The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[sethschroeder]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think that view is all that bad. If I had a sidewalk directly outside my window, it would probably be a different story, but that view seems fairly tranquil...

There are plenty of those as well that are preferred I believe.

 

[peder]

I'll reiterate that DVC could print money if they had a paid option to guarantee a specific room number.

 

[Sandisw]

I'll reiterate that DVC could print money if they had a paid option to guarantee a specific room number.

It would leave too many gaps since check out day is not the same.

I would not be in favor of that. I do think there are a few rooms that shouldn’t be classified the way they are at plenty of the resorts, but not everyone has the same preference of what is and is not bad.

As I said, seeing the Epcot ball and fireworks, with a parking lot is not a better view than looking at the lake but we book it because it costs less.

 

[peder]

I would not be in favor of that. I do think there are a few rooms that shouldn’t be classified the way they are at plenty of the resorts, but not everyone has the same preference of what is and is not bad.

Which is a strong reason to allow those that care the most about which view they get to pay for the privilege of securing the exact room (or multiple rooms) they want. Find those that are most sensitive to their specific view and extract more value from them.

 

[J-Dog]

Which is a strong reason to allow those that care the most about which view they get to pay for the privilege of securing the exact room (or multiple rooms) they want. Find those that are most sensitive to their specific view and extract more value from them.

I totally disagree. Where does paying to be better than other DVC owners end? This idea is even worse than the already bad idea of priority lounge access with MMB.

 

[Sandisw]

Which is a strong reason to allow those that care the most about which view they get to pay for the privilege of securing the exact room (or multiple rooms) they want. Find those that are most sensitive to their specific view and extract more value from them.

Nope…don’t like that at all…we are not guaranteed any specific room and it’s an aspect of the program that should stay as it is .

Not become a paid privilege especially as it could then leave holes in availability which to me is a big deal.

IMO, it might even be something that is against the contract..because when would someone get to request? Can’t be at booking because rooms are owned by both DVC and Disney and we get to be put in any room, which gets decided based on check in and check out.

To me, this is different than things they add to membership extras.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

It would leave too many gaps since check out day is not the same.

I would not be in favor of that. I do think there are a few rooms that shouldn’t be classified the way they are at plenty of the resorts, but not everyone has the same preference of what is and is not bad.

As I said, seeing the Epcot ball and fireworks, with a parking lot is not a better view than looking at the lake but we book it because it costs less.

Agreed!

 

[J-Dog]

Nope…don’t like that at all…we are not guaranteed any specific room and it’s an aspect of the program that should stay as it is .

Not become a paid privilege especially as it could then leave holes in availability which to me is a big deal.

IMO, it might even be something that is against the contract..because when would someone get to request? Can’t be at booking because rooms are owned by both DVC and Disney and we get to be put in any room, which gets decided based on check in and check out.

To me, this is different than things they add to membership extras.

I agree with you completely except for your last sentence.

This idea would be just like MMB in that people who have the ability to pay more therefore get the privilege of taking something away from the people who don't/can't pay more.

In this case, it would be the most desired rooms; in the case of MMB it is the ability to get into the MK lounge in a more timely manner (or at least that's been the case there since opening).

 

[Sandisw]

I agree with you completely except for your last sentence.

This idea would be just like MMB in that people who have the ability to pay more therefore get the privilege of taking something away from the people who don't/can't pay more.

In this case, it would be the most desired rooms; in the case of MMB it is the ability to get into the MK lounge in a more timely manner (or at least that's been the case there since opening).

Except booking and rooms at our home resort and the way that happens are things that are part of the contract.

Membership extras are incidental benefits and not guaranteed. They don’t need to be offered so if they come with fees, etc, that is fine because they are not related to using the membership you bought.

IMO, Two different situations. We are not entitled to lounges…we are entitled to booking the rooms and setting a situation that impacts availability because certain rooms are “picked” for a fee might be in conflict with the POS.

 

[J-Dog]

Except booking and rooms at our home resort and the way that happens are things that are part of the contract.

Membership extras are incidental benefits and not guaranteed. They don’t need to be offered so if they come with fees, etc, that is fine because they are not related to using the membership you bought.

IMO, Two different situations. We are not entitled to lounges…we are entitled to booking the rooms and setting a situation that impacts availability because certain rooms are “picked” for a fee might be in conflict with the POS.

So, basically, you're saying that the only real difference is contract legalese. The end result would be the same - certain members getting more than others because they can afford to.

 

[Sandisw]

So, basically, you're saying that the only real difference is contract legalese. The end result would be the same - certain members getting more than others because they can afford to.

What I am saying is one is part of what we bought and one is not.

Membership extras are not. They can come and go and we all bought knowing that.

So, membership extras for me are loyalty rewards and why if they want to add elements that include a fee they can.

For elements of our contracts that are governed by that need to be implemented with specific requirements.

Personally I don’t believe they can add priority room selection as part of a membership extra…and that is what it would have to become.

Given that not all owners are even eligible for membership extras…it would mean owners at a home resort, based on how they bought, would have different booking options and by FL timeshare law that can’t happen.

I actually wish they got rid of requests, and that the goal is that any room ready that a guest can get into when they arrive is their room.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I actually wish they got rid of requests, and that the goal is that any room ready that a guest can get into when they arrive is their room.

 

[peder]

So long as a room is provided within the category selected (meaning the points you spent match the category given), then that's probably all DVC needs to offer to have met their contractual requirement.

I think the inability to select your own room has primarily been a software/system limitation, but if they had the software available to allow room selections in a way that still allowed allocation of all other remaining rooms without causing a log jam, then DVC would IMO absolutely monetize this. Disney people obsess over finding the exact right spot to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom and pay large amounts of money for dedicated viewing spots. Of course they'd pay to reserve the exact room they want.

