How many points to purchase at Riviera?

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

We are a couple who put a deposit down for 100 points at Riviera at 188 per point (they honored that price because that was the price when I toured the model rooms last month). I had been thinking this would be enough because I'm adventure season we could get a tower room studio one year and a deluxe studio the next (and have the space for a friend to join us). But now I've been told that I should have gotten more points because the studios will be so hard to book even at 11 months. With 150 we could get a one-bedroom by borrowing from the next year if the studio doesn't work out. Basically I'm told to "get more than I think I'll need." Does this make sense?

My original plan was to get 100 from Disney direct at Riviera and later on add more elsewhere (maybe Saratoga because of lower maintenance) through resale. I don't want to finance, so getting more from Disney will affect my ability to get the Saratoga or wherever add-on. Basically getting 150 direct, after incentives (if they still will honor the ones before the price increase), will cost not much less than 100 direct and 100 resale Saratoga. Any advice?

 

[jerseyduke]

I would not rely on the ability to get a tower studio unless your dates are totally flexible. There are only a handful of them, and remember, someone has to be checking out the day you check in.

You will probably end up wanting more points, but if you are unable to get the incentives, I would just wait. You can add on points in the future. 50 points...if they go up 6$ per point, its only 300 bucks. Id make sure I was happy with my purchase and needed more in that case.

If you can get the incentives it changes the question some.

Just realize, that if you have 100 DRR points and 100 SSR points (or wherever) you can not use all 200 points at DRR at 11 months. And actually the SSR points would not be able to be used at DRR at all.

ETA
FWIW, when I made my first DVC purchase I was wet behind the ears, and was poised to buy 120 VGF points directly from Disney. I "Stretched" and got 150. I am beyond happy that I did, and really wish I had gotten about 165, as it would give me a lake view over standard view. But that is just my experience. Low and behold I dont go for a week - I go Sat - Sunday - 8 days typically at VGF

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are 24 total Tower Studios.

Speculation is that Standard Studios may be harder, especially in Adventure Season. Time will tell on that, but it wouldn't be a shocker.

 

[Nicola2n]

I was just going to post this exact question. Initially we were thinking 100 points for RIV. Then we figured we should increase it to 120, but now I'm thinking even that will not be enough because of the popularity of the lower priced rooms. For now we always travel around the third week of January. We like the cooler temperatures and somewhat lower crowds. But if those standard studios are going to be too hard to get....I don't know anymore. I have to say that the more I'm reading about DVC the less sure I am about it. I'd hate to invest all of this money and then not even be able to secure the room type that we want.

 

[zavandor]

Currently, Tower studios go quickly, but standard studios are even harder to get. Tower studios are not for everyone, they sleep only two (so families are out) and they're very small. Someone described them as claustrophobic. Standard studios may become the most difficult category to get at Riviera.

 

[jerseyduke]

There are 24 total Tower Studios.

Speculation is that Standard Studios may be harder, especially in Adventure Season. Time will tell on that, but it wouldn't be a shocker.

Thanks, I didnt know the number.

If you make the assumption that checkouts are equal on every day of the week (which is a big assumption, they are PROBABLY higher on weekends) that means that 3 to 4 tower studios become available every day. Thats it. That could be pretty competitive.

If I were buying Riviera I would not be expecting to get a Tower Studio with any regularity.

Since it is a new room category we can only speculate. But when it comes to "standard view" we have BLT and BWV to tell us they are often very hard to get.

 

[jerseyduke]

I was just going to post this exact question. Initially we were thinking 100 points for RIV. Then we figured we should increase it to 120, but now I'm thinking even that will not be enough because of the popularity of the lower priced rooms. For now we always travel around the third week of January. We like the cooler temperatures and somewhat lower crowds. But if those standard studios are going to be too hard to get....I don't know anymore. I have to say that the more I'm reading about DVC the less sure I am about it. I'd hate to invest all of this money and then not even be able to secure the room type that we want.

3rd week of January is like 116 points for a standard view. Buy a fixed week, it should only be about 127 points, then you have no worries.
Just remember a fixed week is not a fixed week, its a guaranteed reservation. You can cancel it and you get the points put into your account to use as you wish.

If I typically went 3rd week of January and was purchasing Riviera, it is what I would do. Just a thought

 

[TexasChick123]

How many points to purchase?!? 1,000,000!!! Sorry. Apparently, I am going to be prone to immature responses today!

 

[carli_h]

3rd week of January is like 116 points for a standard view. Buy a fixed week, it should only be about 127 points, then you have no worries.
Just remember a fixed week is not a fixed week, its a guaranteed reservation. You can cancel it and you get the points put into your account to use as you wish.

