Trading into DVC with RCI

[badinnplaid]

So, I'm a bit of a newbie and I'm looking on a little guidance regarding trades into DVC using an RCI week. My family is looking at going to Disney the first week of January 2012. Either Saturday to Saturday (December 31-January 7) or Sunday to Sunday (January 1-8) would work. Trading power is not an issue, as we went in and checked this weekend and found numerous 2 bedrooms available at OKW, SSR and BWV for weeks between July and October. My questions are below:

What is the trading availability window for DVC? It seems like it's about 11 months out. Is this a correct assumption?

Based on the availability we're seeing so far, does it sound like we'd be able to easily pull a week for early January if we did it as soon as the weeks were banked with RCI?

How crazy do we think it will be that first week of January? Looking at past crowd calendars, it seems like the first week of January is usually pretty dead, with lots of 2s and 3s, but this particular week is a little iffy since the first Saturday is December 31. Any thoughts?

Also, let's say we were to try to book the day that the rooms would come available...for high power trading weeks like ours, will most of the DVC properties be available or will we generally only have a choice between OKW and SSR?

Whew...sorry. I know that's a lot, but any hints from the old pros are greatly appreciated!

 

[got4boys]

So, I'm a bit of a newbie and I'm looking on a little guidance regarding trades into DVC using an RCI week. My family is looking at going to Disney the first week of January 2012. Either Saturday to Saturday (December 31-January 7) or Sunday to Sunday (January 1-8) would work. Trading power is not an issue, as we went in and checked this weekend and found numerous 2 bedrooms available at OKW, SSR and BWV for weeks between July and October. My questions are below:

What is the trading availability window for DVC? It seems like it's about 11 months out. Is this a correct assumption?

Based on the availability we're seeing so far, does it sound like we'd be able to easily pull a week for early January if we did it as soon as the weeks were banked with RCI?

How crazy do we think it will be that first week of January? Looking at past crowd calendars, it seems like the first week of January is usually pretty dead, with lots of 2s and 3s, but this particular week is a little iffy since the first Saturday is December 31. Any thoughts?

Also, let's say we were to try to book the day that the rooms would come available...for high power trading weeks like ours, will most of the DVC properties be available or will we generally only have a choice between OKW and SSR?

Whew...sorry. I know that's a lot, but any hints from the old pros are greatly appreciated!

It would be based on availability. I see lots of studios and 1 bedrooms usually 10 months out. December 31st may be tough as it is New Year's Eve. Getting the week after is easier. No, you can get Broadwalk Villas, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, but through RCI weeks, you most likely will get a studio or 1 bedroom. 2 bedrooms show up in RCI points at the 10 month mark. Yes the easier ones to get is OKW and SSR. Have yet to see a BLT show up in weeks or points.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are in Weeks, you should place an ongoing search ASAP for your dates. Things do not get deposited more than 11 months out, but they can come in as short as about 6 months, so be prepared to be patient.

If you are in Points, you can't place an ongoing search, and can't book anything until 10 months prior. As with Weeks, not all inventory happens right at that time, it continues to dribble in over the next several months. So, you will have to check often.

I think the chances of a 12/31 check in are very very slim. A 1/1 check in might have a decent shot, as long as you are flexible on resort choice. But, a lot of people probably have the Monday 1/2 off as the observed holiday for New Years, so it is dicey. Have a backup in mind, and if you don't see something by early August, it will be time to go with Plan B.

 

[ldo]

when you place an ongoing search, it will match with any of your criteria--you can't rank them. It is most likely that OKw/SSR will show up 1st. So, do you want to have your plans locked in at 11-10 months out, or are you willing to wait a few more months and maybe get another resort, or maybe get nothing?
We had the same issue for Easter 2010 and decided to take the 1st match of OKW and have a sure bet, even though we really wanted AKV. We loved OKw and it will be our 1st choice next year (we are DVC members and have stayed at most of the DVCS).
You could put in a search just for the resorts you want right now (forget about getting BLT), and if you don't have a match by May, add other DVCs to your search. I think you would then still have a very good chance of getting the 1st week on Jan at DVC, but it most likely be OKW or SSR.

 

[badinnplaid]

Thanks for all of your responses! In all honesty, we'd take anywhere that popped up as long as it was big enough to accommodate us. Of course we hope we can get our top choices but understand that may not be possible. I was just feeling rather optimistic about things since we're seeing so much availability for June-October when we log in. Figured we might get something real good with an ongoing search!

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

we dont like rci i dont think its a good trade deel

 

[wic0721]

We own a timeshare in New England that exchanges with RCI, I placed my Disney search with them 10 months ago for my vacation 2 weeks ago, and RCI found nothing for us. We ended up paying cash and staying at AKL. I was completely disgusted with RCI's service...so much so, that we ended up purchasing a DVC while we were on vacation (we are now the happy owners of BLT) now I don't have to worry about exchanging into a DVC through RCI anymore!

Good luck with RCI, we were less than impressed with their service!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I just traded 2 weeks with RCI for next September. I got a 2BR at BCV 9/3-10 (for this week I also had an option of VWL, OKW or SSR) and a 2 BR at OKW 9/10-17 (missed getting SSR by a few days). It is possible. A trade is more likely if you have RCI Points and not Weeks, but my OKW trade was through RCI Weeks so it does happen.

 

[bwvBound]

we dont like rci i dont think its a good trade deel

But BUDDYBEAR, this question is about trading into DVC. It might be a very fine deal!

