Crunch time! GF or RIV? Or maybe Poly?

[🍀TwinsMom]

This is awesome. Definitely sharing this write up with my wife!

We have a 2.5 year old and another one on the way so definitely planning on holding this for some time to come - hoping that they use it with their kids!

Honestly I like Epcot and AK, my wife likes MK and HS but we love them all. We recently stayed at Poly and really enjoyed the boat rides over but did have a long wait coming back one night so even though it is nice - it is certainly not the most efficient means of travel.

I really LOVE both of these options and I am hoping that we can stay at both so long as the demand at the 7 month booking period is not overwhelming. And by stay - hopefully in a 1BR with no split stay - toddlers and split stays are not really something I would prefer to do.

Definitely will be bringing grandparents and I am sure they would love the amenities of GF - especially the spa (which me and my wife would like as well).

Yea - I want to start with like 165 points and plan to go every other year to start. Knowing myself, I will likely want to add but no harm in dipping feet in direct and then maybe adding on resale (or direct again).

This is definitely a good problem to have in that we love both resorts and I think/hope we will be able to stay at both in a 1BR weather in the 11 or 7 month time frame. Thanks again for that write up!

We plan to pass down to the kids, too. We’re interested in Poly 2.0 so we have MK covered, and while I don’t like the aesthetics of the planned outside, I am stoked it’s a tower like Riviera with an enclosed footprint and, hopefully, great on-site restaurants and bars.

Riviera one-bedrooms are easily available at seven months, but not standard view. Preferred view are stupidly expensive points-wise, so if you buy GF hoping for Riviera at seven months, look up the point chart to see how far your points will get you.

 

[intamin]

We plan to pass down to the kids, too. We’re interested in Poly 2.0 so we have MK covered, and while I don’t like the aesthetics of the planned outside, I am stoked it’s a tower like Riviera with an enclosed footprint and, hopefully, great on-site restaurants and bars.

Riviera one-bedrooms are easily available at seven months, but not standard view. Preferred view are stupidly expensive points-wise, so if you buy GF hoping for Riviera at seven months, look up the point chart to see how far your points will get you.

I love RIV but it seems like the difference in price between the standard and preferred view only is about 15-20% max between the different room types as opposed to 30% at some of the other DVC resorts. That being said I don't really care bc for me I like RIV more than the other currently actively selling resorts so the discount still helps. But maybe this is why the standard rooms although cheaper still often have great views and there's not as drastic of a price difference?

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I love RIV but it seems like the difference in price between the standard and preferred view only is about 15-20% max between the different room types as opposed to 30% at some of the other DVC resorts. That being said I don't really care bc for me I like RIV more than the other currently actively selling resorts so the discount still helps. But maybe this is why the standard rooms although cheaper still often have great views and there's not as drastic of a price difference?

IDK if they goofed making standard views better, but Riviera is our favorite. It’s so easy to get around, and at the end of every trip, when we’re dragging and sweaty, we’re so happy to be able to get “home” so quickly.

 

[intamin]

IDK if they goofed making standard views better, but Riviera is our favorite. It’s so easy to get around, and at the end of every trip, when we’re dragging and sweaty, we’re so happy to be able to get “home” so quickly.

Agreed, I'm a fan of the towers and not having to walk too far to get to my room vs. an extremely spread out resort. This is why I'm considering poly tower when it comes out. Low key kinda hoping it's a separate association as I'm not as interested in the studios and Poly 1 in general is pretty easy to book at 7 months.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Agreed, I'm a fan of the towers and not having to walk too far to get to my room vs. an extremely spread out resort. This is why I'm considering poly tower when it comes out. Low key kinda hoping it's a separate association as I'm not as interested in the studios and Poly 1 in general is pretty easy to book at 7 months.

Totally agree! I'm hoping it has the stupid resale restrictions so Riviera isn't singled out for having them. If it doesn't, then get rid of them for Riviera instead of penalizing this gorgeous resort. We love the tower style, and I think Poly 2.0 is going to be amazing. I hate the outside aesthetics, but an island fine-dining restaurant on the rooftop, watching fireworks, and that infinity pool -- could be a sophisticated addition if they theme it right. And no walking outside in the heat/rain for food!

 

[Yankee626]

Totally agree! I'm hoping it has the stupid resale restrictions so Riviera isn't singled out for having them. If it doesn't, then get rid of them for Riviera instead of penalizing this gorgeous resort. We love the tower style, and I think Poly 2.0 is going to be amazing. I hate the outside aesthetics, but an island fine-dining restaurant on the rooftop, watching fireworks, and that infinity pool -- could be a sophisticated addition if they theme it right. And no walking outside in the heat/rain for food!

I cant wait to see the point chart at the Poly2 ! Im sure it will be the highest to date. The studios are already ridiculous.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

So, just a few more thoughts for the OP.

The ease of the Skyliner is a really big plus for us. We ride it at night over to Pop and AofA to shop and just putter. The kids liked using the splash pad/pool area for a quick dip with all the in-your-face theming, and we like their gift shops in the evening as an excuse to check new areas out. We have traveled August/September twice and only had the Skyliner shut down once. I know that's the anomaly, but it was our experience.

Buses at Riviera have been STELLAR on every trip so far. Again, just our experience, but I was NOT happy with buses at GF.

The monorail is not the awesome mode of transportation that people make it out to be. Again, just my opinion, but we kind of low-key hated it, LOL. It's useful off hours, but OMG, after fireworks? Horrible.

