RCI Waitlist

[disneyaggies]

Can anyone tell me about your experience waiting for a reservation from RCI? We are on a wait list for next summer--when do you think we will hear?

 

[rentayenta]

Can anyone tell me about your experience waiting for a reservation from RCI? We are on a wait list for next summer--when do you think we will hear?

It might depend on where you are wanting to go.


We are going to Mexico this march and were on the wait list a few weeks.

 

[centralbev]

We have been a wait list for 5 weeks for a vacation in Vermont in February.

So far, we are not impressed

 

[js]

I own two other timeshares other than DVC. One in HHI, which I haven't traded and one trader in Orlando (Orange Lake Country Club), which I usually trade.
My experience with RCI is that you must call every day a few times a day and say, I currently have a search going for xxxx, while I'm on the phone, can you please check and see if xxx is available (whatever it is you are looking for). I have always gotten my search (although I sometimes must be flexible with resorts and always trade for Easter week and always Gold Crown and at least a 2 bedroom..I trade a 3 bedroom) BUT I call a few times a day. Please don't even try to call after 5 pm EST since the calls go to India and they really aren't as knowledgeable (for lack of a better word) as the RCI reps you get from 9 am - 5pm. Calling after 5 pm EST can even/has even resulted in searched weeks getting lost???? I have called after 5 pm, being desperate, and think I may have gotten something but it is really not worth it.
Good luck. I'm not a big fan of RCI but sometimes you got to do what you got to do.

 

[centralbev]

I should be more specific, I'm on the wait list for 4 resorts in Vermont, 1 in Maine and 1 in New York. I'm also searching for 1 and 2 bedrooms.
Thanks for the feedback. I thought I had opened up my search to be broad enough. I'll start the daily calling tomorrow.

 

[Dean]

Can anyone tell me about your experience waiting for a reservation from RCI? We are on a wait list for next summer--when do you think we will hear?

For next summer for a high demand location/resort, you may have some difficulty. What area, units size and time are you looking for?

I should be more specific, I'm on the wait list for 4 resorts in Vermont, 1 in Maine and 1 in New York. I'm also searching for 1 and 2 bedrooms.
Thanks for the feedback. I thought I had opened up my search to be broad enough. I'll start the daily calling tomorrow.

You're fairly short notice at 6 months or so out. Many units for those given resorts have likely come and gone already. If you haven't got something by now, you may not get anything until possibly 45 days out. The one saving grace you may have is that often those that must pay their fees to deposit (some do, some don't), are likely paying those dues over the next month or two. I looked on RCI directly and there are several units for VT but none for the resorts on the DVC exchange list. For NY there are units for Bethel Inn and Samoset for Feb but not for the other 2 resorts on the DVC list. For NY there are several weeks but again none of the resorts on the DVC list.

If by chance you're looking for an RCI points resort, your chances are even less and far less still if you're looking for less than a week. The way RCI points resorts deposit is you have to opt out or your week automatically goes into the system at the 10 month out point. Many resorts don't allow stays of less than a week even if they are RCI points resorts at all or during busier times.

 

[centralbev]

Dean,
I was hoping you would respond. I've been reading some of your posts, and you seem very knowlodable.
Here is my situation. I live in VT, and have been to Disney for our last 3 vacations. Need something different, and it would be nice not to fly.
We have 116 banked points, don't want to lose them(expire next October)
This is our first time trying to exchange out to RCI. Sounds like we might be out of luck.
Here are the resorts we are wait listed on:
Sunday River in Maine
Hope Lodge in New York
Killington Vermont
Mt Snow Vermont
Jackson Gore, Okemo VT

The last time I called, I actually could get a studio at Smugglers Notch on points for Feb 21 to Feb 25 (this is the week we are trying to get). Just don't want a studio.

I guess we are trying to figure out if this RCI thing is going to work for us. When we bought into DVC, we knew we would want to exchange occasionally. (at that time, it was Interval). If exchanging is going to be too difficult, we may need to look at selling DVC.

Thanks for the reply, and any further advice would be appreciated.

 

[Dean]

Dean,
I was hoping you would respond. I've been reading some of your posts, and you seem very knowlodable.
Here is my situation. I live in VT, and have been to Disney for our last 3 vacations. Need something different, and it would be nice not to fly.
We have 116 banked points, don't want to lose them(expire next October)
This is our first time trying to exchange out to RCI. Sounds like we might be out of luck.
Here are the resorts we are wait listed on:
Sunday River in Maine
Hope Lodge in New York
Killington Vermont
Mt Snow Vermont
Jackson Gore, Okemo VT

The last time I called, I actually could get a studio at Smugglers Notch on points for Feb 21 to Feb 25 (this is the week we are trying to get). Just don't want a studio.

I guess we are trying to figure out if this RCI thing is going to work for us. When we bought into DVC, we knew we would want to exchange occasionally. (at that time, it was Interval). If exchanging is going to be too difficult, we may need to look at selling DVC.

Thanks for the reply, and any further advice would be appreciated.

