RCI exchange- take OKW 1br or wait?- UPDATE- now SSR!!

[Goofygirl17]

We are trying to trade our ts for DVC for next April. I have a trade on hold right now for a 1 br at OKW. It will be my husband, 2 DDs (10, 7) and me. We stayed in a studio at SSR this year but would like more space so I have an ongoing search for a 1br at any of the DVC.

My question is-

Should I take the 1br at OKW or wait to see if we get another offer. I've seen 1br at Wilderness Lodge and SSR and a studio at the Beach club before with my week. I can also see 1 and 2 br units at Bonnet Creek on a regular basis.

Thanks for any opinions or information!

UPDATE-

RCI messed up and was holding a unit for the week after our vacation! I have talked to a couple people on the phone and now we're back to an ongoing search. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I'm very frustrated!!!

Updated again!! Now I have a 1br SSR unit on hold. We stayed in a studio there this year and really liked the resort but the girls were excited about OKW when I showed them the pictures yesterday. They especially liked the pictures of the sand castle slide

Guess I have to decide if I want to risk not getting DVC by letting this go in order to see if something else comes up.

Decisions, decisions!!

 

[DebbieB]

We are trying to trade our ts for DVC for next April. I have a trade on hold right now for a 1 br at OKW. It will be my husband, 2 DDs (10, 7) and me. We stayed in a studio at SSR this year but would like more space so I have an ongoing search for a 1br at any of the DVC.

My question is-

Should I take the 1br at OKW or wait to see if we get another offer. I've seen 1br at Wilderness Lodge and SSR and a studio at the Beach club before with my week. I can also see 1 and 2 br units at Bonnet Creek on a regular basis.

Thanks for any opinions or information!

I would take it. The OKW 1 bedrooms are the largest in DVC. They are in the process of being renovated. Most if not all should be done by next April.

Just to be clear, Bonnet Creek is not a DVC or WDW resort.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks Debbie. I am leaning toward taking it. I just watched Candy's (?) video of a renovated 1 br at OKW and it looks huge! Especially compared to our SSR studio. Our girls are getting spoiled DD10 said we need more room next time!

I know that Bonnet Creek isn't Disney but it helps to know if you can access it as far as trading power in RCI.

Thanks again!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

I would book what I can at Disney and waitlist for something else you may want.

 

[shortypots]

I would take it. I had 4 adults in the 1bd at OKW and we had more than enough space! It was awesome. OKW is definitely one of our favorites!

 

[utahkennedys]

I just took a 1BR OKW Easter week today too! We LOVE OKW, own points there but trade in when we can instead. It's our favorite although BCV is a close second, but we love the relaxing feel and SPACE at OKW plus the quiet pools.

 

[Goofygirl17]

update first post

 

[Goofygirl17]

updated first post

 

[Brian Noble]

As I wrote on another board, I would keep the SSR week unless your deposit is known to see most of the sighted DVC units on a regular basis---it looks like this week's deposit had slightly lower trade power requirements based on several anecdotes I've heard. That may be a pixie-dusted glitch in your favor. Plus, if I recall correctly you are looking at the week leading into Easter---I would not take chances.

If you have another deposit you can search with, you can add the cancel insurance to this exchange and try to trade up if something better comes along.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks Brian. I guess I always like to know my options and this whole trading process is such a gamble sometimes. I wish the OKW unit was for the week we're going because that would have been great. SSR was nice though and the girls enjoyed the pool so I guess we'll take it.

Thanks again for all your advice! I remember you advised me last year when I first started trying to get DVC before the website upgrade that helped me but had a bad outcome for other people.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

We started going to OKW because it cost us less points. It has been at leat 10 years going every other year. My DD is 15 now and DSs are 21 and 23. It is still their first choice of places to stay. We are currently starting to plan for the last weekend in April, 2011. I wanted to try someplace different for a change but I think I have been outnumbered because they all said only if we can't get OKW. DS 21 says he will go wherever I want but it is an empty promise as he probably won't come anyway because of school. Finals wern't until the 2nd week of may this year. It is also one of only 3 Disney properties that have a basketball court.

