Many decisions to make: VGF vs Riviera, direct or resale and use year.

[CaptainAmerica]

I know that Riviera and VGF Studios have good storage. Even CCV sleeps 4 has pretty decent storage.

Are Copper Creek and Old Key West the only properties left with no unit (Studio or 1BR) that sleeps 5? I imagine OKW will be getting a living room Murphy in its next refurb, but those units have a weird floor plan and I'm not sure they'll be able to add the 5th like SSR and others have.

 

[DVCsloth]

Are Copper Creek and Old Key West the only properties left with no unit (Studio or 1BR) that sleeps 5? I imagine OKW will be getting a living room Murphy in its next refurb, but those units have a weird floor plan and I'm not sure they'll be able to add the 5th like SSR and others have.

They are still showing SSR as sleeps 4, but it looks like AKV and BLT as well.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

They are still showing SSR as sleeps 4, but it looks like AKV and BLT as well.

SSR, AKV, and BLT all sleep 5 in their 1 bedrooms.

 

[DVCsloth]

SSR, AKV, and BLT all sleep 5 in their 1 bedrooms.

Oh, sorry I was just thinking Studios.

 

[Sandisw]

The sleeps-5 Studios have storage problems though, right? Not enough drawers and whatnot?

Honestly, I am not sure because we have not put more than 2 and never stay more than a few nights!

 

[redboat45]

Are Copper Creek and Old Key West the only properties left with no unit (Studio or 1BR) that sleeps 5? I imagine OKW will be getting a living room Murphy in its next refurb, but those units have a weird floor plan and I'm not sure they'll be able to add the 5th like SSR and others have.

OKW sleeps 5 in their 1bedroom. They have the pull out chair like AKL

 

[Sandisw]

Are Copper Creek and Old Key West the only properties left with no unit (Studio or 1BR) that sleeps 5? I imagine OKW will be getting a living room Murphy in its next refurb, but those units have a weird floor plan and I'm not sure they'll be able to add the 5th like SSR and others have.

I am pretty sure the OKW 1 bedroom sleeps 5 as it got the same sleeper chair that AKV and BLT have.

 

[sashinska]

Just an update, with a little delay we finally became DVC members last Friday! Ended up buying 250 pts at VGF direct from Disney. With all the discounts it came to only $2000 more than buying 150pts direct at VGF and 100 pts at AKV on resale. Super excited and already booked our first trip! Thank you everyone for the comments and suggestions

 

[TinkB278]

I personally think they added so many studios at VGF that if you are planning on only booking studios, owning VGF gives you no real advantage. Now if you want to book anything larger than a studio at VGF definitely buy there. Otherwise I’d buy RIV since their standard studios are hard to get so the home resort advantage for studios makes sense.

 

[Sandisw]

I personally think they added so many studios at VGF that if you are planning on only booking studios, owning VGF gives you no real advantage. Now if you want to book anything larger than a studio at VGF definitely buy there. Otherwise I’d buy RIV since their standard studios are hard to get so the home resort advantage for studios makes sense.

It is why we ended up adding on in March at VGF. We like doing one or two nights there before heading for the rest of the trip at RIV. But, I want larger units and worried that getting those 1 bedrooms at 7 months with my SSR points was going to become tougher and tougher if we didn't own there.

But, to be honest, now that I know I don't like the resort studios, I wish we had done less than the 300 points at VGF...but, that is okay, they are direct points and good at RIV and will be good at Poly tower too!!!

 

[bimmertt]

Just an update, with a little delay we finally became DVC members last Friday! Ended up buying 250 pts at VGF direct from Disney. With all the discounts it came to only $2000 more than buying 150pts direct at VGF and 100 pts at AKV on resale. Super excited and already booked our first trip! Thank you everyone for the comments and suggestions

Hi, just wondering what swayed your decision. I’m going through a similar process. I originally ruled out Riviera due to the resale restrictions, but I have to admit, the incentives are attractive. Specifically the ability to start with double points. If VGF offered this, I probably would’ve signed on the dotted line already. I’ve heard good things about the Riviera as well. I’ve also been debating direct vs resale. Seems like resale would be less risk if we have a change of heart early in our ownership.

 

[havoc315]

Hi, just wondering what swayed your decision. I’m going through a similar process. I originally ruled out Riviera due to the resale restrictions, but I have to admit, the incentives are attractive. Specifically the ability to start with double points. If VGF offered this, I probably would’ve signed on the dotted line already. I’ve heard good things about the Riviera as well. I’ve also been debating direct vs resale. Seems like resale would be less risk if we have a change of heart early in our ownership.

Resale is both more risky and less risky.
It's less risky in the short term -- You could likely recoup most of what you spent quickly, if you change your mind in the first few years. You likely won't get it all back -- Closing costs, sales commissions.

In the longer term -- re-sale can be riskier in the sense that you don't know what type of further restrictions may come. You don't know what benefits will be reserved for direct owners only. Buying re-sale likely cuts you off from future resorts, but it's impossible to know what that means long term. (In 20 years, will you still be able to stay at any resort except Riviera.. or in 20 years will there be 15 fantastic resorts that are off limits to you as a re-sale buyer).

