Help! RCI-DVC-II Magical Mayhem

[Brian Noble]

I was on probably about 10 times a day.

In addition to checking frequently, I would strongly encourage placing an ongoing search. With the new trade power levels that seem to be in effect, the window of availability for units online is *very* narrow. Yesterday, 20 of the 40-some deposited units that made it past searches were taken in the first two hours.

 

[ldo]

I noticed right around Easter last year that there were more Friday check-ins. If you really want DVC, you might consider adding a Friday check-in to your search (DVC deposits fri/sat/sun check-ins) and then just arriving a day late (call and let them know). We did this last year--including taking the autotrain. Got off the train and into our room by 10:30 AM! We paid OOP for Friday night at a Marriott at the end of our trip--but it was worth it to us to get a DVC Spring break week using RCI.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Thanks everyone- we do have an ongoing search and I am checking a lot. I'm going to add the Friday check-in as Ido suggested, too. We were planning on paying OOP for 2 nights at AKL with our previous condo anyway, so being able to check-in right away and use our first day would be a big plus. I've checked 3 times today and the availability has been all over the place- at least one -2br, Studios in just about every month from Nov to May, 1 bedroom hear and there. Nothing in our week yet, but I'm still hopeful, especially after ccgirl's note. I think my mom's banked 2 br was plenty to get the kind of offer we need. Thanks for all the positive thoughts! I'll keep you updated!

 

[lmshaggard]

We own DVC and a RCI weeks resort in Mexico. I had an ongoing search set, but noticed it wasn't always picking up everything. I would highly suggest checking frequently. I saw the most available weeks late at night around midnight or 1am. I picked up an OKW 1 bdrm 4/8-4/15 (fri-fri) on June 17th. We have also stayed at Orange Lake (right by AK) and it was fine. They always seem to have a ton of units available especially 2 bdrms and it is very close. There is actually a little toll road that gives you quick access to Disney with no traffic

 

[Wiloughby1]

Thanks Lms! I'll try at night! We did add the Fri-Fri since everyone seems to get better luck with that. How long did you have to wait between the first day looking and when your week showed up?

Anyone else with success? How many days/weeks/months till you found a match?

 

[Brian Noble]

Anyone else with success? How many days/weeks/months till you found a match?

Things seem to be deposited in two "waves." One at 10-11 months prior to use, and one between 6-7 months prior to use. That's not surprising, given DVC's internal reservation model. The 11-month deposits seem to be at the larger resorts most often, but not always. You've just missed the 11-month "wave" for late April, though clearly we're still seeing a few weeks go in. There will be another one as we get into the fall---if you're going to get something for late April, it should come through not much later than late October.

If we get to November, start expanding the set of resorts you would consider (and by that time, many of the better places, e.g. the Hiltons or Bonnet Creek, are likely to be gone.)

 

[ccgirl]

Things seem to be deposited in two "waves." One at 10-11 months prior to use, and one between 6-7 months prior to use. That's not surprising, given DVC's internal reservation model. The 11-month deposits seem to be at the larger resorts most often, but not always. You've just missed the 11-month "wave" for late April, though clearly we're still seeing a few weeks go in. There will be another one as we get into the fall---if you're going to get something for late April, it should come through not much later than late October.

If we get to November, start expanding the set of resorts you would consider (and by that time, many of the better places, e.g. the Hiltons or Bonnet Creek, are likely to be gone.)

That explains it! That was the pattern I was seeing last year when I traded in. Makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Brian Noble]

Yeah, it's not perfect---the waves are kind of "smooshed"---but that seems to be the bulk of it. And, it doesn't always happen. The 11-month wave more or less "skipped" next February---a few units came in here and there, but not reliably. (It was really annoying, because I was looking for a unit for next February!) I tend to be picky during the 11-month wave, but a lot more open to taking what I can get when the 7-month wave starts.

There are a few others that are relatively predictable. For example, Wyndham tends to deposit monthly, about 8-9 months prior to use. Their internal reservation calendar has a 13-month home-resort priority date, and a 10-month "points are points" date. So, a month or two after owners have had a crack at inventory, Wyndham deposits the leftovers.

