II trading with DVC?

[maciec]

First let me apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this question. I am hoping it's not and someone out there can answer my question. Also, please bear with my terminology.

My parents just bought a 2bdrm Marriott timeshare in West Palm Beach at a place called Ocean Pointe. Their months are April, October, and November (if that makes any sense) and they have 2 weeks.

They were told that they could trade using II. No problem there. We were looking at the resorts that II offers and noticed 3 DVC reosrts on their web-site. How does this work when DVC uses a different point system than II and how do you convert the II points into DVC points? We would like to get a week at one one of the DVC resorts for the first week of December 2003. Is this likely or should we not get our hopes up? Is it really hard to trade into Disney? Also, if there are more than 3 DVC resorts aren't all of the others affiliated with II?

Thanks for your time and your help. If this is the wrong place to ask these questions could someone point me to where I could ask and get the answers.

I think that this is the best and smartest bunch of people I have ever talked to. I also think that your answers to all Disney related questions are easier to understand than a person on the phone!

 

[ralphd]

All trades thru II are based on exchanging a week at your resort for a week at another resort. II must have a week deposited by a member of the resort (that you are interested in for an exchange).
Since a very small percentage of DVC members exchange thru II, they do not normally have many DVC weeks available. DVC will also determine what week and resort will be deposited for an exchange. This will normally be a Hilton Head or Old Key West off season week.
Marriott has a very good exchange program for their members, but a DVC exchange, while not impossible will be hard to pull off.

ralphd

 

[DVC California]

There are also many fine Marriott properties in the Orlando/WDW area. A few that would come to mind are the Marriott Royal/Sable/Imperial Palms near the Marriott Orlando World Center, the Marriott Grande Vista mega resort on International drive, and the Marriott Cypress Harbour, also on Intl. Dr. but closer to Sea World.

As Marriott Vacation Club members, your parents would have first choice (before it being deposited into Interval International) of any weeks those resort's owners may be trading.

I'm sure that Dean will chime in shortly with the merits (and trading power) of your parent's Ocean Pointe versus the Orlando Market. He is our resident expert (and owner) on Marriott and DVC.

Steve

 

[Dean]

So much information, where do I begin. First, I hope your parents bought Ocean Pointe to use mostly and not mostly for trading and NOT for the points options. It sounds like they bought 2 Silver weeks which are May 2 - June 1, 2003 and August 29 - December 21, 2003. While all of the DVC resorts are listed, only HH off season and OKW are real possibilities other than maybe a direct exchange. OKW will not be available Xmas and Easter and will have almost no availability for summer. If they can travel the times of year that they bought at OP, they might get OKW if they plan at least a year out and are very flexible.

The Marriott's in Orlando are nice and will be much easier for them to get. Depending on when they bought and what they want to use it for, they may want to consider cancelling their purchase. One usually has 30 days from signing the initial papers to cancel. If they want to do mostly trading, there are better options and cheaper out there. OP can also be found on the resale market at a savings for those that want to own there but aren't interested in the points option, which is over rated. If you buy resale, the only thing you lose is the ability to exchange for points, NOTHING else no matter what the sales people tell you.

As for "you can exchange there, no problem", that's nuts. It doesn't make any sense at all to guarantee an exchange. Remember that in order to get something, someone must give it up. If you owned at DVC resort in WDW, would you give it up. The top resorts at the top times have members that are unlikely to give them up, at least not to II. They rent them or do direct exchanges or use them, just like DVC members do.

If they want to use OP and exchange sometimes, they should do OK. If they want to exchange within Marriott, can plan a year out or more and can travel at other than peak times, they should do ok. If they keep it, make sure they schedule at exactly 13 months out and lockoff if they're planning to exchange or don't need a 2 BR. Multi week owners are able to book concurrent or consecutive weeks 13 months out otherwise it's only at 12 months. They should be on the phone when the system opens on the first day they can schedule in order to get what they want. They should do some homework and find out what the highest demand week is during their season and book that one for exchanging. The intricacies of an II exchange is beyond the scope of this post so you may want to go to Timeshare Users Group (TUG) where they have BBS including one specific to Marriott. Also a lot of info including help files, ratings and reviews of about 1800 resorts.

I hope this helps. Fire away the follow up questions either her or by direct email. Good luc.

 

[mickeyc]

I just returned form WDW today. A DVC cast member advised me all DVC members should be getting within a couple of weeks an explicit guide detailing the number of points needed to trade via interval international II. For example, if you want to trade to Hawaii a member would have to give up 160 pts. for a one bedroom.

When this guide is published it may provide some opportunities for your parents to trade the Marriott OP week.

Marriott is a good product . Also, I agree with the suggestion to use the TUG website. It provides timeshare users with a wealth of inforamtion. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by mickeyc
When this guide is published it may provide some opportunities for your parents to trade the Marriott OP week.

