RCI vs Interval

[Pluto914]

We are thinking of buying and someone just told me not to because disney changed from Interval to RCI. She said that if your looking to go outside the Disney resorts that when it was Interval you could get 4 - 5 star hotels, and now with RCI it's more like 2 -3 star hotels. I don't want to buy then be unhappy. Any suggestions or insite???

 

[disneynutz]

The only thing that you are buying is the right to book a room at your home resort, nothing else. The point requirements won't change much but the dues can increase 15% per year, the current average is more like 3%.

All programs, perks, rules and locations can and do change.

Bill

 

[robertdangelo]

DVC Resorts are great. We don't plan on using our DVC points for anything but Disney vacations.

 

[JimMIA]

If you want to buy a timeshare to use to exchange, DVC is not the one.

DVC is a great program, but the exchange choices are somewhat limited (<600 of RCI's 6,581 resorts) and there are several other timeshare systems which offer much more for much less initial cost and lower annual maintenance fees. As an option to use occasionally, RCI exchanges are fine, but I don't think anyone would recommend DVC for someone who wanted to exchange for more than a small percentage of their trips...except a DVC timeshare salesman, of course.

In a market where you can buy very good timeshares for $1 plus closing costs on eBay, DVC really does not make sense as an exchange vehicle. For stays at DVC resorts, it's great, but not for other uses.

And, as mentioned above, options like exchanging can and do change often and sometimes without notice. If you are considering DVC, but it FOR DVC...nothing else.

 

[shalom]

Only buy DVC if you want to stay only in the DVC resorts. If you want to stay in a DVC resort every few years, and aren't picky about which one, you'd probably do better buying something else and trading into DVC. Many resorts and points systems trade both RCI and II, meaning you can trade into DVC whichever, but you do need to be sure what you buy trades well for DVC. Which can change, too, of course, if said resort or points system ends up under new management or whatever.

You can also avoid owning a timeshare altogether and rent DVC points, which many recommend if you're not going to be hitting WDW or DL every year for the next decade or so. I think the last time MouseSavers crunched the numbers, they figured renting points was the better deal even if you went every other year, but of course that can change anytime.

 

[Dean]

We are thinking of buying and someone just told me not to because disney changed from Interval to RCI. She said that if your looking to go outside the Disney resorts that when it was Interval you could get 4 - 5 star hotels, and now with RCI it's more like 2 -3 star hotels. I don't want to buy then be unhappy. Any suggestions or insite???

I agree, don't buy DVC to trade. Poor choice, too expensive and too many variables. That was true II or RCI. IF DVC makes sense for you, buy what you'd use at DVC and look at other options for non DVC resort trips.

 

[Brian Noble]

don't buy DVC to trade

Don't buy *anything* to trade. Maybe not too expensive, but definitely too many variables!

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Plus you don't know how long DVC will be with RCI. Disney was originally with RCI, then for long time was with II and now back to RCI. They may switch back again.

Jason

 

[high meadows]

Let's all hope they do and lobby MS to encourage the switch. The RCI resorts get poor reviews, at least in the West.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Let's all hope they do and lobby MS to encourage the switch. The RCI resorts get poor reviews, at least in the West.

You can lobby MS all you like, but it ultimately comes down to what the board wants for DVC.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

Exchanges through II were a piece of cake. RCI is a nightmare!!!! I can't figure out what Disney was thinking when they switched to them. I talked to MS and one of the employees admitted to me that many members were dissatisfied with the lack of exchange ability.

 

[Dean]

Exchanges through II were a piece of cake. RCI is a nightmare!!!! I can't figure out what Disney was thinking when they switched to them. I talked to MS and one of the employees admitted to me that many members were dissatisfied with the lack of exchange ability.

Most people were unhappy with DVC-II as well. There are some advantages and some disadvantages to the RCI connection, from a system standpoint DVC fits better with RCI than II. Ultimately though it's likely the decision was financial based.

 

[Brian Noble]

I talked to MS and one of the employees admitted to me that many members were dissatisfied with the lack of exchange ability.

At last year's annual meeting, management stated exactly the opposite.
http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/ne...163/1134-2009-condo-association-meeting-recap

 

[Deb & Bill]

At last year's annual meeting, management stated exactly the opposite.
http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/ne...163/1134-2009-condo-association-meeting-recap

Look who was saying that at the meeting. Figures.

 

[JimMIA]

At last year's annual meeting, management stated exactly the opposite.
http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/ne...163/1134-2009-condo-association-meeting-recap

I don't really think they'd say anything else, no matter what their actual experience had been.

Can you picture Jim Lewis, or any other CEO, standing up in a meeting and saying, "Man, we really messed up that decision! It's been a disaster from day one, and we have no clue how to get out of this mess!"

That said, over the years, I don't remember a whole lot of complaints here on the DIS about either system. I've never exchanged with either, but other than an occasional "no availability" or "they don't have a resort where I want to go" thread, I haven't heard many complaints.