As to Riviera's resale restrictions -- If you are buying direct and Riviera is your favorite resort (and it's cheaper than GFV!), then I wouldn't let fear of resale restrictions be a reason not to buy.
On the other hand, if GFV is your favorite resort, I don't think the price difference is big enough to warrant dropping down to your second choice.

 

[TinkB278]

Resale is both more risky and less risky.
It's less risky in the short term -- You could likely recoup most of what you spent quickly, if you change your mind in the first few years. You likely won't get it all back -- Closing costs, sales commissions.

In the longer term -- re-sale can be riskier in the sense that you don't know what type of further restrictions may come. You don't know what benefits will be reserved for direct owners only. Buying re-sale likely cuts you off from future resorts, but it's impossible to know what that means long term. (In 20 years, will you still be able to stay at any resort except Riviera.. or in 20 years will there be 15 fantastic resorts that are off limits to you as a re-sale buyer).

As to Riviera's resale restrictions -- If you are buying direct and Riviera is your favorite resort (and it's cheaper than GFV!), then I wouldn't let fear of resale restrictions be a reason not to buy.
On the other hand, if GFV is your favorite resort, I don't think the price difference is big enough to warrant dropping down to your second choice.

I agree and this point isn’t brought up often about owning resale becoming risky in 2042 and beyond. I’m sure new resorts will have restrictions so once resorts start expiring, your pool as a resale owner is going to get smaller and smaller. Eventually you might only be able to secure a room at your home resort once the pool gets small enough.

 

[sashinska]

Hi, just wondering what swayed your decision. I’m going through a similar process. I originally ruled out Riviera due to the resale restrictions, but I have to admit, the incentives are attractive. Specifically the ability to start with double points. If VGF offered this, I probably would’ve signed on the dotted line already. I’ve heard good things about the Riviera as well. I’ve also been debating direct vs resale. Seems like resale would be less risk if we have a change of heart early in our ownership.

We toured both Riviera and VGF in May and loved both. Decided on VGF since there are no restrictions and it is close to MK where we spend most of the time. In terms of direct/resale we always wanted to buy 150 pts direct to get all the benefits plus wanted to add 100 pts on resale at AKV (the cheapest resale resort on property). However, current insensitive at VGF is $6 per point if you buy 250 pts, plus we got some additional discounts. In the end it came to only $2000 difference for direct vs direct/resale and for us it was not worth going through the whole resale process. Also, VGF is expensive on resale, if we sold it right now we would lose only $4000. So even if we had to sell the contact in some unforeseen circumstances in few years, we would not be losing any money.

 

[diser_fam]

, plus we got some additional discounts

Curious to know if these additional discounts were something through Disney direct and what they were?

We have been looking at something similar to your original plan of 150 direct and 100 resale at another property. I was convinced that was the way to go dollar wise until I read your post, now I'm not so sure. I can't get the difference in 100 resale vs 100 additional direct at VGF to come out to only $2,000. Like you, I wouldn't go through the resale hassle if direct was that close to resale.

By the way, congratulations on your purchase!!

 

[Sandisw]

Curious to know if these additional discounts were something through Disney direct and what they were?

We have been looking at something similar to your original plan of 150 direct and 100 resale at another property. I was convinced that was the way to go dollar wise until I read your post, now I'm not so sure. I can't get the difference in 100 resale vs 100 additional direct at VGF to come out to only $2,000. Like you, I wouldn't go through the resale hassle if direct was that close to resale.

By the way, congratulations on your purchase!!

I know there is (was) a Disney Visa discount...and they do offer CM and Military discounts as well if one qualifies.

 

[TinkB278]

I know there is (was) a Disney Visa discount...and they do offer CM and Military discounts as well if one qualifies.

There are extra incentives for Disney visa holders?

 

[bimmertt]

There are extra incentives for Disney visa holders?

I asked my guide about this and it was only if you are buying 250 points or more.

 

[diser_fam]

I know there is (was) a Disney Visa discount...and they do offer CM and Military discounts as well if one qualifies.

Ah yes....thank you for the clarification!

 

[sashinska]

Curious to know if these additional discounts were something through Disney direct and what they were?

We have been looking at something similar to your original plan of 150 direct and 100 resale at another property. I was convinced that was the way to go dollar wise until I read your post, now I'm not so sure. I can't get the difference in 100 resale vs 100 additional direct at VGF to come out to only $2,000. Like you, I wouldn't go through the resale hassle if direct was that close to resale.

By the way, congratulations on your purchase!!

Thank you As Sandisw mentioned there is Disney card holder discount that kicks in at 250 pts plus there is pre-arrival $500 credit if you have confirmed Disney reservation. In the end, we paid $194 per point instead of $207. Before closing, I looked up a couple of 100 pts AKV resale contracts and ran the numbers including closing costs, was surprised myself to see that difference was so small.