Most Valuable Trades Outside of DVC and Your Strategies

[icydog]

(1) Has anyone discovered the ultimate place to use DVC points outside of DVC?
(2)What costs more than DVC?
(3)What would be a worthwhile trade?
(4)Any trades that have gotten you to places you couldn't have afforded to go without using your Disney Points?
(5) Which strategy did you use for the trade? Deposit first? Cash for search?

I haven't used DVC for a trade yet and I am dying to find out the best use of my very expensive points. Thanks!

 

[Bojo]

I've not traded points, so I don't have any answers to your questions. However, I'm very interested in reading the responses!

 

[rocketriter]

I'm not going to get into the "valuable" argument, because there are less expensive ways to find accomodations if you're willing to put in more work, rent points to strangers, own multiple timeshares and so forth.

But I will say that our recent trade to Marriott Ford's Colony at Williamsburg pleased us. We got a week in a 1-bedroom in August for 144 points (can't do that at WDW!), had lovely quarters and hugely enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg and the surroundings. This was an "instant trade" that was already in stock at MS, so there was no waiting or depositing involved.

 

[wdwstar]

DVC is offering discount on points during the DL 50 years of celebrating at DL.
we booked for Easter 2006 and saved 10 points per night. Only at DL Hotel until dec. 2006, i think.

 

[Caskbill]

We stayed on points at Disneyland Paris several years ago, and that included tickets into the park. I'm not sure, but I think now it even includes breakfast. Maybe someone who's stayed more recent knows for sure.

For 2005 Sequoia Lodge Sun-Thu Value season is 39 pts/night.

While technically that's not DVC it's still Disney. We've used points at the GC in DL, but have never used them anywhere else outside of DVC. Have never found any place that I perceive as equivalent "value", to use the 'V' word.

We have Marriott and trade that one, not DVC. Marriott is a decent program, although so far we've only traded at other Marriotts, and haven't traded that outside of Marriott's system.

 

[dsneygirl]

Does anyone know the point structure at DL for this upcoming year?

 

[Dean]

Marilyn, the top resorts during peak times will be excellent choices. But as Pat points our, there still might be better ways to try for even those things. I'll give you a partial list to get you started. Remember only for peak times.

• Hyatt's
• Most Marriott's
• Four Season's
• Westin's
• True Royal's
• Paradise Village, Nuevo Vallarta
• Franz Klammer Lodge
• St. James Club, CO
• ? Lawrence Welk Resort

This gives you maybe 50 or so choices to put near the top of your list. Of course some will be a better value than others. And a some are still a good value even during shoulder season but it varies with the choice. While I didn't specifically cross reference the DVC exchange list, I did purposefully leave out many great choices not in II and/or that I knew were not on the list. It is not meant to be totally inclusive so I'm sure others can come up with choices that could be added to the list. In general, even top places are not a good value off season and average places might be reasonable choices for peak season depending on specifics.

One should never buy DVC with the idea of exchanging because the above will be very difficult to get. And contrary to popular believe, DVC members do not go to the top of the waiting list. But it never hurts to have pending requests for the pie in the sky options like the Marriott Maui Ocean Club or the Westin Kaanapali for a 2 BR.

 

[icydog]

Hi Dean and everyone else who replied. I am not sure how one goes about trading anyway. Do you deposit your pts and pay something for a search? Or can you do a search without a points deposit? Which is better? And is there anyway not to pay for a search for resorts?

When I called DVC to ask for a search for Marbella Spain they told me that as soon as a timeshare comes in I have to make up my mind to take it or not. If I decide NOT then I lose my money, correct? Also if I can't get airfare then it's my problem.

I love the idea of the Hyatts in Key West since these people, like DVC people, hardly ever trade out. I stayed at the Hyatt in Puerto Rico, and although very lovely outside, the rooms themselves were less than average.

 

[Dean]

Hi Dean and everyone else who replied. I am not sure how one goes about trading anyway. Do you deposit your pts and pay something for a search? Or can you do a search without a points deposit? Which is better? And is there anyway not to pay for a search for resorts?

When I called DVC to ask for a search for Marbella Spain they told me that as soon as a timeshare comes in I have to make up my mind to take it or not. If I decide NOT then I lose my money, correct? Also if I can't get airfare then it's my problem.

I love the idea of the Hyatts in Key West since these people, like DVC people, hardly ever trade out. I stayed at the Hyatt in Puerto Rico, and although very lovely outside, the rooms themselves were less than average.

