2021 Savings vs Disney's Cash Rates by Resort

[CastAStone]

Hi all,

Someone posted a question about this and I'm nerdy enough to go check. What's the best deal vs Cash Rates? So I looked at the average price for 2021 and compared it to dues+annual share of buy in costs.

Currently Direct, the answer is either Old Key West or Riviera.

Currently Resale, the answer is also either Old Key West or Riviera.

I'm as surprised as you!

The worst "deal" is generally AKV vs cash rates (which makes sense with the recent surge in AKV pricing and how cheap cash rates are for that resort), but vs renting points it is far and away BCV, which the data suggests probably isn't a deal at all if you buy it direct, it may wind up more expensive than just paying cash!

Anyway here's the data. I ran it direct and resale, and ran each 3 ways: Simple math (Buy in divided by years), accounting only for inflation, and accounting for opportunity cost. Surprisingly it didn't really change a whole lot in terms of rankings.

Some other disclaimers: I excluded Spring Break and Christmas since they wreak havoc on the numbers and frankly don't apply to most buyers. I used 6.5% as the TVM rate. I assumed you pay FULL PRICE for the room in cash - but we all know you will probably get a discount of between 20% and 35% most of the time. So if the savings is less than 20% keep in mind you may actually be losing money vs getting cash discounts. Room prices include tax. I used David's 11 month pricing ($20 for all resorts except $19 for SSR/OKW). These are all calculated on standard view studio prices.

 

[RoseGold]

You'd have to have some of that good pixie dust to pay $741 to stay in a RIV studio, though.

I mean it's locationally equivalent to AoA/Pop, which have better theming.

 

[CastAStone]

(I'll post 1 and 2 bedroom here at some point. I probably won't run GV and specialty rooms)

 

[CastAStone]

You'd have to have some of that good pixie dust to pay $741 to stay in a RIV studio, though.

Yeah I have trouble believing Riviera will cost nearly as much as the monorail resorts in 10 years. I'd expect it to price more in the BW/YC/BC range. But for now, that's the price.

 

[RoseGold]

I wonder if the inflated RIV cash price is related to the math they do at the sales pitches...

 

[havoc315]

Yeah I have trouble believing Riviera will cost nearly as much as the monorail resorts in 10 years. I'd expect it to price more in the BW/YC/BC range. But for now, that's the price.

Location-wise, which is often the biggest factor, it's a step below BW/YC/BC and the monorail resorts. It's maybe just a step above AKL and WL for location, thanks to the skyliner.
So based solely on location, we would expect prices to come down a bit.
But the next big factor is the rooms: Size of the Riviera studio, 423sf. With the murphy beds folding, feels even bigger. And every room has a kitchenette at least. Just in square footage, that's bigger than every resort hotel room except for the Grand Floridian (440sf).BW/BC/YC are only 370-380sf.

So it's the room size and quality that may continue to fetch a premium for Riviera.

By the way -- one thing your chart doesn't account for, that the cash rooms include daily housekeeping, which affects the price.

 

[Turn the Page]

Location-wise, which is often the biggest factor, it's a step below BW/YC/BC and the monorail resorts. It's maybe just a step above AKL and WL for location, thanks to the skyliner.
So based solely on location, we would expect prices to come down a bit.
But the next big factor is the rooms: Size of the Riviera studio, 423sf. With the murphy beds folding, feels even bigger. And every room has a kitchenette at least. Just in square footage, that's bigger than every resort hotel room except for the Grand Floridian (440sf).BW/BC/YC are only 370-380sf.

So it's the room size and quality that may continue to fetch a premium for Riviera.

By the way -- one thing your chart doesn't account for, that the cash rooms include daily housekeeping, which affects the price.

I disagree with your assessment of location. I would put it a step below BWV, BCV, BLT, and GF as you can walk to one or two parks from there but I would argue that the Skyliner is better than the monorail. Continuous loading is awesome. It is faster due to the lack of wait. We love it.

 

[EM Lawrence]

With the current AP discount, I’ve seen RIV in the $350-$385 range for studios. For $700+, I’d imagine most would choose GF or Poly.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Speaking strictly for myself, as a cash visitor in the past, I would never have looked up the sq footage of a room when making a decision on where to stay. Location, theme, price, and how many sleeping surfaces were available went into my decision. But square footage was never even a thought.

 

[havoc315]

I disagree with your assessment of location. I would put it a step below BWV, BCV, BLT, and GF as you can walk to one or two parks from there but I would argue that the Skyliner is better than the monorail. Continuous loading is awesome. It is faster due to the lack of wait. We love it.

So you're suggesting the location is better than the Polynesian..

Skyliner goes to Epcot and DHS, and connects to value/mod resorts. Monorail goes to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and connects 3 deluxe resorts. Magic Kingdom is still more popular than Hollywood Studios, and I'd rather ride a monorail to get to more deluxe resort restaurants than to get to the food court at POP.

