Interval International...

[Amirah95]

I've posted sometime ago that DH and I were looking into becoming DVC members. After doing our research we are still in deliberations about it. Just when I had my mind all made up and we were ready to purchase (May 2005--on our next trip) a very good friend of mine told me that she is getting a regular timeshare stay 7-nights (2 bed) at BWV, this April, through her exchange company Interval International and will only be paying her exchange rate of $129.00. She paid $12,000 for her timeshare a few years ago which she bought at a resort in Poconos, Pa. I was like, "what?!". I didn't think she was serious until she showed me her intinerary from her exchange company.

Now I'm wondering why should I purchase DVC when these exchange companies (I don't know about RCI) are able to accomodate their customers on Disney property without having to deal with points. Can someone shed some light on this for me please.

Thanks

 

[tjkraz]

Examples of similar trades like that are few and far between. Demand is high--supply is very low. I certainly wouldn't go that route if your intent is to visit WDW often, and to have your choice of resort, room size and travel dates.

 

[snowwhitemom]

I have a friend who owns both because as the first poster noted...supply and demand......the money for her was not a concern so she bought DVC after II just for the certainy of being able to go when she wnats...;not whenever she is able to get it.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Like tjkraz says, these are tough exchanges to get. We own both at DVC (BWV) and at a very nice timeshare property in Newport RI. After we deposited the other timeshare week, we did an ogoing search for a 2BR at ANY DVC property in WDW at ANY time (thinking we'd add to our DVC time that way. That request just sat out there for six months with no matches. Yeah I could have gotten a studio at VB at various times of year, and I love VB, but it was not in our plans for the upcoming year - and considering we deposited a 2BR at a highly rated resort, the studio was not a good match for us (nor was the timing).

Yeah, you can get DVC matches thru II, just don't count on it, and don't expect to be able to plan on it. Also, note that your friend will have to pay another $95 facilities charge upon check-in. There are plenty of other nice Orlando area timeshares available that you can swap for, they're just not on Disney property and not really the same caliber, IMO. In the greater timesharing community, we DVC members are seen as snooty, even tho we pay higher dues and settle for less spacious and possibly less luxurious accommodations (in others' opinions, not mine). But hey, if you're happy a couple of miles away at the Vistana or Liki Tiki Village then get a different timeshare and stay happy. We just prefer our DVC by far, and since we travel there several times a year (we have a wheelchair-bound DS, and it's the only vacation that really acommodates his needs), it has worked well for us economically.

Owning at both DVC and non-DVC resorts, I would happily trade my Newport timeshare (inherited from late FIL) for another 60 points, at say VB.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

With DVC you can go just about anytime of the year that you wish, giving you great flexibility. (Depending on how many points you purchase.)

With many timeshares you are locked into specific weeks, limiting your flexibility.

Yes, she might be getting a good deal with this trip, but quiz her about her previous trips. Good deals, or bad deals?

Every time share program has its good points & bad points.

 

[Amirah95]

We like the Liki Tiki! LOL. But we do want to start living onsite on Disney vacations. I just thought it was easy to exchange into Disney since she was able to get 7 nights in BWV in April. Even when we do buy DVC we will still venture offsite because there are other cool things in Orlando as well as WDW. Thank you all for the heads up.

 

[bwvBound]

Originally posted by Amirah95
...she is getting a regular timeshare stay 7-nights (2 bed) at BWV, this April, through her exchange company Interval International and will only be paying her exchange rate of $129.00. (

But won't she really be paying:

• her own annual maint fee ($400-700 for her week?)
• II annual membership fee ($79/year)
• Exchange fee ($129)
• DVC inbound exchange guest fee ($95)

By the time you add it all up ... and factor the "risk" of exchanging in ... it might not be quite the bargain it first appears.

Also consider that the 7-nights will always run Fri-Fri, Sat-Sat, or Sun-Sun depending on availability of exchange inventory. (Not always offering much choice to the guest ... whereas DVC will welcome your arrival any day of the week and for as few or as many nights as you choose.)

Disclaimer: Know that I enjoy stays at DVC properties booked both by DVC Points and exchanging other properties through II.

 

[spiceycat]

2-bedrooms are very difficult to get -

but I just got a Studio - thanks to tuggers - at SSR - okay I am trading my 2-bedroom for it - but hey I am going with only my mother.

at the time there were a bunch of Marriotts - highly recommend if you can't get DVC.

but hey us Disney nuts own at DVC because we are Disney nuts....

right now there are some 1-bedrooms at OKW - studios at BCV and OKW - but I can't see any of them - I was just happy to get the SSR.

You have to have a pretty high rated resort to even see the DVC....