Home Resort Help

[Will458]

Hi everyone,

My wife an I have been visiting Disney for the last 4 years and are looking to purchase DVC to secure our travels for the future. We live in the UK and visit annually for 2 weeks in September every year.

We are having a little trouble trying to pick our home resort. We have narrowed down a couple which I've listed below. Unfortuantly there isn't one that particularly stands out as they all have there pros but each one has a con that is making it really difficult to choose.

So I am seeking peoples thoughts and opinions that have greater experience than myself.

I've listed below our considerations we would be looking to purchase enough points for a 2 week stay in a studio annually.

Hope you can help brutally honest is accepted so if you feel we are over thinking this or not suited to DVC I'd rather know now

Note we would like to do somewhat direct with Disney and accept the increased cost but the ability to purchase a gold AP really would benefit us.

1. Riviera Resort - Direct with Disney,
We like the resort alot especially being in the Epcot area with the sky liner, the 50 year contract is a big draw to us as we are both in our early 20s so maximises our contract, however the resale restrictions do concern us if we ever got into any difficulties we are concerned it could be difficult to resell, we are not concerned with making any money back more worried we may be stuck paying annual dues for no reason if we get in any difficulties.

2. Polynesian - 100 Direct 150 Resale
We really like the polynesian affordability we would have to split and do half direct and half resale. Concern is around the 150 resale my understanding is that we would not be able to use these points on any of the new resort riviera onwards should this be something to worry us.

The other resort we love and have considered are below but we also have concerns.

Copper Creek - Concern over the availability of studios.

Animal Kingdom - we like the option to be able to pop in and out of the parks for things such as food and wine. And animal kingdom transportation links are a bit limiting.

Thank you for any help apologies this post was a little longer than intended.

Kind Regards
Will

 

[Jaguar Skills]

We are also from the UK and have literally just purchased DVC this week. We bought into Saratoga for a couple of reasons:

1) Cost of annual dues etc, length of contract and cost of initial outlay.
2) Proximity to DS. I love to walk for a beer in the evening and its great to have the option of other restaurants.

In my opinion and having done our research direct with disney isn't worth it unless you are going to go twice in one year. The Studios at SSR seem to be readily available. Also have you seen this thread which is really helpful and shows a cross section of availability.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-bd-charts-september-2019-2-bd-added.3689931/
Given we are in a similar boat if you want to DM me feel free.

 

[Will458]

I think we're swaying towards the polynesian with 100 direct and 150 resale. We would go all resale however the option to use our points in california and the ability to purchase a gold AP is something that appeals. Need to do some more spreadsheets and maths haha

 

[Jaguar Skills]

You can use the points in Grand Californian I believe with resale?

 

[Will458]

Oh really I didn't realise that thank you

 

[Royal Consort]

We are from Australia and decided to purchase Riviera. I agonized over this FOR MONTHS regarding the resale restrictions but decided to go ahead mainly because the resort suits our aesthetics perfectly. Heck, worst case I need to sell after breaking even for a lower value...so be it. Alas, the value of the 2042 resorts at some point are going to plummet. I bought because I liked Riviera. Like you, I avoided Copper Creek because of studio availability issues. Animal Kingdom Lodge is just not my aesthetic and I hate the bus.

Everyone will have their own opinions on where to buy and why but it it comes down to personal choice. Balance the cost, location, transportation and aesthetic. If this was the only resort you could stay at for the length of the contract, would that be okay by you? There are no wrong answers.

 

[jccarney]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/b...hild-first-time-poster.3799240/#post-61773444
This thread has information about annual passes versus the UK discount for 14 day tickets.

 

[poofyo101]

I think we're swaying towards the polynesian with 100 direct and 150 resale. We would go all resale however the option to use our points in california and the ability to purchase a gold AP is something that appeals. Need to do some more spreadsheets and maths haha

It is very difficult to use points at VGC that are not VGC points.

 

[deedubb]

Personally, I would not buy Riviera due to the current resale restrictions. I think it would be difficult to sell and the appeal of Disney timeshares is the fact that they are easy to sell and recoup most of your original investment (or more, if you bought years ago).

As above, VGC is difficult to book if you don't own there, but you can use your points there regardless of whether they are resale or direct. I have managed to book 1 week there in a 1 bdrm in the summer, every time I have tried. Studios will be difficult if not impossible.

I like your resale+direct strategy. Many would say it's not worth the money to buy direct, but I like having the blue card. I can see why some people would not feel it's worth it though.

 

[MJ NH]

I own at Copper Creek and Riv. I like both. If you like copper creek, the studio issue,I think, is not as big as a deal as it may have been or is seen on these boards. I think you need to be a owner to get them but you can get them. I have booked them every time I needed and that includes the week of Thanksgiving. I also think the Riv resale concern is also overblown on these boards. If you can keep the contract until 2042, it will have good resale value. BC and BW ending adds value to Riv.

