Question about RCI

[Krs1300]

I was discussing how DVC works with a coworker and mentioned that access to RCI resorts is available. She told me that she had a timeshare through a different company that also had access to RCI, but she was required to pay fees for her original timeshare, but also for RCI. Is that the case for DVC? Are there any extra "hidden" fees that go to RCI?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[RobDoc]

DVC offers the World Passport Collection as one of the membership programs. This is currently available to all members whether direct or resale purchasers. At this time RCI is the exchange partner with DVC. DVC holds a corporate membership with RCI so there is no additional membership for DVC Members to use the RCI system. There is a $95 transaction fee payable to DVC for each reservation or change but no other costs to use the program.

With this type of relationship with RCI, DVC members do not have full access to all components of RCI or all of the RCI resorts. There are about 500 resorts available to DVC members.

RCI was the original exchange partner with DVC when DVC began in 1991. That changed about 5 years later and DVC partnered with Interval International (II) for a number of years before changing back to RCI a few years ago.

There is no guarantee who will be the exchange partner or even that the World Passport Collection will remain as a non-DVC option for DVC members (although I certainly do not expect to lose that option at least in the near future). It is only a perk and not a component of DVC ownership and , as such, may be changed without notice.

 

[abdgeek]

I was discussing how DVC works with a coworker and mentioned that access to RCI resorts is available. She told me that she had a timeshare through a different company that also had access to RCI, but she was required to pay fees for her original timeshare, but also for RCI. Is that the case for DVC? Are there any extra "hidden" fees that go to RCI?

Thanks in advance!!

I've stayed at one RCI resort through DVC and my sister has stayed at two. I've already booked two more RCI resorts for 2014. The only fee you pay is the $95 fee to book a non-disney resort. You also pay this fee to book DCL, ABD, Concierge Collection, or any other non-resort acommodation using points.

Keep in mind that each RCI resort may have fees that you pay once you get to the resort. All of this information is given to you at the time that you book with DVC. I stayed at the HGVC at the Flamingo(RCI) and they didn't have any additional fees. My sister stayed at a RCI resort that charged a cleaning fee because she stayed less than a week. The two Hawaiian RCI resorts that I have booked have optional AC charges, but that is it.

As the PP said, as DVC members we are only able to use 500 of the RCI accommodations. They are supposed to be the better properties that meet Disney standards. So far, I haven't had any complaints about the number of properties I have access to. However, it can be a little challenging finding the resort you want for the week you want. You really need to check RCI availability daily on the DVC website and be prepared to book immediatedly online when you see the resort and the week you want.

 

[The big Disney nerd]

Doc

Was it really RCI in the beginning? We bought in 92 and I thought I remember it being II back then. We never used it though so I could be wrong.

 

[RobDoc]

Doc

Was it really RCI in the beginning? We bought in 92 and I thought I remember it being II back then. We never used it though so I could be wrong.

Yes, it was definitely RCI in 1992. They had the contract for around 5 years - I can't recall the exact date when it changed to II for the exchange company.

 

[Dean]

Doc

Was it really RCI in the beginning? We bought in 92 and I thought I remember it being II back then. We never used it though so I could be wrong.

It changed late 94 or early 95.

I was discussing how DVC works with a coworker and mentioned that access to RCI resorts is available. She told me that she had a timeshare through a different company that also had access to RCI, but she was required to pay fees for her original timeshare, but also for RCI. Is that the case for DVC? Are there any extra "hidden" fees that go to RCI?

Thanks in advance!!

IMO the largest hidden "fee" is that you're generally trading down if you can get anything reasonable. If you think of timeshares like cars you're trading a nice Acura for an older Chevy in many situations. Also availability for the good stuff is limited and you must plan well in advance. My opinion is that it's unreasonable to buy with the idea of using RCI due to limitations, but if one owns already it's worth giving it a shot just in case you can get something that's truly reasonable.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a question related to WebmasterDoc's reply that DVC members don't have full benefits. I currently own with II, just got my closing documents on a AKV resale so soon I will have RCI.

With II we can book 'getaway' weeks; my parents take advantage of this all the time since they travel off-season and can get some great deals. Will I have a similar benefit with RCI or is it only for exchanges? TIA!

 

[Dean]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a question related to WebmasterDoc's reply that DVC members don't have full benefits. I currently own with II, just got my closing documents on a AKV resale so soon I will have RCI.