Marilyn, there are two main ways to search. You can certainly deposit first but I would only do that for points that I was going to lose, even then there are better choices like renting them.

The main method is a search first. NOW you have to call and pay the exchange fee when you place the search. They have made it non refundable if they match what you are searching for and you turn it down. All of these restrictions are fairly recent events but not onerous IMO. IF you cancel prior to a match or they don't find what you are searching for, the fee is totally refundable. BTW, this is how II works anyway other than higher fees and more restrictions. They don't actually take the points until you accept a match so that gives you some flexibility as well. I'd agree about the Hyatt's.

One needs to do their homework and find out ahead of time what resorts/weeks you will be satisfied with. Don't list something you will not be willing to accept. If you plans or situation changes, make sure to let DVC know and cancel or modify your search immediately.Making the assumption that a resort is fine for your situations just because it's on the DVC list and in the general area you want to travel is simply a recipe for disappointment.

 

[icydog]

Marilyn, there are two main ways to search. You can certainly deposit first but I would only do that for points that I was going to lose, even then there are better choices like renting them.

The main method is a search first. NOW you have to call and pay the exchange fee when you place the search. They have made it non refundable if they match what you are searching for and you turn it down. All of these restrictions are fairly recent events but not onerous IMO. IF you cancel prior to a match or they don't find what you are searching for, the fee is totally refundable. BTW, this is how II works anyway other than higher fees and more restrictions. They don't actually take the points until you accept a match so that gives you some flexibility as well. I'd agree about the Hyatt's.

One needs to do their homework and find out ahead of time what resorts/weeks you will be satisfied with. Don't list something you will not be willing to accept. If you plans or situation changes, make sure to let DVC know and cancel or modify your search immediately.Making the assumption that a resort is fine for your situations just because it's on the DVC list and in the general area you want to travel is simply a recipe for disappointment.

Dean where does Harborside trade, II or RCI? Have you used SFX at all with your DVC pts?They say they only take top resorts at prime time so I wonder how it works. If I could book my two UT Marriotts for Thanksgiving, would this qualify? I know this is not DVC--I was only asking

"They don't actually take the points until you accept a match so that gives you some flexibility as well."I wonder how it works if you use your pts up and then Member Services come up with your resort? I guess you borrow. But what happens if you have no more points at all?....You're completly tapped out?.... Do you lose your money?

 

[mrsdon]

I wont say it was a better trade, but my friend booked us the conceierge level at the AKL.
It was totally awesome.

 

[Dean]

Dean where does Harborside trade, II or RCI? Have you used SFX at all with your DVC pts?They say they only take top resorts at prime time so I wonder how it works. If I could book my two UT Marriotts for Thanksgiving, would this qualify? I know this is not DVC--I was only asking

Harborside was on the DVC list for a while and got taken off. The official word was lack of exchange availability but I suspect it was more. Especially since the Atlantis hotel was also announced as part of the CC and then fell through. Harborside does trade with II. I have used SFX but not with my DVC points. I have talked to them about it but it's been a while. I've had at least one person tell me that SFX wouldn't proceed due to DVC's lack of accessibility to them. When I talked with them a few years ago about DVC, they were all for it. One of the issues is that DVC will not confirm the points to anyone other than II so any exchanger would simply be the same as a guest. SFX also rarely takes studios and not at all for Orlando unless they have a pending request for one. You may want to discuss with SFX as to what they'll take for Utah and what they'll give bonus weeks for. I do know they have a special where you get some additional benefits for deposits made in the next 6 weeks or so.

"They don't actually take the points until you accept a match so that gives you some flexibility as well."I wonder how it works if you use your pts up and then Member Services come up with your resort? I guess you borrow. But what happens if you have no more points at all?....You're completly tapped out?.... Do you lose your money?

I'm not sure and it's been one of my questions. I know at least a couple of people who didn't get the points taken out of their contract right away. I'd guess, and it's simply a guess, that they will work with you up to a point. But you'd need the points available one way or another fairly soon. Otherwise it'd simply be a cancellation and I'd think you'd get a refund in this situation. But if the exchange is important to you and you anticipate this as a problem, you should discuss with DVC and make sure you understand exactly where you stand and plan accordingly. Just remember that II can't give you what they don't have. And like DVC, the top options during peak times rarely has much availability. Still, no harm is asking for the impossible.