DVC to add RCI as trade

[Dean]

Wow -- I just looked at the map, and they don't have much any more! We stayed at a place on Punta Norte in 1995. I think it was the Melia Paradisus, which was beautiful. It was optional AI, which we weren't interested in, and it ended up being a pain since you couldn't even buy a drink. We had planned to eat in town anyway (cheaper and better food back then). We stayed at Plaza Las Glorias in 1997, which was an easy walk to the plaza. They were overbooked, and we got upgraded to a penthouse with a wraparound balcony & hot tub, so we were happy campers. This was before the cruise ships were coming en masse, and the few that did had to anchor offshore and tender people in, so it wasn't a big deal. I personally wouldn't go back. I like a little more laid back atmosphere.

RCI only had 4 resorts on the island in 1997, II had none, still don't I believe. RCI has had a significant increase in AI options for MX and the Caribbean, often at well over $100 per person per day mandatory and often mandatory for the private occupancy of the unit no matter how many actually were staying. While I have seen some optional AI and meal plans that were reasonable, only a few. I have yet to see an AI mandatory that was a reasonable charge.

 

[debraW76]

RCI owner here. I just called RCI to inquire about trading into DVC and as of last night they did not have the point allocation (or were unable to give it out). I will try back later on in the week.

 

[bwvBound]

RCI owner here. I just called RCI to inquire about trading into DVC and as of last night they did not have the point allocation (or were unable to give it out). I will try back later on in the week.

Why not wait until after Jan 1st?

 

[debraW76]

Why not wait until after Jan 1st?

Because I am very impatient!!

 

[Brian Noble]

The resorts aren't in the online directory yet. I'd wait unitl they are (and that might not even happen by the 1st.)

 

[ldo]

did RCI say they would be points only?

 

[debraW76]

I know but our ts is in orlando (not DVC). It is a nice resort but we have always traded with RCI points. But lately I have become frustrated with the service we receive from RCI for the amount we pay them in fees. And so I let my RCI membership lapse. Then I heard about the DVC partnership and thought that perhaps I should get it reactivated. But only if it will be beneficial for us. We will need a 2br and so first of all I will need to make sure our RCI points will afford us a 2br for one week. If not then it will not benefit us to reactivate our membership.

If it does, then I need to add up all the fees to see if we are saving money by using our points. So if our regular maintenance fees, plus RCI membership fees, plus RCI booking fees, plus if there is a DVC trading fee - if all of that is more than what I think I can get us a deal on a 2br DVC then not going back to RCI.

Right now our friends are going in June and we have tentavily made plans to join them. We need to go ahead and get this figured out because if the RCI-DVC thing works for us then I want to book as soon as possible. If not, then we will not reactive RCI and just use our Orlando TS. Either way, I want to go ahead and get the room figured out so that I can start on ADRs, tickets, touring plans, etc. Plus, if I had it concrete I may let the kids know on Christmas morning. anyway - that is why I am being so impatient and wanting to know the point allocation. So that I can start crunching numbers to see if we need to re-join RCI for our tentative June trip.

 

[bwvBound]

Plus, if I had it concrete I may let the kids know on Christmas morning.

Personally, I think it is highly unrealistic to expect to have a 2BR DVC summer week locked in via exchange by Christmas. Historically of the deposits made through II only a small percentage were 2BR units and I don't expect that to change significantly in the extremely near future.

 

[debraW76]

Personally, I think it is highly unrealistic to expect to have a 2BR DVC summer week locked in via exchange by Christmas. Historically of the deposits made through II only a small percentage were 2BR units and I don't expect that to change significantly in the extremely near future.

That is what I am afraid of. And why I want to know so quickly.

 

[Brian Noble]

did RCI say they would be points only?

So far, those who know won't tell, and those who tell don't know.

debraW76: I think you have an unrealistic view of how easy it will be to exchange into DVC. 2BR summer weeks were not impossible in II, but they weren't everyday occurrences. The very last week of August wasn't too hard, but earlier? Takes an excellent trader and some good skill.

I would imagine that the DVC resorts will be "in" RCI Points to avoid using the crossover point charts---the generic crossover chart would really devalue DVC. The "generic" Florida 2BR red Gold Crown is 57.5K points. Compare that to a 2BR at Bonnet Creek (a Gold Crown, 49K-82K depending on season) or Celebrity Oaks (an unrated resort with very poor TUG ratings, 44K-73.5K).

So given those examples, there's no chance that DVC's resorts won't be "Points resorts."

But, just because a resort is "in Points" doesn't mean that its inventory is necessarily (only) on the Points side. Bonnet Creek has some August '09 inventory in Weeks as I type. I'm not a Points owner, so I don't know if you can search Weeks inventory at Points-affiliated resorts from Points, but I would assume so.

 

[debraW76]

I dont think it will be easy to trade into a DVC. If you will kindly re-read my posts I stated all the things that would have to happen in order for it to be beneficial for us. I was merely weighing the costs for us. I never even mentioned the ease or probability of one actually being available.

 

[Brian Noble]

I guess what I'm saying is that even if it's "worth it", you're still only playing probabilities. Even if you join up, and even if you start your search at the very beginning of the points window, there's still a good chance you will not get a 2BR. Then, your RCI fees are gone, and it will be too late to reserve your home resort unit for your own use, or for some purpose other than RCI Points.

I would not re-join RCI in hopes of using it exclusively for a 2BR DVC in peak summer. If you could travel in off-season time, could take a smaller unit, or would find other Points alternatives acceptable, my answer would be different.