Please help me decide VGF or RIV add-on

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

What is the current mousekeeping schedule for DVC stays?

 

[intamin]

What is the current mousekeeping schedule for DVC stays?

Pretty sure it's still the same. You need to stay 8 nights in one room in order to receive full mousekeeping on the 4th day, if you stay less than that then it's just trash and towel service on day 4.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

Pretty sure it's still the same. You need to stay 8 nights in one room in order to receive full mousekeeping on the 4th day, if you stay less than that then it's just trash and towel service on day 4.

Thank you

 

[davidhr]

If you like VGF I’d get that one. Having two home resorts is an advantage. I own CCV and RIV and I love having the priority to book each one when I want to travel.

With the current promotion I actually added more points at RIV even if VGF was a bit cheaper because I love the resort and honestly the Grand Floridian is not my style. The only thing I like about it is the gingerbread house during the holidays lol

 

[EYL]

Regarding diversifying my DVC, I do think that would be helpful. Looking down the road, I am a bit concerned where resale Riviera owners will be locked-in to only Riviera and that could make booking an issue.

As you mentioned here, the resale restrictions here may make booking an issue. But I think it'll play a bigger role at 7 months rather than 11. At 7 months, those who are savvy already have their home resorts booked and are looking to switch. Riviera resales cannot switch at 7 months, limiting the rooms available. So if you want Riviera, I would plan for Riviera, may it be buying more points there or banking every other year...

 

[Sandisw]

We have both as they are our top resorts! We pretty much split stay at both every trip, even when we only do 3 night trips.

A

In all honesty I haven't done a split stay yet, but packing up our stuff mid vacation sounds like a hassle ... maybe not but in theory yes lol. We have not stayed at VGF but LOVE the rooms from what we have seen on tours as well as the whole resort. We usually have at least 2-3 meals a vacation at GF Cafe. My wife LOVES the Tea Room prior to covid... it seriously needs to re-open.. plus ya just can't beat that lobby. The compactness of Riviera is a huge plus for us as everything is under one roof. Topolinos is awesome, but with kids it isn't worth it for us at this point in time.

Regarding Poly Tower, I know it will be fantastic once it opens, but I really love the retro theming feel of the Poly resort... my wife not so much as she thinks everything is too dark. Could I wait for Poly Tower... I suppose but Lord know what price point we will be at by then and I have a feeling it will be more of a modern take on the Poly theme. I keep thinking of what everyone said on DVC Fan about a month ago, GF is the "crown jewel" and quintessential Disney and I kinda feel the same way.

Regarding diversifying my DVC, I do think that would be helpful. Looking down the road, I am a bit concerned where resale Riviera owners will be locked-in to only Riviera and that could make booking an issue.

It's a pain in the butt problem to have... but at least it is a fun one. lol

The % of resale points at the resorts remain pretty low. I think you might be at 20% at the 20 year mark for RIV if it follows current trends? And who knows, more RIV owners might hold contracts if resale value is depressed.

So That still leaves the bulk of points direct which function the same way.

During home resort bookings, all things function the same so restrictions don’t matter because we are all RIV owners.

Where it may matter is for anyone who decided to wait to book if they want SV rooms..then again, those are going fast now with a minuscule number of resale points.

Just don’t think it something that will impact those who own RIV who book during home resort periods.

 

[jason423]

Managing two resorts is not difficult. For us we book at the 11 month mark and then see what is out there at 7 months if we want to switch. This is assuming that you want to do a split stay since you cant really combine until 7 months. If its just one big trip a year then you can probably just alternate between the resorts taking one year at RIV and the next at VGF or vice versa and banking and borrowing as needed. One thing to add is that my only experience with it is the same use year where everything is all under the same login and you are just selecting which home resort to use. I dont know if it is any different or more difficult with multiple use years and resorts.

 

[sndral]

OHHHHH I didn't even think about that, bank each resort every other year!

We own 2 resorts & that’s what we do, one year we stay at VGF for 10-14 days, the next we stay at AKV. I love both resorts for different reasons. As far as ease of use w/ owning 2 resorts, my contracts all have the same use year, we book whichever resort’s turn it is at 11 months & don’t mess w/ switching at 7 months, so it’s been easy.
We own about the same number of points at each resort (slightly more at VGF since the point charts are higher there than AKV) & I will say that I ‘like’ my VGF points best when the MF bill is due .

 

[Electron_si]

I’m glad this thread is out there because I’ve been weighing VGF direct, RR direct or a resale and this has some great supporting info to support decision making

 

[DVCanadian]

VGF.
Home priority at the top two resorts on property gives more options.

 

[Stargazer65]

Just add on at both. 175 more at RIV, and an even 200 at VGF.

 

[TraderStitch]

Just add on at both. 175 more at RIV, and an even 200 at VGF.

My wife would kill me lol.

This has all been fantastic ideas and opinions and I really can't thank everyone enough for their input. I talked to my wife a bit more about things and she did ask, "we aren't add on anymore points for awhile right? ...Right?" ..literally the Anakin and Padme meme lol.


I did mention Poly Tower possibly and she didn't say no... but I think that contract will only be 150 at best lol.

