RIV vs CCV direct

[aam808]

an option to fit 5 ppl for less points is getting 2 studios instead of a 2-bedroom. This our solution when fitting a bunch at Aulani. also, when you have older kids, having 2 bathrooms are a must.

 

[AstroBlasters]

an option to fit 5 ppl for less points is getting 2 studios instead of a 2-bedroom. This our solution when fitting a bunch at Aulani. also, when you have older kids, having 2 bathrooms are a must.

The 2 bedroom with 3 bathroom layout of VGC, BLT, AKV are the best IMO….

We just did the 2 studio thing at VDH and really missed the living room area, kitchen, laundry, and 3rd bathroom.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Agree, but if not worried about resale value then it almost sounds like RIV is a better fit.


Just to clarify… RIV can sleep 5 in 1bd, but not studio, is that correct?

No, the Riviera studios sleep 5 as well as the 1B.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We own Riviera and have done studios, 1B and 2B. All are really excellent. We also love CC, but we often travel with family, so usually a group of 5. I guess I'd play out where you think your family's future needs are?

We bought in expecting to do studios, got upgraded during Covid to a 1B and never looked back. We thought we'd be happy in 1Bs forever, then started bringing extended family in a 2B, our boy/girl kids are teenagers now and tall/want privacy, and I can see us even traveling as a family of four in a 2B sooner than later so they can sleep late and I can putter in the common kitchen area in peace and quiet.

I think you'll be only happy in a 2B anyway, as a family of five, but I know some folks are studio stans forever and hate the idea of blowing points on anything bigger.

Would you ever want to go prime weeks in early December? My understanding is every room category except the cabins go super fast, so you definitely would need to own there to stand a chance.

Do you think as the kids age out/get busy you and your partner would want to do a couple's trip in a studio? An argument can be made for both resorts that they're hard to nab; Riviera for the resort view and CC because there's so few of them.

I think @Brian Noble brings up a good point; CC 2B is comparable to a Riviera 1B points-wise, so where would you be happiest?

I agree with @Sandisw that the resale spread is not that big of a deal, at least to me, and I do think Riviera is going to get a bump up once it's sold out and LSL is added to the mix of restricted resorts at WDW. The CFW don't really matter in my mind because they're so new and niche, but LSL will be a huge resort restricted, and VDH being restricted, this seems to be the path forward that they're not backing down on, so I don't see the resale as being a huge impediment. We have already broken even and then some on trips on our Riviera points, so everything now is gravy as far as I'm concerned.

Buy where you want to stay. I think Riviera has the better dining options, but WL is not bad by any stretch. The pools are cooler at CC/BR, but we love Epcot and HS and the Skyliner. Both resorts are peaceful after a long day in the park, which we LOVE. Do you mind bus/boat as transportation options? Do you think you'd use the walking path to Fort Wilderness if it reopens? Both resorts are really great, just different. I do feel like Riviera feels REALLY spacious. CC 2B seems tight to me for a family of four, so five seems a little meh to me, but that's just my impression. I haven't had a chance to try it because we can never grab it!

 

[Brian Noble]

Currently have 125 PVB resale points. A lot of great points here, CCV might win out as those resale points can’t be used at RIV but can be used at CCV. Decisions, decisions…

That is a VERY compelling reason to NOT have RIV as your direct home resort.

can see us even traveling as a family of four in a 2B sooner than later

When our two kids were in the house, a 2BR was pretty much the minimum. We would and did stay offsite (at Wyndham Bonnet Creek) before downgrading size.

 

[airjay75]

A strategy to consider if you go for some direct CCV points. Sell your resale PVB points and pick up resale CCV points to supplement the direct points. That would make it a lot easier to secure 2 BRs at CCV, including the lock-offs. And, you'd probably make some money in the process to help pay for your direct points since resale CCV is probably about $30/point cheaper than resale PVB.

Of course, you could do the same thing with RIV, but you gotta be a lot more certain about using those points at RIV for the long-term. I'd probably be more tempted to sell PVB and buy all RIV direct (or, I suppose you could think about some direct points at RIV and CCV). But, that will cost more money.

I think TwinsMoms has some very good thoughts to think through about the long-term. To me, I think a very important question is whether you see yourself as more a permanent studio family or think there is a chance you'll want to go to 1 and 2 BRs down the line. Plenty of DVC owners are basically studio-only families - there is a reason they are the most popular room category. But, CCV is tough one for a family of 5 since your starting point is 2 studios or a 2 BR. And, I don't think looking for studios that sleep 5 at 7-months is a very fun way to do DVC.