I'm confused. It sounds like DVC may be sending us written information that many of us already know, namely the basic points requirements for exchanges. How will this help someone else to exchange in? It will not allow a Marriott member to do an exchange directly with DVC.

 

[maciec]

Thanks for all of your help!

They bought the unit because they loved it! It is brand spankin new right on the beach. Because they were one of the first buyers they got an excellent deal on it price wise. They will do trading, but they will also use it. Whatever time they bought is considered "gold season or gold weeks".

They aren't all that interested in trading into Disney, but I sure am! I hope that they are lucky enough to get us in there. Otherwise, I would be happy I'm sure at one of the other Marriott resorts. Simply because it will be nice and free!

 

[mickeyc]

Dean,

I think the cast member meant the member guidebook is not that clear concerning some exchanges.

Whether this is going to help someone who owns a Marriot resort I am not sure, which is why I indicated this may provide additional opportunties for Marriot owners. I was also advised that Marriot has entered or will enter a partnership with Disney to build a timeshare next to Paris Disney. This information may or may not be accurrate.

I guess like any rumor we will have to wait until we get the information in
writing.

I find this rumor interesting that Disney may be considering entering a partnership with Marriot.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by mickeyc
Dean,

I think the cast member meant the member guidebook is not that clear concerning some exchanges.

Whether this is going to help someone who owns a Marriot resort I am not sure, which is why I indicated this may provide additional opportunties for Marriot owners. I was also advised that Marriot has entered or will enter a partnership with Disney to build a timeshare next to Paris Disney. This information may or may not be accurrate.

I guess like any rumor we will have to wait until we get the information in
writing.

I find this rumor interesting that Disney may be considering entering a partnership with Marriot.

Disney has never been forthcoming on paper about exchanges. Those of us who have researched it feel comfortable as to the rules, it's only the specific points requirements that might be in question at any one point. My guess is the "additional instructions" will never materialize partly due to the fact that there are variables as to the exact number of trades that DVC cannot controll until an exchange is on the table. Defining this better would not help anyone exchange in, only help those not versed well in exchanges to better understand the system.

Marriott has been building a MVCI resort at Disney Paris which should be ready to open early next year. I'm not sure there's any other direct Disney connection as I don't think it's on land that is or was owned by Disney. Still, it should afford Marriott owners the chance to exchange in but I doubt it will offer many exchange opportunities beyond that. MVCI Resort Page

 

[Lisa P.]

I was also advised that Marriot has entered or will enter a partnership with Disney to build a timeshare next to Paris Disney. This information may or may not be accurrate.

I'm not sure about a "partnership" and what kind of contract they have... who owns the land, etc... but here's a link to the Marriott webpage for Marriott's Village d'Ile-de-France, which is the brand new resort that I think you mean. Looks lovely!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Dean
I'm not sure there's any other direct Disney connection as I don't think it's on land that is or was owned by Disney. Still, it should afford Marriott owners the chance to exchange in but I doubt it will offer many exchange opportunities beyond that.

Marriott's Village d'Ile-de-France is on Euro Disney SCA property. (Euro Disney SCA is the parent company of Disneyland Paris.) And it's quite close to the theme parks, although not walking distance. The site is located between Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch campground and the theme parks, adjacent to the Disneyland Paris Golf Course.

Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI) and Euro Disney SCA issued a joint press release slightly more than a year ago. In the press release, the president of MVCI uses the words alliance and collaboration. Here's a link to the PDF file, Marriott Vacation Club International and Euro Disney to develop new property near Paris, and the first few paragraphs:
<blockquote>MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB INTERNATIONAL AND EURO DISNEY TO DEVELOP NEW PROPERTY NEAR PARIS

ORLANDO, FLA., - November 14, 2001 - Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), the Vacation Ownership division of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR), and Euro Disney SCA announced today the development of a new property near Paris, France and neighboring Disneyland Resort Paris. Scheduled to open in June 2003, Marriott's Village d'Ile-de-France at the Disneyland
Resort Paris is the first MVCI project in France.

The property, located within one mile of the Disneyland Resort Paris theme parks and the adjacent Disneyland Paris golf course designed by Ronald Fream, is approximately 20 miles east of Paris. Marriott's Village d'Ile-de-France at the Disneyland Resort Paris will consist of 275 two-bedroom/two-bath villas (proposed) providing 1,250 square feet of living space. Creating the atmosphere of the French countryside with fabrics and artwork accenting garden prints of Impressionist painters, each villa will offer a golf course view along with a master suite featuring a soaking tub and two vanities, fully-equipped kitchen and dining area, living room with fireplace, washer/dryer and patio. Sales are targeted to begin April 2002 with prices ranging from $12,100 to $23,100 per week of ownership.

