What would you do/recommend in my position?

[RamblinWreck]

My wife and I have 2 very young ones (1 and 3).

We just took our first Disney trip that involved us having to take care of children, and we split it over 4 hotels in 10 days. It was exhausting, educational, and a lot of fun.

One thing my wife really, really hates is having to get kids and strollers onto the buses. And the kids love the Magic Kingdom, so... naturally that means if I want everyone to be happiest then I should plan to stay on the monorail at least for the next couple of years.

Oh, and my wife really hates the Contemporary, and thinks that 1-bedrooms are the best for our family. So realistically it means for at least the next few years I should plan on staying at the Grand Floridian. Although I did convince my wife that if we owned at Riviera, the rooms are very similar to the GF and having the Skyliner that could take us to 2 different parks would save us from stroller hassles on multiple days of our future trips as well. She also loves the idea of the tower studios if the 2 of us ever want to plan a weekend where we just run away to Disney. So Riviera is an option.



We already own a teeny, tiny, 50 point contract at the GF. We were thinking we'd just have our little 4 person family stay in a studio every couple of years while the little ones are still really little. We're now targeting 1-bedrooms, so we need to at least double that to 100 points.


As you all know, GF resale prices are stupid right now. I have a strong hunch that they will go WAY down when Disney starts actively selling GF contracts again. But there's no telling when that will happen or if it will actually play out that way.


My 3 options that I've been weighing are:

1. Buy 100 points (or more) direct on Riviera right now. The incentives seem like they're in a good spot at least for the next couple of days. Sell the little GF contract (hopefully at a stupidly high price).

2. Hold on to the GF contract until they start selling VGF again. Add on another 50 points directly, easy peasy.

3. Sell the VGF contract now at a stupid price, wait for VGF to start selling again and hopefully score a contract in the vicinity of 100 points on the resale market for much lower than they currently are selling.



I feel like I understand the risks I'm taking on with each of these. But I'm hoping for some outside guidance that may highlight something I haven't thought of or make my decision easier.

Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

I'd wait for VGF2 to go on sale and add 100 points at that time. It is supposed to be ready for occupancy for next summer, so it's really not that far away. FWIW, the Skyliner gets shut down when there are storms in the area, which are relatively frequent in the summer. When that happens, you will be on buses everywhere. If you plan to spend most of your time at the MK, VGF is the place for you. (I'd pick BLT, myself, but since your wife is not a fan, that won't work).

 

[RoseGold]

Poly might be a great option. The boat is somehow much easier with strollers, and the Murphy means three sleeping surfaces. Monorail is open to Epcot. Our two year old slept in the Poly extra shower area on the travel crib mattress. This might work for a long time. The same is true for the VGF studios, which have the Murphy also and the walking path, but not the extra bathroom area. I would imagine VGF2 will have them as well, as is the recent trend.

Might also want to pitch the 1BR BLT, which is a sweet spot points wise for the monorail and has an extra bathroom! Just look at that chart if you are even thinking about RIV 1BR.

I wouldn't be buying anything right now. I also wouldn't sell the VGF. I think the price is going to go higher, though I am not in the majority. IMO, if you think VGF pricing is stupid now, just hold on. I wouldn't sell a recent 50 pointer period, because you'll likely lose money after closing and commissions and all that. I'd hold it. And it seems you like it, so hold it.

I don't understand why RIV is even in this discussion because it is a nightmare to get to MK and a disaster of a point chart at the 1BR level. I wouldn't even consider it because of the resale restrictions. To me, and to you I suppose, being able to resell your DVC if you choose to matters.

Right now, the math says to rent points. There's nothing wrong with doing that for a couple years until you are really convinced of what you want to do.

If you must buy, I'd buy VGF2 or VGF resale now. It meets all your requirements, excellent overall value, can resell, and most importantly, is what she wants.

 

[crisi]

I think you should remember that your stroller days - unless you are planning on more children (in which case you'll need more points) are limited. If you buy simply for the convenience of strollers for the next three years (which is about what you'll get out of standard strollers, then the baby will likely be past most strollers weight limits - you may still want a stroller, but probably require something very sturdy - and expensive - renting starts to make sense - our kids could get into a rental stroller until about five), you may regret that when the kids are teens, you spend less time at MK and more time at the Studios and Epcot. I think RoseGold's suggestion to rent is probably what I would do while you settle into life with children. EVERY trip from here on out will be vastly different from the previous trip as kids change - pools will become very important for a few years, for instance - then you turn around and your 21 year old college kid doesn't care about the pools, but does want to be able to hang in bars.

