RCI Exchange tidbits.

[Dean]

I just wanted to pass along that for anyone who exchanges in to DVC through RCI, it's possible to add days and link the reservations so you don't have to move just like any applicable DVC reservation. I was able to confirm that my exchange in for the fall for an AKV 1 BR is Savannah view.

 

[bwvBound]

Thanks, Dean -- good to know. I'm hoping for an exchange into BWV for January and will use points to "shape" the reservation with a night or two on either side.

 

[kimberh]

Thanks Dean, I sure didn't know this. I am learning a lot since RCI has become available to us.

 

[Dean]

Thanks, Dean -- good to know. I'm hoping for an exchange into BWV for January and will use points to "shape" the reservation with a night or two on either side.

These are RCI points reservations but I doubt it makes any difference for RCI weeks exchanges. I'd say your chances are excellent for BWV for Jan for a 1 BR or smaller but pretty good for a 2 BR if you have an ongoing search. You won't see those units start to show up until about 10 to 10.5 months out so not much longer. I have seen a few Jan units for SSR already but nothing tonight.

 

[bwvBound]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm looking for a 1BR arriving 1/15, 1/16 or 1/17. I've made the exchange several times through II in the past and now have an open search running through RCI Weeks.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm looking for a 1BR arriving 1/15, 1/16 or 1/17. I've made the exchange several times through II in the past and now have an open search running through RCI Weeks.

I'd bet you get it. You may want to consider adding BCV since it seems there have been quite a few deposits for that resort compared to it's size.

 

[bwvBound]

Whoo-hoo! My exchange came in today! I'm booked for a BWV 2BR unit arriving 1/16/10.

 

[Heidict]

Whoo-hoo! My exchange came in today! I'm booked for a BWV 2BR unit arriving 1/16/10.

Good to hear!!! We are looking to trade there for beginning of December 2010 or January 2011 for a 2 bedroom. So, 10-11 months out is a good time to start the search? I'm so excited we can stay at Disney with RCI!!

 

[bwvBound]

So, 10-11 months out is a good time to start the search?

I'd start your search 2 years out - unless you have reason to do otherwise. Look for a match as early as 10.5 months from travel. This particular search was opened no later than 1/5/09 - as early as I was allowed following the switch to RCI. (It may have been 1/2/09 ... but I think I remember something about the RCI codes for DVC not being ready on day 1?)

 

[Dean]

Good to hear!!! We are looking to trade there for beginning of December 2010 or January 2011 for a 2 bedroom. So, 10-11 months out is a good time to start the search? I'm so excited we can stay at Disney with RCI!!

One is best to be searching at least a full year out.

Whoo-hoo! My exchange came in today! I'm booked for a BWV 2BR unit arriving 1/16/10.

Congrats, I'd thought you'd be successful.

 

[alice99]

I was on the RCI website and don't see the Disney Hilton Head Resort in the resort listings. I was hoping to get the resort number for it to start an exchange request. Anyone??

My plan for next Summer, 2010, is to use an RCI exchange for 1 week, then use my points for the 2nd week. Last 2 weeks of August.

1 Week at the beach, either VB or HH , then 1 week at Disneyworld (hopefully BCV).

Wish me luck.

 

[Dean]

I was on the RCI website and don't see the Disney Hilton Head Resort in the resort listings. I was hoping to get the resort number for it to start an exchange request. Anyone??

My plan for next Summer, 2010, is to use an RCI exchange for 1 week, then use my points for the 2nd week. Last 2 weeks of August.

1 Week at the beach, either VB or HH , then 1 week at Disneyworld (hopefully BCV).

Wish me luck.

HH codes are DV04 (regular deposits) and RD04 (Developer deposits usually rental only). VB is DV07/RD07. You will not get DVC HH next summer and might or might not get VB. BCV is a possibility. I'd list them all then start reserving with your points as soon as you can. At 7 months out you'll have to make some major decisions depending on availability. Assuming you don't own points at any of those, I'd make your points reservations at your home resort 11 months out for as early as you can make them then search with RCI for ALL the resorts and weeks that interest you. Then at 7 months out and assuming you haven't matched anything, I'd try to reserve the one that's most important to you on points, likely HH given it's essentially guaranteed not to match. I'd also suggest you expand to other resorts at WDW in addition to BCV to give yourself a higher chance of success and that's esp true if you want a 2 BR. Even if you end up getting exactly what you already have booked through RCI, you're still better off having your points back to reserve and wait list with DVC. I'd also consider other options in RCI that will fulfill your HH and Fl beach ideas.

 

[alice99]

Thanks so much for the advice.

I figured I'd get a Disneyworld Resort through RCI, then have to use my points for one of the other 2.

I am going to take your advice and put in for any resort I'd be interested in (BWV, BCV, VWL, HH or VBR) and maybe I'll get lucky @ the 10 month window through RCI. We also love the Ron Jon Resort in Cocoa Beach, I will add that also.

I will book at my home resort (BLT) as a backup @ the 11 month window.

Thanks for the advice. Just what I was looking for.

