Considering DVC Purchase

[britburns117]

This is fantastic! What does the special column represent?

Are Special rooms maybe treehouse villas or the Tower studios? Things that are only available at a single resort?

 

[Ruttangel]

This is fantastic! What does the special column represent?

It’s the cabins, treehouses etc...but for HHI it’s the Inn rooms

 

[Ruttangel]

That is an awesome chart Ruttangel. Thanks for posting!

Do you assume you resale sales price per point as a sort of average between large and small point packages, or how do you estimate those?

Yes, it’s just a guide.
As you say each contract needs evaluating on its own merit, points, dues, closing etc....
Small value contracts at least 10% more

 

[heapmaster]

@_auroraborealis_ and @sethschroeder I just went down a fixed week rabbit hole and learned so much -- this looks like it would be a great idea for me to do for marathon week if they are still offering it!

I'm still a little torn between riviera and CCV. Has anyone ever bought blind without seeing a resort? I feel like since I know Wilderness Lodge I'm leaning toward that, but Riviera looks lovely in photos and the dining options also look great. Although Geyser point is a great way to end a day : )

We did a tour of the rooms for CCV (didnt stay since we knew we would love it) and for RIV as well, but for RIV we rented points to stay there in the different studios (split stay) to see if we would like it before we bought it and if it would work for us.

 

[britburns117]

We did a tour of the rooms for CCV (didnt stay since we knew we would love it) and for RIV as well, but for RIV we rented points to stay there in the different studios (split stay) to see if we would like it before we bought it and if it would work for us.

What did you end up doing? Did you like Riv when you stayed?

 

[heapmaster]

What did you end up doing? Did you like Riv when you stayed?

We bought direct CCV (more) and RIV. We liked RIV enough to buy it so we can make sure if we want to save points we can do 11 month window for tower or standard studios since those have the least amount of rooms and are cheaper points thus harder to get. If we dont feel like saving points and want the view we can do a preferred studio (those I think would be a little easier to get since there are more of them). The regular studios (not tower) allow you to spread out more due to the space so we liked it the best over the tower, but those tower studios sure do save a lot of points when RIV is a point hog! If we are trying to enjoy the room more I would say the regular studios, but if we are not going to be in the room that much, then the tower works for 2 people. The preferred view was nice with the skyliner, pool and lake view all in one.

 

[britburns117]

We bought direct CCV (more) and RIV. We liked RIV enough to buy it so we can make sure if we want to save points we can do 11 month window for tower or standard studios since those have the least amount of rooms and are cheaper points thus harder to get. If we dont feel like saving points and want the view we can do a preferred studio (those I think would be a little easier to get since there are more of them). The regular studios (not tower) allow you to spread out more due to the space so we liked it the best over the tower, but those tower studios sure do save a lot of points when RIV is a point hog! If we are trying to enjoy the room more I would say the regular studios, but if we are not going to be in the room that much, then the tower works for 2 people. The preferred view was nice with the skyliner, pool and lake view all in one.

I'm really considering buying at Riv with everything I've read. I could do a guaranteed week for either January or November RunDisney races (My favorite 2, hopefully they continue after covid) but am now debating if I should do standard or preferred view for the studio. So many decisions! I am sort of leaning toward preferred because long term I think I would like it better. I wouldn't stay there every year but even if every other it would be nice to have the guarantee, and I really enjoy sitting on patios and drinking coffee or a cocktail! You stayed in a preferred view?

 

[heapmaster]

I'm really considering buying at Riv with everything I've read. I could do a guaranteed week for either January or November RunDisney races (My favorite 2, hopefully they continue after covid) but am now debating if I should do standard or preferred view for the studio. So many decisions! I am sort of leaning toward preferred because long term I think I would like it better. I wouldn't stay there every year but even if every other it would be nice to have the guarantee, and I really enjoy sitting on patios and drinking coffee or a cocktail! You stayed in a preferred view?

Yes, we did a split stay of the tower and studio preferred (since we know what a parking lot looks like, lol) to see how each room sleeps. If you like sitting on your balcony frequently, enjoying the view (and with food and/or coffee/cocktails) then I would book the preferred view. If you didnt use your balcony that much (or at all, or dont mind looking at a parking lot), then to save points I would be booking the standard view since the rooms inside are the same for the studios (standard or preferred).

 

[britburns117]

Yes, we did a split stay of the tower and studio preferred (since we know what a parking lot looks like, lol) to see how each room sleeps. If you like sitting on your balcony frequently, enjoying the view (and with food and/or coffee/cocktails) then I would book the preferred view. If you didnt use your balcony that much (or at all, or dont mind looking at a parking lot), then to save points I would be booking the standard view since the rooms inside are the same for the studios (standard or preferred).

Thanks for your input, it's really helpful!

 

[Leahc117]

We just bought 150 pts at Riviera without ever visiting the resort. I am very happy with my purchase. Buying direct was so easy, I am glad to get the direct benefits, Riviera looks beautiful, and (after playing around on the site) there is some availability to be had a (some) resorts at 7 mo. I try to be optimistic with the world returning to normal and can’t wait for our next trip! I am still looking around on the resale marked for additional points as well. I was glad to see that 150 points can get us through an 8 day trip but when we start moving into larger accommodations or bringing grandparents we will need more points!! Good luck!!

