RCI~ is there a site that explains it well

[Shelly888]

or a basic explanation for me? Trying to explore all angles before making the leap

 

[Deb & Bill]

The best way of looking at DVC is to use your points at your home resort. That's the only thing you are guaranteed. Everything could change and not a promise.

So, don't buy DVC to trade out more than once is a great while.

 

[JimMIA]

or a basic explanation for me? Trying to explore all angles before making the leap

Which leap are you contemplating -- into DVC, or RCI?

If DVC, Deb has given you very good advice -- ignore RCI. With DVC you currently have access to a little less than 600 or the more than 6,500 RCI resorts worldwide. Most think using DVC points for RCI trades is not a great value -- and in fact, many experienced timeshare people think you lose value exchanging just about any timeshare.

If you're looking at DVC, evaluate it based on using it for DVC vacations only. If it doesn't work that way, it won't work any way.

If you're interested in RCI, I'd go over to the Timeshare Users Group (TUG) and research there. That's a much broader community covering all timeshares.

 

[Dean]

or a basic explanation for me? Trying to explore all angles before making the leap

If you are looking at buying, it would be foolish to buy DVC for RCI, DCL, etc, etc. Just buy the number of points (maybe with a small cushion) that you'd use at DVC resorts.

IF you're a member already and wanted to consider the option, it's a little more reasonable to look at. The system goes something like this. RCI has over 4000 resorts. DVC has selected roughly 500 non Orlando resorts. Generally they've gone for the top resorts that tend to have any availability and tried to cover the globe as much as possible. One can and should research specific resorts independently before listing or accepting them.

The process is:

• You decide on the area or resorts and dates that interest you.
• You call DVC ad see what's available.
• If what you want is available, you say OK and pay the non refundable $95 fee. At that point your DVC points are gone forever and you have little cancelation options. No guarantee that the destination resort will be up to DVC standards, actually most are below DVC.
• If what you want is not available on the call you either hang up or put in an ongoing search. If you search, again you pay the same $95 fee. If you match before you cancel, the fee and your points are gone and you have an RCI exchange available to you. An ongoing search is usually the best option for success but there are risks.

Does either answer help you?

 

[treehugnmama]

It helps me

 

[JimMIA]

RCI has over 4000 resorts. DVC has selected roughly 500 non Orlando resorts.

Just a little clarification -- RCI has 6,500+ resorts worldwide. I'm not sure exactly how many of those DVC has access to, but I believe it's in the upper 500's, but less than 600. Both numbers are probably moving targets, because the timeshare industry itself is pretty fluid.

Also, access to those resorts are the only things DVC members get from RCI. You don't have a full RCI membership, so you don't have access to any of their benefits, some of which (like Extra Vacations or Last Calls) can be substantial.

 

[Shelly888]

That does help, a lot actually. I was curious what the option was and how it worked, in case I needed to present another option to DH, to make buying into DVC more attractive. Thanks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That does help, a lot actually. I was curious what the option was and how it worked, in case I needed to present another option to DH, to make buying into DVC more attractive. Thanks.

I wouldn't use the RCI option as something to make DVC more attractive. If he isn't into Disney, buy a timeshare that you can trade into DVC. Make sure it has sufficient trading strength to get DVC.

 

[Dean]

Just a little clarification -- RCI has 6,500+ resorts worldwide. I'm not sure exactly how many of those DVC has access to, but I believe it's in the upper 500's, but less than 600. Both numbers are probably moving targets, because the timeshare industry itself is pretty fluid.

Also, access to those resorts are the only things DVC members get from RCI. You don't have a full RCI membership, so you don't have access to any of their benefits, some of which (like Extra Vacations or Last Calls) can be substantial.

If you do the search, you'll find the number 6267 listed. However, not all of those resorts are timeshares and many are the same resort listed multiples times. It depends in larger part on whether you're a lumper or a splitter. For example, if you look at DVC at WDW, you'll see 18 listings covering the 7 DVC resorts. That's two for each one and 4 additional listings for 3/4 day OKW options. DVC has advertised "over 500" in recent memory. If you search RCI, you some up with somewhere just over 700 but there is some duplication there as well, just not as much. IMO, the other restrictions you mention are more important than the excluded resorts because there aren't a lot of resorts that are excluded that are both reasonable choices for trading AND realistically available.

 

[JimMIA]

If you do the search, you'll find the number 6267 listed.

Thanks. I think the last time I looked, probably a year ago, the number claimed was 6,530-something, and that's what I was going by. I didn't know about the duplications.

IMO, the other restrictions you mention are more important than the excluded resorts ...

Yeah, I think so too.

One of our DIS DVCers (who is also a Wyndham owner, thereby getting full RCI membership) recently got an RCI Extra Vacation cash deal in a two-bedroom deluxe at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for less than $500 total for an entire week. It was for Feb 2012, so not even a Last Call.

 

[Dean]

Thanks. I think the last time I looked, probably a year ago, the number claimed was 6,530-something, and that's what I was going by. I didn't know about the duplications.Yeah, I think so too.

One of our DIS DVCers (who is also a Wyndham owner, thereby getting full RCI membership) recently got an RCI Extra Vacation cash deal in a two-bedroom deluxe at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for less than $500 total for an entire week. It was for Feb 2012, so not even a Last Call.

RCI's 2010 Audit lists 4226 properties plus 94 properties where the relationship terminated during the year. We're at AKV Savannah view for two units exchange (1 & 2 BR) in a month through RCI, total cost about $400 a week including all timeshare costs and the extra $95 fee for each unit..