Resorts outside of DVC

[Hmk012]

We are starting the search to purchase resale with DVC. I can't find anything on reviews outside of DVC? We are interested in using DVC along with the outside resorts....say in the Caribbean. Has anyone used these resorts and have any opinions? I realize the value is in using DVC resorts but I know we will travel outside these and use points for other locations.

 

[abdgeek]

Check out Trip Advisor and the RCI reviews. Most will say if the person stayed there as a DVC member. Both my sister and I use our DVC membership to stay at RCI resorts. I always read the reviews before I choose one. We've never been disappointed. Disney only reserves the top RCI resorts, so I wouldn't worry much.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are starting the search to purchase resale with DVC. I can't find anything on reviews outside of DVC? We are interested in using DVC along with the outside resorts....say in the Caribbean. Has anyone used these resorts and have any opinions? I realize the value is in using DVC resorts but I know we will travel outside these and use points for other locations.

Don't buy DVC to stay outside of DVC. It is an expensive way to trade. Better to find another timeshare in a place you really like that can trade into DVC and use it for those once in a while DVC trips. OR, purchase fewer points than you would need if you plan for trips less frequently than once a year. Using banking and borrowing to get your occasional DVC trip. And supplement your vacations away from DVC with another timeshare (maybe an every other year timeshare).

The number of available RCI resorts are a lot less than what you could get if you were an individual member of RCI through a different timeshare. DVC limits the number of RCI trades to a much smaller number. And they are not always equivalent in trade value as the DVC resort.

Plus you need to plan quite a bit ahead of time to use your DVC points for RCI trades. Not everything you want will even be available when you want it.

 

[Hmk012]

Check out Trip Advisor and the RCI reviews. Most will say if the person stayed there as a DVC member. Both my sister and I use our DVC membership to stay at RCI resorts. I always read the reviews before I choose one. We've never been disappointed. Disney only reserves the top RCI resorts, so I wouldn't worry much.

Where have you stayed before? We vacation at Disney at least once a year but like to travel to other places as well. In a year we normally travel 4 weeks out of the year and would like to check out other locations.

 

[Lynne M]

Don't look at DVC as a one-size-fits-all vacation package. It's not. If you see yourself wanting to extensively use timeshare locations outside of the DVC system, then purchase only enough DVC points to cover your DVC stays, and then shop for a second timeshare that will suit your other vacation needs.

Trying to use DVC for both will likely mean you'll be dramatically overpaying for those other stays. It may also lead to frustration, as DVC only offers a limited number of resorts in the RCI system for trading.

 

[cwdefouw]

Definitely don't purchase resale if you have any thoughts about using points outside of the DVC resorts. Currently all resale contract points are limited to use only within the 11 DVC resorts.

 

[RobDoc]

Definitely don't purchase resale if you have any thoughts about using points outside of the DVC resorts. Currently all resale contract points are limited to use only within the 11 DVC resorts.

Resale purchases after March, 2011 do not have access to the Disney Collection (Cruise line, non-DVC WDW and DL resorts), Adventurer Collection and Concierge Collection.

Resale contracts are still able to reserve at all DVC resorts, the World Passport Collection (which includes the RCI options), and the Buena Vista Trading Company exchange options.

 

[bwvBound]

We are starting the search to purchase resale with DVC. I can't find anything on reviews outside of DVC? We are interested in using DVC along with the outside resorts....say in the Caribbean. Has anyone used these resorts and have any opinions? I realize the value is in using DVC resorts but I know we will travel outside these and use points for other locations.

I rely on reviews at the Timeshare Users Group (TUG) when booking exchanges. Access to the reviews is a membership ($15/yr) feature.

I wrote a few thoughts on many non-DVC we've visited in the thread, Memorable trips outside Disney, March 2010. Sorry, none of our timeshare travels include the Caribbean.

 

[Dean]

We are starting the search to purchase resale with DVC. I can't find anything on reviews outside of DVC? We are interested in using DVC along with the outside resorts....say in the Caribbean. Has anyone used these resorts and have any opinions? I realize the value is in using DVC resorts but I know we will travel outside these and use points for other locations.

It would be a poor choice to buy DVC to try to use for the other options. At 4 weeks a year, you may want to consider a DVC purchase plus another system. While no one thing will give you the best of everything, something like Marriott, Bluegreen, Wyndham, RCI points or just a good RCI weeks trader should give you more for less than DVC alone.

For info, I'd suggest TUG as well plus Timesharing Today. I find TA to be poor at best for timeshares though if you can sort through the mess you can often find glimmers of info. Redweeks also has some info. I'd suggest you look at where you generally want to go then see what resorts are in the area that fit your needs and then how best to get into them. Marriott will give you an in for Aruba, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Bluegreen for Marathon and Aruba. Nothing gives the best of everything and all options require planning and learning the system.

 

[abdgeek]

Where have you stayed before? We vacation at Disney at least once a year but like to travel to other places as well. In a year we normally travel 4 weeks out of the year and would like to check out other locations.

