Poly Vs Riv Direct

[Adopted By Disney]

We are looking into our first purchase and originally we planned to buy PVB 150 points direct over RIV due to the resale restrictions. But as weve been talking lately if we don’t really plan to sell, it shouldn’t really matter. So my question is if you were buying your first direct purchase would you choose poly or Riv knowing you don’t plan to sell but will want to add on points eventually. Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I’m aware of the case that it is likely better to buy RIV direct and PVB resale than PVB direct and RIV resale but if we buy Poly direct we won’t buy RIV resale and would likely buy more Poly points or somewhere other than RIV

 

[Disney.dad]

We are looking into our first purchase and originally we planned to buy PVB 150 points direct over RIV due to the resale restrictions. But as weve been talking lately if we don’t really plan to sell, it shouldn’t really matter. So my question is if you were buying your first direct purchase would you choose poly or Riv knowing you don’t plan to sell but will want to add on points eventually. Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I’m aware of the case that it is likely better to buy RIV direct and PVB resale than PVB direct and RIV resale but if we buy Poly direct we won’t buy RIV resale and would likely buy more Poly points or somewhere other than RIV

It depends on where or what you want priority for. Standard View Studios at Riviera are much more likely to require priority than getting the Longhouses at Poly. Wanting 1 of 2 bedroom rooms at Poly are more likely to require priority due to their low numbers. If you pay for Poly direct you are going to be paying a good amount more but may get more in the end on resale. Buy the one you want priority at and leave if at that. If you want to buy and add on you could buy direct Riviera and add on Riviera resale cheaper then bank your direct points when you want to stay elsewhere. We own at Riviera as resale as a part of our portfolio and it may be our favorite resort. We don’t mind having those points locked there.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We are looking into our first purchase and originally we planned to buy PVB 150 points direct over RIV due to the resale restrictions. But as weve been talking lately if we don’t really plan to sell, it shouldn’t really matter. So my question is if you were buying your first direct purchase would you choose poly or Riv knowing you don’t plan to sell but will want to add on points eventually. Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I’m aware of the case that it is likely better to buy RIV direct and PVB resale than PVB direct and RIV resale but if we buy Poly direct we won’t buy RIV resale and would likely buy more Poly points or somewhere other than RIV

Buy where you want to stay, but be aware that RIV has a materially larger depreciation hit should you need to sell.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Nobody never buys with the expectation to ever sell - but then life happens.

If you are okay getting a much lower value should you need to sell then buy Riviera. Otherwise I’d go for Poly.

 

[Hubalorian]

Which parks do you prefer? MK go Poly, if HS/Epcot go RIV. If all other factors are equal, factor in which park you want easy accessibility too.

Also, if this is your first purchase check out the referral thread on this board. Ask someone to refer you and you can save another $500.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Which parks do you prefer? MK go Poly, if HS/Epcot go RIV. If all other factors are equal, factor in which park you want easy accessibility too.

Also, if this is your first purchase check out the referral thread on this board. Ask someone to refer you and you can save another $500.

Wouldn’t it be a wash distance wise.

Staying at Riviera you need to take transportation to get to Epcot.

Staying at Poly you need transportation for MK. Might actually be equally fast to go to MK or Epcot from poly.

 

[Hubalorian]

I would predict skyliner would beat bus transportation to HS

Epcot is tricky given monorail vs skyliner. I am giving the skyliner the edge due to what side of Epcot it drops you off at.

I am certain monorail or walking gives you better control to get to MK where as the bus from RIV probably is less enjoyable and not as quick

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We are looking into our first purchase and originally we planned to buy PVB 150 points direct over RIV due to the resale restrictions. But as weve been talking lately if we don’t really plan to sell, it shouldn’t really matter. So my question is if you were buying your first direct purchase would you choose poly or Riv knowing you don’t plan to sell but will want to add on points eventually. Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I’m aware of the case that it is likely better to buy RIV direct and PVB resale than PVB direct and RIV resale but if we buy Poly direct we won’t buy RIV resale and would likely buy more Poly points or somewhere other than RIV

Personally, I'd choose RIV because that's where I own so I'm biased and my kids are older now (love the Skyliner, food quality, central location between all the parks and Disney Springs). Seeing that you have young kids though, Poly might be the better choice. I love the Poly, but it's a very busy resort, pool is overcrowded, monorail very busy, etc (unsure how new tower will affect that as I have not experienced it). Being close to MK though is a plus with younger kids.

