RCI Exchange

[jrtoastyman]

Posted something similar in another thread, but wanted to give its own thread so it didn't get overlooked. What has been the experience trying to use your DVC points to book an RCI property? I gather from some of the comments that it has been less than great, but I'd be interested to hear some specifics. Is using DVC points for RCI not a viable option?

Would appreciate people's candid feedback. I just bought into DVC in part because of the ability to use it to travel to non-Disney properties, but I'm still within my 10 day window to withdraw.

Thanks!

 

[JimMIA]

... but I'm still within my 10 day window to withdraw.

I have to be honest -- any time I see a new buyer of ANY timeshare make a comment like that, my immediate and strong reaction is RESCIND...now!

Seriously, if you have ANY doubts at all, the time to resolve those is before it's too late...not afterward. If you bought direct, you can always get the deal you got in a few weeks...or buy resale and save money. If you bought resale, even if you got a spectacular give-away deal, another one will come along.

I can't emphasize strongly enough -- if you have ANY reservations, get out now, take a deep breath, and then go to school and do thorough research.

What has been the experience trying to use your DVC points to book an RCI property? I gather from some of the comments that it has been less than great, but I'd be interested to hear some specifics. Is using DVC points for RCI not a viable option?

Would appreciate people's candid feedback. I just bought into DVC in part because of the ability to use it to travel to non-Disney properties.

Let me say first that I have never done an exchange, so I don't have any direct personal experience. But I think you have to separate out the theoretical shortcomings of DVC as an exchange vehicle, and the actual experiences of DVC owners.

Theoretically, DVC is not a good vehicle for trading for several reasons. The main reason is that DVC is a rather expensive timeshare to purchase and use, and there are other timeshares which exchange better and can be bought literally for $1 on eBay.

A second reason people criticize DVC for exchanges is that you have access to less than 10% of RCI's offerings. RCI has more than 6,500 resorts, but DVC owners can only exchange into a little less than 600 of those.

A third reason is that DVC does not have especially high trading power compared to other alternatives.

A fourth reason is that many do not consider the DVC points cost for exchanges to be a "good value" for those points.

Now, that's all great theory, but the fact is DVC owners can and do get RCI exchanges they are happy with. It doesn't matter if you have six hundred choices or six million, if you find ONE you are happy with, that's all that matters to you. Hopefully, some of those who have actually done exchanges will come on and give you some first-hand experience.

And as far as the points "value" argument, as long as YOU are satisfied with what you get for your points, it doesn't matter what the bean-counters among us think. They're your points.

One thing you should know about exchanges, though, is they are not like calling and making a DVC reservation. Exchanges require a lot more advance planning and are best done more than a year (sometimes two years) out from your desired arrival date.

 

[mjc2003]

I saw your concerns under the "500 Kingdoms" thread. I have never traded into RCI, but I think that's sort of besides the point. Here is what I would suggest:

1) The "500 Kingdoms" thread is a specific reference to a new DVC marketing campaign. The criticism that you should take from that thread is that RCI is an option, or a perk. To make it a selling point is, frankly, a bit misleading. While trading into RCI is allowed and viable, it's not so easy as to suggest that you can pick up the phone and be whisked away to "500 Kingdoms".

2) Trading into RCI (I have read countless threads on this) take a lot of planning, and flexibility. Can it be done? Of course. Is it easy? Not really.

3) The RCI selection consists of approx 10% of the RCI resorts. From what I have read, it's not the 10% at the top. There are some real hit-and-miss stories around these threads.

4) If you bought into DVC "in part because of the ability to use it to travel to non-Disney properties", I would suggest you reconsider your purchase. That is, of course, unless you mean every once in awhile. But if you are hoping to make a sporadic Disney trip in between 2-3 RCI exchanges, I would not say it's impossible; I would say it's impractical, and not a good bang for your buck.

5) The RCI exchange, like everything else, is a "perk" and perks can go at any time. I'm not suggesting it will go away, but you have to buy DVC with the implicit understanding that you are buying access to one Disney resort.

