What to do next? to get direct perks

[eticketplease]

Need 11 months to book a resort view 1-bedroom

This is a con imo.

Sure I would want a resort where the home resort priority matters but this just seems like walking could be an issue. I would rather have the opportunity for 9-10 months in case there was an issue at 8 am at the 11 month window.

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

I definitely am not a fan of having points at resorts I don’t like being at which is why I have bought and sold in my 16 years of ownership.

I am super curious which resorts you don't like being at. I've only ever stayed at Poly and I LOVED it. Every DVC resort I've visited has only made me want to someday stay there. The one I probably felt the least drawn to was SSR, but I technically didn't even visit - I just looked across the lake from Disney Springs.

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

A con I would also add to Riviera is that the Skyliner connects you to a moderate and two values. Nothing wrong with that, but you only have access to one additional table service whereas the monorail has multiple signatures, table services, and lounges.

Ooh, great point. I KNEW there was a reason I picked two monorail resorts.

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

From what I could find, the RIV GV is quite a bit larger than the SSR GV:

RIV GV: 2,530 sq. ft.

SSR GV: 2,113 sq. ft.

But I can see what @tidefan said where the feeling of the SSR GV felt bigger due to the "ceiling in the Living Room area being double height". Double-height windows can make the living room feel much bigger.

300 extra points can make the living room feel much bigger too.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I decided to put the pros and cons of all the suggestions from this thread.


Pros of Poly

1. No resale restrictions
2. A lower loss of $$$ if need to sell
3. Convenient to MK
4. On the monorail loop
5. A lot of good food on the Monorail loop
6. Lower fee = better SAP
7. I already have 160 resale points; this will be less trouble. Just add 150 points and call it a day
8. Need 11 months to book a resort view 1-bedroom

Cons of Poly

1. Crowded Pools, Lobby, QS
2. Not relaxing feel
3. High point chart
4. No QS at PIT
5. Higher PPP
6. No GV
7. Tourist destination

Pros of Riv

1. Convenient to HS and Epcot
2. Lots of food options in Epcot
3. The quietness of the resort compared to Poly
4. All in one building
5. Lower PPP
6. Has the all-inclusive atmosphere
7. Have GV
8. Skyliner
9. Relaxing feel
10. Close to 2 parks
11. Not a tourist destination
12. Good resort view
13. amazing calmness
14. Easy to find chairs at Pooly
15. Good food at the resort
16. Dedicated busses
17. 5 minutes to get from any one spot at the resort to another.

Cons of Riv

1. Resale restrictions
2. A higher loss of $$$ if you need to sell
3. Higher fee
4. If I like it, I will need to sell my Poly points
5. Do not need 11 months to book a 1-bedroom

Let me know if I missed anything!

But which resort do YOU actually like better…. Do either of them hit you in the feels?

 

[Judique]

Yeah I think making a strong effort to visit RIV prior to deciding is key. I have a feeling OP wont love it, but may not hate it either. But I don't know OP very well so there's that.

RIV lobby feels busy, but in a much different way than how Poly feels busy. Poly feels like non guests there for the Poly experience. RIV feels like guests utilizing whats great about RIV, all the great food/coffee options.

I've stayed in a tower studio, a resort studio, visited the two bedroom and just recently the grand villa. It's okay. I've eaten dinner at Topolino a couple times. I've tried stuff at Primo Piatti. I've had a coffee drink in the lobby area. The best thing that I enjoyed was a tiny cup of gelato from the quick serve freezer. Since I won't ride the Skyliner, I feel as if it's just out of the way, with nothing really special that I have to go there for. Will I book a room there if that's all that's available? Yes, it's not objectionable and the rooms are nice. Too me it's just not as adjacent to all the action. Maybe I feel this way as I'm now retired and have lots of quiet and relaxation in my life so I'm looking for something else on my trips to the mouse.

Just to add my .02.

We stayed at a RIV GV and then later one of the refurbed SSR GV. We all liked SSR better. Go figure...

Funny! I visited a Riviera grand villa a couple of weeks ago and had the same feeling.

 

[Judique]

No unfortunatelly not. Only passing by on the skyliner.

wife hates split stays.

- Yea I showed my wife this post and the main pro and cons of PVB / RIV.
- She does not like Riveria. Resale restriction (esp I would need 300 points instead of 150). If Riv and BC 1 bedroom are both available we will pick BC even if the point chart is the same. And most of the time BC 1 bedroom is available when we go.

