Interval International question??

[Canadian Tom]

Hello: As an owner of DVC are we able to join Interval International and buy their gataway vacations and not use our points to exchange? If so what does it cost to join II and how do you go about it? Thanks Canadian Tom

 

[Deb & Bill]

Nope, we are not eligible to join.

 

[dvc_john]

As Deb said, no, owning at DVC does not entitle you to join II. DVC has a special arrangement with II.

For an individual membership in II, you need to own a week and/or points at a resort with an II affiliation. According to their website, there doesn't seem to be a fee to join other than the annual membership fee, which currently is $84 for 1 year, $219 for 3 years, or $336 for 5 years. (That's USD, not CDN, but these days I guess that's a moot point lol.)

You can get more info at their website www.intervalworld.com

 

[Canadian Tom]

Hello: It's strange, I went to the II site you said and followed the link to join today. I din't have and of my BCV info so I did a search for resort city and clicked on BCV and proceeded to join. I stopped just short of giving them my credit card info. It appeared to let me join. So now, what's up with that? Thanks

 

[Dean]

Hello: It's strange, I went to the II site you said and followed the link to join today. I din't have and of my BCV info so I did a search for resort city and clicked on BCV and proceeded to join. I stopped just short of giving them my credit card info. It appeared to let me join. So now, what's up with that? Thanks

I am a member of II otherwise and have had two different guides with II tell me I could add DVC to my existing account. I let them try to do so but it never went through. I'm sure that someone in their dept that deals with that issue gave them a talking to. Trust me when I say it can't happen under the current arrangement. What you could do is buy something that gave you II membership or something that is otherwise inexpensive if you want to join.

 

[Canadian Tom]

Thanks Dean: If you say I can't, it must be right. I highly value your opinion. Thanks.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean: If you say I can't, it must be right. I highly value your opinion. Thanks.

I'd love to be wrong. I could sure have some action using DVC in II. DVC would then go from a poor option to own to trade to a very good one.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I'd love to be wrong. I could sure have some action using DVC in II. DVC would then go from a poor option to own to trade to a very good one.

No kidding. I would love direct access to II...in fact, I am doing just what you suggested to the previous poster and going to buy a cheap property that trades relatively well just so I can have access.

Any thoughts, Dean, as to why we don't get access? Do you ever see that changing?

 

[Dean]

Any thoughts, Dean, as to why we don't get access? Do you ever see that changing?

My view is simply that DVC wants to be in total control. I suspect it will change at some point but the question is how. I'd guess it'd be to go away from II totally and just work with the BVTC possibly connecting with a few others like Marriott but we shall see.

 

[3pirates]

I own a Marriott and DVC...

With Marriott, we HAVE to belong to II even to trade within their system. So, there's the membership fee in case we want to trade, then additional fees even if we want to go to another Marriott.

Its funny, because DH and I appreciate that we have trading options with DVC without all of the additional fees. If you look through the II offerings, many of the properties aren't up to Disney/Marriott standards. We actually are looking to sell our Marriott property for a number of reasons, not the least of which is we're tired of all of the add-on fees.

 

[Dean]

I own a Marriott and DVC...

With Marriott, we HAVE to belong to II even to trade within their system. So, there's the membership fee in case we want to trade, then additional fees even if we want to go to another Marriott.

Its funny, because DH and I appreciate that we have trading options with DVC without all of the additional fees. If you look through the II offerings, many of the properties aren't up to Disney/Marriott standards. We actually are looking to sell our Marriott property for a number of reasons, not the least of which is we're tired of all of the add-on fees.

Even with the extra fees, Marriott is still generally much cheaper than DVC. For a single week owner, the most you can add is around $175 per year assuming you trade every year. The fees on a comparable # of DVC points is at least twice that amount more than for Marriott's, even for HI and Aruba resorts. For some reason it seems that people have an issue with the fact there are separate fees without stopping to look at what the total costs are for each option. I'd agree that the fees for a single week owner add up proportionally more than those that own multiples weeks. Like anything else it depends on how you use it and how well you plan and use the system.

DVC and Marriott each have advantages and disadvantages and a lot of similarities. Many Marriott options (high demand, expensive weeks) are not reasonable to trade either. IMO, there are good resorts/seasons to own with Marriott for trading and for many, different good choices to simply use. There really is little overlap for those that are tied to a school calendar and/or want high demand options. I've had a recent PM exchange with a DIS member who wants to use a week EOY on the beach in summer and trade off years. The truth is there is no single choice that fits their needs and the best option is actually to buy two weeks, one for trading and one to use and try to get EOY options where possible and likely rent the high demand option off years.

 

[littlestar]

Hi Tom,

Interval's cash site for the general public is www.condodirect.com - the prices are higher than their member's only site at intervalworld and you won't see a Marriott Getaway on there. But there are some Sheraton/Westin weeks on there. But the prices are any where from $250 to $300 higher per week than what I pay as a Gold member of II (Interval International).