Question about RCI exchange for DVC property

[abbynlindsaysmom]

Hi. I have a friend who is willing to sell me a week and do an exchange through RCI. I really want a week on April 9, 2011 and then a second week on April 16, 2011. So, I have a few questions:

1. She indicated she can do Disney properties but can she do all of the Disney properties? I want Beach Club Villas (I know it will be hard but I am starting early!)

2. Can she not try to get this reservation for me until the 7 month out mark like the DVC people who are trying to get their non home site? And does seven months mean October 9, 2010 (I don't have to figure out days like with the dining plan right?)

3. Will she have some availability that is separate from the DVC owners? I have read on here that there are percentages set aside for different types of buying, ie. DVC owners, expedia etc.

4. Does anyone know if Interval International also exchanges for Disney property?

5. Can I do a Disney Dining plan if we are using an exchange week and are guests of the exchange who is not a DVC owner? If so, can I just do those myself after the reservation for the hotel is made by calling with my ressie number and indicating I am a guest of an exchange? (I have seen that you can as a guest of an owner- I don't know if I can as an exchange guest)

Thank you so much! My 4 and 6 year old girls are looking forward to this trip!!

Justine

 

[RobDoc]

You should be aware that it is against RCI policy for your friend to sell you a reservation. That alone could be a source for problem.

DVC exchanges thru RCI have already been available for that timeframe, so if anything she has already gotten a late start. She will only have access to the units that have been deposited into RCI by DVC members. That is not the same inventory available to DVC members.

Since January, 2009 DVC uses RCI as it's exchange partner (replacing II). The Dining Plan may be added to exchanges. You should also be aware that there is a $95 fee charged for exchanges by Disney at arrival in addition to any RCI fees and payments charged by your friend as her "guest".

Good luck!

 

[downontheBW]

Using RCI, one can trade and get a DVC week but you need a very strong trader and getting a specific week or resort can be difficult and it is actually a bit late to begin looking. Some April weeks were available last month and I was able to get a week at OKW but it was with an ongoing search - a search I put in 3 months ago.

There are others on these boards with more expertise than me but I'll answer based on my experience.

1. She indicated she can do Disney properties but can she do all of the Disney properties? I want Beach Club Villas (I know it will be hard but I am starting early!)

Most resorts have some availability - especially OKW and SSR; BCV is normally quite limited. Again, this isn't really early.

2. Can she not try to get this reservation for me until the 7 month out mark like the DVC people who are trying to get their non home site? And does seven months mean October 9, 2010 (I don't have to figure out days like with the dining plan right?)

April is a popular time, around Easter especially. For best chances of getting a match, an ongoing search should have been put in a few months ago.

3. Will she have some availability that is separate from the DVC owners? I have read on here that there are percentages set aside for different types of buying, ie. DVC owners, expedia etc.

RCI availability is based on DVC owners trading their weeks to get an exchange at an RCI property.

4. Does anyone know if Interval International also exchanges for Disney property?

DVC used to exchange through II but switched back to RCI a year or two ago.

5. Can I do a Disney Dining plan if we are using an exchange week and are guests of the exchange who is not a DVC owner? If so, can I just do those myself after the reservation for the hotel is made by calling with my ressie number and indicating I am a guest of an exchange? (I have seen that you can as a guest of an owner- I don't know if I can as an exchange guest)

I believe so but hopefully others will answer.

 

[Dean]

Hi. I have a friend who is willing to sell me a week and do an exchange through RCI. I really want a week on April 9, 2011 and then a second week on April 16, 2011. So, I have a few questions:

1. She indicated she can do Disney properties but can she do all of the Disney properties? I want Beach Club Villas (I know it will be hard but I am starting early!)

2. Can she not try to get this reservation for me until the 7 month out mark like the DVC people who are trying to get their non home site? And does seven months mean October 9, 2010 (I don't have to figure out days like with the dining plan right?)

3. Will she have some availability that is separate from the DVC owners? I have read on here that there are percentages set aside for different types of buying, ie. DVC owners, expedia etc.

4. Does anyone know if Interval International also exchanges for Disney property?

5. Can I do a Disney Dining plan if we are using an exchange week and are guests of the exchange who is not a DVC owner? If so, can I just do those myself after the reservation for the hotel is made by calling with my ressie number and indicating I am a guest of an exchange? (I have seen that you can as a guest of an owner- I don't know if I can as an exchange guest)

Thank you so much! My 4 and 6 year old girls are looking forward to this trip!!

