Question about trading INTO DVC through Interval International

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'd have to disagree with Horace to a degree. It is not at all uncommon for DVC deposits to be sitting in II but it usually is Jan and Sept for WDW. Not that uncommon to see week 35 (end of Aug), Oct and early Dec or even the first half of Feb. Even studios and 1 BR have been there for summer at times including 4th of July.

Actually, Dean, I was trying to say pretty much the same thing as you.

The bullet with which you disagreed to some extent was, "It's rare to see a DVC week sitting at II — although right now, there are a few unclaimed OKW (DVO) and SSR (DSS) weeks in September 2006 at II."

I can see how my bullet can be interpreted different ways. Bad wording on my part. I did not mean to say that it's rare to ever see any DVC week sitting in II at any time of the year. I simply meant that most DVC deposits go to fulfill ongoing searches, and relatively few DVC weeks make it into the II listings. Unless an II member is looking for an off-season vacation, such as during January or September, it's rare for that II member to stumble across listings for DVC weeks at WDW — although, as you pointed out, DVC weeks can pop up any time of the year.

When I checked earlier today, their were seven WDW DVC weeks in II for all of 2006 -- 0 for BWV, 0 for BCV, 1 VWL, 1 OKW, and 5 SSR -- and most of those were studios, and most were in September.

DVC listings are rare compared to other Orlando timeshares. Marriott's Cypress Harbour, a very nice Orlando timeshare near Sea World, had listings for almost every week of the year, with multiple check-in dates for most weeks. Also, II listings show a given check-in date for a given resort only one, even if II actually has multiple weeks of inventory for that check-in date at that resort. II probably has hundreds of Cypress Harbour weeks sitting in their system.

 

[Dean]

DVC listings are rare compared to other Orlando timeshares. Marriott's Cypress Harbour, a very nice Orlando timeshare near Sea World, had listings for almost every week of the year, with multiple check-in dates for most weeks. Also, II listings show a given check-in date for a given resort only one, even if II actually has multiple weeks of inventory for that check-in date at that resort. II probably has hundreds of Cypress Harbour weeks sitting in their system.

Ok, simple wording. I've just seen so many DVC members that think DVC is a lot more impossible to trade into than it really is, a full half of the year is easy given an adequate QRS rating. I remember seeing a patient one time with a "common rash". I said, "this is a common rash we see". Well Grandma proceeded to tell me that she had had several kids and even more grand kids and she had never seen it before so it couldn't be common. My response, "well maybe not that common". I see the same list as you but it varies during the year and from day to day and right now it is far lower than it's been the past few months. There have been a lot of 2 BR for Jan, early Feb, and very end of Aug through most of Sept.

It's hard to compare one area to another. For example, I don't ever recall seeing a mid summer HH Marriott pop up when I searched other than within the Flexchange period other than maybe 1 or two or the lowest rated Marriott's. Nor ever seeing a DVC HH other than Nov through March or maybe first week of April. However my strongest trader is a HH Marriott and DVC blocks that trade. But I have seen a number of summer WDW DVC units pop up over the past several years, even 4th of July. Mostly studios and a few 1 BR for summer, maybe 1 or 2 two BR units. And when they were most plentiful they were actually VWL and BCV mostly. II does put them to ongoing searches first but the way their system works, they don't automatically match if you are searching and there is a deposit. It is entirely possible, if not even likely, to have one person searching for that item and it becomes available but II passes over that search and puts it in the space bank. The reason is the comparable trade criteria. They try not to match a silk purse with a cow's ear.

DVC by choice does not deposits certain times. However, given the workings of the system, it is entirely possible for DVC to find itself in a situation of having to deposit premier time. Say someone wanted to accept a match and the only time that DVC could get reserved to give to II was premier time. They'd have to do so OR carry the points over to another year.

 

[Dean]

And while I have the opportunity to talk about this subject, I have been wondering exactly how DVC decides what to give up to II. Under old versions it was the same unit size and a "specified season" but which resort varied with availability and the 11/7 month windows. Now given the points grid, all of that is not possible. From what I've gathered, they still try to do the same season and unit size and the lowest cost resort. However, there would not be enough points to do so assuming mostly 1 and 2 BR exchanges. Now if there were a fair amount of studios that would create an excess of points that could be used elsewhere. It looks like they simply pool the points in one account then give the units to II in batches since I see a group of units online at onetime then they dwindle, then more a few weeks later.

Under the previous system, DVC simply did not give up 3 BR units. So if you got a 3 BR, it only cost you points for a 2 BR. And since II does not list 3 BR units with any of the DVC resorts, I'm assuming they simply give up more units if you trade for a 3 BR rather than giving II a GV.

The final impression is that DVC is truly only reasonable to trade (from a value standpoint) for resorts that meet both standards of high quality and peak season such as the Maui Marriott anytime, or Aruba Marriott during the time Xmas to spring break only. Now if II would give members the inherent benefits of being a regular II member and keep the pluses of the current system, that might change very quickly and DVC could be a great trading tool. What benefits do II members get that DVC members do not?

• wish book
• bonus weeks
• the ability to trade up in unit size
• Access to all II resorts, at least potentially.
• reduced costs during the flex change window.
• online access.
• The ability to trade back in to DVC resorts

Even with the loss of the free membership, reduced fees and the special request first option; those who wanted to trade routinely or periodically would be better off as regular members.