II Exchange - Short Notice

[WolfpackFan]

Is it possible to do exchanges on very short notice. For example, if I called MS in say April 2008 and asked them to search for an exchange anytime during the Summer of 2008, would we be able to get anything? We would probably consider a number of different locations. Has anyone else ever done this?

 

[disney4me4ever]

If you have an idea of the properties or regions you would want to exchange for, why wait til next April to initiate the search? You could do that now, and just specify that the dates you want would be for summer 2008. That way, if a match became available beforehand, you would have a good chance of getting it, even though you wouldn't be travelling until summer 2008. If you're still confused, call MS and they might be able to explain better. Good luck!

 

[WolfpackFan]

If you have an idea of the properties or regions you would want to exchange for, why wait til next April to initiate the search? You could do that now, and just specify that the dates you want would be for summer 2008. That way, if a match became available beforehand, you would have a good chance of getting it, even though you wouldn't be travelling until summer 2008. If you're still confused, call MS and they might be able to explain better. Good luck!

The problem is, I don't have the points now to do the exchange and it's my understanding that they take the points when the exchange is made. I wouldn't have enough points until April 2008, when I'd be able to borrow from 2009. But we would want to do the exchange Summer 2008. Some places I'm thinking are Williamsburg, Va or Boston.

 

[Starr W.]

The problem is, I don't have the points now to do the exchange and it's my understanding that they take the points when the exchange is made. I wouldn't have enough points until April 2008, when I'd be able to borrow from 2009. But we would want to do the exchange Summer 2008. Some places I'm thinking are Williamsburg, Va or Boston.

Do some research on Williamsburg, VA as I have read not so good reviews of some of the Marriott properties(though I have to think some were not used to timeshare stays). Try Trip Advisor !

 

[disneydenisel]

Could it work out that you find a place that you like and pay cash? Then rent your points out to cover the cost.

That way, you could reserve a place you want well in advance, and rent your points when they become available.

I think that in general, last minute exchanges are tricky, and if you are looking for popular places, pretty difficult to get.

 

[Dean]

The problem is, I don't have the points now to do the exchange and it's my understanding that they take the points when the exchange is made. I wouldn't have enough points until April 2008, when I'd be able to borrow from 2009. But we would want to do the exchange Summer 2008. Some places I'm thinking are Williamsburg, Va or Boston.

Disney generally takes the points for the use year the exchange occurs. So if you are in 1 use year now and the exchange is in your next, you should be OK if you have the points then. MS is usually pretty good about working with you though if you don't have the points. You may want to call them to be sure. As for searching on that short notice, it's even more difficult to find anything worthwhile but some do get lucky. You may do better renting from other timeshare members if you want something that short notice.

If you have a friend who is an II member, see if you can get them to help you out. Email me directly and I can likely give you a little additional info that might help you out.

 

[sk8belle]

In early January, I was able to make a reservation, in high season, for a studio at the Grand Timber Lodge in Breckenridge, CO for the week after Easter in April. So for that popular (according to the research I did) resort in a busy season, it was possible to make a last minute reservation. Not sure if it'll be the same during the summer months, but apparently it's not out of the realm of possiblity.

 

[bpmorley]

I haven't had any luck trading for anything. No matter how much advance notice I give them.

 

[Merilyn]

We have traded several time and have stayed at the Marriott in Williamsburg. It was very nice. We always try to trade to Marriotts because we find them to be as good as DVC in most instances. We weren't happy with our Marriott trade in HH though. We were at least 10 minutes from the water and that was why we traded there. We could have stayed at DVC HH and been that close. Over all we have never had any trouble trading out. We have not tried for the really hard locations like HI or Aruba, etc. We have been to CA, HH, and Williamsburg and stayed at Marriotts. We have been to NYC and Washington and traded to hotels there. I don't think you will have any trouble trading to Willaimsburg but I don't know about Boston. Good luck.

