Any RCI experts here?

[ldo]

I also track my parents timeshares, do searches, make reservations for them at RCI. Tug2.net is a timeshare users group with lots of members who have lots of a experience maximizing their timeshare usage. You can find lots of info about Wyndham points, etc. there. Also, if they have points that they are at risk of losing, I also second Bonnet Creek. It is a very nice property, one of the nicest in Orlando, and just as close at many of the DVCs--it is really inside the WDW complex. You would not get ME or EHM or the bus system---but the pools and units aera very nice. good luck. Elaine

 

[Dean]

You think? I'm guessing it probably won't---if they were going to, they would have done it by now. The relationship is now almost a year old.

To be more specific, I think it will eventually happen but be the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Inkmahm]

I also track my parents timeshares, do searches, make reservations for them at RCI. Tug2.net is a timeshare users group with lots of members who have lots of a experience maximizing their timeshare usage. You can find lots of info about Wyndham points, etc. there. Also, if they have points that they are at risk of losing, I also second Bonnet Creek. It is a very nice property, one of the nicest in Orlando, and just as close at many of the DVCs--it is really inside the WDW complex. You would not get ME or EHM or the bus system---but the pools and units aera very nice. good luck. Elaine

Thanks for the tip! My inlaws don't understand it and don't want to deal with it so I am supposed to make the reservation using their points for all of us. They'd like the 3 bedroom grand villa which would be very cool because I'd never spend that many of my DVC points to get a grand villa! There's only 6 of us so a 2 bedroom is fine with me.

So, what are the chances that a grand villa from any of the resorts would show up as available with RCI points?

 

[Dean]

So, what are the chances that a grand villa from any of the resorts would show up as available with RCI points?

For that time it's about as close to zero as you can get. I've seen ONE DVC GV available on points and it was fairly short notice if I recall and was at OKW. Your best bet is to book as soon as you can and see what you want. I'd suggest deciding what you will and will not accept ahead and then booking it at the first moment IF available. Decide what resorts you'll accept, which start dates and what unit sizes. Most units that have been available are 1 BR units, decide if that's available, will you take it. Also decide exactly which start days will work, Friday, Saturday or Sunday start. Start looking early AM exactly 10 months out from the First day you'll accept, I'd suggest starting with the Friday start date to give you more choices. Looks several times every day from then until you get what you want.

Lets say you ONLY get a 1 BR. You might be able to get a second 1 BR later or book a matching 1 BR or even studio later. You cannot upgrade the unit to guarantee that a studio and 1 BR will be combined for a 2 BR but the odds are very good if you have matching reservations of the same booking cat.

 

[Inkmahm]

For that time it's about as close to zero as you can get. I've seen ONE DVC GV available on points and it was fairly short notice if I recall and was at OKW. Your best bet is to book as soon as you can and see what you want. I'd suggest deciding what you will and will not accept ahead and then booking it at the first moment IF available. Decide what resorts you'll accept, which start dates and what unit sizes. Most units that have been available are 1 BR units, decide if that's available, will you take it. Also decide exactly which start days will work, Friday, Saturday or Sunday start. Start looking early AM exactly 10 months out from the First day you'll accept, I'd suggest starting with the Friday start date to give you more choices. Looks several times every day from then until you get what you want.

Lets say you ONLY get a 1 BR. You might be able to get a second 1 BR later or book a matching 1 BR or even studio later. You cannot upgrade the unit to guarantee that a studio and 1 BR will be combined for a 2 BR but the odds are very good if you have matching reservations of the same booking cat.

I guess since we don't HAVE to use the RCI points, I will keep the DVC reservation that I will make at 11 months for the 2 bedroom if we can't get at least a 2 bedroom with RCI points. I figured the grand villa would be a long shot, especially in December. Our dates are pretty well set, too, because we have a cruise after the days in WDW. So, we will be going Dec 4-11 but just don't know if it will be on DVC points or on RCI points. The point of going with family is to be together so I really don't want two separate 1 bedrooms, either. I guess I'll check with the inlaws though to see what they think since it would be their points we'd be spending.

 

[Brian Noble]

An SSR GV in Points was just spotted on TUG the other day...for the 4th of July.

So, you just never know. I wouldn't pass up an acceptable 2BR hoping to catch one though---they are very rare.

