DVC through RCI

[Bon1423]

My father is an RCI member and frequently gifts us rooms. I was on there today and noticed Saratoga Springs is available for multiple check-in dates next year. It is not my ideal choice in location, but if we got it at no cost to us it would be amazing I was wondering though if anyone here had gone the route of renting a DVC through RCI? Is it possible to still get the dining plan? Does it count you as an on-site guest (meaning FP at 60 days, etc?)

 

[erionm]

Is it possible to still get the dining plan?

Yes. Once the exchange has been made, you would be able to call DVC and identify yourself as an inbound RCI exchange. You could then add a Dining Plan (must be paid for in full when added).

Disney's Magical Express (DME) is also available.

Does it count you as an on-site guest (meaning FP at 60 days, etc?)

You would be staying at a Disney Resort, so YES. If you call DVC, they will provide the Disney confirmation number which can be linked to MDE.

 

[RumpleMom]

There will be a fee to RCI for using the points. I believe around $200 and $95.00 fee to Disney.

Saratoga Springs is one of our first choice resorts, even though we own at OKW. You will have all the services of any other DVC resort, except for the monorail. We love the atmosphere, choice of pools, boat ride or walk to Disney Springs and the food at the Turf Club.

 

[Brian Noble]

if we got it at no cost to us

Of course, you'll have to relinquish some points/weeks that you've deposited, and you paid for those. As a prior poster mentioned, you will also have to pay the RCI exchange fee plus a $95 nuisance fee to DVC on check-in. Remember also that as a DVC reservation this does not include daily housekeeping, but does include a trash and towel service on the fourth day.

But, yes, you will have all of the usual perks of an onsite stay. Once you confirm the exchange, you have to call DVCMC to tell them the names of all guests on the reservation. The phone number to do so will be listed on the confirmation. It takes a week or two for RCI to transfer the booking to DVC, so don't call right away. But, once you have the guest names on the reservation you can add it to your MDE account. It might even populate there for you---my most recent exchanges have, I think.

 

[Bon1423]

There will be a fee to RCI for using the points. I believe around $200 and $95.00 fee to Disney.

Saratoga Springs is one of our first choice resorts, even though we own at OKW. You will have all the services of any other DVC resort, except for the monorail. We love the atmosphere, choice of pools, boat ride or walk to Disney Springs and the food at the Turf Club.

That's great to hear! It seems to be one of the less popular resorts. I think it looks nice, we just have a 6&4 year old so would prefer to stay in one of the park areas. But the pool is also of extreme importance to my kids lol

 

[Bon1423]

Of course, you'll have to relinquish some points/weeks that you've deposited, and you paid for those. As a prior poster mentioned, you will also have to pay the RCI exchange fee plus a $95 nuisance fee to DVC on check-in.

Well obviously the points are paid for but they are gifted to me from my dad. Thanks for the info about the extra fees though!

 

[Brian Noble]

No worries; was primarily clarifying that for other readers who might not be familiar with how timeshare exchange works.

 

[southerngirl528]

I don't really see the $95 DVC charges for inbound RCI exchanges as a "nuisance fee". That fee has been the same since I worked MS many years ago. And believe me, RCI (in those days it was still II) owners can take up a pretty good deal of time on calls with questions, etc. Also one must keep in mind that the inbound TS owner trading does not pay DVC MF's which cover all sorts of expenses afforded any guest staying at a DVC resort, like the transportation, etc., etc. Marriott just went up on their II internal exchange fees.

 

[Brian Noble]

Also one must keep in mind that the inbound TS owner trading does not pay DVC MF's which cover all sorts of expenses afforded any guest staying at a DVC resort, like the transportation, etc., etc.

Of course not. The outbound DVC member(s) who gave up the points that were used to book the inbound unit did. That's how exchange works. At least, that's how it works in nearly every other timeshare system, and even how it works at HHI, VBR, and Aulani, where the $95 is not charged.

 

[southerngirl528]

Yup, I know that. But ultimately each time a DVC member exchanges out, it temporarily "adds" to the membership for those RCI folks trading in and from experience I can tell you that it does impact inbound calls to MS. Time is money.

 

[Brian Noble]

Oddly enough, none of the other timeshare systems seem to have this problem...but the Mouse does like his cheese.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's great to hear! It seems to be one of the less popular resorts. I think it looks nice, we just have a 6&4 year old so would prefer to stay in one of the park areas. But the pool is also of extreme importance to my kids lol

It's a terrific resort IMO.

Paddock area is terrific. The pool is simple and good, there's a biggish slide, and a water play area for the shorter kidlets.

