RCI points conversions

[Brian Noble]

However, it's looking like it would be cheaper just to rent it than it would be to own it? Not entirely sure, though.

For some parts of the year, possibly so---essentially, you are renting from owners who (foolishly, IMO) paid retail price for their points, and get a booking discount within 60 days of checkin. They are renting at a loss vs. their overall costs, but are probably making back a little more than their MFs. That won't work for high-demand weeks (think holidays, etc.) but because the resort is so large, if you are flexible it's not a bad way to go.

I know timeshares are geared toward weeks but, for example, this year we are staying 10 nights. How hard would that be?

Not a problem.

 

[Dean]

I know timeshares are geared toward weeks but, for example, this year we are staying 10 nights. How hard would that be?

Some are but many are not. Wyndham, DVC and Bluegreen are extremely flexible in this regard.

 

[dsanner106]

Wyndham books by the night, my stepmother has stayed 2 and a half months in orlando before with no problem. Bonnet Creek is our favorite non disney resort in orlando, hands down.

Drew in Ga

 

[Dean]

Wyndham books by the night, my stepmother has stayed 2 and a half months in orlando before with no problem. Bonnet Creek is our favorite non disney resort in orlando, hands down.

Drew in Ga

I think Wyndhams limits you to 3-4 day options far out but allows shorter bookings as you get closer, I think it's 90 days and it's still a 2 night min. BG generally is a 2 day min with no other restrictions for MOST properties. They do have to affiliates that are a week minimum, one resort that allows one day at a time and one that has a 3 day min. Marriott points is 1 day also but when you can book might vary a little.

ETA: this is for the Prime seasons, otherwise it's a 2 day min in general.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think Wyndhams limits you to 3-4 day options far out but allows shorter bookings as you get closer, I think it's 90 days and it's still a 2 night min

The Wyndham calendar has four "demand" seasons, from lowest to highest: Quiet, Value, High, Prime.

During the three lower-demand seasons (Quiet, Value, and High) you can check in or out on any day, and need only a two night minimum.

During Prime season, your reservation must be composed of a set of linked 3-day, 4-day, or 7-day stays, checking in or out on a "valid check-in day" for the resort. In practice, for larger resorts with valid check-in days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, that's not much of a restriction. And, it is waived at 90 days, at which point you revert to the "non-Prime" rules.

Edited to add: whoops, missed your Edit! So, yes, what Dean said.

 

[JimMIA]

Dean and Brian gave you the general rule with Wyndham: 3 night minimum during prime with restrictions on checkin days, 2 nights otherwise.

There is one exception that I know of. Occasionally, there are "orphan nights" caused by two reservations of 3 days, leaving one night unbooked. In those situations, you can book a single night.

In a large resort like WBC (+/-1200 rooms), orphan nights are not that uncommon. So you can sometimes book single-night stays. I've been able to book a couple of those at Bonnet Creek.

 

[queenbeaz]

Thank you everyone! The more information I can get, the better!

 

[littlestar]

We just came back from Orlando. We flew in on a Thursday and I used our Wyndham points to book a two bedroom deluxe standard unit at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for two nights. Then we moved over to an OKW one bedroom for the week on an exchange through RCI. And then we finished up in a deluxe one bedroom unit (1 1/2 bathrooms at about 1051 square feet) at Sheraton Vistana Villages through II (Interval International). The Sheraton one bedroom was courtesy of a bonus week ($249 for the week) via our II membership.

I have to say all three places were wonderful. I like owning the Wyndham points especially for booking two or three nights when we come in, in the middle of the week. Same thing goes for owning DVC points, too - it's nice to be able to check-in in the middle of the week for cheaper flight prices.

I can honestly say that both Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Sheraton Vistana Villages are every bit as nice as Disney's Old Key West. Sheraton Vistana Villages felt more upscale than the other two, though.

