RCI exchange...please help weeks on hold

[Brian Noble]

I'm assuming that it is not done manually, and history suggests that RCI's IT staff probably hasn't been that sophisticated.

 

[Dean]

I was under the impression it was done by computer and checked manually.

 

[3princes+1princess]

So, I just did the two weeks one day off and I will figure it out later. It was the week that I already had reservations for an all my meals planned for. Figured it wouldn't get better than that. So I even stopped the 2 bedroom search as I don't want to know I could have done better. I did find out that I got savanna rooms so I am ECSTATIC!!! So now I just have to ask DVC to put the rooms close together and hopefully close to the buses. I know it will all work out. Hey, its AK savanna view!!

 

[Dean]

So, I just did the two weeks one day off and I will figure it out later. It was the week that I already had reservations for an all my meals planned for. Figured it wouldn't get better than that. So I even stopped the 2 bedroom search as I don't want to know I could have done better. I did find out that I got savanna rooms so I am ECSTATIC!!! So now I just have to ask DVC to put the rooms close together and hopefully close to the buses. I know it will all work out. Hey, its AK savanna view!!

I'm glad it worked out. I think one of the mistakes you made was trying to get them both at the same time. You likely would have been successful if you'd taken one week that fit and then kept searching for the second week. Looking for 2 weeks at the same time for a high demand options is rarely a good choice unless you're willing to miss the trip if you don't get them both. Keep looking, if what you want comes up you could ask RCI to swap it for you. It'll cost you another exchange fee but not an extra DVC $95 fee so it may be worth it for you. Of course you might lose the Savannah view for that unit though. Your plight shows some of the perils/challenges of RCI/II exchanges but very high reward when you can trade to top options like DVC.

 

[rfc0001]

This wasn't you're specific issue, but as an experienced RCI'r from our other timeshare, be aware if you have two or more RCI ongoing searches for the same resort/region with 1 or more overlapping checkin dates, due to a bug in the RCI system it will *never* match these ongoing searches, and you will not be warned of this "feature". We found out the hard way after having two searches (one for 1bdrm, one for 2bdrm) for the same date range and DVC resorts, and despite many subsequently showing up as available, the search never found a match. My wife researched this online and found on this was the problem. Also, FWIW, multiple searches aren't needed for 1 and 2 bdrm, as the search is for a *minimum* unit size, so just search for the 1 bdrm, and either will show up.

 

[lilpooh108]

This wasn't you're specific issue, but as an experienced RCI'r from our other timeshare, be aware if you have two or more RCI ongoing searches for the same resort/region with 1 or more overlapping checkin dates, due to a bug in the RCI system it will *never* match these ongoing searches, and you will not be warned of this "feature". We found out the hard way after having two searches (one for 1bdrm, one for 2bdrm) for the same date range and DVC resorts, and despite many subsequently showing up as available, the search never found a match. My wife researched this online and found on this was the problem. Also, FWIW, multiple searches aren't needed for 1 and 2 bdrm, as the search is for a *minimum* unit size, so just search for the 1 bdrm, and either will show up.

Is this true?

I have 2 separate searches set up for next year, same set of dates. One set has AKV, VWL, BWV. The other set has SSR & OKW.

Will neither search match simply because there are 2 searches going on for the same region? I specifically put in different resort IDs.

Thanks.

 

[rfc0001]

Is this true?

I have 2 separate searches set up for next year, same set of dates. One set has AKV, VWL, BWV. The other set has SSR & OKW.

Will neither search match simply because there are 2 searches going on for the same region? I specifically put in different resort IDs.

Thanks.

It was as recently as within the year when I used our HGVC RCI Ongoing Search to book into DVC. I had same resorts, same dates, different rooms and nothing matched despite literally dozens of matches showing up in inventory. Luckily we realized this and changed the search and a match showed up (since RCI pulls inventory when you even look at it then it pops back up we got lucky and some stuff popped back up later in the day). As far as room searches being minimums, again I can confirm this was the case for using RCI with HGVC, and I assume the same applies to DVC. After you modify a search or enter a search it will state "minimum room size" in the search before you confirm. I've actually had it match a higher size, so can confirm it actually works this way.

 

[lilpooh108]

It was as recently as within the year when I used our HGVC RCI Ongoing Search to book into DVC. I had same resorts, same dates, different rooms and nothing matched despite literally dozens of matches showing up in inventory. Luckily we realized this and changed the search and a match showed up (since RCI pulls inventory when you even look at it then it pops back up we got lucky and some stuff popped back up later in the day). As far as room searches being minimums, again I can confirm this was the case for using RCI with HGVC, and I assume the same applies to DVC. After you modify a search or enter a search it will state "minimum room size" in the search before you confirm. I've actually had it match a higher size, so can confirm it actually works this way.

Thanks for the heads up. I feel like my search might be different since I put in different codes, but I'll delete one. Better safe than sorry.

 

[rfc0001]

Thanks for the heads up. I feel like my search might be different since I put in different codes, but I'll delete one. Better safe than sorry.

Different codes are fine as long as the same resort id isn't in an overlapping date range. So, don't search resort A, B, C for checkin date 11/1-11/7 and resort C, D, E for 11/1-11/14 since C is in both and for an overlapping date range. Note, it's always mathematically possible to express this without overlap. For example, you could split this into 3 separate searches (resort A, B for 11/7-11/14, Resort C for 11/1-11/14, and Resort D, E for 11/1-11/4). Also note, you can have multiple searches within a single Waitlist --- just keep hitting the + button to add additional dates -- each line can have different resort ids, so effectively you can have an unlimited number of searches within a single Waitlist-- the only time you need more than one Waitlist is if your searches are mutually exclusive meaning you want both of them to find a match not just one or the other. If they are aren't mutually exclusive, just add additional date ranges/resort ids (can be separated by commas for the same date range or can add a second line with e different date range) to the same Waitlist. To play it safe just make sure the same resort ID is only on one date range or make doubly sure the date ranges don't overlap if you have the same ID in multiple date ranges (multiple ranges are fine as long as they don't overlap). I know this is not intuitive, but once you are aware of it, it is easy enough to avoid, and actually simplifies your searches.

 

[CodyBradshaw]

You can cancel a guest certificate 30 days or more from check in and have the $59 guest certificate fee refunded or moved to a new reservation. With Disney resorts you can add a guest certificate up to 72 hours prior to arrival, as you are required to contact DVC 72 hours prior to arrival to coordinate Magic Express and Disney Dining Plans.