With II we can book 'getaway' weeks; my parents take advantage of this all the time since they travel off-season and can get some great deals. Will I have a similar benefit with RCI or is it only for exchanges? TIA!

No. The limitations that come to mind for the DVC RCI corporate membership compared to a regular RCI membership are the following.

• No ability to trade up in unit size.
• No chance to take advantage of any higher TPU weeks to get more than one trade.
• No access to getaways or last call reservations.
• No short notice reduced costs (RCI points).
• Only have access to roughly 500 of the RCI options.
• No bonus weeks (not as common with RCI in general as it is II anyway).

All you can do is trade points for the same unit size and designated season as is designated on the charts that RCI and DVC have agreed to. For simplicity think of 160 DVC points for a 1 BR and 270 for a 2 BR. If a resort only has larger units, you must trade the points for a larger unit to search for that options.

However, there are some benefits for the casual exchanger that should be considered.

• No yearly fee.
• Reduced exchange fee.
• Search first with a full commitment of your points.
• Those 500 resorts encompass MOST of the ones you'd want to trade to anyway.

The real issue with trading DVC is the same as trading any high demand, high quality potentially liquid timeshare, that you're essentially trading down and that the things that aren't a down trade (high demand resort, area, week) are rarely available. (for others that might be reading) IMO, one should buy DVC to use for DVC only, don't buy extra for any type of trading. However, if one owns and wants to try to cherry pick the best of the best, there's no reason not to try, just don't count on success. For example, one might keep an ongoing search open for Maui for the summer just in case you get lucky.

 

[abdgeek]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a question related to WebmasterDoc's reply that DVC members don't have full benefits. I currently own with II, just got my closing documents on a AKV resale so soon I will have RCI.

With II we can book 'getaway' weeks; my parents take advantage of this all the time since they travel off-season and can get some great deals. Will I have a similar benefit with RCI or is it only for exchanges? TIA!

Hi DisneyAndRedSox,

Dean has given you a lot of good things to think about regarding DVC & RCI. My sister owned II(she got out of the contract because of something shady going on at the resort she bought into), and owns DVC and RCI Points contracts. She usually makes travel plans at the last minute(within a month or two of travel). She bought the RCI contract recently because she does a lot of nightly stays and the DVC RCI didn't have that many available for the areas she wanted to travel to near home.

I, on the other hand, only do weekly stays when I do RCI. I am a planner, so I usually start looking for my RCI resorts about 2 years out because my travel dates are not flexible. I am usually able to book the resort I want about a year out. This process had worked for me and I have gotten every property I've wanted. I even have Maui Lea at Maui Hill(after I booked that, Kanaapali Beach in Maui--my preferred option-- opened up but not for the dates I wanted so I'll do that next time) and Kona Resort for 2014 when I'm in Hawaii. It is so much easier now to look up availability on the MS now that they have the RCI link. Yes, the more popular properties take more time to find but it isn't impossible to find them. This year, DVC took off some of the RCI properties that members were having less success getting into, so they are revisiting this on a yearly basis.

I think the thing to remember with DVC RCI is that you have to plan. No, there is no guarantee that we will always have this option but I don't see Disney taking it away anytime soon. As MS reminded me, on the day you want to check in to a RCI property, there is no availability--someone has to give up their week in order for you to get in. However, with DVC the day you want to check in(home resort) at the 11 month window every room is available.

A lot of people only use their DVC membership to go to WDW. That's fine. When I got my membership, I wanted it to go everywhere Disney went(DCL, ABD, RCI, etc.). Right now, that's 7 continents and I'm enjoying every minute of it! With resale you'll only have access to RCI and DVC resorts(if I remember correctly), but you'll still have fun.

 

[bwvBound]

A lot of people only use their DVC membership to go to WDW. That's fine. When I got my membership, I wanted it to go everywhere Disney went(DCL, ABD, RCI, etc.). Right now, that's 7 continents and I'm enjoying every minute of it! With resale you'll only have access to RCI and DVC resorts(if I remember correctly), but you'll still have fun.

Which Disney arm goes to Antarctica?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Which Disney arm goes to Antarctica?

Adventures by Disney??

 

[bwvBound]

Adventures by Disney??

I don't see it on the site?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't see it on the site?

