Purchasing strategy - RIV vs wait for Poly

[supercarrie]

I previously posted for help on our first contract. We ended up buying 100 points at BLT earlier this year after finding a great deal and are planning on buying another 150-175 points direct at either RIV or Poly. Lots of pros and cons for both in our view.

Ultimately, I can see us alternating between Poly/RIV for our main every 2 year longer trips, and using the BLT contract for SAP in the other year. My first preference would be to buy Poly, assuming there isn't a massive price difference between it and RIV. It is a slight preference, however.

With the current RIV incentives expiring soon and no further info on a Poly on sale date, I'm thinking our best option is to wait until just prior to June 24th, go under contract with RIV, and then hope that Poly pricing/point charts come out shortly afterwards.

I've read that if you set a 90 day payment plan with DVC, that also extends your right to rescind the contract beyond the 10 day period. Is that correct? If that is the case, it would buy some more time for Poly info to come out, while potentially also locking in the current incentives (or better summer incentives).

If that isn't an option, we'd likely just purchase Riviera now, and if Poly 7 month availability in the long run ends up being really tough, pick up a Poly resale contract down the line to get us 11 month access. (We are likely 1 bedroom goers for now, later moving down to studios once our son is grown, and the projected number of Poly 1 bedrooms seems fairly low, but I also know RIV standard views can be tough, too.)

 

[intamin]

Personally I’d think about the type of portfolio you want and as with resale restrictions if you plan to sell in the near future.

You already own BLT, Poly would give you a second MK resort. Are you a pretty big fan of MK? Because if not it may suit you better to have a resort that’s a little bit closer to Epcot and HS with RIV. You can take the monorail from Poly to Epcot but you would lose some of that access to HS by picking Poly over RIV. The other consideration is do you care if you have to pay for preferred view over standard view? Because if you don’t RIV is pretty easy to get at 7 months and it may be more beneficial generally to have access to the tower. You already know what I have to say about resale restrictions so I’m not going to rehash that.

You did say you like 1BRs though which should easy to get standard at RIV for the most part. So with that in mind even though I like diversification in location as much as possible Poly may be the way to go here

 

[JoshF]

90 day payment does extend time to cancel. Technically the contract does not close until the full down payment is made.

 

[Sandisw]

As mentioned, you do not get to extend beyond 10 days…now, there have been a few people who had an emergency situation and were let out of it shortly after that 10 day, but they didn’t have to allow it.

So, it sounds like a good plan to lock in and see where it goes. I am hoping the RIv incentives are better. If they are, and no news on PVB tower, you cancel and then have time to wait.

It is only if RIv gets worse that you’d have to really decide.

 

[Tatebeck]

That's what I'm doing to make sure I get the better deal. I'm doing the 10 day thing, but my guide did mention something when I talked to her that we could start it earlier and spread out the payments so it still ended after the new incentives started, giving me a chance to cancel and reorder. In your case RIV sounds better than Poly if you like them both since you already have a MK/Monorail resort in your portfolio.

I'm locking soon to compare current vs the next set of incentives. If the next set if the same or better for RIV then I will back out and wait for Poly tower info (just in case they match or allow mix and match incentives, have a great first deal, etc.) or then just buy in August just before my September use year to reduce the 2024 dues payment while still getting double points.

 

[Sandisw]

That's what I'm doing to make sure I get the better deal. I'm doing the 10 day thing, but my guide did mention something when I talked to her that we could start it earlier and spread out the payments so it still ended after the new incentives started, giving me a chance to cancel and reorder. In your case RIV sounds better than Poly if you like them both since you already have a MK/Monorail resort in your portfolio.

I'm locking soon to compare current vs the next set of incentives. If the next set if the same or better for RIV then I will back out and wait for Poly tower info (just in case they match or allow mix and match incentives, have a great first deal, etc.) or then just buy in August just before my September use year to reduce the 2024 dues payment while still getting double points.

Don’t forget that if you want to do MB program, you have to buy at least 4 or 5 days prior to the end of the UY.

 

[Tatebeck]

Don’t forget that if you want to do MB program, you have to buy at least 4 or 5 days prior to the end of the UY.

Yep, I'm planning on using MB. My guide said to make sure I send her something around 7 days before either the incentive change or before the use year changes over

 

[stevehudd]

If you are going to hold forever Riv is the right choice. If you need to maintain resale value I would do Poly.

 

[sarahlord]

I’m having the same riviera vs poly debate with myself right now…..

If someone bought new poly direct you would have access to the new resorts and would you not have the same resale restrictions (riviera resale can only stay at riviera) because the new tower is going to be in the existing association?

So best of both worlds maybe?

 

[gmi3804]

In addition to all the reservations and locations concerns, you should look at annual dues. You're going to be paying those for decades, and they'll be your biggest cash layout by far, comprising the majority of your spend over the course of the contract.

 

[Tatebeck]

I'm planning on holding, and would sell off my resale points in an emergency first. I also own BLT so I am planning on picking RIV if I pick just one. Cheaper points, and longer expiration for direct benefits and direct SAP.

Also down the line, I figured if I want both it would be better to have Direct RIV and Resale Poly than Direct Poly and Resale RIV.

• No restrictions + original 14 restrictions vs
• No restrictions + Riv only restrictions

 

[supercarrie]

Personally I’d think about the type of portfolio you want and as with resale restrictions if you plan to sell in the near future.

You already own BLT, Poly would give you a second MK resort. Are you a pretty big fan of MK? Because if not it may suit you better to have a resort that’s a little bit closer to Epcot and HS with RIV. You can take the monorail from Poly to Epcot but you would lose some of that access to HS by picking Poly over RIV. The other consideration is do you care if you have to pay for preferred view over standard view? Because if you don’t RIV is pretty easy to get at 7 months and it may be more beneficial generally to have access to the tower. You already know what I have to say about resale restrictions so I’m not going to rehash that.

