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

[Arbogast]

Trust me, your vacation preferences change over time. Will you still be going to Disney in 48 years? We still go after 20 years but do fewer park days now that kids are grown and not nearly as often.

I don't like the restrictions with RR which is why we passed on that resort and added on someplace else last summer. It will always be last on my list.

I agree with Rose Gold but I have one question. Have you stayed at all 3? If not, I would before I purchased.

I have stayed at AKL, Boardwalk, Poly, and OKW. AKL has been my favorite so far, though I loved the location of the Dolphin when I stayed there.

 

[Nabas]

I loved staying at AKL but this was before I had a baby (first coming next week!) I've toured Riv and really liked it, GFV I have never stayed. I'm worried about the logistics of taking a stroller everywhere and being stuck on AKL buses vs Monorail or Skyliner

Please keep in mind, no matter where you stay, you're going to have to deal with buses to more than half the destinations. (I'm including Disney Springs and the water parks as destinations.)

As others have written, it's important to buy at a resort you really like. Since you already have stayed at AKL and RIV, only you can judge which of these two you like more. If you have at least strolled through the Grand Floridian, that will give you some sense of what that is like.

VGF is very convenient to MK. Since it appears you currently have children who are stroller age, it would be wonderful to be so close to MK for the next several years. (I assume this will be their favorite park for at least a few years.)

Over 200 Studios are being added to VGF this month. This should make it much easier to book a Studio there at 11 months. Assuming you intend to squeeze into a Studio until they are older, there is something to be said for making this your first VGF purchase.

However, if you plan to get a one or two-bedroom, then these will become tougher to get at VGF, since VGF will now be heavily weighed towards Studios. If this is case, RIV might be a better option for you.

 

[Arbogast]

Please keep in mind, no matter where you stay, you're going to have to deal with buses to more than half the destinations. (I'm including Disney Springs and the water parks as destinations.)

As others have written, it's important to buy at a resort you really like. Since you already have stayed at AKL and RIV, only you can judge which of these two you like more. If you have at least strolled through the Grand Floridian, that will give you some sense of what that is like.

VGF is very convenient to MK. Since it appears you currently have children who are stroller age, it would be wonderful to be so close to MK for the next several years. (I assume this will be their favorite park for at least a few years.)

Over 200 Studios are being added to VGF this month. This should make it much easier to book a Studio there at 11 months. Assuming you intend to squeeze into a Studio until they are older, there is something to be said for making this your first VGF purchase.

However, if you plan to get a one or two-bedroom, then these will become tougher to get at VGF, since VGF will now be heavily weighed towards Studios. If this is case, RIV might be a better option for you.

I've toured but never stayed at the RIV. If AKL direct was much cheaper it would be a no brainer. I've been around the GFV lobby, and while it is very nice my wife and I appreciate the European influence of RIV more. I can be swayed to GFV, but I'm not hearing many arguments putting it above RIV other than proximity to Mk.

 

[Her Dotness]

I've been around the GFV lobby, and while it is very nice my wife and I appreciate the European influence of RIV more.

There's your decision, then, because DVC Law #1 is "Buy where you most want to stay."

DH would add, "Happy wife, happy life." There's the fact that she likes RIV more, too.

I can be swayed to GFV...

Sounds to me like you don't much want to be. So, trust that feeling.

You're the parents. Buy where you'll enjoy staying, because the kids won't care a lick where they sleep and shower. All that'll matter to them is doing as much Disney as they can.

 

[Nabas]

I've toured but never stayed at the RIV. If AKL direct was much cheaper it would be a no brainer. I've been around the GFV lobby, and while it is very nice my wife and I appreciate the European influence of RIV more. I can be swayed to GFV, but I'm not hearing many arguments putting it above RIV other than proximity to Mk.

We've personally experienced several Skyliner shutdowns, including a couple that were (vacation) disasters. The Skyliner is not reliable in Florida's weather. Because of its unreliability, I would not put it ahead of a Disney bus. The Monorail is much more reliable. We have experienced Monorail breakdowns too, but at least VGF is a (long) walk to MK, if you had to in a pinch.