 

[Dean]

We have traded several time and have stayed at the Marriott in Williamsburg. It was very nice. We always try to trade to Marriotts because we find them to be as good as DVC in most instances. We weren't happy with our Marriott trade in HH though. We were at least 10 minutes from the water and that was why we traded there. We could have stayed at DVC HH and been that close. Over all we have never had any trouble trading out. We have not tried for the really hard locations like HI or Aruba, etc. We have been to CA, HH, and Williamsburg and stayed at Marriotts. We have been to NYC and Washington and traded to hotels there. I don't think you will have any trouble trading to Willaimsburg but I don't know about Boston. Good luck.

I'm assuming you were at Harbour Club in Sea Pines as the next furthest option would be the garden view units at Barony and while they aren't super close, they are certainly not 10 minutes walking. But it does illustrate that you need to know what you're getting into with each resort and not make assumptions.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Dean and others - For our first exchange, we are specifically interested in Marriott's Fords Colony in Williamsburg or in Marriott's Custom House in Boston. Our preference would be Boston. We have been to both places and in fact we go to Williamsburg at least once or twice a year, but we've never stayed at Fords Colony. From what I've read I think Fords Colony is a fairly easy exchange. How about the Custom House though. Has anyone ever exchanged there?

 

[BroganMc]

Dean and others - For our first exchange, we are specifically interested in Marriott's Fords Colony in Williamsburg or in Marriott's Custom House in Boston. Our preference would be Boston. We have been to both places and in fact we go to Williamsburg at least once or twice a year, but we've never stayed at Fords Colony. From what I've read I think Fords Colony is a fairly easy exchange. How about the Custom House though. Has anyone ever exchanged there?

I'm a Marriott owner who just happens to own at Marriott's Ford's Colony. I'd be surprised if this was an "easy" exchange in summer. The resort is usually booked early... like 9 months out. If you're thinking of going the last two weeks of June and first two weeks of July, it'll be a hit-or-miss proposition.

My SIL was able to snag 4th of July week with an II Marriott trade. (Booking for '07 made Oct of '06.) But the same day I called to book my owner week. Both Marriott and II were full. I got the 3rd week of July instead.

As for the resort, it is one of the best. Small and intimate like VWL but inside a gated golfing community. Lot's of paved biking & hiking paths and a full compliment of activities for kids & families. They do group trips up to DC for the day, early morning bikes & hikes, scavenger hunts, pool parties, ice cream socials, etc.

It gets a lot of traffic in the summer months because everyone in the MidAtlantic region finds it an easier place to travel to. It's an afternoon's drive away from Maryland.

Haven't been to Boston yet. It's small so usually only studios are available via II trades. With marriott, you hate to trade a 2 bedroom for a studio.

EDITED TO ADD: You might want to look into either an earlier trading time or renting your points. Marriott usually has some time available for rent at Manor Club on short notice. We were able to book a 2 bedroom and studio for a few days last August for family to join us. I believe we booked it in June. IIRC, rates were actually a bit cheaper than Disney's cash rates. A two bedroom villa for 4th of July week this year is $354 (standard), $266 (AAA), $249 (Senior Citizen) a night or $2478 - $1743.

 

[WolfpackFan]

We've kind of changed our thoughts on short term and realize it's not very practical. We would not want to do Williamsburg in the Summer (been there and done it many times). We would prefer Fall or Spring. As far as size of unit, there is just two of us, so a studio or 1BR would be fine. We don't want to rent our points out. I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I guess what I'm going to do is in April 2008, I'm going to put in a request for Custom House or Fords Manor and just see what happens. I may also throw in some other possibilities when I call including some places in Arizona and California. I keep reading that the more flexibility you give MS as far as location and dates, the better your chances of getting an exchange. Whenever and wherever we can get a match would be fine unless it's in the dead of Winter.

PS - I know this has been discussed before, but I sure wish DVC had some type of interface available with II where we could pull up on the web what is available for exchange and when.

 

[beachblanket]

Do some research on Williamsburg, VA as I have read not so good reviews of some of the Marriott properties(though I have to think some were not used to timeshare stays). Try Trip Advisor !