 

[sethschroeder]

I could do a guaranteed week for either January or November RunDisney races (My favorite 2, hopefully they continue after covid) but am now debating if I should do standard or preferred view for the studio

RunDisney FW are only at CCV. Now you could do a Fixed Week at RIV but it will be a normal week 15 or week 46 or week.....

Actually my FW thread didn't call it out in the summary so I updated to make sure to call that out, sorry for the confusion.

 

[britburns117]

RunDisney FW are only at CCV. Now you could do a Fixed Week at RIV but it will be a normal week 15 or week 46 or week.....

Actually my FW thread didn't call it out in the summary so I updated to make sure to call that out, sorry for the confusion.

My guide today mentioned guaranteed weeks at Riviera for both wine and dine and marathon weekends...I talked with him yesterday and he told me he would have to get back with me so he definitely asked someone. He also said that I could split the stay (not necessarily sunday-sunday) for the rundisney weekends. Is this perhaps a change in response to the difficulty selling with Covid?

 

[sethschroeder]

My guide today mentioned guaranteed weeks at Riviera for both wine and dine and marathon weekends...I talked with him yesterday and he told me he would have to get back with me so he definitely asked someone. He also said that I could split the stay (not necessarily sunday-sunday) for the rundisney weekends. Is this perhaps a change in response to the difficulty selling with Covid?

Fixed Weeks are a hole that you go down that seems lots of new information is uncovered.

 

[britburns117]

Fixed Weeks are a hole that you go down that seems lots of new information is uncovered.

Right?! I have been thinking about DVC for a long time and hadn't known about them until this thread. At the end of the day they seem low risk -- any year you can cancel and get those points. So may as well get a fixed week studio since those are hard to come by.

 

[masupo]

My guide today mentioned guaranteed weeks at Riviera for both wine and dine and marathon weekends...I talked with him yesterday and he told me he would have to get back with me so he definitely asked someone. He also said that I could split the stay (not necessarily sunday-sunday) for the rundisney weekends. Is this perhaps a change in response to the difficulty selling with Covid?

I just put a deposit down on fixed week 44 at Riviera (Jersey week) and I think that coincides with Wine & Dine. I was wishing I could get it as a Run Disney week to be able to change the check in day some years. I didn't even ask my guide because it's not officially offered there.

You've got my hopes up now! Keep us updated - if you get that deal I'll definitely leverage it with my guide

 

[britburns117]

I just put a deposit down on fixed week 44 at Riviera (Jersey week) and I think that coincides with Wine & Dine. I was wishing I could get it as a Run Disney week to be able to change the check in day some years. I didn't even ask my guide because it's not officially offered there.

You've got my hopes up now! Keep us updated - if you get that deal I'll definitely leverage it with my guide

So interesting, I didn't realize it was different that what was offered in the past. I'll extra-super-clarify before signing!!!

 

[Ruttangel]

Oh this is helpful! A lot less studios out there than I had hoped, but seems consistent with what I've heard. What does 2 BRLO mean? Most of the rooms seem to be that category--but it says they can convert. Any idea how that plays out?

Sorry for late reply, if you look at OKW then it has 230 2BRLO and total rooms of 531, however if they were booked as studios then you could have 230 studios and 230 1BR, total rooms then 761.

by the way 2BRLO means a 2 bedroom lock off which means it can separated by a locked door to make it a studio and 1BR or combined to make it a 2BR.
So these are different to a discreet 2BR unit.

 

[heapmaster]

Right?! I have been thinking about DVC for a long time and hadn't known about them until this thread. At the end of the day they seem low risk -- any year you can cancel and get those points. So may as well get a fixed week studio since those are hard to come by.

We were going to get a FW as well but didnt like how they did the point assignment for the fixed week in our case. We have a Dec UY, so buying points we get points from the current UY Dec 2019 and our points this Dec as well. With a fixed week, we don't, we only get the 2019 UY points and then an automatic reservation for December of next year (since we were thinking of a FW in Dec). You would think they would use the 2021 Dec UY points for the FW next December when they make it since that is when your going, but our guide said no, they use the 2020 points to make the December week reservation even though its in our 2021 UY. So we just bought the points instead.

 

[striker1064]

We were going to get a FW as well but didnt like how they did the point assignment for the fixed week in our case. We have a Dec UY, so buying points we get points from the current UY Dec 2019 and our points this Dec as well. With a fixed week, we don't, we only get the 2019 UY points and then an automatic reservation for December of next year (since we were thinking of a FW in Dec). You would think they would use the 2021 Dec UY points for the FW next December when they make it since that is when your going, but our guide said no, they use the 2020 points to make the December week reservation even though its in our 2021 UY. So we just bought the points instead.

I believe your guide was mistaken. My understanding is all FW are booked using current UY points. It could be that FWs don't come up that often for guides, and since they aren't the ones making the booking they may not be sure.

 

[Sandisw]

I believe your guide was mistaken. My understanding is all FW are booked using current UY points. It could be that FWs don't come up that often for guides, and since they aren't the ones making the booking they may not be sure.

I believe It is written in either the POS or the Home Resort rules and regulations that they will not use banked points for the FW reservation.