Looking for Reassurance

[upritbass]

How to stretch the points...
— Do not stay for a week. The best use of your points is to arrive Monday morning and depart Friday afternoon. The weekend point rates are very high.
— The lower the season, the fewer points are needed.
— If you want DL then the only way is with resale VGC or wait for the new tower. I vote for VGC.
— If you want WDW then pick the resort that you want to stay at. We used to own Animal Kingdom. The savanna view rooms are killer.

How do you define NEED? Good mental health affects your entire life. If vacations at Disney improves your family’s mental well-being, then I would consider it a need.

What the nay-sayers don’t want to hear: DVC is an investment. As with any investment, monetary returns are not guaranteed. That being said, when we moved to Las Vegas we sold AKL for a profit. That means, WE WERE PAID TO VACATION AT WDW! How cool is that? We bought VGC in 2019 and it has already increased by >$40/point.

 

[LucieR]

You’ve got to do what’s good for you, but I would advise:

150 direct- get benefits, enjoy 1 or 2 holidays with bank /borrow

2 years later 150 resale- get a different resort, you’ll have a better idea what you want, 2 separate contracts to sell if you ever decide to down size.

 

[limace]

I’m not a naysayer-own a couple contracts ourselves, love disney, also west coaster. I’m just asking OP to think it through a bit. If you want a week a year in a one bedroom but are only going to buy direct at a resort that won’t give you what you want-well, I think it’s worth taking some time to explore all your options. You aren’t restricted to only buying Riviera if you want to go direct-and is personally avoid it due to resale restrictions. You can basically hit any resort direct right now-don’t feel restricted to RIv. Your current travel patterns might not make an AP worth it for your family. You can consider buying resale, or 125 direct and then adding resale-and getting yourself to the week a year in a one bedroom that you want.

So, if by reassurance, you mean “tell me my plan is the best idea”-there are people who will do that for you. If instead you want folks to talk through your plan, lots of people on these boards are really good at that. I’d suggest sitting down with the point charts, looking at when you want to travel, where you want to stay, and then go from there.

 

[WestCoastDVC]

Echoing what other said here: we bought resale and are happy with our purchase but would not have considered direct right now. It sounds like the only benefit that is tilting toward direct is the option to stay at new resorts but it seems like we could go 5+ years with maybe 1-2 additional resorts opening (or it could be zero). Disney as a whole is shifting capital out of theme parks and into streaming, which has kept shareholders happy during the pandemic.

You could always buy resale now and shuffle things around if the perks of direct start to outweigh resale more strongly. And that way you have a chance of your purchase actually turning a profit if you do eventually sell. And if not, you can always add on direct as well. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

In your situation, I would consider buying 150-200 resale for now, but not at Riviera since they're so limited to that single resort. Then, if you still feel like you want/need 300 points and direct points, buy some at Disneyland Tower when it is available.

I agree with the others to look at the points charts of the different resorts and see which ones you can get enough points for a week in a 1 bedroom when you want to travel, since that is your goal. Also take a look at the points of 1 vs 2 bedrooms and the room layouts - you may find you actually want that second bedroom so your living area is not occupied with sleeping children.

Polynesian studios are spacious, sleep 5 across 3 sleep surfaces, the location is fantastic, and the dues are among the lowest. However, the points required for a night are higher than many other resorts and they do not have 1-bedrooms, which is your desired room size.
Bay Lake Tower has a better points chart than Riviera and a great location. It also has relatively low dues and multiple room sizes, unlike the Polynesian. The studios will feel cramped with 4.
You might also like the options at Saratoga Springs for the points chart, dues, and buy-in cost. Direct points at SSR are in the same price range as resale points at some other resorts.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am a planner and ensure we get bang for our buck.

You are currently going about once every two years, or maybe a little less often. You have access to military discounts on tickets and resort rooms. You are considering primarily 1BRs.

I don't think I could justify a developer purchase in light of this, and I think a resale purchase would be tricky to make work.

Right now, a week at SSR in a Standard 1BR in late Feb/early Mar, with the 40% millitary discount, would be about $3,000. That same room would require 227 points, so those points have a "value" of $13.21. If you were buying 150 Riviera points retail, you'd pay $187 per point, with annual dues of $8.31 per point. Even if you completely ignored the time value of money, going ever other year, and assuming both room rates and dues increase at 4% per year, you will not break even until 2055. (In reality, the break-even point is farther out---and you might never get there---but this simpler calculation still illustrates the idea.)

I get the idea of wanting flexibility and not wanting to miss out on future perks. But, nothing is more flexible than cash, and the money you save by not buying DVC can buy lots and lots of "perks."

 

[RoseGold]

I mean this kindly, it sounds like you don't understand this system. 1BRs are the worst point value in the system and people use cheap points on them all the time, like me. Buying RIV direct has restricted resale, which means if you sell it, that buyer can only book RIV. No one knows what that will do to resale. This will create a new class of resale buyers and no one knows what that will do to RIV availability.

