Anyone have problems getting II exchanges?

[FischDF]

We opted for the II vacation with our SSR add-on & when I called MS to inquire about availability I was told I needed to plan on requesting dates 2 years out, unless I just happened to be lucky. Needless to say, I was pretty upset, especiallly when he said my guide s/h told me this & that most people don't take the II vacation b/c they will lose the points. (The expiration date for the II certificate is March 2006)

Our paperwork is still in the mail & hasn't even reached MS, our guide isn't in today, but it looks like we may be cancelling this add-on, perhaps even go resale. I find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe our guide would intentionally mislead us, & Disney handing out something that's essentially worthless is just not in our experience.

The annual passes just won't work for us, & I thought giving giving MS a 6 month window of May through October 2005 was VERY flexible. Apparently not!

Does anyone have any comments? Could you share your experience with any exchanges, both II & the other ones, that you may have done?

 

[Dean]

Unfortunately, most members and most guides, know little about II exchanges. I honestly believe that the guides think that II is just sitting there waiting to give DVC members anything they want. This would be far from the truth. Realize that like DVC members, most people who own the best resorts at peak times, either use or rent out. And there are other II members who have just as high trading power as DVC, some higher, and will be waiting in line before you for those prized exchanges. I'd say you should be realistic in your choices and be flexible. By flexible, I mean many weeks and many resorts and not during school holidays or winter travel high season like the Caribbean. And you should plan 2 years out but at minimum a year. Then expect it to be within 6 months or less before you might match up. There are exceptions of course.

If you explain about your wishes and situation, time of year, desired location and the like; maybe we could make some suggestions. The most important suggestions I'm made in the preceding paragraph.

But if the II weeks was a big part of the reason you bought through DVC, I think you made a mistake. It's value is at best maybe $500-750 or so, IMO.

 

[jweiss]

I thought I knew what I wanted, but after several conversations with MS, I changed my direction, and considered times and places I hadn't even considered. We got a two bedroom at what looks to be an awesome resort in Puerto Vallarta in May. I am so excited. And it's a vacation that we never would have taken without this "freebee", but it'll be good for the kids to see something other than Disney for a change!!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by jweiss
I thought I knew what I wanted, but after several conversations with MS, I changed my direction, and considered times and places I hadn't even considered. We got a two bedroom at what looks to be an awesome resort in Puerto Vallarta in May. I am so excited. And it's a vacation that we never would have taken without this "freebee", but it'll be good for the kids to see something other than Disney for a change!!!

Which resort? I own at Paradise Village.

 

[FischDF]

Hi Dean,

Thanks for your input. Actually, we prefer to travel in September, but we’re open to other times, & we really try to avoid peak times. I had hoped to travel most anytime next year, but the MS person asked for dates so I gave him the range I mentoned. The 2 places I asked about were the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont & a place in Sedona, Arizona. I was open to other locations, but he told me we’d have to search location by location, not even region by region. That could take quite a long time! And then he said he only shows availability 6 months out. So, even without a deadline on a certificate it’s frustrating, but at least you can plan-that’s workable. With a deadline I felt as if we’d have to accept a place that we may not really want, & be ready to travel at a moment’s notice.

BTW, we’re outdoorsy people, 2 adults & a 9 yo, who feel cooped up staying in a seaside resort or in the center of a city. Yet I like to feel some of that Disney luxury if we’re using DVC points-we can do budget vacations anytime! We like mountains & open vistas, Alaska, Australia, the American Southwest. There’s a place in Norway that seems sort of remote & interesting. Wish they’d open up something in Siberia. Any suggestions?

As for the new vs. resale decision, we were mainly interested in SSR (for the extra time), VWL & BCV (they seem very pretty & popular & it would be nice to have the 11 month window there.). Resale prices, if available, didn’t differ much from the SSR offer last year, & it was much more convenient to buy new (no ROFR & waiting; can choose use year, etc.) As for an add-on (mind you, we’ve barely owned for 1 year & already have add-on-itis! ) we were just biding our time, minding our own business, when the paperwork arrived from DVC. While a bit higher that b4, the price reduction, buy back of points, II vacation, & convenience made buying from DVC appealing.

 

[Desperado]

We had trouble trying for Sanibel Island.

 

[Dean]

The real question is what is DVC giving out for this "free" II vacation. It is most likely an Accommodation Certificate or an off season week deposit, if so, it won't match many weeks that are actually sitting there in the II bank. Exchanging is very complicated and the idea of trade power and availability is paramount to both success and reality.

For exchanging, you really do want to go resort by resort but they can do it by region. One of the problems going by region is that if they offer you a match in that region and you decline it, you'll likely have to take that region off your list. But September is an easy month to get almost anytime even HI, MX, Caribbean, etc.

 

[jweiss]

We're going to Ranco Banderas in May. Dean, do you know it???

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by jweiss
We're going to Ranco Banderas in May. Dean, do you know it???

Sending you an email.

