First Time DVC Buyer needing help deciding Riv/GFV Direct vs AKL Resale

[Arbogast]

I don’t think any of your options give you enough points for a week every year. To stay in a one bedroom you will have to go every other year.

Have you pretend planned some vacations to see the points needed? 150 at RIV and GFV doesn’t go very far.

250 AKV can get you a 1 bedroom savanna view for a week in most seasons.

Looks like you're right on RIV, but for AKL I can get a 1 or 2 bedroom every other year in a standard view if I skip a year or get a studio. I'm just getting sick of waiting 2 months not to make it through ROFR ugh.

 

[Sandisw]

Looks like you're right on RIV, but for AKL I can get a 1 or 2 bedroom every other year in a standard view if I skip a year or get a studio. I'm just getting sick of waiting 2 months not to make it through ROFR ugh.

IMO, as much as AKV can be an easier place to get at 7 months than the other two, if AKV is where you will be happy to stay if you can't trade at the other places, and you can have 11 month advantage to book larger rooms as points go farther, I would just buy AKV direct, even though it is more than resale.

Direct points will give you access to RIV and all future resorts, including that new Poly tower in case that is blocked from resale (we don't know yet if it will be, but there is certainly a chance). It really comes down to how disappointed will be if you have resale points and all of a sudden, a room shows up for your dates at RIV and you can't book it? DVC is just too expensive to not get what makes the most sense for your or buy something because it is less expensive but you end up with regrets later.

 

[DVChris]

Direct VGF makes for great SAP since AKV has availability at 7 months. Some of the lowest dues in all of DVC. Best of both worlds plus you’ll have the points same/next day.

 

[Arbogast]

I ended up putting in an offer for 200 points resale at AKL. I know this is not likely to pass, but I will reevaluate in a couple of months after ROFR and go from there! In the end the 200 points there was cheaper and got me more bang for my buck, and I love the resort and have stayed there multiple times. Still interested in direct someday, but for now AKL is the move.

 

[Suzabella]

I ended up putting in an offer for 200 points resale at AKL. I know this is not likely to pass, but I will reevaluate in a couple of months after ROFR and go from there! In the end the 200 points there was cheaper and got me more bang for my buck, and I love the resort and have stayed there multiple times. Still interested in direct someday, but for now AKL is the move.

Sending pixie dust for ROFR! Please keep us posted or post over on the ROFR thread.

 

[NVDISFamily]

I ended up putting in an offer for 200 points resale at AKL. I know this is not likely to pass, but I will reevaluate in a couple of months after ROFR and go from there! In the end the 200 points there was cheaper and got me more bang for my buck, and I love the resort and have stayed there multiple times. Still interested in direct someday, but for now AKL is the move.

Good luck on the contracts. I’ll steal a line I hear on the ROFR chat all the time….. They cant take them all

 

[Arbogast]

I am doing some quick math right now. My AKL resale contract I'm waiting on ROFR was $129 for 200 points ($25,800 total), RIV direct 150 would be $29,720 total after incentives and referral, and Riv direct 200 would be $38,092.68. GFV would be $31,426 for 150 points and $40,602 for 200 points direct. The yearly cost of the points given the lifetime of the contract before MF would be roughly $737 a year AKL (200 Resale), $619 (150 RIV), $792 (200 RIV), $748 (GFV $150) $966 (GFV 200) and dues are similar at each resort with GFV about $1 or so cheaper. I am a little blown away by how comparable the average yearly cost is given the discounts and perks that come with direct, not to mention RIV DEC UY would give me 2x the points my first year. Is there anything I'm not thinking about? Given resale value, from a purely financial perspective GFV direct makes the most sense.