We discussed the every-other year stay Riv then VGF as she said she doesn't want to attempt a split stay.. atleast until the kids are older either. She was also mad that we didn't think of that move lol.

 

[intamin]

My wife would kill me lol.

This has all been fantastic ideas and opinions and I really can't thank everyone enough for their input. I talked to my wife a bit more about things and she did ask, "we aren't add on anymore points for awhile right? ...Right?" ..literally the Anakin and Padme meme lol.
View attachment 775999

I did mention Poly Tower possibly and she didn't say no... but I think that contract will only be 150 at best lol.

We discussed the every-other year stay Riv then VGF as she said she doesn't want to attempt a split stay.. atleast until the kids are older either. She was also mad that we didn't think of that move lol.

You just need to get her to commit to VGF now and then once Riviera is almost sold out you need to be like if we don't buy Riviera now we can never get anymore Riviera points unless they're resale restricted and can ONLY be used there and then put on the puppy eyes.

I speak from experience.

 

[Royal Consort]

Currently I need some guidance and opinions as far as what having two home resorts is like for owners with more experience. I'm a person who likes to keep things simple, but I do realize that rule needs to be bent from time to time. Having everything at Riviera would make things a whole lot simpler in my book but I got VGF acting like a sea siren. My biggest question is does everyone book their home resorts at 11 month mark just so they know they will be going to Disney and then switch to one resort at the 7 month mark or do you hold off for 7 months and hope for the best? I just want to make sure I'm not missing something here that more seasoned owners do that I probably haven't thought of. At most we would go twice a year... I'd personally prefer one stay that is longer.

I own both Riviera and VGF and enjoy both immensely. As other posters have mentioned, you can stay in one resort one year and the other the next using banking and borrowing. I don't do that, I split stay and book both at 11 months for each resort. I do not ever book anything at 7 months because Riviera and VGF are where I want to be. Depending on how long you vacation a split stay can either be a PITA or enhance the experience. We always go for a minimum of 10 days, up to two weeks. Splitting our resorts over this time provides a refresh during the stay and we concentrate on different areas of the resort.

The only problem with owning 2 home resorts and alternating them, is that you cannot take a year off going to WDW. If you find yourself in that situation you'd have to rent out your points. I won't own more than 2 home resorts at WDW for that reason. I do like the opportunity to have break year.

 

[sndral]

I’m glad this thread is out there because I’ve been weighing VGF direct, RR direct or a resale and this has some great supporting info to support decision making

The resale restrictions dilemma is that if you want Riviera - you better really like Riviera because you can‘t use those resale points anywhere else. If you want any other WDW resort, including VGF, it’s best if you are indifferent to or even dislike Riviera, because you can’t use any nonRiviera resale points you purchase to stay there.

 

[TraderStitch]

Just as an update cause I said I would, we closed on 250 VGF today! With all credits and using my 2% cash back card, got the cost down to $158 pp! Feel extremely confident in owning somewhere on the monorail line.

 

[DanCali]

Just as an update cause I said I would, we closed on 250 VGF today! With all credits and using my 2% cash back card, got the cost down to $158 pp! Feel extremely confident is owning somewhere on the monorail line.

Congrats!

 

[Jimmy Geppetto]

DVC brothers and sisters please gather round.

In light of recent deals going on, I'm buying between 225-250 more pts; however, I don't know which resort to purchase at. My wife and I bought 225 at Riviera in 2021 and the addon-itis has hit HARD and fast. (current contract has been paid off already)

That being said, we love Riviera and love Grand Floridian so that would be our two options. The new contract will be paid it off immediately. The resale restrictions do not bother us as we plan on holding for the life of the contract. Over the last week or so I've been taking samplings of what booking looks like at the 7 month mark and for our planned 450-475 pts; it shouldn't be a problem getting a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom at VGF or RIV... possibly other resorts as well.

Currently I need some guidance and opinions as far as what having two home resorts is like for owners with more experience. I'm a person who likes to keep things simple, but I do realize that rule needs to be bent from time to time. Having everything at Riviera would make things a whole lot simpler in my book but I got VGF acting like a sea siren. My biggest question is does everyone book their home resorts at 11 month mark just so they know they will be going to Disney and then switch to one resort at the 7 month mark or do you hold off for 7 months and hope for the best? I just want to make sure I'm not missing something here that more seasoned owners do that I probably haven't thought of. At most we would go twice a year... I'd personally prefer one stay that is longer.

Also, I love the idea of the monorail loop because even when staying previously at RIV, we spent a lot of time at VGF, Poly, and Contemporary. I'd rather wait for Poly Tower, but who knows where prices will be by then so ya really can't beat this deal at the moment. One last bit of info, we have two little ones under 3 at the moment so being close to MK is a big plus as well.

I really just need a nudge in one direction or the other as after doing the calculations it is only about $1k difference give or take.
Thank you for the input as always!

My guess is the Riviera incentives get better once VGF is sold out. They still have a ton of points to sell at RIV and more inventory is coming for sale with Poly and Fort Wilderness. They may use incentives to drive RIV sales when this happens. Just my guess. Nothing more.