The monorail also runs longer hours than the Skyliner. And they don't shut down the monorail every time there is a thunderstorm.

I'm not disrespecting the Skyliner. For those people who would rather visit DHS than MK, it may even make it a better location. (Though good luck making rope drop at DHS with the skyliner). But for the majority of people, the Poly has a better location than the Riviera.

 

[Turn the Page]

So you're suggesting the location is better than the Polynesian..

Skyliner goes to Epcot and DHS, and connects to value/mod resorts. Monorail goes to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and connects 3 deluxe resorts. Magic Kingdom is still more popular than Hollywood Studios, and I'd rather ride a monorail to get to more deluxe resort restaurants than to get to the food court at POP.

The monorail also runs longer hours than the Skyliner. And they don't shut down the monorail every time there is a thunderstorm.

I'm not disrespecting the Skyliner. For those people who would rather visit DHS than MK, it may even make it a better location. (Though good luck making rope drop at DHS with the skyliner). But for the majority of people, the Poly has a better location than the Riviera.

Not better, but on par with. You can't walk directly to a park from either Poly or Riv, you have to take some form of transportationto get anywhere and I would much rather take the Skyliner than the monorail. It's faster, better views, and the doors don't fall off. Plus, we like the EPCOT area better. But, as always, YMMV.

 

[havoc315]

Speaking strictly for myself, as a cash visitor in the past, I would never have looked up the sq footage of a room when making a decision on where to stay. Location, theme, price, and how many sleeping surfaces were available went into my decision. But square footage was never even a thought.

I don't think most people specifically look up square footage measurements. But they do consider how big the room looks and feels, including sleep surfaces. Even in photos, with the ability to hide the murphy beds, the Riviera rooms look and feel much more spacious.

 

[Ruttangel]

How much is AKV Club level deluxe studio cash price?
Aug 20th for 2 weeks?
Just curious and can’t look from UK

 

[db24]

How much is AKV Club level deluxe studio cash price?
Aug 20th for 2 weeks?
Just curious and can’t look from UK

Full cash price for those dates runs $705/night for Sun-Thurs and $770/night Fri-Sun

 

[dez1978]

I don't think most people specifically look up square footage measurements. But they do consider how big the room looks and feels, including sleep surfaces. Even in photos, with the ability to hide the murphy beds, the Riviera rooms look and feel much more spacious.

Strangely, sq ft is one of the things I almost always look at when booking a room anywhere if it's for more than one night.

 

[EM Lawrence]

Shortly, you will be able to walk to MK from Poly and GF. It will be a bit of a haul from Poly, but on par with walking from BC to HS I believe.

 

[RoseGold]

Location-wise, which is often the biggest factor, it's a step below BW/YC/BC and the monorail resorts. It's maybe just a step above AKL and WL for location, thanks to the skyliner.

If that's your criteria, then you'd go Caribbean Beach, which is a BETTER skyliner location, or Pop/AoA which are equal or better, depending on how they have worked out that midpoint, no empty gondolas issue at RIV. It's not possible to break $400 at Caribbean Beach. Even a Nemo Suite is only $600 over spring break!

But then DVC math doesn't work against a $250 Little Mermaid room. It works against a theoretical $741 RIV room.

 

[Ruttangel]

Full cash price for those dates runs $705/night for Sun-Thurs and $770/night Fri-Sun

Thanks, that would be over $10k for the 14 nights but for me 308 points.
I think those points cost me $11 a point so only $3.3k or $236 a night for a $700+ room

seems like a deal unless I’m missing something obvious.

 

[havoc315]

If that's your criteria, then you'd go Caribbean Beach, which is a BETTER skyliner location, or Pop/AoA which are equal or better, depending on how they have worked out that midpoint, no empty gondolas issue at RIV. It's not possible to break $400 at Caribbean Beach. Even a Nemo Suite is only $600 over spring break!

But then DVC math doesn't work against a $250 Little Mermaid room. It works against a theoretical $741 RIV room.

I'd agree on Caribbean Beach having an even better location, but wouldn't agree on POP/AOA. And part of the location benefit is the views -- some great views from Riviera.
The skyliner really improved the location of those moderate and value resorts, tremendously. But while location may be the biggest single factor, it's still not the only criteria. Room size, quality of the bath and bedding, the dining, quality of the pools, etc...
But yes, for someone who only cares about price and location, CBR and Poly/AOA have become great options.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Shortly, you will be able to walk to MK from Poly and GF. It will be a bit of a haul from Poly, but on par with walking from BC to HS I believe.

We were looking forward to trying the walk from Poly in Jan but ended up switching resorts. Want to experience Poly when all is open / operating.