 

[Sandisw]

I am doing some quick math right now. My AKL resale contract I'm waiting on ROFR was $129 for 200 points ($25,800 total), RIV direct 150 would be $29,720 total after incentives and referral, and Riv direct 200 would be $38,092.68. GFV would be $31,426 for 150 points and $40,602 for 200 points direct. The yearly cost of the points given the lifetime of the contract before MF would be roughly $737 a year AKL (200 Resale), $619 (150 RIV), $792 (200 RIV), $748 (GFV $150) $966 (GFV 200) and dues are similar at each resort with GFV about $1 or so cheaper. I am a little blown away by how comparable the average yearly cost is given the discounts and perks that come with direct, not to mention RIV DEC UY would give me 2x the points my first year. Is there anything I'm not thinking about? Given resale value, from a purely financial perspective GFV direct makes the most sense.

I think it looks good. As you say, the benefits that come with direct...and for me, its more about where they can be used and not so much the membership extra perks like APs or discounts...make it make sense.

And, if you compare AKV vs VGF, I can't imagine, no matter what the resale value is...VGF should hold more value than AKV..since it does now...

Oh, and don't forget that you can put direct purchases on CC and earn a little more back in rewards. We put our VGF purchase on 3 different Disney CC, and between the rewards and the statement credit, it covered all of the closing costs for the two 150 point contracts....not to mention we get the 6 months with 0% interest to pay the balance...so no depleting the savings account just yet!!!

 

[Arbogast]

I think it looks good. As you say, the benefits that come with direct...and for me, its more about where they can be used and not so much the membership extra perks like APs or discounts...make it make sense.

And, if you compare AKV vs VGF, I can't imagine, no matter what the resale value is...VGF should hold more value than AKV..since it does now...

Oh, and don't forget that you can put direct purchases on CC and earn a little more back in rewards. We put our VGF purchase on 3 different Disney CC, and between the rewards and the statement credit, it covered all of the closing costs for the two 150 point contracts....not to mention we get the 6 months with 0% interest to pay the balance...so no depleting the savings account just yet!!!

I would be happy to pass ROFR on my AKL, but I think I'm realizing these 2 direct opportunities are every bit as good if not better than most all of the resale contracts I'm seeing.

 

[Sandisw]

I would be happy to pass ROFR on my AKL, but I think I'm realizing these 2 direct opportunities are every bit as good if not better than most all of the resale contracts I'm seeing.

I agree and it does make you wonder, with the way they priced VGF, and now have increased incentives for RIV and VGF if DVD is realizing that as well and that when you make the difference palatable, given the extras one gets, it can lead those on the fence to go direct!!!

And, that was the whole goal of making resale vs. direct different products...to sway at least some to spend the extra to buy directly from DVD....

 

[RamblinWreck]

I am doing some quick math right now. My AKL resale contract I'm waiting on ROFR was $129 for 200 points ($25,800 total), RIV direct 150 would be $29,720 total after incentives and referral, and Riv direct 200 would be $38,092.68. GFV would be $31,426 for 150 points and $40,602 for 200 points direct. The yearly cost of the points given the lifetime of the contract before MF would be roughly $737 a year AKL (200 Resale), $619 (150 RIV), $792 (200 RIV), $748 (GFV $150) $966 (GFV 200) and dues are similar at each resort with GFV about $1 or so cheaper. I am a little blown away by how comparable the average yearly cost is given the discounts and perks that come with direct, not to mention RIV DEC UY would give me 2x the points my first year. Is there anything I'm not thinking about? Given resale value, from a purely financial perspective GFV direct makes the most sense.

If you're happy staying at AKL, and like 1 bedrooms but can manage with a studio, you will likely be pretty happy with the availability you see for those AKL Value 1 Bedrooms if you book right at the 11 month window as well. You'll REALLY get more bang for your buck on the occasions where you can pull that off.

 

[Arbogast]

If you're happy staying at AKL, and like 1 bedrooms but can manage with a studio, you will likely be pretty happy with the availability you see for those AKL Value 1 Bedrooms if you book right at the 11 month window as well. You'll REALLY get more bang for your buck on the occasions where you can pull that off.