You've got a mountain to climb.

 

[MyDogTink]

If you’re buying direct at RIV, I would plan on retaining those points.

When we first toured RIV, there was nothing we liked about it. I thought I’d love it. We visited twice since then just to eat at QS, walk around, take the skyliner, etc. We ended up buying some direct points.

For us, we wanted to add on in the Epcot/HS area. As I get older, I realized I want a compact footprint. I personally like BLT for that reason. I also prefer dedicated DVC resorts as opposed to mix use properties. Call me weird.

Your one con of Poly that stands out for me is that you find it crowded. I get that and for me, that con would weigh heavily into the decision.

 

[Brian Noble]

Let me know if I missed anything!

You left off the Pros and Cons of "Do nothing just yet."

 

[airjay75]

But which resort do YOU actually like better…. Do either of them hit you in the feels?

I think this is honestly the most important question. All of us can go on about why we personally bought one or other of these resorts but it is fairly subjective.

One person thinks the Skyliner is a fun and relaxing way to get to the parks. Another thinks it's their worst nightmare dangling from a wire in the middle of a shutdown.

One person thinks RIV is relaxing, calm, peaceful, and loves it. Another things it's boring, dull, and slow.

One person thinks Poly is exciting, where the action is, one of the OG WDW resorts, so much to do. Another thinks it's crowded, overrated, and overpriced.

And, I'm sure some people are in the middle and think they're both great options (although I think once someone decides to buy or not buy one of these properties, we probably have a certain amount of bias that sets in to help us justify our decision).

 

[MyDogTink]

You left off the Pros and Cons of "Do nothing just yet."

But that so hard to do!!! It’s just too fiscally responsible when it comes to DVC.

 

[tidefan]

Funny! I visited a Riviera grand villa a couple of weeks ago and had the same feeling.

Now, don't get me wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed the RIV GV. It was a lovely stay. Please don't take my post as that there is anything wrong with the RIV GV. It was great.

However, the SSR GV stay was our first non-studio stay since the renovation, and they just nailed it. That place just looks night and day different than it used to.

Before



Now

 

[airjay75]

A con I would also add to Riviera is that the Skyliner connects you to a moderate and two values. Nothing wrong with that, but you only have access to one additional table service whereas the monorail has multiple signatures, table services, and lounges.

I think you could say the Skyliner also connects you to BWV and BCV. I guess maybe not quite as convenient as the monorail and where it would drop you off relative to the dining options at those resorts (which I think are arguably better), but still reasonable options that I'd consider staying at RIV.

I'd also add proximity to Disney Springs for RIV which adds additional dining options - very short bus or car ride. And, for our family, we also like being close to the water parks because we really love them.

 

[Brian Noble]

In this case, I don't think the argument is fiscal responsibility so much as it is not clear that the OP really loves either resort.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

But which resort do YOU actually like better…. Do either of them hit you in the feels?

Having never step foot in RIV. I like RIV better, just for the peacefulness everyone raves about.

You've got a mountain to climb.

@Judique You're right. If she don't approve, it will never happen. But that is also why I want to create a list, in case I like RIV how I'm going to sell it to her.

If you’re buying direct at RIV, I would plan on retaining those points.

When we first toured RIV, there was nothing we liked about it. I thought I’d love it. We visited twice since then just to eat at QS, walk around, take the skyliner, etc. We ended up buying some direct points.

For us, we wanted to add on in the Epcot/HS area. As I get older, I realized I want a compact footprint. I personally like BLT for that reason. I also prefer dedicated DVC resorts as opposed to mix use properties. Call me weird.

Your one con of Poly that stands out for me is that you find it crowded. I get that and for me, that con would weigh heavily into the decision.

But between RIV or BLT. I rather keep BLT, the point chart is much more attractive for 1 bedroom. Lower dues. Walking distance to a park.

You left off the Pros and Cons of "Do nothing just yet."

Hard to not do anything. I'm always thinking. But I will try to hold off until April to purchase.

I think this is honestly the most important question. All of us can go on about why we personally bought one or other of these resorts but it is fairly subjective.

One person thinks the Skyliner is a fun and relaxing way to get to the parks. Another thinks it's their worst nightmare dangling from a wire in the middle of a shutdown.

One person thinks RIV is relaxing, calm, peaceful, and loves it. Another things it's boring, dull, and slow.

One person thinks Poly is exciting, where the action is, one of the OG WDW resorts, so much to do. Another thinks it's crowded, overrated, and overpriced.

