DVC room using RCI time share

[kerriemiller]

Does any one have any experience with the company RCI. I understand you can use their exchange system to book DVC. I cannt find any info on how this works with the new magic bands. Or whether this type of booking is considered a resort guest when it comes to magic band and ADRs

 

[JimMIA]

Does any one have any experience with the company RCI. I understand you can use their exchange system to book DVC.

Yes.

In the timeshare world, exchange companies like RCI facilitate trading stays in one timeshare for stays in another timeshare. RCI, owned by Wyndham, and Interval International (II) are the two largest exchange companies.

DVC currently exchanges through RCI, so owners of RCI-affiliated resorts can exchange into DVC via RCI. Likewise DVC owners can exchange out via RCI, but in a limited way.

We own a Wyndham timeshare (Great Smokys), and exchanged into DVC in December via RCI.

I cannt find any info on how this works with the new magic bands. Or whether this type of booking is considered a resort guest when it comes to magic band and ADRs

ANY guest in a Disney onsite resort gets ALL of the perks of staying onsite.

 

[erionm]

If you are staying at a Disney Owned & Operated Resort, you are a resort guest regardless of how that stay was booked.

As for inbound RCI exchanges, you would need to contact DVC Member Services and identify yourself and an inbound RCI exchange. MS can give you the Disney reservation confirmation number that should be linkable to My Disney Experience (MDX). Once linked to MDX, you would be able to customize MagicBands. With the room reservation linked to MDX, you would be able to make ADRs beginning at 180 days from arrival. If you link park admission to MDX, you would be able to make FP+ selections at 60 days from arrival.

 

[kerriemiller]

Thank you that is what I was wondering. I was concerned about linking everything into MDX and whether it was a similar processes to booking directly with disney. Sounds like it isn't really different

 

[Photobee]

My parents have RCI, and I was wondering if we chose to stay at a DVC property using their exchange...can we also get the Dining plan...or is that an option not allowed in the exchange?

I also understand there is a $95 1 time fee for the exchange into DVC. Is that per night, or just a one time fee? (the lady I spoke with didn't seem to know too much about it). She said it covered transportation/shuttles, and extra magic hours.

We've never stayed on property before when going to WDW, but if it is an option, where we would only have to pay a $95 fee....It's very much worth considering for our next trip!!! It almost makes me super excited (but I'm trying to contain that excitement in case it doesn't work out!)

Thanks!

 

[erionm]

My parents have RCI, and I was wondering if we chose to stay at a DVC property using their exchange...can we also get the Dining plan...or is that an option not allowed in the exchange?

A dining plan can be added to inbound RCI exchanges. Disney's Magical Express is also available.

I also understand there is a $95 1 time fee for the exchange into DVC. Is that per night, or just a one time fee? (the lady I spoke with didn't seem to know too much about it). She said it covered transportation/shuttles, and extra magic hours.

The $95 fee covers the entire reservation.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

My parents have RCI, and I was wondering if we chose to stay at a DVC property using their exchange...can we also get the Dining plan...or is that an option not allowed in the exchange?

I also understand there is a $95 1 time fee for the exchange into DVC. Is that per night, or just a one time fee? (the lady I spoke with didn't seem to know too much about it). She said it covered transportation/shuttles, and extra magic hours.

We've never stayed on property before when going to WDW, but if it is an option, where we would only have to pay a $95 fee....It's very much worth considering for our next trip!!! It almost makes me super excited (but I'm trying to contain that excitement in case it doesn't work out!)

Thanks!

Yes, you can get the dining plan. You would request it and pay for it via DVC Member Services. The full amount needs to be paid at the time you request it, which must be at least 48 hours prior to your arrival date.

The $95 resort fee is per reservation, not per night. I believe you pay it at check-in.

 

[bwvBound]

My parents have RCI, and I was wondering if we chose to stay at a DVC property using their exchange...can we also get the Dining plan...or is that an option not allowed in the exchange?

I also understand there is a $95 1 time fee for the exchange into DVC. Is that per night, or just a one time fee? (the lady I spoke with didn't seem to know too much about it). She said it covered transportation/shuttles, and extra magic hours.

We've never stayed on property before when going to WDW, but if it is an option, where we would only have to pay a $95 fee....It's very much worth considering for our next trip!!! It almost makes me super excited (but I'm trying to contain that excitement in case it doesn't work out!)

