Riviera 75 Points Add On?

[aleh021]

Happy 2022! We recently came back from our Disney NYE trip and did a split stay with 2 nights at Riviera followed by 5 nights at Boardwalk.

I might've been a little harsh on Riviera at first, but after staying there I admit I have a soft spot for it. I still think the outside is boring and dull but I love the rooms, the dining options, & the skyliner.

We stayed in a standard studio with a view of Epcot. It was 5 of us and never once felt cramped, the 2 bathrooms were awesome & it might be one of my favorite Disney World rooms I've stayed in.

So after coming back we were thinking of adding on a 75 point contract to be able to use every other year at Riviera by banking.

But I wonder, is 75 points enough to be able to do every other year in a studio for a week? I want to be able to take in to consideration we won't get a standard view every time, & have enough to cover for a preferred room. & we would stick to the lower seasons for travel.

 

[Sandisw]

That will get you a week every other year in 5 of the 7 seasons for SV and 2 of the 7 with PV.

I would add on 80 and then get 6 out of 7 SV and 4 out of 7 with PV. Depending on when you travel, SV as an owner will be possible.

 

[stwaldman]

Yeah, it looks like if you want to be literal around the 2023 point charts, 80 points (ie 160 every other year) is the highest you want to go to cover as many possible periods in either room that don't directly overlap Christmas, easter, or spring break which sounds a non issue based on the OP. There are two weeks in the 2023 point chart that fall in the 150s for studios in either SV or P. Not sure either of them apply to your travel habits tho!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

But this point total is assuming they lift the 50% borrowing restrictions, right?

 

[Sandisw]

But this point total is assuming they lift the 50% borrowing restrictions, right?

Every other year can be achieved just banking…for example, bank 2021 points, travel with 2021 and 2022 points…bank 2023 points and travel with 2023 and 2024 points.

 

[mastersenton]

But this point total is assuming they lift the 50% borrowing restrictions, right?

No my understanding is they would bank them every other year

 

[DonMacGregor]

No my understanding is they would bank them every other year

That's why I'm in the "bank, not borrow" school of thought. Yes, there is a possibility you might lose points due to an unforeseen trip cancellation, and may not want to dump them in II, but I'd much rather rent them out or dump them in II, than being in a perpetual points deficit.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Well, you are right to consider based on Preferred View cost. I was just looking earlier today at availability, and there are NO weeks available in a Standard View Studio. Inside of 7 months there's pretty much no availability, and even in the 7-11 month range, there is pretty limited availability and nothing for more than 4 nights in a row.

 

[Sandisw]

Well, you are right to consider based on Preferred View cost. I was just looking earlier today at availability, and there are NO weeks available in a Standard View Studio. Inside of 7 months there's pretty much no availability, and even in the 7-11 month range, there is pretty limited availability and nothing for more than 4 nights in a row.

Its why anyone wanting to stay at RIV on a regular basis and wants a chance at a SV studio, needs to be an owner there.

SV goes so fast most of the year..not so much in summer..that non owners really will be forced in PV much of the time for studios and 2 bedrooms.

 

[The Jackal]

Its why anyone wanting to stay at RIV on a regular basis and wants a chance at a SV studio, needs to be an owner there.

SV goes so fast most of the year..not so much in summer..that non owners really will be forced in PV much of the time for studios and 2 bedrooms.

I agree the standard view rooms go fast. The standard view studios seem to go as fast and sometimes faster than the Tower studios.

 

[Anthony Vito]

What's a little worrisome about the SV availability is that it's already such an issue. We knew it would be a slight issue given the disparity between the number of SV vs. PV. I've believed it would become a real issue with the resale restrictions once the number of resale owners grows since those owners will only be booking at RIV. I have to imagine that resale is still an insignificant number, so these issues are purely because of the availability of those rooms. Obviously the overall problem with excess points and limited availability across property comes into play here, but it's certainly still worrisome long term once there are more resale owners with restricted points.

Without getting too deep into the furor and angst over the resale restrictions, I've always thought this was the future issue with the restrictions that tends to get somewhat overlooked. I don't think a primary concern for Disney is the future resale value of someone's points, and that was honestly not much of a factor in our decision. It's certainly nice to know that our contract won't be worthless, like other timeshares, should out interests change in the future. I look at the restrictions largely as how they affect us as owners of those points (not as sellers of them), and this is the one area that worries me, since this is the only aspect that affects direct owners - the problems that we may have booking at our resort as a result of people with limited contracts (resale) who have no choice but to book at RIV. If this makes booking harder for us, then that's a likely unintended consequence that sucks.

