DVC News-Jan 2026

[airjay75]

If they really want to move forward with a tear down and addition of Caribbean beach to RIV, does it matter if it’s completely sold out? Just rent out the extra points they are holding onto until RIV2.0 goes on sale?

I like this idea. The only complicating factor is that it would have to be up and running by 2030 to add to the existing RIV association. That timeline seems . . . aggressive. Of course, they could still do it and just make it a different association and/or a new RTU in the trust. They may well prefer it to be part of the trust anyways.

 

[BeachClub2014]

If they really want to move forward with a tear down and addition of Caribbean beach to RIV, does it matter if it’s completely sold out? Just rent out the extra points they are holding onto until RIV2.0 goes on sale?

Does it matter? Nope, not really. I tend to agree with you, as I see DVC continuing to follow the same pathway with Riv as they have in the past, as long as room cash sales remain strong.

If, and I think it's a big "IF," they take more of Caribbean Beach offline for conversion to DVC, I bet it would be for a totally new resort after LSL. I don't think they'll add to Riv or make a Riv 2.0

 

[tidefan]

I like this idea. The only complicating factor is that it would have to be up and running by 2030 to add to the existing RIV association. That timeline seems . . . aggressive. Of course, they could still do it and just make it a different association and/or a new RTU in the trust. They may well prefer it to be part of the trust anyways.

Imagine the uproar from RIV owners if they added some CBR buildings to the existing association. What if they just took the existing buildings and converted them all to 2/3 bedroom "Mediterranean Villas" with insane point costs? Then they sold all of those points to folks promising them 11-month access to all of those standard view villas in the original building! I'd love to see the competition then at 11 months for those standard view studios...

Think it can't happen??? It already has. This is essentially what they did at VGF to the VGF1 owners...

 

[Dodgerburt8]

Setting aside the debate on whether resale restrictions affect sales, I think it will be interesting to see what they do with RIV and PIT as the opening of LSL approaches.

Let's say sales of LSL begin in December 2026 with an opening in February 2027. I think they have a few options.

1. Do nothing. Just continue pricing RIV/PIT the way they are, and let all 3 be in active sales for most of 2027. Maybe if they combine CFW with LSL, they're actually ok with this. I tend to be skeptical they want that many resorts on sale at the same time, but maybe they don't really care.

2. Significant sales incentives on RIV and/or PIT. I sort of think they won't do that on PIT because, why offer a greater discount when you don't have to. RIV seems the more likely choice - seems to me a good extra $10-$20/point in addition to incentives they currently offer would probably get those points moving pretty fast.

3. Declare "sold out" before you get to 98% of points sold. I could see this making a lot of sense on RIV. You sell 90% of the points, declare it sold out and raise the price to $255-$265/point. Now, if you're a RIV owner, and you find yourself in need of more points, you have two options. Buy restricted resale, or cough up some extra money at the "sold out" price for unrestricted points. Maybe you occasionally run a "flash sale."

I think my money is currently on a combination of 2 and 3. Some pretty decent sales incentives on RIV as the opening date of LSL firms up to clear out some points, but Disney holding on to a good deal more than the required 2% of points and declaring it sold out before LSL goes on sale.

Yes I agree. A final sales push coupled with holding back maybe 5 percent instead of 2.

 

[airjay75]

Imagine the uproar from RIV owners if they added some CBR buildings to the existing association. What if they just took the existing buildings and converted them all to 2/3 bedroom "Mediterranean Villas" with insane point costs? Then they sold all of those points to folks promising them 11-month access to all of those standard view villas in the original building! I'd love to see the competition then at 11 months for those standard view studios...

Think it can't happen??? It already has. This is essentially what they did at VGF to the VGF1 owners...

I think the major reason I have a hard time seeing that happen is that it would need to be done by 2030. With LSL not opening until 2027, and it likely having as many points as it will to sell, I just don’t see the reason to rush a RIV add-on.

