RCI to Disney Exchanges

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Is anybody real familiar with the RCI to Disney exchange program? This is an RCI week for a week at Disney.

I can book under my DVC (new member - woohoo) and get a room at AKV, but trying to use my week from RCI, I am told there is no availability for any booking category for any room option. RCI is saying Disney is booked full and there is nothing available, but I can book with MS and have a lot to choose from.

I know the inventory is different, but that does not seem right. So, does anybody know what the inventory is for RCI exchange is like? Like maybe 1 room for RCI per every so many (example: 20) rooms for DVC people?

 

[bwvBound]

Oversimplified response: The DVC rooms available to RCI members represent exchanges made by DVC members out through RCI. So when lots of DVC members use their DVC points to book RCI destinations, that opens up more DVC rooms to RCI members. Conversely, when very few DVC members trade out through RCI there is less DVC inventory available to RCI members.

The exchange ratios aren't likely 1:1 ... but that at least provides a basis for understanding.

 

[Dean]

Is anybody real familiar with the RCI to Disney exchange program? This is an RCI week for a week at Disney.

I can book under my DVC (new member - woohoo) and get a room at AKV, but trying to use my week from RCI, I am told there is no availability for any booking category for any room option. RCI is saying Disney is booked full and there is nothing available, but I can book with MS and have a lot to choose from.

I know the inventory is different, but that does not seem right. So, does anybody know what the inventory is for RCI exchange is like? Like maybe 1 room for RCI per every so many (example: 20) rooms for DVC people?

There are a number of pots of rooms. These include rooms available for points, rooms available for cash but not points (several different ones) and rooms given to RCI. You're only eligible for rooms actually given to RCI. RCI can only give you what they have at the moment. You can (and should) do an ongoing search with RCI which you can do in RCI weeks (but not RCI points). Keep in mind that RCI works on a like for like basis that is grounded in a trade power number. Thus they might have exactly what you want and still not give it to you if you don't have enough trade power. I'd put in the request with RCI AND book the room with DVC, then cancel the DVC reservation IF you get what you want through RCI.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

There are a number of pots of rooms. These include rooms available for points, rooms available for cash but not points (several different ones) and rooms given to RCI. You're only eligible for rooms actually given to RCI. RCI can only give you what they have at the moment. You can (and should) do an ongoing search with RCI which you can do in RCI weeks (but not RCI points). Keep in mind that RCI works on a like for like basis that is grounded in a trade power number. Thus they might have exactly what you want and still not give it to you if you don't have enough trade power. I'd put in the request with RCI AND book the room with DVC, then cancel the DVC reservation IF you get what you want through RCI.

Can you tell me what you mean by trade power?

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Oversimplified response: The DVC rooms available to RCI members represent exchanges made by DVC members out through RCI. So when lots of DVC members use their DVC points to book RCI destinations, that opens up more DVC rooms to RCI members. Conversely, when very few DVC members trade out through RCI there is less DVC inventory available to RCI members.

The exchange ratios aren't likely 1:1 ... but that at least provides a basis for understanding.

That makes perfect sense. Not at all what the dude at RCI said.

 

[Dean]

Can you tell me what you mean by trade power?

Both II and RCI use the concept of trade power, Essentially it's an algebraic formula to put "value" of what you give them. It's made up of components that include the lead time to the deposit, unit size, quality of the resort, demand of the area and specific week. You've got to have sufficient trade power to be eligible for a given week RCI (or II) might have one deposit. They won't let you reach up too far from what you give them but they'll let you go down in some cases. If you don't have the trade power you'll never see it and they will not offer it to you. They'll let it sit empty rather than matching you although at 45 days out (60 for II) they do tend to lessen the restrictions a fair amount do you might get something short notice that you would have have otherwise. I've used the concept of car types with timeshares before and it applies in this case. If you give them a Chevy, they will not let you have a BMW. Or from a DVC standpoint, you need X points to get Y unit size for a week.

What do you have on deposit with them (resort, unit size, week and how far out it was deposited)?