We are staying at the Marriott Fords Colony in Williamsburg this August via a II exchange.

On the issue of "short notice," I'm with others here, this is not a good choice to get space during high season on short notice. While I did get a summer week, we booked relatively far in advance (on Dec 1 of last year); I called MS that day looking to trade for a week in a 2BR in late July or August; at that time the only 2BR week available was in mid August.

As for the quality of that resort, if your really drill into specific reviews of that property from II members, you'll find it rates generally quite well.

 

[BroganMc]

We've kind of changed our thoughts on short term and realize it's not very practical. We would not want to do Williamsburg in the Summer (been there and done it many times). We would prefer Fall or Spring. As far as size of unit, there is just two of us, so a studio or 1BR would be fine.

Then you might make out just fine. Generally last two weeks of June to the last two weeks of August are considered Peak Season and are booked early. It's also fairly crowded.

If it weren't for my school age nieces and nephews, I'd prefer late August or early Spring travel there. For years I'd go in March/April. Beautiful time of year, sunny but not the blazing Southern summer heat.

PS - I know this has been discussed before, but I sure wish DVC had some type of interface available with II where we could pull up on the web what is available for exchange and when.

True. One of the best things about being a Marriott owner is your full membership in II. I currently have two weeks on deposit with them. I'll log on and check availability when it gets really cold or boring around here. You'd be surprised what pops up. I once got a 3 bedroom for 2 weeks in Orlando one October. Hawaii is usually just studios and 1 bedrooms though. Myrtle Beach almost never comes up.

 

[bpmorley]

PS - I know this has been discussed before, but I sure wish DVC had some type of interface available with II where we could pull up on the web what is available for exchange and when.

That would be great. I think we should all call MS and ask about it. You never know what the power of numbers can do

 

[Dean]

Dean and others - For our first exchange, we are specifically interested in Marriott's Fords Colony in Williamsburg or in Marriott's Custom House in Boston. Our preference would be Boston. We have been to both places and in fact we go to Williamsburg at least once or twice a year, but we've never stayed at Fords Colony. From what I've read I think Fords Colony is a fairly easy exchange. How about the Custom House though. Has anyone ever exchanged there?

Manor Club is an EASY exchange overall even for a 2 BR and not that difficult even for 4th of July in large part. Williamsburg is close to Branson and Orlando in having a glut compared to availability, Vegas is not far behind now. Custom House is much tougher but only has 1 BR units though they are larger 1 BR. CH is not supper hard for certain times of the year but is for much of the year so I'd put in for CH only and early then add Manor Club much later if you don't get what you need otherwise. Currently there is something for Williamsburg sitting on line for Marriott for every week this summer except 4th of July with a 2 BR for about half the weeks and at lest a 1 BR plus a studio there for most of them.

PS - I know this has been discussed before, but I sure wish DVC had some type of interface available with II where we could pull up on the web what is available for exchange and when.

Personally I wish they would just let us join II and use it like any other timeshare we own. But knowing DVC's nature and need to be in control, I don't think that'll ever happen. What you could do would be to buy another timeshare and join II then you could play around and see what's there. But if you did you'd likely not want to give up your DVC points to make an exchange you could easily get with something far less costly.

 

[beachblanket]

Manor Club is an EASY exchange overall even for a 2 BR and not that difficult even for 4th of July in large part.

It wasn't for this coming summer - we checked availability for a 2BR during the summer starting over a year out, and the only thing available was one week in mid August.

 

[Dean]

It wasn't for this coming summer - we checked availability for a 2BR during the summer starting over a year out, and the only thing available was one week in mid August.

There are a ton there now and generally always are. I look at this resort periodically through the year and it routinely is easily available. Of course that's using Marriott to look which does give an advantage. Did you put in an ongoing search or just ask them to check. To have any success with the exchange system you need to place an ongoing search and be prepared to let it ride until at least about 3-4 months prior to your planned visit though this request should easily match by 11 months out and frequently right at 12 months out.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Thanks Dean, I think I will do exactly what you advise.