Over the past two years I sold all but 30 of our BCV points anticipating that I would buy at Riviera for our EPCOT/HS needs. Jan 2042 was coming like a freight train...and then the resale restrictions were announced. Now I'm looking at my calendar anticipating at least one long visit but more likely three-ish shorter visits to WDW for its 50th anniversary. Meanwhile, I clicked through the 'Buy more DVC' links and found that until 9/16/20 I could buy 200 Riviera points at ~$164/pt (in two 100 point contracts) or 300 points at ~$159/pt (in two 150 pt contracts). And so I face a number of choices...
1) Use my BLT points for MK and AK and rent points at BCV or BWV for more time at EPCOT/HS as needed. $20-ish per point is annoying...but doable.
2) Buy more BLT and uber/lyft/drive my way around the parks. BLT is our favorite resort for many, many reasons - walk to MK, 2060 expiration, low dues, great views, 'extra' bathroom, big kitchen easily capable of storing all our food/drinks and seating 7 for breakfast, great restaurants at the Contemporary and at the other monorail resorts. Plus we can stretch our points by booking standard view if necessary.
3) Buy at Riviera despite the restrictions. The upside is that the Disney Skyliner turned out to be a swift and fun means of transportation. I do worry about trying to get *to* the parks in the morning rush and even more about weather related closures. The downsides are numerous - sky high dues, very high point requirements for 2/3rds of the rooms (which doesn't even guarantee you a 'good' view like BLT's TPV), few dining options onsite, tiny kitchen for a 2BR, the missing bathroom, and of course the resale restrictions. Plus that nagging feeling that I'm better off paying cash to stay at the Caribbean or a family suite at AoA if I'm going to stay on the Skyliner.
4) Buy at AKV. The themeing is amazing, the animals are fun, Kidani has the 'extra' bathroom when we need, we love the restaurants (though the choices are limited), the pools are nice, 2057 isn't a bad expiration, and the initial price is better than BLT. But it is a drive everywhere.
5) A variation on (1). Rent points for now and 'hold my powder' in hopes that one of the two scuttlebutt DVC locations I would actually want to buy at - the front of EPCOT or Yacht Club Villas - ever becomes a reality.
I'm unwilling to buy at any 2042 resort. We're uninterested in OKW extended because of the lack of a sofa in the studios (plus the elevator situation) and we would much rather stay at AKV than SSR. I own MVCI and we have enjoyed our stays at the Royal and Imperial Palms...except for the whole fastpass/ADR thing. But now that the kids are old enough to stay in the parks by themselves (and/or with friends) staying 'off-property' isn't going to happen for the next few years.
Obviously not expecting answers so much as thoughts.
1) Use my BLT points for MK and AK and rent points at BCV or BWV for more time at EPCOT/HS as needed. $20-ish per point is annoying...but doable.
2) Buy more BLT and uber/lyft/drive my way around the parks. BLT is our favorite resort for many, many reasons - walk to MK, 2060 expiration, low dues, great views, 'extra' bathroom, big kitchen easily capable of storing all our food/drinks and seating 7 for breakfast, great restaurants at the Contemporary and at the other monorail resorts. Plus we can stretch our points by booking standard view if necessary.
3) Buy at Riviera despite the restrictions. The upside is that the Disney Skyliner turned out to be a swift and fun means of transportation. I do worry about trying to get *to* the parks in the morning rush and even more about weather related closures. The downsides are numerous - sky high dues, very high point requirements for 2/3rds of the rooms (which doesn't even guarantee you a 'good' view like BLT's TPV), few dining options onsite, tiny kitchen for a 2BR, the missing bathroom, and of course the resale restrictions. Plus that nagging feeling that I'm better off paying cash to stay at the Caribbean or a family suite at AoA if I'm going to stay on the Skyliner.
4) Buy at AKV. The themeing is amazing, the animals are fun, Kidani has the 'extra' bathroom when we need, we love the restaurants (though the choices are limited), the pools are nice, 2057 isn't a bad expiration, and the initial price is better than BLT. But it is a drive everywhere.
5) A variation on (1). Rent points for now and 'hold my powder' in hopes that one of the two scuttlebutt DVC locations I would actually want to buy at - the front of EPCOT or Yacht Club Villas - ever becomes a reality.
I'm unwilling to buy at any 2042 resort. We're uninterested in OKW extended because of the lack of a sofa in the studios (plus the elevator situation) and we would much rather stay at AKV than SSR. I own MVCI and we have enjoyed our stays at the Royal and Imperial Palms...except for the whole fastpass/ADR thing. But now that the kids are old enough to stay in the parks by themselves (and/or with friends) staying 'off-property' isn't going to happen for the next few years.
Obviously not expecting answers so much as thoughts.