DVC RCI Trading question - points, weeks, TP, oh my

[3princes+1princess]

Hi,
I have been super lucky to be able to go to disneyworld the last two times using my Grandmas RCI points.
I am planning a trip to DisneyLAND in Oct/Nov2016 and want to stay on site for a week (I know we can't do DL for a whole week, but staying there and traveling other places works for us too).

I have always used my Grandmas RCI points, which will run between 100,000-150,000 points for a two bedroom (family of 6). However, we have the option of using my aunts RCI week, which only has a trading power of 24.

So, bottom line, is it worth trying to exchange with a TP of 24? Or just go the points route? I can try both, but $600 out of pocket for ongoing searches it a lot. However, I don't want to use the points as they are more versatile to my family. We are planning over a year out...does that help any? Is less TP needed for LAND?

oh, on a side note, do both resorts at DL have 2 bedroom suites that allow 6 people?

ETA:I did just figure out that I can use two of the weeks to double the trading power, for another $109.....and other Anaheim resorts are 42 TP for a one bedroom...maybe I have no choice but to use points...as we really want disney (is there any other option??? )

 

[CMNJ]

There is only 1 DVC at Disneyland (villas at grand Californian). It is very small compared to many other DVC resorts and is extremely hard to trade into as a DVC member (many own there specifically for DL trips) so I would hazard a guess that it will also be hard to snag an rci trade there. I'm sure one of the sessoned rci traders could give you a better feel but I would think you need to look at other options.

 

[JimMIA]

The smallness of the resort and your TPU are relevant. The difficulty of DVC owners trying to get VGC as a non-home resort is not, because it's a completely different inventory pool.

If a VGC owner uses their points to exchange OUT via RCI, there should be inventory available in RCI...theoretically. I personally have not seen RCI exchanges into VGC, but that doesn't mean there haven't been some. The Sightings board or the Exchanging board over on TUG would probably be your best source of info for this.

Your TPU of 24 is not going to be enough for a 2 BR, and I'm not sure combining 2 weeks for 48 would do it either. You would probably be better off looking for something else in the area.

 

[Dean]

Hi,
I have been super lucky to be able to go to disneyworld the last two times using my Grandmas RCI points.
I am planning a trip to DisneyLAND in Oct/Nov2016 and want to stay on site for a week (I know we can't do DL for a whole week, but staying there and traveling other places works for us too).

I have always used my Grandmas RCI points, which will run between 100,000-150,000 points for a two bedroom (family of 6). However, we have the option of using my aunts RCI week, which only has a trading power of 24.

So, bottom line, is it worth trying to exchange with a TP of 24? Or just go the points route? I can try both, but $600 out of pocket for ongoing searches it a lot. However, I don't want to use the points as they are more versatile to my family. We are planning over a year out...does that help any? Is less TP needed for LAND?

oh, on a side note, do both resorts at DL have 2 bedroom suites that allow 6 people?

ETA:I did just figure out that I can use two of the weeks to double the trading power, for another $109.....and other Anaheim resorts are 42 TP for a one bedroom...maybe I have no choice but to use points...as we really want disney (is there any other option??? )

While I don't track RCI availability there (maybe others here do), I'd think your chances of success to be slim to none for any unit size. RCI points is likely the better choice to try with. For RCI, you'd have a chance at one of there other resorts within a mile but I'd think that's about it. I'd do an ongoing search either way maybe with any options listed you're OK with (Worldmark/Wyndham).

The smallness of the resort and your TPU are relevant. The difficulty of DVC owners trying to get VGC as a non-home resort is not, because it's a completely different inventory pool.

If a VGC owner uses their points to exchange OUT via RCI, there should be inventory available in RCI...theoretically. I personally have not seen RCI exchanges into VGC, but that doesn't mean there haven't been some. The Sightings board or the Exchanging board over on TUG would probably be your best source of info for this.

Your TPU of 24 is not going to be enough for a 2 BR, and I'm not sure combining 2 weeks for 48 would do it either. You would probably be better off looking for something else in the area.