Thanks!

The $95 fee is charged "once per reservation." I have mine collected at check-in. However -- there are other fees related to the total reservation process:
* The initial and ongoing costs related to the timeshare used to trade in.
* RCI's annual membership fee (possibly $89/year).
* RCI's exchange fee ($209-$219).
* An RCI "Guest Cert" if using someone else's RCI account ($39).
* and finally, the $95 fee charged to inbound exchange guests by the Disney property.

Once you've booked an RCI exchange into a DVC resort you may contact DVC's Member Services to add a Dining Plan. This will be charged "per night, per person" for all names added to the reservation. This must be added at least 48 hours prior to check-in.

 

[JimMIA]

...can we also get the Dining plan?

As others have said, yes.

I also understand there is a $95 1 time fee for the exchange into DVC. Is that per night, or just a one time fee? (the lady I spoke with didn't seem to know too much about it). She said it covered transportation/shuttles, and extra magic hours.

Yes, you have to pay that on checkin. No, it doesn't cover those things. Those things are FREE to ANYone staying in ANY onsite Disney resort. It's a DVC "Because we can" fee.

But you have to pay it, so don't fret over the injustice of it all. Just pay it and consider it a part of the cost of doing business.

As bmvBound outlined, there may be other costs associated with a trade...depending on what you count. In your case, anything your parents pay could be considered a part of the gift they are giving you. Anything you had to pay out of pocket would obviously be a component of your vacation cost.

We've never stayed on property before when going to WDW, but if it is an option, where we would only have to pay a $95 fee....It's very much worth considering for our next trip!!! It almost makes me super excited (but I'm trying to contain that excitement in case it doesn't work out!)

Your success depends to a large degree on what underlying timeshare your parents own. While affiliation with RCI does let you trade into DVC, your success at trading in will depend on the relative worth of the timeshare they own. If the trading value of their timeshare is high enough, your chances of trading into DVC are pretty good. If not...not.

Timeshare exchanges can be pretty technical and tricky, or not depending on what your parents own. If you post what they own, some knowledgeable DISer can probably give you some good advice on the nuts, bolts, and probabilities of timeshare exchanging.

 

[mkarizona]

You will need to use an Ongoing Search. Very, very little DVC inventory makes it past the ongoing searches. And don't be too picky when you are offered a trade because you may not get another chance.

 

[Photobee]

WOW, you are all so knowledgable! Thank you so much for all your responses! It would probably be good for me to understand more of this as it is, since we "inherit" their timeshare(s) when they aren't around anymore.

As far as what they own....they own at 3 timeshares (yeah, they're nuts). They own with RCI in Pigeon Forge, TN
Wyndham in Branson, Missouri
and another one near the Upper Peninsula of MI (it used to be with RCI, but I think it was switched, not sure what company it's through now. Doing research, I know there is one called something like Internation Interchange? Not sure if that's it or not.)

(I maybe wrong with the timeshares, but I know those are the places...it could be switched).

I know he also is high up in the points system and has a presidential suite status at one or more of his resorts. He owns 2-3 weeks (maybe 4) at the MI place, and than 1 week at the others.

SOooooo, with that info, are my chances better per chance?

I had read not to be too picky. We are a family of 6, and having never stayed onsite before...I would gladly take anything!

I had also read, that you basically have to check what's available religiously. Would this be best done by me? Would I get my dad's account info and check what's available, rather than leaving it up to him (where he can get busy and not have chances to check it everyday).

I greatly appreciate any and all help you can give me!!!

 

[Dean]

WOW, you are all so knowledgable! Thank you so much for all your responses! It would probably be good for me to understand more of this as it is, since we "inherit" their timeshare(s) when they aren't around anymore.

As far as what they own....they own at 3 timeshares (yeah, they're nuts). They own with RCI in Pigeon Forge, TN
Wyndham in Branson, Missouri
and another one near the Upper Peninsula of MI (it used to be with RCI, but I think it was switched, not sure what company it's through now. Doing research, I know there is one called something like Internation Interchange? Not sure if that's it or not.)

(I maybe wrong with the timeshares, but I know those are the places...it could be switched).