Tearing down Aruba to add a brand new DVC resort with an opening date in 2032 or 2033 (whenever they think LSL is going to sell out)? That seems much more likely to me.

But, maybe with all the planned MK expansions, they’ll think they need another MK area resort before they need more Epcot/HS area rooms.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Isn't most of this though? You're just lighting more of it on fire with VB and HHI...

I just looked at the delta between direct and resale and it’s about $100pp for those two…. I guess I’m glad to see that VB and HHI have a lot lower direct base price than BCV and BWV…. so the spreads really aren’t that different.

 

[Brian Noble]

Tearing down Aruba

I think this is unlikely. With the Skyliner plus the reduced capacity CBR now has sufficient demand relative to supply to justify the highest room rates among the Mods.

Historically, the reason DVC has converted cash rooms to DVC (either by bulldozing and rebuilding or straight conversion) is usually because they have trouble filling those cash rooms at the rates they are hoping.

I think GFV 2.0 might be an exception, but I suspect that was an emergency flip that came up because the pandemic lockdown delayed Lakeshore to a later point in the inventory pipeline and they needed the inventory to keep up with sales demand.

 

[airjay75]

I think this is unlikely. With the Skyliner plus the reduced capacity CBR now has sufficient demand relative to supply to justify the highest room rates among the Mods.

Historically, the reason DVC has converted cash rooms to DVC (either by bulldozing and rebuilding or straight conversion) is usually because they have trouble filling those cash rooms at the rates they are hoping.

I think GFV 2.0 might be an exception, but I suspect that was an emergency flip that came up because the pandemic lockdown delayed Lakeshore to a later point in the inventory pipeline and they needed the inventory to keep up with sales demand.

That makes even more sense to me.

 

[Brian Noble]

That doesn't mean DVC won't figure out a way to expand the RIV Association, but it probalby won't be at the expense of CBR inventory.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I think this is unlikely. With the Skyliner plus the reduced capacity CBR now has sufficient demand relative to supply to justify the highest room rates among the Mods.

Historically, the reason DVC has converted cash rooms to DVC (either by bulldozing and rebuilding or straight conversion) is usually because they have trouble filling those cash rooms at the rates they are hoping.

I think GFV 2.0 might be an exception, but I suspect that was an emergency flip that came up because the pandemic lockdown delayed Lakeshore to a later point in the inventory pipeline and they needed the inventory to keep up with sales demand.

I read Disney couldn’t fill the room and that the Grand Floridian has started to put rooms on Groupon…..

 

[disneylandtour]

I feel these numbers suggest a fire sale on RIV later in 2026 (maybe summer) before LSL begins sales.

 

[disneylandtour]

I think GFV 2.0 might be an exception, but I suspect that was an emergency flip that came up because the pandemic lockdown delayed Lakeshore to a later point in the inventory pipeline and they needed the inventory to keep up with sales demand.

Unless I'm remembering this incorrectly, didn't RIV open about three months before the pandemic. DVC was very flush with inventory moving into and out of the pandemic? And during the pandemic, Poly Tower was designed (the luau closed in 2020 never to reopen, which suggests that Disney knew the path forward), and the tower was then announced to the public in 2022, after designs and as I recall some permitting was finished. If anything, DVC in Florida has had too much inventory since 2020.

 

[disneylandtour]

What's the snarky comment?

I.e. why would resale restrictions have anything to do with an abrupt decrease in sales in early 2026? The restrictions haven't recently changed, and I doubt that a bunch of people suddenly figured out that the restrictions might affect resale.

Just saying that it seems that there might be other factors in play, instead of the knee-jerk reaction of "Restrictions!!!"

Specific information has a trickle down effect. When RIV opened, how many general buyers understood the restrictions completely? I'm guessing it was a small percent, with a few areas (or boards) discussing them. That info has now trickled down to a bunch of boards and FB groups, so it's influencing more people.

