I'm BEGGGGGING someone to help me book a Disney resort through II? I'm lost!

[moopdog]

I am intrigued that it seems like some of you were able to just book a disney resort with II fairly easily because I am so clueless to how this stuff works & am having a tough time. My uncle has a 2 bedroom in Ft Lauderdale that he "gave up" so that we can go and book a Disney resort for our fall vacation. He feels his home condo has a lot of trading power.

Well, NONE show up as available so I called II and they told me I needed to make a request, which I did over the phone with them. I had to pay the transfer fee plus the 39 for me to be added to the ressie. They suggested I that I'd be willing to take a 1 bedroom instead of a 2 in order to get a place quicker, so I did.

But...it's been a month and still nothing has come along. I have flexible dates between the beginning of Sept and the end of November and we would take ANY of the Disney resorts...so why can't we get one? My Uncle feels like we should have been able to call up and get one right away but admits he doesn't use his timeshare enough to really understand it either.

Can someone please help me out?? If I can't book within a couple more weeks then we can't go at all...DH has to schedule his vacation days very soon through his job. I'm desperate!!!!!!!

 

[tomandrobin]

First of all, this probably not the place for II trades. I really suggest you go to tug2.com and post there for better answers.

Second, I loked this morning there was no availability for sept-nov for any DVC resort. There is a BWV/BCV studios available for August 24-31/8-15.

Studios are the most common sighting, some one bedrooms and very few 2 bedrooms. Changing your search requirement was a good thing to do. Give the search time, its still early to give up on your search.

Hopefully Dean will reply to your post, he is the DVC II guru.

 

[bwvBound]

Right now I see two Studio units in August (BCV 8/8 and BWV 8/24) -- but none in your timeframe. You may want to include the smaller unit size (studio) to increase your chances -- but it may be that your Uncle's resort simply can't pull DVC resorts.

We have a "proven" resort we use for trading into DVC. One key for us is starting the search early. We know our dates 51 weeks prior to travel; start the search immediately; and generally have the exchange booked about 10 months prior to check-in.

You have flexible dates, somewhat flexible unit requests and time is on your side -- but you are lacking the "proven" resort. If possible, try searching online for a wider window of dates to see if your Uncle's resort can pull any DVC exchange options (any unit size, any dates).

 

[moopdog]

Acutally - out of frustration - I tried to see if there was any disney resorts that popped up for the year 2009 and 2010 - and nothing showed up. But it seems like II would have told me we had no chance if we don't have one, ya know? I'll check out tug2.com - thanks!

 

[bwvBound]

Acutally - out of frustration - I tried to see if there was any disney resorts that popped up for the year 2009 and 2010 - and nothing showed up. But it seems like II would have told me we had no chance if we don't have one, ya know? I'll check out tug2.com - thanks!

The earliest deposits hit II at 11 months prior to travel.

 

[jbthi]

Assuming that your Ft. Lauderdale resort will pull DVC I would think that there is a good chance your dates will show up.

You should check on line yourself every day, preferably early in the morning.

 

[Brian Noble]

But...it's been a month and still nothing has come along. I have flexible dates between the beginning of Sept and the end of November and we would take ANY of the Disney resorts

I suspect you have a trade power or resort quality issue. TS4M (www.timeshareforums.com) has a very active II sightings board. During the first week of January, there were sightings posted for a couple of OKW 1BR units and a couple of SSR 1BR units in September of 2008. Units do not show up as "sightings" unless there were no ongoing searches for which these units would produce satisfactory exchanges.

So, if it's really been a month---if you placed this request in December or earlier---you'll have to wait until flexchange (59 days or less in advance) and get one that way. During the flexchange period, most trading power and resort quality restrictions are lifted. That's still pretty good odds; September seems to be one of the easier months in which to get an II exchange, even a relatively last-minute one. But, you can't use an ongoing search, you have to check yourself. And, each day, the early bird gets the DVC unit.

The only other problem I can think of is if FLL could be part of the Orlando "regional block", but I don't think it is, and if it were, I would have thought the II rep would have said so.

