Buying DVC to stay at other RCI properties

[stout]

We are thinking about buying into DVC for the ability to stay at other RCI properties. Let me explain. We have one small child and we usually stay at the value resorts. I can usually find rates around $54 per night for the values, thus, a one week stay is much less than the annual dues. So, for us, right now, it would not make sense to buy into DVC to stay at WDW. However, (a) our family will likely grow and the DVC resorts will become more enticing to us and (b) we love to travel to places other than WDW too. So, with that background, my question is: what are the pros and cons of using your points for stays in places like Europe?

 

[bookwormde]

It is definetly the most expensive timeshare you can buy to use for RCI trading. You can buy lots of high demand RCI resorts resale for next to nothing.

DVC is a value only for staying at DVC resorts.

bookwormde

 

[JimMIA]

In addition, DVC is not really a part of RCI. DVC has worked out an exchange agreement with RCI, but that is quite limited and may or may not last very long. DVC was previously affiliated with II.

And actually, NO outside exchange is guaranteed with DVC. In fact, about the only thing that is truly guaranteed is that you will be able to stay at your home resort...subject to availability, of course.

IMHO, the current availability of using DVC to exchange should not even be considered in purchasing DVC, because it could go away forever with the stroke of a pen.

 

[littlestar]

I wouldn't buy DVC to trade in RCI on a regular basis. You'd be over paying by thousands of dollars to use DVC as a trader. With the lousy economy, timeshare values have tanked (except for a few like DVC and even DVC resale has taken a hit in this economy). We just bought some Wyndham points resale and we only paid $26.00 for them - something the developer would have sold for over $25,000! I've seen resale prices of Hilton, Marriott, and Westin timeshares lower than I ever dreamed they could go.

I'd suggest spending some time on TUG (timeshare users group - tugbbs.com) - there are many timeshare systems out there and there's no one size fits all. Timeshares aren't for everybody - if a person can't plan at least a year in advance, I wouldn't recommend timesharing. You can always rent timeshares from owners on Redweek.com - a nice alternative to owning.

The best value of DVC points is using them for DVC stays. The upfront cost of DVC and maintenance fees makes DVC an expensive trader.

 

[jodifla]

We are thinking about buying into DVC for the ability to stay at other RCI properties. Let me explain. We have one small child and we usually stay at the value resorts. I can usually find rates around $54 per night for the values, thus, a one week stay is much less than the annual dues. So, for us, right now, it would not make sense to buy into DVC to stay at WDW. However, (a) our family will likely grow and the DVC resorts will become more enticing to us and (b) we love to travel to places other than WDW too. So, with that background, my question is: what are the pros and cons of using your points for stays in places like Europe?

With one small child, the best thing about DVC is being able to stay in a 1 bedroom. Now THAT'S a vacation. Being stuffed into a value, not so much.

There are much much cheaper ways to trade with RCI. Don't use DVC for this.

 

[Dean]

We are thinking about buying into DVC for the ability to stay at other RCI properties. Let me explain. We have one small child and we usually stay at the value resorts. I can usually find rates around $54 per night for the values, thus, a one week stay is much less than the annual dues. So, for us, right now, it would not make sense to buy into DVC to stay at WDW. However, (a) our family will likely grow and the DVC resorts will become more enticing to us and (b) we love to travel to places other than WDW too. So, with that background, my question is: what are the pros and cons of using your points for stays in places like Europe?

This would be an extremely expensive and limiting choice to get access to RCI. One can get a Wyndham or Bluegreen contract for a fraction of the price and get direct access to RCI including more and better choices for a fraction of the up front and yearly costs. If you're comfortable staying in the values, would you be just as happy staying nearby but off site in resorts as nice or nicer than DVC? And if you owned DVC, you might even be able to trade in to DVC for some times of the year and certain resorts.

The bottom line is that buying DVC with the intent to doing any routine trading (RCI, DCL, etc) is simply a poor and expensive choice given the current set up.