What rooms do you like to stay in? That would be another deciding factor for me. (point cost of studio vs 1BR, which studio or 1BR do I like better at which resort, and how easy is it to get a reservation at the time I want to go in that room).

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We own both Poly and Riviera, but Riviera is our preference. We never intend to stay at the longhouses though and wanted the PIT (Poly Island Tower) for the 1B and 2B, and even the Duo studio for couple's trips.

I'd go where you want priority booking. If you think you'll do longhouses versus PIT, I'd save yourself a ton and buy Poly resale. The PIT point chart is brutal, too, and 150 points won't go super far unless you're okay banking and borrowing or can still travel off peak weeks if your kids are young. You can get a much bigger haul of Poly points resale and aren't locked out of the O14.


I will say, we just did a couple's weekend Valentine's/President's weekend at PIT, and while we loved the tower and our room, Poly grounds were mobbed with little kids everywhere and we found it very chaotic and stressful. If your kids are young though, you may LOVE having so many little kids for yours to play with at the pools and stuff. The PIT rooms are laid out really great, too. I think they've nailed the room utilization. It's really well laid out.

Riviera is our favorite, and compared to PIT point chart, their rooms are a bargain. Woof. The rooms are also laid out really well, and we love everything about the resort, and Skyliner trumps monorail for us every time, but we do enjoy the boats to MK as an option.

Really, I view both as great for different purposes. Poly=MK parties, easy naps and regrouping midday. Riviera, great for when kids age and want more rides at HS/EP and festivals.

I think I'd lean Riviera direct and Poly resale, only because Poly has access to the OG14 and Riviera direct can also be used everywhere.

 

[Cfabar1]

I think my leaning would be Poly direct in the scenario….

But really, which isn’t the question, I would buy Poly resale of all the options - in probably about 3 months. Prices seem to be coming back to a good place.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are okay getting a much lower value should you need to sell then buy Riviera. Otherwise I’d go for Poly.

I checked a broker pricing tool. The “RIV penalty” is about 25%. That’s material but for me not determinative. That’s partly because I consider the purchase price a sunk cost. Too many things could go sideways to assume resale values hold, and I’m demonstrably bad at predicting future markets.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

We are looking into our first purchase and originally we planned to buy PVB 150 points direct over RIV due to the resale restrictions. But as we've been talking lately if we don’t really plan to sell, it shouldn’t really matter. So my question is if you were buying your first direct purchase would you choose poly or Riv knowing you don’t plan to sell but will want to add on points eventually. Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I was at this decision point a year ago, trying to decide best way forward on first purchase - direct vs resale vs exit strategy. I plan for the worst so could not bring myself to buy Riviera direct with my theory that Riviera depreciation upon resale would be worse than other contracts without same restrictions. I think Riviera resale market price continues to decline and we have not seen the bottom yet. That said, I love staying at Riviera (especially the grand villa) and direct points let me do that. I bought over 600 points direct at Poly recently, and part of the reason I didn't buy resale Poly is I want the flexibility of all my points to be eligible at new DVC resorts, starting with Riviera! I'm actually thinking of adding on another 200 points, probably at Poly!

 

[Brian Noble]

Also assume you like both resorts equally and may be looking to add on points in the future whether that be resale or direct.

I think given this, I would probably buy Poly. If all other things are equal may as well play the odds. I’d make the decision that was in front of me now without trying to predict what my future purchases might be.

My life has taken enough unexpected twists and turns that I no longer try to make fine-grained multi-year plans.

 

[marmentrout85]

I’m aware of the case that it is likely better to buy RIV direct and PVB resale than PVB direct and RIV resale but if we buy Poly direct we won’t buy RIV resale and would likely buy more Poly points or somewhere other than RIV

Ok so it sounds like, in an ideal world, you'd love to own both, is that right? Would you say these are your top 2 resort choices as in where you'd mostly like to stay above all other resorts (which I know is a tough question to answer if you haven't stayed at a ton of other DVC resorts lol)?

