? about dining plan when trading in from RCI

[DanaHesson]

Is the dining plan available for purchase for RCI owners staying on Disney property? My inlaws were going to stay at Bonnet Creek but may try to trade into AKL where the remainder of us are staying. My FIL was interested in the dining plan. Thanks in advance for any info!!

 

[prov3v56]

Is the dining plan available for purchase for RCI owners staying on Disney property? My inlaws were going to stay at Bonnet Creek but may try to trade into AKL where the remainder of us are staying. My FIL was interested in the dining plan. Thanks in advance for any info!!

I just booked AK yesterday through a RCI trade. I was told by both RCI and DVC that there is a $95 resort fee for those trading in from RCI that covers bus transportation (around the resort and from MCO), EMH and the ability to add on the dining plan. We own DVC and have part of our stay booked through them and part through RCI. I was told by member services that our RCI reservation will also show up on their computers so that I can link the reservations together. Member services also said that I would receive a letter from RCI directing me to call member services to give all of our information and at that time we could add on the dining plan.

If you are a DVC member, you may want to call them to confirm. We are planning on adding on the dining plan for our entire stay and were told that we would be able to do this.

 

[DanaHesson]

none of us are DVC members as yet. My husband and I keep talking about it, but do not feel it fits into our budget at this time.

Thank you for the information, I will pass it along to my father in law!

 

[CarolMN]

Is the dining plan available for purchase for RCI owners staying on Disney property? My inlaws were going to stay at Bonnet Creek but may try to trade into AKL where the remainder of us are staying. My FIL was interested in the dining plan. Thanks in advance for any info!!

Yes, it is. Your FIL would just ask Member Services to add it to their reservation. The number for Member Services will be on the documentation your in laws receive from RCI confirming the trade.

As noted, there is an additional fee of $95 for those who trade into DVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

The number for Member Services will be on the documentation your in laws receive from RCI confirming the trade.

You will also need the DVC reservation number when you call---it should be a nine-digit number somewhere on your RCI confirmation.

 

[DanaHesson]

Appreciate the timely replies!!

 

[postesf]

I just booked AK yesterday through a RCI trade. I was told by both RCI and DVC that there is a $95 resort fee for those trading in from RCI that covers bus transportation (around the resort and from MCO), EMH and the ability to add on the dining plan. We own DVC and have part of our stay booked through them and part through RCI. I was told by member services that our RCI reservation will also show up on their computers so that I can link the reservations together. Member services also said that I would receive a letter from RCI directing me to call member services to give all of our information and at that time we could add on the dining plan.

If you are a DVC member, you may want to call them to confirm. We are planning on adding on the dining plan for our entire stay and were told that we would be able to do this.

Just curious, but are you and RCI or weeks member? I am and RCI Weeks member and am hoping to book Jan 2010 for Marathon weekend. I have an on-going search, but since it's a week and not points, I'm not sure how that works. I don't know if I'll get the week I need or not... Just curious how the process worked for you.

Thanks!

 

[RobDoc]

Just curious, but are you and RCI or weeks member? I am and RCI Weeks member and am hoping to book Jan 2010 for Marathon weekend. I have an on-going search, but since it's a week and not points, I'm not sure how that works. I don't know if I'll get the week I need or not... Just curious how the process worked for you.

Thanks!

RCI Weeks owners can make DVC reservations, but it will depend on the trading power and date you banked your week. I have been able to see weeks at DVC resorts with some of my banked weeks, but not all. In some cases, the weeks are from the same resort but banked at different times so one week will be able to exchange for DVC and the other at the same resort won't see the exchange as being available.

The ongoing search should help. Good luck!

 

[postesf]

RCI Weeks owners can make DVC reservations, but it will depend on the trading power and date you banked your week. I have been able to see weeks at DVC resorts with some of my banked weeks, but not all. In some cases, the weeks are from the same resort but banked at different times so one week will be able to exchange for DVC and the other at the same resort won't see the exchange as being available.

The ongoing search should help. Good luck!

I just don't understand how it works. I'm looking for one week starting Jan 3, 2010 and they have an ongoing search. Since I am looking for Marathon weekend, my dates are not flexible. I just wonder since all of DVC members are in points, how that works for my week I'm looking for. My week is banked from Aug 2007 so you would like there is a lot of trading power there, but who knows. I'm not real familiar with this. I hope something comes up. I have extended my trade time frame to Jan 2010, but I have to use it by then. I was supposed to have used it by Aug of this year, but decided to extend so I could hopefully get a DVC Resort in Jan.

 

[Brian Noble]

Inventory is not all in Points. It is in both Points and Weeks.

But, there is a chance you may not have the necessary trade power. Log in to RCI, go to My Account, click on Vacation Plans, and Ongoing Searches. You should see an option to "take a peek". Do so, then click on Florida, scroll down to see if you see the city Lake Buena Vista.

If you do, click on it and see if you see DVC units. If you do not see DVC units, or do not see Lake Buena Vista as an option, then you do not have sufficient trade power to see any DVC at this time, and would be wise to make back-up plans.

 

[postesf]

Inventory is not all in Points. It is in both Points and Weeks.

But, there is a chance you may not have the necessary trade power. Log in to RCI, go to My Account, click on Vacation Plans, and Ongoing Searches. You should see an option to "take a peek". Do so, then click on Florida, scroll down to see if you see the city Lake Buena Vista.