I'm staying at Hilton Grand Villas at the Flamingo in April. My sister has stayed at the Poconos RCI resort and Kings Creek in Williamsburg. She was pleased with her stay at both. I plan to stay at Gaslamp Plaza Suites in San Diego, but they don't have the dates I want for 2014 yet. I also want to do one of the RCI properties in Maui(Kaanapali Beach Club (preferred) or Maui Hill) , but they don't have the dates I want yet. I've also stayed at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville (concierge collection) and had a great time. Other resorts that are on my list are RCI properties in Atlantic City, Ocean City, and Atlantic Beach. I usually start looking 2 years out for the RCI properties. I don't deposit points with RCI. If the dates I need don't come up, I just look for another year.

 

[csharpwv]

I guess I am going to be the lone dissenter when it comes to purchasing DVC to trade....

While I agree that it isn't a BEST case scenario usage to trade out of the DVC resorts - BUT.... for some people who really just want to have one number to call... or one website to visit....or one ownership to manage - it doesn't matter if you are using your points at your home resort... or in RCI, or aboard Disney Cruise Line....

If the owner is looking for simplicity and an easy way to vacation all over without worrying about much on the planning front- why not DVC?

Once again, while I understand that trading doesn't give you maximum value... what difference does it make?

If someone plans to visit WDW even every 3 years - the value of DVC is still there.

If someone plans to visit WDW every 10 years... then NO DVC isn't a good fit for that person.

BUT usage is very different, and just because YOU wouldn't do something as a DVC member, it doesn't mean that it isn't a good fit for someone else.

With the right research, someone can figure out if DVC is right for them.

Lesson - just because it isn't RIGHT for every member....doesn't mean it isn't right for SOME members.

 

[Dean]

I guess I am going to be the lone dissenter when it comes to purchasing DVC to trade....

While I agree that it isn't a BEST case scenario usage to trade out of the DVC resorts - BUT.... for some people who really just want to have one number to call... or one website to visit....or one ownership to manage - it doesn't matter if you are using your points at your home resort... or in RCI, or aboard Disney Cruise Line....

If the owner is looking for simplicity and an easy way to vacation all over without worrying about much on the planning front- why not DVC?

Once again, while I understand that trading doesn't give you maximum value... what difference does it make?

If someone plans to visit WDW even every 3 years - the value of DVC is still there.

If someone plans to visit WDW every 10 years... then NO DVC isn't a good fit for that person.

BUT usage is very different, and just because YOU wouldn't do something as a DVC member, it doesn't mean that it isn't a good fit for someone else.

With the right research, someone can figure out if DVC is right for them.

Lesson - just because it isn't RIGHT for every member....doesn't mean it isn't right for SOME members.

I would point out that approach has a significant cost for the convenience. Assuming a DVC stay every 3 years, an RCI stay and a DCL cruise every 3 years, one is looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $20-30K extra up front costs, likely close to $800-1000 a year more when you consider DVC's higher fees and the extra costs of the DCL. In addition you have significant RCI limitations compared to other timeshares and significant costs, limitations, risks and aggravations using DVC for DCL. Obviously there are many variables that would affect the specific numbers but with every variable the principles would still hold. The simplest option is cash if simplicity is the goal, the cheapest for that approach is a non DVC timeshare only plus cash for cruises and that approach still gives you the possibility of DVC stays. Realize that for the approach you lay out you've got to learn DVC and RCI plus you have to learn about how the cash type exchanges work which is no small feat. I don't see much of a difference learning an additional points system such as Bluegreen, Wyndham or RCI points. YMMV.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

hello ~ your "?" caught my attention but i wanted to wait before
replying to "see" the responses you drummed up. don't know if
your are still interest or not, but i thought i would add a few of
my observations/dvc experiences.

we did not have an easy start & the jolts made me realized that
i needed to get involved & learn whether or not we needed to
get out. we started in 2002 but did not look seriously until 2009.

what i think, that when disney went time shares, they hired
from those doing the "others". i think a major mistake ....not
because they had timeshares' backgrounds but because dvc
did not recognized- the need to placed restrictions to prevent
some from taking major advantages.

i feel this way based on the ways things are being done since
we joined. i read here & take notes. there are some using the
system outside the regular owners. there are some nasty
hidden secrets and conflict of interests. for ex. , ebay has
rci traders using dvc all time when it is not allowed. but
they are doing nothing -why- because of they are in on
it. ( to us, it made me realized why we saw people @ our
resort that did not belong there -having adult type parties.)


but the biggest thing i realized from learning dvc, the potential
things they could still do to protect the disney family resorts
& prevent the abuses , and even out the dvc options to those
that paid direct , resales, the traders , the renters & so forth.

the most here, are very skilled @ rci shares . the buy a few
dvc resales to set up their trades. there have been those
working directly dvc & owning rci as they set them selves
"up" for dealing.


i think the advice the others posters gave you was on the
mark & very useful if you decide to go "pass go". i think
dean-man , is very wise if you hope to be successful in
using the rci options. but in a way, his advice make another
point...the rci trading should not be this hard, where the
owners of dvc must have a working/understanding of
rci timeshares to do it successfully.

dvc is losing our recommendations to our family, friends,
& even co-workers....because there are no strong
differences between direct/resales , like they should be.
also they are allowing rci illegally renting , so on , and
so on. like--we're blt owners & we have some real
disadvantages....to those owning @ ssr.

now we have been able to make it work & we are still using
it, but we are not happy with all the hidden problems/
disadvantages. however, if you have great problem solving
skills and like gambling.....you might be able to make
dvc work for you.