Future of Riveria

[BamaGuy44]

Nope,
Disney wants to control the sand box moving forward.
i would be almost willing to bet poly 2 is a new association just they they can apply the new restriction…

Yeah the number of people who are convinced it will be the same association is surprising to me. I don't know what possible incentive they would have to not make a new association and apply the resale restrictions to it. There's no evidence they are abandoning their plan to severely restrict resale contracts at new resorts. They could have restricted VGF2 and didn't I guess, but a new restricted association for just adding some studios to an existing building would be a stretch.

To me VDH will tell the tale. It's a new building from the ground up, with all the room categories, like Riviera (and Poly2). If they decide not to restrict it, that will be solid evidence they're not so in love with the restriction strategy. If it's restricted, I say no way Poly2 won't be a new association. Then again they've shocked me before, so who knows.

 

[havoc315]

Yeah the number of people who are convinced it will be the same association is surprising to me. I don't know what possible incentive they would have to not make a new association and apply the resale restrictions to it. There's no evidence they are abandoning their plan to severely restrict resale contracts at new resorts. They could have restricted VGF2 and didn't I guess, but a new restricted association for just adding some studios to an existing building would be a stretch.

To me VDH will tell the tale. It's a new building from the ground up, with all the room categories, like Riviera (and Poly2). If they decide not to restrict it, that will be solid evidence they're not so in love with the restriction strategy. If it's restricted, I say no way Poly2 won't be a new association. Then again they've shocked me before, so who knows.

I do agree that VDH will tell us whether they've abandoned restrictions or not.

But I don't think it will tell us what happens with Poly2. They could still treat Poly2 like VGF2, an addition to the existing association.

 

[Sandisw]

We used very similar thinking (at least for Riviera). Our first purchase was a GW at CCV, Week 48, because we knew that's difficult to get and actually do want to travel that week (usually the week after Thanksgiving). We actually have yet to use it because when we finally did get to stay that week, we had the points to get a 2-BR and my brother joined us.

When we added on at Riviera, we did the same thing as Ziravan - we bought 200 points but split it into a GW contract for 130 points (Week 40 - first week of October) and a 70-point contract. We're not sure if we'll ever use the GW either, although we'd likely consider it when the kids are older and out of school - taking a week off 4 weeks into the school year is not practical. Although, once we can travel then, I think we might look more at September. Of course, this was all thinking before my wife's work schedule/role changed a bit, and late September through October is now her busiest time of the year, by far.

We got the Riviera points in August 2020, so we were able to get the old point chart and also have the advantage that it's now cheaper for our GW than it is to book it normally. (We also got it with incentives for only $160/pt). We had the conversation though that, with the restrictions hurting resale value, if we ever did have to sell - which we also don't intend to do - hopefully having the GW would put a bit of a premium on it.



We love the Skyliner, but this is my big fear - getting back to IG only to find it's closed and have to walk all the way to the front for a bus - that's a haul. I just imagine doing that only to find out it started back up just as we're getting to the front of the park. I also think Disney really needs to have the Skyliner status in MDE app so at least people can check before heading towards the exit and can plan the walk accordingly. Ideally, it would give notifications for those in the Skyliner parks too (DHS and Epcot), but I'd at least take the ability to open the app and check.

When Skyliner is closed at closing, they run buses typically from the Boardwalk. You don’t walk all the way back to the front of the park

I’ve never been there with an outage except once, mid day, but from all reports of the handful..if that..of it being offline at closing..they provided guests with buses close by

 

[havoc315]

When Skyliner is closed at closing, they run buses typically from the Boardwalk. You don’t walk all the way back to the front of the park

I’ve never been there with an outage except once, mid day, but from all reports of the handful..if that..of it being offline at closing..they provided guests with buses close by

The problem is poor communication about whether the Sklyliner is down and alternative transportation.
In today's age, there is no reason that Skyliner status and alternative transportation can't be displayed on the MDE App.

