Direct Sales Feb 2025

[AstroBlasters]

This got me thinking…we talk about the impact on restrictions for RIV sales.

But, I wonder if the fact that resale can be had cheaper if that isn’t playing some role in why the sales for PVB, have been good but not out of the park great?

No way to ever know…but I think it goes to show that there will always be pros and cons of decisions DVD makes!

Consumer and CEO confidence levels have plunged.

We also have Canadians and Europeans canceling their trips to the US, and WDW is the most visited theme park for intl tourists in the US.

That’s going to impact things.

 

[Sandisw]

Consumer and CEO confidence levels have plunged.

We also have Canadians and Europeans canceling their trips to the US, and WDW is the most visited theme park for intl tourists in the US.

That’s going to impact things.

And we had a pandemic in the early days of RIV sales. There will always be outside factors.

Which was my point that just like restrictions have played some role in sales of RIV, being able to get PVB on the resale market may be playing some role in it not selling like hotcakes, like some thought it would.

Disney just came out with their free dining for cash guests who have the Disney Visa and pretty sure we will see more general promotions next week!.

So, it will be interesting to see how things move forward.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I think the points chart hurts in a number of ways. It is tough to justify buying a 25 point contract at the poly unless you’re buying direct points to use as SAP points or top off your existing membership.

The points chart tells me that in practice they anticipate most customers being studio users.

I think with the plethora of studio options there, it makes more sense to buy BLT for 1 and 2 bedrooms and then use Poly for studios at 7 months if you want. Also better point charts for those big rooms. Unless you’re a high roller and want nothing but Theme Park View at Poly.

 

[Brian Noble]

What's cool about these monthly reports is that no matter what your priors are, you can find data to support them.

 

[Cfabar1]

I think that there wasn’t enough time between selling

VGF1
Poly1
VGF2
And
Poly2

In basically 11 years they have sold four phases of essentially the same resort. I know that VGF and Poly are not the same resort. But you can walk between them, they share the same buses, etc.

Also, as a VGF owner, why would I want to buy poly points? Unless I am buying a lot of poly points. I don’t want 200 VGF points and 30 poly points. That kind of disparity wouldn’t make sense for many buyers to sacrifice the 11 month window for. I’d buy more VGF - likely on resale. That buyer - should they want more points from actively selling resorts - would likely go with a property that gave them more diversity like RIV.

Remember, in order for them to sell out VGF2 they had to pull out all the stops on discounting. And it was a stronger economy and tourism was being fueled by revenge travel, which led to trip inflation costs which made DVC seem more attractive.

I’ll be curious to see how Poly ends up finishing sales.

 

[Bryanpur]

There will always be a resort you like better. Buy when you are ready to buy.

Thanks for this. I have been researching and studying all these great points..Telling myself what if something better comes up?? Well, today was the day I finally pulled the trigger on a direct contract.

 

[Girlstar30]

Thanks for this. I have been researching and studying all these great points..Telling myself what if something better comes up?? Well, today was the day I finally pulled the trigger on a direct contract.

Where did you buy??

 

[Disney_escape]

I have not stayed at RIV but have visited.

I guess my issue is the skyliner is mostly tied to moderate resorts. The deluxe resorts let you walk to a park. That’s a huge advantage.

The RIV points chart is steep.

The way that we do Disney is lots of relaxing days, dining at restaurants we can walk to from our hotel, and walking into a park here or there for a little while. And now and then a bus ride or a drive into a park for a few hours.

RIV doesn’t check enough of those boxes for us. That said, we love toppolinos. For both breakfast and dinner.

Not sure I would really consider Poly or Grand Flo walkable, while yes technically you could but.... And it's hard to compare a points chart from 1995 to 2020, but yes Boardwalk and Beach club do take fewer points, And I don't mind sharing the Skyliner with moderates, just like I don't mind sharing the Monorail with the TCC people when we stay in our MK resort DVCs.

 

[Cfabar1]

Not sure I would really consider Poly or Grand Flo walkable, while yes technically you could but....

there is a walking path from the grand to MK. When we stay at GF we use it every day and almost never take the monorail unless we are going to the TTC for Epcot.

And it's hard to compare a points chart from 1995 to 2020, but yes Boardwalk and Beach club do take fewer points,

When you can still buy those points on the resale market and book stays at those resorts it becomes easy to compare. Disneys points charts inflation while also charging more per point is really quite egregious in my view - most especially at Riviera.

And I don't mind sharing the Skyliner with moderates, just like I don't mind sharing the Monorail with the TCC people when we stay in our MK resort DVCs.

Agreed. And in many ways we prefer the skyliner to the monorail because of the zero entry situation for strollers/EVs. I’d love to see the monorail extended though I don’t see it going to Disney springs.

 

[Bryanpur]

Where did you buy??

Went back and forth with poly and Riv and chose poly. We have SSR resale apr UY and wanted to grab the 2024 points. In the end it was the best choice for us but i’m sure we would have been happy with either as both resorts are much nicer than going to the office..

 

[atthebeachclub]

Went back and forth with poly and Riv and chose poly. We have SSR resale apr UY and wanted to grab the 2024 points. In the end it was the best choice for us but i’m sure we would have been happy with either as both resorts are much nicer than going to the office..