 

[culli]

Just echo what has been already said and I have always stuck by that any use of WDW points but to stay at WDW or WDL (ok maybe the cruises but I don't know much about them) is a very expensive way to go. Also if you are comfortable with the values I wouldn't even consider DVC.

Do some reading here and like littlestar said to go the tug forums at http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/

Timeshares can be a great value and wonderful experience but for others it can be one of the worst money choices they will make in their life. It can be painful to research and feel like your head is spinning. But I think it is a must to know as much as you can before you get involved. Timeshares are much much much easier to buy then they are to sell

As crazy as littlestar's wyndham example may seem it happens every day. People spend $30k plus and realize that it is worth about $100 on the relase market. DVC is pretty stable in price compared to most if not all timeshares, and IMO is the easiest to understand and use. BUT it is not cheap, personally of the timeshare contracts we own it is our favorite and would be the last thing to go if we parted with any of them. For our family and how we use it the purchase worked out wonderful. However, we are a family of 5 soon to be family of 6 (7 when Mom comes with us) so timeshare condos workout very well for our situation.

Good luck but do yourself a big favor and do some research.

 

[littlestar]

Thought I would post the RCI and Interval International public rental sites for you. You don't have to own a timeshare to book their excess inventory, although the rates are more expensive than what a timeshare owner would pay:

http://www.wyndham-vacations.com/

http://www.condodirect.com/travel/welcome.home

 

[BelleDVC]

DVC points are best used for DVC. Using them elsewhere is expensive, and hard to get reservations.

Dean and others can get you more advice, but I wouldn't recommend buying DVC for anything other than DVC.

Belle

 

[dvcbrad]

Don't do it for the purpose of exchanging. I have tried numerous times to exchange, both when DVC had its affiliation with II, and now with RCI. I have NEVER been successful. Now granted, I have tried for high demand weeks, but one would think that there should be a lot of demand to get into DVC during those same periods to create availability at exchange resorts. DVC always says to have lots of flexibility for an exchange, so if you do, you MIGHT have a chance at exchanging. But ... please don't buy DVC for that purpose - you'll most likely end up being disappointed.

 

[Dean]

Don't do it for the purpose of exchanging. I have tried numerous times to exchange, both when DVC had its affiliation with II, and now with RCI. I have NEVER been successful. Now granted, I have tried for high demand weeks, but one would think that there should be a lot of demand to get into DVC during those same periods to create availability at exchange resorts. DVC always says to have lots of flexibility for an exchange, so if you do, you MIGHT have a chance at exchanging. But ... please don't buy DVC for that purpose - you'll most likely end up being disappointed.

AS I noted, I think buying DVC to exchange even part time is a horrible choice. However, there are some parts of your post that seemed like a good place to make a couple of points.

First, with II DVC really DIDN'T have good trade power, it might be better with RCI but that remains to be seen. Orlando has an over supply of great timeshares and that factor seemed to overshadow the on property location in II. Certainly if you compare the points requirements, RCI is giving DVC more love than did II in this regard. What we don't know is how that will translate to exchange matches.

Having said that, for existing DVC members, there is one exchange approach that I think has great merit. That is to seek out the top exchange options, esp those that are actually better than DVC. Granted there are not as many in that group with RCI as with II but there are still some. Then you look for high demand weeks at those resort. Make a back up plan that way if you don't match, not harm done. This all requires truly advanced planning, preferably 2 years out. Lack of flexibility and lack of advanced planning seem to be the two big areas where DVC members have shot themselves in the foot when trying to exchange.

Remember you lose all that flexibility and control when you exchange DVC through RCI (and II before them), these are some of the best attributes of owning DVC for many people.

 

[braudcms]

Don't buy DVC with the intent of using it for non-DVC. DVC is a WONDERFUL program, IF you plan on staying DVC. Once you expand outside of DVC, your value decreases tremendously and is not advised... Just my two cents!