PVC or RIV

[HNElle]

Hi Everyone! I would like to hear your advice. We are a family of five (2 adults, 3 children - ages: 8, 6 and a baby) and we live in South Florida. We typically go to Disney 4-5 times a year for long weekends and are very flexible on the weekends we can come up. We’re considering purchasing resale at either Poly or Riviera (YES, we know that if we purchase resale at RIV we can only use our points there!).

So, we have two questions:

1. We truly love RIV and we wouldn’t have an issue with staying there every time. However, if we wanted to stay at a different resort every once in a while, do you think it would be hard to find other members to trade points with (our RIV points in exchange for a weekend at a different resort)? Or just renting out a weekend and using that money to book at another resort with another member? Is it worth the possible stress or should this be relatively simple with proper planning?

2. If you were in our shoes, which resort would you choose (PVB or RIV)? Take into consideration where we live/flexibility, etc.

Thank you all!

 

[Stargazer65]

Well if you really, really, love RIV you should probably buy there since you can't stay there on PVB points.

You could probably figure out a way to occasionally stay somewhere else by renting or cash as you mentioned, or just purchase a small second contract at another resort for an occasional elsewhere stay.

 

[Sandisw]

It comes down to which would you rather stay at more often. PVB locks you out at RIV so you’d need to always do something different to stay there.

RIV of course locks you out the rest of them. But, it doesn’t have to be either or, does it? Buy both!

It sounds like RIV is first choice for stay, but it comes down to planning. With RIV, since it’s your only choice, you have to plan in advance as studios are popular,

With PVB, it gives you options for trips you want to make on shorter notice. I love RIV and if it were me, I’d start there.

 

[princesscinderella]

We are a family of 5 also from south Florida. I wouldn’t worry about what use year you pick since it’s just a drive away you can use up holding points if necessary without much hassle. We also only typically stay for long weekends. I would not buy Poly as you will outgrow the studios very quickly and there are no other options. If you don’t plan on booking at the 11 month window I would buy at SSR or OKW direct for the 2057 expiration date if you can’t find an extended resale. Friday and Saturday nights are the most expensive and you will need more points than owners who can travel during the week. If you have your heart set on RIV I would buy over 200 pts direct to get the good discount right now. The difference in buying them resale is not worth the restrictions.

 

[Sandisw]

We are a family of 5 also from south Florida. I wouldn’t worry about what use year you pick since it’s just a drive away you can use up holding points if necessary without much hassle. We also only typically stay for long weekends. I would not buy Poly as you will outgrow the studios very quickly and there are no other options. If you don’t plan on booking at the 11 month window I would buy at SSR or OKW direct for the 2057 expiration date if you can’t find an extended resale. Friday and Saturday nights are the most expensive and you will need more points than owners who can travel during the week. If you have your heart set on RIV I would buy over 200 pts direct to get the good discount right now. The difference in buying them resale is not worth the restrictions.

Good points. I wasn’t thinking about the discounts that would bring RIV down.

 

[Stargazer65]

Buy both!

See, now this is good advice.

 

[ziravan]

I typically say buy where you want to stay and that would be RIV. But RIV is going to lock you out of spontaneity and last minute trips. If you buy RIV you are locking yourself into booking at 11 months out. Otherwise you won’t be able to assure a reservation.

With PVB, you can stalk the resort search tool and find something last minute. The option to book 14 resorts over one exponentially opens up your use of DVC as a Florida resident capable of making spur of the moment trips.

PVB opens up spur of the moment opportunities.

RIV resale slams the spontaneity door shut.

Your other option, and what I would do if you insist on RIV is buy direct. Then you have RIV and the spontaneity of the other resorts as well. As with anything, extra options means extra price tag.

 

[DVC Doctor]

In this case, I would buy 125 points or so at RIV direct from Disney and then buy resale points if you need more points

 

[HNElle]

I typically say buy where you want to stay and that would be RIV. But RIV is going to lock you out of spontaneity and last minute trips. If you buy RIV you are locking yourself into booking at 11 months out. Otherwise you won’t be able to assure a reservation.

With PVB, you can stalk the resort search tool and find something last minute. The option to book 14 resorts over one exponentially opens up your use of DVC as a Florida resident capable of making spur of the moment trips.