IMO, the exchange issue isn't that difficult but it is contrary to the mind set of most DVC members. Most successful good exchanges are made a year or more out, even if you don't match until 6 months out. Planning and getting on the list is critical and anything under around a year is short notice in my book. Unfortunately a week or 2 or 3 for 6 resorts during a prime time is tough. That is one of the highest weeks of the year in that area, the week before (12 to 14 Feb Start) is the busiest of the year. If you're looking for less than a week as in your example, even less choices. This is one of the issues with DVC limiting the resorts you can trade to as there are weeks in good locations, just not as good resorts as on the list. The inability to access RCI directly and online also limits your ability to look around and maybe find that right thing you'd never have thought about. You can do deposit first if you'd lose the points otherwise. You might also look for a direct trade with someone that owns up that way.

Since you are in the area, you could simply hang out and hope you get something late. You should likely plan alternate options possibly things that are not as high demand. There are many places for off and shoulder season like the Outer Banks, Gatlinburg, Williamsburg, MB, HH, Wisconsin Dells, Hershey PA, Branson, LV.

 

[js]

Are you flexible enough to open your search to any Gold Crown in VT, NY, etc. or do you need specific resorts.
When you are on the phone with RCI, you can say you have an ongoing search for the specific places but can they look in all of VT or wherever.
Also, if you plan on using DVC for exchanges, I would seriously consider joining tug2.net. It has a yearly fee (not sure what it is since I pay every three years but under $20) but VERY worth it. The people are very knowledgeable and you can get REAL reviews, not reviews directly form RCI.
If you get a match with something not on your list when you call and it sounds ok, put it on hold and check it out. You have 24 hours to release it without a fee. If you release it and think it will be there when you call back, it won't be.
Good luck. Please keep us posted on how you make out.
Can I ask you why you didn't try to rent your points and then find a place paying cash? Maybe you just didn't want to deal with it and I fully understand. I guess I could do the same with my OLCC and I usually trade instead of renting.
Good luck.

 

[centralbev]

We are looking for a full week, so the fact that I was able to find a few nights using RCI points was suprising to me also.
I agree, we are pretty limited with not having access to RCI, but what can you do?

js, because we are DVC members, we can only search certain resorts. I have never rented points before, that may be something to investigate. Have you ever rented points before? If so, how did the process go? I did find a website: David's Disney Vacation Club Rental.
Heard anything about it?

I just don't know if I want to deal with the whole rental thing.

I might do like Dean said, simply deposit 270 points with RCI, they would be good until December 2011, then get on a wait list.

Dean, what is the magic number to exchange a week. Is it about 1 year from desired time of travel?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!

 

[js]

We are looking for a full week, so the fact that I was able to find a few nights using RCI points was suprising to me also.
I agree, we are pretty limited with not having access to RCI, but what can you do?

js, because we are DVC members, we can only search certain resorts. I have never rented points before, that may be something to investigate. Have you ever rented points before? If so, how did the process go? I did find a website: David's Disney Vacation Club Rental.
Heard anything about it?

I just don't know if I want to deal with the whole rental thing.

I might do like Dean said, simply deposit 270 points with RCI, they would be good until December 2011, then get on a wait list.

Dean, what is the magic number to exchange a week. Is it about 1 year from desired time of travel?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!

Bev, I am new to DVC but not the disboards.
You can rent your points for approximately $10 a point. Go to the thread renting/exchanging points and read all about it.
Also, if you google DVC forums, you will find other websites that can really educate you about renting your points.
It really doesn't seem that difficult. There are many people on the disboards that rent/trade points. Have you already deposited your points with RCI? If so, I think they are their points now, I do not think you can get them back.
I've never deposited my DVC points with RCI and I think I would rent them before I deposit with RCI. Good luck.

 

[New York Digger]

Can anyone tell me about your experience waiting for a reservation from RCI? We are on a wait list for next summer--when do you think we will hear?

I started out with another time share that was an RCI deal.. I tried booking Disney NUMEROUS amounts of times and got NOTHING...

I got an advocate group to fight to drop that timeshare, and since then BAUGHT DVC got the Bay Lake Tower..
I am hooked with disney and RCI s rediculous with the call back stuff....

I beat them to the punch and dropped them!!

 

[Dean]

I started out with another time share that was an RCI deal.. I tried booking Disney NUMEROUS amounts of times and got NOTHING...

I got an advocate group to fight to drop that timeshare, and since then BAUGHT DVC got the Bay Lake Tower..
I am hooked with disney and RCI s rediculous with the call back stuff....

I beat them to the punch and dropped them!!

RCI (and II) are exchange companies. It sounds like you must have bought a retail resort that was affiliated with RCI. Given the way RCI works, it's great for some poor for others. Sounds as if you did not have a good trader with RCI, not that RCI itself is a bad thing though BLT is not likely to be easy to get with RCI. I have 4 exchange units this year and 3 already for next year (1 & 2 BR units) and only 2 are are the lower demand on property resorts.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Why not rent out the points and then use the cash to book a reservation at whatever resort you want to go to? A lot of the RCI-affiliated resorts show up for rent for cheap on Ebay and Redweek (not exchanges, but owners renting out their week). Also, Smugglers' Notch shows up on RCI Extra Vacations and also RCI Last Call a lot on short-ish notice. If you can roll the dice and wait maybe someone can book one for you and you could pay them for that and for a guest. cert.? It might be the cheapest option.