Has anyone used World Passport Collection?

[colleenlg]

This would be the primary reason we would buy into a Disney timeshare. A 1br at 160 pts for 1 wk sounds like a good deal to me at a European or American location, but everyone on the board seems to think that points are best used only at WDW timeshares. Why?

Thank you!

 

[Anewman]

This would be the primary reason we would buy into a Disney timeshare. A 1br at 160 pts for 1 wk sounds like a good deal to me at a European or American location, but everyone on the board seems to think that points are best used only at WDW timeshares. Why?

Thank you!

I would say that it is because you can stay in Europe or the US anytime without having to pay 20k upfront. Also remember it is an exchange, you may not always get your first or even second choice on dates or locations.

And if one rents out their points, $1600(160points x $10) could get you some very nice accomidations in lots of places.


Not saying I would never consider exchanging out, just pointing out some of the reasoning. For me, it is more BIG PICTURE instead of "this one vacation". So even if I did not maximize value on this years vaction, it matters not aslong as my family enjoyed themselves. And I will go to WDW enough to make buying worth it to us.

 

[rocketriter]

There's no free lunch. On one hand, when you use points to trade out you must either choose from the very small number of resorts that are "in stock" for instant trades at a particular moment, or do research on which trades will get accomodations of good enough quality and then wait for months to see if any of them come through for you. On the other hand, when you take an alternate route you must either set up a renting deal with a stranger to get the dollar value of your points and then research condos to rent from another stranger, or invest in an additional timeshare from another company and then juggle multiple timeshare point sets. Both routes can be done cleverly and successfully, but neither one is as reliable and transparent as booking accomodations within the DVC villa system.

Our family does trade out from time to time. But we do our homework and either request something "in stock" or something we know is good quality and easy to get. We don't waste time on questionable properties or on great properties that are long shots. And we do invest most of our points in use at DVC villas.

 

[Dean]

This would be the primary reason we would buy into a Disney timeshare. A 1br at 160 pts for 1 wk sounds like a good deal to me at a European or American location, but everyone on the board seems to think that points are best used only at WDW timeshares. Why?

Thank you!

Buying DVC to trade would not be a good choice. While 160 points may sound like a good deal, it frequently is not. Most of those resorts and times of year, you could rent the same or comparable option for half that cost. And remember this is timeshare trading. No guarantees other than the good places during peak times will be almost impossible to get. If you want something simply for exchanging, buy something you get get for 10% of DVC and will have dues half or less. It will give you far more trading options and direct access to II. If you try to do it through DVC, you lose out on far too much in addition to the FAR higher costs associate. Through DVC there is:

• No direct access to II either by phone or the website.
• No online trading.
• No wish book.
• You only have access to about 20% of the II properties
• No getaways to purchase.
• No Accomodation Certificates (change to get 2 exchanges for one deposit).
• No real chance to trade up in unit size.
• No reduction in cost during the 60 day flexchange window.

 

[colleenlg]

Wow! Thanks for responding. This certainly will affect our decision (not) to buy!
-Colleen (OP)

 

[mmorten]

Hi
We are in the "thinking" mode too....
I am really confused about the World Passport collection...
how do you know what is "in stock" and what you have to trade for? They guy selling it made it seem very seamless... Is it impossible to trade for Europe and Hawaii?
I would want to use world passport every 3 or 4 years so this is a big deal for us.
Also we would really use part of our time at the HH resort too - can you get a reservation there? (in June?) or do all the owners there use them first.
Sorry for all the questions but all of this info here is very different than what the sales guy at disney told us. He made it sound so easy to go wherever you wanted.
Thanks

 

[Dean]

Hi
We are in the "thinking" mode too....
I am really confused about the World Passport collection...
how do you know what is "in stock" and what you have to trade for? They guy selling it made it seem very seamless... Is it impossible to trade for Europe and Hawaii?
I would want to use world passport every 3 or 4 years so this is a big deal for us.
Also we would really use part of our time at the HH resort too - can you get a reservation there? (in June?) or do all the owners there use them first.
Sorry for all the questions but all of this info here is very different than what the sales guy at disney told us. He made it sound so easy to go wherever you wanted.
Thanks

Timeshare trading is not, nor has it ever been, seamless. it requires planning ahead, learning the system and quite a bit of work. There are certainly positives to the DVC exchange system for the right person. That is one who owns for DVC and tries for the really good stuff on occasion and is willing to move on if they don't get it. Most timeshare exchanges are for mid to off season, lower demand and lower quality resorts. That's not to say that there aren't success stories, there are. Just not enough to justify owning for this purpose. If you want the hard to get stuff it's too difficult and unpredictable. If you want the easy to get stuff, no reason shelling out for DVC when something that is a LOT cheaper would actually do better.

There certainly are people that fall in between and have to make a decision of what's best overall. Someone that doesn't plan to do enough to justify going the regular timeshare route but want to test the waters at times. In this situation I'd say renting from timeshare owners or condos is a better choice as is doing private exchanges with other timeshare owners at times.

If anyone implied it'd be easy to get Europe during peak times or HI any time, they were misleading you. That's not to say there aren't windows of opportunities, there are. Still too many uncertainties and risk of not being successful to make buying with this purpose in mind a reasonable choice. And DVC is not alone in that respect. I am in the same boat with my 3 Marriott weeks where trading them would be a down trade for almost all options out there so I don't. I use them or rent them and I have units that are more specifically geared toward exchanging.

 

[MouseKids]

I am also in the OP's position--would like to use points for Europe, if we buy in. I have no (big) problem with needing to plan far in advance, but is there any way to find out what trades might be available during certain times? For example, the last two weeks of May are a good time for us to travel, and usually not as much of a peak season as July or AUgust. Is there any way for me to find out what our chances of getting a trade in Europe would be?

 

[Dean]

I am also in the OP's position--would like to use points for Europe, if we buy in. I have no (big) problem with needing to plan far in advance, but is there any way to find out what trades might be available during certain times? For example, the last two weeks of May are a good time for us to travel, and usually not as much of a peak season as July or AUgust. Is there any way for me to find out what our chances of getting a trade in Europe would be?

No way to know what's going to be available ahead of time. You can ask an II member who has deposits or potential deposits to check online to see what they can see. I've done that for several people and don't mind doing so for others as long as it doesn't get too cumbersome. Looking through the II book at the Travel Demand Index for various places in Europe, May is certainly lower but likely not as much as you might think for man of the places, esp for southern Europe.

 

[MouseKids]

Thanks for the quick reply. DVC would be such a great option if not for the uncertainty about being able to trade! It's becoming clear(er) that the real value of DVC is for those who plan to use the points at DVC resorts at Disneyworld.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the quick reply. DVC would be such a great option if not for the uncertainty about being able to trade! It's becoming clear(er) that the real value of DVC is for those who plan to use the points at DVC resorts at Disneyworld.

Welcome to the world of timeshares, esp timeshare trading. There are no guarantees but there are ways to improve your chances for specific types of trades. One really needs to become educated about the system and trade options prior to buying in. Unfortunately this is not the way most do it as they make an impulse buy then have to try to figure out how to make it work.

DVC was my first timeshare purchase. But I quickly learned the ropes and went out and found a timeshare "to trade", then another, a Marriott second time. But I no longer own mainly to trade. I've moved to the model of own what I want to use and trade to supplement and for excitement (thrill of the chase). In the years I don't use my main holdings, I rent them out.