Also: the room requesting process they have today is completely broken. I have still never had a room request honored (though we exclusively have longer stays). We've always been given subpar views even within the category we've selected.

 

[Sandisw]

So long as a room is provided within the category selected (meaning the points you spent match the category given), then that's probably all DVC needs to offer to have met their contractual requirement.

I think the inability to select your own room has primarily been a software/system limitation, but if they had the software available to allow room selections in a way that still allowed allocation of all other remaining rooms without causing a log jam, then DVC would IMO absolutely monetize this. Disney people obsess over finding the exact right spot to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom and pay large amounts of money for dedicated viewing spots. Of course they'd pay to reserve the exact room they want.

Also: the room requesting process they have today is completely broken. I have still never had a room request honored (though we exclusively have longer stays). We've always been given subpar views even within the category we've selected.

The issue is whether DVC can implement charging a fee to book your home resort….I say they can’t

Now, if it happens when room assignments are being done a few weeks out, and people can choose then? It might work as part of extras in some way

But, IMO, not when booking the room because I see it would create gaps. When chosen it takes a specific room out of inventory.

And, how do you address the whole lock off situation? If you choose studio room X which is a lock off, it automatically means that the 1 bedroom next to it can now only be booked that way while you are staying.

But, if all you have is a studio, then they can put you in anyone that is next to someone who did book a 1 bedroom. Start micromanaging to that level and it is bound to make things worse and not better.

 

[peder]

Start micromanaging to that level and it is bound to make things worse and not better.

Worse for whom?

 

[OneOftheB's]

We were just in a “preferred” room & will never waste the points again.

That's where I fall on room choice at the Riviera. Our first stay I booked preferred because we had points to "burn" due to having to cancel our Aulani trip due to the pandemic. Our preferred view was of the splash pool-great! fun!- but the balcony was unusable due to it being near the smoking area. I still cannot fathom why anyone would think that putting a smoking section in the corner of the building with rooms all around it was a good idea. Count me in the I'll pick parking lots and potential fireworks viewing for fewer points crowd.

 

[Sandisw]

Worse for whom?

For the owners as a whole who bought with the terms that all rules for booking home resorts will be the same for everyone.

As I said, if you are talking a few weeks prior when room assignments are being made, then I think maybe it’s possible.

But not during the booking process. Remember, if this became a thing, DVd would be eligible to pay too for specific rooms with their points. What would prevent them from always snagging the best ones? They have deep pockets.

What about those with fixed weeks? They get booked before the 11 month window so they’d have first crack at certain specific rooms ahead of others?

Why do you think Disney and DVc doesn’t guarantee requests? Because it’s like a game of jenga making it all fit.

Hotels can do it because they very rarely operate at 100% occupancy and they aren’t a points based timeshare.

Another thing…how would it work with declared vs undeclared inventory?

As I shared , that if you start taking specific rooms out at 11 months, you potentially create less availability for certain room types like lock offs, which impacts all owners.

The good news is that I personally don’t see DVC doing this expect under membership extras once we get to the room assignment stage a few weeks out.

And, even then, I think they have other things they can do to add as pay for play with extras.

 

[sethschroeder]

That's where I fall on room choice at the Riviera. Our first stay I booked preferred because we had points to "burn" due to having to cancel our Aulani trip due to the pandemic. Our preferred view was of the splash pool-great! fun!- but the balcony was unusable due to it being near the smoking area. I still cannot fathom why anyone would think that putting a smoking section in the corner of the building with rooms all around it was a good idea. Count me in the I'll pick parking lots and potential fireworks viewing for fewer points crowd.

I would complain about that and I essentially rarely complain about anything.

 

[J-Dog]

That's where I fall on room choice at the Riviera. Our first stay I booked preferred because we had points to "burn" due to having to cancel our Aulani trip due to the pandemic. Our preferred view was of the splash pool-great! fun!- but the balcony was unusable due to it being near the smoking area. I still cannot fathom why anyone would think that putting a smoking section in the corner of the building with rooms all around it was a good idea. Count me in the I'll pick parking lots and potential fireworks viewing for fewer points crowd.

That would be one of the very few reasons that I would ask to be moved.

 

[Orbiter_Fan]

The issue is whether DVC can implement charging a fee to book your home resort….I say they can’t

Now, if it happens when room assignments are being done a few weeks out, and people can choose then? It might work as part of extras in some way

But, IMO, not when booking the room because I see it would create gaps. When chosen it takes a specific room out of inventory.

And, how do you address the whole lock off situation? If you choose studio room X which is a lock off, it automatically means that the 1 bedroom next to it can now only be booked that way while you are staying.

But, if all you have is a studio, then they can put you in anyone that is next to someone who did book a 1 bedroom. Start micromanaging to that level and it is bound to make things worse and not better.

I appreciate the thought you put into your posts - it definitely shows. I'm new to the boards, although I started lurking last summer before jumping onto the DVC bandwagon. These boards definitely helped with our decision to join.

Which got me to thinking about the contract we purchased - which is a RIV FW. Isn't that kind of like a mini version of paying extra to guarantee a particular outcome (standard studio for week 39)? I understand it's not the same as picking a specific room, but every year I use the FW, I use more points than is required by the points chart* to guarantee my week. So while not necessarily a "fee", it certainly costs more. (*I know point allocations can change over time by room type/time of year).

Having said that, you bring up excellent points re: logistics. I'm in your camp; just not sure DVC wouldn't be able to pull it off if it wanted to.