"The alliance with Marriott Vacation Club International and Euro Disney is an excellent collaboration," said Stephen P. Weisz, president, Marriott Vacation Club International. "In our pursuit to provide world-class resort options to our vacation owners, we are excited to announce this addition to our portfolio of 52 resorts around the globe."</blockquote>
I've heard that the site was originally planned as a Disney Vacation Club location, but I don't know if that's really true.

 

[mickeyc]

Lisa P & Weiner Weiss,

Thanks for the Marriot link it looks great. And it was interesting to read the newpaper article.

I guess the info I was given in part was accurate.

 

[Sharper]

Originally posted by ralphd
All trades thru II are based on exchanging a week at your resort for a week at another resort. II must have a week deposited by a member of the resort (that you are interested in for an exchange).
Since a very small percentage of DVC members exchange thru II, they do not normally have many DVC weeks available. DVC will also determine what week and resort will be deposited for an exchange. This will normally be a Hilton Head or Old Key West off season week.

My experience with II is that the timeshare owner calls and makes reservation for a week, then deposits that particular week with II. Does DVC actually work differently, as stated above, in that DVC somehow determines what week of time will be deposited? And has anyone ever exchanged into a DVC week and attempted to make a change in the dates of the Disney week? (I know that at least one person had success in exchanging through Westgate for a week, then Westgate was willing to adjust the date of the week as long as they had availability.) No one on this board may have info on this, but the thread made me think that perhaps someone may be able to shed some light on how DVC II exchanges work.

 

[spruce]

DVC controls what inventory is released to II for a trade. DVC owners are not II members...DVC is the II member. DVC members do not book a week, then offer it to II as a banked week. Member services handles the transaction with II.
Let me explain, If you want an II trade, you put your request in with member services and they do a search for you looking for your request. If member services gets a match for you, they notify you of the point cost based on what week they decide to bank with II and you have a trade. DVC then banks with II an OKW or HH(not always but usually) off season week for another II member to snag as a trade. This is why it's unlikely that a trade into BWV could happen because DVC only depositied OKW or HH(not alway but usually) time with II. An II week is equal in points to a DVC week so the fewer points that was used for a trade was a benifit to DVC members, that's why the HH or OKW points were used. I was once offered a week in a studio at Marriotts Beachplace Towers in Ft Lauderdale for 55 points. This 55 points represented a week in a studio at HH.
Now with this all said, things may be changing. DVC just recently announced exactly how many points are needed for an II exchange for a 1 and 2 bedroom (not sure about 3br) but did not list a studio option. Has our ability to get these cheaper trades gone away? I don't know. Will different inventory be made availliable to II members (BWV, BCV)? I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what those that both trade out or in report on these boards......spruce

 

[poohstx]

I believe what everyone is referring to is the new fixed Vacation Points Chart for World Passport Collection, Interval International exchanges:

2003 Low Season Mid Season High Season
1BR_______124________144_______160
2BR_______207________252_______270

Exchange requests can be made two years to 14 days in advance, but on average they become available 6-7 months prior to travel time.

Effective 12/9/02 thru 12/31/03

 

[Dean]

Sharper, things have changed but DVC has always been the one that decided which week was deposited and which week wasn't. The last few years they've also directed which resort was deposited but that has changed somewhat as well. I know of one person who exchanged in and asked MS to change and was told no. I know it happens in the timeshare world but it's rare and usually at off times or actively selling resorts.

Things are changing, no more 55 points studio exchanges. Studios will now be 106, 123 or 134 points. DVC will now deposit all resorts with II. See this thread for more information.

 

[Sharper]

I appreciate the info thus far. Dean, do you happen to know if the person who requested a change in the DVC week was making a substantial change, e.g., into a higher season? What I would like to change would be to delay the current Saturday arrival to the following day. It wouldn't seem to make a difference to anyone except me, but they may have some sort of "absolutely not" policy at MS. As sometimes your response depends on the CM and their knowledge or experience, I thought perhaps if this had happened it would help me persuade them. Although I think that DVC trades into II are fairly rare (which I perfectly understand!)

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Sharper
I appreciate the info thus far. Dean, do you happen to know if the person who requested a change in the DVC week was making a substantial change, e.g., into a higher season? What I would like to change would be to delay the current Saturday arrival to the following day. It wouldn't seem to make a difference to anyone except me, but they may have some sort of "absolutely not" policy at MS. As sometimes your response depends on the CM and their knowledge or experience, I thought perhaps if this had happened it would help me persuade them. Although I think that DVC trades into II are fairly rare (which I perfectly understand!)

I have heard several asked for a larger unit, even pay the difference, and were told no. I know one asked to change the dates but I don't recall how big the change was. I'd call MS and ask them, all they can say is no. Most people don't know that exchangers can call MS as well. Even if you lose one day of the 7, it's still a good exchange for most people.

2% of members exchanged last year for around 1141 and another 35 through BVTC. While a small amount, it could get significant if MS gets aggressive with the deposits. That's on top of the days given up for rental due to other exchange options.