RCI wait list

[rentayenta]

So out of the 7 weeks we chose to go to Mexico using our DVC points for an RCI reservation not one single week was open for a Studio or 1 bedroom. The CM explained the process that an RCI member who owns at the resort we want has to "give up" their week. I am not sure what "give up" means. The CM said if we get our request it will show up on the member site. Where are on the site will this show up? The DVC site seems a little confusing to me but that could be because I am a total spazz when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Anyone been RCI wait listed and how did it turn out?

How long do I wait before giving up? My UY is December so I had to bank the points before making the reservation. If this trip falls through I will have to use the points prior to Nov 30, 2010- that I know. I will not deposit them into the RCI bank for later use. I believe I have to cancel the wait list request by the 45 day mark to get my $95 returned.

I am thinking that if we do not get our request by October I will cancel, make a THV ressie in November for Oct. 2010. Right now anyway.

Have I completely confused everyone?


for any info.

 

[fijidoc]

We are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom in big cedar near Branson, MO for July/August of next year(2010). We have been on the waitlist for several months now. Someone said they don't start reserving until 11 months out so I shouldn't even start checking until sometime in August. I don't know exactly how that works. Considering it is prime time though I'm not that encouraged about our chances. My problem is also how long to wait to find out if our waitlist comes through or else pulling the reservation on the waitlist and make other plans or bank the points.

 

[JulieWent]

We wait-listed for a really tough-to-get property in Hawaii for my parents for their anniversary. It came through after about a month. It just showed up on my on-line "my vacations" account. Be advised, though, that when it shows up, the date may not be right. Call DVC when it does, and they'll give you the exact date. (Ours said February something and it ended up being in March. There was a reasonable explanation for this, but it was convoluted enough that I can't remember it.)

I had already picked a date that I would call and take our names off of the wait list. It was a date that would allow my parents to make other arrangements and that wouldn't jeopardize our points. You should look at your points and your vacation plans and decide what your final date should be. Then just be as patient as you can be.

Julie

 

[CandyMandy]

We must be the exception to the RCI/DCV norm.

Back in mid January of this year (when the RCI/DVC program was brand new and full of "bugs") we requested a trade into a top, hard-to-get Las Vegas property for mid July. Got our first choice match (in terms of week and type of villa, a 2 BR) confirmed within a week.

In fact, the only issue we've had at all with this trade is getting proper written confirmation of it. Back in January, I asked DVC if I would get their standard reservation confirmation letter (which I always got in the past when I did II trades) and they said "no, that will come from RCI before your trip." I told them I really wanted something prior to that. So DVC sent me a rather simple and informal looking "confirmation" email (i.e. something that looked like a CM typed it up on the fly).

I've checked back with them several times since and yes, our ressie is still (according to the MS CMs) in their and RCI's systems. All that shows up on the DVC website in our account is the allocation (trade) of 270 points back when we made the ressie.

However, during my last call (Monday of this week) I pointed out that although our trip is now less than a month away I still haven't received anything from RCI. I was told I would get another email confirmation (this one from supposedly from RCI) "within the next few days." Well, as of this evening, nothing, so some poor CM's weekend is going to start with dealing with me at 9am tommorrow!!

 

[rentayenta]

We are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom in big cedar near Branson, MO for July/August of next year(2010). We have been on the waitlist for several months now. Someone said they don't start reserving until 11 months out so I shouldn't even start checking until sometime in August. I don't know exactly how that works. Considering it is prime time though I'm not that encouraged about our chances. My problem is also how long to wait to find out if our waitlist comes through or else pulling the reservation on the waitlist and make other plans or bank the points.

Thank you for the insights. And I agree, the issue is how long do I wait? These are already banked points. I hope your wait list comes through!