If you do, click on it and see if you see DVC units. If you do not see DVC units, or do not see Lake Buena Vista as an option, then you do not have sufficient trade power to see any DVC at this time, and would be wise to make back-up plans.

Thanks for your reply! When I click in the ongoing search, the DVC properties do not come up so I assume according to your response that means I do not have sufficient tradeing power. So, what does that mean? I've had this week since Aug 2007. Why wouldn't I have sufficient trading power?

I thought since I could not see them just meant that the DVC properties were not available for that specific time frame...

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks!!!

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks for your reply! When I click in the ongoing search, the DVC properties do not come up so I assume according to your response that means I do not have sufficient tradeing power. So, what does that mean? I've had this week since Aug 2007. Why wouldn't I have sufficient trading power?

I thought since I could not see them just meant that the DVC properties were not available for that specific time frame...

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks!!!

It may also mean that there are no deposits for January 2010 yet - keep in mind that is just now 11 months away.

I just looked again and found a lot availability from now thru the end of the year at BCV, VWL, SSR, AKV, OKW and BWV - mostly 1BRs, but many 2BRs and a few studios. I have multiple weeks banked at one resort and only one of those weeks could "see" any DVC inventory - the biggest difference being how early the week was banked.

In your case, it could mean that the resort doesn't have strong trading power ... or most likely there is just nothing deposited yet for 2010.

Hang in there!

 

[Brian Noble]

Doc asks a good question: were you looking at all dates, or just January 2010?

 

[postesf]

You are fantastic! I must have just been looking at January. I just went back to "peek" again and Boardwalk, SSR, and OKW came up through the end of December. So... I'm hoping that just means that nothing has come available YET for January and that it has nothing to do w/ my trading power. I just deposited another week as well so hopefully I'll get something with one of them for January!

Thanks! I feel much better now!

Stacie

 

[Dean]

Thanks for your reply! When I click in the ongoing search, the DVC properties do not come up so I assume according to your response that means I do not have sufficient tradeing power. So, what does that mean? I've had this week since Aug 2007. Why wouldn't I have sufficient trading power?

I thought since I could not see them just meant that the DVC properties were not available for that specific time frame...

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks!!!

Look by area (FL/Orlando/Gold Crown). If you don't see a lot of options for DVC resorts, you have a trade power and/or a resort quality problem. Jan would not yet be deposited other than possibly the very first week.

 

[postesf]

Look by area (FL/Orlando/Gold Crown). If you don't see a lot of options for DVC resorts, you have a trade power and/or a resort quality problem. Jan would not yet be deposited other than possibly the very first week.

Thanks. I went back to search this way as well to see if any additional properties came up, but now...NO DVC is appearing. I don't get it. 20 min ago, 3 came up w/ date for every month through Dec and now nothing... I will just hold tight for the next month or so and hope something works out.

I did find it interesting that when I searched for the week, that SSR was check in Saturdays only, OKW was check in Friday's only (I think, I may have those two flip flopped) and Boardwalk was check in Sundays only. We need to check in/out on a Sunday, but really need a 2 bedroom, but Boardwalk was only showing studios and 1bedrooms. Just found it interesting that it seems they have designated a specific check in/out day of the week for those resorts...

Thanks for all the suggestions. After my next trip, If we are able to go to Disney in the next year or so, this will be the only way.

Stacie

 

[Brian Noble]

Stacie from what you are describing (only those three resorts, only certain check-in days of the week) you were looking at rental inventory, not exchange availability.

In any event---even if you don't see them now, there's a chance that trade power required will be relaxed. January is a slow enough time that I would let it go until about 90 days prior to your intended check-in day, and then start to look for other exchange options. You'll still have plenty to pick from at that time.

 

[Dean]

Thanks. I went back to search this way as well to see if any additional properties came up, but now...NO DVC is appearing. I don't get it. 20 min ago, 3 came up w/ date for every month through Dec and now nothing... I will just hold tight for the next month or so and hope something works out.

I did find it interesting that when I searched for the week, that SSR was check in Saturdays only, OKW was check in Friday's only (I think, I may have those two flip flopped) and Boardwalk was check in Sundays only. We need to check in/out on a Sunday, but really need a 2 bedroom, but Boardwalk was only showing studios and 1bedrooms. Just found it interesting that it seems they have designated a specific check in/out day of the week for those resorts...

Thanks for all the suggestions. After my next trip, If we are able to go to Disney in the next year or so, this will be the only way.

Stacie

I get 6 WDW properties. Go to exchange your week, select your deposit then narrow down the map to Orlando. You should see 62 resorts or more if you haven't limited by time or rating. On page 2 you'll see 5 of the 6, VWL is on page 6 for me.

 

[Brian Noble]

then narrow down the map to Orlando.

You can narrow it even further to Lake Buena Vista---there are only seven resorts there. The six DVCs, and Wyndham Bonnet Creek.

 

[postesf]

I really appreciate your replies! I am so new at this!!! I tried to look again, but Lake Buena Vista was not an option. I set the filter to Florida, and underneath, where you can choose the cities appear to narrow the filter, Lake Buena Vista was not there... Maybe it is a trading power issue for me. I will wait it out and see what happens. I hope to know something in the next few months as if I get a 1 or 2 bedroom, we may invite my DH's brother, SIL and newphew, but I hate to make plans and not have a place to stay...

Are there any ongoing RCI/DVC threads for clueless folks like me?

Thanks again for the replies and suggestions. We'll see how it all plays out.

Stacie