I guess I could book Hilton Head or Vero Beach, through DVC- and do an RCI off site Orlando Resort, but would really rather not. We bought our DVC points because we want to be ON site people now.

 

[Dean]

Thanks so much for the advice.

I figured I'd get a Disneyworld Resort through RCI, then have to use my points for one of the other 2.

I am going to take your advice and put in for any resort I'd be interested in (BWV, BCV, VWL, HH or VBR) and maybe I'll get lucky @ the 10 month window through RCI. We also love the Ron Jon Resort in Cocoa Beach, I will add that also.

I will book at my home resort (BLT) as a backup @ the 11 month window.

Thanks for the advice. Just what I was looking for.

I guess I could book Hilton Head or Vero Beach, through DVC- and do an RCI off site Orlando Resort, but would really rather not. We bought our DVC points because we want to be ON site people now.

If you add RJ for that trip, that is almost guaranteed what you will get. I'd just add all DVC resorts that interest you then later in the game add other resorts if nothing is happening. You should be able to get something pretty good for Orlando off property if you need to later. BTW, what are you trading with RCI (resort, week, size) that you are trying to get DVC?, it may make a difference in the choices you should make.

 

[alice99]

Our other timeshare is a resort in Vermont, Smugglers Notch. We are big skiiers in the winter and always use our fixed, skiing week.

There is a floating week, worth 48,000 points per year, that we bank and use for other vacations.

I've done searches with those points and lots of DVC came up, but I was just looking out of curiosity, when DVC was new to RCI.

Do you think there will be less inventory banked into RCI as time goes on, or more?

I know there was a big influx of DVC deposits in the weeks following the switch from II to RCI.

I know RCI is being trashed all over the DIS boards, much of it rightfully so.

 

[Dean]

Our other timeshare is a resort in Vermont, Smugglers Notch. We are big skiiers in the winter and always use our fixed, skiing week.

There is a floating week, worth 48,000 points per year, that we bank and use for other vacations.

I've done searches with those points and lots of DVC came up, but I was just looking out of curiosity, when DVC was new to RCI.

Do you think there will be less inventory banked into RCI as time goes on, or more?

I know there was a big influx of DVC deposits in the weeks following the switch from II to RCI.

I know RCI is being trashed all over the DIS boards, much of it rightfully so.

RCI points is a much different discussion than the RCI weeks I was thinking since you can make a reservation directly but can't wait list for DVC. You need to keep checking. I'd think you have a great chance of getting something. Will you have enough points as you're going to need around 65K for a 1 BR and almost doubt that for a 2 BR. I suspect there will cont to be about the number of weeks deposited in RCI points as have been or a slight increase but less in RCI weeks as time goes on and the economy improves, but we'll see.

I wouldn't trash RCI but in comparison to II with a focus on DVC type quality resorts, it certainly doesn't measure up overall but it does vary by location.

 

[alice99]

Are you saying I can't wait list for DVC with points, but I could if it was banked as a week?

I have a pretty bad use-year from RCI, September. It's not working so well for me because I like to vacation in the summer, now that my kids are school age.

I wanted to use points for this summer, using 2009 points and borrowing from 2010.....but it wasn't possible to borrow from 2010 because I wasn't even in 2009 yet. I saw a 2 bedroom in BCV for 65k points, but couldn't grab it, because of my inability to borrow....and didn't want to pay to rent extra points from RCI so I let it pass.

When I bought DVC I started getting a true understanding of my RCI also.

Thanks for the advise to leave Ron Jon off the exchange request. I'm starting with DVC resorts first.

 

[Dean]

Are you saying I can't wait list for DVC with points, but I could if it was banked as a week?

I have a pretty bad use-year from RCI, September. It's not working so well for me because I like to vacation in the summer, now that my kids are school age.

I wanted to use points for this summer, using 2009 points and borrowing from 2010.....but it wasn't possible to borrow from 2010 because I wasn't even in 2009 yet. I saw a 2 bedroom in BCV for 65k points, but couldn't grab it, because of my inability to borrow....and didn't want to pay to rent extra points from RCI so I let it pass.

When I bought DVC I started getting a true understanding of my RCI also.

Thanks for the advise to leave Ron Jon off the exchange request. I'm starting with DVC resorts first.

That's correct, you can't put in a WL through RCI points for other points resorts. You can for RCI weeks using RCI points but only by phone. You could WL for DVC with a RCI weeks membership but you're talking different and somewhat separate inventory.

I have an August UY and it's not a problem but then again I was able to turn my 49K a year points into almost 600K using weeks for deposit. Getting 3 years worth of points together is tough as you'd have to pay 3 points carry over fees in your situation to do so. If you're going to be looking at DVC periodically, you need to get something else. Either an RCI weeks membership, an additional points week or have a points transfer in. IF you had an RCI weeks membership, that membership fees is currently free. And if that resort were not involved in RCI points at all, you could transfer that week to RCI and they would give you the corresponding points. Do you have any way to get an extra week from Smuggs, even off time?

Let us know how this all plays out.