Did I just make a HUGE mistake???

[lumpydj]

DH emailed me this morning with an offer from someone he works with. We could get a week at OKW - 12/25 - 1/1 for $1,500 (1 BR). The guy would pay the transfer fee of $70 something dollars. But we would have to pay the $95 check in fee - Not sure what this is???? Anyone?

Anyway, I told DH "no" because it's only a 1 BR so we can't bring any family except DD. I'm not sure I'd want to spend Christmas away from the WHOLE family. Although, my Dad lives about an hour from WDW. : Also, I know I can forget about going on many rides because the parks are so busy.

Did I just make a HUGE mistake and lose out on the opportunity of a lifetime? Opinions please!!! It may not be too late to change my mind.

 

[dgaston]

Well the OKW 1 br are huge, and it would cost 296 points for a week from 12/24 to 12/31. So if you could find points to rent it would be close to $3000 for that Peak week.

As you say the parks are at their busiest, and there are even closures during Christmas week. However, we have been to WDW for 5 Christmases, this year we arrive on the 26th, staying until 1/2. We can't afford to use points then, so we are staying in a townhouse at Windsor Hills. I love the Candlelight Processional, love to do a tour of the resort in their holiday finery, and enjoy the castle lights, and the Osbourne Family Lights too. For me, it's more about the atmosphere than the rides.

It sounds like this might be an RCI trade-in. Only you and DH can decide if it's worth it for your family.

 

[GGOOFY1]

Contact OKW and see if you could check in late on Christmas night, instead of on the 24th. then fly in late on the 25th. Not sure if this is an option, but worth a try. It would be so worth it for the price to go for even 6 nights.

 

[Alexander]

I thought RCI trades weren't transferable?

It they are and you don't take it, I will!

 

[lumpydj]

I thought RCI trades weren't transferable?

It they are and you don't take it, I will!

LOL It's possible it's an II transfer from last year. I don't know.

This is just insane. The longer I sit here and think about it, the more I want to go! I'm such a Disney sucker! I've already emailed DH to see if he was seriously thinking about going...if he is - I think we'll be going.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

LOL It's possible it's an II transfer from last year. I don't know.

This is just insane. The longer I sit here and think about it, the more I want to go! I'm such a Disney sucker! I've already emailed DH to see if he was seriously thinking about going...if he is - I think we'll be going.

It is against the rules of RCI to rent out an exchange. If they find out, they will cancel the reservation. Buyer beware.

 

[Brian Noble]

Sounds like a confirmed RCI exchange, which is not rentable. In the past, when RCI has discovered such transgressions, they have been known to cancel the exchange, and freeze the RCI member's account.

Buyer beware, indeed.

 

[lumpydj]

Thanks for the heads-up on the RCI thing. That's certainly something we will have to find out before we do anything - IF we decide to go...

 

[hrslvr142]

I know with my RCI account, I can purchase a "gift certificate" for someone else to use my trade which costs $59. If this is RCI, this may be what he is doing. He probably would not offer the information that he is renting it out. The $95 is for using ME which I understand we pay whether we are or not-it is per villa not per person. We are doing this in October, staying at SSR. Have a good trip if you decide to go. I love the Disney parks at Christmas the the Candlelight Processional is incredible.

 

[lumpydj]

I know with my RCI account, I can purchase a "gift certificate" for someone else to use my trade which costs $59. If this is RCI, this may be what he is doing. He probably would not offer the information that he is renting it out. The $95 is for using ME which I understand we pay whether we are or not-it is per villa not per person. We are doing this in October, staying at SSR. Have a good trip if you decide to go. I love the Disney parks at Christmas the the Candlelight Processional is incredible.

That must be what he's doing then. I re-read the email and it is $59 that he would pay. Thanks for the info. . I've never gotten to see CP and it's on my list of things to do. It'd be great if we could see it this year.

Still waiting for DH to email me back...

 

[Lisa P.]

DVC does not charge members for a Guest Cert (RCI and II both do) and Disney doesn't charge renters (from members) the $95 Resort Fee on check-in (Disney does charge it to exchangers upon check-in).

Regardless of whether the vacation week was obtained through II or RCI (the timing sounds like RCI) or another external exchange company, this rental would not be permitted if the company or DVC learns it's a rental. Therefore, a renter risks paying and arriving to discover they have no reservation. Not worth it!!! Sure wouldn't want to arrive and have to pay top dollar for whatever Christmastime reservations you could find last minute!!!

 

[Dean]

DVC does not charge members for a Guest Cert (RCI and II both do) and Disney doesn't charge renters (from members) the $95 Resort Fee on check-in (Disney does charge it to exchangers upon check-in).

Regardless of whether the vacation week was obtained through II or RCI (the timing sounds like RCI) or another external exchange company, this rental would not be permitted if the company or DVC learns it's a rental. Therefore, a renter risks paying and arriving to discover they have no reservation. Not worth it!!! Sure wouldn't want to arrive and have to pay top dollar for whatever Christmastime reservations you could find last minute!!!

I agree other than it is my understanding that a couple of the independents do allow rentals.

There are 2 issues here. One is technical and the other practical. It's not technically allowed but it is done not uncommonly. The renter and rentee are taking a risk but one not that much of a risk unless RCI/DVC finds out it's a rental. Usually among friends/coworkers this should be a relatively safe thing to do (though still against the rules) but then if it gets posted on an internet site, who know what will happen. I shouldn't be too difficult for them to figure out who it is. All you need to do is look at dates for the 1 BR at OKW and then see who gets a guest certificate.

 

[gkrykewy]

Fortunately the thread is titled "Did I just make a HUGE mistake???" rather than "Wow, we just put one over on RCI [evil laugh]!!!"

This should mitigate the risk of detection.

 

[the who #3]

that would even include new years eve. the new years eve party at mk is the absolute best ever. altho you must go early or you might not get in.

 

[Sammie]

Disney and DVC has a staff that reads all of the postings. FYI

 

[thelionqueen]

Disney and DVC has a staff that reads all of the postings. FYI

I had always wondered if that was truth or myth. I do have to raise an eyebrow, because if they had been reading a couple years ago, BLT would be CRV (which I still like better!)

 

[Sammie]

I had always wondered if that was truth or myth. I do have to raise an eyebrow, because if they had been reading a couple years ago, BLT would be CRV (which I still like better!)

Well now, I did say they "read", I did not say they "listen"

 

[thelionqueen]

Well now, I did say they "read", I did not say they "listen"

Isn't that the truth..

 

[PamOKW]

You should think about this opportunity. Disney is truly magical at Christmas and NYE -- even if it tends to be insanely busy.

I can't tell where you live or how you would travel to Disney. If you will fly, you might want to look at airfare before making your final decision. Airfares can be literally "sky high" at this time of year and the deals are few and far between.

 

[lumpydj]

Unfortunately, we're not going. I made the mistake (before I decided I wanted to go) of telling DH that you don't go to the parks this time of year to go on rides - because of how crowded it is. From that, he decided that he didn't want to go. DD (10) also commented that it's too busy and her friend had to wait over 3 hours to ride the good rides when she went a couple of years ago. DD said "it's not worth it if you can't ride the rides". I tried showing them a Food Network episode that I had DVR'd about the Holidays at Disney and said - "Wouldn't you want to see all that?". DD said "no - I can watch it on TV". Even though we were going on our 1st DVC vacation 6 weeks later - and she could go on the rides then. No go... Guess that's something we'll have to do when DD gets older and moves out.

I really am bummed though. I started to get real excited about going...