That being said, we still added a RIV contract a year-and-a-half ago (although we did get a Guaranteed Week SV studio, just to hedge against these issues in the future and to possibly bump the value up just a touch in case we ever did have to sell). While I'm worried about it, it's not enough that we don't want to own at RIV, and I'm hopeful eventually there will be some sort of equilibrium as there are more resorts with such restrictions at which there will be more people who can't switch resorts for booking, so that will make it easier for those who still can. It could also end up being that the number of resale owners will never be high enough to make any significant difference, and it will always be about the proportion of more reasonably priced SV vs. the high point-requirement PV rooms.

 

[Sandisw]

What's a little worrisome about the SV availability is that it's already such an issue. We knew it would be a slight issue given the disparity between the number of SV vs. PV. I've believed it would become a real issue with the resale restrictions once the number of resale owners grows since those owners will only be booking at RIV. I have to imagine that resale is still an insignificant number, so these issues are purely because of the availability of those rooms. Obviously the overall problem with excess points and limited availability across property comes into play here, but it's certainly still worrisome long term once there are more resale owners with restricted points.

Without getting too deep into the furor and angst over the resale restrictions, I've always thought this was the future issue with the restrictions that tends to get somewhat overlooked. I don't think a primary concern for Disney is the future resale value of someone's points, and that was honestly not much of a factor in our decision. It's certainly nice to know that our contract won't be worthless, like other timeshares, should out interests change in the future. I look at the restrictions largely as how they affect us as owners of those points (not as sellers of them), and this is the one area that worries me, since this is the only aspect that affects direct owners - the problems that we may have booking at our resort as a result of people with limited contracts (resale) who have no choice but to book at RIV. If this makes booking harder for us, then that's a likely unintended consequence that sucks.

That being said, we still added a RIV contract a year-and-a-half ago (although we did get a Guaranteed Week SV studio, just to hedge against these issues in the future and to possibly bump the value up just a touch in case we ever did have to sell). While I'm worried about it, it's not enough that we don't want to own at RIV, and I'm hopeful eventually there will be some sort of equilibrium as there are more resorts with such restrictions at which there will be more people who can't switch resorts for booking, so that will make it easier for those who still can. It could also end up being that the number of resale owners will never be high enough to make any significant difference, and it will always be about the proportion of more reasonably priced SV vs. the high point-requirement PV rooms.

I think the resale points...I own some..will impact more the 7 month availability a lot since those points can be used elsewhere.

I do think SV rooms will be like AKV CL rooms and that owners who want them, will have to book right at 11 months to have the best shot. Just like CL rooms, there will be owners who are shut out.

But, like you, I had no problem buying there! Hope to buy VGF when it returns to sale but if its priced to high, more RIV it is for me!!!

 

[DVChris]

What's a little worrisome about the SV availability is that it's already such an issue. We knew it would be a slight issue given the disparity between the number of SV vs. PV. I've believed it would become a real issue with the resale restrictions once the number of resale owners grows since those owners will only be booking at RIV. I have to imagine that resale is still an insignificant number, so these issues are purely because of the availability of those rooms. Obviously the overall problem with excess points and limited availability across property comes into play here, but it's certainly still worrisome long term once there are more resale owners with restricted points.

Without getting too deep into the furor and angst over the resale restrictions, I've always thought this was the future issue with the restrictions that tends to get somewhat overlooked. I don't think a primary concern for Disney is the future resale value of someone's points, and that was honestly not much of a factor in our decision. It's certainly nice to know that our contract won't be worthless, like other timeshares, should out interests change in the future. I look at the restrictions largely as how they affect us as owners of those points (not as sellers of them), and this is the one area that worries me, since this is the only aspect that affects direct owners - the problems that we may have booking at our resort as a result of people with limited contracts (resale) who have no choice but to book at RIV. If this makes booking harder for us, then that's a likely unintended consequence that sucks.

That being said, we still added a RIV contract a year-and-a-half ago (although we did get a Guaranteed Week SV studio, just to hedge against these issues in the future and to possibly bump the value up just a touch in case we ever did have to sell). While I'm worried about it, it's not enough that we don't want to own at RIV, and I'm hopeful eventually there will be some sort of equilibrium as there are more resorts with such restrictions at which there will be more people who can't switch resorts for booking, so that will make it easier for those who still can. It could also end up being that the number of resale owners will never be high enough to make any significant difference, and it will always be about the proportion of more reasonably priced SV vs. the high point-requirement PV rooms.