 

[southerngirl528]

I think SSR is a nice resort as well. I think it is much like my longtime home resort, OKW, in that it is laid back and you can park close to your door. SSR is in a great location to Downtown Disney as well.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

We have traded into DVC since it was with II. SSR is one of the best ones to trade into IMHO. The location next to DTD is great. We usually try to get the Congress Park area. Yes, you can add a dining plan if you want to.

The $95 fee is silly IMHO. It's only Disney that requires this. By the logic above, as a DVC member who doesn't have to call in with questions when trading in, shouldn't I get that $95 fee waived then? A lot of people who trade in are already DVC members. I'm sure a lot aren't too, but I pay dues and someone else paid dues to trade OUT. The $95 is a fee that Disney charges because they can IMHO.

 

[djohn06]

I was hoping the fee would be waived as a DVC member too staying via RCI. Still my exchange in fee, yearly maint fee at the resort i gave up, and the $95 fee was about $300 less than what my AKV standard 1 bedroom costs. Also, I got to rent out my AKV points too, so I pretty much stayed for free via RCI.

 

[Firepath]

I think the $95 fee is mostly to cover Magical Express and bag transfer, etc. Since I use both of those services, for me the fee is worthwhile and I don't mind paying it if trading through RCI. That's better than having it come out of my DVC dues.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think the $95 fee is mostly to cover Magical Express and bag transfer, etc.

The Member(s) who traded out paid dues to cover those expenses.

This is a "people will pay it" fee. Nothing more.

 

[bumbershoot]

My father is an RCI member and frequently gifts us rooms.

For you, you're not renting a stay; your father is giving it to you.

I was wondering though if anyone here had gone the route of renting a DVC through RCI?

But...and I could be way off and have misremembered something, but for clarity for others reading...isn't it totally "timeshare-illegal" to actually *rent* a DVC reservation that's made through RCI? Isn't that $95 something we tell others to watch for, when renting a DVC reservation?

You're getting it for free OP, YAY! Do NOT use the word "rent" with anyone at DVC or RCI, though, if what I'm remembering is correct.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think that's just a mis-statement; OP is booking this as an exchange which is perfectly fine. They cannot then turn around and rent it to someone else though.

 

[Dean]

I don't really see the $95 DVC charges for inbound RCI exchanges as a "nuisance fee". That fee has been the same since I worked MS many years ago. And believe me, RCI (in those days it was still II) owners can take up a pretty good deal of time on calls with questions, etc. Also one must keep in mind that the inbound TS owner trading does not pay DVC MF's which cover all sorts of expenses afforded any guest staying at a DVC resort, like the transportation, etc., etc. Marriott just went up on their II internal exchange fees.

It's a "because we can fee". The member would be using the same services if they used the week instead of someone else. I doubt it increased the overall work load anyway. It covers options already paid for by the owners and generally considered accepted in the timeshare world. Marriott raised their fees for weeks owners using II for exchanges to other Marriott properties. Marriott has a different fee structure for their weeks system with lower dues and members have to join II paying regular fees. They also pay more for non Marriott exchanges than for internal exchanges. Even if you request a Marriott AND a non Marriott in a single exchange request, you pay the higher exchange price of $164 vs $124 now internal. But Marriott has a different general fee structure. They do a little more pay to play than does DVC yet. fees are still lower overall even if one pays the lockoff fee (do they still have this $75 fee), II fee and internal exchange fee plus regular resort fees Marriott is still generally cheaper than DVC. Plus one can avoid many of those fees altogether if they chose.

Marriott destinations and trust owners have a different set up more similar to Wyndham and Bluegreen with club dues. For that you get free lockout's, free internal exchanges, no additional II fee, and access to Marriott trust inventory.

Yup, I know that. But ultimately each time a DVC member exchanges out, it temporarily "adds" to the membership for those RCI folks trading in and from experience I can tell you that it does impact inbound calls to MS. Time is money.

Roughly 3-4% of the members exchange yearly and those members pay no RCI membership fee and a $95 exchange fee (and it's still a bad deal for other reasons). Plus as I understand it, DVC does get compensation back from RCI in that they get the ability to rent out weeks and they get reduced or no fees based on the amount of membership participation.

I was hoping the fee would be waived as a DVC member too staying via RCI. Still my exchange in fee, yearly maint fee at the resort i gave up, and the $95 fee was about $300 less than what my AKV standard 1 bedroom costs. Also, I got to rent out my AKV points too, so I pretty much stayed for free via RCI.

It should, unfortunately it simply highlights how DVC values it's members. But as you say, it can still be a good deal. Historically my exchanges have been between $300 & $350 per. Going forward it looks like they'll be around $600 to $650 per. That includes an allocation for the underlying timeshare yearly costs, RCI fees, exchange fee and $95 resort services fee.

The Member(s) who traded out paid dues to cover those expenses.

This is a "people will pay it" fee. Nothing more.

Exactly.