PVB opens up spur of the moment opportunities.

RIV resale slams the spontaneity door shut.

Your other option, and what I would do if you insist on RIV is buy direct. Then you have RIV and the spontaneity of the other resorts as well. As with anything, extra options means extra price tag.

is availability that scarce at RIV for studios that even on random weekends there’s a big chance that it’s all booked up?

 

[princesscinderella]

is availability that scarce at RIV for studios that even on random weekends there’s a big chance that it’s all booked up?

Most studios everywhere go first. RIV is shiny and new so it makes it harder and the resort is not fully declared into DVC yet.

 

[Sandisw]

is availability that scarce at RIV for studios that even on random weekends there’s a big chance that it’s all booked up?

Yes. As an owner there, studios go right around the 11 month window, especially SV. Preferred last longer, but if you have not booked all your trips by the 7 month mark, you will not get studios at RIV very often.

So, if planning far out is not always possible, RIV resale is not a good option. Even owning direct points at RIV isn’t going to change that if you wait too long to book, The only benefit of those direct points would be that if you cant get in, then at least you can book other places.

I love RIV and will split stay there almost every trip, but resale contracts there are really going to work well for those that book right at 11 months, especially if you want studios.

 

[HNElle]

Yes. As an owner there, studios go right around the 11 month window, especially SV. Preferred last longer, but if you have not booked all your trips by the 7 month mark, you will not get studios at RIV very often.

So, if planning far out is not always possible, RIV resale is not a good option. Even owning direct points at RIV isn’t going to change that if you wait too long to book, The only benefit of those direct points would be that if you cant get in, then at least you can book other places.

I love RIV and will split stay there almost every trip, but resale contracts there are really going to work well for those that book right at 11 months, especially if you want studios.

Thank you! This is all incredibly good to know. We know the months that we would want to go and are open about which weekends, so planning 11 months ahead is definitely something we can do. However, it is scary to think that we wouldn’t be able to stay there at all at in certain months due to the resort not being fully open in a DVC sense. Thanks again!

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you! This is all incredibly good to know. We know the months that we would want to go and are open about which weekends, so planning 11 months ahead is definitely something we can do. However, it is scary to think that we wouldn’t be able to stay there at all at in certain months due to the resort not being fully open in a DVC sense. Thanks again!

Just to clarify about the rooms and not all being declared.

So yes, only 40 to 45% of the resort has been declared into DVC, but the points match so availability doesn’t get that much better when more is declared because it means they are selling more points.

But, if you are a planner then saving via resale might be a good deal. Just be sure to compare actual difference. Many resales are going $120 to $130 and direct might be closer to $180 to $190 depending on how many points. In the end, it may be worth it so that you then have points to stay for those stays elsewhere vs having to rent your own points, and then pay cash or rent from someone else.

 

[Noodlez]

However, if we wanted to stay at a different resort every once in a while, do you think it would be hard to find other members to trade points with (our RIV points in exchange for a weekend at a different resort)?

I don't think this question in particular has been answered. Just to make sure you're aware, you are only allowed one transfer in or out each year, so if another member transferred their points to you for a different resort you would have to wait until the next year before you could transfer back to them, which involves a lot of trust.

As you mentioned, you could rent out your points then use the money to pay cash or rent points yourself.

 

[havoc315]

Hi Everyone! I would like to hear your advice. We are a family of five (2 adults, 3 children - ages: 8, 6 and a baby) and we live in South Florida. We typically go to Disney 4-5 times a year for long weekends and are very flexible on the weekends we can come up. We’re considering purchasing resale at either Poly or Riviera (YES, we know that if we purchase resale at RIV we can only use our points there!).

So, we have two questions:

1. We truly love RIV and we wouldn’t have an issue with staying there every time. However, if we wanted to stay at a different resort every once in a while, do you think it would be hard to find other members to trade points with (our RIV points in exchange for a weekend at a different resort)? Or just renting out a weekend and using that money to book at another resort with another member? Is it worth the possible stress or should this be relatively simple with proper planning?

2. If you were in our shoes, which resort would you choose (PVB or RIV)? Take into consideration where we live/flexibility, etc.

Thank you all!