If I typically went 3rd week of January and was purchasing Riviera, it is what I would do. Just a thought

This is really good advice. I would buy a fixed week if you plan to go the same time most years.

 

[Nicola2n]

3rd week of January is like 116 points for a standard view. Buy a fixed week, it should only be about 127 points, then you have no worries.
Just remember a fixed week is not a fixed week, its a guaranteed reservation. You can cancel it and you get the points put into your account to use as you wish.

If I typically went 3rd week of January and was purchasing Riviera, it is what I would do. Just a thought

And just when you thought you’d done lots of research.... what’s a fixed week? I mean in principle I know what it is, but how does it work with DVC? You purchase the same week for the entire 50 year term?

 

[Nicola2n]

And just when you thought you’d done lots of research.... what’s a fixed week? I mean in principle I know what it is, but how does it work with DVC? You purchase the same week for the entire 50 year term?

Interesting. I just read up on the guaranteed week. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Hmmmm. Thanks for pointing that out

 

[TexasChick123]

And just when you thought you’d done lots of research.... what’s a fixed week? I mean in principle I know what it is, but how does it work with DVC? You purchase the same week for the entire 50 year term?

You pick a week and a room type, say week 3 for your January week in a standard studio, and they will tell you the total points it would cost to buy it. If it’s 150 points, you’ll have to buy 165 points because it is that point amount +10%. Should you decide you want to change it up one year, you can convert that week back into your 165 points and book whenever you want like everyone else. That week will be automatically booked for you every year in your room type though. Tower studios aren’t eligible for fixed weeks however.

 

[jerseyduke]

And just when you thought you’d done lots of research.... what’s a fixed week? I mean in principle I know what it is, but how does it work with DVC? You purchase the same week for the entire 50 year term?

They call it a fixed week, but its not, its a guaranteed reservation.

You purchase Week 3 at Riviera in a standard view studio. Your reservation is guaranteed for the next 50 years.
For this you pay a 10% premium. If its 120 points, your contract is for 132 points (120 + 12) to cover any point shuffling they do.

if you cancel, you get all 132 points put into your account to use as you please.
If you find that it is easy as pie to book your week anyway, you can cancel, then just rebook and keep the extra 12 points.

If you tend to go the same week, I think its a good idea, worst case is you dont need it, then just cancel and rebook and get a few extra points for maybe a long weekend every few years or something.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think it comes down to what you feel comfortable financially doing, when you want to travel, and what room category you want to stay in.

Tower Studios and Studio Standard views are going to be the hardest. Also the lowest point season(s) will be harder to get.

Remember you can always borrow points from future years and then add-on down the road.

If you bought 100 points but needed 125 it would take you 4 trips before you ran out. At which point you could then buy an extra 25 point add-on or look to buy transfer points from someone.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I would not rely on the ability to get a tower studio unless your dates are totally flexible. There are only a handful of them, and remember, someone has to be checking out the day you check in.

You will probably end up wanting more points, but if you are unable to get the incentives, I would just wait. You can add on points in the future. 50 points...if they go up 6$ per point, its only 300 bucks. Id make sure I was happy with my purchase and needed more in that case.

If you can get the incentives it changes the question some.

Just realize, that if you have 100 DRR points and 100 SSR points (or wherever) you can not use all 200 points at DRR at 11 months. And actually the SSR points would not be able to be used at DRR at all.

ETA
FWIW, when I made my first DVC purchase I was wet behind the ears, and was poised to buy 120 VGF points directly from Disney. I "Stretched" and got 150. I am beyond happy that I did, and really wish I had gotten about 165, as it would give me a lake view over standard view. But that is just my experience. Low and behold I dont go for a week - I go Sat - Sunday - 8 days typically at VGF

Thanks for this and your other replies! I just heard back from my DVC and they will give me the previous incentives, meaning $27,200 for 150 pts instead of the current $28k. So that saves a little and it does seem from what everyone is saying that I will need more points is I want to do this.

Does one get double points with add-ons like one does ? If I were to buy 50 later for more money, would they give me 100 to start?

I also didn't know about fixed weeks, but I don't think it would work for us. We mostly only travel during adventure season, but it can vary between early December and sometime in January.

Still not sure if I should stick with 100 or buy more. I can pay for 125 right now; for 150, the extra cost would have to stay in my Disney visa card for a few months after the 6 months 0% financing so I'd be paying some interest (though not too much...)

 

[Nicola2n]

Thanks for this and your other replies! I just heard back from my DVC and they will give me the previous incentives, meaning $27,200 for 150 pts instead of the current $28k.

Do you mind sharing what kind of incentives you’re referring to? I’m curious to know how that works

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Do you mind sharing what kind of incentives you’re referring to? I’m curious to know how that works

Hi there! I don't mind at all. And it looks like we're on a very similar boat deciding whether and how much to buy.

