RCI Exchanges

[wic0721]

How hard is it to book a Disney vacation on an RCI exchange? I'm trying to get into a Disney timeshare and RCI is telling me there is no availability at any of the Disney timeshares September 2010 through June of 2012!

Does this happen often with RCI, I just switched from Interval to RCI, because I could stay at Disney, but now I'm thinking I should have just stayed with Interval.

I'm bumming big time right now and just need to vent, I wish I could talk my husband into buying a DVC, but we bought our existing timeshare years ago!

 

[Brian Noble]

You have a trade power issue. There are (a very few) units right now for that time frame. If you can't "see" any of them, it is because your deposit does not have sufficient trade power to pull them.

In general, and especially since late May of last year (when RCI revalued trade power globally), RCI is a little more restrictive in terms of what units can trade in than II was.

 

[wic0721]

You have a trade power issue. There are (a very few) units right now for that time frame. If you can't "see" any of them, it is because your deposit does not have sufficient trade power to pull them.

In general, and especially since late May of last year (when RCI revalued trade power globally), RCI is a little more restrictive in terms of what units can trade in than II was.

I've got 120 points, I was told by RCI that they were enough to get us the 1 bedroom unit we were looking for during the time we wanted to go. I'm confused now, as to why they can't "find" us anything?

 

[jamstew]

How hard is it to book a Disney vacation on an RCI exchange? I'm trying to get into a Disney timeshare and RCI is telling me there is no availability at any of the Disney timeshares September 2010 through June of 2012!

Does this happen often with RCI, I just switched from Interval to RCI, because I could stay at Disney, but now I'm thinking I should have just stayed with Interval.

I'm bumming big time right now and just need to vent, I wish I could talk my husband into buying a DVC, but we bought our existing timeshare years ago!

It depends on what you have to trade. I own several timeshares, and none of them will pull Disney. You need a very high demand, low supply resort, which I don't have. Also keep in mind that there are many, many DVC owners never trade out (I'm one of them), so there are few deposits, even for people who have desirable enough deposits to get them.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've got 120 points, I was told by RCI that they were enough to get us the 1 bedroom unit we were looking for during the time we wanted to go.

120 points in what resort system? Do you exchange in Weeks or in Points? What unit do you have deposited if in Week?

As for "I was told". RCI phone reps will sometimes tell you what they need to tell you to get you off the phone so that they can meet their quota for the day.

Here's what's there right now in RCI Weeks---as I said, not much available (and this is the smallest total number of units I've seen in over a year), but if you have the trade power necessary, you should see some of these:

Disney's Old Key West Resort (#DV05)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 4
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
2 BR 8 (6) Full 03-Sep-2010 10-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
1 BR 4 (4) Full 11-Dec-2010 18-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
1 BR 4 (4) Full 17-Dec-2010 24-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
1 BR 4 (4) Full 06-Feb-2011 13-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee Onl


Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (#DV06) 1 available unit
Lake Buena Vista
FL, 32830
USA

map resort
Available Unit Size
1 BR
Check-In Date
20-May-2011


RCI Points has more inventory. Here is January and February:

Disney's Beach Club Villas (#DV02)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
Studio 4 (2) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 28500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 21-Jan-2011 Fri 28-Jan-2011 42500


Disney's Boardwalk Villas (#DV03)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 1
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
Studio 4 (2) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 28500


Disney's Old Key West Resort (#DV05)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 22-Jan-2011 Sat 29-Jan-2011 69500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Sun 27-Feb-2011 Sun 6-Mar-2011 68000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sun 27-Feb-2011 Sun 6-Mar-2011


Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (#DV06)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 5

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
Studio 4 (2) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 28500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 41000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 69500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 15-Jan-2011 Sat 22-Jan-2011 69500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 22-Jan-2011 Sat 29-Jan-2011 69500


The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge (#DV08)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 1
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
Studio 4 (2) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 28500

 

[ldo]

Do you mean 120,000 RCI points? IF so, that is plenty of points (your TS cannot be located in Orlando), but you can only book up thru May 5, 2011, and the inventory is very limited--I just looked. You need to look online every week and book right away when you see something. You cannot search with points. I suggest you post on tug2.net, a BB which has lots of timeshare owners who could assist you with information. Elaine

 

[jamstew]

Thanks, Brian. I was hoping someone who could actually see DVC would help out here. Those of us who know we can't pull it are kind of handicapped in offering much assistance.

