What are Expectations for Riviera Resort?

[LeighM]

I'm thinking about renting DVC points for a night or two's stay at Riviera on May 1-2 or 1-3, 2020. I haven't really heard that much about the resort besides looking at the model rooms during our DVC tour in April. I did hear that Riviera isn't selling like expected because of the new resale restrictions. Is it expected to always stay booked and hard to get like Beach Club Villas or could it be more like Saratoga with a lot of last minute availability? We're not comfortable renting points until we find out our flight info, which won't be for a couple more months. I don't know whether I should book Riviera points now, while rooms are available, or wait until 6 months so that we can get a better rate. The last time we rented points was from a family member at Kidani so the rate was very low and more last minute when our plans changed. Any advice? I don't know how many DVC members could be waiting until the 7 month mark in order to use their points to stay there. Any talk within the DVC community that could help me decide?

 

[CLEtoWDW]

Hard to say at the point. I was given a tour of the layout of the rooms at the Riviera and I was fairly impressed. The rooms are nicely structured and the grounds appear to have some great amenities. The only hang up I had was the location. I know it’s right on the SkyLiner but that still feels like a hassle to me to get on those things every time I want to go to EPCOT or HS. Plus the bus rides to MK will be LONG given the location of the resort. For those reasons I just didn’t feel like the value was there for $185/point.

 

[nickys]

Actually, I believe according to some analysis of the first release of sales data, it seems Riviera is selling quicker than Copper Creek did at the start.

I suspect, anecdotally, it’s due to lots of existing members doing small add-ons there. Booking is high, the tower studios are impossible to get, and availability of studios especially at the 7 month mark is tough so far.

Whether people will be renting points out that soon I don’t know. I think most people who bought early will use their first year’s points for a short stay and then may decide to bank next year’s. And new buyers now will presumably have a later use year, so won’t have spare points that early.

You’ll be able to book directly through Disney.

 

[LeighM]

I can get a standard view deluxe studio villa for $400 a night. Which is less than what Disney is charging for their tower studio and a lot less than what Disney is charging for the studio villa! I want to book it but the husband wants to wait until JetBlue releases their flight info for our trip so we know our departure. But that won't be for a couple more months.