Since they can deposit any resort at 7 months out, I'd think about the only way for VGC to end up there would be a late cancelation or a deposit first for more than 7 months out.

 

[3princes+1princess]

Thank you all for the information. I really didn't think it would be harder then DW, but it makes sense that because there is limited rooms it would be hard. I will just put in an ongoing search using the points for disney and any other Anaheim resorts...it's a long shot, but with over a year, maybe some pixie dust will be spread my way. This is almost making me want to go back to the DW, but we miss Disneyland (as we used to live in AZ and went at least once a year...but it has changed a lot since we moved 4 years ago), and we have family near. I'll update you all if I get a little magic and get a week! Thanks again for help!

 

[JimMIA]

Thank you all for the information. I really didn't think it would be harder then DW, but it makes sense that because there is limited rooms it would be hard. I will just put in an ongoing search using the points for disney and any other Anaheim resorts...it's a long shot, but with over a year, maybe some pixie dust will be spread my way. This is almost making me want to go back to the DW, but we miss Disneyland (as we used to live in AZ and went at least once a year...but it has changed a lot since we moved 4 years ago), and we have family near. I'll update you all if I get a little magic and get a week! Thanks again for help!

If you put in an OGS for "...any other Anaheim resorts," you are going to get another Anaheim resort -- NOT DVC.

I would first research on TUG and see what the likelihood of getting "...any other Anaheim resorts" is. If that looks promising, I would do an OGS only for DVC VGC and sit on it until about 4 months out if your research supports that long a wait. If you don't get what you want by that point, THEN change your OGS to include other resorts. You'll keep your place in the OGS priority.

Realistically though, for many months now, DVC does not appear to have deposited ANY 2 BRs ANYwhere into RCI. That, plus your low TPU, tells me you have virtually no chance of getting a 2 BR at VGC. I'd forget VGC and look at other options.

 

[Dean]

Thank you all for the information. I really didn't think it would be harder then DW, but it makes sense that because there is limited rooms it would be hard. I will just put in an ongoing search using the points for disney and any other Anaheim resorts...it's a long shot, but with over a year, maybe some pixie dust will be spread my way. This is almost making me want to go back to the DW, but we miss Disneyland (as we used to live in AZ and went at least once a year...but it has changed a lot since we moved 4 years ago), and we have family near. I'll update you all if I get a little magic and get a week! Thanks again for help!

I agree with Jim that you will almost certainly match a non DVC resort if you list it that way. You'll have to decide what risks you're comfortable with and how important getting something is for you. Even for the single gold crown resort nearby (two names but one resort), getting a 2 BR could be a bit of an issue. If I were set on going, I'd likely list those 4 codes (two for DVC plus Worldmark & Wyndham) for the 2 BR. An alternative is to set up 2 searches, one for all and one for just DVC if there are enough points to do both. If you matched DVC early enough you could cancel something else and get most or all of the points back but lose the exchange fee.

 

[JimMIA]

Looking at the RCI website, it looks like there are seven RCI resorts in Anaheim, but there actually are only four. That's because RCI lists Points and Weeks resorts separately, and also because the Wyndham/Worldmark resort is listed as two resorts -- which it is for exchange purposes. The four resorts are:

• DVC VGC - Gold Crown
• Wyndham & Worldmark Anaheim - both Silver Crown. These are the same resort, but two different RCI resort codes - slightly different accommodations (Wyndham units have a little better appointments)
• Peacock Suites - Silver Crown
• Dolphin Cove Resort - another Wyndham/Worldmark resort - older resort, not Gold or Silver Crown

 

[Brian Noble]

You aren't going to get a 2BR at VGC as an exchange. Don't bother trying. For that matter, the days of easily getting a 2BR in the Orlando DVC resorts are behind us as well---at least for now. Even if something gets deposited, there will be savvy timeshare owners who have two-year-old (or older) searches already covering your dates, and they will be in front of you in line.