 

[wic0721]

Do you mean 120,000 RCI points? IF so, that is plenty of points (your TS cannot be located in Orlando), but you can only book up thru May 5, 2011, and the inventory is very limited--I just looked. You need to look online every week and book right away when you see something. You cannot search with points. I suggest you post on tug2.net, a BB which has lots of timeshare owners who could assist you with information. Elaine

Yes, I meant 120,000 points....I forgot to add the zero's!

My timeshare is in New England.

We are looking to go anytime from September to December. We prefer the week before Thanksgiving, but we'd take any week in-between.

Thank you for that website, I'm going to check it out!

 

[ldo]

for RCI points--from Sept-Dec, this is what is available:

OKW: 2 BR 10/16
studio 11/7
1 BR 11/14

SSR: studio 12/10

that is it in RCI points---if any of those work for you, I suggest you take them. There were many more units during this time frame around Jan and Feb. There is no way to tell if DVC will deposit more. good luck. We really like OKW. Elaine

 

[wic0721]

for RCI points--from Sept-Dec, this is what is available:

OKW: 2 BR 10/16
studio 11/7
1 BR 11/14

SSR: studio 12/10

that is it in RCI points---if any of those work for you, I suggest you take them. There were many more units during this time frame around Jan and Feb. There is no way to tell if DVC will deposit more. good luck. We really like OKW. Elaine

I just got off the phone with my RCI/Innseasons Rep, and I told her about the weeks that people have listed here, and she's telling me there's nothing available, and she can't see these weeks! I'm so confused right now...what's going on? I questioned "trading power" and she said I have excellent trading power...which is confusing me even more!

I honestly don't know what do to right now, other than put a $200 deposit down on a vacation at POP, and hope RCI comes through for me, I have a search going now..so if they "find" something they will contact me!

 

[Brian Noble]

It sounds like you own "InnSeason points" not "RCI Points". In that case, you probably exchange through the RCI *Weeks* system. If so, the trade power you have is going to depend precisely on how InnSeason's relationship with RCI works. You should consider asking at the Timeshare User's Group (tugbbs.com) or Timeshare Forums (www.timeshareforums.com) to see if you can find other InnSeason owners who understand how the system is set up. But, empirically, you do not at present have sufficient trade power to exchange into a DVC resort.

she said I have excellent trading power

For what it's worth, most phone representatives don't have the first clue about how timeshare exchanges *really* work.

I would put down the POP deposit, and start asking questions on TUG or TS4M to see if you can learn more. But, if you aren't seeing any of those deposits in Weeks right now, it is unlikely that you ever will.

 

[Dean]

I just got off the phone with my RCI/Innseasons Rep, and I told her about the weeks that people have listed here, and she's telling me there's nothing available, and she can't see these weeks! I'm so confused right now...what's going on? I questioned "trading power" and she said I have excellent trading power...which is confusing me even more!

I honestly don't know what do to right now, other than put a $200 deposit down on a vacation at POP, and hope RCI comes through for me, I have a search going now..so if they "find" something they will contact me!

It sounds to me like you have points in another timeshare and are trying to trade into DVC through RCI. You mentioned INNSeasons, if you're trading their points I'm not sure how this works for you. It's possible you're using their points and looking on the weeks side because IF you're looking on the points side, you should be able to see what was quoted. IF you had 120K RCI points, that'd be a heck of deal for you if the fees were reasonable. There really are few 2 BR options that will give you that many RCI points for a single 2 BR unit. They are out there.

 

[wic0721]

It sounds to me like you have points in another timeshare and are trying to trade into DVC through RCI. You mentioned INNSeasons, if you're trading their points I'm not sure how this works for you. It's possible you're using their points and looking on the weeks side because IF you're looking on the points side, you should be able to see what was quoted. IF you had 120K RCI points, that'd be a heck of deal for you if the fees were reasonable. There really are few 2 BR options that will give you that many RCI points for a single 2 BR unit. They are out there.

You are correct Dean, I have 120K INNSeasons points, not RCI points. I'm trying to exchange my existing points for a Disney vacation. A couple years ago, I stayed at a DVC by exchanging my points with Interval. It was extremely easy. Now that I'm part of RCI, I'm beginning to wish I had stayed with Interval. The only reason I switched from Interval to RCI was because of Disney.

 

[Dean]

You are correct Dean, I have 120K INNSeasons points, not RCI points. I'm trying to exchange my existing points for a Disney vacation. A couple years ago, I stayed at a DVC by exchanging my points with Interval. It was extremely easy. Now that I'm part of RCI, I'm beginning to wish I had stayed with Interval. The only reason I switched from Interval to RCI was because of Disney.