Justine

You've gotten some answers and all look correct to me. Here are a few thoughts.

1. As Doc mentioned, it is against RCI's policy. If this is a good friend and you're both aware this could possible lead to the loss of the reservation and you're friend's RCI membership, it is your option to proceed at your own risk.
2. It's still possible they could get something for you even for BLT assuming they have a strong enough trader OR RCI points. There will likely be additional inventory to RCI at or just after the 7 month window. Unknown if BLT will be included.
3. Yes, the availability through RCI is separate, at least at that time.
4. As noted, no II anymore, sadly.
5. You can absolutely get any of the 3 dining plans options but you must get it for everyone that's there anytime during the week and for all 7 nights. I'll also emphasize the additional $95 fee that Doc mentioned.

.

 

[Cee]

If your friend can find a villa for you when you want to go, she can make the exchange and purchase a "Guest Certificate" for you so that you can use the reservation. I believe it is an additional $60 above the exchange fee and then the $95 resort fee that you will pay upon check-in. Boy, they "nickel and dime" you to death, don't they?

 

[abbynlindsaysmom]

To clarify, this will be a guest certificate. It is a friend of mine who I do babysitting for and she is paying me back by giving us her week which is not against the rules.

Anyway, about the dining plans. I know everyone has to have the same and for the entire amount we are staying for which is all fine. Does she have to order this for us when she makes the reservation for us? Does she do this through RCI? or does she then call DVC? I don't understand that part and want to make things as simple for her as possible. Can we pay for that at check in?

Also, can we get the magical express thing from the airport with this week she is giving us? or does that only come with booking packages through AAA/Disney/travel agents? We are trying to avoid renting a car for this week as we will stay on property for food/pool/parks!

Thanks again!

 

[RobDoc]

You will be able to add the dining plan once you have the reservation/guest certificate in your name. There will be a contact number on your reservation so you will call DVC to add both the dining and DME to the reservation. Presently you may pay for the dining plan at arrival, but there is reportedly some plan to prepay when it is added to the reservation. DVC will advise of that policy.

 

[ldo]

A number of April 2011 weeks have already beeen deposited and taken in RCI. The deposits are now starting with early June 2011. She should start a search ASAP to see if she can get anything taht comes in in the next few months. Also, I would put in ALL DVCs in Orlando, not just BCV, etc. You would most likely get OKW or SSR, if you get anything at all. Also, 4/16/2011 is the week prior to Easter--it is one of the most demanded weeks all year. I would not agree to take her RCi week until she has gotten a match--and getting 2 weeks together is going to be even harder. now, if you want other nice Orlando properties that are not DVC, then you have a very good chance, but many are being booked now. Good luck. Elaine

 

[tkitty]

We did this same thing last year. My DD has the time share, and somehow bought into a week for her and one for me through RCI. Still cost $700-$800, if I remember right. (Not sure, but there was some deal at the time) I guess she didn't have the points, and this was for renting them or something. I didn't care! I was going to WDW in style this time.
She spent around $50 to get the guest certificate in my name, and did all the legwork, like Magical Express. She also let them know that we wanted to add the dining package. We paid $95 on arrival, and also paid for dining plan on arrival.
We ran into a little confusion at check in with my DD and family at SSR, and me and DH at OKW.

 

[abbynlindsaysmom]

we decided to try to stay on property the week of 4/9 and then will do a Marriott vacation club for the second week (we have stayed at Grande Vista and Cypress Harbor the last two years). I will have her start checking for me right away and see what she can find.

One more clarification...so I can add the DME to the reservation once I have the guest certificate number? We are debating about renting a car but I really wanted to try to stay on property, do the disney dining plan and have no car that week to see what it's like. Now off to research all the disney dining stuff!

Thanks again

Justine

 

[chalee94]

One more clarification...so I can add the DME to the reservation once I have the guest certificate number?

yes, if you are staying onsite at a DVC resort, you can call and add DME from (and back to) the airport.

 

[abbynlindsaysmom]

Can I purchase those through DVC to get the early morning hours? or how do I get those tickets? Last year we did a timeshare presentation at Marriott and they sold us two day magic your way tix with a free water park option- Typhoon Lagoon is great btw!

 

[chalee94]

Can I purchase those through DVC to get the early morning hours?

you get the extra magic hours (both early morning and late evening) by showing your room key (from an onsite resort like the DVC resorts.

or how do I get those tickets?

you can buy MYW tickets direct or save a small amount by buying from an online reseller like undercovertourist or mapleleaftickets. you can add water park options if you like.

but the EMH option relates to your room card, not your tickets.