 

[Stargazer65]

I would do what my wife says.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I agree with the previous posters. I would wait for VGF 2 to go on sale and add on there. RIV is gorgeous resort, but be prepared to take buses because the skyliner is shut down during inclement weather which means is goes down a lot. IF there is lightening within 30 minutes of anywhere on the skyliner tracks they shut it down. It is a nightmare to get to MK from there, even if planning on taking the monorail. The 1 BR point point chart is ridiculous and the resale restrictions are another consideration. Great sales there last year, but not worth it in this price point. I also agree that Poly might be an option as well, but I would wait for VGF. I also like the idea of BLT but you mentioned your wife did not like it. For the time being do point transfers into your account to expand your points and see what works. I would not sell your GF contract

 

[Marionnette]

My wife and I have 2 very young ones (1 and 3).

We just took our first Disney trip that involved us having to take care of children, and we split it over 4 hotels in 10 days. It was exhausting, educational, and a lot of fun.

One thing my wife really, really hates is having to get kids and strollers onto the buses. And the kids love the Magic Kingdom, so... naturally that means if I want everyone to be happiest then I should plan to stay on the monorail at least for the next couple of years.

Oh, and my wife really hates the Contemporary, and thinks that 1-bedrooms are the best for our family. So realistically it means for at least the next few years I should plan on staying at the Grand Floridian. Although I did convince my wife that if we owned at Riviera, the rooms are very similar to the GF and having the Skyliner that could take us to 2 different parks would save us from stroller hassles on multiple days of our future trips as well. She also loves the idea of the tower studios if the 2 of us ever want to plan a weekend where we just run away to Disney. So Riviera is an option.



We already own a teeny, tiny, 50 point contract at the GF. We were thinking we'd just have our little 4 person family stay in a studio every couple of years while the little ones are still really little. We're now targeting 1-bedrooms, so we need to at least double that to 100 points.


As you all know, GF resale prices are stupid right now. I have a strong hunch that they will go WAY down when Disney starts actively selling GF contracts again. But there's no telling when that will happen or if it will actually play out that way.


My 3 options that I've been weighing are:

1. Buy 100 points (or more) direct on Riviera right now. The incentives seem like they're in a good spot at least for the next couple of days. Sell the little GF contract (hopefully at a stupidly high price).

2. Hold on to the GF contract until they start selling VGF again. Add on another 50 points directly, easy peasy.

3. Sell the VGF contract now at a stupid price, wait for VGF to start selling again and hopefully score a contract in the vicinity of 100 points on the resale market for much lower than they currently are selling.



I feel like I understand the risks I'm taking on with each of these. But I'm hoping for some outside guidance that may highlight something I haven't thought of or make my decision easier.

Thanks!

Selling = paying capital gains. It's not as big of a profit as you might imagine. For that alone, I think you need to consider all of the costs associated with selling (broker's commission, ROFR fee, seller's closing costs including any document fees) which will impact what you take away from the table.

Then purchasing resale after VGF2 begins selling? It's a gamble assuming that resale prices will drop. In choice#3, you would be buying back what you just sold, probably paying more per point than what you ending up receiving on the sale of your original contract and having to pay closing costs on top of it.

If you like RIV, then buy it direct for that reason. But you could also wait for VGF2 to go on sale and add 50 points on to your current VGF ownership.

 

[RamblinWreck]

If I hold on to the little contract, and add on 50 or more points via direct sale when VGF2 goes live, will I have any issues using those 2 separate contracts to book one reservation?

 

[dvc lover 1970]

If I hold on to the little contract, and add on 50 or more points via direct sale when VGF2 goes live, will I have any issues using those 2 separate contracts to book one reservation?

No, because your direct contract will have the same use year as your first contract. Those points can easily be combined. The problem comes in with different use years, but you will not have that option direct, because in order to get a new use year you have to purchase the minimum for New buyer. You are a member in the use year you currently own.
EX - if I own February use year if I add on at RIV I can add on 50 point minimum in this use year. If I want to add on a June use year, that would make me a new membership and I would have to purchase the minimum for a new buyer (100 points? or 125?) to buy a june use year. Separate use years are separate reservations. Same use years are like having one contract

 

[RamblinWreck]

No, because your direct contract will have the same use year as your first contract. Those points can easily be combined. The problem comes in with different use years, but you will not have that option direct, because in order to get a new use year you have to purchase the minimum for New buyer. You are a member in the use year you currently own.
EX - if I own February use year if I add on at RIV I can add on 50 point minimum in this use year. If I want to add on a June use year, that would make me a new membership and I would have to purchase the minimum for a new buyer (100 points? or 125?) to buy a june use year. Separate use years are separate reservations. Same use years are like having one contract

I think the minimum is up to 150 now!