 

[FischDF]

Originally posted by Dean
The real question is what is DVC giving out for this "free" II vacation. It is most likely an Accommodation Certificate or an off season week deposit

Yes, what are they offering?! Actually, it's an Accomodation Certificate that's good for any World Passport location, up to 270 points (2br in high season), but not during major holidays. That seemed fine, but in reality, it's not worth much due to the time constraints. I'm also surprised my guide hasn't called back when said he would get it resolved on Tuesday. I guess it's not easy to resolve.

Anyway, the comments have been helpful. I called & left a message that we were cancelling the contract & I'll follow up with whatever written papers are required.

Thanks
Denise F.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by FischDF
Yes, what are they offering?! Actually, it's an Accomodation Certificate that's good for any World Passport location, up to 270 points (2br in high season), but not during major holidays. That seemed fine, but in reality, it's not worth much due to the time constraints. I'm also surprised my guide hasn't called back when said he would get it resolved on Tuesday. I guess it's not easy to resolve.

Anyway, the comments have been helpful. I called & left a message that we were cancelling the contract & I'll follow up with whatever written papers are required.

Thanks
Denise F.

I feared it was an AC, bad new for those who took this option. Still, some AC are better than others and this one appears to be one of the better ones.

 

[FischDF]

Originally posted by Dean
I feared it was an AC, bad new for those who took this option. Still, some AC are better than others and this one appears to be one of the better ones.

Why is an AC generally NG? Are they usually encumbered by unrealistic conditions? And when does DVC usually offer them?

My guide & DVC Quality Assurance both left me messages today while I was out. They want to substitute the AP's for the AC's-but that won't work for us. Interesting what a quick response you get when you mention the words 'cancel the contract'. Hm-m-m-m-m now I'm wondering ......

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by FischDF
Why is an AC generally NG? Are they usually encumbered by unrealistic conditions? And when does DVC usually offer them?

My guide & DVC Quality Assurance both left me messages today while I was out. They want to substitute the AP's for the AC's-but that won't work for us. Interesting what a quick response you get when you mention the words 'cancel the contract'. Hm-m-m-m-m now I'm wondering ......

An AC, also called a bonus week, tends to have a lot of restrictions. It's true those restrictions may be less with DVC but the reality is that it is not nearly as good as a good DVC regular II deposit. There will be restrictions on when you can trade and what trades you can get, even if they are otherwise available. If you actually had the certificate, you could see what those restrictions are as they would be printed on the back.

 

[spiceycat]

I know probably no one wants to go right now - but the II AC exchanges for the next 60 days (when I can use my cert) are great - lots and lots of choices.

so Nov or Dec would be a good time - I would think Sept or May would also be a good time.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by spiceycat
I know probably no one wants to go right now - but the II AC exchanges for the next 60 days (when I can use my cert) are great - lots and lots of choices.

so Nov or Dec would be a good time - I would think Sept or May would also be a good time.

And that's why they are, because the demand overall is low. People who can and will travel off time can make out like bandits. My youngest is a Senior and you can bet I'll be taking advantage of some great stuff the next few years.

 

[pumpkinboy]

NOtably, we also chose the II certificate when we did the add on, and got a mid August week at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe Vermont within days of our request (this was in late August so it must have been recent deposit). I don't know if you've ever been there, but I have found this resort just wonderful. And with the on-site restaurant and its great Austria (and other) wine list, plus decent kids activities, it was a natural for us. Unfortunately, we were unable to take it, since we have a wheelchair-bound child and there are 16 steps into each unit (and only 4 without - and they couldn't guarantee that we'd get and accessible unit ). So we cancelled, and determined that the certificate was not gonna work for us, and our guide managed to switch us to the AP option, which works well for us too.

So I expect the certificate you have has decent trading power, just not prime trade power. I was able to get a great week at a great resort with considerably less flexibility that you have evidenced (we could only do it during the kids' school vacations).

Good luck, and I hope you get something great!

 

[mathmagic]

We did the SSR add-on with the II vacation bonus, and after over a month we have not received our certificate yet. I called our guide a couple of days ago to ask about it, and have not heard back from him yet. How long do I wait before making a stink? Anyone else add on in late Sept and get their certificate yet?

 

[FischDF]

Originally posted by spiceycat
I know probably no one wants to go right now - but the II AC exchanges for the next 60 days (when I can use my cert) are great - lots and lots of choices.

so Nov or Dec would be a good time - I would think Sept or May would also be a good time.

That's true for us, too-we don't like to travel in Nov or Dec. Just too hectic. I even asked for the 90 day availability to anywhere in the US, but they only had o/s US.

Well, we now know to be suspicious of bonuses, even if they do have Mouse ears!

Denise

 

[FischDF]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy
NOtably, we also chose the II certificate when we did the add on, and got a mid August week at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe Vermont within days of our request (this was in late August so it must have been recent deposit).

I'm jealous! That was our first request, for almost any time period, and nothing was available for next year when I called in October. The MS person told me he could only check availability 6 months out-was your August week for 2004 or 2005?

Denise

 

[jlieblaw]

We are new DVC owners and my sister is trying to plan her honeymoon next year. She wants to exchange points for II location in Hawaii. She wants to get married in the fall but is trying to figure out the honeymoon before setting the wedding date. How difficult is it to find a place in Hawaii and how should she go about doing it?

Thanks