The RIV point chart is brutal, almost at VGF levels, which is the flagship resort. RIV 1BR is a painfully expensive, point heavy booking. I do not know why you would buy into that chart, when budget is an issue. Your points go much further at BLT or SSR. Heck, get a GORGEOUS VGF 1BR for the same points and be walking distance to MK, and book all that with cheap SSR points. There are plenty of good resale options, and I haven't heard a rational explanation for you to need to buy direct at all. You already have military discount tickets.

There is no guarantee that any of the DVC perks will continue or that direct points will be able to be used at any future resorts (except DL tower, I would argue, based on its current permits and ownership). This is a five figure discussion, and you do not seem to know your math. Maybe direct is a smart option for you because you are the only person planning to pay rack rate for RIV. I have no idea, but you should. If budget is a concern, resale is my first instinct, and you are pitching the exact opposite of how to stretch points and get good value.

I don't know much about the military room discounts, but if they are good as posted above, I don't see why you would ever buy into this system mathematically.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

She's a nurse and he's retired military.

I think everyone is reading too much into the "budget isn't great".

I took that as "We're not a doctor and a CEO of a major corporation and we don't have $100K tucked under the couch cushions."

lol

Maybe I'm wrong,

Nowhere does she say they're in debt and she even came back to clarify they have cash for 150 points.

Though, I agree it doesn't sound like they need to buy direct unless they really want to stay at Riv. Maybe they do.

Isn't DVC giving special pricing to military?

 

[BFraid]

She's a nurse and he's retired military.

I think everyone is reading too much into the "budget isn't great".

I took that as "We're not a doctor and a CEO of a major corporation and we don't have $100K tucked under the couch cushions."

lol

Maybe I'm wrong,

Nowhere does she say they're in debt and she even came back to clarify they have cash for 150 points.

Though, I agree it doesn't sound like they need to buy direct unless they really want to stay at Riv. Maybe they do.

Isn't DVC giving special pricing to military?

I totally did mean that we wouldn't be able to buy the max 8000 points at a blink of an eye. I know there are people who can just purchase without much thought and it won't shift their budget to buy 150-300 points.


DVC does give special military pricing, though I am not sure WHAT it is. It definitely depends and we are not jumping in lightly at all. I did however, sign us up for an informational tour when we go to further our knowledge. It sounds like they really aren't pushy, so a good way to spend a non park extra day.

 

[BFraid]

You are currently going about once every two years, or maybe a little less often. You have access to military discounts on tickets and resort rooms. You are considering primarily 1BRs.

I don't think I could justify a developer purchase in light of this, and I think a resale purchase would be tricky to make work.

Right now, a week at SSR in a Standard 1BR in late Feb/early Mar, with the 40% millitary discount, would be about $3,000. That same room would require 227 points, so those points have a "value" of $13.21. If you were buying 150 Riviera points retail, you'd pay $187 per point, with annual dues of $8.31 per point. Even if you completely ignored the time value of money, going ever other year, and assuming both room rates and dues increase at 4% per year, you will not break even until 2055. (In reality, the break-even point is farther out---and you might never get there---but this simpler calculation still illustrates the idea.)

I get the idea of wanting flexibility and not wanting to miss out on future perks. But, nothing is more flexible than cash, and the money you save by not buying DVC can buy lots and lots of "perks."

I appreciate this breakdown. The military discounts are amazing and we have been lucky to have them in the past. Like DVC perks it isn't a promised thing, but it has been steadily available.

 

[Spark65]

I think the option you mentioned, buying direct at RIV, is the highest risk DVC purchase you can make right now. If you are financing, you may find yourself needing to sell in 3-4 years and be underwater on the loan.

I am at a loss for words with that paragraph!

Whether you buy a timeshare or just spend thousands on a vacation every year it is not money to play with but money you can live without. Timeshares aren't meant to be bought with the sole thought of needing to sell for money in the future, think of it more like kissing your money goodbye.

I think I'm getting old my generation learned what no meant at an early age and why.

 

[Spark65]

I appreciate this breakdown. The military discounts are amazing and we have been lucky to have them in the past. Like DVC perks it isn't a promised thing, but it has been steadily available.

You should use the military discount to your advantage your husband earned every one of them. You can stay at Shades of Green inexpensively but you probably already have, I myself think it lacks that certain Disney element so you miss out on the magic.

 

[DVC Doctor]

I would NOT buy Riviera in your situation, but I would suggest 150 SSR or AKV or even BLT resale points.

 

[Spark65]

Some people just can't get off the resale value of buying DVC, If resale is part of any equation do not fool yourself like others and buy for that reason it's a timeshare nothing more the best part is it will make you take a vacation when your too busy to even think about a vacation.

