rci - having $199 sale again

[DawnM]

There is no upgrading, so if you want a 2 bedroom, wait for a 2 bedroom to show up.

Here is my "method:"

1. Go to SkyAuction.com and buy resort certificates.
2. Go to ResortCerts.com and see what is available.
3. If it is a resort I haven't stayed in yet, I check it out on TripAdvisor.com.
4. If I am still not thrilled with the choices, I keep coming back and checking. New resorts are added all the time.
5. Just remember, once you book, it is YOURS, so don't book until you are sure that is the week and location you want to have.

For example: This trip I needed 2 weeks. I found one of my weeks at a place I was willing to book. I then waited about a week more and the 2nd week I needed showed up at that same resort. So, we will not be able to stay in the same local the entire time.

Typically the best selection is closer to the travel date. I booked last week for our trip that starts Oct. 28.

The other thing to note is that you have the condo for the full 7 nights. You can call to check in a day or two later if you need to or you can leave a day or two early if you wish. Just make sure that if you are checking in LATE that you CALL and let them know so they don't assume you aren't coming at all.

This trip we have the condo from Oct. 27-Nov.10. We are planning to go down from the 28th to the 9th.

Dawn

Originally Posted by greenclan67

Ok I think I figured it out. I buy the certificate from skyauction, then go to resortcerts and pick out a resort that would work? I know from reading you can only buy up to 344 days in advance. So if I buy it now, I have to have a reservation made by next August 2013 but can use it up until August of 2014? Is that right? So if at the 344 day window, I went on to book I may have a better chance of getting a particular resort over say 1 or 2? I would be looking for the end of January, start of Feb 2014? Now my next question is, can you buy 2 of these, and book 2 weeks consecutive? What about upgrading from a 1 bdrm to a 2 bdrm? If I go as far ahead as I can go to look which is Sept, I see a few resorts I would be interested in, and would possibly pick. Anyhow, does that sound about right?

[Ennazus8810]

Originally Posted by DCTM

so, if I am looking at this right, I could purchase the cert for $229 plus $20 fee. I looked at Silver Lakes and it is offered for the dates I want (late May). Looks like there is a cleaning fee of $40 for a 2 bedroom. I didn't see any other fees, but could have missed them. It actually says 2bedroom/partial for the dates I want - what does partial mean?
Any info is appreciated!

The partial refers to the kitchen. Usually means a kitchenette, not a dedicated kitchen. The place we stayed had a full and a partial (it was a lock off unit and we had both). The partial had a smaller stove and oven, but was still fully functional. It was located along the wall of the living room, as opposed to the other end of the unit which had a dedicated kitchen area.

[greenclan67]

HOw often do they have these sales? If I don't buy it this round, how likely am I to get in on one before March 2014? We already have something booked for March 2013 that isn't cancellable, so we won't be going anywhere we would be needed this for awhile.

[Ennazus8810]

They seem to run just about all the time.

[DawnM]

Well, this is the ONLY way we have done Disney since 2006 when we moved to NC, so I would say your chances are pretty good that it will run for another couple of years!

I have gotten them as low as $149. When they were $149 (and no $20 admin. fee!) I bought 5 of them. DH just rolled his eyes as we needed to use them up in 2 years' time.....but there was a glitch in their system and because they messed up 3 of my purchases they added a 3rd year of use to them! So we used the 5 weeks up in 3 years' time. I even used one for Williamsburg, VA.

The prices have ranged from $149-$249, most often with an additional $20 admin. fee. The admin fee is for that entire purchase, so if you buy more than one week, you only pay a one time $20 fee.

We have started going once per year only now and tend to just go for 2 whole weeks rather than one week a couple of times.

Once you sign up for an account with SkyAuction you will also get special offers and deals in your email.

I just got a deal for $149 per week at Villas at Summer Bay. BUT they were limited in dates to check in. They happened to have the dates we needed, but I wouldn't have wanted to wait until now to book for next week. So, I paid $229 per week about 2 months ago for our weeks.

Sorry to ramble on and on.....but I love this way of travel......for a family of 5, we can get by on $250/wk max for a 2 bedroom, $1,100 Disney YES passes for 8 days with waterparks and more, and eat most of our own food. That makes Disney very affordable for us.

Dawn

Originally Posted by greenclan67

HOw often do they have these sales? If I don't buy it this round, how likely am I to get in on one before March 2014? We already have something booked for March 2013 that isn't cancellable, so we won't be going anywhere we would be needed this for awhile.

[greenclan67]

Originally Posted by DawnM

Well, this is the ONLY way we have done Disney since 2006 when we moved to NC, so I would say your chances are pretty good that it will run for another couple of years!