The Grand Floridian is a lovely resort and, IMO, is much more Disneyesque than RIV, which we feel is rather generic. RIV might be more fun for adults but, IMO, VGF is more fun for children.

If you plan to stay in Studios, then I suggest VGF. These will be much easier to book at VGF. It can be tough to get a Standard View Studio at RIV, which means you'll likely be forced into a more expensive Lake View Studio or perhaps even into a one-bedroom.

However, it should be easier to get a one-bedroom at RIV.

If you really think you're going to be staying in Studios, the reason to go with VGF is so that you have a much better chance to book a less-expensive Standard View Studio at 11 months. If you are going to stay in one-bedrooms, then RIV is the better choice.

One other thing to consider is the Maintenance Fee (MF). Currently, it's $7.01pp at VGF but $8.38pp at RIV. On 150 points, that's an extra $200 per year in MF.

 

[sndral]

Sorry maybe I'm missing something but as of a couple weeks ago AKV was still available to buy direct?

When I wrote sold out I meant not in active sales like both VGF & RVA currently are. It’s sort of a short hand way to describe resorts not in active sales. But yes you can buy AKV direct but at a cost per point that is substantially higher than AKV on the resale market & also higher than buying VGF & RVA direct.
DVC has been buying back a lot of AKV points through ROFR lately & I’m wondering if they’ll offer incentives for direct sales there in the future.

 

[Disney316]

I don’t think enough people are appreciating AKL. I’m assuming that total cost/your budget is a factor and buying more points for less, and having those points go further should be a no brainer. Not to mention AKL is a great resort on its own.

Buy AKL, if you plan 11+ months out you can book there to be assured you’re going to Disney and look to change at 7 months if you want to. Over the lifetime of your membership the cost/value/number of nights at Disney is what is going to matter most and AKL gives you that. (Saratoga might also be worth looking at but that wasn’t part of your poll/question). All of the other points people are making are valid, but short-lived. Ease of strollers, favorite parks, preferred room size WILL change over the lifetime. AKL gives you the flexibility to adapt to those changes as they come.

 

[TinkB278]

When I wrote sold out I meant not in active sales like both VGF & RVA currently are. It’s sort of a short hand way to describe resorts not in active sales. But yes you can buy AKV direct but at a cost per point that is substantially higher than AKV on the resale market & also higher than buying VGF & RVA direct.
DVC has been buying back a lot of AKV points through ROFR lately & I’m wondering if they’ll offer incentives for direct sales there in the future.

AKV direct is still cheaper than RIV/VGF direct. It does have a bit shorter of a contract length though.

 

[Azndjdude]

One thing I would note is that Disney is on a ROFR tear with Animal Kingdom. When I started looking for resale a few weeks ago, I wanted to grab an Animal Kingdom and after looking at the boards and doing the calculation, I found that it was a better value for me to purchase a VGF and a Copper Creek resale. If you go through the AKV route, just make sure you are realistic in your offer so that it might have a chance of passing ROFR or grabbing a resale by an international seller.

 

[PetePanMan]

Lots of good thoughts here. I see quite a few comments about “buy where you want to stay”. I do understand this pov, particularly if you have limited flexibility in terms of when you go, but we bought SSR via resale market at very affordable cost many years ago and we have now stayed at every single DVC resort. We certainly are not guaranteed to stay anywhere except our home resort but we have been very successful over the years by booking at 7 months and / or stalking relentlessly. AKV is a great resort and resale will save considerable upfront $.

 

[Arbogast]

One thing I would note is that Disney is on a ROFR tear with Animal Kingdom. When I started looking for resale a few weeks ago, I wanted to grab an Animal Kingdom and after looking at the boards and doing the calculation, I found that it was a better value for me to purchase a VGF and a Copper Creek resale. If you go through the AKV route, just make sure you are realistic in your offer so that it might have a chance of passing ROFR or grabbing a resale by an international seller.