 

[badeacon]

If you go in September and know dates to book at 11 months , I doubt studios at CCV will be that big of a problem. That is before most of the fall frenzy. The points needed at CCV also would be much less than PVB or RIV.

 

[starry_solo]

So, you are going to be looking at 225 points-ish (right now, the places you're looking at range around 107-109 in weekly points for September) but I would use 225 points as a starting point (RIV = tower villas are probably almost as elusive as the value studios as AKV, especially as they start selling out.

At this point, since you're only looking to go once a year for two weeks, it's not really worth it to buy direct. You can get the UK ticket (14 days for the price of 7) which includes memory maker.

Ultimately, what matters is this, which resort would you be HAPPY staying at for 2 weeks if that's what you were "stuck" with (and couldn't change at the 7-month mark)?

 

[E626]

We used the "which resort would you be happy staying at" approach and bought at Poly based on our normal travel patterns, which unfortunately is the busiest times of the year...

 

[MJ NH]

So, you are going to be looking at 225 points-ish (right now, the places you're looking at range around 107-109 in weekly points for September) but I would use 225 points as a starting point (RIV = tower villas are probably almost as elusive as the value studios as AKV, especially as they start selling out.

At this point, since you're only looking to go once a year for two weeks, it's not really worth it to buy direct. You can get the UK ticket (14 days for the price of 7) which includes memory maker.

Ultimately, what matters is this, which resort would you be HAPPY staying at for 2 weeks if that's what you were "stuck" with (and couldn't change at the 7-month mark)?

I agree with stay where you would be happy. Staying in a tower villa would be tough for 2 weeks.

 

[carli_h]

We’re from the UK and bought direct with Riviera before it opened. I could completely relate to your post as it is so hard to decide on a home resort. We looked at Riviera, Saratoga, Bay Lake and Grand Floridian. We went for Riviera because we really liked the style and the skyliner. We were worried about the resale restrictions but ultimately wanted the scope to visit all resorts and there were good buy in incentives at the time.

Poly does limit you to Studios or the point hungry bungalows. We bought to stay in the 1 beds as we realised 2 weeks in 1 room with our family doesn’t work for us but we like being onsite.

We’ve yet to visit Riviera as our May visit was cancelled. I would also recommend that you wait this out to see what the new direct incentives are and see how the resale market plays out.

Whatever you decide is very personal to you, but the good thing about DVC is you can try out all the different resorts over time.

 

[Will458]

Thanks for everyone's advise so far it's been very valuable. We are defiently looking to wait out to see how things pan out but wanted to be as prepared as possible. I think we swaying towards the polynesian as the studios fit for us both at the moment as to whether we do full resale or half direct half resale I am not sure yet. But the point of it being studios only is one to ponder we have no children at present but I'd like to think by the end of our contract we might so it's planning for the future I suppose. Thank you all. More things to think about.

 

[Will458]

I agree with stay where you would be happy. Staying in a tower villa would be tough for 2 weeks.

Lots of people advise this the difficult thing is we would ultimately be happy in all of the above haha

 

[EM Lawrence]

Thanks for everyone's advise so far it's been very valuable. We are defiently looking to wait out to see how things pan out but wanted to be as prepared as possible. I think we swaying towards the polynesian as the studios fit for us both at the moment as to whether we do full resale or half direct half resale I am not sure yet. But the point of it being studios only is one to ponder we have no children at present but I'd like to think by the end of our contract we might so it's planning for the future I suppose. Thank you all. More things to think about.

If you buy Poly resale, it can make sense as SAP (sleep around points.) Because of the long contract length and low dues, it is considered a bargain long term. The risk would be if you do decide to move up to a 1 Br or a 2 Br, you take a chance with what it will be available at the 7 month mark.

 

[chicagoshannon]

The resale with Riviera might be tough however you WILL still be able to sell it. There will be a price point that people will be willing to buy it. So as long as you're not rally concerned with what price you get but more not wanting to be stuck with it you'll be fine.

I think one benefit for buying Riviera is that if you plan on staying other places you'll be able to get more days or bigger room with your points. So if you buy 200 you could potentially stay in say Boardwalk in a studio for way less than a Riviera studio thus getting you more days. This could come in helpful if you ever have kids and want to upgrade to a 2 bedroom.

Downside with Polynesian is you either have a studio or those grand villas on the water. There is no in between.

I only own 25 grandfathered points that count for a stay at Riviera. The rest are resale AKL. I could really only stay 1 night in riviera ever with my points. Makes me a little sad not having that option (moreso when Reflections is built).

Have you toured Riviera yet? I honestly wouldn't make a decision until you toured that resort to see if you even like it.

 

[Royal Consort]

Lots of people advise this the difficult thing is we would ultimately be happy in all of the above haha

If so, buying a resort at the lowest cost, with the lowest points per night would set you up perfectly.