Potential UPSIDES to DVC/RCI Relationship to the average DVC owner

[utahkennedys]

Thanks for the list. Looking that list over, I'd say the ones in Hawaii are marginal at best. The Pahio Sherewater is okay, but has very few facilities. It's mostly got GREAT views though! The other Kauai one is dicey, and so is the Maui one. I know nothing about the two Oahu exchanges.

I agree. When I saw the list and I am very familiar with II, all I saw was the lack of the high end resorts in those areas, like Westins and Marriotts -- the only resorts in those areas I'd say are worthy of trading DVC points for.

 

[shellbelle1971]

I agree. When I saw the list and I am very familiar with II, all I saw was the lack of the high end resorts in those areas, like Westins and Marriotts -- the only resorts in those areas I'd say are worthy of trading DVC points for.

I agree with you both. The Hawaii options through RCI are...very unappealing. Marriotts and Starwood properties are worlds apart from the ones on this list!

If DVC is making this change to give use "more options" and then subsequently rules out many choices through their quality filter...isn't that kind of odd? I'm just saying there are many more high-quality options through II.

 

[littlestar]

Maybe we'll get a free RCI membership and be able to book Last Calls and Getaways without paying a membership fee. Probably not, but who knows.

RCI does have Big Cedar Wilderness Club - that's a nice resort.

We own DVC points, own a Marriott, and a resort that is dual affiliated with II and RCI. I joined RCI recently for the last calls. I've been too chicken to deposit anything with RCI, though.

Since I like staying at Marriott and DVC both (for different reasons), this change isn't that big of a deal to me to be honest since I actually own both. And really, any DVC member that wants a Westin or Marriott can always rent their points out and probably have money left over for the flight, too.

 

[jblrn2b]

Thanks for acknowledging my effort.

I was beginning to think I wasted my time compiling this list. I'm glad you found it useful.

Very useful!!!! Thanks a lot!!!

 

[CarolA]

There is no upside to RCI.

I won't argue about the quality of resorts, I don't think the difference is as great as they make it out to be.

The problems is that there is NO AVAILABILITY at RCI. If you think the availability is bad at II, wait until you get to try RCI. They obviously rent out all the desirable units and only keep the average ones for exchange. They only chance to get a decent unit is to exchange right about the time a bulk spacebank is booked.

2 years ago, I was trying to trade into Lawrence Welk in Escondido, CA. I had an ongoing search going for over a year. It never got filled, but they have plenty for rent for about $1000 on extra vacations. Their BS excuse is that they purchased those weeks to sell. But from whom? The resort has been sold out for years. In reality they have a clause in their rules that states they may rent units that are deposited that they think there is no interest in, but I would like to see who makes those decisions.

I have always gotten the units I have a search for on II. They are heads and shoulders above RCI. A sad day indeed for me, as I will probably never be able to trade into DVC again (but neither will anyone else). Glad I got one last exchange for this coming May.

Joe

It's the same with II and with DVC. I can't trade into HH at the II Marriotts, but I can go to Marriott.com and PAY for them. As a DVC member I have NEVER gotten a II trade to clear. Can't see that I expect a difference either way LOL!

And lots of times folks can't trade into DVC and/or use thier points, but they can call CRO and book the studio.

However, in this economy you might just to better to rent anyway. I just got a mailing from one of the rental places I have used in the past with some great rates......It looks like thier prime season is not quite as busy as in years past! (Ski resort!)

 

[OnMedic]

This is why I think DVC is crazy for moving to RCI. II has the quality, high-end timeshares, so there is no way DVC can position this as "better for DVC members". How is it better that I can no longer trade into Marriotts, Westins and Hyatt??? RCI is notoriously bad, so I am stunned.

Hilton? Some Wyndham? A few Spinnaker? Diamond? the newer BlueGreen resorts? Club Intrawest? A whole bunch in Whistler?

Sure it is not the BIG name of Marriott, but trading through RCI I haven't been disappointed very often. Keep in mind as a DVC member you should get top pick (trading power).

