Welcome Home to Riviera! New owner — No regrets

Congratulations and Welcome Home! You did your research and bought what is best for your family. That's how it should be!
 
I’ve read all of the threads. I’ve listened to all of the shows. I’ve seen all of the concerns. Even still, I bought into Riviera. First time owner and I feel good about the decision. I know on this board there are people who wonder why would anyone buy Riviera?? Here were my reasons (in no particular order)

1) 50 years of value - I’m buying in at the lowest direct price it will ever be and will have the full 50 years of value (either for my family now or for my grandkids down the line)

2) I rode the skyliner and I loved it. The convenience to Epcot, the ease of access to DHS really sold me here. I think it is an experience to ride and I will be using it. (This is coming from someone who swears by driving everywhere and parking preferred)

3) It’s not on the MK loop. What’s that you say? I said it. We prefer Epcot and DHS. My son is 4 and MK is already his least favorite park. Plus I can always just drive to contemporary and park.

4) The model room. My wife loved it, I love it. Nearly everyone who tours it loves it.

5) Proximity to Caribbean Beach. We didn’t buy enough (yet) to host the whole extended family. Already for our first trip they are looking at Caribbean beach for their stay while we are at the Riviera. Easy enough!

6) I think in 20 years this will be worth a LOT more than you think. The landscape as it is now with so many resorts as part of resale will change as original properties roll off. Disney isn’t going to stop doing ROFR so there is a price floor. And I believe that the resort is going to deliver. People are going to actually want to stay here. And that, my friends, above all else is what drives the resale price. Slap the same restrictions on VGF and it’ll still hold a lot of value because of the simple reason that people want to stay there above many other resorts.

7) I wanted to be a full member. I wanted the membership card. Sure the perks can change but being out of state, right now if I renew my AP and convert to gold it will save me ~$1500/family over renewing normally. Even if this goes away, just knowing I have this for likely a few years is worth it. Other perks that seem a bit more permanent like access to TOTWL were also a factor. Most of all though is that I will want access to future resorts that we haven’t even dreamed of yet. I’m in this for the future 50 years of magic.

How many points did I buy you may ask? 155 pts
In a few years maybe we will consider the add on itis

Bought on Monday. First trip is booked for Memorial Day week in a Preferred Studio (5 nights). Also waitlisting on a prayer for MLK weekend, but probably just going to save those points for the Fall or bank them for 2021.

And in 15 years when all you naysayers are looking for Riviera, I’ll wave to you as I soar over in the skyliner ;)
It's interesting that this was your first post in that you really put yourself out there...a courageous move no doubt. :) I'm sorry that you feel the need to justify your decision but I'm glad you decided to share your thinking. It is clear that you have put a lot of thought into your decision. In the end, that's all most of us are looking for...spirited debate about pros and cons so that those who make decisions (regardless of whether or not we agree) have done so in an informed fashion. I find that many times on here we seem to create an "us vs. them" situation but I'm glad to see that's not always the case.

For what it's worth, I'm one of the naysayers when it comes to Riviera. Riviera does not suit my needs from DVC. I won't go into the reasons because it's not important. What is important is that it does seem to suit your needs. And, despite my naysaying, I'm still staying there in January on the Chase Disney Visa offer. I was also very outspoken when VGF came out saying that $145 was too expensive. Point is...how much do any of us really know anyway?

Congratulations on your purchase and I hope you enjoy your points!
 
We purchased for many of the same reasons and also finally joined the DIS after a decade or two of lurking because there was so much Riviera negativity on here that it really needed some different perspectives from us buyers. Thanks for giving us yours and starting this thread. And Welcome Home!

Speaking of Welcome Home, we tried to get a Welcome Home reservation for one night in early March (last night of a 4 day trip) and were turned down by both MS and our guide. They said since we already had reservations for the first part of the trip (at other DVC resorts) and already wait listed that night (at RIV), there was no way they could do it. Does that sound right?
 
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Congratulations on purchase. We have also ridden the Skyliner. I’m not sold on the CBR to Epcot line. The big issue with it is going to be the RIV station. They have to stop the line every time a scooter or someone who has trouble loading. Don’t forget CBR guests will be using this station too, it appears that the RIV station is closer for about 1/4 of the rooms than the main Skyliner station is. Plus hopefully they will send an empty gondola down the line often during peak use times. Late December will be a good time to see how smooth it goes.
 
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And in 15 years when all you naysayers are looking for Riviera, I’ll wave to you as I soar over in the skyliner ;)
Congratulations on your well-considered reasons for choosing RIV. I hope you have many happy years of ownership. You certainly did your homework before making your decision.

In 15 years, I’ll be sitting on my BWV balcony, waving right back at you, smugly reminding myself that my points cost me a fraction of what you paid and my villa cost a fraction of the number of points you paid for yours. :teeth: Because even naysayers did their homework and found RIV to not meet their needs or expectations. At 60 and 65 years of age, a 50-year contract that our heirs may or may not want, that they may or may not be able to unload, or that might even cost them money that they can’t afford to spend was just not in the cards for us.
 

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