 

[Dean]

I guess since we don't HAVE to use the RCI points, I will keep the DVC reservation that I will make at 11 months for the 2 bedroom if we can't get at least a 2 bedroom with RCI points. I figured the grand villa would be a long shot, especially in December. Our dates are pretty well set, too, because we have a cruise after the days in WDW. So, we will be going Dec 4-11 but just don't know if it will be on DVC points or on RCI points. The point of going with family is to be together so I really don't want two separate 1 bedrooms, either. I guess I'll check with the inlaws though to see what they think since it would be their points we'd be spending.

Book using DVC points and still try using RCI points, no hard done if you get it later. I'd still take what I could get that fit my needs using RCI and supplement using DVC points. You can even add days to the RCI reservation using DVC points if you need to.

 

[Inkmahm]

Lets say you ONLY get a 1 BR. You might be able to get a second 1 BR later or book a matching 1 BR or even studio later. You cannot upgrade the unit to guarantee that a studio and 1 BR will be combined for a 2 BR but the odds are very good if you have matching reservations of the same booking cat.

I've been checking RCI every day since Feb 4th for a DVC location but haven't seen one yet. I think we'd like OKW if that comes up as available, but so far nothing.

Can you elaborate a bit on what would happen if I can get a 1 BR but not a 2BR? What would be a "matching" 1BR? And what would be the "same booking category?"

I guess my question is, if a one bedroom shows up at RCI and I get that, can I get a studio using RCI points later and then have those combined to be a 2 bedroom?

In the meantime, I have our reservation for a 2 bedroom at VWL and AKV using our DVC points so we are covered if RCI never comes through. I'm still hoping though.

 

[Inkmahm]

Arrgggh. I expanded my search and there are villas available at AKV, BWV, OKW and Saratoga for check in the second weekend in December, just none for the first weekend! Is there a chance that DVC will backfill and add more villas for early December to RCI inventory?

 

[Dean]

I've been checking RCI every day since Feb 4th for a DVC location but haven't seen one yet. I think we'd like OKW if that comes up as available, but so far nothing.

Can you elaborate a bit on what would happen if I can get a 1 BR but not a 2BR? What would be a "matching" 1BR? And what would be the "same booking category?"

I guess my question is, if a one bedroom shows up at RCI and I get that, can I get a studio using RCI points later and then have those combined to be a 2 bedroom?

In the meantime, I have our reservation for a 2 bedroom at VWL and AKV using our DVC points so we are covered if RCI never comes through. I'm still hoping though.

Potentially you can combine the units if they match up. The problem is you may not know that until later. You may get a 1 BR at Kidani and studio at Jambo for example. When I got 2 1 BR units at AKV, I called and spoke with a supervisor prior to the cancelation period who gave me an exception so I could cancel the second unit if it was in the other building, my first was in Kidani.

Arrgggh. I expanded my search and there are villas available at AKV, BWV, OKW and Saratoga for check in the second weekend in December, just none for the first weekend! Is there a chance that DVC will backfill and add more villas for early December to RCI inventory?

Yes, they often add units later at earlier dates. Keep checking, around 7 months out is another common time for units to who up.

 

[Inkmahm]

Potentially you can combine the units if they match up. The problem is you may not know that until later. You may get a 1 BR at Kidani and studio at Jambo for example. When I got 2 1 BR units at AKV, I called and spoke with a supervisor prior to the cancelation period who gave me an exception so I could cancel the second unit if it was in the other building, my first was in Kidani.

Yes, they often add units later at earlier dates. Keep checking, around 7 months out is another common time for units to who up.

But if I get a 1 bedroom and a studio at OKW, they should automatically match up, right? I can see there being an issue at AKV because there are two possible buildings but at most of the resorts, matching should work. I think.

I'm still hoping for a two bedroom though. Maybe I'll check with the inlaws about getting two one bedrooms if that isn't possible though.

 

[Dean]

But if I get a 1 bedroom and a studio at OKW, they should automatically match up, right? I can see there being an issue at AKV because there are two possible buildings but at most of the resorts, matching should work. I think.

I'm still hoping for a two bedroom though. Maybe I'll check with the inlaws about getting two one bedrooms if that isn't possible though.

Not automatically but likely. OKW has 2 booking categories but it's likely only one will be available with RCI. Remember 2 units gets you 2 exchange fees AND 2 $95 fees.

 

[Inkmahm]

Not automatically but likely. OKW has 2 booking categories but it's likely only one will be available with RCI. Remember 2 units gets you 2 exchange fees AND 2 $95 fees.

What's the $95 fee? Someone from RCI pays $95 to book a DVC villa?

