How does someone know it's a good decision for them, to purchase DVC?

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I have been a Disney fan since I was a child, planning trips over the years with friends or family. Now we are a family of 4, with teen and a younger child. We have gone to Disney before Covid shut downs, then stopped for a few years due to various factors, and have now gone 3 years in a row. I personally know I could go yearly and never wish for anywhere else. I am not sure my family feels the same, but they do love the trips each time.

So I started thinking, maybe we should be looking at DVC? We are at a point where we stay in one bedroom villas for a week+, rented through Disney using a discount code, & paid for in cash these last trips.How do I figure out if DVC is a good move for us? Worried what if we aren't able to go yearly going forward? So how does a person accurately calculate if this is worth it for them to make the move into buying DVC?

Worried about "life" becoming less conducive to being able to take those week long stays going forward, or things such as jobs, health issues, or other life factors posing an issue to traveling, in the future. Also, I am concerned we'd need to purchase 200+ points to even come close to how we like to stay, etc. FYI, considering direct, since we love RR. Of course, it's a huge commitment financially and a huge leap. Anyone have any words of wisdom to share?

 

[ShaneDJ]

Some paragraphs would be great.

 

[ShaneDJ]

Thank you. The paragraphs look better and make your post much easier to read.

Since you mentioned RIV resort, here is one article specific to that, plus another that should help answer your questions.

And then here is the contact info of one of the best DVC resale guides out there (and he’s a featured speaker on the DVC Fan podcast). He’s a pro and can answer your questions directly.

These links are all from this board’s sponsor…

How Long Does It Take to Break Even on a Riviera Resale Contract?
https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blo...e-to-break-even-on-a-riviera-resale-contract/

Is DVC Right for You?
https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/is-dvc-right-for-you/

Contact Derek DeBoer:
https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/about-us/team/derek-deboer/

 

[AstroBlasters]

I have been a Disney fan since I was a child, planning trips over the years with friends or family. Now we are a family of 4, with teen and a younger child. We have gone to Disney before Covid shut downs, then stopped for a few years due to various factors, and have now gone 3 years in a row. I personally know I could go yearly and never wish for anywhere else. I am not sure my family feels the same, but they do love the trips each time.

So I started thinking, maybe we should be looking at DVC? We are at a point where we stay in one bedroom villas for a week+, rented through Disney using a discount code, & paid for in cash these last trips.How do I figure out if DVC is a good move for us? Worried what if we aren't able to go yearly going forward? So how does a person accurately calculate if this is worth it for them to make the move into buying DVC?

Worried about "life" becoming less conducive to being able to take those week long stays going forward, or things such as jobs, health issues, or other life factors posing an issue to traveling, in the future. Also, I am concerned we'd need to purchase 200+ points to even come close to how we like to stay, etc. FYI, considering direct, since we love RR. Of course, it's a huge commitment financially and a huge leap. Anyone have any words of wisdom to share?

You seem like a reasonable candidate and identified some of the things to be concerned about.

How big of a financial commitment is this for you and your family? Not just the upfront…. the lifestyle….dues, the park tickets/passes, food, merch, transportation….

Does it have to be Rivera or bust?

In most cases going direct is SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive than resale and therefore you are taking more risk because you have to take the depreciation hit if your personal financial situation or family’s travel habits change.

Rivera offers a bigger depreciation hit than most other DVC resorts because the points are locked into just that resort if purchased via resale.

On the other side, Rivera might be “sold out”
in a couple of years… which really means sold direct at a higher price and without incentives….

 

[AnnaS]

Just a thought - and only you know your plans, goals, finances, etc. etc. - if you decide to purchase, split your contract up because of the "worried about life". This is for everyone. No one knows what the future holds for us. Easier to sell. Can keep one contract and go every other year if expenses get to be too much, change up your vacation destination and so on.

Do some research if you have not but you need to also focus on what you want/expect out of your vacations now and in the near future.

 

[Royal Consort]

How do I figure out if DVC is a good move for us? Worried what if we aren't able to go yearly going forward?

Worried about "life" becoming less conducive to being able to take those week long stays going forward, or things such as jobs, health issues, or other life factors posing an issue to traveling, in the future. Also, I am concerned we'd need to purchase 200+ points to even come close to how we like to stay, etc. FYI, considering direct, since we love RR. Of course, it's a huge commitment financially and a huge leap. Anyone have any words of wisdom to share?