 

[Disneypubgal]

Can I purchase those through DVC to get the early morning hours? or how do I get those tickets? Last year we did a timeshare presentation at Marriott and they sold us two day magic your way tix with a free water park option- Typhoon Lagoon is great btw!

If you can buy your tickets in the next few days you may save a couple of dollars... rates and ticket prices usually increase 8/1...Undercovertourist usually has very good pricing!

 

[crisi]

Beach Club Villas will be hard to get. My sister regular trades into DVC with her RCI points, if she sees BCVs, she jumps on it, and they move vacation dates around to get it. She says she doesn't see it much. Lots of SSR and OKW, fewer of the other resorts. She booked March at BCV several months ago - and moved their vacation to get it. Last year she saw BCV go up, made a phone call to her husband to see which resort he'd prefer, and by the time she got back, she didn't have a choice (they ended up at AKL - which they like).

There is some risk that if you have your friend wait for a resort, he'll pass on OKW and SSR and then won't be able to get anything on property at all.

I'd make a list of the resort you want in the order you want. RCI trades can be tricky decisions when the person making the decision is in front of the computer (i.e. the room is gone before your husband can get to his cell phone to tell you he wants the room). Make sure your friend has all the information he needs to move, and be willing to accept what he can arrange.

 

[ccgirl]

I traded into BWV and stayed there this past May. We traded in 11 months out. That is when the greatest availability seemed to be. Keep in mind that you do not get the perks of a DVC owner as you are not a DVC owner. You are an RCI trader. Extra magic hours are available to anyone who stays at the park; not just DVC members. You may want to do some search on transportation before you decide not to get a rental car. Sometimes it can take up to an hour to get to another park as you have to wait for another bus and share buses with other resorts. BCV, BWV were great because you could acutally walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Once the guest certificate is in your name you can make the rest of the arrangements (dining plan, Magical Express etc). You can purchase tickets just like any other WDW visitor (AAA, WDW website, undercover tourist, maple leaf tickets Etc).

Good luck. As others said; BC is VERY hard to get a trade for.

 

[abbynlindsaysmom]

what did the last poster mean when you said that I won't get the perks as an RCI trader because I'm not an owner? What perks won't I get? If I get a guest certificate from an actual owner would that make a difference? I'm not sure if my friend will be able to find a week thru RCI or not based on what you are all saying so I took to my facebook to ask any of my friends if they had any DVC weeks they won't use!

 

[ccgirl]

what did the last poster mean when you said that I won't get the perks as an RCI trader because I'm not an owner? What perks won't I get? If I get a guest certificate from an actual owner would that make a difference? I'm not sure if my friend will be able to find a week thru RCI or not based on what you are all saying so I took to my facebook to ask any of my friends if they had any DVC weeks they won't use!

If your friend is trading thru RCI I assume they don't own DVC either; correct? DVC owners get special perks others don't get. For example: pool hopping, discounted park tickets and tours, discounts at certain restaurants etc. Guest certificates don't come into play at all as far as DVC ownership. Now, if your friend is a DVC owner that might be a different story but I assumed they weren't since they were looking for a trade thru RCI. I see you also have friends that own DVC. A lot of people will rent their points out for a certain $$ per point. There are several threads dedicated to this. Although you will have better luck getting the place you want (depending on where they own) you will still not be a DVC owner and do not get the perks, as far as I am aware. For example, for the tickets you also have to show your license to prove you are, indeed, the DVC owner. Your friend can explain it better but they can get where they own at 11 months out and at other resorts 7 months out - obviously depending on availability. Also, DVC is points based. Search for the points charts to see how many points are needed to cover where and the size of the unit you want and then make sure your friend has enough points to cover your stay.

Hope that helps.

 

[chalee94]

what did the last poster mean when you said that I won't get the perks as an RCI trader because I'm not an owner? What perks won't I get?

you get onsite perks like EMH, DME and free parking at the parks - the same as a DVC renter would get.

you do not get DVC owner perks - like pool hopping and the discounts mentioned above - and a DVC renter would also not get owner-specific perks.

If I get a guest certificate from an actual owner would that make a difference?

nope. you need a blue DVC member card - which you get when you buy into DVC, not when you trade in or rent points.

 

[abbynlindsaysmom]

the bus from the airport which I can order all on my own once I have the reservation number. I have so many questions! I better move on to the correct part of the board for my next sets on DDP and renting points! Thank you all

Justine