Thinking of buying RIV direct, help me decide!

[sethschroeder]

saves Disney money

This I am not so sure about.

Here is the thing they still need a well maintained and operational bus fleet for when the weather is bad or people who will not ride this. Unless things have changed these are not running in thunderstorms which happen very often in Florida.

Right now its not bad since its resorts that are fairly close but if they were to expand you would likely have lots more junctions and locations. I also think they would have to come up with a solution where you didn't need to exit each time and instead you are at SSR, say you are going to AK, and the gondola is routed at those exchanges on the lines to get there.

Back to the cost piece I would be interested in knowing if they extended the line to AOA/POP because it was SO expensive they needed some way of lower the cost so RIV MFs weren't $15/point.

I think it doesn't save them money but lets them charge more money (RIV without the Skyliner would not be a great draw).

 

[ChipNdale8887]

I liked it but really think there should not be a stop to RIV from HS and the gondola should automatically be routed to the other line (it is already taken off the line).

At the time I wanted to see how it would hold up during summer and if they would start running it through thunderstorms.

It's unlikely to happen now but would have really liked to see the Skyliner expanded to places like AK/AKV.

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean from the Caribbean Beach Station to Epcot they shouldn't stop at RIV? I'd also love to see the skyliner be expanded to AK and AKV. I could see it maybe one day with a stop at Coronado Springs. It seems more efficient than busses and primed for Social Distancing vs the busses right now.

 

[gkrykewy]

It seems more efficient than busses and primed for Social Distancing vs the busses right now.

I am all for a Skyliner expansion and think it will happen, but if social distancing remains a factor permanently, Disney, and our DVC contracts, have much bigger problems. (I don’t think it will)

 

[FireflyTrance]

I think being within walking distance of CBR is a plus. Being able to walk anywhere is usually a plus for me since we often have a resort day where we explore the resort and the surrounding area. For us it was fun just to ride the Skyliner around. Also the Skyliner seems more efficient than the monorail. It's very fast to ride it to either HS and EPCOT. MK is my least favorite park since we go to Disneyland a lot, so I would prefer fast transportation to the other parks, but obviously that's just me.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

I think being within walking distance of CBR is a plus. Being able to walk anywhere is usually a plus for me since we often have a resort day where we explore the resort and the surrounding area. For us it was fun just to ride the Skyliner around. Also the Skyliner seems more efficient than the monorail. It's very fast to ride it to either HS and EPCOT. MK is my least favorite park since we go to Disneyland a lot, so I would prefer fast transportation to the other parks, but obviously that's just me.

I'm with you. We love the New lobby and smell of it at CBR. We like RIV for the skyliner access a 7 min trip to epcot cant be beat but maybe only by Beach Clubs walk there. Plus the expiration date of 2070 is the longest one for Epcot Resorts and my wife and I being 29 and 30 makes it appealing.

 

[sethschroeder]

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean from the Caribbean Beach Station to Epcot they shouldn't stop at RIV?

No I mean at CBS the gondola that you are in should simply move to the epcot line and continue on never needing you to get out.

So the RIV style "stop" should also be the CBS style stop. Anyone staying at CBR/AOA/POP would get out there but anyone staying at RIV would simply just stay seated.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I spoke to a DVC rep yesterday. He says sales are really good now with this promo. I wonder who can verify this.

Yeah it would be great to know if the promo will get even better after September. I personally have my doubts it will. I think it's more likely they would just extend the current promo. It would be nice to know the future. My UY is Feb and I don't plan to go again before then, so I would just be banking this years points.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

No I mean at CBS the gondola that you are in should simply move to the epcot line and continue on never needing you to get out.

So the RIV style "stop" should also be the CBS style stop. Anyone staying at CBR/AOA/POP would get out there but anyone staying at RIV would simply just stay seated.

Hmm I think I understand. So RIV guests have a larger advantage than other guests right? So if ur coming from RIV to CBS you could stay on and go directly to HS. It makes sense. I imagine they were worried about there being too many stoppages. If that HS/RIV/Epcot line were to break down it shuts down a large part. Instead the Epcot/RIV line is independant and doesn't cause the HS line to stop if it breaks down.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think being within walking distance of CBR is a plus. Being able to walk anywhere is usually a plus for me since we often have a resort day where we explore the resort and the surrounding area. For us it was fun just to ride the Skyliner around. Also the Skyliner seems more efficient than the monorail. It's very fast to ride it to either HS and EPCOT. MK is my least favorite park since we go to Disneyland a lot, so I would prefer fast transportation to the other parks, but obviously that's just me.

The skyliner is better than the Monorail but the view of MK is superior to the non-view of RIV. But POLY/GF have boat transportation to MK (so that gives options). Now with walking trails opening soon at POLY/GF they join the other walkable resorts (although maybe at the end of the list because of a slightly longer walk but it is MK.... lol).

