Rumor- DVC switching back to Interval International (II)

[disneynutz]

Reports are that they just renewed with RCI.

Bill

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I think that Disney will go with the company that makes them the most money irregardless of what members want.

Bill

Bill seems to always be in the "gets it" column.

 

[Dean]

Reports are that they just renewed with RCI.

Bill

Maybe, seems a bit early to renew on a 3 year deal that has 16 months remaining. I doubt DVC will return to II though, RCI is a better fit for the system even though II has better resorts simply because of Marriott. Marriott's change to a points based options makes a BVTC type liaison very workable for both systems. Can you imagine BVTC with most Marriott's, Westins, Hilton (used to be a BVTC member long ago) and the upper tier of systems like Shell, Bluegreen and Wyndham. That puts a major dent in both II and RCI and makes DVC a major player in the general timeshare world.

 

[Sammie]

I heard no change from RCI but changes to the program, are being considered due to member complaints.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Why did DVC go with RCI anyway? I think they made the change right around when I joined so I have no clue why they switched in the first place. I have looked at the RCI properties and haven't been very impressed. Is there a link to view the Interval properties?

 

[Brian Noble]

Holy resurrected thread, Batman!

Why did DVC go with RCI anyway?

Presumably, only the executives with RCI and DVC know for sure. My (not necessarily educated) guess is that RCI has much better developed rental channels, and DVC has a lot of inventory it needs to move for cash to pay for Disney Collection, ABD, and DCL reservations.

 

[Dean]

Why did DVC go with RCI anyway? I think they made the change right around when I joined so I have no clue why they switched in the first place. I have looked at the RCI properties and haven't been very impressed. Is there a link to view the Interval properties?

As Brian said, only those that know, know for sure. There are many possibilities but I think the better rental exposure is the most likely. I also suspect RCI made them a deal they couldn't refuse. I'm pretty sure that II was charging a steeply discounted amount per member but that amount added up with the number of contracts and was relatively large compared to the 3% of members that used it. I do know RCI has a program where the resort system pays nothing in $$$ and they exchange "credits". This might mean that DVC guaranteed X number of deposits, which could cost them nothing if enough members participated. So they potentially go from X cost to no cost AND get a better rental option AND it's a system that currently fits in better than did II.

I do know that RCI had been pitching to get back in for some time and that a dual affiliation option was seriously considered around the time of the last II renewal. And while I think II does have better resorts, esp if you look at the 500 or so DVC selects out, I'm not sure that means much. It ultimately comes down to the trades gotten in terms of demand and resort quality. I think the chances of a DVC member getting a top resort during peak season is as good or better with RCI than II. This is likely even more true now than when they changed to RCI. The reason is simple, the main reason II was "better" is due to the Westin and Marriott resorts. Both have an internal trading preference where their members get first crack leaving only leftovers for the rest of II, this is even more true today for Marriott than it was at the time.

RCI also has a far better developed short stay system. Of course there could be other long term planning going on that we are unaware of as well.

 

[jpolak]

I'd only believe it if I heard it from a Disney bus driver. Those guys know everything.