 

[Dean]

We just came back from Orlando. We flew in on a Thursday and I used our Wyndham points to book a two bedroom deluxe standard unit at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for two nights. Then we moved over to an OKW one bedroom for the week on an exchange through RCI. And then we finished up in a deluxe one bedroom unit (1 1/2 bathrooms at about 1051 square feet) at Sheraton Vistana Villages through II (Interval International). The Sheraton one bedroom was courtesy of a bonus week ($249 for the week) via our II membership.

I have to say all three places were wonderful. I like owning the Wyndham points especially for booking two or three nights when we come in, in the middle of the week. Same thing goes for owning DVC points, too - it's nice to be able to check-in in the middle of the week for cheaper flight prices.

I can honestly say that both Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Sheraton Vistana Villages are every bit as nice as Disney's Old Key West. Sheraton Vistana Villages felt more upscale than the other two, though.

I've spent time in all of those plus a number of others. My take on Bonnet Creek was that the units were slightly less other than DVC from a luxury standpoint other than the 4 BR which is better. Of the Hilton's, Marriott GV, Fountains and V. Villages, I though VV was the lowest of all of those and all better than DVC from a unit and overall resort standpoint other than theming which Disney excels at. Harbour Lakes is a little less upscale as it was intended to be initially. I have stayed at and seen a number of others. There are many places worth staying but most of the rest are not on Par with DVC or the others mentioned.

 

[littlestar]

I've spent time in all of those plus a number of others. My take on Bonnet Creek was that the units were slightly less other than DVC from a luxury standpoint other than the 4 BR which is better. Of the Hilton's, Marriott GV, Fountains and V. Villages, I though VV was the lowest of all of those and all better than DVC from a unit and overall resort standpoint other than theming which Disney excels at. Harbour Lakes is a little less upscale as it was intended to be initially. I have stayed at and seen a number of others. There are many places worth staying but most of the rest are not on Par with DVC or the others mentioned.

At Vistana Villages we were back in the Key West section in a deluxe one bedroom and it really was nice. It had beautiful cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and I was totally surprised by the extra half bath off the living room. I didn't even realize there were any 1 bedroom units that came with an extra half bath. I've never encountered a bath and a half in a one bedroom in any other timeshare in Orlando - so that was a first. Also, the laundry room off the kitchen had a door and you could walk in to the laundry room (washer and dryer were stackables) but the other side of the laundry area had pantry shelves. Here's the floor plan:

http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/sheraton_vistana_villages/onebedroom_prem_kw.html

 

[littlestar]

Another beautiful option for timeshare stays in Orlando is the original Sheraton Vistana - since their complete renovation of all the units, I don't think you can go wrong with Vistana. In January we stayed in a townhouse in the Courts section of Sheraton Vistana and it was stunning. It had two bedrooms with a loft sleeping area - a really beautiful winding oak stair case going up to the second floor where the 2nd bedroom, 2nd bath, and loft were located.

http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/sheraton_vistana_resort/twobedroom_townhouse_courts.html

Here's some pictures that Sheraton posted about the Courts renovation (although they didn't post any pictures of the stair case):

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150180916576384.295175.276985136383&type=3

 

[chalee94]

Another beautiful option for timeshare stays in Orlando is the original Sheraton Vistana - since their complete renovation of all the units, I don't think you can go wrong with Vistana.

hope so. i used an AC for a week there - coming up soon...

it'll be interesting to see how weird it is to be offsite again...not to mention that i'm used to going in nov/dec and not the heat of summer...

 

[littlestar]

hope so. i used an AC for a week there - coming up soon...

it'll be interesting to see how weird it is to be offsite again...not to mention that i'm used to going in nov/dec and not the heat of summer...

You'll be fine, Charles. The whole resort has been updated - I would love to take a peek at the units in all the sections. It's a big resort with mature landscaping and great for taking walks around the property.

We have friends that are checking into a one bedroom this Friday at Vistana that we snagged for them for just over $70 dollars for the week. Since we upgraded our Interval International (II) membership to platinum, we get Platinum escape deals occasionally throughout the year. You have to book those pretty quick when you see them as they tend to go quickly! We could have gotten them a 2 bedroom for around $150 for the week through an Interval platinum escape deal, but they only needed a one bedroom.