A couple significant considerations:
There are many things I like about PVB over RIV, but a growing family of 5 -- You might like the flexibility of RIV having 1-2 bedrooms, not just studios.
RIV direct is similar in price to PVB re-sale, not a huge difference with the current sales incentives. Direct would of course let you use your RIV points at other resorts. And it would give you a discount on your AP.

In your shoes, I'd go direct RIV. I'd go re-sale at PVB if it was the resort I totally loved and wanted to stay at all the time.

 

[HNElle]

A couple significant considerations:
There are many things I like about PVB over RIV, but a growing family of 5 -- You might like the flexibility of RIV having 1-2 bedrooms, not just studios.
RIV direct is similar in price to PVB re-sale, not a huge difference with the current sales incentives. Direct would of course let you use your RIV points at other resorts. And it would give you a discount on your AP.

In your shoes, I'd go direct RIV. I'd go re-sale at PVB if it was the resort I totally loved and wanted to stay at all the time.

After reading all the replies, This is definitely what I’m leaning towards. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

 

[sethschroeder]

if we wanted to stay at a different resort every once in a while

If its every 3 or 4 or more years between stays then honestly I would plan on banking/borrowing the points, buying transfer points off someone, and then not worrying about renting.

You could rent out Riviera likely in the future fairly easy since it is a good location and more and more people will not be able to use points to book there. (Might even be "trade" requests of each booking a trip for the other in the future on this forum or others)

2. If you were in our shoes, which resort would you choose (PVB or RIV)? Take into consideration where we live/flexibility, etc.

RIV by far but its our favorite resort. I would have no issue with the more limited flexibility of the points and plan around it insulating any potential loss of points.

The one downside of RIV resale is that its less likely to be able to be booked last min for a stay. So you might end up in a position where you always need to book rooms 4/7/10 months out and that is something you have to decide personally.

 

[kboo]

But, if you are a planner then saving via resale might be a good deal. Just be sure to compare actual difference. Many resales are going $120 to $130 and direct might be closer to $180 to $190 depending on how many points. In the end, it may be worth it so that you then have points to stay for those stays elsewhere vs having to rent your own points, and then pay cash or rent from someone else.

Oh I love playing around with these numbers!

Poly resale - CON: No Riviera
assuming $145 pp and 125 points
= 18,125

RIV direct - CON: resale restriction (affects sale)
$187 pp for 125 points
= 23,375

So you'd pay $5,250 more for 125 direct RIV points over 125 Poly resale points.
Is this worth paying $5250 to you:
-RIV instead of Poly as HR / access to RIV
-Discounts on APs: $100 per pass for a new pass, $150 per pass for renewals (plat) or additional savings if a Gold Pass works for you
-no ROFR/closing/negotiating process

Ultimately, the difference is not so big that I would make a choice based primarily on cost. Given how much we spend on Disney trips, I would still pick the resort that sparks joy.

(For us, it is RIV and VGF tied for 1st...)

 

[smsharp]

Oh I love playing around with these numbers!

Poly resale - CON: No Riviera
assuming $145 pp and 125 points
= 18,125

RIV direct - CON: resale restriction (affects sale)
$187 pp for 125 points
= 23,375

So you'd pay $5,250 more for 125 direct RIV points over 125 Poly resale points.
Is this worth paying $5250 to you:
-RIV instead of Poly as HR / access to RIV
-Discounts on APs: $100 per pass for a new pass, $150 per pass for renewals (plat) or additional savings if a Gold Pass works for you
-no ROFR/closing/negotiating process

Ultimately, the difference is not so big that I would make a choice based primarily on cost. Given how much we spend on Disney trips, I would still pick the resort that sparks joy.

(For us, it is RIV and VGF tied for 1st...)

Except those maintenance fees are going to hit you with an extra $166/yr extra for Riviera in 2021 alone. If they keep avg increase of even 3% more a year, that will eat in to some of your savings over time. There's so much that goes in to the decision that at some point you just have to stop splitting hairs and go with your gut regardless. So you are right....go with what sparks joy! Fwiw, I chose Poly and your estimate was my contract...haha....except we split closing costs.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

-Discounts on APs: $100 per pass for a new pass, $150 per pass for renewals (plat) or additional savings if a Gold Pass works for you

They're FL residents so already have access to Gold AP's and even Silver - assuming all of them come back.