I know he also is high up in the points system and has a presidential suite status at one or more of his resorts. He owns 2-3 weeks (maybe 4) at the MI place, and than 1 week at the others.

SOooooo, with that info, are my chances better per chance?

I had read not to be too picky. We are a family of 6, and having never stayed onsite before...I would gladly take anything!

I had also read, that you basically have to check what's available religiously. Would this be best done by me? Would I get my dad's account info and check what's available, rather than leaving it up to him (where he can get busy and not have chances to check it everyday).

I greatly appreciate any and all help you can give me!!!

You should get more info. It sounds like they may own Wyndham and possibly Bluegreen as well. Once you have more info, you could get back with us. I'm always happy to help other DVC owners who need info on other timeshares and since it's not directly DVC related, it's best to minimize the online discussion in such matters.

 

[jjj444]

We own a timeshare in Maui and traded into DVC 2 years ago. We have a gold crown place in Maui and it gives us 37 "trading points" into DVC. We were offered studio's at SSR, OKW and Wilderness logde and were told we didn't have enough trading power for any of the other DVC resorts. We put in again for a trade this November and haven't heard anything yet. I am guessing we will get the same offerings as last time or none at all because of our limited trading power. I am glad to see the info on how to link the powerbands and dining plan up

 

[prov3v56]

We are trading into DVC this July through RCI. The tpu's (trading points) needed were 52 for a 1bd and 58 for a 2bd. If the unit you are trading in with does not have this high of a trading power, you will not be able to see any DVC units. I should mention that I had a wide search (all units except ssr and okw) over a 3 week period.

 

[Dean]

We are trading into DVC this July through RCI. The tpu's (trading points) needed were 52 for a 1bd and 58 for a 2bd. If the unit you are trading in with does not have this high of a trading power, you will not be able to see any DVC units. I should mention that I had a wide search (all units except ssr and okw) over a 3 week period.

You can see them if you have your parameters set right but you could not confirm without sufficient TPU.

 

[jjj444]

We put in for any DVC property for the month of November this year and just got a match last night. We got a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Villas for the last week of October. It is 37 points and we have 39. I am shocked and put a hold on it and am going to call this morning and see what type of room(view) and where it is. We really wanted a epcot area room, but we have always wanted to stay here as well. So I am guessing because the points are lower it will be a standard view room?? I will let you know

 

[JimMIA]

We put in for any DVC property for the month of November this year and just got a match last night. We got a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Villas for the last week of October. It is 37 points and we have 39. I am shocked and put a hold on it and am going to call this morning and see what type of room(view) and where it is. We really wanted a epcot area room, but we have always wanted to stay here as well. So I am guessing because the points are lower it will be a standard view room?? I will let you know

I doubt if it's a standard view. Those are low points cost villas which are usually snapped up by AKV owners right at the 11-month point.

 

[Dean]

We put in for any DVC property for the month of November this year and just got a match last night. We got a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Villas for the last week of October. It is 37 points and we have 39. I am shocked and put a hold on it and am going to call this morning and see what type of room(view) and where it is. We really wanted a epcot area room, but we have always wanted to stay here as well. So I am guessing because the points are lower it will be a standard view room?? I will let you know

You should be able to tell from the code, something like SAVSAT. Most are Kidani and they could change it on you if they wanted. You'll need to call RCI not DVC as DVC won't have it in time for you to cancel for free if you chose to. I'd say it's about 50/50 standard vs Savannah.

 

[jjj444]

All it said was DV01 AKL villas i bedroom and the dates. Didn't recieve a confirmation email yet and we won't til probably Monday because RCI is down for maintenence over the weekend. We ended up taking the room and will have to wait til next week to see what type of view we get

 

[Dean]

All it said was DV01 AKL villas i bedroom and the dates. Didn't recieve a confirmation email yet and we won't til probably Monday because RCI is down for maintenence over the weekend. We ended up taking the room and will have to wait til next week to see what type of view we get

Call them, they should be able to give you the code DVC gives them. It won't be on the confirmation I don't think. DVC should be able to give you the info on Tuesday afternoon as well as the DVC reservation # itself and allow you to make requests. Even though they could change it on DVC's side, they never do unless there are no options. I've offered to give up a 2 BR in favor of a 1 BR just because I didn't need it and they could even consider such a change that was in their favor.