Interval Intenational?

[Claire L]

If I wanted to use 320 points for Feb 2010 at II and I have a March UY but wanted to start looking for accommodation at the 24 month window which UY's would I have to use?

Claire

 

[Dean]

If I wanted to use 320 points for Feb 2010 at II and I have a March UY but wanted to start looking for accommodation at the 24 month window which UY's would I have to use?

Claire

Currently you wouldn't need to use 320 points. The max cost for a 2 BR would be 270 points. Given your scenario which use year you'd use the points from would depend on WHEN you actually got the match. The rules are that the points come from the use year when the trip will occur, in this case, 2009 use year. However, due to Disney's other rules, they can't actually take the points from the 2009 use year until you get closer. In this case you'd get to choose whether the point came from the current (2007) use year or the next one (2008). If by chance you didn't have enough points without using the 2009 points OR couldn't get enough points together in one use year, you likely would not be able to complete the trade unil the 2009 use year was reachable (March, 2008) and you wouldn’t be able to borrow from the 2010 uses year until March, 2009.

Of course you can only match 2 years out with II so this couldn't happen for this scenario until Feb at the earliest and your use year opens in March at which time the 2009 points will be accessible. But if were to look at March or after (earlier in the use year) for 2010, the situation could be more likely to be an issue. While in theory one can search a full 2 years out, there are very few II owners that have the chance to deposit this far out and even fewer resorts on the DVC exchange list that do. Most II owners are limited to depositing 12 months out, a few are 18 months and a few are 24 months. Some notable ones that are over a year and I THINK all 2 years out for deposit are Kona Coast (certain on this one), the Royals and at least some of the Westin Resorts. Fixed week Marriott’s are 18 months and floating ones are as soon as they can get a confirmation, earliest about 13 months out.

While it’s likely far above what your asking, the following does apply somewhat to this issue.

There's a method of deposit that might be helpful for DVC members, that are interested in exchanging, to be aware of. It's called bulk spacebanking. The principle has MANY implications to DVC members, including those not looking to exchange. Here's how it works. Say a company either knows or projects that certain units and weeks will be available to them either to deposit with II or rent. Sometimes they'll anticipate that and go ahead and move those units. They give II specific weeks and resorts and often do so all at one time. So II gets 200 units at a specific resort or group of resorts and goes ahead and deposits them all at once. Several things happen as a result. The trade power for that resort and those other resorts in that area goes down. This hurts those trying to trade those resorts and helps those trying to trade in at that time as their chances for a match went up by 100 or a 1000 fold or even more depending on circumstances. But if you miss that bulk spacebank, most of the units for that resort are likely to be gone and if you didn’t match at the time or start your search later, there are likely to be few, if any, deposits for that resort and time.

Resorts that do this usually are points systems or other floating resort systems. Often the company decides which weeks get deposited and when multiple weeks are involved, which resorts. Then when a member calls and says they want to deposit with II (or RCI, etc), they simply assign a week to them that is already deposited. This is likely not as good of a week or resort as they had anticipated or had reserved already and they have less trading power, and often, less time that their deposit is good for.

In a sense, DVC does this. While it happens more after the match occurs, they decide which resorts, unit size and weeks get deposited. They also appear to use this method when deciding which resorts/weeks to give to CRO to rent out. At first you say, that’s great, more availability at more in demand resorts for the members, but then you realize that that this system hurts your trading power and thus your chance of a successful exchange as an owner and MAY hurt or help your chances of a successful match depending on your timing in relationship to the bulk spacebank. The reason is that II assigns trading power based on the resort QRS (score sheet), unit size, the specific resort, the week and how far out they get the deposit. And since DVC gives II units at shorter lead times, often for off weeks and usually smaller units, you then know that you have less trade power and thus there are many exchanges you simply have no chance at. Of course you also give up a lot by not being able to be a member of II directly.

 

[Claire L]

I was thinking of having a 1 bedroom for 2 weeks in high season so that would be 320 at my calculations.

Claire

 

[Dean]

I was thinking of having a 1 bedroom for 2 weeks in high season so that would be 320 at my calculations.