WorldMark looks like it has a pattern, too, but I haven't spent enough time tracking those resorts to know what it is. Bluegreen and Hilton seem to deposit in bigger "chunks"---several months at a time in one big bulk banking.

I had an ongoing search set, but noticed it wasn't always picking up everything. I would highly suggest checking frequently.

I've had both experiences---ongoing searches that matched things that I *never* saw online, and online units that should have matched something but didn't. So, check frequently *and* keep an ongoing search.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Thanks Brian! You've offered so much useful information! Which resorts are considered the "big" ones? Hopefully we'll see something mid-October. Otherwise we'll have to make some serious decisions.

Can I pick your brain about Bankability? How do we know if we are bankable enough to get a 2bdrm? Is is possible that we are waiting around without a shot? My mom put in a 2 bdrm/full kitchen "Red Week" at the Wyndham Santa Barbara in Pompano. I think I only saw one 2bdrm DVC go through since I have been looking and I think it was a Jan/Feb, so maybe Value season? And I can't remember if it was at the park or HH or Vero. Is there any way to know? The agent seemed to think it was fine, but do they really know?

TIA,
Autumn

 

[ccgirl]

Thanks Brian! You've offered so much useful information! Which resorts are considered the "big" ones? Hopefully we'll see something mid-October. Otherwise we'll have to make some serious decisions.

Can I pick your brain about Bankability? How do we know if we are bankable enough to get a 2bdrm? Is is possible that we are waiting around without a shot? My mom put in a 2 bdrm/full kitchen "Red Week" at the Wyndham Santa Barbara in Pompano. I think I only saw one 2bdrm DVC go through since I have been looking and I think it was a Jan/Feb, so maybe Value season? And I can't remember if it was at the park or HH or Vero. Is there any way to know? The agent seemed to think it was fine, but do they really know?

TIA,
Autumn

Should be fine since you banked a 2BR. It's when you bank under that and want a 2BR that it gets tricky. I banked a studio but because it was Hawaii, was able to get a 2BR. I believe RCI will tell you that you will get "at least" the same size you own but you have the option to opt for smaller unit. I will tell you there wasn't a whole lot of availability for 2BR's when I traded. I think it was just BWV and Saratoga. There were a lot of 1BR. Honestly, the 1BR would have been just fine for my family. Would you consider staying in a 1BR? Good luck!

 

[Wiloughby1]

Unfortunately we can't do a 1 br because it's both of my parents, DH, me, DS and DD. DD counts as an infant, but even without counting her we are still 5. We have considered taking a 1 br if it shows up at OKW and then booking a studio there OOP. It is a less expensive option to have the condo amenities in the park. We'll give it until late October at least, I guess.

 

[Brian Noble]

Which resorts are considered the "big" ones

SSR and OKW.

How do we know if we are bankable enough to get a 2bdrm? Is is possible that we are waiting around without a shot? ... I think I only saw one 2bdrm DVC go through since I have been looking and I think it was a Jan/Feb, so maybe Value season?

Well, right now there are three 2BRs in the spacebank:

Disney's Old Key West Resort (#DV05) 2 available units
Lake Buena Vista
FL, 32830
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date Range
12-Feb-2011 -
22-Apr-2011


Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (#DV06) 1 available unit
Lake Buena Vista
FL, 32830
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date
11-Feb-2011

Those two early February weeks in particular are at a relatively slow time. If you don't see any of those, you can probably assume that it is unlikely that you will see any for your desired week.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you aren't seeing the 2BRs, I'd encourage you to add Bonnet Creek to your list now. You've got probably 2 months, give or take, before Wyndham deposits a late April/early May week at Bonnet.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Hmmm, I looked 2 hours after you posted and I don't see them. That could be a bad sign, if they are still there for you. Thanks for the checking. I'll see about adding Bonnet Creek.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Brian, Can I ask what you have banked that let you see those, for comparison? Is this with a DVC week of yours or an RCI week?

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, the Easter week is gone, but two others are still there. Not a good sign.

Disney's Old Key West Resort (#DV05) 1 available unit
Lake Buena Vista
FL, 32830
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date
12-Feb-2011



Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (#DV06) 1 available unit
Lake Buena Vista
FL, 32830
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date
11-Feb-2011

Of the other available RCI weeks for that time, here are the ones I'd consider. The 3BR Hilton would be the best of these for you. The Cypress Harbour week is a Marriott--that will be very nice. The 3BR Cypress Pointe would also be okay---it's a bit of a sleeper.

