VGF2 vs Riviera under March incentives

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

The incentives on VGF2 and Riviera this March are tempting! The heavy studio component at VGF is making me take a hard look at Riviera despite resale restrictions. Which one is the winner for you?

 

[BeachClub2014]

The incentives on VGF2 and Riviera this March are tempting! The heavy studio component at VGF is making me take a hard look at Riviera despite resale restrictions. Which one is the winner for you?

The Riviera for us. We have no real interest in VGF so buying there was never really a consideration. Hard to go wrong with either resort.

We did not fear the resale restrictions when deciding to buy our points at the RIV. A lot can happen between now and 2070.

 

[DVChris]

We are not sure yet if we will hold DVC through expiration so having an exit strategy matters to us. None of us know with 100% certainty what the resale prices will look like down the road for Riviera once there are more contracts on the market in 10+ years. For us, not worth the risk. If we want to stay there, I will transfer points in.

 

[rubybutt]

The incentives on VGF2 and Riviera this March are tempting! The heavy studio component at VGF is making me take a hard look at Riviera despite resale restrictions. Which one is the winner for you?

If I didn't already own RIV it would have been the winner far and away. We love RIV and I almost added on to it instead of VGF. But we decided to have a MK and a HS/epcot resort.

 

[Marionnette]

The incentives on VGF2 and Riviera this March are tempting! The heavy studio component at VGF is making me take a hard look at Riviera despite resale restrictions. Which one is the winner for you?

If I were in the market for more points, RIV would have been my choice in spite of the resale restrictions. As a direct buyer, they have no affect on you. It's only if you sell the contract that is becomes a problem.

My reasons would be that I would get 2021 points (no 2021 points for any VGF2 buyers), better incentives and longer contract. I like the Skyliner much more than the monorail and views from RIV are nicer, IMO, than the views from VGF. Plus, I really dislike the resort studios that make up the bulk of rooms at VGF now that VGF2 was added.

But, I have more points than I need and the dues at RIV are pretty high compared to VGF. It's those pesky maintenance fees that keep me from adding on more points anywhere!

 

[Sandisw]

RIV is my favorite resort, hands down. The resale restrictions have not...and don't bother me...because I bought them to use at the resort and take advantage of having the best shot at SV rooms. Since I like 1 bedrooms, every bit helps with the higher point chart there.

Honestly, if we didn't already own 300 RIV points, I would have added more on there. But, VGF is my second favorite and I like to split stay so it made sense to sell some SSR and add on 300 VGF to even things out.

So, I am going from 500 SSR and 300 RIV, to 300 VGF, 300 RIV and 300 SSR. The other thing to remember is that DVD can change, at any time, those restrictions. While I don't think it is likely, if the sales between VGF and RIV in the next few months show people opting for VGF instead and hurting RIV sales (IMO, we will see an impact), they may go back to the drawing board on their long range strategy, which was determined before 2020 when Reflections was supposed to be ready for sale

 

[TinkB278]

I was planning on adding on to VGF (already own at riv) but then I realized today there are incentives at riv for 100 points. Now I’m not sure what to do. I don’t like how the RIV resale price drops so drastically. I’m also wondering if it will be easy to get a studio at VGF at seven months now with so many being added?

 

[Sandisw]

I was planning on adding on to VGF (already own at riv) but then I realized today there are incentives at riv for 100 points. Now I’m not sure what to do. I don’t like how the RIV resale price drops so drastically. I’m also wondering if it will be easy to get a studio at VGF at seven months now with so many being added?

I do think we will see it become easier to get a studio at VGF at 7 months...I just think one has to realize and be okay with it being the resort studio. I much prefer the deluxe studio...if I am booking a studio...but, if I want to stay at VGF and that is all that is there? I will take it over another resort...

 

[Hoppy-tn]

Saw someone say you got 2021 points buying riviera.
does that mean if I bought 150 points for riviera with an april use year I would have 300 points come april 1st?

 

[CarolMN]

Saw someone say you got 2021 points buying riviera.
does that mean if I bought 150 points for riviera with an april use year I would have 300 points come april 1st?

Yes,if you buy before 4/1. You would get 150 points from 2021 right away (which you could request be banked), and then on 4/1 you'd have your 2022 points for a total of 300.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Definitely VGF2. I can't walk to anywhere fun from Riviera. Already have Boardwalk points. Might add on at Beach Club. Or pick up a cheap BLT/VGF1 contract resale.

