RCI Waitlist

[sdwyer38]

Has anyone had success with an RCI waitlist?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MAO]

Yes.

I don't remember exact dates, so this is just a guesstimate, but I gave them about a 10 month lead on a 2 week request anytime over about a 2 1/2 month spread. In other words, I told them about Nov/Dec 2009 that I wanted a specific property for 2 weeks anytime from about the middle of August to the end of October 2010. In early January 2010 I was informed that I had the last week of October reserved. At that time, I canceled the second week part of the request (and paid cash to stay at another place.) I think I was on the waitlist for 6-8 weeks, though I can't remember precisely when I made the reservation (I *could* figure out when I got the notice, but that doesn't help without knowing when I originally made the request.)

My suggestion is to a) Make your request as open-ended as possible both in terms of what property you want to stay at and when you want to stay, b) Make your request as early as you can, and c) figure out when your "drop dead" date is and be willing to drop the request and make a cash reservation so you can at least *go*. (I presume then, that you'd make another RCI reservation for someplace/sometime when it's easier to get said reservation approved. Whether you actually use it or rent/sell it out to someone else is up to you.)

Also, do your homework before you call Member Services. You should be able to find other websites (such as Travelocity or Traveladvisor (?)) that rate the property/properties you're considering. I didn't know the room number, but once we got into the room I was certain we were in the same room all of the other reviews had been talking about based on specific comments made. I'd say, assume that you'll get in whatever room the worst comments are made about and make your decision as to whether or not you're willing to spend your DVC points on that room. If you end up with a nicer room, great. Otherwise, at least you'll know what to expect.

 

[ckdipp]

Interesting and helpful info. I'm wait listed for an RCI exchange at a particular property for anytime during summer 2012. Been on the list for about 10 weeks.

And now we may be changing or plans. So I may just push this request back to another time frame.

 

[Dean]

Has anyone had success with an RCI waitlist?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

The way to get the good stuff (High demand, peak times) with RCI is to WL or try short notice. There's really no harm in trying as long as you're committed to the option if it matches.

 

[jacesmommy]

I also wait listed last July'ish for March 11. I think I was on the list for less than a month.

If you're looking at summer of 2012 though I think you may be waiting for awhile. I'm just seeing through September 2011 right now. So hang in there!

 

[scubamomma]

I just spoke to RCI and asked about the DVC exchanges. She said they only have the exchanges available one year in advance.

 

[Dean]

I just spoke to RCI and asked about the DVC exchanges. She said they only have the exchanges available one year in advance.

It's up to 11 months in advance on the RCI weeks side and 10 months on the RCI points side. This is due to the reservation limitations for the 11 month restriction on the weeks side but the 10 months cutoff is due to the way RCI points works.

 

[ldo]

I am a DVC owner and have traded non-DVC with RCI for 10+ years. I have had good luck, but also trades that I knew would just never come thru.
RCI is not like DVC waitlist. You are putting in an ongoing search, but unlike DVC (where y ou can cancel at 30 days out without penalty), you really don't have that many people canceling in RCI, b/c unless one buys trip insurance, you lose a lot of value canceling a trade. So, a WL is really a search for someone who might be depositing a week and the slim chance someone cancels. Also, many high demand places have little available at all--London, St John, skiing Vail at Christmas are just about impossible, for example. I don't mean to be a downer--just want DVCers to be realistic.
Overbuilt areas such as Williamsburg and Branson are easy to get. Hilton Head has a lot more units in RCI than in II, so if you put in a request 10-12 months out, you should get something, even prime weeks in the summer, same with Hawaii. With all RCI trades, if you limit to just a few resorts, your chance of a high season trade is much lower. Elaine

 

[Dean]

I am a DVC owner and have traded non-DVC with RCI for 10+ years. I have had good luck, but also trades that I knew would just never come thru.
RCI is not like DVC waitlist. You are putting in an ongoing search, but unlike DVC (where y ou can cancel at 30 days out without penalty), you really don't have that many people canceling in RCI, b/c unless one buys trip insurance, you lose a lot of value canceling a trade. So, a WL is really a search for someone who might be depositing a week and the slim chance someone cancels. Also, many high demand places have little available at all--London, St John, skiing Vail at Christmas are just about impossible, for example. I don't mean to be a downer--just want DVCers to be realistic.
Overbuilt areas such as Williamsburg and Branson are easy to get. Hilton Head has a lot more units in RCI than in II, so if you put in a request 10-12 months out, you should get something, even prime weeks in the summer, same with Hawaii. With all RCI trades, if you limit to just a few resorts, your chance of a high season trade is much lower. Elaine

In general I'd agree with your post, I feel it's fair and accurate. The one issue I'd question is that I think II and RCI are pretty equal in numbers of resorts for HH and in units. RCI has 36 and II has 28. However, many of the resorts are dually affiliated, including 4 Marriott's where RCI gets effectively no inventory. The II resorts are much better overall plus the Spinnaker resorts have recently been added to II (not sure if they changed or dually affiliated). When you consider that the RCI resorts are further split between RCI weeks and RCI points, I think II is by far the better option to try to get HH.

 

[ldo]

Having both II and RCI accounts, I think getting HHI in the summer in MUCH easy with RCI--just my experience--esp. as the Marriotts in II are all taken by those with M preference. Also, for summer, I think it is much easier thru RCI at 11 months than trying book at 7 months in to DVC-HHI with DVc points. I think RCI HHI options are a very good alternative for those who have been shut out of DVC-HHI in the summer in the past.
I think it will be a while before more spinnakers comes over to II. If you take out Blue Water, most of the others have been with RCI for a while. I own 4th of July at Waterside and have deposited with RCI for years--most members won't want a 2nd account at this point--so the availability will take a few years, IMHO. Plus, the prime summer weeks get decent credits in RCI, so I can't see a lot of spinnakers defaulting to II at this point. If II took out Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood preferences, I would switch tomrrow.
I am no fan of RCI--but, with strategic planning, it can work with realistic expectations. Elaine

 

[Dean]

Having both II and RCI accounts, I think getting HHI in the summer in MUCH easy with RCI--just my experience--esp. as the Marriotts in II are all taken by those with M preference. Also, for summer, I think it is much easier thru RCI at 11 months than trying book at 7 months in to DVC-HHI with DVc points. I think RCI HHI options are a very good alternative for those who have been shut out of DVC-HHI in the summer in the past. Also, I think it will be a while before more spinnakers comes over to II. If you take out Blue Water, most of the others have been with RCI for a while. I own 4th of July at Waterside and have deposited with RCI for years--most members won't want a 2nd account at this point--so the availability will take a few years, IMHO. Pkus, the prime summer weeks get decent credits in RCI, so I can't see a lot of spinnakers defaulting to II at this point.
I am no fan of RCI--but, with strategic planning, it can work with realistic expectations. Elaine

My experience has been different but I'm generally trading in using a Marriott week when using II. But I do have both RCI weeks and RCI points as well. I'd also say that I think this summer was much worse than last year and the year before for RCI points.