ughhhhh.

Also, Poly/PIT and VGF share the monorail and buses, as you know. We waited an incredibly long time at VGF for buses to AK and HS. We travel off peak for the monorail, so that was fine, but the Skyliner is our favorite transportation, and Riviera has dedicated buses just for Riviera, no sharing, and we never wait longer than five minutes for a bus.

It's just little things that go into a preference. My husband really dislikes the darkness of AK Jambo/Kidani, but I did a long weekend with our son at Jambo and LOVED it. It definitely is beat up and needs the Murphy beds, STAT, but the food options are incredible, and the resort is its own attraction, at least in my opinion. So serene and cool with the animals off the back deck of the lobby.

Try them out! We did OKW and LOVED it. SS studios are great for a couples trip to putter around DS and has great pools. Beach Club SAB stressed me out with the kids disappearing on the walkway to do the slide for 20 minutes at a time and only had meh food there. We all love CC/BR, but our odds of getting a week waitlist over Thanksgiving are probably nill, but I'll try anyway. Lakeshore Lodge coming in 2027 is intriguing for a holiday stay if they nail the theming.

I will say, yes, putting money into DVC is not like putting money into your 401k, LOL. But, we never would take a vacation if we weren't "forced" to use our points, and it has been incredible to go through Covid with something to look forward to when the world was shut down during the height of it all, and sharing our trips with extended family is wonderful. We also have friends that have DVC, and now we try to travel with them the same weeks so the kids can hang out and the parents have each other over for dinner or to meet up in the parks and pools. It's a really nice community, DVC owners. Everyone is fun to talk to about where they own and what they like.

 

[airjay75]

I agree with previous poster about doing a PIT/VGF split stay for your welcome home trip. VGF in the original building is very nice.

I like the theming in the Big Pine Key addition, but it seems to have been a cheap flip and the noise travels from room to room.

The OG VGF rooms are very serene and quiet and lovely.

My issues with VGF DVC, itself, is I am spoiled with all the coffee and food options INSIDE Riviera. It's a bit of a hike to grab hot beverages and food in a bag for a family of four from Gasparilla. Yes, it's under a covered walkway, but when it's driving rain or 100 degrees with 100 percent humidity -- ughhhhh.

Also, Poly/PIT and VGF share the monorail and buses, as you know. We waited an incredibly long time at VGF for buses to AK and HS. We travel off peak for the monorail, so that was fine, but the Skyliner is our favorite transportation, and Riviera has dedicated buses just for Riviera, no sharing, and we never wait longer than five minutes for a bus.

It's just little things that go into a preference. My husband really dislikes the darkness of AK Jambo/Kidani, but I did a long weekend with our son at Jambo and LOVED it. It definitely is beat up and needs the Murphy beds, STAT, but the food options are incredible, and the resort is its own attraction, at least in my opinion. So serene and cool with the animals off the back deck of the lobby.

Try them out! We did OKW and LOVED it. SS studios are great for a couples trip to putter around DS and has great pools. Beach Club SAB stressed me out with the kids disappearing on the walkway to do the slide for 20 minutes at a time and only had meh food there. We all love CC/BR, but our odds of getting a week waitlist over Thanksgiving are probably nill, but I'll try anyway. Lakeshore Lodge coming in 2027 is intriguing for a holiday stay if they nail the theming.

I will say, yes, putting money into DVC is not like putting money into your 401k, LOL. But, we never would take a vacation if we weren't "forced" to use our points, and it has been incredible to go through Covid with something to look forward to when the world was shut down during the height of it all, and sharing our trips with extended family is wonderful. We also have friends that have DVC, and now we try to travel with them the same weeks so the kids can hang out and the parents have each other over for dinner or to meet up in the parks and pools. It's a really nice community, DVC owners. Everyone is fun to talk to about where they own and what they like.

Thank you so much for these thoughts. You're helping reinforce my decision to go with Riviera. And, on your last point, I totally get what you're saying. I was trying to explain to a couple of co-workers yesterday (who were trying to talk me out of this) that, look, it's not an investment (at all). There are plenty of rational reasons not to do this. But, if I do do this, my approach to vacationing is going to change. Instead of being my normal miserly self, and always waiting until later to book vacations and constantly second guessing whether we do this or do that, and whether staying here or staying there makes the most sense, I'm sort of saying, look, our family really likes Disney. Sure, we might decide to take other vacations and we always have the option of renting out our points to help with that too, but it's going to put me into a pattern of focusing travel planning around Disney trips for the foreseeable future. My wife and I are already planning when we want to use our points next. If I didn't do this, there is no way I'd be thinking about that right now - I'd be like, we'll get around to it. If we want to do Disney, we can figure it out later - there's always plenty of options. Half the fun of vacation is looking forward to it. Going this route means you pretty much always put a Disney vacation on your calendar and have it to look forward to. I am finding it very appealing given how I know I would approach our future vacations if we don't do it.

I also think DVC really appeals to those of us who like to play the credit card games (which go hand in hand with purchasing your DVC contract). I have long played the credit card points game. Started with Chase UR universe, moved on to AmEx MRs, and have been full in on the AAdvantage miles/status games since American started letting people earn status with credit card spend. Playing the DVC game reminds me a lot of this. In some ways, it is like a hobby (although, some people might say addiction ).

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

WDW DVC gets to be a very easy vacation, too. Now that we know a lot of the ins and outs, plus we have gone multiple times, that takes the pressure off of go-go-go and doing B2B reservations to hit them all. Most people don't consider WDW to be a vacation or relaxing -- more of a forced death march of fun, LOL.

As a DVC'er, the pressure is off. We sleep in, make breakfast in the room, swim midday or else shop and putter, then roll into the parks when the strollers are rolling out!

We feel very safe letting the kids get more independent as they become teenagers, and they know how to get around and transfer on all the transportation. We, as parents, can leave them in the room to grab a nice dinner at Topolinos now that they're older. We're not quite at the point of branching off with the kids doing their own thing, but if they want to go to the pool early while we finish cleaning the breakfast dishes and get our coffee going, that's fine.

The DVC resorts are really much more of the allure of the trip with parks and restaurants and shopping sprinkled in, LOL. Also, we have used our DVC points and Ubered over to UO/IOA, and we'll be doing that in the next year to do Epic. We also did Wild Florida gator tour last trip and are looking forward to the Space Coast and Vero next year. There's options!

 

[kgou]

Half the fun of vacation is looking forward to it. Going this route means you pretty much always put a Disney vacation on your calendar and have it to look forward to. I am finding it very appealing given how I know I would approach our future vacations if we don't do it.

100% agree on this. A lot of my enjoyment of DVC is derived from the planning and gamification of it all.