Grrrrr RCI

[snarfblatt]

So like everyone else we booked this trip over a year ago, at Sherton Vistana
We traded in two weeks, a sleep 8 and a sleep 6

So I did the Diamond Lane last week just requested newer units, and together since one of the units is for my MIL...

I get contacted yesterday (we leave in 2 days) that the sleep 8 unit is in the Palms (renovated)...and the sleeps 6 unit is in the Courts (not renovated)

Ok they're not together..that's par for the course in my experience with hotels, but to put one in a nicer room then the other is not cool

So of course they say they can't do anything, I have to contact RCI..

Seems that Vistana, in their, renovating are changing everything over to sleeps 8, except the Courts.....

Now I will have to listen to her be a martyr all week about how she took one for the team and is taking the lesser room....

PleaseGods of Disney do not make this a foreshadowing of our trip


Do you think I will have any luck at check in, face to face...asking to have her near us (remind me at the end of the trip that I asked for that )

 

[shalom]

Do you think I will have any luck at check in, face to face...asking to have her near us (remind me at the end of the trip that I asked for that )

It's worth a shot, but your odds don't look good.

If you can't switch because you've got eight with you, tell your MIL she can have the nicer one, as long as she takes a couple of kids with it.

 

[Detailor]

I think it's probably a combination of the check-in day and the size of the villa. Several of the original phases at this resort were set up for maximum occupancy of six while the the more recent phases (chiefly since Starwood purchased the Vistana resort family) were built for max occupancy of eight. If they're moving to a standard of max eight that's good (though I'd think that would be pretty tight for some of the original villas due to the size of some) but it won't help you for your trip.

I assume that you're checking in on a Saturday as I believe that's the only check-in day for the Courts section. And, while I don't know, that may be the only section with the configuration that you traded for through RCI that checks in on Saturday.

While it won't be helpful...
RCI can only give you inventory that's been exchanged through them. If they don't have another sleeps six in another phase of the resort for your check-in date then they can't change that.
Likewise, the resort will only supply what you've exchanged for and agreed to through the exchange company.

I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope that Vistana will change your accommodations at check-in time. It's not my experience that they'll make much of an effort to upgrade unless a reservation has been made directly through Starwood rather than a timeshare exchange company.

If it were me and I wanted to avoid Courts at all costs, I'd go back to RCI and ask if they have any inventory for the check-in date for a sleeps eight villa. If they have such inventory, you may have to pay an additional exchange fee to cancel your original exchange and grab a new one but wouldn't that be better than being upset about this whole thing (or risking MIL displeasure)?

Good luck.

Dick Taylor

 

[Brian Noble]

Unfortunately, I think Dick is right on this. It's very possible that sleep-six units on specific check-in days *have to* be in Courts. (This is one of the reasons I avoid exchanging into the sleep-sixes).

As an aside, Courts *is* scheduled for a refurbishment as well---it just hasn't happened yet. I think they slipped their schedule, but it is possible that some of the buildings in that section have been done. If so, you might see if you can get a unit in one of them by being willing to wait for it later into the day.

https://www.mystarcentral.com/CMS/en_US/svo_media/CMSMedia/PDF/misc/Courts_Makeover_Brochure.pdf

But, this isn't RCI's fault, any more than it's RCI's fault that, say, Old Key West inbounds are never placed in the Hospitality House section. DVC simply never deposits those.

 

[bankr63]

Courts refurbishment is now set for February through August 2011. We own a Courts unit and love it. Yes, it is a "bit" tired, but we are talking Sheraton managed here. A bit tired in a Sheraton is still much better than most other accomodation options. Our last visit in March 2010 found everything still in proper repair, clean, and serviceable. If you can live without granite countertops and beige walls for a week, then Courts will do just fine!

Note that you will be in a lower unit in Courts as well. Upper units (2 storey townhomes) sleep 8. Also be aware that your Palms unit may front SR535 (Apopka-Vineland). Half the Saturday checkin buildings do. Avoid buildings 7-10 and try for 11-14.