Is it possible to still get an RCI timeshare exchange...

[MinnieForMe]

I normally plan our vacations a full year in advance and almost always get my timeshare of choice with an exchange in Orlando. This year we held off to see what airfare was going to do but I just got a great deal on Southwest so we are going. Here's my question, do I have any chance of getting a 3 bedroom unit for the last two weeks in April through RCI? I called today because the online system was down and they wouldn't even put me on a waiting list. In the past I've paid the $167 and when an exchange comes up they call me. She said "everything's booked, you'll never get it".

Am I wrong to think that with the economy in the tank that there should be more availability? Perhaps, there are more international travelers? Should I wait a few more weeks and keep checking or settle for a two bedroom?

 

[Brian Noble]

3BRs are pretty tough---even in Orlando, there are only a handful that go in---mostly Grand Beach, the HGVCs, maybe Cypress Pointe, and a few lesser resorts. Here's what I see right now with a Tiger trader for those two weeks, 3BR or larger:

Celebrity Resorts Orlando-Spas (#8615) 2 available units
Kissimmee
FL, 34746 USA



map resort Available Unit Size
3 BR (10 max)


Check-In Date Range
04/24/2009 - 04/26/2009





Cypress Pointe Grande Villas Resort (#3996) 1 available unit
Orlando
FL, 32836 USA



map resort Available Unit Size
3 BR (8 max)


Check-In Date
04/26/2009





The Villages at Mango Key (#2786) 2 available units
Kissimmee
FL, 34747 USA



map resort Available Unit Size
3 BR (8 max)


Check-In Date Range
04/18/2009 - 04/25/2009


I wouldn't take the Celebrity. I would take Cypress Pointe. Mango Key is a definite maybe.

There is nothing in a 3BR any earlier in April---the two weeks prior to these are Easter. But, there are a ton of awesome 2BRs for those non-Easter weeks, including Vacation village @ Parkway, Summer Bay, the new section of Silver Lake, and the Fountains.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thank you so much for checking but RCI says it's already booked with nothing available but Mango Key. That would be a last choice for us as we've stayed there in the past and it's not "resort" like.

 

[Brian Noble]

Then you have a trade power issue. You could hold out for your 45-day window and hope Cypress Pointe is still there, but I think I'd probably go with the best 2BR you can get.

 

[MinnieForMe]

That is probably the problem. I deposited our three bedroom as a two bedroom and a lockout. I'm trying to use the lockout unit in trade as I'm going to lose the week if I don't use it. I wonder if I'd be better off trying to get a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom unit at the same place (of course it'll cost more but we have weeks we've yet to deposit).

I can't get online because of scheduled maintenance. Are you having no problem getting online with them? Do you by any chance see two Silver Lake Units or two Vistana units with a check in of April 26th? We could do either two - 2 bedrooms, 1 -2 bedroom and 1 - 1 bedroom or studio.

Thanks for all your help. I hate the booking process with RCI. I hope I have better luck at 3 pm when their system says it'll come back up.

 

[Brian Noble]

Try forcing a refresh---I've been online all day. Here's what I see at those two resorts for the 26th.

Sheraton Vistana Resort (#0450) 2 available units
Orlando
FL, 32821 USA


map resort

Available Unit Size
2 BR (6 max)
1 BR (4 max)
Check-In Date
04/26/2009

Silver Lake Resort (#2610) 2 available units
Kissimmee
FL, 34747 USA


map resort

Available Unit Size
2 BR (6 max)
1 BR (4 max)
Check-In Date
04/26/2009

If I recall correctly, the sleep-six units at Vistana are in the original sections, but the 1BRs are in the newer sections, so those will not be together. You can't really tell if there is more than one unit of any particular type. (At least, I can't.)

Also, remember that both of these have 1-in-4 rules, so you can't go to either if you've been recently.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thanks Brian! After four calls to RCI, we are booked! I'm not thrilled but at least we have someplace to go. We couldn't do the Sheraton as we were there for two week's last year. We ended up with 2 bedroom unit at Wyndham Cypress Palms (we were there two year's ago and it wasn't bad). Since it's a large unit we'll survive with 7 of us in it. For the second week, I refused to do another two bedroom for all of us so we got two 2 bedrooms at the Vacation Village at Parkway. Supposedly, it's a gold crown but it doesn't look as nice to me as the Vistana and that's only silver. At least, we'll have plenty of room with a bedroom left over. LOL!

According to RCI, the problem was the fact that we deposited our lockout separately which gave us an extra week but less trading power. Who knew?

Thanks for you help!

 

[Brian Noble]

The units at VV@P are supposedly wonderful, but it's not much of a "resort" in terms of activities etc.---and the 2BRs there are huge (they are all lockouts). You might look at reviews on TUG or maybe redweek to see if you really need them both.