Riviera has a little coffee/drink bar in the lobby and bake shop by the gift shop. It is SO nice to have that on property and not have to battle the elements and a long walk for a fancy coffee. At night, they have some adult beverages. Again, not a make or break, but nice to have to grab if you're going to be shopping or want to enjoy the outdoor areas.

Primo is a good quick service! Gasparilla Grill had more options, but it's a LONG walk from the DVC wing. IDK about you, but I don't want to be juggling bags of food and hot coffee trays in my hands in the heat/rain first thing in the morning, trudging back to the room. Our kids roll through Riviera and know how to get around every part of it, and now they're our Primo runners every morning, LOL. I get to stay in the room in my PJS with no bra, my husband is still asleep in bed, and the kids are excited to be helpful and be active to get the food.

Now that our kids are 9 and 10 and know how to get around, we can send them to the pool ahead of us while we finish up our morning coffee and cleaning up, packing things for the parks later that day. The kids aren't supposed to be at the pool -13 unattended, but we let them go down first thing in the morning after breakfast since all kids are crazed with energy and want to swim 24/7, and we join them after about 20 minutes once we're done puttering. It's really nice to have the small footprint at Riviera to not worry about them getting lost/abducted. Paranoid, I know, but that's how I think.

Having laundry in the room is a major game changer. We fly in with just carry-on luggage, and I do laundry every night. We now only pack three outfits for a week per person and use any leftover space for souvenirs. That applies to any DVC resort, but it IS awesome, especially with littles who barf/sweat/spit up/spill.

 

[sethschroeder]

We plan to pass down to the kids, too. We’re interested in Poly 2.0 so we have MK covered, and while I don’t like the aesthetics of the planned outside, I am stoked it’s a tower like Riviera with an enclosed footprint and, hopefully, great on-site restaurants and bars.

One difference is going to be all transportations won't be at the Tower from my understanding. Getting to Epcot you are walking over the TTC as an example.

 

[tom1944]

One difference is going to be all transportations won't be at the Tower from my understanding. Getting to Epcot you are walking over the TTC as an example.

How far is that?

 

[sethschroeder]

How far is that?

Poly Tower to TTC Monorail will be .6 miles
Poly Tower to Bus will be .25 miles (if at current POLY location)
Poly Tower to Boat will be .23 miles

RIV to Bus .05 miles
RIV to Skyliner .05 miles to Skyliner wing and .12 miles to main lobby area

Additionally Riviera is mostly all covered while Poly you have to walk outside during rainstorms. Sure not a big thing but a benefit of VGF over POLY in the MK area since that is also all covered unless you are in the new VGF building.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

One difference is going to be all transportations won't be at the Tower from my understanding. Getting to Epcot you are walking over the TTC as an example.

True, which is a drawback, but I think we’re more inclined to do Poly 2.0 as a base for MK parties/DVC extra magic hours, or whatever it’s called, and centralized location for restaurants and loafing at the resort. We’re not park warriors anymore and really enjoy the R&R with a sprinkling of parks in at night. I’m a reformed rope dropper!

 

[tom1944]

Would you expect Poly2 to go on sale before 2024?

 

[Sandisw]

Would you expect Poly2 to go on sale before 2024?

No. It is slated for an end of 2024 opening. My guess is Spring 2024 at the earliest.

 

[sethschroeder]

Would you expect Poly2 to go on sale before 2024?

Would be first half of 2024 I suspect?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Now that our kids are 9 and 10 and know how to get around, we can send them to the pool ahead of us…
The kids aren't supposed to be at the pool -13 unattended…but we join them after about 20 minutes once we're done puttering.

 

[PBandJFamwich]

True, which is a drawback, but I think we’re more inclined to do Poly 2.0 as a base for MK parties/DVC extra magic hours, or whatever it’s called, and centralized location for restaurants and loafing at the resort. We’re not park warriors anymore and really enjoy the R&R with a sprinkling of parks in at night. I’m a reformed rope dropper!

This is making we actually consider RIV for our upcoming purchase…We will probably be adding on a small contract when the cabins at FW go on sale so we the have 11 month window to book around Halloween and Christmas making that our ideal MK area resort since those will be our party related trips. RIV would be a good balance for non party trips.

 

[Nursemanit]

This is making we actually consider RIV for our upcoming purchase…We will probably be adding on a small contract when the cabins at FW go on sale so we the have 11 month window to book around Halloween and Christmas making that our ideal MK area resort since those will be our party related trips. RIV would be a good balance for non party trips.

Riv is where I have most of my points and is my forever contract and my direct points. For all the pros and cons people mention you hit on the real benefit of RIV - it has the most adaptable mix of rooms and can keep the most diverse crowd happy. For the 7 adults 2 children and one infant I am taking, RR had the least expensive combo of rooms that did not put anyone on a pull-out couch or chair and all adults have a real bed.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

We own at Riviera, Poly and GF and that’s probably how I would rank them, too.

We love love love the Rivera, every stay reinforces that and pushes aside any reservations we may have had early on. The food, the compact size, Le Petit Café, the gorgeous, light and airy rooms, but most of all the Skyliner maybe my most favorite thing Disney has added in a long time. (Forget adding more hotels, Disney, please extend the skyliner to AK!). I’m constantly thinking about adding more points haha.

Poly has the those laidback island vibes we love and we’re really excited about the potentials for 1 and 2 bedroom villas so we will likely add more points (or buy direct if it’s a new association) to stay at Poly2.

Honestly, GF is lovely and I can’t really say anything bad about it but it’s just not our first choice right now.

Like most are saying, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any of them but definitely go with the one you love staying/being at most. The hotel with the most ‘value’ will always be the one you love most, not necessarily the one that has more years or less restrictions.