Direct vs. Resale

[MohrDisney19]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are looking to buy into DVC and can't decided if we want to go direct or resale. We are considering buying resale now and then purchasing add on points directly to get those bonuses. We typically go once a year, family of 3 currently, with a LO who is 4 months old. We only plan to have one more child, making us a family of 4 eventually. I'd like to buy into Rivera, but at the same time I'm not sure it's worth it. We would like a long contract since we plan to go for the next 40+ years. Obviously we can add on points later when we have grandchildren, so I don't think that's a factor. Since we only go once a year, I'm assuming annual passes aren't a huge perk... Any opinions? I've watched the video on the YouTube channel, but I'm curious what everyone else did/does.

 

[smisale]

I'm a big fan of animal kingdom my children are grown and I have a grandson and I just asked what resort they would prefer. One thing I can tell you is that buy where you want to stay also figure out when you are going to visit and pick the proper use year to give you time to bank points. by the way I would buy resale you save thousands and you can buy a lot of perks with the savings. buying where you want to to stay gives you a jump on everyone else since you can book at 11 months out its getting harder to get a studio at the popular resorts at 7 months. To buy direct to get perks you have to purchase 125 points and they have taken a lot of the perks away they may come back but that not a guarantee

 

[CraigInPA]

I think you should read ALL of the stickies in this forum.

But, let me also throw out there that there are a number of resorts with expiration dates in 2057, 2060, and beyond. Because these have been sold out for some time, there is a healthy resale market in BLT, GFV, Poly, AKV, SSR, and AUL. You're not stuck with RIV if you expect to use it for +/- 40 years.

Now, having said that, RIV is in a special category of resort. While direct purchasers of RIV can book RIV and all the other existing resorts, RIV resale is limited to RIV only. For resale purchasers of the other DVC resorts, there is no booking of RIV, but all the other resorts are open to them.

A few years back, someone coined the phrase "buy where you want to stay" in relation to DVC studio booking. As we've watched over the last few years, this is becoming more and more a rule during certain seasons (from September through mid-January). Take a look at youtube videos of the various rooms. If you aren't in a big hurry, rent some points and stay for a couple of nights at your top one or two choices to see if it works for you. My wife and I narrowed down our choices of home resort to three, stayed in two, and eliminated the third after a walk-around of the newly renovated resort. Likewise, we were considering a small add-on for another resort, but eliminated that after walking around it (wrong vibe for us). Once we narrowed down the resort, and knew what use years worked for our vacationing schedule, we watched the resale sites daily until that "Cinderella" contract came up. Right number of points, right use year, and right price. We pounced on it and got it. It took us 9 months of waiting (primarily because we needed an uncommon use year for that resort), but was totally worth it.

 

[Bobb_o]

purchasing add on points directly to get those bonuses.

You need to really work this out because you're more than likely going to do better from the discount perspective by just saving with resale. The other thing is that the perks are not guaranteed and can change anytime. Unless you're taking advantage of special events and things like that I don't really see the benefit vs resale.

Another thing is if you're like the majority of DVC owners you will not own for 40 years.

 

[havoc315]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are looking to buy into DVC and can't decided if we want to go direct or resale. We are considering buying resale now and then purchasing add on points directly to get those bonuses. We typically go once a year, family of 3 currently, with a LO who is 4 months old. We only plan to have one more child, making us a family of 4 eventually. I'd like to buy into Rivera, but at the same time I'm not sure it's worth it. We would like a long contract since we plan to go for the next 40+ years. Obviously we can add on points later when we have grandchildren, so I don't think that's a factor. Since we only go once a year, I'm assuming annual passes aren't a huge perk... Any opinions? I've watched the video on the YouTube channel, but I'm curious what everyone else did/does.

1 -- If you like Riviera, buy direct at Riviera. It's priced somewhat artificially low with added incentives due to it being the newest property with lots of points to sell, and with the pandemic hurting sales. Note that "new" points at Riviera are priced pretty close to resale points at some of the other resorts.
2 -- Some people who go once per year actually still utilize the Gold Pass perk, assuming it comes back. Remember, you can use it for 2 trips within 12 months of each other. So if you go July 2021 and then May 2022, you can get both trips into 1 gold pass. Saving several hundred dollars per person.
3 -- Of course, the biggest perk of direct is the ability to stay in ALL resorts. If you buy re-sale at Riviera, you can only use it at Riviera. If you buy re-sale someplace else, you can't use those points at Riviera.

