Riveira and Boardwalk

[RoseGold]

While I respect everyone’s right to an opinion, this is a luxury purchase and I don’t think that a purchase of this nature needs to or should have an exit strategy.

It's weird to me to spend five figures on something and not know (roughly) how long you are going to keep it. It's like buying a ski condo when you aren't sure if you plan on skiing in a few years. You should know your plan, because it changes the buy. And hold forever is an exit strategy, because it's an actual plan.

There's other choices if you don't know. Rent a hotel room, rent a ski cabin, book a cancelable room at Swolphin, whatever. But if you're buying into DVC, IMO you need to at least have a vague plan.

 

[DonMacGregor]

It's weird to me to spend five figures on something and not know (roughly) how long you are going to keep it. It's like buying a ski condo when you aren't sure if you plan on skiing in a few years. You should know your plan, because it changes the buy. And hold forever is an exit strategy, because it's an actual plan.

There's other choices if you don't know. Rent a hotel room, rent a ski cabin, book a cancelable room at Swolphin, whatever. But if you're buying into DVC, IMO you need to at least have a vague plan.

Five figures (six, depending on taste ) is a car. A ski condo is mid-six to seven figures, so a $10, $20, or $30K DVC contract is nothing like buying a ski condo, or any other type of condo. Completely different beast. It’s all relative to wealth and income. This is NOT a flex, but two of the cars currently in my garage each cost double my total investment in DVC. One, significantly more. I’ve never purchased a car wondering how I’ll get rid of it. Of all factors, that isn’t one. Practically speaking, there are many other owners with far, far more disposable income than me. Heck, the 3,000 point members are paying five figures ANNUALLY, just in dues…

ETA: Some stuff you just buy and that’s it. Do you exit strategize an engagement ring, or a wedding dress? At some point in your life, you don’t need to get something back for everything. If your child shows passion for a musical instrument, do you buy the cheapest one or one you know you can resell, even though it may not play well and sounds terrible, or do you buy one that plays the best, stays in tune and sounds wonderful, thereby nurturing your child’s passion?

Anyway, as I’ve said before, prior to DVC forums, I’ve never heard of anyone discussing exit strategies for non investment purchases, so I guess we all have our opinions.

 

[Nabas]

The BW location cannot be beat - transportation options are arguably the best on property, and the point chart cannot be beat. Once the refurb (scheduled for 2023), the rooms will be among the nicest in DVC.

This is why BWV is the best. Walking distance to 2 theme parks (with a boat if you don't want to walk) and the Standard View rooms are the best value in all of WDW. You really need to own at BWV to take advantage of these Standard View rooms.

The Boardwalk is the only DVC with its own entertainment district. Several restaurants, several places to drink, and entertainment. It's a mini Disney Springs, all within a few steps of your hotel room.

The Luna Pool has a good bar plus the best water slide at any Disney hotel. The quiet pool is relaxing. Except for peak season, it's usually not too difficult to get a seat at either pool.

 

[tom1944]

My daughter just go back from her long weekend. As I said in a post on one of the threads she raved about the Riviera but talking to her today she really fell for the entire Boardwalk area

 

[RoseGold]

Anyway, as I’ve said before, prior to DVC forums, I’ve never heard of anyone discussing exit strategies for non investment purchases, so I guess we all have our opinions.

It doesn't have to be an "investment" or six figures to make a smart choice. Heck, people make thoughtful choices about how long they want appliances to last or which coat to buy. So, yea five figures requires some thought for most people.

Legacy DVC treated you well if you changed your mind. It didn't really matter if you decided to sell a few years later. That isn't true anymore. Modern DVC has two products, and you have to decide which one to buy into. I don't see how you would do that if don't know how long you are holding. It doesn't make sense to me, but then I don't buy things at kiosks or recklessly buy cars either.

If five figures doesn't matter to you, fair enough. I would put you somewhere nicer than DVC that actually has a working website and decent toilet paper. There are plenty of much better options.

 

[tom1944]

It doesn't have to be an "investment" or six figures to make a smart choice. Heck, people make thoughtful choices about how long they want appliances to last or which coat to buy. So, yea five figures requires some thought for most people.

Legacy DVC treated you well if you changed your mind. It didn't really matter if you decided to sell a few years later. That isn't true anymore. Modern DVC has two products, and you have to decide which one to buy into. I don't see how you would do that if don't know how long you are holding. It doesn't make sense to me, but then I don't buy things at kiosks or recklessly buy cars either.

If five figures doesn't matter to you, fair enough. I would put you somewhere nicer than DVC that actually has a working website and decent toilet paper. There are plenty of much better options.