The sightings quoted were in RCI points, if you have that option, you'll be better off. The difference for DVC between II and RCI appears to be (in part at least) that II looked at DVC as just another top Orlando resort where RCI is putting it on a pedestal above the rest for Orlando. Unit size is less important with RCI but trade power is MORE important it appears. We're back to you have a trade power issue I think. Can you select a resort and week to deposit, if so, figure out what is the best option to do so and go for it.

 

[disneyaggies]

Good Luck...I've never been able to book anything through RCI...we were on a wait list for 10 months....then changed it to the next summer and are still waiting....pretty sure I'll lose the points I've banked with RCI....will never do that again.

 

[ldo]

disneyaggies, if you mean you banked DVC points with RCI and did not get a match after 10 months, you need to change your RCI request. RCI does not have a waitlist--it is an RCI search and if someone comes along with a better trader than you, they get it over you, even if you have been "on the list" for 6+ months--it is not at all like a DVc points waitlist.
You either have picked a place with a very limited date, limited supply, or very popular so many with more "power" than DVC are trading into it.
Some examples---skiing out West Christmas week, Carib. Spring break, Lake George, NUY in summer, Monterey, CA, Washington, DC, etc. If you post your criteria for RCI here, some of us who have RCI trading experience can give you some suggestions for better success (although some things are just impossible). If you have 2011 to work with, you should be able to use your points--you just might have to modify you "Wish list." Elaine

 

[Dean]

Good Luck...I've never been able to book anything through RCI...we were on a wait list for 10 months....then changed it to the next summer and are still waiting....pretty sure I'll lose the points I've banked with RCI....will never do that again.

If I recall, you were looking for Summer 2 BR for the Panhandle, which resorts did you list and how many points did you deposit? You should be able to get something appropriate, esp now. But you may want to consider a backup plan as well. Hopefully you have 270 points that you deposited because if not, that is your issue.

There is are 2 units for next summer online now but in resorts that aren't on DVC's list. This is one example of why I don't like them handpicking the resorts. I am not aware of them waiving the resort list but it doesn't help to ask. The resorts they have listed (5 out of 21 possible) all have internal trading options where members of those systems have the ability to pick up those weeks rather than them going to RCI. Many of them are also dually affiliated with II and RCI and for some, most of the deposits go to II. And in some cases the system deposits shoulder weeks and does not generally deposit the better weeks at all. Two of those are in RCI points and it's too early for those weeks to come on board at over 10 months out.

 

[flojim]

My experience from RCI is much different than Interval. Interval was an easy systemand you often were able to trade with in a fair amount of wait time.

I was once told that Disney canceled their contract from Interval because they were not interested in charging people extra money, they were an exchange co.. RCI took on the contract allowing people to deposit their week and they keep a portion for trade and try to sell the others for disney to make $$ back for Disney & RCI. Not sure if this is the truth just what I have been told. It seems possible to me.

 

[Dean]

My experience from RCI is much different than Interval. Interval was an easy systemand you often were able to trade with in a fair amount of wait time.

I was once told that Disney canceled their contract from Interval because they were not interested in charging people extra money, they were an exchange co.. RCI took on the contract allowing people to deposit their week and they keep a portion for trade and try to sell the others for disney to make $$ back for Disney & RCI. Not sure if this is the truth just what I have been told. It seems possible to me.

II and RCI historically functioned very similarly. RCI has branched out with a separate exchange company, RCI points. They have also made their weeks exchange system more transparent than it was before and than II currently is. RCI is also more involved in renting out none exchange inventory but not exchange inventory other than short notice (some believe they also rent exchange inventory not acquired honestly).

With RCI a larger % of resorts can deposit up to 2 years out so you do need to plan ahead better with RCI. RCI allows you to program upgrades, II doesn't. There are a few other minor difference but they are far more similar than different, IMO. RCI points is more of an outlier but even then there are many differences.

 

[Goaliemom30]

We are new DVC folks trying for Italy in 2013. We are looking to do a one week exchange through RCI and put in for 3 possible weeks in June/July of 2013. We made our request in January of 2012. We also have three resorts listed as ones that we are interested in. I see this as a DVC/RCI experiment and figure if our waitlist does not come through a couple of months prior to our travel date we will switch up our travel. I will keep folks posted as to our progress or lack thereof.