We wait-listed for a really tough-to-get property in Hawaii for my parents for their anniversary. It came through after about a month. It just showed up on my on-line "my vacations" account. Be advised, though, that when it shows up, the date may not be right. Call DVC when it does, and they'll give you the exact date. (Ours said February something and it ended up being in March. There was a reasonable explanation for this, but it was convoluted enough that I can't remember it.)

I had already picked a date that I would call and take our names off of the wait list. It was a date that would allow my parents to make other arrangements and that wouldn't jeopardize our points. You should look at your points and your vacation plans and decide what your final date should be. Then just be as patient as you can be.

Julie

Since these are 2008's points and have to be used by Nov 30, 2010 at the very latest without be forfeited, I am thinking I will give it until the end of October at the latest. That way I will still have the home resort advantage if we decide to take a trip the the World and stay in the THV.

I am glad your parents got their trip. Maybe I will be as lucky!




Looks like it will be a long 5 months stalking the DVC member site.

 

[Brian Noble]

The CM explained the process that an RCI member who owns at the resort we want has to "give up" their week. I am not sure what "give up" means.

To a first-order approximation, RCI doesn't own any inventory itself---it's not like Expedia. Instead, you can think of RCI like a giant "swap meet." For someone to get a week out of RCI, they first have to put a week that they own in. So, you're waiting for someone at the resort(s) you requested, who happens to own during the time you want to go, to deposit the week they own. When they do, if you're first in line on the waiting list, you get it.

Most resorts require that their owners pay their fees for the week before they deposit it, and fees are often due around the end of the calendar year. You can pay early (I usually do) but many owners don't. So, it could be January or even February when it comes through. On the other hand, if your "back up" trip has to be THV, I would not wait one day past the 11-month mark.

 

[rentayenta]

To a first-order approximation, RCI doesn't own any inventory itself---it's not like Expedia. Instead, you can think of RCI like a giant "swap meet." For someone to get a week out of RCI, they first have to put a week that they own in. So, you're waiting for someone at the resort(s) you requested, who happens to own during the time you want to go, to deposit the week they own. When they do, if you're first in line on the waiting list, you get it.

Thank you for clarifying the process. I put myself on the wait list for either a Studio or 1 bedroom. My availability is pretty wide open. I gave them 7 different weeks we could travel unfortunately they are all during peak peak Zihua season.

Most resorts require that their owners pay their fees for the week before they deposit it, and fees are often due around the end of the calendar year. You can pay early (I usually do) but many owners don't. So, it could be January or even February when it comes through. On the other hand, if your "back up" trip has to be THV, I would not wait one day past the 11-month mark.

Since we are wanting to travel in Jan-mid March, I don't think I will wait much past October 2009 at the latest. If we did do the THV it would be in October 2010. Our other option is St. George, Utah. DH is doing the Ford Ironman in May 2010 and we planned on being there 5 nights. We could easily extend it to a full week though. Since we have to travel there, that makes the most sense from an economic stand point but again face the process of an RCI owner depositing their week.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are other ways inventory goes in---for example, WorldMark works a lot like DVC in that the developer chooses which weeks go into the exchange pool, and they deposit on a more or less regular schedule of about 8 months in advance of travel.

 

[rentayenta]

There are other ways inventory goes in---for example, WorldMark works a lot like DVC in that the developer chooses which weeks go into the exchange pool, and they deposit on a more or less regular schedule of about 8 months in advance of travel.

I seriously feel like I need a DVC/Timeshare 101 course! Thank you again. Any tips or hints or do I simply wait?

 

[CandyMandy]

An update on my ongoing attempt to get a written confirmation of our upcoming RCI exchange.

I called MS first thing this morning, and told the CM that I never got the confirmation MS told me last Monday would come "within the next few days."

The CM admitted that the request for that confirmation did indeed go into the "system" on Monday, but then also explained all that did was send a request to RCI to produce and send it. Ergo, unlike the way things worked with trades into II, once your RCI exchange is booked through DVC, everything (in terms of administration) is handed over to RCI.

Which is something people looking into these exchanges may want to keep in mind.