Thanks for the explanation, this makes sense. I just haven't had to deal with having separate contracts before.

Adding on 50 (or maybe even a few more) directly at VGF when VGF2 goes on sale seems like it's probably the most sensible option.

 

[Heather07438]

I’d wait to see VGF2 details.

Have you stayed at Poly? Might be worth taking a visit. It’s good to have options and you might like Poly more than you thought you would

 

[cellomom]

Everyone has given you great advice and a lot to think about. Out curiosity have you stayed at BLT? The reason I ask is because I too was never a fan of the resort until I stayed there. We did a family vacation in May @ BLT which included my granddaughters 2yrs & 4mos. 2yr old loved the lakeview, watching the boats . DS & DIL enjoyed the ease of the walking path to MK, easy return for naps, lunch or a break from MK , easy resort to navigate, bus stop short walk from resort Lobby, extra bathroom in 1br/2br , but studios are small. Of course if your wife does not like it she will not be happy there.

We also love the Poly 🏝 sadly no 1brs, but large studios that are getting a “soft” refurbished (that DVC will replace pullout sofa with Murphy bed )

good luck on your decision, wishing you many happy future vacations.

 

[RamblinWreck]

I’d wait to see VGF2 details.

Have you stayed at Poly? Might be worth taking a visit. It’s good to have options and you might like Poly more than you thought you would

My wife is not anti-poly, but she definitely doesn't like the fact that they only have one kind of room option.

I'm not crazy about that aspect either.


If it were solely up to me, I'd probably target BLT. But she will never like that place.

 

[RoseGold]

If it were solely up to me, I'd probably target BLT. But she will never like that place.

Well, she might like the chart. Do some sexy math against RIV. See if she hates it THAT much.

 

[FSUSammy]

I'm not sure how Riviera helps you if your kids prefer MK though and you want to avoid folding up strollers on the bus as much as possible. We have a little one in a stroller still and I know that she won't be in for too much longer but we still love the monorail resorts. We were between Poly and BLT. Poly is really our favorite but we wanted more points to be able to go on more extended family trips which means we'd need bigger rooms and the poly can't help us with that. We stayed at BLT last November in a 2 bedroom just to really gauge it and we really like BLT. Still prefer the theme of Poly but we decided adding on at BLT was the smartest for us. VGF wasn't even a contender because when we stayed there last year it was just ok.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I think either resale VGF or direct VGF2 makes the most sense for the OP. If the prices direct for the new wave of points is reasonable I'd just do that.

I do think that if you have not actually seen a 1BR at BLT I'd at least try and stay one night in them. The points for a 1BR are much more reasonable vs VGF and the resale prices are a decent savings as well. But at the end of the day, if your wife hates it then the savings won't be worth it.

 

[crisi]

You could buy your contract anywhere and stay at a monorail resort while the kids are still in strollers and MK is the optimal park. A trip or two in a less than ideal resort is not going to kill your wife - and as long as you plan for a lake view at BLT, getting a one bedroom there for a single trip or two will be a piece of cake. And you are talking about every other year to start with - that gives you (you just got back) four trips before your baby is ten and your oldest is 12. Its two more stroller trips where the monorail is way more convenient than moving the stroller on and off buses.

 

[FSUSammy]

Wanted to add another thing...if you are aiming for 1 Bedrooms you might want to check how many 1 bedrooms each of the resorts you are considering has available. I'm pretty sure that BLT has more than VGF, not sure how BLT compares to RIV but you may want to keep that in mind.

 

[cellomom]

FYI: There is some concern with the addition of 200 studios w/ the VGF2, that getting a 1br or 2br at VGF may become difficult.
VGF2 is being discussed on this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-vgf-2-pricing-thread.3838921/page-13#post-63236271
I see you are already on this thread Once again, good luck.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Just a heads up: when using a double stroller on the skyliner, they make you fold it up. In that way it’s not much more convenient than a bus. Especially when you have to transfer on the HS line at CBR and deal folding/unfolding/refolding/unfolding just to get to one park. Actually come to think of it, in that way, it’s even more inconvenient than a bus….RIV doesn’t appeal to me until my kids are older and able to move on their own two feet.

Poly is awesome for my young family … walk, monorail or boat to MK and easy access to Epcot monorail. Double stroller friendly.