Basically... if Riviera is your first choice of resort, go Riviera direct. If you just want minimally priced DVC entry, and don't care as much about where you will stay, then get re-sale points from SSR,, maybe AKL or OKW..

 

[Sandisw]

1 -- If you like Riviera, buy direct at Riviera. It's priced somewhat artificially low with added incentives due to it being the newest property with lots of points to sell, and with the pandemic hurting sales. Note that "new" points at Riviera are priced pretty close to resale points at some of the other resorts.
2 -- Some people who go once per year actually still utilize the Gold Pass perk, assuming it comes back. Remember, you can use it for 2 trips within 12 months of each other. So if you go July 2021 and then May 2022, you can get both trips into 1 gold pass. Saving several hundred dollars per person.
3 -- Of course, the biggest perk of direct is the ability to stay in ALL resorts. If you buy re-sale at Riviera, you can only use it at Riviera. If you buy re-sale someplace else, you can't use those points at Riviera.

Basically... if Riviera is your first choice of resort, go Riviera direct. If you just want minimally priced DVC entry, and don't care as much about where you will stay, then get re-sale points from SSR,, maybe AKL or OKW..

I second all of this advice right here! As you said, compared to other resorts I consider comparable to RIV, you are not saving much going resale.

Worst thing, IMO, is spending $$$$ for something only to realize later you regret not spending a few thousand more to have what you really want.

The biggest criticism of RIV is its resale value. I don’t think that should be a big part of the decision, but even if it is, so far, it’s exceeding expectations in terms of what people are paying.

As you said, resale takes you out of RIV and for someone who owns points that can’t be combined with other points that can, it’s annoying when what I need to upgrade a room can’t be used because they are the restricted ones.

 

[RoseGold]

I bought a resale VGF contract to tick all the boxes in your post. If I'm buying into the RIV chart and price, I'm going to do it at the tiny flagship resort (VGF), not the huge beast that will be for sale for years. But I love VGF and plan to use the points there.

My current exit strategy for VGF actually is to pass it down, but I love knowing I could cancel my pending trips and sell it for more or less what I paid (currently a lot more!) at any moment. That matters to me. It's also why I bought as many SSR points as I did. They're only little once, and then I'll sell in a few years.

The RIV resale restrictions are a complete non-starter to me. I wouldn't even consider it when there are so many other choices with excellent, proven resale history. There are other direct purchases I would consider, but it sounds like a Blue Card would not be very useful to you.

If you have a longer view, I might actually wait to buy direct for whatever the next WDW project is, or at least until they announce it. I can picture it being something small and cheap, like painting some more rooms at an existing hotel, instead of building another giant box in a mediocre location. I would expect years on this timeframe.

I found this chart helpful when trying to decide what to do more broadly:
https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/best-economical-dvc-resort-to-purchase-fall-2020/

 

[Ruttangel]

I can picture it being something small and cheap, like painting some more rooms at an existing hotel, instead of building another giant box in a mediocre location.

interesting that you mentioned paint, why did they pick bland grey for RIV?

 

[RoseGold]

interesting that you mentioned paint, why did they pick bland grey for RIV?

Decor seemed straight out of the current chain business hotel playbook to me. They're all gray right now.

 

[Sandisw]

interesting that you mentioned paint, why did they pick bland grey for RIV?

I love the color scheme as it matches my own color choices at home!! Lol

 

[RoseGold]

I love the color scheme as it matches my own color choices at home!! Lol

Well, you'll love any mid-range business hotel renovated in the last two years!

 

[havoc315]

Decor seemed straight out of the current chain business hotel playbook to me. They're all gray right now.

While the exterior of the Riviera isn't perfect, I do find it to have a wonderful "Riviera inspired" elegant look throughout.