Plus I don't want to encourage Disney with these restrictions.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

I do think we will see it become easier to get a studio at VGF at 7 months...I just think one has to realize and be okay with it being the resort studio. I much prefer the deluxe studio...if I am booking a studio...but, if I want to stay at VGF and that is all that is there? I will take it over another resort...

This is a great combo! If I didn’t already have Poly, then RIV/VGF would be a great plan. Congrats!

 

[sndral]

I find it interesting that someone who’s first choice is Riviera would buy in the midst of the initial crush of folks buying VGF. Have they released new incentives for Riv? If not why rush, after all Riviera has been for sale for 3 full years and is only 39% sold. VGF1, albeit a smaller resort, sold out in just under 2 years https://dvcnews.com/resorts/grand-f...ed-history-of-disney-s-grand-floridian-villas.
Assuming I liked both resorts equally I’d take a look at the point charts, focusing on how many points I’d have to buy to stay in my preferred villa size in the view category I wanted at the time of year I visit. Then I’d look at MFs for those points - right now they are $8.38 for Riv v. $7.01 for VGF. Then I’d consider worst case scenario what if I had to sell - the scales favor VGF in that respect IMO. If I were younger I’d also factor in length left on the resort which favors Riv.

 

[TinkB278]

I find it interesting that someone who’s first choice is Riviera would buy in the midst of the initial crush of folks buying VGF. Have they released new incentives for Riv? If not why rush, after all Riviera has been for sale for 3 full years and is only 39% sold. VGF1, albeit a smaller resort, sold out in just under 2 years https://dvcnews.com/resorts/grand-f...ed-history-of-disney-s-grand-floridian-villas.
Assuming I liked both resorts equally I’d take a look at the point charts, focusing on how many points I’d have to buy to stay in my preferred villa size in the view category I wanted at the time of year I visit. Then I’d look at MFs for those points - right now they are $8.38 for Riv v. $7.01 for VGF. Then I’d consider worst case scenario what if I had to sell - the scales favor VGF in that respect IMO. If I were younger I’d also factor in length left on the resort which favors Riv.

I believe there were new RIV incentives released on Thursday. They are tempting me for sure even though I had planned to buy some VGF points.

 

[sndral]

I believe there were new RIV incentives released on Thursday. They are tempting me for sure even though I had planned to buy some VGF points.

Ah, I guess they thought they’d cover all their bases in case VGF2 sales were slow

 

[rubybutt]

I believe there were new RIV incentives released on Thursday. They are tempting me for sure even though I had planned to buy some VGF points.

If you give appropriate value to the 2021 points, then RIV is over $20 cheaper per point right now. But the higher MF are an issue long term. But my guess is they normalize with VGF in the next 10 years or so.

 

[TinkB278]

If you give appropriate value to the 2021 points, then RIV is over $20 cheaper per point right now. But the higher MF are an issue long term. But my guess is they normalize with VGF in the next 10 years or so.

Right! A year of points that are dues free! My only hold up is buying more RIV points with the resale restrictions. If it weren’t for that, I’d 100% be buying more RIV rather than some VGF points. Why did Disney have to add the restrictions?!

 

[Hoppy-tn]

Does someone have a link to the current riviera incentives? Want to make sure I am not looking at something that is incorrect.

 

[rubybutt]

Right! A year of points that are dues free! My only hold up is buying more RIV points with the resale restrictions. If it weren’t for that, I’d 100% be buying more RIV rather than some VGF points. Why did Disney have to add the restrictions?!

I think this has showed Disney that the restrictions matter to people. Especially if sales stay like this after 3 months. Will it be enough to change Disney's mind on the restrictions? I doubt it, but man would that be awesome.

 

[sndral]

…But the higher MF are an issue long term. But my guess is they normalize with VGF in the next 10 years or so.

I’ve studied the historical MFs charts & can’t make any sense of why one resort’s MFs are higher than another’s, I am still wondering if BCV will ever be cheaper than BWV - it’s been 20 years, & why there’s such a big difference between the 2 DVC only resorts OKW & SSR, which since Riv is also DVC only you’d suspect it would slot in with them long term https://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-p...content/2494-historical-annual-dues-by-resort
I just know that my AKV dues are high & have always been high compared to my VGF dues & they’re higher than the extra nickel or quarter a point I pay for the animals at AKV - so based on that experience I expect Riv’s high MF will stay among the higher priced MF resorts for some time.