That said: join TUG and TS4M. They are great places to learn how to play the exchange game. I've been able to obtain some nice exchanges at DVC and elsewhere for a very low effective cost.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you placed your request, say, on the 4th or 5th of January, then you could be okay---I just searched the sightings board, and didn't see any 1BRs show up for September or later posted after 1/3.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Acutally - out of frustration - I tried to see if there was any disney resorts that popped up for the year 2009 and 2010 - and nothing showed up. But it seems like II would have told me we had no chance if we don't have one, ya know? I'll check out tug2.com - thanks!

Before I bought DVC, I used to sell my other timeshare on Ebay and then use the cash to make ressies at Disney. You might consider trying that if you can't pull off the trade. You can either make a ressie through WDW reservations with the money OR rent some points with the money. Not sure what his Time share would fetch; so you may have to kick in a little extra... on the bright side, they may offer free dining if you book through WDW reservations.

 

[klynn]

I am intrigued that it seems like some of you were able to just book a disney resort with II fairly easily because I am so clueless to how this stuff works & am having a tough time. My uncle has a 2 bedroom in Ft Lauderdale that he "gave up" so that we can go and book a Disney resort for our fall vacation. He feels his home condo has a lot of trading power.

Well, NONE show up as available so I called II and they told me I needed to make a request, which I did over the phone with them. I had to pay the transfer fee plus the 39 for me to be added to the ressie. They suggested I that I'd be willing to take a 1 bedroom instead of a 2 in order to get a place quicker, so I did.

But...it's been a month and still nothing has come along. I have flexible dates between the beginning of Sept and the end of November and we would take ANY of the Disney resorts...so why can't we get one? My Uncle feels like we should have been able to call up and get one right away but admits he doesn't use his timeshare enough to really understand it either.

Can someone please help me out?? If I can't book within a couple more weeks then we can't go at all...DH has to schedule his vacation days very soon through his job. I'm desperate!!!!!!!

It could be the trading power of your week. September should be fairly easy to get. This September 2007 we had 3 consecutive weeks all gotten through II exchanges. We had a 2BR at WLV for 2 weeks and the third week we had a 2BR at BWV. This September we already have a 2BR at WLV.

 

[Cruelladeville]

It's a shame you don't have access to II--does your uncle have a membership? If he has, then you can go online and look for yourself, provided his week is deposited. I got a one bedroom at SSR for the end of February just by trolling around the website on a regular basis. I used a crummy winter week up in Hilton Head, and got the trade. But it helps to do your own looking around. I have another week that is absolutely awful, and have used it to get a studio or a one bedroom, but I did my own looking. Still, you are beginning early, which is a good thing. You might try to expand your dates, too. By the way, don't forget that on top of other fees, there will be $95 which will go to Disney, so make sure the unit you get is worth the cost.

 

[moopdog]

It's a shame you don't have access to II--does your uncle have a membership? If he has, then you can go online and look for yourself, provided his week is deposited. I got a one bedroom at SSR for the end of February just by trolling around the website on a regular basis. .

I do have access to II and use the website sometimes to check but I kind of assumed that since they said they would email with an availability that that would happen before anything popped up on the site. Maybe I will check each day now. I really feel like I could/should get a place and that I did something wrong. I'm not an idiot, really I'm not. If it was MY timeshare and we had the literature on it...I promise I would not be this needy! By the way...my uncles timeshare is during Spring Break timeframe (mid March I believe) so it seems like a good week to me, but maybe not.

When I go to the II website and search all available dates from now until Jan of 2010 for BCV, DBS, DSS, DVO AND DWL and get "sorry no availability at this time" message. That was trying to trade the given up week in 2008, and the 2009 week just to see what would happen.

 

[Brian Noble]

I kind of assumed that since they said they would email with an availability that that would happen before anything popped up on the site.

And they will match you automatically before the units show up on the site, if you have an ongoing request with a unit that has sufficient trade power/resort quality to make the match.

If you've had your request in since before the first of the year, I'm afraid that you don't have sufficient power/quality to match until the flexchange (short notice) period begins---and as you need to know in advance, that means that this is probably not going to work out for you.

 

[Brian Noble]

Here's another thing to try: do an area-search for Orlando. Do you see any Marriotts? If not, you almost certainly have a trade power issue.