A top hotel from the Italian Riviera:



And the French Riviera:


Disney's Riviera definitely takes the inspiration well, even if not perfectly.


Of course, opinions will vary. But to me, it doesn't look anything like a current chain business hotel.
In terms of pure architecture Riviera is among by top 3-4 favorite resorts.
I like Animal Kingdom Lodge a LOT. I like Copper Creek / Wilderness Lodge quite a bit.
I like the Polynesian long houses though the color is a bit dark.
I can't stand Boulder Ridge, looks like 1970's condos.
I can't stand BLT... looks like an apartment building in a medium city in the 1990's.
I don't like GFV very much -- tries too hard to be something it isn't a facsimile of a classic beach side look. And opulence just feels forced.
SSR feels to me like a "value" hotel that's trying to be something more.
OKW has a dated feel.
Beach Club and Boardwalk are both just boring to me, Beach Club strikes me as a pastel Holiday Inn.

So guess if I was ranking the WDW resorts purely based on the look and architecture of the building and property from the outside..

1... AKV
2 CCV
3 Poly
4 RIV
5 BWV
6 - OKW
7- GFV
8 - BLT
9 - SSR
10 BCV
12 BRV

 

[princesscinderella]

Decor seemed straight out of the current chain business hotel playbook to me. They're all gray right now.

I agree I hate all the gray. I think the riviera hotel looks beautiful at night all lit up. During the day I find it way to dreary looking.

 

[Evita_W]

With the incentives right now, there isn't much difference in price between resale and direct, so I would suggest direct and avoid all of the restrictions.

 

[CraigInPA]

I agree I hate all the gray. I think the riviera hotel looks beautiful at night all lit up. During the day I find it way to dreary looking.

Exactly what my wife and I said when we did a walk-around while considering an add-on there. The drab grey was very off-putting, to the point that we didn't buy the add-on.

 

[irazabul]

With the incentives right now, there isn't much difference in price between resale and direct, so I would suggest direct and avoid all of the restrictions.

The incentives buying direct are like $20 per point. Resales these days can be up to $80-$100 less than the direct cost. I would say resale is the way to go if cost is a stronger consideration. If not, direct is less stressful and has some benefits that resale does not have (however, the value of the added benefits, IMO, does not make up for the cost savings going resale).

 

[Sandisw]

The incentives buying direct are like $20 per point. Resales these days can be up to $80-$100 less than the direct cost. I would say resale is the way to go if cost is a stronger consideration. If not, direct is less stressful and has some benefits that resale does not have (however, the value of the added benefits, IMO, does not make up for the cost savings going resale).

Depends on the resort. SSR is giving $5/point off at 150 points. $8/ point if an owner. Brings you to $155 to $160. Resale is going around $105 right now as an average for that resort.

That’s not a huge difference and given all the benefits of having direct points and the blue card for the future it can be worth spending that extra.

But, if you are talking some of the other resorts like BLT, VGF, and CCV... direct us crazy.

 

[Ruttangel]

But, if you are talking some of the other resorts like BLT, VGF, and CCV... direct us crazy.

I’m not sure CCV is crazy, on 7th April, 200 points at RIV is going to be $185pp, CCV would be $194 with cheaper dues and no resale restrictions on future sale.

 

[kboo]

I’m not sure CCV is crazy, on 7th April, 200 points at RIV is going to be $185pp, CCV would be $194 with cheaper dues and no resale restrictions on future sale.

I agree that CCV isn't in the same level as BLT or VGF direct prices, but a family of 5 needs a 2br there, while studios and 1br at RV can accommodate a family of 5. That's a pretty big points difference, which is how they will sell it.

 

[princesscinderella]

I agree that CCV isn't in the same level as BLT or VGF direct prices, but a family of 5 needs a 2br there, while studios and 1br at RV can accommodate a family of 5. That's a pretty big points difference, which is how they will sell it.

I agree CCV rooms are too small for us as a family of 5 which is why I wouldn’t buy there. They felt small too when we toured the rooms. I love the lodge too and wish it would work better for us. I hate the point hungry cabins too which makes everything out of whack.