I think my research is complete now that I know I have to bring rolls of Scott Toilet paper

 

[DonMacGregor]

It doesn't have to be an "investment" or six figures to make a smart choice. Heck, people make thoughtful choices about how long they want appliances to last or which coat to buy. So, yea five figures requires some thought for most people.

Deciding on a purchase is not the same as not making a purchase until after you’ve figured out how to get out of it later. I think about it. I just don’t lament and labor over how I’m going to undo it later.

If five figures doesn't matter to you, fair enough. I would put you somewhere nicer than DVC that actually has a working website and decent toilet paper. There are plenty of much better options.

Yet here you are, repeating that same mantra for the 100th time, yet still not heeding your own advice.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I think my research is complete now that I know I have to bring rolls of Scott Toilet paper

Wait, you can bring your own? What if I prefer Cottonelle?

 

[RoseGold]

Yet here you are, repeating that same mantra for the 100th time, yet still not heeding your own advice.

I took a long time deciding to buy, I rented multiple times. I own a lot of points, and it's an amount of money that matters to me. I bought resale because I care about resale value and plan to sell. I don't even know how you approach this decision if you have no idea if you are going to hold this or not. I don't see why you'd even buy in if you don't know the answer to that.

And yes, I literally have toilet paper in my owner's locker.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I don't even know how you approach this decision if you have no idea if you are going to hold this or not. I don't see why you'd even buy in if you don't know the answer to that.

I’m going to have to let someone try to answer that, because I’m apparently not doing a very good job.

 

[Sandisw]

I took a long time deciding to buy, I rented multiple times. I own a lot of points, and it's an amount of money that matters to me. I bought resale because I care about resale value and plan to sell. I don't even know how you approach this decision if you have no idea if you are going to hold this or not. I don't see why you'd even buy in if you don't know the answer to that.

And yes, I literally have toilet paper in my owner's locker.

Because many who buy DVC buy it for the long term and not for just when kids are little.

It’s a timeshare and while it has held its value more than most, it is still a timeshare and no one, at least IMO, should go in expecting of needing to have value when one sells.

Now We did look at how many years we would need to own before we could give it away and still be happy that we did it.

Honestly, what is the worst that happens? You sell earlier than expected and you don’t get your money back.

If someone is buying for short term..10 years or less..it simply may not be the right product.

 

[tom1944]

Because many who buy DVC buy it for the long term and not for just when kids are little.

It’s a timeshare and while it has held its value more than most, it is still a timeshare and no one, at least IMO, should go in expecting of needing to have value when one sells.

Now We did look at how many years we would need to own before we could give it away and still be happy that we did it.

Honestly, what is the worst that happens? You sell earlier than expected and you don’t get your money back.

If someone is buying for short term..10 years or less..it simply may not be the right product.

I agree with this. That is why I did not purchase way back in the 90's.

Now at 65 and retiring with a nice lump sum of money I consider free money coming I say why not. Hopefully it spurs my wife and I to take vacations to a place that fits our needs. My wife and I move at different speeds so a place like WDW where I can wonder off early and meet up with her any time she wants fits us. Many vacation spots that does not work and there is nothing worse than sitting in a hotel room waiting for the other person to be ready to leave. At WDW that is not an issue. We have plenty of beach vacations available as family has 2 vacation homes at the Jersey shore so this would be an additional vacation in the fall or winter.

But even if we do not go as often as I like I have a daughter who will use it

I always knew I would have a lump sum coming because I saved all the vacation time I was allowed with the idea of getting a check at retirement. I thought about a boat, an electric vehicle or even a nicer car but I really do not want any of those things and none of them are needed. This is what I consider a nice treat. It is an extravagance that we can afford with no impact on our retirement, our inheritance for my daughter or my granddaughters college funding. Even the dues have no impact on all the other financial goals we have. If it was not going there it would be spent on some other unneeded thing.


Now the problem is what do I want to buy. I have narrowed it down but I really am no closer to deciding

 

[Sandisw]

I agree with this. That is why I did not purchase way back in the 90's.

Now at 65 and retiring with a nice lump sum of money I consider free money coming I say why not. Hopefully it spurs my wife and I to take vacations to a place that fits our needs. My wife and I move at different speeds so a place like WDW where I can wonder off early and meet up with her any time she wants fits us. Many vacation spots that does not work and there is nothing worse than sitting in a hotel room waiting for the other person to be ready to leave. At WDW that is not an issue. We have plenty of beach vacations available as family has 2 vacation homes at the Jersey shore so this would be an additional vacation in the fall or winter.