 

[Brian Noble]

One of the advantages mentioned at the Annual Meeting was the Registry Collection. Here's a web site that has the resorts in that collection---and several look quite nice.

http://www.theregistrycollection.com/registry_portfolio/

 

[jamstew]

Let DVC members have access to the Extra Vacations and Last Call features.

I have an RCI account with another timeshare and I came across a Last Call for Bonnet Creek 2br 12/26/08-1/2/09 for $249 for the week not night.

Holy cow! I would never have thought to look for Bonnet Creek in the Last Call listings--but I'll definitely start now

 

[jamstew]

There are a couple of January weeks at Sheraton Vistana available for $249 a week (2BR). I understand it's pretty nice.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would never have thought to look for Bonnet Creek in the Last Call listings--but I'll definitely start now

Several folks on TUG tried to book that one. It was a phantom, as near as anyone could tell.

 

[Dean]

Keep in mind as a DVC member you should get top pick (trading power).

That certainly has not been true in II and I doubt it will in RCI. The reasons with II are that it's Orlando, that many of the weeks they got were HH and VB, and that they were mostly off weeks. Thus II assigned a generic average trade power to DVC that was moderately good but not great and certainly not top notch. In II and RCI directly that can be the kiss of death with a high resort rating and a low trade power but I don't think that was an issue with DVC trading in II due to the preselection process where DVC determined which resorts you could trade to.

 

[littlestar]

Several folks on TUG tried to book that one. It was a phantom, as near as anyone could tell.

Yep. I tried to book it and it said not available. There were also some other holiday weeks at other Orlando resorts through RCI that did the same thing when I tried to book them for family. I ended up finding something on Interval for the holiday and it didn't go "poof" when I tried to book it -

 

[mvc1997]

I am not understanding this.
Do we have to be members of RCI in order to trade?
I went to the site and it wants you to sign in.
When is Disney going to give us information on this RCI?? If it is suppose to go into effect Jan. 1st, will we get a booklet on the information and resorts??

Totally confused.
Thanks for any info you can provide!

 

[Dean]

I am not understanding this.
Do we have to be members of RCI in order to trade?
I went to the site and it wants you to sign in.
When is Disney going to give us information on this RCI?? If it is suppose to go into effect Jan. 1st, will we get a booklet on the information and resorts??

Totally confused.
Thanks for any info you can provide!

Currently with II DVC is a corporate member and even those of us that are II members can't trade DVC directly with II. When DVC was with RCI years ago, the same was true. I think we can assume that will cont with this change.

 

[jamstew]

I am not understanding this.
Do we have to be members of RCI in order to trade?
I went to the site and it wants you to sign in.
When is Disney going to give us information on this RCI?? If it is suppose to go into effect Jan. 1st, will we get a booklet on the information and resorts??

Totally confused.
Thanks for any info you can provide!

I'm pretty sure you can look at the resort directory without signing in (which I don't think you can do on the II site).

 

[Dean]

I'm pretty sure you can look at the resort directory without signing in (which I don't think you can do on the II site).

You can search the II directory from the home page as a non member. You can even see the resort ratings which you couldn't do before they changed their rating system.

 

[jamstew]

You can search the II directory from the home page as a non member. You can even see the resort ratings which you couldn't do before they changed their rating system.

Thanks, I guess I missed that link. Can you explain the ratings? I notice that the resort I own is also affiliated with II--who knew?

 

[Brian Noble]

Very similar to RCI's---gold/silver/none. II doesn't have the equivalent of RCI's Hospitality.

 

[Dean]

Thanks, I guess I missed that link. Can you explain the ratings? I notice that the resort I own is also affiliated with II--who knew?

It' s Premier, select and standard. With RCI and II those ratings are not necessarily done the way you and I would do them. There are specific criteria and often a top rated resorts will not be acceptable to many and a moderate rated resort will be perfect. Get in the habit of investigating a resort you're considering indepenently.

 

[Dean]

Very similar to RCI's---gold/silver/none. II doesn't have the equivalent of RCI's Hospitality.

Sure they do, it's the standard II resort. It's RCI's standard resort they don't have a cat for, LOL. Partly kidding.