 

[RobDoc]

What's the $95 fee? Someone from RCI pays $95 to book a DVC villa?

Yes, Disney has a $95 fee for all inbound exchanges thru RCI. While most RCI exchanges do not have such a fee, there are some resorts who also have an additional charge. DVC lists it as a "transportation" fee. This is in addition to the usual RCI fees - $179 for online reservations for RCI weeks, $194 for phone reservations for RCI weeks and $139 for RCI Points reservations.

 

[Dean]

What's the $95 fee? Someone from RCI pays $95 to book a DVC villa?

NO, DVC charges an extra $95 per unit for those that exchange in through RCI. For a 1 BR plus studio through the weeks side that's $179 per unit if you do it online, another $15 per if you do it by phone. For RCI points it's $139 per. In addition there's a $95 resort services fee per unit, for a studio plus 1 BR, that's $95 each. So for the 2 units you could be at almost $600, still a good value for a DVC unit as long as what you're trading doesn't have too high of an independent value.

 

[Inkmahm]

I was just thinking about this in relation to AKV. If there is a 2 bedroom available at AKV, is there anyway to tell in advance if it is in Kidani or Jambo, and if it is a value, standard or savanna view thorugh RCI?

 

[Brian Noble]

There is in Weeks---this *could* work in Points as well, but might not. Put the unit on hold, and then call RCI to ask (a) how many bathrooms the unit has and (b) what the "unit code" is. The # of bathrooms tells you which building (beacuse Kidani units have an "extra" one). The unit code will be something like: 2BSTDSA. This means "2 bedroom, Standard view, Saturday check-in." A Savannah view unit would have SAV instead of STD as the middle three letters. I've never seen a unit code for a Value view, probably because they are in relatively high demand.

It is possible that the unit code isn't labeled in Points inventory---in that case, you'd have to confirm the exchange, wait for the confirmation to be sent over to DVC (takes about a week, maybe two) and then call MS to ask them what inventory bucket the unit is from. You could then cancel if you didn't like what you had, losign the exchange fee, but (provided you are doing so with sufficient advance notice) getting your points back.

 

[Inkmahm]

There is in Weeks---this *could* work in Points as well, but might not. Put the unit on hold, and then call RCI to ask (a) how many bathrooms the unit has and (b) what the "unit code" is. The # of bathrooms tells you which building (beacuse Kidani units have an "extra" one). The unit code will be something like: 2BSTDSA. This means "2 bedroom, Standard view, Saturday check-in." A Savannah view unit would have SAV instead of STD as the middle three letters. I've never seen a unit code for a Value view, probably because they are in relatively high demand.

It is possible that the unit code isn't labeled in Points inventory---in that case, you'd have to confirm the exchange, wait for the confirmation to be sent over to DVC (takes about a week, maybe two) and then call MS to ask them what inventory bucket the unit is from. You could then cancel if you didn't like what you had, losign the exchange fee, but (provided you are doing so with sufficient advance notice) getting your points back.

Thanks! Since I'm working with points, I guess I'll have to see. I doubt AKV will come up (just hoping for SOMEthing to come up) but I guess I could live with standard view for one trip if we had to.

 

[Dean]

There is in Weeks---this *could* work in Points as well, but might not. Put the unit on hold, and then call RCI to ask (a) how many bathrooms the unit has and (b) what the "unit code" is. The # of bathrooms tells you which building (beacuse Kidani units have an "extra" one). The unit code will be something like: 2BSTDSA. This means "2 bedroom, Standard view, Saturday check-in." A Savannah view unit would have SAV instead of STD as the middle three letters. I've never seen a unit code for a Value view, probably because they are in relatively high demand.

It is possible that the unit code isn't labeled in Points inventory---in that case, you'd have to confirm the exchange, wait for the confirmation to be sent over to DVC (takes about a week, maybe two) and then call MS to ask them what inventory bucket the unit is from. You could then cancel if you didn't like what you had, losign the exchange fee, but (provided you are doing so with sufficient advance notice) getting your points back.

Brian, I'm not sure that is consistently the case. I've traded in to AKV twice, both through the points side, and RCI couldn't give me that info for either. And while DVC can do it once they get the info back from RCI, that takes a couple of days minimum for them to do so, longer if it's over a weekend.

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, that's why I said that I wasn't sure it would work for Points, because the inventory is managed separately. But, it definitely does for Weeks. It couldn't hurt to try though. The right Points VC might be able to figure it out.