TPU for non-Disney Anaheim resorts, as you've found, are typically much higher than TPU in the same season for the better non-DVC resorts in Orlando, and the latter are much nicer than the former as well. This is all about supply and demand---there are tons of great timeshares in Orlando, and only a handful of okay ones in Anaheim. As you've seen, 1BRs around your intended dates are already about 39. 48 is probably enough for a 2BR, but you'll have to hope something is deposited.

We stayed at Dolphin's Cove on our DLR trip, in a 3BR/2BA unit. These are converted apartments, and would serve as a good base for Orange County exploration. We thought the stay was perfectly fine. The units are not fancy, but they are well-kept. It's about a half-mile walk to the Toy Story parking lot tram, but we just drove to the TS lot and parked to save a bit of effort. Most of DC is bulk-banked well in advance of use, and a year in advance might be too late. According to my records, a large chunk of 2013 was deposited in late January 2011. Most of this resort is fixed or floating week, but Wyndham and WorldMark also have points inventory here, which will be deposited on their normal schedule. So, this may or may not be on the table, but it is worth putting in a search for.

The Wyn/WM Anaheim is relatively rare in peak seasons, but could be doable in off-seasons. They deposit about 7-8 months prior to use. This is a relatively new high-rise, You'll need to be flexible about when in October/November you go, but if you avoid Halloween you have a halfway decent shot of getting something with an ongoing search.

I've never considered Peacock Suites. This is a hotel conversion, and the rooms have neither washer/dryer nor a full kitchen---and the resort appears not to have self-service laundry. They do get good reviews, though, and could be a fine place to stay if those features are not important to you. Because I don't consider this resort, I don't know what their deposit pattern is. I think it is managed by Shell, so if someone knows their deposit patterns, they can chime in.

I would combine the two 24 TPU Weeks, and initiate a search for a 2BR at all Anaheim resorts acceptable to you with the combined unit. Then, a few days later, start the same search in the Points account. If something is deposited, and 48 is enough, (and no one is ahead of you in line) the Weeks search will catch it. If 48 is not enough, then the Points search will. You can list VGC, but it's not going to hit. I would also have a cancelable backup plan in place, in case something doesn't hit.

Finally, you should join TUG, the Timeshare User's Group, at tug2.net. They have a ton of great information about deposit patterns, etc. that will help you optimize your timeshare usage.

 

[Brian Noble]

I can try both, but $600 out of pocket for ongoing searches it a lot.

As an aside: remember that you only need one exchange fee on file per account to establish as many OGS in that account as you like. Also, if you don't eventually confirm the exchange, you can have the exchange fee refunded back to the original method of payment. So, you are only giving RCI an interest free loan on it, and frankly given the current interest rate environment, that's at most a dollar or two lost.

 

[Dean]

As an aside: remember that you only need one exchange fee on file per account to establish as many OGS in that account as you like. Also, if you don't eventually confirm the exchange, you can have the exchange fee refunded back to the original method of payment. So, you are only giving RCI an interest free loan on it, and frankly given the current interest rate environment, that's at most a dollar or two lost.

It sounds like there may be both an RCI weeks AND RCI points account which may make it $209 times two but as noted, it's only one fee per account even if there are other ongoing searches and it is refundable.

 

[Brian Noble]

It sounds like there may be both an RCI weeks AND RCI points account which may make it $209 times two

Yes, thanks for making that explicit. I did not put it very clearly!

 

[3princes+1princess]

Again, thanks to all who are responding.

Since I have one account that has points (a wyndham account that I can trade for RCI) and almost 200,000 points to use there, or another account, weeks with TP of 24, I am only going to search using the points. I don't want to pay the extra $ to combine TP if I don't have to.

I think I will change my OGS to two separate ones, one for VGC and one for the other resorts in anaheim (list them out individually in the search). I don't expect to get the VGC at all anymore, but I guess there is no harm in trying. We are very flexible about dates, and want to avoid any holidays. I like going when the crowds are low.

I guess I should consider myself very lucky to have gotten two trips to DW two bedrooms, one just this past January. I always put in a search about a year out..but never have done Disneyland. Wow....if I want to go back to world, I will make sure to do it even sooner!