Claire

That is correct for two weeks if you can get it assuming you search for 1 BR units. Remember the resort must have 1 BR units registered with II to do so. While regular II members can search for 1 BR units at resort that only have larger units, thus ensuring a size upgrade if they match, DVC members can't do so. You won't be able to get the same unit for 2 weeks in most cases and wouldn't know up front even if you could though with some research you could figure out if it's possible or not at any given resort. While it is possible to specify both weeks or nothing (at least with II directly), this reduces your chances so much that it's not worth taking 2 weeks or nothing for most situations. You'll have to put in two searches and pay 2 exchange fees. Be willing to accept one week then modify your second request accordingly. One thing most DVC members don't know is this. Say you call and put in a search for Sat 19 Jan, 2008 for a week at X resort. II will assume (by their rules) that you will take Fri, Sat or Sunday and match it accordingly without calling. It is possibly to restrict the request to a specific day but it must be done very carefully and very specifically and usually on a second call. Something you generally want to do if you're trying for two weeks concurrently or consecutively, at least for the second week. Also if you are considering two different resorts you want to check to see what days they start their weeks with. You might not want to search for week 1 for a resort that only starts on Sunday followed by week 2 at a resort that only starts on Sat. As a rule, most resorts that have multiple start days have MORE units that are Saturday so you always want to include the Sat when possible.

Remember that the more choices and the more flexible you are, the better your chances of success. This includes number of weeks, number of resorts, unit size, start days, etc. Anything you request that reduces this flexibility also reduces your chances of success. Do you have an idea of what resorts will you be looking at?

 

[Claire L]

That is correct for two weeks if you can get it assuming you search for 1 BR units. Remember the resort must have 1 BR units registered with II to do so. While regular II members can search for 1 BR units at resort that only have larger units, thus ensuring a size upgrade if they match, DVC members can't do so. You won't be able to get the same unit for 2 weeks in most cases and wouldn't know up front even if you could though with some research you could figure out if it's possible or not at any given resort. While it is possible to specify both weeks or nothing (at least with II directly), this reduces your chances so much that it's not worth taking 2 weeks or nothing for most situations. You'll have to put in two searches and pay 2 exchange fees. Be willing to accept one week then modify your second request accordingly. One thing most DVC members don't know is this. Say you call and put in a search for Sat 19 Jan, 2008 for a week at X resort. II will assume (by their rules) that you will take Fri, Sat or Sunday and match it accordingly without calling. It is possibly to restrict the request to a specific day but it must be done very carefully and very specifically and usually on a second call. Something you generally want to do if you're trying for two weeks concurrently or consecutively, at least for the second week. Also if you are considering two different resorts you want to check to see what days they start their weeks with. You might not want to search for week 1 for a resort that only starts on Sunday followed by week 2 at a resort that only starts on Sat. As a rule, most resorts that have multiple start days have MORE units that are Saturday so you always want to include the Sat when possible.

Remember that the more choices and the more flexible you are, the better your chances of success. This includes number of weeks, number of resorts, unit size, start days, etc. Anything you request that reduces this flexibility also reduces your chances of success. Do you have an idea of what resorts will you be looking at?

We wanted the Marriott Grand Residence or Marriott's Timber Lodge at Lake Tahoe from Sat Feb 6th to Sat Feb 20th 2010 or Friday Feb 5th to Fri Feb 19th or Sun Feb 7th to Sun Feb 21st would work. As long as the 13th/14th were around the middle of the two weeks, but didn't realise that we may not get the same unit for the whole time.

Claire

 

[Dean]

We wanted the Marriott Grand Residence or Marriott's Timber Lodge at Lake Tahoe from Sat Feb 6th to Sat Feb 20th 2010 or Friday Feb 5th to Fri Feb 19th or Sun Feb 7th to Sun Feb 21st would work. As long as the 13th/14th were around the middle of the two weeks, but didn't realise that we may not get the same unit for the whole time.