 

[Brian Noble]

this is my big fear - getting back to IG only to find it's closed and have to walk all the way to the front for a bus

If I found myself in that situation, I'd walk out to the Beach Club entrance and call a cab/rideshare. It can happen, but it probably doesn't happen that often, and the extra $10-$15 is no big deal.

[We've done this a number of times when staying outside the Epcot area just to avoid the long-trudge-to-wait-for-a-bus.]

 

[BamaGuy44]

I do agree that VDH will tell us whether they've abandoned restrictions or not.

But I don't think it will tell us what happens with Poly2. They could still treat Poly2 like VGF2, an addition to the existing association.

True they can do anything they want really. Mostly my thinking is, if they are staying with the restriction strategy, no way will they pass up the opportunity to restrict Poly2 by putting it in the existing association. I could be totally wrong but if VDH has restrictions, I'll be beyond shocked if Poly2 doesn't. But as I always say, they've shocked me before.

 

[havoc315]

True they can do anything they want really. Mostly my thinking is, if they are staying with the restriction strategy, no way will they pass up the opportunity to restrict Poly2 by putting it in the existing association. I could be totally wrong but if VDH has restrictions, I'll be beyond shocked if Poly2 doesn't. But as I always say, they've shocked me before.

Logic is a bit different with Poly2. Like VGF2, it's sharing a property with an existing DVC that has over 40 years left. Adding it to the association could potentially create a better balance of points with the bungalows. And the bungalows are a selling point for Poly2.
Meanwhile, separate associations could actually create confusion for buyers.

That said -- I suspect they will make it a new association after seeing VGF2 sales disappoint a bit. A new association will let them offer a full 50 year contract and will avoid initial competition with resale points.

But really, Poly2 could go either way, even if restrictions are here to stay with completely new resorts.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Logic is a bit different with Poly2. Like VGF2, it's sharing a property with an existing DVC that has over 40 years left. Adding it to the association could potentially create a better balance of points with the bungalows. And the bungalows are a selling point for Poly2.
Meanwhile, separate associations could actually create confusion for buyers.

That said -- I suspect they will make it a new association after seeing VGF2 sales disappoint a bit. A new association will let them offer a full 50 year contract and will avoid initial competition with resale points.

But really, Poly2 could go either way, even if restrictions are here to stay with completely new resorts.

Fair points, I guess we'll find out eventually lol. I'm very interested in buying Poly2, and honestly I'm not sure if I'm hoping for new or same. Pros and cons to each

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

The problem is poor communication about whether the Sklyliner is down and alternative transportation.
In today's age, there is no reason that Skyliner status and alternative transportation can't be displayed on the MDE App.

Yes, exactly this.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Yes, exactly this.

+1000

 

[RamblinWreck]

Yeah the number of people who are convinced it will be the same association is surprising to me. I don't know what possible incentive they would have to not make a new association and apply the resale restrictions to it. There's no evidence they are abandoning their plan to severely restrict resale contracts at new resorts. They could have restricted VGF2 and didn't I guess, but a new restricted association for just adding some studios to an existing building would be a stretch.

To me VDH will tell the tale. It's a new building from the ground up, with all the room categories, like Riviera (and Poly2). If they decide not to restrict it, that will be solid evidence they're not so in love with the restriction strategy. If it's restricted, I say no way Poly2 won't be a new association. Then again they've shocked me before, so who knows.

I think there could be some advantages to keeping it the same association.

For one, they could sell points more profitably at the same price, because they'd have 7 fewer years on the contract. That would be the biggest incentive.

But if they do that, they are also immediately putting themselves in competition with resale points.