 

[Adopted By Disney]

We own Riviera and have done studios, 1B and 2B. All are really excellent. We also love CC, but we often travel with family, so usually a group of 5. I guess I'd play out where you think your family's future needs are?

We bought in expecting to do studios, got upgraded during Covid to a 1B and never looked back. We thought we'd be happy in 1Bs forever, then started bringing extended family in a 2B, our boy/girl kids are teenagers now and tall/want privacy, and I can see us even traveling as a family of four in a 2B sooner than later so they can sleep late and I can putter in the common kitchen area in peace and quiet.

I think you'll be only happy in a 2B anyway, as a family of five, but I know some folks are studio stans forever and hate the idea of blowing points on anything bigger.

Would you ever want to go prime weeks in early December? My understanding is every room category except the cabins go super fast, so you definitely would need to own there to stand a chance.

Do you think as the kids age out/get busy you and your partner would want to do a couple's trip in a studio? An argument can be made for both resorts that they're hard to nab; Riviera for the resort view and CC because there's so few of them.

I think @Brian Noble brings up a good point; CC 2B is comparable to a Riviera 1B points-wise, so where would you be happiest?

I agree with @Sandisw that the resale spread is not that big of a deal, at least to me, and I do think Riviera is going to get a bump up once it's sold out and LSL is added to the mix of restricted resorts at WDW. The CFW don't really matter in my mind because they're so new and niche, but LSL will be a huge resort restricted, and VDH being restricted, this seems to be the path forward that they're not backing down on, so I don't see the resale as being a huge impediment. We have already broken even and then some on trips on our Riviera points, so everything now is gravy as far as I'm concerned.

Buy where you want to stay. I think Riviera has the better dining options, but WL is not bad by any stretch. The pools are cooler at CC/BR, but we love Epcot and HS and the Skyliner. Both resorts are peaceful after a long day in the park, which we LOVE. Do you mind bus/boat as transportation options? Do you think you'd use the walking path to Fort Wilderness if it reopens? Both resorts are really great, just different. I do feel like Riviera feels REALLY spacious. CC 2B seems tight to me for a family of four, so five seems a little meh to me, but that's just my impression. I haven't had a chance to try it because we can never grab it!

This is all really great info. I’m gonna need to talk to the wife to see what she thinks but this is helping for sure

 

[Lumpy1106]

Family of 5 here - you cannot sleep 5 in a CCV 1 BR. We stayed there in a 2BR and liked it. Theming is great, getting to MK on the boat is very cool. You are stuck on a bus everywhere else.

I was skeptical of RIV but we stayed there in a 1BR on our last trip and LOVED it! We had no problem getting a 1 BR standard view at 7 months. I would not splurge for the premium view. Getting to DHS and EPCOT by Skyliner was really nice.

We did a split stay and stayed in a BLT 1BR so we could walk to MK and that was great too. Those rooms are all newly renovated and the BLT 1BRs have 2 bathrooms.

You might also consider Poly Tower. Point demand for the view rooms is ridiculous, but not bad for a standard view. We walked through to get a feel for it and liked it. Our go-to trip now is a RIV-BLT split stay, but would consider Poly Tower instead of BLT.

 

[supercarrie]

Family of 5 here - you cannot sleep 5 in a CCV 1 BR. We stayed there in a 2BR and liked it. Theming is great, getting to MK on the boat is very cool. You are stuck on a bus everywhere else.

I was skeptical of RIV but we stayed there in a 1BR on our last trip and LOVED it! We had no problem getting a 1 BR standard view at 7 months. I would not splurge for the premium view. Getting to DHS and EPCOT by Skyliner was really nice.

We did a split stay and stayed in a BLT 1BR so we could walk to MK and that was great too. Those rooms are all newly renovated and the BLT 1BRs have 2 bathrooms.

You might also consider Poly Tower. Point demand for the view rooms is ridiculous, but not bad for a standard view. We walked through to get a feel for it and liked it. Our go-to trip now is a RIV-BLT split stay, but would consider Poly Tower instead of BLT.

RIV and BLT are my home resorts and I've never stayed at either! I have an upcoming BLT-RIV split stay in 1 bedroom villas. I'm happy to hear that is your favorite combination. I am thinking it will be ours, too. We bought BLT with the intention of it being SAP+ and have used those points all over in the past couple years.

If we don't like BLT, I'll probably end up selling it and putting the cash towards something else.