Best time to buy to get direct! I’d also choose Poly if I was buying direct.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

I just would like a few more walkable, non-restricted choices! Otherwise I will be a resale only owner forever.

I think Poly might be your last chance at getting both of these things…there might be walkable resorts in the future but I highly doubt we’ll see unrestricted resorts again. I also expect RIV point charts will eventually be on the lower-medium range and Poly on the medium-higher range of future resorts, too.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I think Poly might be your last chance at getting both of these things…there might be walkable resorts in the future but I highly doubt we’ll see unrestricted resorts again. I also expect RIV point charts will eventually be on the lower-medium range and Poly on the medium-higher range of future resorts, too.

I worry you are right. If the right deal comes along I may jump.

 

[havoc315]

https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program-men...ary-for-dvc-sales-despite-month-to-month-slip

Looks like buyers are closer to being evenly split right now between PVB and RIV.

Poor CFW.

It's interesting that Riviera is able to nearly match PVB, given it's been selling for over 5 years.... The "new car smell" is mostly gone. It's not on the monorail. Riviera is re-sale restricted, while PVB is likely the last "new" resort that won't have the re-sale restrictions. And the price difference is only about $6 per point. You would think those factors would really make PVB a heavy favorite.

I'd say that Riviera is staying almost even for a combination of reasons:
1-- Many Buyers are VERY price sensitive. $6 per point and cheaper point charts are enough to say a decent number of buyers.
2 -- Riviera is just really nice. I see so many people who were Riviera haters, until they visited it. Not saying PVB isn't nice -- But the 2 resorts have very different vibes. Those looking for bright, elegant, upscale -- are drawn to Riviera, often even above Grand Floridian.
3 -- The skyliner is a big selling point. Certainly not as big as the monorail, but plenty of buyers prefer an Epcot/DHS location.

That even after 5 years, Riviera can keep pace with PVB, is a very good sign for future re-sale value of Riviera. Not saying the re-sale value will ever be as high as Poly or GFV, but it should hold up well.

 

[havoc315]

I think Poly might be your last chance at getting both of these things…there might be walkable resorts in the future but I highly doubt we’ll see unrestricted resorts again. I also expect RIV point charts will eventually be on the lower-medium range and Poly on the medium-higher range of future resorts, too.

I don't know that point charts will keep increasing -- The "older" resorts with lower point charts aren't just older -- Rooms are smaller, locations are less desirable.

Agreed that Poly is likely the last of the unrestricted.

Future walkable is likely:
1 -- Come the 2040's, Beach Club and Boardwalk will either be re-launched or re-imagined. Either way, they will be new walkable resorts.
2 -- I have a suspicion that there will be a resort connecting to the new Villain's land -- a resort with an entry into the park.
3 -- I would not rule out a resort walkable to DHS, an in-park Epcot resort, or a resort build where Atlantic City Dance Hall currently sits.

 

[Girlstar30]

I don't know that point charts will keep increasing -- The "older" resorts with lower point charts aren't just older -- Rooms are smaller, locations are less desirable.

Agreed that Poly is likely the last of the unrestricted.

Future walkable is likely:
1 -- Come the 2040's, Beach Club and Boardwalk will either be re-launched or re-imagined. Either way, they will be new walkable resorts.
2 -- I have a suspicion that there will be a resort connecting to the new Villain's land -- a resort with an entry into the park.
3 -- I would not rule out a resort walkable to DHS, an in-park Epcot resort, or a resort build where Atlantic City Dance Hall currently sits.

If they build a villains land dvc resort, I will one of my contracts immediately lol

 

[byurick]

I keep seeing posts about how resale restrictions should be killing RIV sales but we forget the vast majority of direct buyers have no clue what that even means.

 

[maui22]

Highly likely the only reason RIV is not sold out is the pandemic happened. Imagine if it had the 2-3 years where it was the only active WDW resort. Remember
Reflections was going to be the next resort.

Look at some of the numbers when RIV was the only active resort.
July 2019 sales numbers
https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/financial/news-34867/4548-direct-sales-report-for-july-2019
August 2019 sales numbers https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/financial/news-34867/4577-direct-sales-report-for-august-2019

I believe RIV opened 4th quarter 2019. First reports of the disease occurred that same quarter. March 2020, WDW parks closed.

Unfortunate timing that no one could have predicted. It may also be the reason Disney cancelled Reflections and opted for VGF2, CFW before VLL, and PVB2.

 

[Girlstar30]

I think it all depends on the people purchasing. My wife and I have no children so Riviera really speaks to us.

Things we like about Riviera:

1. Luxurious Rooms
2. Transportation to two theme parks
3. More upscale restaurants than Polynesian
4. Coffee Bar
5. Beautiful paintings
6. History with Walt Disney
7. Lounge area library that seems tucked away and quiet
8. Gelato
9. European upscale resort vibe
10. Less children everywhere than Poly lol


Now we do travel with extended family sometimes (1 teenager and 2 children) and we asked them to choose the hotel we were staying at for our first DVC vacation if were able to book a welcome home stay since we like them all and their faces lit up ,huge grins on their face and all three said Polynesian. They want nothing more than to go to the "Stitch restaurant" and be in Hawaii. If we had children I can guarantee we would buy Poly.

 

[The Jackal]

In another 31 years the Cabins at Fort Wilderness at the current rate will finally sell out. Not that anyone saw that coming.