How did you use your RCI incentive wk?

[dr&momto2boys]

Has anyone else used their RCI certificate? Where and when are you going?

I know in the discussions I've been involved in, most people are disappointed in the very limited choices. I wonder if anyone else has booked theirs.

We received our certificate because we bought at the DWTD show in February. We just booked a week in Branson on December 11th. Reasons why:
We wanted to use the week sometime between Dec 2009- Feb 2010. Originally I wanted to go somewhere warm. But since we didn't find anything exceptional--and nothing that didn't require an upgrade fee or all-inclusive fees, we decided to go for a cheap vacation. We can drive to Branson (instead of spending $$$ on airfare.) Never been there, so would like to check it out once. The kids will like to see some of the Christmas activites there. We can even do our Christmas shopping. Some vacation is better than no vacation. The resort looks nice and no upgrade fee. It's a one bedroom (which is ine for us) but we called the resort and they said they would upgrade us for free if a two bedroom is available when we check-in.

So anyone else have any luck using their certificate or are you waiting for better options to come along?

 

[jaurban]

Did you book on line or call? I don't want to take my DD out of school again next year, as she will miss a few days in October when we planned to go to WDW and attend MNSSHP. So, we are limited to about 2 weeks this August, or taking a chance on next summer (but will do incentive cruise, need to take spring break off as no child care, and planned to to WDW with our new points with my brother and family - so used up all my vacation days in 2010 already).

I may give it to my sister, whose son is in high school, so she can go off season.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We booked on-line. We did call last week to see if there was any easier way to see what was available instead of their tedious search method, but they said they use the same site to see what is available. That must drive them crazy!

I know what you mean with limited times to travel-- even though our three kids are all younger than school age (until Fall 2010.) There are so many vacations we want to take, and not enough time to do it. Work sure gets in the way!

We booked our 7 day cruise for September 12th this year. We plan to go to Universal for 3 days before that (prompted by having a free 7 day pass from the Superbowl promo.)

This Branson trip in December is due to the free RCI certificate.

We have a big extended family trip planned for early May 2010. We're hoping to book a GV at BLT. (The reason for buying more points and getting these incentives.)

Then we are using our "other" timeshare to trade for an Orlando week in December 2010 to go to WDW at Christmastime for the first time.

And finally, to take full advantage of our AP's (also a first), we'll plan a trip in April or May 2011 with our BWV points.

I'm finally feeling like I fit in around here...having 4 Disney trips in the works!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Interesting statement on our confirmation email from RCI...

Resort Vacation Certificates are made available by Resort Rental, LLC (operating as Holiday Rentals, LLC in IN, MD and TX) and are for redemption during shoulder and off-season periods with Summer and Holiday weeks unavailable and shall consist exclusively of excess vacation time selected by Group RCI and subject to availability.

So, in case anyone's holding out for better offerings in the summer months...

This certainly is not the way they made it sound at the travel show! They said something like, "So where will you go...Las Vegas, Paris...?"

 

[stitch1094]

Has anyone else used their RCI certificate? Where and when are you going?

Ummm......what certificate?!?!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Ummm......what certificate?!?!

It was one of the incentives for purchasing an add-on at the travel show at the Doorway to Dreams event in February. Also I read it was part of the incentives to purchase at a recent VGC sales event.

Don't worry, you're not missing anything!

 

[jaurban]

Just to be clear, the certificate and its terms and conditions we are speaking about is only for the RCI incentive week and should not be confused with using your DVC points to trade into a week. I think there are very different terms and conditions and availability for that.

Part of the disappointment with the certificate is that the presenters focused on how you would use DVC points for a trade with RCI, and not on the incentive, and the guides did not make a point of explaining that distinction (and maybe did not even know). So, when you try to reserve a vacation with it, there are not many choices that work, especially when you have school age children. Then you feel like you got an incentive that is not worth too much.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Just to be clear, the certificate and its terms and conditions we are speaking about is only for the RCI incentive week and should not be confused with using your DVC points to trade into a week. I think there are very different terms and conditions and availability for that.

Part of the disappointment with the certificate is that the presenters focused on how you would use DVC points for a trade with RCI, and not on the incentive, and the guides did not make a point of explaining that distinction (and maybe did not even know). So, when you try to reserve a vacation with it, there are not many choices that work, especially when you have school age children. Then you feel like you got an incentive that is not worth too much.

Exactly. Thanks for clarifying. If you traded your DVC points into RCI, you should be able to get very good options! These certificates are completely different. (But they certainly didn't make that clear at the presentation.)