You will find RCI success stories. You will find stories of frustration. I would look past people individual successes/failures, and focus on the big picture: Why are you buying DVC? If the #1 reason is not to vacation on Disney property, then you might be making an imprudent decision. Conversely, if you want to travel mostly to Disney and simply are hoping to have the flexibility to trade out once in awhile? Then stick with it.

I think the DVC salesman exemplified the nature of the "500 Kingdoms" thread. They are selling people on the notion that Disney is just a footnote in the list of options that DVC provides. While technically this is correct, it's misleading.
One thing to consider. A lot of people find tremendous success renting out their points, and renting is very easy. Let's say you have 200 points; you can rent them very quickly for $10-$12 per point. You can then take that $2000-$2400 and get yourself into many resorts with a cash reservation far more easily than via RCI exchange. We have family friends who recently rented out their 500 DVC points for $5500 and use the proceeds to pay for 3 last minute cabins for 6 people on a Royal Carribean cruise.

I hope I'm getting my point across, sorry for all the rambling. In short, I'd say that you should buy DVC firstly as a mechanism to stay on Disney property. There is flexibility to the membership, you can trade out, you can rent points and apply the cash towards other vacations. I just wouldn't buy DVC if trading out or renting was my primary intention, but instead is just a once-in-awhile option.

 

[jrtoastyman]

I have to be honest -- any time I see a new buyer of ANY timeshare make a comment like that, my immediate and strong reaction is RESCIND...now!

Seriously, if you have ANY doubts at all, the time to resolve those is before it's too late...

Thank you for the strong and unequivocal response, seriously. With that said, I don't want to overstate my reservation. The RCI exchange thing was definitely a part of the analysis, but it was just that, a part, and provided it isn't a complete farce, I'm OK with it. I don't mind planning ahead if we opt to go that route -- we like to plan well ahead anyway, because it gives us something to look forward to.

Thanks to both of you for the input -- very helpful.

 

[rentayenta]

We went to Cabo March 2010 and it was a fabulous trip. Our exchange came through in about 2 weeks but that was when you could have as many wait lists as you wanted not the current rule of only 2 active wait lists at a time. There were 5 weeks we could go during Feb and March. We stayed at the Playa Grande and it was perfect! Ocean view, one bedroom, very clean, and incluided a nice resort credit that we didn't even use all of....it was terrific. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I don't remember exactly how long we tried to book before the vacation but I'm thinking around 7 months before.


While the majority of our trips will be to Disney properties, GCV this November and SSR/THV next October I wouldn't hesitate to trade out again. In fact DH and I are thinking about Club Intrawest in Zihua Mexico during the month of December in the next few years.

 

[ldo]

I suggest you also look over on tug2.net, which is a Timeshaer Users Group." They have lots of experience with RCI.
I own DVC and have also traded thru RCI (non-DVC timeshare) for 10+ years. RCI can be great or the pits--they KEY is planning up to 1 year out and also being realistic. For example, putting in for a top Carib. resort 6 months out for the spring will leave you very disappointed, same for Vail at Christmas.
Europe (in big cities and prime destinations) is almost impossible.
On the other hand, there are tons of very nice resorts in Mexico, even for holidays. And, if you request at 1 year out, and have a range of several weeks, you can get a decent resort in Hilton Head, or Myrtle Beach for the summer. Williamsburg is also easy to get at 1 year out. Hawaii is possible, if you are flexible.
Lastly, I would not buy DVC to trade---to me, that would only be every few years, and for times that I just needed to use up my DVC points. It just costs too much upfront compared to other Ts you can buy for under $1K to get the same trades.
good luck. Elaine
Otherwise--LOVE, LOVE, LOVE DVC! Elaine

 

[backyardponder]

So far I haven't been impressed with RCI exchanges...of course, my experience is quite limited. I have been trying to get a 1BR either in Key West or the southern Gulf side of Florida in January or February. There are only 2 properties available to us with 1BR in these locations. Nothing has come through even though I've been on the list a year in advance. My feeling is timeshare owners at these properties do much better renting them out than trading them. I'll sit on the RCI trade list for a few more months and if nothing comes through, then we'll go to VB and WDW for the week.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you for the strong and unequivocal response, seriously. With that said, I don't want to overstate my reservation. The RCI exchange thing was definitely a part of the analysis, but it was just that, a part, and provided it isn't a complete farce, I'm OK with it. I don't mind planning ahead if we opt to go that route -- we like to plan well ahead anyway, because it gives us something to look forward to.