They only offer it to DVC members without any resales and with at least 1000 points. They'll call you about it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

They only offer it to DVC members without any resales and with at least 1000 points. They'll call you about it.

You forgot the "pledge of silence". You have now been deemed unworthy by the Mouse

 

[csharpwv]

We were looking for something for a particular week this summer... and we can't find ANYTHING on the entire EAST COAST!

We can find a few single nights here and there, but nothing that is an entire week in any place that even should reasonably HAVE a timeshare resort... let alone a place that we would want to spend a week! HAHA

Anyone have any advice?

We aren't going to be upset if we don't find something... we had just hoped to pick up a reasonably nice vacation week a couple months out!

 

[Dean]

We were looking for something for a particular week this summer... and we can't find ANYTHING on the entire EAST COAST!

We can find a few single nights here and there, but nothing that is an entire week in any place that even should reasonably HAVE a timeshare resort... let alone a place that we would want to spend a week! HAHA

Anyone have any advice?

We aren't going to be upset if we don't find something... we had just hoped to pick up a reasonably nice vacation week a couple months out!

I searched RCI in general and didn't see much other than very early June Pompano beach 1 BR assuming you wanted the beach. There were a few lower rated resorts inland but not much. This is a very high demand time and this is usual. Something may come up, there are often cancelations. If you want to get up early every AM, like on the computer around 5-5:30, you may find something. II had a few things for HH for late June but they didn't show up online, however they didn't have the resort and week we were looking for. Since I have 6 other units the same week and resort, another resort didn't help any. If you can travel the first or second week or June or earlier, you're chances are much better than later in June.

 

[chalee94]

We were looking for something for a particular week this summer... and we can't find ANYTHING on the entire EAST COAST!

We can find a few single nights here and there, but nothing that is an entire week in any place that even should reasonably HAVE a timeshare resort... let alone a place that we would want to spend a week! HAHA

Anyone have any advice?

start looking now for next summer.

looking 2-3 months out is very last minute. you should not expect to see very much at this point. that is just how timeshares work.

as dean suggests, your best bet is to hope for last minute cancellations. but there are eagle-eyed traders on the TUG board who are up at all hours of the morning looking to scoop them up as soon as they hit the screen, so that's not an easy task either...

 

[Deb & Bill]

We were looking for something for a particular week this summer... and we can't find ANYTHING on the entire EAST COAST!

We can find a few single nights here and there, but nothing that is an entire week in any place that even should reasonably HAVE a timeshare resort... let alone a place that we would want to spend a week! HAHA

Anyone have any advice?

We aren't going to be upset if we don't find something... we had just hoped to pick up a reasonably nice vacation week a couple months out!

Rent out your points through David and check out VRBO or HomeAway sites for a privately owned condominium. I found a great two bedroom condo on the Gulf Coast.

 

[abdgeek]

Which Disney arm goes to Antarctica?

No, Antartica isn't one they go to yet but who knows. ABD lists Central and South America separately, that's why I listed it as 7 because that's how they list it. So technically, it's 6 continents right now.

 

[abdgeek]

We were looking for something for a particular week this summer... and we can't find ANYTHING on the entire EAST COAST!

We can find a few single nights here and there, but nothing that is an entire week in any place that even should reasonably HAVE a timeshare resort... let alone a place that we would want to spend a week! HAHA

Anyone have any advice?

We aren't going to be upset if we don't find something... we had just hoped to pick up a reasonably nice vacation week a couple months out!

I'm not sure which state you're looking for, but I just checked July 2013 and there is availability. It also says there is availibility in the US for June and August.

Try these tips when you do your search on the MS website by clicking on the RCI link:

1) Search for the exact week you want. Under the months click on the one you want and then click on the calendar for the exact dates you want. You will then get a list of all of the properties available during that week.

2) If your dates are flexible, click on the month you want and see what resorts are available for which dates.

3) Availability changes daily if not hourly. I usually check the website once a day to see if the resort and week I want have come up. I know it may take more work, but that worked better for me than calling MS everyday and having them check. If you see what you want, book it online(DON'T CALL MS TO BOOK IT!). I did that for one of my reservations and it was gone by time MS went in to book it. Thankfully, it came up again and I booked it immediately. If you don't have enough points in the use year of your trip. MS will call you to see how you want to use your points.

Good luck and I hope these suggestions help.