Hating to love Riviera: Do resale add-ons align with my goals?

[Breems]

Buy where you want to stay... I want to stay at Riviera, but future me is bugging me with questions.

We're looking to buy in as a family of 4 with 2 young children. Our tentative plan is an annual trip (likely during school breaks). We want the flexibility to stay at other resorts (perhaps ~40% of the time), so the only starting point seems to be a minimum direct RIV purchase of 150+ points.

I'm assuming we'll want more points eventually, and I'm wondering if/how resale could factor in.

• A RIV resale add-on would allow us more/longer vacations at RIV, but we would have to bank those points in years that we stay at O14.
• An O14 resale add-on gives us another home resort and more possibilities at the 7-month window, but we would have to bank those points in years that we stay at RIV.

It seems like either scenario effectively locks us into alternating between RIV/O14 each year and/or taking multiple smaller trips each year to fully utilize the points. These aren't bad things necessarily, but they do seem to add complexity and conflict with our (tentative) plan of a longer annual trip.

Obviously, the easy button for maximum flexibility is to buy more direct RIV points, but I want to rule out resale first. Am I thinking about this correctly? What are others' vacation habits when combining direct RIV contracts with resale contracts?

 

[Royal Consort]

Yes, you're thinking about it correctly.

Unless you're going to be taking those multiple trips a year, having resale and direct RVA doesn't seem ideal. There's an exeption: whether you're interested in split stays. This way you can stay at RVA and a second home resort annually.

I own a fixed week at RVA and own resale at VGF and VGC. Since I fly from Australia I stay 1 week at VGF and one week at RVA (with 2-3 nights stop over at VGC). I wouldn't want to have to bank and borrow and be locked into annual trips without flexibility. We book studios but can bank and use for 1 bedrooms if we decide to skip a year. If I was in your position I'd be more inclined to buy all your points at RVA as that provides you greater flexibility all round. There's a saving you're missing by buying them all direct but it is going to be simpler to use for your purposes.

 

[PrincessMati]

What does O14 mean?

 

[Royal Consort]

What does O14 mean?

The original 14 DVC resorts prior to Riviera.

 

[CarolMN]

What does O14 mean?

Original (pre-Riviera) 14 DVC Resorts - OKW, VB, HHI, BWV, BCV, BRV, CC, BLT, VGF, Poly, Aulani, VGC, AKV & SSR

 

[RoseGold]

If you’re staying studio, yea, the only way to say RIV peak time is going to be on RIV points.

But the RIV 1BR is insanely priced, you can probably book it with other direct points, especially if you don’t mind the split stay.

IMO max flexibility is actually buying VGF direct. I know I’d rather be selling or renting it out than RIV in a few years.

 

[Sandisw]

RIV is tops for me and I actually had both types of points at one time

But I sold a year later because having points that were restricted made it difficult if something at RIV showed up to change my trip..bigger room because more were joining.. and I could t book it because I didn’t have unrestricted points.

The every other year plan can work, but what happens when you have to cancel or change and can’t get what you want for a RIV stay? Will it bother you?

Now, we split stay almost every trip so that we always have nights at RIV and VGF..our second favorite.

IMO, if you know you want to be at RIV a lot of the time, then I say, stick with unrestricted points. DVC is way to much $$ to lock yourself out of a place you already know you want to stay at in the future.

If you didn’t care about RIV, then it’s a different answer.

RIV is a very popular resort and getting SV requires home resort advantage. Plus, it most likely won’t only be RIV those points are restricted from. It’s very possible the new Poly tower will be as well. In 2042, good chance when those resorts expire, the new ones won’t be an option either.

As I said, I found having restricted points frustrating and now will only buy direct points.

 

[Bjaiken77]

I don’t think I could deal with restricted resale points. DVC already requires a fair amount of planning. Having restricted points just doesn’t provide enough flexibility. For example, just this last year I used RIV points to book at Aulani and SSR. That wasn’t my intention when buying the points, but that’s how it worked out. Obviously, I couldn’t do that if the points were restricted.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I don’t think I could deal with restricted resale points.

Technically, any points bought resale since 2019 are restricted points.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Technically, any points bought resale since 2019 are restricted points.

Sure but RIV resale points are super extra restricted. Restricted+ if you will

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Sure but RIV resale points are super extra restricted. Restricted+ if you will

One might even call them double secret probation super extra restricted +.

 

[wnielsen1]

Assuming Poly2 and DLT come in with Riviera style restrictions, I am permanently done with buying resale EXCEPT perhaps for a 2042 resort (and I'm thinking more along the lines of buying BRV than any of the others)

 

[Breems]

Appreciate the feedback so far.

I think we need to do some soul-searching here because combining direct RIV with resale O14 will add some overhead in terms of alternating resorts or taking multiple trips. Adding on direct will be tough on the wallet.

We've only visited RIV once but loved the rooms, skyliner access, and dining. We previously stayed at AKV twice on rented points and loved it as well, initially pegging it as our future home resort. We could buy 200-250 resale points at AKV for the same price, but I'm worried that not being able to book RIV (and likely other future resorts) will be in the back of my mind.

This is tough to get right. It would be ideal to start with the direct RIV contract, then feel out our vacation patterns to see how we want to add on, but that initial purchase has an immediate ripple effect on future options. As the title states, I'm hating to love this resort.

 

[RoseGold]

We could buy 200-250 resale points at AKV for the same price, but I'm worried that not being able to book RIV (and likely other future resorts) will be in the back of my mind.

It's not like AKL resale is a huge commitment, like buying direct. You could sell it, if whatever future resort shows up.