I have gotten them as low as $149. When they were $149 (and no $20 admin. fee!) I bought 5 of them. DH just rolled his eyes as we needed to use them up in 2 years' time.....but there was a glitch in their system and because they messed up 3 of my purchases they added a 3rd year of use to them! So we used the 5 weeks up in 3 years' time. I even used one for Williamsburg, VA.

The prices have ranged from $149-$249, most often with an additional $20 admin. fee. The admin fee is for that entire purchase, so if you buy more than one week, you only pay a one time $20 fee.

We have started going once per year only now and tend to just go for 2 whole weeks rather than one week a couple of times.

Once you sign up for an account with SkyAuction you will also get special offers and deals in your email.

I just got a deal for $149 per week at Villas at Summer Bay. BUT they were limited in dates to check in. They happened to have the dates we needed, but I wouldn't have wanted to wait until now to book for next week. So, I paid $229 per week about 2 months ago for our weeks.

Sorry to ramble on and on.....but I love this way of travel......for a family of 5, we can get by on $250/wk max for a 2 bedroom, $1,100 Disney YES passes for 8 days with waterparks and more, and eat most of our own food. That makes Disney very affordable for us.

Dawn

Thank you so much Dawn for all of the info! It is greatly appreciated. We are also a family that loves to "budget travel" We usually go to Florida for once a year for 2 weeks as well, and in the summer we do a week somewhere. Wish I had known about these when we were in Wisconsin Dells this summer. We paid through the nose, kids loved it, but it was expensive! I will def be buying some. With the fact that my hubby is the "boss" at his job, and I run my own business, we can work around dates, to accomodate certain things, as long as we have a few weeks notice to give customers, it works. We are actually looking at Jamaica or Bahamas as well one of these years. So these may work for that as well! You are awesome for sharing!

[DawnM]

Using the Keyword function, type in "Resort Certificates" and see what pops up.

Originally Posted by MAGICX2

I can't find the $229 offer on the website. Do you have a link?

[queenofthehive]

Wow, I never knew about Skyauction... Can someone explain the upgrade option? Lets say I have purchased my certificate for the $249 to use until Aug 2014. I go the the certificate redeeming site and look for a resort. Under the upgrade tab, I see a resort I would like to book. It has a price in red. Is that price "in addtion" to the cost of my certificate?? It is not very clear... Thank you!

[BonnieA]

Originally Posted by queenofthehive

Wow, I never knew about Skyauction... Can someone explain the upgrade option? Lets say I have purchased my certificate for the $249 to use until Aug 2014. I go the the certificate redeeming site and look for a resort. Under the upgrade tab, I see a resort I would like to book. It has a price in red. Is that price "in addtion" to the cost of my certificate?? It is not very clear... Thank you!

Yes, it is in addition to your certificate.

[DawnM]

If you PM me the name of it I can tell you if I have seen it listed in the non-upgrade section.

Some condos are often available without an upgrade if you just wait and keep checking back.

Dawn

Originally Posted by queenofthehive

Wow, I never knew about Skyauction... Can someone explain the upgrade option? Lets say I have purchased my certificate for the $249 to use until Aug 2014. I go the the certificate redeeming site and look for a resort. Under the upgrade tab, I see a resort I would like to book. It has a price in red. Is that price "in addtion" to the cost of my certificate?? It is not very clear... Thank you!

[danda22]

Originally Posted by DCTM

so, if I am looking at this right, I could purchase the cert for $229 plus $20 fee. I looked at Silver Lakes and it is offered for the dates I want (late May). Looks like there is a cleaning fee of $40 for a 2 bedroom. I didn't see any other fees, but could have missed them. It actually says 2bedroom/partial for the dates I want - what does partial mean?
Any info is appreciated!

did you book this? we are staying at silver lakes 5/31-6/7! I also booked through resortcerts! it was easy peasy!

[DCTM]

Originally Posted by danda22

did you book this? we are staying at silver lakes 5/31-6/7! I also booked through resortcerts! it was easy peasy!

No, we never booked...Still trying to decide when we want to go and where we want to stay!

[danda22]

Originally Posted by DCTM

No, we never booked...Still trying to decide when we want to go and where we want to stay!

that is more than half the battle just figuring that out isn't it!! My certificate was going to expire in 4 days and I had to make a decision and book it! :-)

[Tissa]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. I never heard of Skyauction before. They do not have the resort certificates right now but I won a bid for a 2 bedroom in Sliver lake for $350. Just canceled the over $4000 package I had for onsite. I am so happy for the savings!

[danda22]

Originally Posted by Tissa

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. I never heard of Skyauction before. They do not have the resort certificates right now but I won a bid for a 2 bedroom in Sliver lake for $350. Just canceled the over $4000 package I had for onsite. I am so happy for the savings!

happy dance for you!!