I will also get on TUG and learn more there too. And if nothing works out, we will have to use all my husbands hilton points for a small hotel suite. Which is the last resort, but still so thankful that is an option. This is a combo Disney trip and seeing family...so us going to CA is pretty solid...and I miss DL!

 

[3princes+1princess]

Oh, one more thing...I always need a guest cert, which is $59 or $69....and have to pay that upfront for the OGS....is there something I am missing, why I wouldn't need this?

 

[Dean]

Again, thanks to all who are responding.

Since I have one account that has points (a wyndham account that I can trade for RCI) and almost 200,000 points to use there, or another account, weeks with TP of 24, I am only going to search using the points. I don't want to pay the extra $ to combine TP if I don't have to.

I think I will change my OGS to two separate ones, one for VGC and one for the other resorts in anaheim (list them out individually in the search). I don't expect to get the VGC at all anymore, but I guess there is no harm in trying. We are very flexible about dates, and want to avoid any holidays. I like going when the crowds are low.

I guess I should consider myself very lucky to have gotten two trips to DW two bedrooms, one just this past January. I always put in a search about a year out..but never have done Disneyland. Wow....if I want to go back to world, I will make sure to do it even sooner!

I will also get on TUG and learn more there too. And if nothing works out, we will have to use all my husbands hilton points for a small hotel suite. Which is the last resort, but still so thankful that is an option. This is a combo Disney trip and seeing family...so us going to CA is pretty solid...and I miss DL!

I'd do one with everything and one with just DVC, not one DVC and one other without DVC. Even if you get the Wyndham/Worldmrk property, you'll be OK. If these are Wyndham points and not RCI points, maybe you could just reserve directly without going through RCI.

Oh, one more thing...I always need a guest cert, which is $59 or $69....and have to pay that upfront for the OGS....is there something I am missing, why I wouldn't need this?

Don't do it up front, you can always add it later. That way if something happens, you'll save that much.

 

[JimMIA]

Since I have one account that has points (a wyndham account that I can trade for RCI) and almost 200,000 points to use there, or another account, weeks with TP of 24, I am only going to search using the points. I don't want to pay the extra $ to combine TP if I don't have to.

Understand...and you probably do...that Wyndham points generally only work in RCI Weeks. Makes no sense, I know -- but that's the way it is unless you have some type of special membership...which I won't begin to go into.

Also, you can only do an OGS in RCI Weeks -- NOT in RCI Points.

I think I will change my OGS to two separate ones, one for VGC and one for the other resorts in anaheim (list them out individually in the search). I don't expect to get the VGC at all anymore, but I guess there is no harm in trying. We are very flexible about dates, and want to avoid any holidays. I like going when the crowds are low.

Perfect strategy and attitude.
*****

And on the question of Guest Confirmations...with Wyndham, they are $99 online or $129 if you get them by phone. They do NOT have to be purchased right away; you have to have them within 15 days of arrival.

 

[Brian Noble]

Since I have one account that has points (a wyndham account that I can trade for RCI) and almost 200,000 points to use there

You can book the Wyndham resorts directly, without having to go through RCI or pay an exchange fee. The account will allow you to create one internal guest confirmation without charge, but as Jim suggests, don't do it until the last minute. The high rise is expensive, though, at 262K for a week in a 2BR year round. Dolphin's is much more affordable, at 154K for a 2BR/1BA, or 175K for a 3BR/2BA. A 2BR exchange in Anaheim in October/November will cost you 126K plus the exchange fee of $209.

I might book the unit you want at Dolphin's internally, and then set up an exchange searching for the resort(s) you would upgrade to. If the search hits, cancel the internal booking, and deposit the required points to RCI to confirm the exchange.

 

[Brian Noble]

I always need a guest cert, which is $59 or $69....and have to pay that upfront for the OGS....is there something I am missing, why I wouldn't need this?

It might be worth getting a Guest Pass on your Grandmother's RCI account. $149 for five years of unlimited GCs in your name.