DVC and RCI

[jkh36619]

Anyone have any guesses as to the likelihood of getting a DVC resort for Thanksgiving week 2017 if I get on a list now? Never too early to start planning...

 

[vicki_c]

You should post on the DVC board vs. here on the resorts board.

 

[jkh36619]

ah. I did not see a DVC board

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Your odds are extremely low. Trading in from RCI tends to work best if you are highly flexible on your dates.

 

[cutigerlady]

It is possible but know a few things: it will be a 1 BR at SSR and it will require larger than normal points/trading power. Also, the more aged your ongoing search the better. I saw Christmas week last year on the open RCI available list!

 

[famy27]

Thanksgiving was harder than Christmas last year. I know from experience. My OGS never matched for Thanksgiving, but I saw tons of Christmas weeks sitting in open inventory. I did eventually snag a Thanksgiving week, but it was less than 2 weeks before check-in. I had a week at Swan/Dolphin as my back-up, so I cancelled that when I got the RCI exchange. As mentioned above, it was a one-bedroom at SSR.

I would suggest putting in your OGS now, so that you will be at the top of the list for those deposits next year, in case any are available. I haven't seen any in open inventory for 2016 yet, nor have I seen reports of matches for that week. The week before and after have been available.

 

[Michael Zontini]

It is possible but know a few things: it will be a 1 BR at SSR and it will require larger than normal points/trading power. Also, the more aged your ongoing search the better. I saw Christmas week last year on the open RCI available list!

So first… Full disclosure…. I have taken advantage of trading into the Disney Properties (DVC) several times using my RCI Properties and I can say that I have never been disappointed.. It is always all that I have expected and more.. I would even call myself an expert in trading into DVC and getting something very close to what I want…..
All that aside, I am very troubled by recent trends and changes in the relationship between RCI and DVC. The availability in DVC has lessened tremendously and vacations that have become available have been offered at a massively inflated trading power ( Some as high as 60 for a 1 bedroom). Not to mention the Mandatory Fee to book a DVC property just jumped from 95 dollars to 190 dollars. ( Aside from the $219.00 RCI transfer fee) I get it…. Airport and Resort transportation…Dining reservation systems…etc…etc… I get it. I Do… But it seems to me that DVC is dictating the rules to RCI with some type of elitist attitude when it is DVC that needs RCI to give their owners and opportunity for more travel options outside the DVC Ownership Resorts. ( I have heard that DVC now offers their ownership other options for trading to lessen their commitment to RCI) I am not sure how DVC releases vacations to RCI but I can assume that much is determined by low sales during certain times of the year where Disney welcomes any additional occupancy they can get by having those RCI owners who trade into DVC spend their dollars on Disney Property (Another way RCI helps DVC). I should stop my rant at this point so to not make those reading this think I’m out to get DVC, I’m not.
I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LESS THAN A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE DURING MY STAYS IN AND ON DVC PROPERTIES….. But I see this trend of decreased opportunities, and increasing Trading Power and Fees (200% increases in many cases) and it troubles me as I am older now and use my travel opportunities for my grandchildren…… If anyone cares to email me with information about this (Accurate Information), I would love to hear from you … (mgz68@yahoo.com) Have a Magical Day!!!!!

 

[pangyal]

^i think that the percentage of DVC owners who trade out their points is very, very low. It is well known that trading out is a very poor use of points, and people who buy DVC buy it so that they can stay on Disney property. I would say it is a real reach to imply that DVC "needs" RCI and not the other way around, particularly because Disney already swapped II for RCI and I'm sure would not hesitate to make a similar change if they felt it beneficial.

Also, DVC is designed for, and for the most part achieves, 98% occupancy year round. There is no "low sales" time during the year.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

^i think that the percentage of DVC owners who trade out their points is very, very low. It is well known that trading out is a very poor use of points, and people who buy DVC buy it so that they can stay on Disney property. I would say it is a real reach to imply that DVC "needs" RCI and not the other way around, particularly because Disney already swapped II for RCI and I'm sure would not hesitate to make a similar change if they felt it beneficial.

Also, DVC is designed for, and for the most part achieves, 98% occupancy year round. There is no "low sales" time during the year.

Yeah, you're probably right. I bet if DVC pulled out of exchanges completely, most DVC owners wouldn't really care (though there are always exceptions of course). DVC is a very expensive way to get into RCI.

 

[Michael Zontini]

Your odds are extremely low. Trading in from RCI tends to work best if you are highly flexible on your dates.

 

[Michael Zontini]

Yeah, you're probably right. I bet if DVC pulled out of exchanges completely, most DVC owners wouldn't really care (though there are always exceptions of course). DVC is a very expensive way to get into RCI.

I do agree with both of you on this in regards to trading out of DVC is a very poor use of points and that most dedicated DVC owners own because their interest solely lies in Disney. However, when DVC/RCI entered their partnership it was because DVC needed to offer its membership locations all over the world as a matter of marketing, although we all agree the value just is not there. Since this partnership things have changed and I think DVC realizes that it doesn't feel the RCI partnership is as valuable as first thought. ( Says the 2 relatives I have that are in management in WDW/DVC Marketing and Resort Operations) But as I stated earlier I'm just blowing off steam because in true Disney Nature they are blowing up their own price point right in front of our eyes, and in general folks just nod their collective heads and say, "Yup, That's Disney, we will pay it."
Before writing this I looked back to two vacations I booked in 2011 and in 2012. I was fortunate to get a 2 bedroom Villa at Bay Lake Towers for a Trading Power of 31 and a 1 bedroom at the Beach club for a Trading Power 29. The other day I saw a 1 bedroom at Saratoga FOR 60 Trading Power.....WOW not a peak week either !!!!!! Supply and demand does play a huge role in this..... but...... not this much. There are some slower times for DVC Weeks but overall it has been a very successful en-devour. So much so, DVC has proposed properties connected to their Moderate Resorts ( Researching the need to improve the in-park transportation from these locations before this happens)...... My Operations Manager Relative says or blames DVC's success on the reason Epcot (Specifically Future World) became so outdated. WDW continued to delay plans to update Epcot over the past 10 to 15 years to continue building DVC Properties as quickly as possible, THEY WERE SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES !!! AND STILL ARE).... Sorry I digress...... If anything, I feel better that I typed away on this and I feel a little better. I don't remember when the latest DVC/RCI contract expires, I will ask the relative in the know, but it would not surprise me if that was the last partnership...... Stay warm !!!! Out there.....