Yeah I lost my last contract to ROFR at AKL

 

[Azndjdude]

Yeah I lost my last contract to ROFR at AKL

On one of my offers, I asked the seller to cover the closing costs and I'll raise my per point cost (above their asking price). I'm sure Disney has great accountants to do the numbers, but if they are only looking at the price per point and the number of points, then maybe I can slide one by. At the end of the day, the seller nets out almost the same amount of cash (I still negotiate a lower per point price then recast the offer with them covering the closing costs). We will see if this works. Again there is no rhyme or reason they take contracts, but I thought it might be worth a try.

 

[sndral]

AKV direct is still cheaper than RIV/VGF direct. It does have a bit shorter of a contract length though.

Is it still $200 a point for AKV direct? Not sure why I thought it was more.
Still, depending on how many points you want it’s comparatively pricey compared to VGF & RVA.
New members:
150 pt.s VGF $204 RVA $196
200 pt.s VGF $198 RVA $188
300 pt.s VGF $191 RVA $178
Members add on:
150 pt.s VGF $199 RVA $189
200 pt.s VGF $190 RVA $176
300 pt.s VGF $183 RVA $166
https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/fin...ing-improves-via-early-summer-2022-incentives

 

[Nabas]

Lots of good thoughts here. I see quite a few comments about “buy where you want to stay”. I do understand this pov, particularly if you have limited flexibility in terms of when you go, but we bought SSR via resale market at very affordable cost many years ago and we have now stayed at every single DVC resort. We certainly are not guaranteed to stay anywhere except our home resort but we have been very successful over the years by booking at 7 months and / or stalking relentlessly. AKV is a great resort and resale will save considerable upfront $.

Staying at all DVC resorts often depends on being flexible with your dates. For example, good luck getting a Studio at BCV in October.

A Studio in early December is tough to get at most DVC resorts.

Also, it's tough getting an entire week at some resorts at 7 months.

The OP mentioned having a child in a stroller, which soon means being limited by the school year.

The point is, yes, you can stay everywhere eventually but (except during COVID) a lot of DVC resorts are tough to get at 7 months during certain times of the year.

 

[DVCanadian]

OP: What is your visit frequency plan and preferred room size?

 

[sethschroeder]

Consider that for at least the first 2-3 years (maybe more) of your child's life, you're likely to spend more time in the MK than anywhere else.

You spend more mornings maybe but more evenings possibly in Epcot and HS.

Epcot is a great evening park pretty much every day with a variety of food offerings and a nice place to walk around.

If you are around MK you are going to struggle for food options IMO.

 

[Royal Consort]

I've been around the GFV lobby, and while it is very nice my wife and I appreciate the European influence of RIV more. I can be swayed to GFV, but I'm not hearing many arguments putting it above RIV other than proximity to Mk.

Other than theme which is purely subjective, that's about right. There are many of us on the boards that own both VGF and RVA. They share a similar market. Rooms are much nicer at RVA than VGF including the new resort studios. I love both (I prefer VGF, my husband RVA). One major difference other than location is that RVA feels more boutique and is far more relaxing than the busier VGF. Again, I like the busy and then I like to chill by the quiet pool at RVA.

I think you have reached your decision.

 

[Her Dotness]

If you are around MK you are going to struggle for food options IMO.

I disagree. While there aren't many good TS in the MK, it's easy and a nice break from MK intensity to hop on the monorail and go to one of the monorail resorts to eat.

There are a number of well-reviewed restaurants, both QS and TS, in those resorts.

 

[Arbogast]

OP: What is your visit frequency plan and preferred room size?

I would like to go about once a year for a week in the Winter. Studio most often, but a 1 bedroom eventually, with the possibility of a 2 bedroom if I don't go every year.

 

[DVCanadian]

I would like to go about once a year for a week in the Winter. Studio most often, but a 1 bedroom eventually, with the possibility of a 2 bedroom if I don't go every year.

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.