You did say you like 1BRs though which should easy to get standard at RIV for the most part. So with that in mind even though I like diversification in location as much as possible Poly may be the way to go here

Thanks. No plans to sell the direct contract, but no one really ever does, I guess.

Our preferred parks are Epcot/MK. I could take or leave DHS (I live 10 minutes from Disneyland, and so much of DHS is copied and accessible to me here).

For RIV, I'd actually prefer standard view over preferred - I think? I like the idea of seeing fireworks and of course saving points, especially there.

Ultimately, I think the biggest concern for me is whether I'll need 11 month availability at either one of them in the long run.

In addition to all the reservations and locations concerns, you should look at annual dues. You're going to be paying those for decades, and they'll be your biggest cash layout by far, comprising the majority of your cash layout over the course of the contract.

Yes, great point. I need to rerun the financial model (from www.dvcfieldguide.com) with the current dues for both and compare. Curious how Poly vs RIV turns out in 2066 based on current dues and an average annual increase. In the long run, I would probably bet on RIV being higher (since it already is). That financial model is actually what talked me out of OKW's deal this incentive cycle.

 

[supercarrie]

I'm planning on holding, and would sell off my resale points in an emergency first. I also own BLT so I am planning on picking RIV if I pick just one. Cheaper points, and longer expiration for direct benefits and direct SAP.

Also down the line, I figured if I want both it would be better to have Direct RIV and Resale Poly than Direct Poly and Resale RIV.

• No restrictions + original 14 restrictions vs
• No restrictions + Riv only restrictions

Yes, that is where I'm sort of shaking out - direct RIV/resale Poly might be the better way to go in the long run. I doubt my husband will be on board with 150-175 direct at both, but a girl can dream.

 

[intamin]

Thanks. No plans to sell the direct contract, but no one really ever does, I guess.

Our preferred parks are Epcot/MK. I could take or leave DHS (I live 10 minutes from Disneyland, and so much of DHS is copied and accessible to me here).

For RIV, I'd actually prefer standard view over preferred - I think? I like the idea of seeing fireworks and of course saving points, especially there.

Ultimately, I think the biggest concern for me is whether I'll need 11 month availability at either one of them in the long run.


Yes, great point. I need to rerun the financial model (from www.dvcfieldguide.com) with the current dues for both and compare. Curious how Poly vs RIV turns out in 2066 based on current dues and an average annual increase. In the long run, I would probably bet on RIV being higher (since it already is).

I think if you're wanting standard view regularly and wanting to see the fireworks then I would probably go forward with your plan for RIV.

You can always purchase resale Poly down the line if you really want it and have it be far less restricted than buying a resale RIV later. Poly may still be selling if you decide to add on more later as well

 

[Sandisw]

I’m having the same riviera vs poly debate with myself right now…..

If someone bought new poly direct you would have access to the new resorts and would you not have the same resale restrictions (riviera resale can only stay at riviera) because the new tower is going to be in the existing association?

So best of both worlds maybe?

If you really have no preference between the two, then no resale restrictions could be seen as a slight advantage.

However, if you’d rather be at RIV and only choosing PVB tower because it doesn’t have restrictions, then it might not be the best choice.

I believe that number one is which one you’d rather be at if you can’t stay elsewhere..

We love RIV and would have considered adding some points at PVB tower, but now that it is part of the same association, we decided to add on more RIV when we are ready.

 

[Electron_si]

We own direct at RIV and resale at Poly and I feel it’s the best of both worlds. Poly points work at the original 14 and were cheaper than RIV direct but allow access to the tower. RIV direct are good everywhere.

If we need to sell I think poly points will be worth significantly more and we would keep our DVC-Y hanging onto our RIV contract.

Again no plans to sell but if we needed a quick exit strategy for whatever reason we have a solid one.

 

[intamin]

We own direct at RIV and resale at Poly and I feel it’s the best of both worlds. Poly points work at the original 14 and were cheaper than RIV direct but allow access to the tower. RIV direct are good everywhere.

If we need to sell I think poly points will be worth significantly more and we would keep our DVC-Y hanging onto our RIV contract.

Again no plans to sell but if we needed a quick exit strategy for whatever reason we have a solid one.

Yep I pretty much have the same strategy although I'm planning to get direct Poly. But the contracts I would amputate first would be our resale AUL and AKL.

 

[stevehudd]

In addition to all the reservations and locations concerns, you should look at annual dues. You're going to be paying those for decades, and they'll be your biggest cash layout by far, comprising the majority of your spend over the course of the contract.

Riviera is really built for low maintenance. Compact foot print, and by all accounts, those beautiful rooms are holding up really well. I bet it has some of the lowest dues 20 years down the road.

 

[AstroBlasters]

You can use your BLT points at 7m to upgrade a room type at Poly. You would not be able to do that at RIV.

 

[supercarrie]

If you really have no preference between the two, then no resale restrictions could be seen as a slight advantage.

However, if you’d rather be at RIV and only choosing PVB tower because it doesn’t have restrictions, then it might not be the best choice.

I believe that number one is which one you’d rather be at if you can’t stay elsewhere..

We love RIV and would have considered adding some points at PVB tower, but now that it is part of the same association, we decided to add on more RIV when we are ready.

Curious why it being part of the same association means you will not add on?

You can use your BLT points at 7m to upgrade a room type at Poly. You would not be able to do that at RIV.

NVM, misunderstood your statement. Good point.