SSR RCI exchange questions. (upgrade ,parking etc.)

[joe-aka-papabear]

Hoping someone can help with a few questions about an upcoming end of April stay. (swapped a unit thru RCI weeks)

1) Recently booked a 1BR at SSR thru RCI and our wondering if they are specific rooms set aside or can we hope (pixie dust) for an upgrade to a 2BR or at least a recently refurbished room?
2) Will online check-in hinder the possibility for room upgrades?
3) Does the $190 resort fee that we get charged cover parking for the week, as we are renting a car for the week?

TY in advance for any info. Would really appreciate some input from anyone that went thru RCI

 

[Sandisw]

DVC upgrades are rare, although more have happened recently because of an effort to give extra time for cleaning.

Since this is a timeshare trade, there should be no additional fee for parking. Online check in plays no role in being granted pixie dust for an upgrade.

If you are in a preferred view, the room will be renovated for sure. If you are in a standard view, then there is a chance, but not all are done yet.

 

[teawar]

We traded in through RCI for saratoga springs before we owned DVC and had a great stay in a 1 bedroom. The extra fee covered parking, DME, transportation, resort activities, etc. enjoy your stay!

 

[joe-aka-papabear]

DVC upgrades are rare, although more have happened recently because of an effort to give extra time for cleaning.

Since this is a timeshare trade, there should be no additional fee for parking. Online check in plays no role in being granted pixie dust for an upgrade.

If you are in a preferred view, the room will be renovated for sure. If you are in a standard view, then there is a chance, but not all are done yet.

Thanks, I heard the refurbed rooms have a murphy bed. Hoping for that as we have 4 of us and the new rooms look like the have better sleeping arrangements.

 

[joe-aka-papabear]

DVC upgrades are rare, although more have happened recently because of an effort to give extra time for cleaning.

Since this is a timeshare trade, there should be no additional fee for parking. Online check in plays no role in being granted pixie dust for an upgrade.

If you are in a preferred view, the room will be renovated for sure. If you are in a standard view, then there is a chance, but not all are done yet.

Do u think we will be cramped? 4 of us . Myself, DW, 2 kids 18 & 11

 

[Sandisw]

Do u think we will be cramped? 4 of us . Myself, DW, 2 kids 18 & 11

Not in a 1 bedroom. Even the ones not yet updated are really nice and spacious. If you have a way, just put in a request for a removed room. It can’t hurt!

 

[luvdisney14]

Do we get house cleaning services?

 

[Sandisw]

DVC provides trash and towel on day 4 for stays 7 nights or less. They will replace towels and take out trash...although they are doing that more often now. No cleaning services at all.

If your stay is 8 nights or more, then you get regular cleaning day 4 and trash and towel on day 8.

You can call now and request more towels but they usually just give them to you and don’t take the old ones until trash and towel day...well that is what happened to us.

 

[CarolynFH]

Hoping someone can help with a few questions about an upcoming end of April stay. (swapped a unit thru RCI weeks)

1) Recently booked a 1BR at SSR thru RCI and our wondering if they are specific rooms set aside or can we hope (pixie dust) for an upgrade to a 2BR or at least a recently refurbished room?
2) Will online check-in hinder the possibility for room upgrades?
3) Does the $190 resort fee that we get charged cover parking for the week, as we are renting a car for the week?

TY in advance for any info. Would really appreciate some input from anyone that went thru RCI

Reportedly almost all SSR is refurbished now, so your chances of getting a refurbed room are good. If so, you should get a king bed in the bedroom plus a queen Murphy bed/sofa combination and a bunk size Murphy bed in the living room. The unrefurbed 1BR have only a pullout couch in the living room.
Your RCI confirmation should give you the DVC phone number to call to give them the list of all guests who’ll be staying. You can request a refurbished room when you call. As previous posters have noted, doing online checkin won’t affect your chances of getting a refurbished room or an upgrade, but if you do submit a request via phone, you should leave the request section blank when doing online checkin.

 

[Brian Noble]

1) Recently booked a 1BR at SSR thru RCI and our wondering if they are specific rooms set aside or can we hope (pixie dust) for an upgrade to a 2BR or at least a recently refurbished room?

DVC will not upgrade an exchange to a larger unit than you have confirmed. Likewise, you cannot change the check-in date, nor can you change the booking category. However, at this point (nearly) all of the rooms in service have been refurbished, so your odds are extremely good there.

2) Will online check-in hinder the possibility for room upgrades?

It doesn't matter because they do not happen for exchange guests.

3) Does the $190 resort fee that we get charged cover parking for the week, as we are renting a car for the week?

Technically, the only thing that the $190 gives you as an exchange guest that you would not get as a guest of or renter from a Member is the ability to call Member Services directly. Any stay "on points" (which an exchange stay is) includes complimentary parking at the resort and theme parks.

Do u think we will be cramped? 4 of us . Myself, DW, 2 kids 18 & 11

This depends on what you are used to. SSR is one of the "second generation" DVC resorts (together with BCV, BWV, and BRV). All of these have a very similar layout for the 1BR villas. IMO, the living space in these is a little smaller than you might expect for a "typical" timeshare 1BR, but if you've been able to make do in the past in a 1BR, this will probably be just fine. If you are used to 2BRs for most of your other timeshare stays with the four of you this will be tight in comparison. On the other hand, if you typically stay in a hotel room when you visit WDW, this will be a significant improvement.

 

[joe-aka-papabear]

DVC will not upgrade an exchange to a larger unit than you have confirmed. Likewise, you cannot change the check-in date, nor can you change the booking category. However, at this point (nearly) all of the rooms in service have been refurbished, so your odds are extremely good there.


It doesn't matter because they do not happen for exchange guests.


Technically, the only thing that the $190 gives you as an exchange guest that you would not get as a guest of or renter from a Member is the ability to call Member Services directly. Any stay "on points" (which an exchange stay is) includes complimentary parking at the resort and theme parks.


This depends on what you are used to. SSR is one of the "second generation" DVC resorts (together with BCV, BWV, and BRV). All of these have a very similar layout for the 1BR villas. IMO, the living space in these is a little smaller than you might expect for a "typical" timeshare 1BR, but if you've been able to make do in the past in a 1BR, this will probably be just fine. If you are used to 2BRs for most of your other timeshare stays with the four of you this will be tight in comparison. On the other hand, if you typically stay in a hotel room when you visit WDW, this will be a significant improvement.

Wow, thanks for all the great info. Will still ask for an upgrade at check-in, the worst they can say is no. Refurb room will definitely be a plus!!