Owning in the right month?

[DisneyBliss7]

sWe are purchasing DVC through resale. I have found a few in our price range and amount of points we are looking for. There are two different times a year we can go on our Disney trips. Our #1 favorite and most likely will go each trip is late Sept into the first week of October. If for some reason we can't go that time of year we will need to go in the first two weeks of May. So what is the best month to own with these different dates? Thanks

One other question..Buying resale I can still trade with RCI if one year we want to go somewhere else,,right? I know buying resale I can't use our points for the cruise, Adventures by Disney, etc..but my DH wants to have the option of using RCI still.

 

[supersnoop]

sWe are purchasing DVC through resale. I have found a few in our price range and amount of points we are looking for. There are two different times a year we can go on our Disney trips. Our #1 favorite and most likely will go each trip is late Sept into the first week of October. If for some reason we can't go that time of year we will need to go in the first two weeks of May. So what is the best month to own with these different dates? Thanks

One other question..Buying resale I can still trade with RCI if one year we want to go somewhere else,,right? I know buying resale I can't use our points for the cruise, Adventures by Disney, etc..but my DH wants to have the option of using RCI still.

I would suggest an April use year based on your information.

Yes, you can still trade into RCI with a resale contract, but the RCI selection is limited (for all of DVC, not just resale).

 

[DizBub]

We have a Feb UY and like to go at the same times you do, late Sept/early Oct and early May. Feb UY means that our banking deadline is Sept 30 every year, not perfect for the fall trip. If you must cancel last minute that means you won't be able to bank your points and they will go into a holding account.

Travel patterns change over time and ultimately UY may not really matter especially if you never need to cancel or change your plans.

 

[JimMIA]

As noted above, your RCI access is not limited because of a resale purchase -- all DVC owners have access to RCI, regardless of how they purchased.

It is "limited" only in the sense that DVC/RCI is NOT a full individual membership in RCI. DVC/RCI only provides access to about 600 of the more than 3,000 RCI resorts, and you have to book through MS, rather than directly through RCI. On the bright side, you only pay $95 for a DVC/RCI exchange fee; normal RCI fees are double that, or more.

The lack of full membership also means you do not have access to some of the better benefits of RCI membership, especially "Extra Vacations" and "Last Calls." Both are discounted cash rentals. Prices for "Extra Vacations" vary widely.

"Last Calls" are deeply discounted WEEKLY rentals -- about $250 for hotel/studio; $270 for one bedroom; $300 for two bedroom, with each price being subject to local taxes and sometimes other resort fees.

For example, a couple of weeks ago, we had a Last Call one bedroom week at Vacation Village at Parkway in Kissimmee. Our total cost for the entire week, including taxes and a modest resort fee was $328. Pretty good deal!

 

[JimMIA]

..but my DH wants to have the option of using RCI still.

I wouldn't use that as a factor in buying DVC, for two reasons.

The most important reason is that RCI exchanging is not guaranteed. DVC once exchanged through RCI, then switched to II, then back to RCI. Exchanging is one of many things that could change, or be eliminated. (I think DVC will always have some sort of exchange arrangement, but you really need to understand that nothing is guaranteed.)

The second reason is that, if you want to travel very much outside of DVC, there are many better options. You can buy contracts in fine timeshare systems for $1 on eBay, sometimes even with free closing. And many of those contracts include FULL RCI membership in your annual membership fees (usually called maintenance fees or MFs).

I think it is wise to consider DVC only for its value to your family for DVC resort stays. For anything else, the value drops off dramatically and there are much more cost-effective options than DVC.

 

[Dean]

sWe are purchasing DVC through resale. I have found a few in our price range and amount of points we are looking for. There are two different times a year we can go on our Disney trips. Our #1 favorite and most likely will go each trip is late Sept into the first week of October. If for some reason we can't go that time of year we will need to go in the first two weeks of May. So what is the best month to own with these different dates? Thanks

One other question..Buying resale I can still trade with RCI if one year we want to go somewhere else,,right? I know buying resale I can't use our points for the cruise, Adventures by Disney, etc..but my DH wants to have the option of using RCI still.

UY can be very important. For this situation it really depends on your % of fall vs spring. If it's 50/50 or 60/40 April will be best. If it gets to 70/30 or more favoring fall, Sept will be best. In this situation I would not do Feb at all and August would be very questionable.

Buying to trade is a poor choice, IMO. However, you can still use RCI for essentially all of the reasonable trades resale or retail even though there is some discrepancy in the number of resorts available. Just buy less DVC points and pay cash or look at other options for the non DVC trips.

 

[Sandisw]

I agree, September or April will be the ones that are most ideal for the two times of travel you will most likely do.

Just stay way from June and December as those would be the worst one for one or the other (June being bad for May travel and December being bad for fall).

Good luck!

 

[LisaS]

I would add October to the list of UYs to avoid since it would be the worst UY for September trips.