 

[postesf]

I am an RCI weeks member and was able to get a 2 bedroom at OKW for Jan 15-22 2011. I am super excited for our stay and will know more after check in. I did an ongoing search and put in that we need to accomdate 5 people. AKL came up for Sep but we declined that one and then OKW, 2 bedroom came up for Jan 15-22 so I jumped on it.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

If you are in Weeks, you should place an ongoing search ASAP for your dates. Things do not get deposited more than 11 months out, but they can come in as short as about 6 months, so be prepared to be patient.

If you are in Points, you can't place an ongoing search, and can't book anything until 10 months prior. As with Weeks, not all inventory happens right at that time, it continues to dribble in over the next several months. So, you will have to check often.

I think the chances of a 12/31 check in are very very slim. A 1/1 check in might have a decent shot, as long as you are flexible on resort choice. But, a lot of people probably have the Monday 1/2 off as the observed holiday for New Years, so it is dicey. Have a backup in mind, and if you don't see something by early August, it will be time to go with Plan B.

Brian, I saw quite a number of weeks for dates starting Xmas weekend and NY weekend the last 2 years both in points and weeks. I was surprised and don't know if it'll last. Absolutely agree with putting in the request now for any unit size/resort that the OP will accept.

we dont like rci i dont think its a good trade deel

Trading out of DVC I'd generally agree with you, trading in to DVC through RCI is often a very good deal.

 

[mickfan18]

Trading out of DVC I'd generally agree with you, trading in to DVC through RCI is often a very good deal.[/QUOTE]

If you want to place a week into a pool and feel like gettin lucky....its like the claw from toy story who chooses who will stay or who will go?

 

[badinnplaid]

Brian, I saw quite a number of weeks for dates starting Xmas weekend and NY weekend the last 2 years both in points and weeks. I was surprised and don't know if it'll last. Absolutely agree with putting in the request now for any unit size/resort that the OP will accept.

Trading out of DVC I'd generally agree with you, trading in to DVC through RCI is often a very good deal.

Thanks for your response Dean. Your post makes me cautiously optimistic since we seem to have a week with very strong trading power. We'll definitely set up an ongoing search sooner rather than later.

 

[Dean]

If you want to place a week into a pool and feel like gettin lucky....its like the claw from toy story who chooses who will stay or who will go?

I think this is a fundamental difference in the way DVC members and most timeshares owners look at exchanges. It's very unusual for one to deposit simply for a given option, most people take a big picture approach since you never really know what will happen.

Thanks for your response Dean. Your post makes me cautiously optimistic since we seem to have a week with very strong trading power. We'll definitely set up an ongoing search sooner rather than later.

You may not have enough trade power for that as that week for a 2 BR at BCV is 60 credits for 2011.

 

[Brian Noble]

For what it's worth, the deposit calculator does not necessarily show you what it takes to trade *in* to something, only what you'd be given for the deposit. The two often do not line up. Orlando week 52 is a particularly egregious case. For example, right now there are 2BRs at Vacation Village/Parkway that can be had for a mere 16 credits checking in on 12/31---this is an adequate but not at all exceptional resort, with a chronic over-supply. However, if you deposited that same 2BR unit, the calculator tells us you'd be given 58 credits.

So, it's anyone's guess as to what it would take to exchange *into* a DVC 2BR that week.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If you want to place a week into a pool and feel like gettin lucky....its like the claw from toy story who chooses who will stay or who will go?

I have confirm first, so I don't need to deposit until I actually find availability where I want. Plus a 2BR Red week is less of my points through RCI (10,000) than if I booked my actual WorldMark timeshare (12,000).

 

[Dean]

For what it's worth, the deposit calculator does not necessarily show you what it takes to trade *in* to something, only what you'd be given for the deposit. The two often do not line up. Orlando week 52 is a particularly egregious case. For example, right now there are 2BRs at Vacation Village/Parkway that can be had for a mere 16 credits checking in on 12/31---this is an adequate but not at all exceptional resort, with a chronic over-supply. However, if you deposited that same 2BR unit, the calculator tells us you'd be given 58 credits.

So, it's anyone's guess as to what it would take to exchange *into* a DVC 2BR that week.

That's true, but it does suggest that week is likely to require more to get in than the next week, esp at in demand resorts like DVC. The other thing is that while deposits will not change in trade power, weeks on file may. So if there are multiple weeks for a given resort and/or week, the trade power may go down. In this case I'm making the point that being able to see other weeks for DVC or other gold crown that week or having a "strong trading week" is relative, esp since we don't know what the trading power in question actually is.

 

[Quillo]

I am a FAVC owner and traded a week to stay at a 2 BR at BWV in September 2011, and still have some points left to use for the airfare or another trip in 2011, I bagan searching in august (13 months ahead), so I reccomend you start a search right now, hopefully you will get whar you are looking for.

Best of luck

 

[badinnplaid]

So we've confirmed the date that will work for everyone next year (the first week of March 2012). I wanted to check with other RCI users to see what places they're currently pulling. While we're not in the 11 month window yet for our week, I've been checking a few times a day just to see what kind of units we can pull. For the past month or so, we had been pulling between 20 and 40 units each time I'd check. Studios, 1BR, 2BR at every resort except for BLT. However, for the past week, we've only been pulling 2 units. 2 studios at Saratoga Springs in July.

Does anyone have any ideas for what's going on? Is everyone seeing the same depleted availability as me? Or is something going on with our week?

 

[Brian Noble]

Available inventory ebbs and flows. It is near low tide at the moment.