If you do, let your ongoing search continue to run until your husband has to put in for his vacation. If you haven't matched DVC by then, grab one of those Marriotts. They are not on site, but they aren't too far, and they are lovely resorts.

 

[utahkennedys]

I checked a moment ago and there was availability for other months at almost every DVC resort, mostly studios and 1 BR. If you check for a few days and still nothing...try the Marriotts if you have to plan a long time ahead.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I checked a moment ago and there was availability for other months at almost every DVC resort, mostly studios and 1 BR. If you check for a few days and still nothing...try the Marriotts if you have to plan a long time ahead.

Hmmm... I guess we don't have a very good trader. I only see OKW - a studio in February 2008 and a one bedroom in July 2008.

NEVER tried trading into WDW with the trader before because we have DVC points and prefer the flexibility of being able to change the dates/accommodations before buying airfare. I just got curious whether I could.

 

[Brian Noble]

To compare searches, you really have to be searching at the same time. Even an hour is a long time---these units tend to get snapped up fast.

If you see a 1BR in July, my guess is you'll be able to see most things as they come up.

 

[Dean]

I agree with Brian, you either have a resort quality or trade power issue or more likely, both. Keep the request going and you can add off property resorts later if nothing happens. As I write sitting in the Lobby of the Wyndham Waikiki Beachwalk.

 

[moopdog]

Does that mean I SHOULD be getting a DVC? Is there anyway for me to check and not have to guess if it's a trade power issue? I am kind of sick of wondering, knowing I may have zero chance.

One last question: If I take a Marriott now - can I still be requesting an exchange for a DVC and then switch over if I get one?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Does that mean I SHOULD be getting a DVC? Is there anyway for me to check and not have to guess if it's a trade power issue? I am kind of sick of wondering, knowing I may have zero chance.

One last question: If I take a Marriott now - can I still be requesting an exchange for a DVC and then switch over if I get one?

When you check the IntervalWorld website, you're only seeing the leftovers. Most DVC deposits go to fulfill ongoing requests from II members with sufficient trading power. Then, once those rare DVC leftovers appear for instant exchange, they're usually grabbed up quickly by II members you see them online or who happen to be phone II that day.

II does not tell us the trading power of our weeks. Although there are undoubtedly numeric values attached to our deposits, we can only guess at how strong our weeks are based on past experience, common sense, what kinds of weeks we see at IntervalWorld, and what II agents tell us on the phone (which may or may not be reliable, depending on the II agent).

One problem with exchanging into DVC resorts is that DVC controls which weeks are deposited and the timing of those deposits. It's not like Marriott Vacation Club, where Marriott owners book strong weeks and often deposit them 12 months out to maximize their trade potential. So, you never know what weeks DVC will deposit with II. And you don't know if they'll be deposited 11 months before check-in, 2 months before check-in, or some time in-between.

Also, there's a supply and demand issue. Let's suppose DVC deposits 10 BWV weeks for a given month. Now let's suppose that there are 100 ongoing requests for those weeks. The weeks will go to the II members with the highest ranking combination of trading power and "place in line." Of the remaining 90 II members, perhaps 30 would have had enough trading power (but were outranked) and perhaps 60 would not have had enough trading power. To make things even more complicated, the trading power that's needed is dynamic; it can change based on changes in supply, demand, and timing. THE NUMBERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL STATISTICS; THEY'RE ONLY HERE TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCEPT.

I've successfully traded into DVC a few times. But more times, I've traded into very nice Marriott reports, getting an instant trade and often getting a larger unit than what I deposited.

My advice is to keep the ongoing trade for DVC going as long as you're comfortable. Then, if you haven't been successful, try to get the best available off-site resort.

If you wait too long, the good off-site weeks may be gone.

The safest approach is grab good off-site weeks right away. But to get DVC, you have to be willing to take the risk that you might get DVC, but you might have to settle for the picked-over remains of other Orlando weeks in II.

Once you've completed an exchange into an off-site resort, you can keep your eye out for DVC on IntervalWorld (if you have a similar week in the system). If you happen to see a DVC resort, you can try to re-trade. It will require another exchange fee. But you can't have an ongoing search with a week you've already exchanged. So your chance of re-trading for DVC is quite low.