 

[sndral]

…We've only visited RIV once but loved the rooms, skyliner access, and dining. We previously stayed at AKV twice on rented points and loved it as well, initially pegging it as our future home resort. We could buy 200-250 resale points at AKV for the same price, but I'm worried that not being able to book RIV (and likely other future resorts) will be in the back of my mind.

This is tough to get right. It would be ideal to start with the direct RIV contract, then feel out our vacation patterns to see how we want to add on, but that initial purchase has an immediate ripple effect on future options. As the title states, I'm hating to love this resort.

When you say you’ve ‘visited Riv once’ do you mean you wandered the grounds & saw the sample villas? If so, Riviera’s been for sale direct for a couple of years & less than 50% sold - so there’s no rush to buy. Why not rent points to stay there in the size villa you plan to stay in going forward before committing to buying? The direct price may go up a few dollars in the interim, but the peace of mind from staying there & confirming your choice is worth the wait IMO. Plus, you can wander into the sales office & buy right then at the end of that visit if it confirms for you that Riv is what you want.

 

[Sandisw]

Appreciate the feedback so far.

I think we need to do some soul-searching here because combining direct RIV with resale O14 will add some overhead in terms of alternating resorts or taking multiple trips. Adding on direct will be tough on the wallet.

We've only visited RIV once but loved the rooms, skyliner access, and dining. We previously stayed at AKV twice on rented points and loved it as well, initially pegging it as our future home resort. We could buy 200-250 resale points at AKV for the same price, but I'm worried that not being able to book RIV (and likely other future resorts) will be in the back of my mind.

This is tough to get right. It would be ideal to start with the direct RIV contract, then feel out our vacation patterns to see how we want to add on, but that initial purchase has an immediate ripple effect on future options. As the title states, I'm hating to love this resort.

Honestly, I think it can make sense to go for RIV to start and see how things go. The key is that direct points don't lock you out of anything and allows you to be much more flexible in your trips each year vs. having to definitely alternate between RIV and someplace else, go on more trips, or split stay.

Since you got a good feel for RIV and have stayed at AKV, maybe just start with that and see how it goes. Having done it, its easier to add on restricted points later once you get a feel for whether you could make it work with already owning direct points. Once you buy resale, you can't take it back. You can certainly sell and buy direct (like I did) but no guarantee that it won't end up costing you more to do it that way, especially if you start with 200 to 250 AKV points that are all restricted. Like I said, DVC is a lot of money...AKV at that level is close to $30K to be locked out of a resort that you already know is a place you will want to stay.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Appreciate the feedback so far.

I think we need to do some soul-searching here because combining direct RIV with resale O14 will add some overhead in terms of alternating resorts or taking multiple trips. Adding on direct will be tough on the wallet.

We've only visited RIV once but loved the rooms, skyliner access, and dining. We previously stayed at AKV twice on rented points and loved it as well, initially pegging it as our future home resort. We could buy 200-250 resale points at AKV for the same price, but I'm worried that not being able to book RIV (and likely other future resorts) will be in the back of my mind.

This is tough to get right. It would be ideal to start with the direct RIV contract, then feel out our vacation patterns to see how we want to add on, but that initial purchase has an immediate ripple effect on future options. As the title states, I'm hating to love this resort.

I was in a similar situation when RVA first went on sale. It was a bit less expensive then, but so was resale. My original idea to purchase 120 pts, ended up purchasing 250 because the incentives were much better at 250 and I knew I would want to add more later one. Since I could only pay for about ~150 all at once, I used a credit card that had 15 month 0% APR to spread out the remaining balance. That was helpful, something to consider.

Have added on twice since anyway, once resale SSR, and recently direct at BLT during the short-lived sale. But I'm not opposed to split stays.

 

[sldrake3]

If you’re staying studio, yea, the only way to say RIV peak time is going to be on RIV points.

But the RIV 1BR is insanely priced, you can probably book it with other direct points, especially if you don’t mind the split stay.

IMO max flexibility is actually buying VGF direct. I know I’d rather be selling or renting it out than RIV in a few years.

Yes! I don't think there will ever not be a market for renting Grand Floridian points. Sorry for so many negatives

 

[Breems]

I was in a similar situation when RVA first went on sale. It was a bit less expensive then, but so was resale. My original idea to purchase 120 pts, ended up purchasing 250 because the incentives were much better at 250 and I knew I would want to add more later one. Since I could only pay for about ~150 all at once, I used a credit card that had 15 month 0% APR to spread out the remaining balance. That was helpful, something to consider.

Have added on twice since anyway, once resale SSR, and recently direct at BLT during the short-lived sale. But I'm not opposed to split stays.

Great to hear from someone in this situation.

Have you worked out a pretty consistent method of split stays? Do you book all the resorts at once at the 11-month window?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Great to hear from someone in this situation.

Have you worked out a pretty consistent method of split stays? Do you book all the resorts at once at the 11-month window?

I had found that I like to stay in a monorail resort for the first 2-4 nights of a week-long stay (for us, 8 nights). We make those our MK days and the quick access to MK is glorious. Then we would do the rest of the stay, 3-5 nights, at RVA, the skyliner access to 2 parks being equally nice in our experience (we really do love the skyliner!).

The only inconsistency is that we might switch up by ending near MK instead if something is going on there that we want to experience. For instance, this November we're doing RVA first, then the last few nights at BLT and doing the Christmas party at MK on Thursday night. The quick walk to BLT late at night is great.

Since we don't go to WDW during peak weeks like Easter and Christmas weeks, we haven't had to book right at 11 months. Have been okay booking at like 8-9 months... so far...