Goodbye RCI

[DarthCoop]

I inherited points in a different TimeShare company but have used RCI to book into DVC (always a 1BR at SSR but OKW has had availability) at least once for the last several years. I believe each company has a different agreement with RCI. We've always had an exchange fee (it's the same amount for any exchange not just DVC) and we don't deposit points into RCI we need to book a reservation (it can then be cancelled which is pretty much the same as depositing points). We'll miss being able to book into DVC since the price was so good and it was convenient being in the bubble but there are properties for our TimeShare within a few miles that will lessen the sting for us.

 

[gharter]

Not a big loss for us.
Over the last year when we lost 2 trips, we looked at RCI and honestly could not find a place we wanted to use the points.
Very happy we were able to rent them instead.
We will look at the new group. I don't expect to use our points there either, but who knows.

 

[chalee94]

In practice the last several years the RCI options for trading in have very rarely been anything but full weeks in 1BRs at SSR. Curious if that changes, but I assume it won’t (and if it does it will be 1BRs at OKW).

Here’s hoping II can be understood without the secret code hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence.

II is even more secretive IMO.

As WalloghbyWay posted on page 4, II trades don't involve numerical trading power. You either get the trade or you don't. It's hard to know beforehand if you will qualify.

 

[chalee94]

Will the membership into II be included in our dues as RCI’s was or are we now paying for it? We also didn’t pay exchange fees with RCI , now we have to? TIA, Dee

I don't think RCI membership fees were included in our dues. DVC is the member of RCI, not us as individual DVC members. That's why for a long time we didn't have access to cash RCI weeks like Last Call.

It will be interesting to see if DVC members have access to cash II weeks (Getaways).

(Since I have access to II already, I may kinda hate the extra competition.)

 

[CarolynFH]

(Since I have access to II already, I may kinda hate the extra competition.)

If you’re worried about competition for Orlando area Getaways, RCI cash weeks in Orlando were blocked for DVC members, and I suspect it will be the same for II.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Interesting. Wonder if they have any properties by Disneyland Paris

 

[exchanger]

Interesting. Wonder if they have any properties by Disneyland Paris

Yes, Marriott does:

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pardp-marriotts-village-dile-de-france/

 

[Brian Noble]

...and it is often an easy exchange/cheap getaway in the off-season.

 

[CarolynFH]

...and it is often an easy exchange/cheap getaway in the off-season.

When is the off-season?

 

[Brian Noble]

Right now all of Jan and Feb are available with 2BRs ranging from $375 to $550 for the week.

 

[Kjdisney]

Can resale points be deposited into RCI or IL, or is this something that only direct purchase points can do?

 

[CarolynFH]

Right now all of Jan and Feb are available with 2BRs ranging from $375 to $550 for the week.

Wow, thanks. Maybe someday we’ll be able to book a few days in Paris before a Seine cruise, like we planned before.

 

[Brian Noble]

Can resale points be deposited into RCI or IL, or is this something that only direct purchase points can do?

This is available to all owners.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Yes, Marriott does:

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pardp-marriotts-village-dile-de-france/

I was super excited until I saw the room pictures. They look like they haven't been updated since the 70's

I will however keep an eye on points as we plan to make frequent trips to DLP from the UK and for the odd 2 night stay, it may work out well on points.

 

[Dean1953]

I’m disappointed in the switch. I never banked DVC points but used RCI several times to exchange into Saratoga, the next time is in January. I’m assuming that the $190 fee that Disney charges on check in remains the same or goes higher. The fee is supposed to be for the Magic Express and concierge services. I’ve never used the concierge services but did use the Magic Express. Now that it has been eliminated, the logical thing would be to reduce the fee. Knowing Disney, that isn’t going to happen. Since my membership with RCI goes to 2035 and my membership with II lapsed long ago, it’s very unlikely I will use II to either bank points or exchanges into Disney.

 

[Brian Noble]

The fee is supposed to be for the Magic Express and concierge services.

If you read the confirmation language very carefully, the fee entitles you to call Member Services to help with those things. The language from my most recent confirmation (emphasis added):

$190 mandatory resort fee charged at check-in. Fee includes but is not limited to services such as assistance with dining reservations, Disney’s Magical Express reservations and purchasing theme park tickets through DVC member services toll free number 800-800-9800.

This is at least moderately meaningful, in that renters and guests are not entitled to call Member Services.

However, if you've been following DVC exchanges for long enough, it seems clear that the real point of the fee is to transfer the cost of the exchange fee from DVC Members exchanging outbound to inbound exchangers. Before it was $190, it was $95---and at the time, DVC Members also paid $95 to confirm an exchange. The increase to $190 was coincident with waiving exchange fees for DVC Members.

So, I don't expect it to go down, because I don't expect DVCMC to suddenly negotiate a deal for its members that requires them to pay part of the exchange fees when RCI was happy to put the burden on inbounds.

 

[Eldon32]

DVC has published the "Buyers' Guide to Interval International Exchange Program for Disney Vacation Club". Still reading it....

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...ral-docs/MembershipExchangeNetworkUpdates.pdf
Not sure I can see inventory; but this may be useful to those who already can:


It also appears that there is no fee for DVC members, unless traded into a hotel:
"DVMC is responsible to pay the Exchange Fee for DVC Members to secure exchange Confirmations through the Exchange Program, with the exception of exchange requests through the Hotel Exchange Program. For exchange requests through the Hotel Exchange Program, the applicable DVC Member will be required to pay an Exchange Fee of US$95 at the time the exchange request is placed. The exchange fee associated with an exchange request made under the Hotel Exchange Program will be returned only if an exchange cannot be confirmed and cancellation of the applicable exchange request is received by II prior to Confirmation. "

 

[CarolynFH]

DVC has published the "Buyers' Guide to Interval International Exchange Program for Disney Vacation Club". Still reading it....

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...ral-docs/MembershipExchangeNetworkUpdates.pdf
Not sure I can see inventory; but this may be useful to those who already can:
View attachment 629769

It also appears that there is no fee for DVC members, unless traded into a hotel:
"DVMC is responsible to pay the Exchange Fee for DVC Members to secure exchange Confirmations through the Exchange Program, with the exception of exchange requests through the Hotel Exchange Program. For exchange requests through the Hotel Exchange Program, the applicable DVC Member will be required to pay an Exchange Fee of US$95 at the time the exchange request is placed. The exchange fee associated with an exchange request made under the Hotel Exchange Program will be returned only if an exchange cannot be confirmed and cancellation of the applicable exchange request is received by II prior to Confirmation. "

Thanks! I hope some folks who are familiar with II will help me understand this - especially the Interval Quality Tiers. Are those Tiers used in the regular II program, or are they new to DVC?

Edited to add, it looks like the most expensive 2 BR is 260 points for the most expensive week. Good to know!

 

[Brian Noble]

That's what are sometimes called the platinum/gold/silver ratings:

https://www.resortdeveloper.com/sit...gnition-incentives/resort-recognition-program

 

[CarolynFH]

That's what are sometimes called the platinum/gold/silver ratings:

https://www.resortdeveloper.com/sit...gnition-incentives/resort-recognition-program

Okay - does the actual II directory include those ratings for each resort? That would take a certain amount of uncertainty as to whether we had enough power to pull a given resort, but of course it doesn’t mean that resort will actually be available.