VGF versus RIV Availability

[prncssjas]

Good evening,

I am a VGF and (newer) RIV owner and I am trying to settle on accommodations for January marathon weekend 2026. Right now, I am booked at the VGF in a one bedroom (just DH and I). There is a good chance that I might convince my sister and brother in law to join us for the races, in which case I would like to see if I can book a 3 bedroom. Right now, the VGF don't show the Friday night available (I am hoping to book Friday/Saturday/Sunday night) but RIV does. In fact, it looks like RIV is wide open for the month so far. Is it because there are more units at RIV (more 3 bedroom units)? I assume that's the case so forgive me if I should know this--we have never stayed at RIV (going to for my first trip in two weeks and am so excited!).

For those of you who book more challenging weekends (like race weekends), do you find your chances better at RIV than the GF? I know I have seen charts and trackers that show what rooms tend to go first by month but for the life of me, I cannot find it. I would appreciate any insight if you have it. Much appreciated.

 

[T00dles]

RIV has twice as many Grand Villas than VGF (12 vs 6). Check out https://dvcfieldguide.com/riviera-resort-tour for RIV room inventory breakdown.

 

[sndral]

Maybe this tracker? https://www.dvchelp.com/page/how-do-the-charts-work

 

[sethschroeder]

Any Grand Villa is always going to be a risk simply because there are so few. One year no one could want to go your random week and the next year you just need 6 or 12 other families wanting to book one or more of your single days of your trip and you now can't get what you want.

Someone posted the charts but just be aware that can always be off since there are so few rooms.

 

[prncssjas]

Any Grand Villa is always going to be a risk simply because there are so few. One year no one could want to go your random week and the next year you just need 6 or 12 other families wanting to book one or more of your single days of your trip and you now can't get what you want.

Yes, I totally get that! It's not the end of the world if I cannot get into the 3 bedroom (but it would be nice). Also recognizing that race weekends are in high demand, I am lowering my expectations, lol! Just trying to best understand what I'm up against. Thanks!

 

[The Jackal]

RIV as far as I am aware of is not 100% declared DVC. So it is possible that a few of the GV’s there are solely for cash booking still. I haven’t followed which rooms are declared there. Just a heads up on that. Also while there are 6 GV’s at VGF, the last thing I remember was DVC was renting the first floor GV for office space and giving room tours. I’m not sure that this is still going on.

 

[prncssjas]

So it is possible that a few of the GV’s there are solely for cash booking still.

Thanks--does that mean that even if the room is available, I cannot book it with points--I would need to pay cash? I assume that's what this means? Thanks so much.

 

[Genie+]

VGF has 8 GVs. RIV has 12 (I’d assume at least 10 of them have been declared).

 

[sndral]

VGF has 8 GVs. RIV has 12 (I’d assume at least 10 of them have been declared).

VGF only has 6 GFs - there’s one GF on each floor - ##01 & there’s 6 floors, see page 1 post #3 here https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-villas-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa-owners-lovers-group.3813125 for a detailed map w/ all floors & each villa’s room number.
Also here https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/grand-floridian/vgf-resort-information for villa number/type totals.
I don’t own Riviera so haven’t memorized the villa location map like I have for the VGF, but it looks like there’s 2 GVs per each floor there, I suppose someone could compare the Riviera DVC declarations to see if the locations where the GFs are located have been declared .

 

[Genie+]

VGF only has 6 GFs - there’s one GF on each floor - ##01 & there’s 6 floors, see page 1 post #3 here https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-villas-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa-owners-lovers-group.3813125 for a detailed map w/ all floors & each villa’s room number.
Also here https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/grand-floridian/vgf-resort-information for villa number/type totals.
I don’t own Riviera so haven’t memorized the villa location map like I have for the VGF, but it looks like there’s 2 GVs per each floor there, I suppose someone could compare the Riviera DVC declarations to see if the locations where the GFs are located have been declared .

Ah ok, I was going by this:

It says 6 lake view, and 2 n/a (standard aka resort) view. I guess those last 2 don’t really exist?

Now I’m also remembering mention of how one of the VGF GV’s was used as a DVC office? (iirc on the first floor, and would be standard view)

 

[sndral]

Ah ok, I was going by this:
View attachment 944577
It says 6 lake view, and 2 n/a (standard aka resort) view. I guess those last 2 don’t really exist?

Now I’m also remembering mention of how one of the VGF GV’s was used as a DVC office? (iirc on the first floor, and would be standard view)

The 2 n/a views in your chart exist at VGC - Villas Grand Californian, . I wish the VGF had standard views, then maybe I’d have enough points to stay in a GV there - they look stunning to my very biased eyes.

 

[Genie+]

The 2 n/a views in your chart exist at VGC - Villas Grand Californian, . I wish the VGF had standard views, then maybe I’d have enough points to stay in a GV there - they look stunning to my very biased eyes.

lol - I need glasses! Thanks for setting that straight. They sure do look stunning.

 

[drusba]

Thanks--does that mean that even if the room is available, I cannot book it with points--I would need to pay cash? I assume that's what this means? Thanks so much.

Any GV is actually available for reserving with points. That is not the issue when some already finished rooms are still not designated to DVC. It is a percentage of rooms issue. For example, if there are 12 GVs and only eight have been designated to DVC, then, for any dates, DVC members can book up to 2/3rds of the GVs with points, and those reserving members can ultimately be given, when they arrive, any of the 12 GVs. Thus, if you see GVs filled on the DVC member site for a day but can find them open in the Disney rental site, that simply means members using points have maxed out on the percentage of rooms available to members, but rooms can still be reserved for cash but not points.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would like to see if I can book a 3 bedroom.

If it were me, I'd have a backup plan for room configuration in case this was not possible. Two 1BRs, a 1BR + 2BR or a 2BR + a studio.

This is going to be tricky, because Marathon weekend is the end of the "busy season" for DVC, but still in it.

 

[prncssjas]

If it were me, I'd have a backup plan for room configuration in case this was not possible. Two 1BRs, a 1BR + 2BR or a 2BR + a studio.

This is brilliant, thank you!