Claire

Assuming you get one week and then a second one that matches exactly the same dates you need you MAY be able to get the same unit. You'd simply have to requests it through Marriott and/or the resort. That's a tall order since you have two things working against you. One is that is a prime ski week and fairly unlikely to be deposited other than possibly a studio. The other is that ANY Marriott week deposited to II is held for ONLY Marriott members, in most cases for 24 days. I can assure you that a 1 BR or larger for those weeks will not make it past the Internal trading preference restrictions unless it's under 60 days out, even then it's very unlikely.

There are a few other resorts in the area that I believe are worth considering, especially the Hyatt at Incline Village although they don't have 1 BR units. Given that the Residence Club is a Fractional, you might have luck finding someone who owns there and do a direct exchange and possibly try that approach for the Hyatt or Timber Lodge as well. Still, restricting yourself to one resort for this exchange in the hopes of getting the same unit for 2 weeks is essentially ensuring failure unless you are able to find a direct exchange.

If it were I, here's what I'd do for this issue. First I'd decide if I was willing to pay the extra points for the Hyatt, if you have the points, I'd recommend choosing yes for one week but possibly not both. Then I'd put in two searches, one for the first week (or 2 weeks if you add the Hyatt) and the second for the last week. I'd have them add comments to each search that referenced the other search and the fact that once you got one week, you only wanted the specific start day and date for the second week. If you'd be willing to have an orphaned day(s) (wk 1 start Sat, Wk 2 Sun for example) let them know that. It'd improve your chance of success but you'd end up having to pay cash for the one night. Or if you'd take overlapping weeks (Sun wk 1, Sat wk 2) let them know that as well. Both would likely guarantee that you'd have to chance units. If you want both or nothing, let them know that as well, otherwise it's one week and you're committed while you're trying for the second week.

One thing MOST Marriott's do, that I'd like to see DVC do, is let you stay in one unit until the next is ready and that usually applies to other resorts in the immediate area, there are 8 Marriott's on HH and I find this a very nice feature. You could call the resorts directly and ask them how they handle this situation as well as the unit assignments and chances of one unit for the 2 weeks. Record the info and person's name if you get a favorable answer.

 

[Claire L]

We were in Lake Tahoe last year and the location of the Marriott was ideal, plus Feb 13th is my birthday hence that is the date we will be wanting to visit for. Having looked at the Marriott website it may be best just to pay and get what we want as I am sure we will always use our DVC points at WDW by banking and borrowing!

Claire

 

[Dean]

We were in Lake Tahoe last year and the location of the Marriott was ideal, plus Feb 13th is my birthday hence that is the date we will be wanting to visit for. Having looked at the Marriott website it may be best just to pay and get what we want as I am sure we will always use our DVC points at WDW by banking and borrowing!

Claire

Then I'd put in the search and see what happens then pay the rest OOP though the Marriott website says those units are not currently available through them directly for 2008 for all nights, if you plan further out they may be. I only saw the Grand Residence available, not the Timber Lodge. Directly through Marriott you're likely looking at about $350 a night for a 1 BR including Tax. If you can find the weeks privately, maybe $1500 per week on a good day.

 

[Claire L]

Then I'd put in the search and see what happens then pay the rest OOP though the Marriott website says those units are not currently available through them directly for 2008 for all nights, if you plan further out they may be. I only saw the Grand Residence available, not the Timber Lodge. Directly through Marriott you're likely looking at about $350 a night for a 1 BR including Tax. If you can find the weeks privately, maybe $1500 per week on a good day.

A studio would be fine for the two of us, I only went for a 1 br as that is all the DVC brochure shows for.

Claire

 

[Dean]

A studio would be fine for the two of us, I only went for a 1 br as that is all the DVC brochure shows for.

Claire

While DVC only publishes the 1 & 2 BR points, there is actually a chart for studios and 3 BR units as well. The trouble is that the number of points required for a studio is not much less than for a 1 BR (134 compared to 160). The cash price is roughly 2/3 for the studio but more likely to be available.

 

[Claire L]

So you think one week in a studio is a better bet for combining with cash for the other week and not having to move unit?

Claire

 

[Dean]

So you think one week in a studio is a better bet for combining with cash for the other week and not having to move unit?

Claire

Probably but I don't think not moving is worth it to stay in a studio for 2 weeks. Your choice, let us know how it works out please.