 

[kanerf]

Riviera and Poly 2 are new construction, unlike VGF2 which was a refurb of an existing building. I suspect that Poly 2 will be in a new association and will have resale restrictions. Keep in mind that it will be a while before there is any resale for this property, probably not until 2025 or so.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Nope,
Disney wants to control the sand box moving forward.
i would be almost willing to bet poly 2 is a new association just they they can apply the new restriction…

If the economy were better, I would agree with you. The economy is moving south. Disney does not want to deal with the headache of restrictions right now. Poly II will be part of the original development. It will expire in 40 years just like BCV. After this resort, I think disney will hang tight for a while. Once the 2042 resorts are out of the way - the new standard may be restricted resale.
However....here are some thoughts to think about....and I have thought long and hard since RIV implemented these new standards and my biggest concern/gripe with these restrictions is the following
Why would I buy DVC and be restricted? I could purchase a cheaper timeshare and wait to trade into DVC. Can you imagine if Marriot or Hilton restricted to home resorts only?

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

True they can do anything they want really. Mostly my thinking is, if they are staying with the restriction strategy, no way will they pass up the opportunity to restrict Poly2 by putting it in the existing association. I could be totally wrong but if VDH has restrictions, I'll be beyond shocked if Poly2 doesn't. But as I always say, they've shocked me before.

I think it will be a new association to sell a full length contract. I suspect it will be like AKV. I think with VGF they were looking for quick sales after the pandemic. I don’t think it was as successful as they thought it would be. I agree with you that restrictions could go either way but will probably be on. It seems like if they were ditching the restrictions they would have removed them from RIV already.

 

[AvidDisReader]

If the economy were better, I would agree with you. The economy is moving south. Disney does not want to deal with the headache of restrictions right now. Poly II will be part of the original development. It will expire in 40 years just like BCV. After this resort, I think disney will hang tight for a while. Once the 2042 resorts are out of the way - the new standard may be restricted resale.
However....here are some thoughts to think about....and I have thought long and hard since RIV implemented these new standards and my biggest concern/gripe with these restrictions is the following
Why would I buy DVC and be restricted? I could purchase a cheaper timeshare and wait to trade into DVC. Can you imagine if Marriot or Hilton restricted to home resorts only?

Agree. Also, let us not forget they actually labeled the Poly Tower as part of the original Poly at the DVC meeting in December. People seem to want to forget this and brush it off as a mistake, marketing does not make that kind of mistake.

 

[Sandisw]

The problem is poor communication about whether the Sklyliner is down and alternative transportation.
In today's age, there is no reason that Skyliner status and alternative transportation can't be displayed on the MDE App.

It would be nice for sure but just saying you don’t have to get there and turn around to go all the way back front. But I have gotten to the monorail at Epcot and found it down as well. The app showing both those would be a nice feature.

To be fair, we have never experienced the down time in all our visits when going to/from the park

 

[Sandisw]

If I found myself in that situation, I'd walk out to the Beach Club entrance and call a cab/rideshare. It can happen, but it probably doesn't happen that often, and the extra $10-$15 is no big deal.

[We've done this a number of times when staying outside the Epcot area just to avoid the long-trudge-to-wait-for-a-bus.]

This is our plan and we will now budget for thst possibility vs getting a bus.

 

[Genie+]

All Riviera needs is a walking path with an overpass to go to Epcot with a new entrance between Germany and China. Caribbean Beach prices would soar as well. One can dream...

That would be pretty darn cool! Possibly just a tad longer than walking from BW.

 

[havoc315]

It would be nice for sure but just saying you don’t have to get there and turn around to go all the way back front. But I have gotten to the monorail at Epcot and found it down as well. The app showing both those would be a nice feature.

To be fair, we have never experienced the down time in all our visits when going to/from the park

I've walked from RIV to the Skyliner, found it down, then had to turn around and walk to the front to get a bus.

It really shouldn't be a major ask to include Skyliner and monorail status on the App. And even to provide push notifications to guests of Skyliner resorts when the skyliner status changes.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I've walked from RIV to the Skyliner, found it down, then had to turn around and walk to the front to get a bus.

It really shouldn't be a major ask to include Skyliner and monorail status on the App. And even to provide push notifications to guests of Skyliner resorts when the skyliner status changes.

This is another reason why we have not purchased RIV. Transportation is two completely different park directions. I think its about 1.5 miles between the two entrances, that is not a ten minute walk.