We toured the Riviera model rooms at SSR and listened to the sales pitch almost two weeks ago when we were down at WDW. We have friends and family who are DVC and they love it... and we loved DRR and the Skyliner, so we decided we would buy if we wouldn't have to finance. The Disney Visa allows for 6 months of 0 interest and we figured we could pay off the cost of 100 points before interest kicked in. When we toured the price was 188 pp, so $18800 for 100p. They normally honor a price 1 week after a tour, but my guide got a managers' approval to give us 2 weeks to think about it. So... by tomorrow I have to decide how many points I want if I want the previous price and incentives!

The incentives for new members start at 150 points. The previous incentive, which we could get until tomorrow, is 1k off at 188 pp = $27200. The new price is $195 pp, and the new incentive is $1250 off. For 150 points that comes to $28k. So if I'm going to want 150 anyway later on, it might be best for me to buy it now because it saves me some money. Not sure yet whether to stick to 100, maybe 125 and see if that's good enough, or just buy 150 now (I will probably want the extra points so I'm leaning towards buying 150 now, but it might mean paying a little on interest after the 6 month promotion). I thought I was set and ready! Sigh...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for this and your other replies! I just heard back from my DVC and they will give me the previous incentives, meaning $27,200 for 150 pts instead of the current $28k. So that saves a little and it does seem from what everyone is saying that I will need more points is I want to do this.

Does one get double points with add-ons like one does ? If I were to buy 50 later for more money, would they give me 100 to start?

I also didn't know about fixed weeks, but I don't think it would work for us. We mostly only travel during adventure season, but it can vary between early December and sometime in January.

Still not sure if I should stick with 100 or buy more. I can pay for 125 right now; for 150, the extra cost would have to stay in my Disney visa card for a few months after the 6 months 0% financing so I'd be paying some interest (though not too much...)

Here's my thoughts. First, I think that you'll get the standard studio and the tower room periodically when booking at 11 months (probably the January trips) - it may just not be consistently over the life of the contract. But doing so even periodically will give you leeway for the preferred studios trip years that you may have to book perhaps more frequently. So in that case 125 points would probably work out to be fine. Perhaps even the 100 because of the resale you're also looking at. Since you're also planning on resale somewhere else then either you are going to plan more trips a year or it's just to have something less expensive for other options? With that resale you'll have other possibilities to throw into the mix and since Riviera isn't the only location you want to stay it's not as critical to buy extra especially if it's a stretch that starts adding to the overall cost because of any finance charges you'd end up with.

Now of course something about having these points and having the room "already paid for" often leads to going more often. If that's likely to be the case and you really think you'll love Riviera more than any other place then the 150 points now may be the best.

 

[Nicola2n]

Hi there! I don't mind at all. And it looks like we're on a very similar boat deciding whether and how much to buy.

We toured the Riviera model rooms at SSR and listened to the sales pitch almost two weeks ago when we were down at WDW. We have friends and family who are DVC and they love it... and we loved DRR and the Skyliner, so we decided we would buy if we wouldn't have to finance. The Disney Visa allows for 6 months of 0 interest and we figured we could pay off the cost of 100 points before interest kicked in. When we toured the price was 188 pp, so $18800 for 100p. They normally honor a price 1 week after a tour, but my guide got a managers' approval to give us 2 weeks to think about it. So... by tomorrow I have to decide how many points I want if I want the previous price and incentives!

The incentives for new members start at 150 points. The previous incentive, which we could get until tomorrow, is 1k off at 188 pp = $27200. The new price is $195 pp, and the new incentive is $1250 off. For 150 points that comes to $28k. So if I'm going to want 150 anyway later on, it might be best for me to buy it now because it saves me some money. Not sure yet whether to stick to 100, maybe 125 and see if that's good enough, or just buy 150 now (I will probably want the extra points so I'm leaning towards buying 150 now, but it might mean paying a little on interest after the 6 month promotion). I thought I was set and ready! Sigh...

I’m so sad that we missed out on that $188 per point price. We must have literally *just* missed it. We were at WDW January 22-27 staying at CBR right next door to RIV. We didn’t have time to tour as it was such a short trip . We started chatting with DVC as soon as we got back. That lower price point might certainly make our decision much easier

Amazing that it worked out for you and thanks for sharing. Good luck! Sounds like you’re so close.

 

[RoseGold]

I'm not sure why you would buy direct at all unless you would get value from a blue card or love RIV that much or want a fixed week.

For two people, I'm not even sure the blue card math works, unless you are golfing every day or something, and the blue card discounts can be eliminated at any time.