 

[ldo]

take SSR if you want a sure bet--hold out for OKw if you really want it and aer willing to risk not getting any DVC for Easter week. No way to know how many will be deposited and how many have ongoing searches.

 

[fsmith2845]

I just this week booked a week at SSR through RCI the week after Thankgsiving.. Never been to Disney when it wasnt' 1000 degrees (always go in summer) so it will be nice to go with nice comfortable weather AND.. get to see WDW all decked out for Christmas... I had my sights on Beach Club or Boardwalk but waited one day too long and they were no longer available.

Does anyone have any idea what section they typically put the RCI transfers.. we also have a 1 BR Villa ourselves.

 

[spiceycat]

Does anyone have any idea what section they typically put the RCI transfers.. we also have a 1 BR Villa ourselves.

Disney does not do that. you will treated like a DVC member - so it could be any section.

would ask for Grandstand or Congress Park -but that is me.

here is a map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/SSMap.pdf

 

[Goofygirl17]

We took the 1br at SSR

Let the planning begin

 

[hsmamato2]

how do you waitlist at a DVC if you traded in RCI?
And if you traded in for RCI, are you considered a DVC member while staying there? i.e. free video rental,etc....? TIA!

 

[Goofygirl17]

RCI doesn't have a waitlist. I put in an ongoing search for any of the DVC for next April. I got a match for a 1br at SSR. I originally got a match for OKW but it was for the following week- we can't go then. So I released that hold and ended up with the SSR unit.

We aren't considered DVC members while we're there. We have to pay if we want internet etc but we do get to take the transportation, can use ME from the airport etc. I don't know about the video rentals. It might be good to post a question asking what perks are available for RCI customers at DVC resorts.

We exchanged for a studio at SSR this past April and had a great time!

 

[fsmith2845]

RCI doesn't have a waitlist. I put in an ongoing search for any of the DVC for next April. I got a match for a 1br at SSR. I originally got a match for OKW but it was for the following week- we can't go then. So I released that hold and ended up with the SSR unit.

We aren't considered DVC members while we're there. We have to pay if we want internet etc but we do get to take the transportation, can use ME from the airport etc. I don't know about the video rentals. It might be good to post a question asking what perks are available for RCI customers at DVC resorts.

We exchanged for a studio at SSR this past April and had a great time!

Well we get the Magic express and transportation, etc... when we pay that $95 at the resort.. oh and ADRs and all

 

[Brian Noble]

RCI inbounds are treated as renters/cash guests---no DVC perks. They do have all the usual perks available to any onsite guest, of course. RCI inbounds also pay the $95 inbound exchange fee, which is a "because we can" sort of thing. The only thing that inbounds are entitled to that renters are not is the ability to all Member Services directly (via the 800 number, if desired) to make requests, add the dining plan, make ADRs, etc.

 

[Dean]

how do you waitlist at a DVC if you traded in RCI?
And if you traded in for RCI, are you considered a DVC member while staying there? i.e. free video rental,etc....? TIA!

As noted, the $95 fee is extra above the RCI exchange fee. Even DVC members are not considered members on RCI exchanges for many options but are for others, exchangers are NOT members and don't get any of the member specific perks. As for WL with RCI, it depends on which part you belong to. IF you're an RCI weeks member you can WL in the form of an ongoing exchange request against a deposit you have ALREADY on deposit. For RCI points members, there is not WL of any type. The vast majority of weeks members don't have enough trade power to secure a DVC exchange, trade power is not an issue with RCI points. Location is though, the rule is, as I understand it, that if you own in Orlando, you cannot trade into DVC. This has been variable in RCI weeks in that if you have a week listed in your account that is from Orlando but you are NOT trading Orlando, some have been successful, others not. I know of several people who had confirmed RCI exchanges into DVC that were later canceled based on this rule. That includes both RCI points AND RCI weeks trades.