Very true, I've just heard value studios are super hard to get and to never count on them, but are value 1 bedrooms easier?

 

[RamblinWreck]

Very true, I've just heard value studios are super hard to get and to never count on them, but are value 1 bedrooms easier?

The value 1 bedrooms are MUCH easier. But because they are so limited in number, it can be highly variable. It only takes a few people being interested in booking the same day as you to make the availability a challenge.

I had an AKL owner book one for me as a rental for last year and they had absolutely no issue getting it.

Just for reference, April 2023 is only 10 months from now and I see only 3 days in all of April where the value 1 bedrooms are not available.

However, I can see that these rooms are very popular for people to "walk", because even though all of April and the first few days of May are available, May 7th through 11th are all booked up. I bet tomorrow May 7th will become available again.

 

[Dadealus]

I'm in the same dilemma. I'm not to crazy about RIV due to the resale restrictions and I'm 99% sure I want a Monorail Loop home resort. I'm not a fan of BLT's modern furniture/design and the Poly doesn't have any 1/2 Bedrooms. So I'm fairly certain buying at the VGF is the way to go for me. With the recent incentives on VGF its not that much more to get them all direct vs resale limitations. So now I'm trying to understand how many points do I need? We are looking to stay at a minimum of 1 week in a 1 bedroom and would like some wiggle room to bank/borrow an extra weekend here and there. Looking at the 2023 point chart that would be around 400 to 425 points? does that look right?

 

[Arbogast]

I'm in the same dilemma. I'm not to crazy about RIV due to the resale restrictions and I'm 99% sure I want a Monorail Loop home resort. I'm not a fan of BLT's modern furniture/design and the Poly doesn't have any 1/2 Bedrooms. So I'm fairly certain buying at the VGF is the way to go for me. With the recent incentives on VGF its not that much more to get them all direct vs resale limitations. So now I'm trying to understand how many points do I need? We are looking to stay at a minimum of 1 week in a 1 bedroom and would like some wiggle room to bank/borrow an extra weekend here and there. Looking at the 2023 point chart that would be around 400 to 425 points? does that look right?

That's the downside of VGF, expensive point charts! Between direct and resale I would go with direct there for sure. I am only buying 200 points max direct.

 

[Leight19]

I am doing some quick math right now. My AKL resale contract I'm waiting on ROFR was $129 for 200 points ($25,800 total), RIV direct 150 would be $29,720 total after incentives and referral, and Riv direct 200 would be $38,092.68. GFV would be $31,426 for 150 points and $40,602 for 200 points direct. The yearly cost of the points given the lifetime of the contract before MF would be roughly $737 a year AKL (200 Resale), $619 (150 RIV), $792 (200 RIV), $748 (GFV $150) $966 (GFV 200) and dues are similar at each resort with GFV about $1 or so cheaper. I am a little blown away by how comparable the average yearly cost is given the discounts and perks that come with direct, not to mention RIV DEC UY would give me 2x the points my first year. Is there anything I'm not thinking about? Given resale value, from a purely financial perspective GFV direct makes the most sense.

The one thing I add to math besides cost per year and mf is opportunity cost of money. Even assuming a moderate interest rate for money that could be invested elsewhere or used to pay down mortgage vs buying it often adds more “cost” then the cost per point per year. As example assuming $200 pt on 50 year contract would be $4 per year per point but a 4% interest rate would be $8 per point.

 

[Arbogast]

The one thing I add to math besides cost per year and mf is opportunity cost of money. Even assuming a moderate interest rate for money that could be invested elsewhere or used to pay down mortgage vs buying it often adds more “cost” then the cost per point per year. As example assuming $200 pt on 50 year contract would be $4 per year per point but a 4% interest rate would be $8 per point.

Good point, that money could have been invested

 

[RoseGold]

It’s not hard to book a 1BR at AKL. The direct points would work fine for that.

BUT, the club level 1BR is not impossible to book at 11 months and boy would that be a fun use of Akl points.