 

[sndral]

Like you, when I first started seriously considering DVC I wanted 1 br.s, I like the space & having a separate master bedroom & the spa tubs I figured I needed around 300 points to go a week+ every year. Since I fly from the west coast I like staying closer to 10 days.
I advise that you study the point charts for when you would plan to go, that makes a big difference in how many points you’ll need. For example, you mentioned you’d traveled to WDW in Feb.,which week is important. At Riveira a 6 night Wed. To Wed. stay early in the month is 283 standard view, 363 preferred view. But those same villas for 6 nights 2/16-23 will cost 321 standard view and 391 preferred view. Also, owners want to stretch their points, so competition for those standard views may be stiff, although 1br.s are generally easier. But w/ Riviera we don’t know how competition for low point times/views will play out long term, since resale Riviera owners can only book there, theoretically increasing demand through time.
I am also very fiscally cautious. So I bought a loaded 160 point resale contract at AKV - AKV because I loved the resort, loaded contract because I had enough points for my trips for the next couple of years. AKV was also cheap price wise & I figured if it didn’t work out for me I could sell & probably worst case scenario @ least lose less in reselling than I would have paid for rooms anyway. In essence it was a low risk test drive of DVC ownership for me.
I had also stayed at AKL in both a resort room and a 1 br. before I bought - so I knew I loved the resort & the 1 br.
Have you stayed at Riviera? I ask because I had planned to buy at BWV for my 2nd contract to reach 300 points, but I stayed there & @ VGF & realized I very much preferred VGF, so my second contract was @ VGF - even though it was more expensive than BWVs. Why not stay at least a night at Riviera, & maybe even in a 1 br. so you’ll know if you love the resort & the 1 br.s there. If you do, then buy 150 direct in a use year that gives you bankable points so that you’ll start out w/ enough points to last for a couple of years through banking/borrowing while you see if you want to buy a second contract to get you to your 300 points.
I’m a grandfathered blue card member because of when I bought. I certainly haven’t gotten enough value in benefits from being blue card to justify the thousands of dollars more direct would have cost at the time & there was no restriction on where you could book then, so not sure how I’d have felt about that, although I did add on 100 pt.s resale after some restrictions, but I very much stay at my home resorts because they are my favorites. I did visit Riviera on my last WDW trip & could have bought direct if I’d loved the resort, loved the restaurant & the Skyliner, but didn’t fall in love w/ the resort, so wasn’t tempted to buy.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I totally did mean that we wouldn't be able to buy the max 8000 points at a blink of an eye. I know there are people who can just purchase without much thought and it won't shift their budget to buy 150-300 points.


DVC does give special military pricing, though I am not sure WHAT it is. It definitely depends and we are not jumping in lightly at all. I did however, sign us up for an informational tour when we go to further our knowledge. It sounds like they really aren't pushy, so a good way to spend a non park extra day.

They're not pushy in my experience.

Definitely ask about the military discount and you may want to consider a Disney Chase Visa ASAP if you don't have it already. They are giving an additional $1000 off a 250 point purchase but it expires March 10.

Going from 150 to 250 points with all incentives is about a $16K jump. If your military offer is good, maybe the gap gets closed enough....?

Disclaimer: Not encouraging you to overextend by any means. Just giving the info to crunch the numbers, because it also sounds like if you have enough to buy 150 direct, you have enough or almost enough to buy 300 resale should you decide you don't need unrestricted points.

Good luck! And thank you both for your services!

 

[Drew729]

I think there are some helpful tips in this thread and will add my experience as someone who also likes to stay in 1 bedrooms but also knows that they are not a great value. The benefits of direct purchases vs resale has been discussed many times and has a lot of factors so I will stick to just talking about the accommodations .

AKV was the resort for us and the hands down winner to purchase resale when running the numbers based on us using the home resort advantage to book the 1 bed values at Jambo, while you may not always be able to book them I found the availability to be pretty decent and bought with some leeway to modify if needed. I will not bore you will the details of my cost analysis Plus we as a family love AKV and find that was just as important as the "hard numbers" when we purchased there after owning both SSR/OKW.

Here is a real life example of what we have booked for our next two trips. I am a serial trip modifier so that may change Labor day week a (7) night 1 bed at AKV 1 bed value = 125 points. MLK week a (7) night 1 bed at AKV value =137 points. Total for (14) nights was 262 points.

Comparing those 14 nights a standard 1 bedroom at AKV would be 333 total points which is still pretty decent but staying in the value saved us 71 points vs standard. Riviera 1 bed standard would be 448 points for those same dates.

 

[DVC Doctor]

Some people just can't get off the resale value of buying DVC, If resale is part of any equation do not fool yourself like others and buy for that reason it's a timeshare nothing more the best part is it will make you take a vacation when your too busy to even think about a vacation.

I am not sure what you mean with this post, but this thread is about someone contemplating buying 300 points at Riviera (almost $60,000) when there may be better options to buy resale for $30,000 and have lower dues and save a ton of money.

If the original poster really wants to buy Riviera, then go for it, but it is a huge premium in price vs alternatives. Sure, there are a few tradeoffs, but the savings can be huge.