Another factor now: I've seen some RIV resale contracts being offered for very close to $100pp. The lowest asking price today is $106pp. So even if you don't fully understand the restrictions, you can see the difference in the "driving the car off the lot" price drop between RIV and Poly pretty easily. The lowest Poly resale asking today is $154pp. So in terms of market value, your value decreases significantly more with a direct RIV purchase.

 

[airjay75]

Specific information has a trickle down effect. When RIV opened, how many general buyers understood the restrictions completely? I'm guessing it was a small percent, with a few areas (or boards) discussing them. That info has now trickled down to a bunch of boards and FB groups, so it's influencing more people.

Another factor now: I've seen some RIV resale contracts being offered for very close to $100pp. The lowest asking price today is $106pp. So even if you don't fully understand the restrictions, you can see the difference in the "driving the car off the lot" price drop between RIV and Poly pretty easily. The lowest Poly resale asking today is $154pp. So in terms of market value, your value decreases significantly more with a direct RIV purchase.

I think that is a very plausible argument that may explain some of PIT’s outselling of RIV since it opened.

But, OTOH, imagine a world where resale restrictions were never introduced, and your resale points at any resort could get you into RIV/VDH/CFW. Would the combined sales of PIT and RIV be better, worse, or the same as they are now?

My money is on worse.

 

[maui22]

Last year at this time, Riviera was on track to sell out in December 2026. Sales have slowed and it is now looking like it will not sell out until June/July of 2027. I could make a snarky comment about the effect of resale restrictions, but I won't -- I will just think them.

That likely was impacted by PVB sales. They started in October 2024 and back then there were 90 days delayed closings/payments.
Here is a link to my own data from October 1, 2024 - January 31, 2026. Pretty close if not exact match to Wil's data.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/wdw-direct-sales-by-month-10-1-24-1-31-26.3975108/

You can see Riviera's best month of all of those was October 2024 (same month PVB went on sale). Polynesian's best month wasn't until January 2025 (but this was heavily impacted by the 90 day delayed closing policy. See my second post which reflects the Executed On Data for resorts. PVB had 161,847 points with October 2024 executed on dates. November 2024 was second most for IT@PVB.

Prior to that BPK@VGF impacted sales.
There was also a little thing called the pandemic that impacted things.
If you look at @wdrl earlier DVCNews articles on 2019 sales, Riviera was doing quite well.

 

[Cfabar1]

But, OTOH, imagine a world where resale restrictions were never introduced, and your resale points at any resort could get you into RIV/VDH/CFW. Would the combined sales of PIT and RIV be better, worse, or the same as they are now?

My money is on worse.

My money is on better actually… Particularly if the restrictions around member cruises, being able to buy annual passes, being able to use points for APs, the new lounges, and the other enhancements DVC has been creating were in place on resale points, as they are now.

The resale restriction thing relies on hypotheticals - what IF I sell, what IF I want to stay at a resort that may or may not even (or ever) exist…

Price is what pushed me to make my purchase, as did the appeal of my home resort. That pushed me to make a direct purchase, when I bought VGF. We wanted the GF, and the price for direct was comparable to resale - maybe a little more expensive, but it helped me buy into the DVC lifestyle - the lounges, the swag, the community.

If I wanted to stay at RIV, it, for me, was tough then, and now very tough to justify buying direct RIV points since I have direct benefits. I’d rather buy resale RIV for a fraction of the cost. And, if I found I didn’t want to actually use those points at the RIV after a few trips, I could sell them and take very little hit at that point. Renting points also comes to mind as an option, or doing a member transfer…

This logic is the same reason why the SSR “flash sale” doesn’t appeal to me…

Just a contrarian view…

 

[maui22]

Specific information has a trickle down effect. When RIV opened, how many general buyers understood the restrictions completely? I'm guessing it was a small percent, with a few areas (or boards) discussing them. That info has now trickled down to a bunch of boards and FB groups, so it's influencing more people.