 

[rentayenta]

An update on my ongoing attempt to get a written confirmation of our upcoming RCI exchange.

I called MS first thing this morning, and told the CM that I never got the confirmation MS told me last Monday would come "within the next few days."

The CM admitted that the request for that confirmation did indeed go into the "system" on Monday, but then also explained all that did was send a request to RCI to produce and send it. Ergo, unlike the way things worked with trades into II, once your RCI exchange is booked through DVC, everything (in terms of administration) is handed over to RCI.

Which is something people looking into these exchanges may want to keep in mind.

I was afraid of that!



What is II?

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

At the beginning of this year we were put on the waitlist for the suites at hershey pa for summer of 2010. We requested anything from June to August...a prime time. They told us to call in Feb. 2010 and if they don't have anything by that time then we should pick something else.

 

[rentayenta]

At the beginning of this year we were put on the waitlist for the suites at hershey pa for summer of 2010. We requested anything from June to August...a prime time. They told us to call in Feb. 2010 and if they don't have anything by that time then we should pick something else.

Sending your way- hope you get your ressie! Have you traded with RCI before? Does canceling in Feb. give you enough time to play with your points either by planning another trip or banking them? My concern is that the points I am trying to use are banked and have to be used. I guess I could try to rent them if need be.

 

[Lisa P.]

So out of the 7 weeks we chose to go to Mexico using our DVC points for an RCI reservation not one single week was open for a Studio or 1 bedroom.

Mexico is not a terribly difficult trade for most of the year, outside of prime weeks, like you're seeking. You haven't mentioned any specific resort(s) or system(s) you've requested and I don't know anything about the deposit habits of any in Mexico anyhow. Hope it works out for you.

Since we are wanting to travel in Jan-mid March, I don't think I will wait much past October 2009 at the latest. If we did do the THV it would be in October 2010. Our other option is St. George, Utah.... in May 2010

Sounds like a reasonable plan to me. May in Utah is definitely not as tough a trade so it's a good back-up use of the points, if you need to use them.

What is II?

II = Interval International, the exchange company that DVC used before switching back to RCI again.

 

[Lisa P.]

We are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom in big cedar near Branson, MO for July/August of next year(2010).... Someone said they don't start reserving until 11 months out so I shouldn't even start checking until sometime in August.

Big Cedar is managed by Bluegreen. Some Bluegreen deposits are made by individuals but most are handled by corporate in bulk deposits. Unfortunately, it would be a rare thing to see a 2BR summer deposit from this resort. I've never read of anyone getting this as an RCI exchange, only by booking directly with their Bluegreen points. It would be rather like trying to get into DVC's HHI resort in the summertime by way of an RCI exchange. Owners want it. If your request includes early June or late August, you've got a better chance. In any case, if you don't get a match by 7-8 months out from your last possible dates for the search, then I sincerely don't think it'll happen. For me, that would be the deadline to make absolutely sure I had a back-up plan.

...we requested a trade into a top, hard-to-get Las Vegas property for mid July. Got our first choice match (in terms of week and type of villa, a 2 BR) confirmed within a week.

Glad you got your first choice. Desert locations (even Las Vegas) in hot July are not usually the toughest of trades. When it suits your needs though, it's always a good one! Hope you get your confirmation soon.

At the beginning of this year we were put on the waitlist for the suites at hershey pa for summer of 2010. We requested anything from June to August...a prime time. They told us to call in Feb. 2010 and if they don't have anything by that time then we should pick something else.

Suites at Hershey is another Bluegreen-managed property. Please see my note above, about Big Cedar. However, since Suites at Hershey was not originally built by Bluegreen (they took it over when partly sold out), there may be more deposits by individuals from this resort than from Big Cedar. So there may be a slightly greater chance of a summer match here. February is only 6 months before August so that's really giving it a lot of time for a resort which has does give most deposits to RCI from Bluegreen corporate but you never know. Again, early June or late August may work out very well for you, more likely than midsummer. HTH!