Thanks to both of you for the input -- very helpful.

It was part of my analysis to buy our Worldmark timeshare so I could trade INTO DVC. Most on Disney and other timeshare boards told me it was a pipe dream (especially since I need a 2BR) but it did happen and with some extra pixie dust I got 2 consecutive weeks in BCV. So while RCI is not as easy as booking with your own timeshare, it can be done with planning, flexibility and a little luck!

 

[Dean]

One should not buy with the intent of trading in any way, PERIOD, no exceptions. Too expensive, too many variables and limitations. If one wants to gamble on exchanges, better to do so with a timeshare you have $500 in rather than one of $20K. If one owns and wants to try for a rare exchange option, their choice.

 

[Brian Noble]

I second Dean's comments. If you are thinking once in a blue moon, that is one thing. If you are thinking once every other year, or every third year, then you should buy 1/2 as many points (or 2/3rds as many), instead---size your DVC purchase *only* to your anticipated DVC lodging needs, and nothing more.

 

[Dean]

I second Dean's comments. If you are thinking once in a blue moon, that is one thing. If you are thinking once every other year, or every third year, then you should buy 1/2 as many points (or 2/3rds as many), instead---size your DVC purchase *only* to your anticipated DVC lodging needs, and nothing more.

Brian, my sense is that many people will often end up looking at trading more often than they are thinking buying in. Thus one that doesn't plan at all to trade would end up wanting to do so occasionally, those that are thinking trading occasionally will end up thinking every 3 to 4 years or more, etc. Having a lot of extra points puts one in a position to both potentially force an exchange and to look at the points as less valuable than they are. Thus I feel one should buy no more points than needed simply for DVC with possibly a small cushion of points for those looking at shorter stays, smaller units and/or lower seasons.

It's one thing to buy in to a system that costs $500 to join and $800 a year with the idea of exchanging and quite another for a system that might cost $10-20K and $1200 a month. In addition, many of those other systems are far easier and better to actually trade to non DVC places than is DVC due to DVC's limitations as well as some of the possible tie ins to the other potential timeshare choices. It is my opinion that a good points mini-system plus DVC is the best choice for those that want to do both and that those that are too lazy to learn 2 or more systems, should simply look at cash for non DVC trips.

 

[BLTLDZ]

When we first bought into DVC, we also did not do our homework thoroughly enough...but thankfully, we LOVE disney, and to be honest, we could only go there and be happy..

We still do other things, but after a few attempts at trying to trade into RCI for an Aruba trip, we realized that we would be better off paying out of pocket for a trip like that...when we decide to re-visit the carribean, or Aruba, we will go the route of non-RCI. Just not flexible enough for us.

Having said that, it is good that you are still within your window.
I suggest staying on these boards and reading, reading, reading.
These Disser's are the best!

 

[Brian Noble]

Thus I feel one should buy no more points than needed simply for DVC with possibly a small cushion of points for those looking at shorter stays, smaller units and/or lower seasons.

I'm with you. In fact, I've come to the conclusion that most people should probably *under-buy* a little bit, and borrow to cover. Most people find that, over time, the bloom falls off the rose a little bit, and a "Disney break" is wise. Under-buy+borrow makes that very easy to accommodate. If instead you find that you can support more trips over time, you can always add on a small contract later to cover your needs.

 

[ldo]

I agree with PP. I would advise any newcomer to DVC to "underbuy" and get only enough points for EOY---and borrow or get a transfer to get consecutive years, if you really want. Even in just 5 years, with kids' sports, camp, and desire to do other things, your vacation plans can change a lot. Elaine

 

[Brian Noble]

As a very concrete example: Just yesterday, I cancelled a week we had booked at SSR for Thanksgiving. My daughter does not want to miss a youth-in-government trip that typically happens that week, and has two other events bookending the week that we can't skip and make travel awkward. My son would be willing to skip out on Thanksgiving with the grandparents...if we were visiting Universal and Islands of Adventure, with the Potterverse and much more interesting thrill rides. But, not so much for Disney.