You keep making the point about a new price structure for moderates and/or DVC. And by "keep making", I mean you keep saying it over and over and over again. We get it. You have a theory. We'll see if it comes true. What's its PCQ?
There are things going against your theory:
- Riviera will only have 300 rooms in that giant tower. This means, at least to me, they're getting full luxury suites. As to other luxe features:
- Riviera was built at the north end of CBR so as to have the prime real estate of overlooking Epcot and the fireworks (note that when Riviera is finished, Epcot's getting a brand new fireworks show).
- Riviera will have it's own gondola stop, giving it access to two two parks by a special transportation mode (usually a sign of a deluxe).
- Just look at the new art work for Coronado's tower... Riviera will have similar or better luxe public spaces and rooftop restaurant/lounge/viewing area.
- And, as mentioned, the theming of Riviera is far, far from the Caribbean. They're going with Mediterranean. Different sea.
All this, BTW, is arguments for why Riviera is not just an extension of CBR. Sure, CBR just had all its rooms refurbished and a new town/resort center built and will have its own gondola stop, but it's the same for Pop and AoA (with the exception of having to build a new Center because the old one was demolished). That's not a sign of linkage between CBR and Riviera.
Many people have theorized about WDW building Moderate-level DVC. And many have argued the difficulty of managing points if that were the case. Additionally, do you expect Disney to develop a class of DVC with a lower margin of profit?
At one time, one could find Old Key West or Saratoga Springs listed under either the Moderate or Deluxe category of resorts. Now, all DVC is listed under the category "Deluxe Villas" on MDE. While in the mind of some propinquity equals unity, you can be sure that WDW will draw a bright line between them and will not create a "Moderate Villas" category.