But even if we do not go as often as I like I have a daughter who will use it

I always knew I would have a lump sum coming because I saved all the vacation time I was allowed with the idea of getting a check at retirement. I thought about a boat, an electric vehicle or even a nicer car but I really do not want any of those things and none of them are needed. This is what I consider a nice treat. It is an extravagance that we can afford with no impact on our retirement, our inheritance for my daughter or my granddaughters college funding. Even the dues have no impact on all the other financial goals we have. If it was not going there it would be spent on some other unneeded thing.


Now the problem is what do I want to buy. I have narrowed it down but I really am no closer to deciding

Buy them all!!! Lol

 

[tom1944]

Buy them all!!! Lol

It has crossed my mind

I am impressed by all of you who have pictures of the multiple resorts you own on every post

 

[DVCPAT]

It's weird to me to spend five figures on something and not know (roughly) how long you are going to keep it. It's like buying a ski condo when you aren't sure if you plan on skiing in a few years. You should know your plan, because it changes the buy. And hold forever is an exit strategy, because it's an actual plan.

There's other choices if you don't know. Rent a hotel room, rent a ski cabin, book a cancelable room at Swolphin, whatever. But if you're buying into DVC, IMO you need to at least have a vague plan.

I think it depends on your background. If you’ve achieved your wealth from being frugal and trying to spend money on things that appreciate, it’s hard to change that lifestyle.

 

[zavandor]

DVC is not the true luxury option for a WDW vacation. Staying cash, with all the flexibility that comes with it is the real luxury option (or maybe a stay at the Four Seasons rather than a Disney hotel is a better option).
DVC is a way to get a discount for a similar product, accepting the shortcomings (need to plan and lack of availability, lack of flexibility, lack of daily mousekeeping, late refurbs etc). So I'm with RoseGold on this, one should buy only after thinking about a medium or long term plan (use or sell), to be sure the purchase is worth it, especially at today prices. Otherwise, cash is king.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

We purchased bcv when our kids were small, they are now adults. We also have ccv points, which I purchased for their future. We discussed selling bcv for riv back when it first went on sale, and the kids wanted bcv. I have decided if the kids want bcv for their own kids when it expires it will be up to them to buy it again.

 

[RoseGold]

Honestly, what is the worst that happens? You sell earlier than expected and you don’t get your money back.

Worst case scenario is the intended case scenario with resale restrictions. Buying with restrictions is like driving a new car off the lot, that's the point.

Lots of people are losing money on DVC right now. We don't hear from them often here, maybe more thoughtful folks here, or most people bought in the legacy system. But it is happening. By design.

I don't see why you'd buy DVC if you don't know how long you want it. That's a weird approach to such a big purchase to me, when you can just get a normal hotel like everyone else. Or a much nicer hotel, if money is no object.

 

[Sandisw]

Worst case scenario is the intended case scenario with resale restrictions. Buying with restrictions is like driving a new car off the lot, that's the point.

Lots of people are losing money on DVC right now. We don't hear from them often here, maybe more thoughtful folks here, or most people bought in the legacy system. But it is happening. By design.

I don't see why you'd buy DVC if you don't know how long you want it. That's a weird approach to such a big purchase to me, when you can just get a normal hotel like everyone else. Or a much nicer hotel, if money is no object.

I know we disagree but I don’t think people should ever buy a timeshare, DVC included, expecting to get their initial cost back when they sell.

I have always thought that way even before restrictions. And, while I don’t think having an exit strategy is a bad thing if you know before buying you want out short term, IMO, I think most go in to it as a long term purchase to not only visit DVC but also to use to trade other places

And yes, trades are not always a good value, but it is still an option for those who want to use this as a way to cover vacations accommodactions.



I really do think a lot of DVC owners place a good value on the use and that even those people who mention losing their shirts aren’t really losing anything unless you fail to consider the cost of the rooms that would have been spent.

There is certainly a difference in owning until you die or it expires and getting 10 to 20 years out of it…

 

[RoseGold]

I really do think a lot of DVC owners place a good value on the use and that even those people who mention losing their shirts aren’t really losing anything unless you fail to consider the cost of the rooms that would have been spent.

Maybe you and DVC are cool with people getting burned. I'm not. It's gross to me that this is the new timeshare-y business model, but hey, I'm not sure why I'm surprised after how DVC behaved in Aulani and Vero.

To me, this is a different product than legacy DVC. Sure, for some people it's still the right choice. But there are a whole lot of other choices. To know what is right for you, you have to know what you are doing with this product.