As far as walking to non-parks then something like SSR should get a massive boost because you have Downtown Disney and a huge grounds to explore. I will say RIV being closer to Epcot gets a boost for meandering afternoons since you can just sit and walk around the WS so easily.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

Yeah it would be great to know if the promo will get even better after September. I personally have my doubts it will. I think it's more likely they would just extend the current promo. It would be nice to know the future. My UY is Feb and I don't plan to go again before then, so I would just be banking this years points.

They always say they are selling well. I also agree with that lol. There's also likely somewhat of a backlog of people that want to buy RIV and now can. How it sells in August should be an interesting number that will likely determine promotions for the end of september when they end. I guess there are no sales agents for DVC in the parks yet either, I saw in a blog the booths are empty. So that can't help. I don't see post pandemic numbers for even close for a long time. I can't seem them being greater than 30% of post pandemic sales numbers.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

The skyliner is better than the Monorail but the view of MK is superior to the non-view of RIV. But POLY/GF have boat transportation to MK (so that gives options). Now with walking trails opening soon at POLY/GF they join the other walkable resorts (although maybe at the end of the list because of a slightly longer walk but it is MK.... lol).

As far as walking to non-parks then something like SSR should get a massive boost because you have Downtown Disney and a huge grounds to explore. I will say RIV being closer to Epcot gets a boost for meandering afternoons since you can just sit and walk around the WS so easily.

In reality I can't see many walking from the Poly to MK. Does anyone know the walking time? I'm guessing its going to be close to walking from from HS to Epcot.

 

[sethschroeder]

In reality I can't see many walking from the Poly to MK. Does anyone know the walking time? I'm guessing its going to be close to walking from from HS to Epcot.

From the middle of POLY it will be around 1.25 miles likely. Not exact but in that range which is a bit of a walk. I think its a bigger benefit to VGF although that is also on the opposite side of the resort from the walking path to MK.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

From the middle of POLY it will be around 1.25 miles likely. Not exact but in that range which is a bit of a walk. I think its a bigger benefit to VGF although that is also on the opposite side of the resort from the walking path to MK.

I can see some trying the walk and never wanting to do it again lol. Similar to when we walked to HS from BCV. Its there but why do it when you can take alternative transportation. lol

 

[CastAStone]

In reality I can't see many walking from the Poly to MK. Does anyone know the walking time? I'm guessing its going to be close to walking from from HS to Epcot.

Google mapping it, It will be roughly 27 minutes from the closest building with DVC rooms. DHS is about 22 from the entrance to BC closest to BCV if you cut through BW.

I think people will generally not walk from Poly when the sun is out. But leaving MK after fireworks I think it makes a ton of sense.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

Google mapping it, It will be roughly 27 minutes from the closest building with DVC rooms. DHS is about 22 from the entrance to BC closest to BCV if you cut through BW.

I think people will generally not walk from Poly when the sun is out. But leaving MK after fireworks I think it makes a ton of sense.

dont forget most after the fireworks are probably pretty tired also from standing and walking all day.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

dont forget most after the fireworks are probably pretty tired also from standing and walking all day.

My husband and I would walk, even when exhausted, to avoid the crowds and the rush to the monorails since both get used by everyone trying to get back to their cars and the smaller number of guests at resorts. I'm looking forward to the walkway even if it turns our feet into nubs!

 

[ChipNdale8887]

My husband and I would walk, even when exhausted, to avoid the crowds and the rush to the monorails since both get used by everyone trying to get back to their cars and the smaller number of guests at resorts. I'm looking forward to the walkway even if it turns our feet into nubs!

Well more power to u lol Its not something Ill do again in the Summer heat in Florida lol. Plus we average out walking 10-15 miles a day at the parks. My feet are mush at the end of the day.

 

[EM Lawrence]

In reality I can't see many walking from the Poly to MK. Does anyone know the walking time? I'm guessing its going to be close to walking from from HS to Epcot.

My family would do this walk with no problem.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

My family would do this walk with no problem.

A 27 min walk? lol Maybe its because we are exhausted by the end of the day.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Well more power to u lol Its not something Ill do again in the Summer heat in Florida lol. Plus we average out walking 10-15 miles a day at the parks. My feet are mush at the end of the day.

Haha, I don't think we would do it in the sun, and during the day the monorail isn't crowded. I think it would just be at night after fireworks--we would sacrifice our feet to avoid the rush to the monorail. We also average 10-15 miles, it will be hard and maybe I'm saying this now and will think differently when the moment comes. But if the monorails is awfully crowded, I predict we would walk and just sleep in the next day.

Something that I've just thought of: I wonder if people who might also get exasperated with crowds will opt to walk through Poly in order to get to their cars, since it's possible to walk from the ticket and transportation center to Poly.