Riviera 75 Points Add On?

[rubybutt]

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 don't think this is quite right. 7-11 months is just RIV owners and SV studios go fast. It doesn't really matter if you are direct or resale in this time frame.

 

[TinkB278]

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

Is this the total number of rooms? Or the number declared right now?

 

[DVChris]

Is this the total number of rooms? Or the number declared right now?

Total number of rooms.

 

[TinkB278]

Total number of rooms.

Wow! I didn’t realize how few standard studios and one bedrooms were in the building.

 

[DVChris]

Wow! I didn’t realize how few standard studios and one bedrooms were in the building.

There’s a lot of great info at the beginning of the Riviera Owners thread, really all of the owners threads!
https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-riviera-owners-info-thread.3755767/

 

[J-Dog]

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.

But the resale restrictions make no difference if you are booking at 11 months. The resale restrictions may result in a smaller percentage of owners switching to another resort at 7 months, because resale owners have no choice and can't move those points, but RIV owners booking from 7-11 months have to book at RIV whether they are subject to resale restrictions or not.

Therefore, unless you are booking after 7 months, resale vs direct ownership at RIV should have zero impact on availability.

 

[DVCsloth]

But the resale restrictions make no difference if you are booking at 11 months. The resale restrictions may result in a smaller percentage of owners switching to another resort at 7 months, because resale owners have no choice and can't move those points, but RIV owners booking from 7-11 months have to book at RIV whether they are subject to resale restrictions or not.

Therefore, unless you are booking after 7 months, resale vs direct ownership at RIV should have zero impact on availability.

If you have Riviera resale and you need to change your reservation, there is more of a chance of getting shut out the farther away you get from 11 months with a restricted contract. Direct points allow you to book another resort right at 7 months, so you usually have a chance at getting something you want. I book right at 11 months at my home resorts but sometimes scan what is available right at 7 months. I have picked us some really nice reservations this way in the past. I wouldn't recommend Riviera resale to someone unless they were already familial with how DVC works.

 

[DaveNan]

Wow! I didn’t realize how few standard studios and one bedrooms were in the building.

Maybe you realized or maybe you didn't.... For Std studio there are 9 dedicated, but an additional 58 std studio available as part of the 2BR std view LO. So a total of up to 67 std studios.

 

[The Jackal]

But the resale restrictions make no difference if you are booking at 11 months. The resale restrictions may result in a smaller percentage of owners switching to another resort at 7 months, because resale owners have no choice and can't move those points, but RIV owners booking from 7-11 months have to book at RIV whether they are subject to resale restrictions or not.

Therefore, unless you are booking after 7 months, resale vs direct ownership at RIV should have zero impact on availability.

Resale restrictions at some point will effect 11 month availability at some point. People will be walking reservations to get their dates, because they cannot stay at any other resort. In probably 5-10 years if you want a Tower Studio, SV studio and possibly even a SV 1 and 2 bedroom for fall food and wine, they will be walked. SV studios and Tower studios are hard to get now for F&W.

 

[Sandisw]

Resale restrictions at some point will effect 11 month availability at some point. People will be walking reservations to get their dates, because they cannot stay at any other resort. In probably 5-10 years if you want a Tower Studio, SV studio and possibly even a SV 1 and 2 bedroom for fall food and wine, they will be walked. SV studios and Tower studios are hard to get now for F&W.

Except, how is that any different than AKV CL rooms? Or BWV SV studios much of the year?

There are no restrictions for those resorts and some owners get shut out. I agree that RIV SV will be difficult to book, no question, but dont agree that the resale points…seeing how small it will be % wise of all points…will be what causes that.

What you mention happens now with pretty much only direct points.

 

[Sandisw]

If you have Riviera resale and you need to change your reservation, there is more of a chance of getting shut out the farther away you get from 11 months with a restricted contract. Direct points allow you to book another resort right at 7 months, so you usually have a chance at getting something you want. I book right at 11 months at my home resorts but sometimes scan what is available right at 7 months. I have picked us some really nice reservations this way in the past. I wouldn't recommend Riviera resale to someone unless they were already familial with how DVC works.

For resale points, I agree with you that anyone buying them really needs to understand how important it will be to book right away and that chances of changing your trip will be difficult because you have no place to go.

 

[J-Dog]

If you have Riviera resale and you need to change your reservation, there is more of a chance of getting shut out the farther away you get from 11 months with a restricted contract. Direct points allow you to book another resort right at 7 months, so you usually have a chance at getting something you want. I book right at 11 months at my home resorts but sometimes scan what is available right at 7 months. I have picked us some really nice reservations this way in the past. I wouldn't recommend Riviera resale to someone unless they were already familial with how DVC works.

Yes. Isn't that basically the same thing that I said?

 

[J-Dog]

Resale restrictions at some point will effect 11 month availability at some point. People will be walking reservations to get their dates, because they cannot stay at any other resort. In probably 5-10 years if you want a Tower Studio, SV studio and possibly even a SV 1 and 2 bedroom for fall food and wine, they will be walked. SV studios and Tower studios are hard to get now for F&W.

I don't see how resale restrictions will affect that much. As Sandi said, that already happens at other resorts that don't have restrictions.

 

[DVCsloth]

Yes. Isn't that basically the same thing that I said?

I guess so, as long as you don't need to re-book the 11-month reservation at say 7-8 months.

 

[Sandisw]

I guess so, as long as you don't need to re-book the 11-month reservation at say 7-8 months.

The comments though were related to not buying there even direct because the resale owners will cause SV rooms to be harder to get during home resort because of restrctions,

RIV is really popular now and adjusting before the 7 month window even opens is hard and those resale points are not a factor. So, it’s tough to move dates because people are buying to stay there.

Again, I don’t think owners with direct points are going to have any harder time booking RIV because of restrictions…the difficulty will remain because of its popularity.

Having said that, if you even want a good chance at SV rooms, you have to own there.

 

[DVCsloth]

Having said that, if you even want a good chance at SV rooms, you have to own there.

Agree, we stayed there the past 2 Septembers and booked SV Studio Sept 2020 and SV 1BR Sept 2021. I'm pretty sure the only reason was because of people canceling from out of state. We are Florida residents so I figured we would try Riviera while we had the chance. I used my VGF and CCV points to book. Awesome resort! Love the Skyliner and I'm very happy that I always keep my annual pass active! Back to our home resorts now for our next few visits anyways.