 

[rentayenta]

Mexico is not a terribly difficult trade for most of the year, outside of prime weeks, like you're seeking. You haven't mentioned any specific resort(s) or system(s) you've requested and I don't know anything about the deposit habits of any in Mexico anyhow. Hope it works out for you.

It's called Club Intrawest but I guess RCI uses it as well. It's right on Zihua Bay. Feb. 2007 we stayed at the Catalina Beach Resort, just 2 resorts down from this one so I know exactly what it looks like. And I am unsure what you mean by "systems". I am very new to this. I called MS, told them where we wanted, found out that Intrawest wasn't being utilized at this point but the same resort could be reserved through RCI. The good news is that through RCI a Studio costs 36 points less than if we reserved through Club Intrawest.

Sounds like a reasonable plan to me. May in Utah is definitely not as tough a trade so it's a good back-up use of the points, if you need to use them.

That was my thinking until DH told me tonight that the Ford Ironman is a huge, televised, sporting event and the one that qualifies the athletes for the Hawaii Ironman Championship.

II = Interval International, the exchange company that DVC used before switching back to RCI again.

Cool, thanks again!

 

[Dean]

I'm thinking CI doesn't deposit until 10 months out. If you ask for a studio or a 1 BR, you'll almost certainly get a studio. I agree with Lisa, MX is not tough other than Xmas and Feb to later in April. If it were I, I'd change to just the 1 BR. In general the good stuff isn't going to be sitting there. So deciding what you want and getting on the WL early ( AT LEAST A YEAR) is important. More so for RCI even than it was for II. Many resort deposit as much as 2 years out. Part of the investigation for resorts is determining how early those resorts can deposit.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Sending your way- hope you get your ressie! Have you traded with RCI before? Does canceling in Feb. give you enough time to play with your points either by planning another trip or banking them? My concern is that the points I am trying to use are banked and have to be used. I guess I could try to rent them if need be.

Thanks..You too...

Yeah it will still allow us enough time to plan an alternate plan with our points.

 

[rentayenta]

I'm thinking CI doesn't deposit until 10 months out. If you ask for a studio or a 1 BR, you'll almost certainly get a studio. I agree with Lisa, MX is not tough other than Xmas and Feb to later in April. If it were I, I'd change to just the 1 BR. In general the good stuff isn't going to be sitting there. So deciding what you want and getting on the WL early ( AT LEAST A YEAR) is important. More so for RCI even than it was for II. Many resort deposit as much as 2 years out. Part of the investigation for resorts is determining how early those resorts can deposit.

I am currently on the wait list for both a Studio and 1 bedroom; we'd be happy with either but you think I should cancel the Studio wait list? Would that increase my 1 bedroom chances or vice versa? I called MS the minute we got our paper work with temp ID card to check Mexico availability. At the time I was told that CI's points were not out yet. When I mentioned that it states we can reserve up to 2 years prior the CM said that each resort is different and the CI property I was interested in was unavailable (as in not renewed for the year). I will make sure that next time I call out even earlier. We joined DVC this May.

Thanks..You too...

Yeah it will still allow us enough time to plan an alternate plan with our points.

That's good and smart!

 

[Dean]

I am currently on the wait list for both a Studio and 1 bedroom; we'd be happy with either but you think I should cancel the Studio wait list? Would that increase my 1 bedroom chances or vice versa? I called MS the minute we got our paper work with temp ID card to check Mexico availability. At the time I was told that CI's points were not out yet. When I mentioned that it states we can reserve up to 2 years prior the CM said that each resort is different and the CI property I was interested in was unavailable (as in not renewed for the year). I will make sure that next time I call out even earlier. We joined DVC this May.

IF you request the studio, that is likely what you will get. I personally would cancel the studio. Also, one can book directly with some of the CI resorts through BVTC.