Cypress Harbour (#2619) 1 available unit
Orlando
FL, 32821
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date
29-Apr-2011


Cypress Pointe Resort (#2750) 1 available unit
Orlando
FL, 32836
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
3 BR
Check-In Date
01-May-2011



Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center (#3517) 4 available units
Orlando
FL, 32821
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
3 BR
Check-In Date Range
29-Apr-2011 -
01-May-2011


Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive (#6309) 1 available unit
Orlando
FL, 32821
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
2 BR
Check-In Date
29-Apr-2011

Edited: if you aren't seeing DVC 2BRs, you might also not see the Hilton 3BR.

 

[Dean]

Should be fine since you banked a 2BR. It's when you bank under that and want a 2BR that it gets tricky. I banked a studio but because it was Hawaii, was able to get a 2BR. I believe RCI will tell you that you will get "at least" the same size you own but you have the option to opt for smaller unit. I will tell you there wasn't a whole lot of availability for 2BR's when I traded. I think it was just BWV and Saratoga. There were a lot of 1BR. Honestly, the 1BR would have been just fine for my family. Would you consider staying in a 1BR? Good luck!

DVC will deposits more 1 BR than 2 BR and almost never for 3 BR units with a handful of exceptions. With II the unit size you deposit is fairly important, not nearly so much so with RCI in my experience. The actual trade power seems far more important in RCI than the unit size though obviously unit size does play into trade power. It sounds like they are up against the limits on trade power since they're seeing 1 BR but not the available 2 BR units. I've traded in several times with II using 1 BR units for 2 BR but you need a strong trader though some have seemed to see that need go down recently as Brian stated.

 

[Wiloughby1]

We can't see the 3 bedroom at the Hilton. We are seeing lots of 2br at Orange Lake. In light of this new perspective- my mom wants to call tomorrow, see what the agent says about what is available vs. what we can see (she doesn't believe me since the agent INSISTED that she should be able to get 2brs for her week. she also thinks that someone can steal her identity if she sets up a Mii on her Wii with the internet, so it takes more proof for her, so you know, she needs some more convincing than most) and make some decisions. We might go with the Holiday Inn Orange Lake North.

At this point I'm just so stressed out! Why can't my family just book hotels like normal folks?

Thanks again to everyone who has offered advice and insight. This could have been MUCH worse without all your knowledge!

 

[ccgirl]

Searching up against my Hawaii week I am only seeing 2 resorts at this point in WDW for 5 Feb - 14May.

OKW
1 BR
5 avail

Saratoga Springs
Studio
1 BR
4 available

I am seeing a total of 65 resorts when I search with the keyword of Disney though. How many do you see?

Orange Lake is a lovely place. I have a friend that owns there and actually stays in the resort for a couple of days because there is so much to do. It is in a very convenient location. There is a Publix right down the street. You would be closest to Animal Kingdom.

Good luck!

 

[Wiloughby1]

I see 79 resorts with the keyword Disney, and I show 2 units at each. We have pretty much decided to swap weeks straight through my parents' home resort, Star Island. If we can't get what we want, then we are going with Orange Lake. My mom is leaving the week banked with RCI and banking another to try to get on site for October 2012.

DH and I talk about going on our own without my parents, but with little kids it means we can actually do more as a family, b/c they can stay with DD while we take DS on bigger kid rides, etc. But traveling as 6 makes it harder

I want to let everyone know I appreciate all the help. My parents rarely bank and it's hard for me to tell them how to work within the system without knowing anything about it myself. I'm really a planner myself. What I have learned from this is what a lot of people say: DVC is great for some and not for others, as timeshares are in general. The unpredictable nature of waiting to see what you can get is stressful for me! I want to know where I am staying, when, what accommodations, etc. I do envy the resorts, though.

I appreciate all your knowledge and all the bank-checking everyone has done! I learn a lot on DIS! I may not know much about timeshares, but if you ever need help with placing your kids in gifted programs or educational assessment, I've got you covered!

Thanks again!
Autumn