Booking/availability of DVC through other timeshare?

[kjs1976]

My parents have timeshare points through another company. Their basic plan is that they get so many points a year to be used at any of the places in their catalog. They just use the points and pay a flat fee per week. Their 2009 catalog just came and it includes all DVC places this year.

She would like to get two, two-bedroom DVC rooms if our whole family went sometime this summer, late June through early August, we're pretty flexible on dates during that time frame. If she books 59 days out or less, she gets 50% off the points it would normally cost for that time, sized room. My question is how early would we need to book to get two rooms at DVC through another timeshare place, not directly Disney. I've stayed at OKW before and loved it so that would be our first choice. AKL would be our "dream" place, but I would guess it is difficult for anyone to get in there, no? And truly, for the deal that it is, we would ultimately be happy at any DVC.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kjs1976]

Bump!

 

[Brian Noble]

I have either bad news, or no news.

The bad news is that if your parents timeshare is affiliated with Interval International, DVC is terminating their relationship with II as of the first of the year. Sadly, the "50% discount at 59 days" sounds like it is Interval, as the 59-day mark is the start of their "flexchange" period.

If, on the other hand, your parents' timeshare is affiliated with RCI, I'm afraid I have no news that is meaningful. I could tell you that in Interval, the chances of getting two 2BR units for the same summer week were low, but not completely impossible provided you would be willing to stay at any DVC resort and could plan at least a year in advance. We don't know much about how exchanging in will work in RCI, because we have no history to go on.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm assuming their timeshare trades thru RCI because DVC just announced (a couple of days ago) that they were changing their trade affiliation from Interval International (II) to RCI.

Since this change is so recent and even members are without answers to many, many questions, it's pretty difficult to give you an answer.

But here is some general info based upon DVC's past history.

* DVC controls the units that are deposited for trade, and they tend to lean more toward off-peak periods and larger resorts.

* Most of the deposits tend to be at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. AKV is bringing 300+ new rooms on-line in 2009 so it may also join that club.

* I believe most of the rooms deposited tend to be Studios and One Bedrooms.

* When trading thru the RCI system, the greatest success appears to come when booking at least 11-12 months out. You're looking at doing this just 6-8 months out. But since DVC is new to RCI, that may not hurt you in this situation since there wasn't any DVC inventory in RCI 11-12 months out for Summer '09.

* Abandon any hope of waiting until 59 days out to try and save points. With DVC being new to the program, I doubt there is any chance of 2 Two-bedoom villas sitting around that long. There are 3.5 million members of RCI who will be gaining access to DVC resorts for the first time.

* This is unconfirmed but there is talk that the DVC resorts may be subject to an RCI rule where you can only trade-in once in 4 years. If that happens, be aware that your parents could not use their points toward DVC again until 2013.

* As an alternative, you could look into the Bonnet Creek resort. It's part of the Wyndham system which also trades via RCI. Bonnet Creek is on a plot of land that's virtually landlocked within Walt Disney World. Geographically it's next door to the Caribbean Beach resort and just about across the road from Epcot. Bonnet Creek is NOT a Disney resort, so you will not get access to DME, Extra Magic Hours or other on-site perks. But most agree that the rooms are actually better than anything Disney has to offer. That may be a more realistic trading possibility than DVC.

Good luck.

 

[Brian Noble]

Unfortunately, Bonnet Creek is more rare in RCI than DVC ever was in II---Wyndham controls all BC deposits, and up until a year ago, it was never deposited. Now, you might see a few units dribble in here or there, but peak-time would be tough to get two 2BRs.

 

[kjs1976]

They have their points through Interval International....I think....that sounds familiar. I also know they have something with "diamond" in the title. But they just got the 2009 book THIS WEEK and it included DVC for the FIRST time. All DVC resorts in their book have studio through 2-bedroom availability. AKL is in there but it does say that it is under construction and to call to ask when it will be available.

 

[spiceycat]

Unfortunately, Bonnet Creek is more rare in RCI than DVC ever was in II---Wyndham controls all BC deposits, and up until a year ago, it was never deposited. Now, you might see a few units dribble in here or there, but peak-time would be tough to get two 2BRs.

yea - but a 4-bedroom which BC has - might not be so hard.

right now no one knows what RCI trades will be like. the annoucement that they were renting DVC villa does not help my attitude.

 

[Brian Noble]

yea - but a 4-bedroom which BC has - might not be so hard.

I've never, not once, seen one deposited, either in my own searches or on the sightings boards of either TUG or TS4M. I'm not even sure Wyn has deposited 3BRs at BC.

Especially now that Wyn is trying to push Presidential Reserve (a cool 1M points---retailing for appx. $150,000), for "special" access to the 4BRPs, I can't imagine Wyn ever willingly depositing one.

 

[spiceycat]

if you are dealing with II instead of RCI -then the Marriott's are nice.

Cypress Harbour, Royal Palms and Sabal Palms are in RCI too

the others are only in II

Grande Vista
Imperial Palms
horizons by marriott

 

[tjkraz]

But they just got the 2009 book THIS WEEK and it included DVC for the FIRST time. All DVC resorts in their book have studio through 2-bedroom availability. AKL is in there but it does say that it is under construction and to call to ask when it will be available.

II probably just found out this week that DVC was dumping them--after your guide was printed. The press release was issued just this past Tuesday.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=717&Itemid=1

There are a number of posts here discussing the move.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2023452
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2023506

For better or worse, it's a done deal. You could try doing a search thru II IMMEDIATELY for an straggling inventory that has already been deposited with II, but I wouldn't expect to see other units added.