I have heard some experienced timeshare hands say the quality of resorts was better with II, but RCI probably has more choices. For an occasional exchange, probably either one is okay.

 

[Brian Noble]

Can you picture Jim Lewis, or any other CEO, standing up in a meeting and saying, "Man, we really messed up that decision! It's been a disaster from day one, and we have no clue how to get out of this mess!"

No, but I can imagine him just keeping mum on the subject. Lies of omission are somewhat different from lies of commission or the usual spin. After all, I *believe* the numbers are published somewhere, so they'd be verifiably true (or false). I know Dean has obtained exchange data in past years, but don't know if he's done it recently.

(Ultimately, I believe RCI was chosen for its superior rental channels as a way to help monetize holding/breakage points.)

 

[Dean]

I don't really think they'd say anything else, no matter what their actual experience had been.

Can you picture Jim Lewis, or any other CEO, standing up in a meeting and saying, "Man, we really messed up that decision! It's been a disaster from day one, and we have no clue how to get out of this mess!"

That said, over the years, I don't remember a whole lot of complaints here on the DIS about either system. I've never exchanged with either, but other than an occasional "no availability" or "they don't have a resort where I want to go" thread, I haven't heard many complaints.

I have heard some experienced timeshare hands say the quality of resorts was better with II, but RCI probably has more choices. For an occasional exchange, probably either one is okay.

I think it's a tail of two issues. II clearly has better resorts overall but for the most part, they were Marriott, Westin and DVC. If you take those 3 out of the mix, I don't think there's a lot of difference. IMO, the reality is that the quality and availability was likely about the same for the actual exchanges gotten through DVC with both systems. That's because the members of Westin and Marriott got to pick over exchanges and it was only after that other II members got a crack. Thus most of the exchanges to those systems were due to off season, short notice and bulk deposits.

No, but I can imagine him just keeping mum on the subject. Lies of omission are somewhat different from lies of commission or the usual spin. After all, I *believe* the numbers are published somewhere, so they'd be verifiably true (or false). I know Dean has obtained exchange data in past years, but don't know if he's done it recently.

(Ultimately, I believe RCI was chosen for its superior rental channels as a way to help monetize holding/breakage points.)

No data for RcI on other than the overall RCI points audit. DVC felt the RCI points audit satisfied the FL audit requirement and didn't publish their own data for RCI. I agree with Brian, it's really about money. RCI also has a history of crediting the system back rather than having the system pay a fee for the members. For example, BG used to pay like $50 a membership to RCI, now they pay nothing and RCI credits them based on developer deposits, volume, etc.

 

[taaren]

This discussion kind of brings up a question I have about RCI. I own at DVC, my mom owns at Marriott. We both use our home resorts every year and don't trade/exchange because we bought where we want to vacation. However, my mom has been making very good use of the "Getaways" feature of Interval International that comes with the II membership which is required if you're a Marriott owner. Basically the Getaways mean you can buy for cash weeks that II has in inventory that they can't get rid of otherwise (particularly off-season stuff at really nice resorts we've gotten for $200-$500/week).
Do we as DVC members have access to RCI for any features of their services other than the exchanges? Just curious, cause it'd be nice to use but I didn't see an RCI fee in my maintenance fees so I'm guessing not. But it'd be nice to have that suspicion confirmed. Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

This discussion kind of brings up a question I have about RCI. I own at DVC, my mom owns at Marriott. We both use our home resorts every year and don't trade/exchange because we bought where we want to vacation. However, my mom has been making very good use of the "Getaways" feature of Interval International that comes with the II membership which is required if you're a Marriott owner. Basically the Getaways mean you can buy for cash weeks that II has in inventory that they can't get rid of otherwise (particularly off-season stuff at really nice resorts we've gotten for $200-$500/week).
Do we as DVC members have access to RCI for any features of their services other than the exchanges? Just curious, cause it'd be nice to use but I didn't see an RCI fee in my maintenance fees so I'm guessing not. But it'd be nice to have that suspicion confirmed. Thanks.

DVC has a corporate membership with RCI. DVC members do not get individual memberships, so we do not have the same access as your mom does (even when DVC had a relationship with II). AFAIK, everything we have access to in RCI is via MS and thus a trade for points. (OT a bit - aren't some of those same good deals available via redweek.com?)

The above is my understanding & I'm sure someone else will jump in if it is wrong or needs clarification. I haven't used either II or RCI so far and I've been a DVC member for more than 10 years.

 

[whatsup]

We are thinking of buying and someone just told me not to because disney changed from Interval to RCI. She said that if your looking to go outside the Disney resorts that when it was Interval you could get 4 - 5 star hotels, and now with RCI it's more like 2 -3 star hotels. I don't want to buy then be unhappy. Any suggestions or insite???

I have to agree that Interval is WAY better than RCI. Some people on this thread may disagree that you shouldn't buy if you plan on going ANYWHERE other than DISNEY! Well sometimes you just need to get away to other places and INTERVAL has better selections! I wish DVC would go back to Interval!!