We are Presidential in Marriott... But would like to dip our toe into DVC since there is value to us to staying on site for the reservation windows and early/late hours. We go to Disney multiple times per year and would like 1 of the trips to be onsite - we always travel during non peak periods.
Lots of questions...so I'll try to break it down. One thing you didn't mention is how large your travelling party is likely to be. For just two people there is a lot to be said for staying at the Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve - no commitment, reasonable rates in WDW's non-peak seasons, and 'on property' perks. And depending on your anticipated needs you should know that (generally speaking), DVC studios are the most difficult to reserve, 2BRs are next, and 1BRs are comparatively 'easy'.
Does it really matter where should we buy since we don't need spring break or summer etc
So one thing to learn is that DVC's peak seasons are not necessarily WDWs. While Easter and Christmas/New Years have remained difficult to book at DVC even in the face of ever increasing point prices, early December is even more difficult because of low point costs and Christmas decorations. And the EPCOT resorts are difficult to book in the fall. So unless you are telling us that you truly don't care if your one 'on property' DVC vacation each year is at Old Key West (OKW), Saratoga Springs (SSR), or Animal Kingdom Villas (AKV), then you should buy where you want to stay.
Are they (the perks of buying directly from DVC) worth it?
As a non-Florida resident, the only perk that mattered to us was the Annual Pass discounts DVC 'blue card' membership used to provide. Unfortunately, they no longer offer AP discounts (and until very recently didn't offer new APs aside from the Pixie Pass at all). Instead, DVC 'blue card' members can buy a Sorcerer's Pass which has blackout dates but is cheaper than the 'every day of the year' Incredi-Pass.
There are also a bunch of special park events for 'blue card' members only...but they are never offered during the fall, winter, and spring school vacation days and so aren't useful to us. And the ECPOT DVC lounge is nice...but it could go away at any time (it's on a year to year contract with WDW) and isn't that big of a deal.
And to get into all the resorts - Riviera is highly desirable for us.
2. Resale, and forgo all the "perks".... Buy the cheapest / lowest maintenance? But then can't get into Riviera if we understand correct? Or if we buy Riviera resale, we can't stay elsewhere at all?
3. Rent as needed.... Is this a good strategy for once per year trip vs buy/mtce?
Wanting to stay at Riviera is kind of the fly in the ointment of making a financially sound decision.
There are plenty of Magic Kingdom resorts worth buying resale - BLT, Poly, and VGF all have their advantages. And the three 'value' DVC resorts - AKV, SSR, and OKW (with a 2057 contract) are worth buying as well - Do you like animals, Disney Springs, or large villas?
The problem is the EPCOT/HS resorts. BCV and BWV are both great - I've owned at BCV and currently own at BWV - and allow you to walk to the parks. And if at the end of the day your feet are tired, you can take the Friendship boat home. BCV has Stormalong Bay and perhaps even nicer its own quiet pool, BWV has a wonderful variety of entertainments and eateries. But they both expire in 2042.
On the other hand, Riviera has painful resale restrictions, high dues, and expensive point charts. Even if you buy direct at Riviera you still face the problem of competing for reservations against an ever increasing share of owners who can *only* book there and nowhere else. Plus the Skyliner has traffic jams getting out of Riviera in the morning and after the ECPOT fireworks in the evening. And when the weather is bad, you have to take a bus.
In the end, buying at any of the three EPCOT/HS resorts is 'throwing your money away' compared to buying elsewhere or renting. Which is not to say you shouldn't do it - I bought at BWV two years ago despite the 2042 expiration because we love the resort and I knew that if we wanted to reliably stay in Boardwalk View villas in times of peak demand we needed to be owners. Money that buys happiness is well spent.