And, I'm sure some people are in the middle and think they're both great options (although I think once someone decides to buy or not buy one of these properties, we probably have a certain amount of bias that sets in to help us justify our decision).

I actually do not have a bias on either one yet. Really 50/50

But that so hard to do!!! It’s just too fiscally responsible when it comes to DVC.

Right? But I will say. After this contract it will be a while until the next one. We have enough points for now for 1 bedroom. Maybe when we need 2 bedrooms.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

In this case, I don't think the argument is fiscal responsibility so much as it is not clear that the OP really loves either resort.

You are correct Sir.

 

[melissa70]

But that so hard to do!!! It’s just too fiscally responsible when it comes to DVC.

@Brian Noble i don’t think he understands the female mind and how it will compute the math when it wants something!

 

[MartyParty]

I've been following your thread for a while. First time commenting.

To add some comfort, the decision may be more about just adding the direct points. Meaning you make your best decision but at the end of the day you'll have the points needed to book one bedrooms.

We've went through this several times. Bought our first set of direct Poly points back in 2016 while on a cruise. Kids were younger. Spent half the cruise figuring out the optimum number of points for studios and occasionally 1-bedroom stays. 190 points. To other posters comments, booked our first DVC stay at BLT with our Poly points and headed over to Poly to look at the rooms. DW didn't like it! : 0 To dark. Only studios, etc. Seeing first-hand as others have suggested especially with both partners makes a difference. Do wait and visit with the ideal being you buy at a resort you potentially would like to stay at.

Fast forward to additional point add ons to book 2-bedrooms (adult daughters) and later 3-bedrooms (their families) we've never stayed at Poly. Just this last trip we were considering Poly Tower 2 Bedroom but at the end of the day the 3-bedroom at BLT wasn't that much more of a stretch. And at a resort we all love with MK being the favorite park and the short convenient walk.

As a fellow BLT lover, I can see a world where your additional points get used a fair amount for BLT stays. Whatever decision you make, you'll have the points you desire to stay the way you want. You just might have to wait for the 7-month mark to book. That's what we do.

Good luck! No rush. Continue to wait till April and have a tour of what you're looking to buy.

 

[tidefan]

We've went through this several times. Bought our first set of direct Poly points back in 2016 while on a cruise. Kids were younger. Spent half the cruise figuring out the optimum number of points for studios and occasionally 1-bedroom stays. 190 points.

Sorry to jump in, but this just made me laugh! We also bought Poly back in 2016 on a cruise and we also have 190 points there. If I recall, wasn't there some incentive jump between 160 and 190 points that made the extra 30 points something like only $3 pp? It was a no-brainer! I had forgotten about that until I saw your post!

Now back to regularly scheduled programming

 

[Add-On-Itis]

I've been following your thread for a while. First time commenting.

To add some comfort, the decision may be more about just adding the direct points. Meaning you make your best decision but at the end of the day you'll have the points needed to book one bedrooms.

We've went through this several times. Bought our first set of direct Poly points back in 2016 while on a cruise. Kids were younger. Spent half the cruise figuring out the optimum number of points for studios and occasionally 1-bedroom stays. 190 points. To other posters comments, booked our first DVC stay at BLT with our Poly points and headed over to Poly to look at the rooms. DW didn't like it! : 0 To dark. Only studios, etc. Seeing first-hand as others have suggested especially with both partners makes a difference. Do wait and visit with the ideal being you buy at a resort you potentially would like to stay at.

Fast forward to additional point add ons to book 2-bedrooms (adult daughters) and later 3-bedrooms (their families) we've never stayed at Poly. Just this last trip we were considering Poly Tower 2 Bedroom but at the end of the day the 3-bedroom at BLT wasn't that much more of a stretch. And at a resort we all love with MK being the favorite park and the short convenient walk.

As a fellow BLT lover, I can see a world where your additional points get used a fair amount for BLT stays. Whatever decision you make, you'll have the points you desire to stay the way you want. You just might have to wait for the 7-month mark to book. That's what we do.

Good luck! No rush. Continue to wait till April and have a tour of what you're looking to buy.

@MartyParty
Thanks! Your post helps alot. If we go the route of POLY. When it's time to upgrade to 2 bedroom. The reality is dedicated 2-bedroom is only available with theme park view. Those are 700 points a week in spring. BLT 2-bedroom is only 364 points for resort view.