Another factor now: I've seen some RIV resale contracts being offered for very close to $100pp. The lowest asking price today is $106pp. So even if you don't fully understand the restrictions, you can see the difference in the "driving the car off the lot" price drop between RIV and Poly pretty easily. The lowest Poly resale asking today is $154pp. So in terms of market value, your value decreases significantly more with a direct RIV purchase.

If quoting resale prices today, shouldn't we use the lowest Riviera direct sold for?

@Genie+ quoting @CastAStone 2020 post the lowest Riviera direct sold for was $135/pt (and that's assuming no other incentives like D23 Gold, etc).

https://www.disboards.com/threads/wdw-direct-sales-by-month-10-1-24-1-31-26.3975108/

If someone bought 1000+ points, split them up into say five 200 point contracts. Then rented out for 5-6 years at $22-$24/pt. Then Disney started cracking down on rentals. They could sell for $108-$120 and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Just pointing out it's possible someone could have earned a lot of Mickey bars on a Riviera direct purchase.

 

[J-Dog]

Specific information has a trickle down effect. When RIV opened, how many general buyers understood the restrictions completely? I'm guessing it was a small percent, with a few areas (or boards) discussing them. That info has now trickled down to a bunch of boards and FB groups, so it's influencing more people.

Trickle down effect from a policy enacted 6 years ago doesn't explain why the last quarter 2025's sell-out predictions for RIV were delayed.

I'm not saying that restrictions aren't a factor - they absolutely are, but to blame them for recent decreases in sales numbers is a stretch. Whether people are hoping for a RIV fire sale, waiting for LSL instead, etc. are all more likely.

 

[Brian Noble]

Particularly if the restrictions around member cruises, being able to buy annual passes, being able to use points for APs, the new lounges, and the other enhancements DVC has been creating were in place on resale points, as they are now.

They were.

You could not use resale points for DCL, ABD, or the Disney collection dating back to 2011. Blue Card restrictions were shortly after that--at first on 25 points in 2016, and the minimum was raised slowly after that.

 

[airjay75]

My money is on better actually… Particularly if the restrictions around member cruises, being able to buy annual passes, being able to use points for APs, the new lounges, and the other enhancements DVC has been creating were in place on resale points, as they are now.

The resale restriction thing relies on hypotheticals - what IF I sell, what IF I want to stay at a resort that may or may not even (or ever) exist…

Price is what pushed me to make my purchase, as did the appeal of my home resort. That pushed me to make a direct purchase, when I bought VGF. We wanted the GF, and the price for direct was comparable to resale - maybe a little more expensive, but it helped me buy into the DVC lifestyle - the lounges, the swag, the community.

If I wanted to stay at RIV, it, for me, was tough then, and now very tough to justify buying direct RIV points since I have direct benefits. I’d rather buy resale RIV for a fraction of the cost. And, if I found I didn’t want to actually use those points at the RIV after a few trips, I could sell them and take very little hit at that point. Renting points also comes to mind as an option, or doing a member transfer…

This logic is the same reason why the SSR “flash sale” doesn’t appeal to me…

Just a contrarian view…

I like the contrarian view!

So, maybe the full argument would be, in a world with no resale restrictions (other than the ones you listed like cruise/ABD exchanges, AP discounts, MMB, etc.), those perks combined with what would be a much smaller differential between direct and resale pricing would increase direct sales. Whether it’s the value of those direct benefits or the comfort of knowing you can sell you direct points without much of a loss would drive more people to direct points. Sort of a “rising tide lifts all boats” argument.

I like it. It’s plausible.

The primary reason I have a tough time thinking it is right is that I think it would only drive people to buy so many direct points. I think a lot of people would be buying the 150 point minimum, calling it a day, and buying the rest resale. On these boards (which, granted, we’re not a representative group), I think we’d pretty much always be giving the same advice - buy 150 points and then go buy the rest resale. With the resale restrictions, the advice often hinges on whether you’re ok with the O14 or want the ability to stay at new resorts because we all view most of the other direct benefits as mostly fluff.

Interesting argument though.