DVC is like a marriage, but to a vacation. It's a long commitment and you need to ask yourself "Am I going to commit to returning here for the next 15 years, at least once every 2 years?" This is not a Britney Spears sort of marriage. If you are comfortable with the commitment then you're a pretty good candidate. I'd say you'd need your family onboard with this because it could potentially turn into something they resent. Again, long term commitment. Buying resale would be your best case as you can always sell it for what you purchased it for if you want out sooner (generally speaking).

None of us can predict the future so there's no point in trying to estimate health or other life factors that are yet unknowable. All you can do is make the best decision with what information you have. We are international owners and certainly didn't predict the pandemic which prevented us from travel for over 2 years. And yet, we got through it and continue to make good use of our membership.

Just ensure you are in a solid financial position without needing to finance (or at least finance short term) as that will erode any savings. Riviera resale will save you thousands over direct if you're content with staying at the one place forever. We are home resort exclusive people and don't really stay outside of the properties we purchased so resale Riviera wouldn't bother us. If not your cup of tea, consider other resale contracts to save you a good chunk of money.

If you do want Riviera direct, an argument can be made for it but you need to hold on to it for a good number of years as direct contracts depreciate like new cars on the resale market. My view is I like the direct perks but I don't think they're "worth" it.

If buying direct, split your contracts either into 2x 100 points or a 150 and 50 point contract if you want to downsize in the future. Just know you need 150 direct points to keep your perks.

Alternatively, if you go at the same time every year, you can consider buying a favorite week from Disney who will automatically book your desired week for you annually. You can opt out if you choose and use your points like normal.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

You seem like a reasonable candidate and identified some of the things to be concerned about.

How big of a financial commitment is this for you and your family? Not just the upfront…. the lifestyle….dues, the park tickets/passes, food, merch, transportation….

Does it have to be Rivera or bust?

In most cases going direct is SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive than resale and therefore you are taking more risk because you have to take the depreciation hit if your personal financial situation or family’s travel habits change.

Rivera offers a bigger depreciation hit than most other DVC resorts because the points are locked into just that resort if purchased via resale.

On the other side, Rivera might be “sold out”
in a couple of years… which really means sold direct at a higher price and without incentives….

It does not necessarily have to be Riviera. We do like to try various resorts. I just thought Riviera would be a good home resort choice, since we do love it.

Is Riviera the only resort that has its resale limited to the purchaser staying there only? Why is that? And what do you mean it might be sold out and the implications of what that might mean?

I guess yes, I was wondering how easy it is to resell should you decide it's not for your family any more.

 

[Royal Consort]

It does not necessarily have to be Riviera. We do like to try various resorts. I just thought Riviera would be a good home resort choice, since we do love it.

Is Riviera the only resort that has its resale limited to the purchaser staying there only? Why is that? And what do you mean it might be sold out and the implications of what that might mean?

I guess yes, I was wondering how easy it is to resell should you decide it's not for your family any more.

Riviera was the first resort with resale restrictions which will apply to new resorts going forward. Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Cabins at Fort Wilderness are also restricted resorts. Disney did this to differentiate the direct and resale products.

Riviera is appox. 77% sold out at this time, looking to fully sell out during the last quarter of 2026. When it's sold out Disney jack the price up as they no longer have points to sell unless they reacquire them. They then move on to the newest resort in active sales (which will be Lakeshore Lodge in 2027).

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Worried about "life" becoming less conducive to being able to take those week long stays going forward, or things such as jobs, health issues, or other life factors posing an issue to traveling, in the future. Also, I am concerned we'd need to purchase 200+ points to even come close to how we like to stay, etc. FYI, considering direct, since we love RR. Of course, it's a huge commitment financially and a huge leap. Anyone have any words of wisdom to share?

My advice as a risk averse person who straddled the dvc decision for a decade: Life will happen. The challenges you will face later can't be predicted or planned for now, only mitigated.

The personal finance advice that I follow for a luxury purchase like this was and is "How reversible is this action? Is the financial impact of taking and reversing this decision something that my financial plan can survive? Does this action fit with my overall values?"

My answers were yes but only on a small resale contract. Now that I have played with my toy, paid dues for it multiple years, and discovered through using the 7 month window the resort i truly want to own, i am still happy I took the leap. I can sell what I bought and buy what i discovered I really want with no harm to my finances, relationships, or retirement plan.