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

[lmshaggard]

Dean - I am curious - I have an exchange week I have found several Disney exchanges against - they just haven't been our exact week. We are also DVC owners at BLT and GVC - we just own a ton of weeks in Mexico and I have been trading some of those as we usually spend 6-8 weeks at Disney every year. How does it differ for points vs weeks? We own weeks and I have found every resort besides BLT over the past couple of weeks. I can't really get a straight answer out of RCI (surprise, surprise) - any insight???

 

[Dean]

Dean - I am curious - I have an exchange week I have found several Disney exchanges against - they just haven't been our exact week. We are also DVC owners at BLT and GVC - we just own a ton of weeks in Mexico and I have been trading some of those as we usually spend 6-8 weeks at Disney every year. How does it differ for points vs weeks? We own weeks and I have found every resort besides BLT over the past couple of weeks. I can't really get a straight answer out of RCI (surprise, surprise) - any insight???

Hopefully you have an ongoing search in place for what you want at DVC. I don't think DVC has deposited BLT yet but that should be coming up fairly soon if it hasn't started yet as I haven't been looking as much lately. RCI points and weeks are two totally different animals and simply linked together because there is one parent company. Since you know weeks, I'll simply give you a summary of points. You get your yearly allotment with banking/borrowing/transferring similar to DVC. Reservations can be made at 303 days out or whenever a given week comes into the system, no home resort priority other than you can get your own week if you do it earlier. Most options/resorts are there at 303 days, DVC being an exception. Many units you can only reserve 7 days at a time up to 14 days but there are many you can reserve as short as 2 days. For stays less than a week, most (all I know of) charge a housekeeping fee. You pay your underlying maint fees plus a yearly RCI points membership. You can also cross over to the weeks side using points but ONLY to resorts that are not part of the RCI points system. Generally when you cross over to weeks you get a favorable exchange rate. NO wait list though, if it's there you reserve it, if not, try again.

 

[lmshaggard]

Hopefully you have an ongoing search in place for what you want at DVC. I don't think DVC has deposited BLT yet but that should be coming up fairly soon if it hasn't started yet as I haven't been looking as much lately. RCI points and weeks are two totally different animals and simply linked together because there is one parent company. Since you know weeks, I'll simply give you a summary of points. You get your yearly allotment with banking/borrowing/transferring similar to DVC. Reservations can be made at 303 days out or whenever a given week comes into the system, no home resort priority other than you can get your own week if you do it earlier. Most options/resorts are there at 303 days, DVC being an exception. Many units you can only reserve 7 days at a time up to 14 days but there are many you can reserve as short as 2 days. For stays less than a week, most (all I know of) charge a housekeeping fee. You pay your underlying maint fees plus a yearly RCI points membership. You can also cross over to the weeks side using points but ONLY to resorts that are not part of the RCI points system. Generally when you cross over to weeks you get a favorable exchange rate. NO wait list though, if it's there you reserve it, if not, try again.

Thanks for your help! We typically use our Mexico timeshare for Mexico and DVC for DVC. We have been spending 3-4 weeks and 2 short weekends at DW though and are taking our family at christmas this year, so I really wanted to not borrow and keep us on track, but still be able to travel as usual. Our Mexico timeshare in not traditional - we have no maintenance fees and have 150 weeks. We can use none or 52 each year - once they are gone though, they are gone. We do have an all inclusive fee if we stay with them, but it covers everything (food, drinks, golf, spa, tours) - we have little ones now and it will be great once they get older and we love Disney, so that is where we are spending our time these days I was able to get a 1 bdrm at OKW the 2nd week of April - so I am happy with what I found. Thanks again!!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for your help! We typically use our Mexico timeshare for Mexico and DVC for DVC. We have been spending 3-4 weeks and 2 short weekends at DW though and are taking our family at christmas this year, so I really wanted to not borrow and keep us on track, but still be able to travel as usual. Our Mexico timeshare in not traditional - we have no maintenance fees and have 150 weeks. We can use none or 52 each year - once they are gone though, they are gone. We do have an all inclusive fee if we stay with them, but it covers everything (food, drinks, golf, spa, tours) - we have little ones now and it will be great once they get older and we love Disney, so that is where we are spending our time these days I was able to get a 1 bdrm at OKW the 2nd week of April - so I am happy with what I found. Thanks again!!

That's great as MX timeshares have a traditionally low trade value, even the best ones and top weeks.

 

[cush1]

Congrats GoofyGirl. I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[lmshaggard]

That's great as MX timeshares have a traditionally low trade value, even the best ones and top weeks.

I did request for them to deposit a december week as I have a say about which week I want deposited, but only had to trade a hotel room not even a studio to get the 1 bedroom. I was also able to get a 2 bdrm at SS last fall. RCI tells me that Palace Resorts has great trade though since they are a 5 star hotel (includes room service, daily maid and turn down, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages in room) plus all the other all-inclusive stuff - not sure, but not complaining I do have to request a week that is out a ways - 9 months or so - for best trade value? Thanks again for all the info as I don't always trust what RCI has to say

 

[Dean]

I did request for them to deposit a december week as I have a say about which week I want deposited, but only had to trade a hotel room not even a studio to get the 1 bedroom. I was also able to get a 2 bdrm at SS last fall. RCI tells me that Palace Resorts has great trade though since they are a 5 star hotel (includes room service, daily maid and turn down, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages in room) plus all the other all-inclusive stuff - not sure, but not complaining I do have to request a week that is out a ways - 9 months or so - for best trade value? Thanks again for all the info as I don't always trust what RCI has to say

You would be smart not to trust them in this situation.