I think your answer lies within the statement you made above that I quoted. If the plan is to eventually add-on a resale contract (somewhere other than RIV) anyway, I would just go RIV direct and then Poly resale down the road. I'm saying this, though, assuming that if you went Poly direct, that a part of you will always wish you owned at RIV, but maybe I'm wrong? And, as you mentioned, RIV resale is out of the question.

And for what it's worth, I also personally just went through this debate recently and ended up just getting resale at both resorts lol.

 

[Cfabar1]

I agree with taking the buy in price as a sunk cost…. In my view, once that contract is paid for (either cash, financing, etc.) it is no different than buying a bookshelf, hammer, etc.


I know I can sell it if I needed to at some point, but wouldn’t view a need to profit or break even as a factor in selling.

I also don’t count the initial buy-in when considering the cost of my vacation - just the dues.

 

[Adopted By Disney]

Which parks do you prefer? MK go Poly, if HS/Epcot go RIV. If all other factors are equal, factor in which park you want easy accessibility too.

Also, if this is your first purchase check out the referral thread on this board. Ask someone to refer you and you can save another $500.

Our favorite is MK or Epcot so either would be fine ha

 

[Adopted By Disney]

Personally, I'd choose RIV because that's where I own so I'm biased and my kids are older now (love the Skyliner, food quality, central location between all the parks and Disney Springs). Seeing that you have young kids though, Poly might be the better choice. I love the Poly, but it's a very busy resort, pool is overcrowded, monorail very busy, etc (unsure how new tower will affect that as I have not experienced it). Being close to MK though is a plus with younger kids.

What rooms do you like to stay in? That would be another deciding factor for me. (point cost of studio vs 1BR, which studio or 1BR do I like better at which resort, and how easy is it to get a reservation at the time I want to go in that room).

Studios will be fine for now, eventually as we get bigger a 1BR would be ideal.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Studios will be fine for now, eventually as we get bigger a 1BR would be ideal.

Studios are plentiful at PVB (360 studios in main PVB; 186 studios at RIV not inc. tower studios) but the 1BR might be tougher going forward since only the tower has 1 bedrooms (72 1BR at PIT and I believe 177 1BR at Riviera). Just something to factor in when choosing as well. We ended up adding on so fast in our early DVC days because 1BR spoiled us

 

[Girlstar30]

I would buy the one you like better. If you're going to be sad you might possibly not get into Riv easily at 7 month mark when the resort is sold out and resale can only book there then I would go with Riv especially since you said you said you won't buy Riv resale. I wouldn't worry too much about the restrictions when selling... nobody knows what's going to happen and let's say riv points are worth $30 less down the line than the other resorts, is it really worth not buying it for 45 years of use potential enjoyment over potentially selling and making around $5k more (based on standard contract) because you bought something else instead? We are paying a lot of money in dues every year and upfront to enjoy what we love

 

[Disney.dad]

I was at this decision point a year ago, trying to decide best way forward on first purchase - direct vs resale vs exit strategy. I plan for the worst so could not bring myself to buy Riviera direct with my theory that Riviera depreciation upon resale would be worse than other contracts without same restrictions. I think Riviera resale market price continues to decline and we have not seen the bottom yet. That said, I love staying at Riviera (especially the grand villa) and direct points let me do that. I bought over 600 points direct at Poly recently, and part of the reason I didn't buy resale Poly is I want the flexibility of all my points to be eligible at new DVC resorts, starting with Riviera! I'm actually thinking of adding on another 200 points, probably at Poly!

I am kicking myself for not being like you and buying 1000 points at Old Key West for that massive direct discount. (Divided up into multiple contracts) We bought a ton of points in 2024 and those would have surrogated in great for our Riviera contracts since preferred 1 bedrooms which is what my wife prefers are not an issue or get at 7 months. They say hind site is 20-20, and sometimes it is.