I’ve heard similar comments and concerns from others… but at 11 months across all resorts, it’s only owners who are able to book. If someone can help me understand why the resale restrictions would impact this (or maybe it doesn’t)?
I understand that the restrictions would impact the 7 months mark but the SV would be very difficult to get at that point even without the restrictions. Maybe I’m missing something? We are considering buying some RIV points so I appreciate any input.

 

[Jwaire]

Do we know how many SV studios are at Rivera? Last I saw, only about 50% of the resort was declared. So, I know not all of them are available for booking yet.

 

[DVChris]

Do we know how many SV studios are at Rivera? Last I saw, only about 50% of the resort was declared. So, I know not all of them are available for booking yet.

Found this in another thread:

24 - Tower Studios (24 Standard (100%))
38 - Studios - Dedicated (9 Standard (24%), 29 Preferred (76%))
29 - One Bedrooms - Dedicated (7 Standard (24%), 22 Preferred (76%))
90 - Two Bedrooms - Dedicated (28 Standard (31%), 62 Preferred (69%))
148 - Lock-Off Two Bedrooms - Studio and 1BR (58 Standard (39%), 90 Preferred (61%))
12 - Grand Villas (12 Preferred (100%))

Percent Standard View, by Room Type, including both Dedicated and Lock-Off:
Studios - 36.0% Standard View
One Bedrooms - 36.7% Standard View
Two Bedrooms - 36.1% Standard View

 

[Sandisw]

I’ve heard similar comments and concerns from others… but at 11 months across all resorts, it’s only owners who are able to book. If someone can help me understand why the resale restrictions would impact this (or maybe it doesn’t)?
I understand that the restrictions would impact the 7 months mark but the SV would be very difficult to get at that point even without the restrictions. Maybe I’m missing something? We are considering buying some RIV points so I appreciate any input.

Where it may impact owners is that booking at 11 months will be key and that because of resale owners, waiting even a few weeks might lock you out of SV rooms for much of the year. Those owners will learn very quickly that waiting to book could lock them out.

That is why I think it could be like some of those very popular rooms at other resorts.

But, most data suggests that a resort ends up with 10 to 20% max of resale owners...remember, a set of points only becomes resale points once. If I sell my direct RIV to someone else, no matter how often that contract gets sold, it doesn't change % of resale owners...just who that owner is.

Honestly, I would venture to guess that many of the RIV resale owners will be people like me who own a lot of other points that can be used elsewhere as well and it wont be all they have.

I think it is something people are worried but won't be any worse than what we see at some resorts already for certain room and view types.

 

[DVChris]

Where it may impact owners is that booking at 11 months will be key and that because of resale owners, waiting even a few weeks might lock you out of SV rooms for much of the year. Those owners will learn very quickly that waiting to book could lock them out.

That is why I think it could be like some of those very popular rooms at other resorts.

But, most data suggests that a resort ends up with 10 to 20% max of resale owners...remember, a set of points only becomes resale points once. If I sell my direct RIV to someone else, no matter how often that contract gets sold, it doesn't change % of resale owners...just who that owner is.

Honestly, I would venture to guess that many of the RIV resale owners will be people like me who own a lot of other points that can be used elsewhere as well and it wont be all they have.

I think it is something people are worried but won't be any worse than what we see at some resorts already for certain room and view types.

That makes a lot of sense so thank you!
We also own at CCV so we certainly understand the difficulty of getting high demand studio rooms.

 

[DaveNan]

Another thing to factor in right now. I believe I saw on another thread that RIV was 30-35% sold as far as points go and they have declared (released into booking inventory) 50% of the rooms. I am not sure how the declared inventory compares to the overall inventory from a view and size perspective, but once sold out and the sold inventory matches the available/declared inventory, availability will be worse. While selling, when the declared/available inventory exceeds the sold inventory, availability is "good". With STD view and TS already under stress, it will get worse.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I am waiting on the sidelines to pick up a small RIV resale if the price is right which I think it will be in the next year or so. I agree with Sandi that many of the resale owners probably own points elsewhere. We are also looking at GFV II. RIV mfs are also really high.

 

[Sandisw]

I am waiting on the sidelines to pick up a small RIV resale if the price is right which I think it will be in the next year or so. I agree with Sandi that many of the resale owners probably own points elsewhere. We are also looking at GFV II. RIV mfs are also really high.

MFS are a factor for sure, but RIV is no longer the highest at WDW.