Using II to get DVC

[cruise-o-matic]

OK, it seems that in order to get a good trade of DVC points to II, you have to be very flexible with your dates.

But what about the other way around? If someone from II trades to get into DVC, what hoops do they have to go through? So would it be worht it to get a cheap II resale w/low mf's, then use it to trade into DVC?

 

[CarolMN]

..(snip).... So would it be worht it to get a cheap II resale w/low mf's, then use it to trade into DVC?

Not IMHO.

There aren't that many DVC weeks deposited into II so it isn't very likely that a "cheap resale" will have enough trade power to get it.

Also, you probably wouldn't have much choice (if any) of dates/seasons. According to reports on this Forum, DVC doesn't tend to deposit popular weeks and very few, if any are deposited for the smaller resorts. For example, you might see weeks in May, September or January and most of those would be at OKW. Occasionally BWV shows up.

If you want to stay at DVC on a regular basis, I think you should buy DVC. If you only want to go every other or every third year, you can buy a smaller contract and take advanatge of banking and borowing.

Best wishes -

 

[Sherri]

We are II members as well as DVC. We did buy at Westgate in Orlando a few years back. But we soon discovered that our chances of staying on Disney property were slim to none, unless we bought in DVC or stayed independently. So we own two weeks through II and use that to travel to places other then Florida. We recently returned from Ireland and Spain the year prior. So it is wonderful to use as a trade in that aspect. Our DVC points we never trade and use only to stay on Disney property. It suprises me that putting up Disney points through II wouldn't give you a world of options.
One other thought. Our first Westgate week we paid close to $17,000.00 by no means a bargain. We purchased our second week (the same unit, two bedrooms and a loft) for $3200.00 as a resale. Yes, very frustrating to have not thought of that prior to the first sale. But live and learn.

 

[spiceycat]

I have a cheap timeshares that I got a studio at SSR - it is a 2-bedroom - how did I get it?

I learned from
www.tug2.net
where the DVC resorts are listed on II. At the time I could only see SSR - now I see OKW too in Sept only.

go ask on tug - one girl that post all the DVC resorts has an excellent trader - so ask about it.

to see these you need to be a member (cost $15) they are in distress/sightings

now using a cheap offsite - you are generally going to be traded down - like mind from a 2-bedroom to a studio - that sort of thing.

it is far easier to buy DVC!!!

oh this cheap timeshare I brought to use not to trade - it is on the beach in Panama City Beach - but this Sept the hurricane came in 2 weeks before my time so it closed. I again had a Sept week so I decided to trade it to II - they not only let me have the DVC but I got another week (AC)....

plus the week that II can get you may not work for you.

 

[Scotch]

If you are a member of TUG, go to the Sighting Board and you'll see "sightings" of DVC all the time, generally off season (many 1 & 2BRs during January, May, September, for example) but also some during high season (e.g., several studios during summer at BCV, VWL, BWV, a few 1 & 2BRs popped up for Spring Break this year). Recently 1 & 2BR weeks during October (F&W festival) have appeared as well. Those sightings only show weeks still in II NOT already pulled by an existing ongoing search, so I'm sure many more weeks have been exchanged. The off seasons weeks can often be pulled with a Accommodation Certificate (or bonus week) issued by II. Using an AC TUGgers recently have exchanged into December and January DVC weeks, including OKW, VWL, and BWV, paying $239 for a 1BR or $299 for a 2BR. Also anything in the II bank during a 60 day period is available for exchange using an good AC (as ACs vary) or a small unit such as a studio. So if you are flexible, exchanging INTO DVC with a cheaper but good quality timeshare -- one that would get you a AC -- is a super deal and definitely doable. Nice way to supplement your regular DVC stays. That's what we plan to do. We've exchanged into DVCs several times now via II using much less expensive timeshare weeks, but had to cancel all but two exchanges for various reasons. We just bought BCV resale (and we are looking to add a OKW resale) so we can guarantee prime time stays ourselves via DVC, but we definitely plan to visit more often using II to exchange. It's just too expensive to buy enough DVC points for all the trips we want to make, and we think it would not be necessary to buy more points as long as we can continue to exchange in via one of our other timeshare weeks.

 

[Scotch]

Pat, you beat me to it!

 

[Sherri]

I think thats great about getting Disney for your other timeshare. I have on occasion seen them come through. It is a good deal if you can get them, as you don't need to use your Disney points and you get it for the whole week (avoiding high weekend points). But as you said, only studios come up, and I have two bedrooms and a loft to trade, and although it is Disney its hard to justify just a studio in return. We bought DVC boardwalk back in 96 I want to say on our first trip to Disney that we booked through a travel agent. We loved being on Disney property and never heard of the vacation club so we thought it sounded perfect for our family. Somehow coming home gave us buyers remorse, I regret to say and we cancelled the transaction. Years past and we returned to Disney world area but stayed off Disney property. We talked ourselves into the Westgate timeshare. We told each other (my husband and I) that it was a better thing to do. When we went to downtown disney this summer the magic returned. We saw that nothing beat being in Disney (if your talking the Orlando area). So we said nothing to each other, it was just that knowing look that said this time we are buying. Of course now when we purchased at Saratoga Springs the points were $95.00 a point, quite a bit more then we paid at boardwalk many years before. I'm happy to report that there was no buyers remorse this time, just sorrow for our hesitation years before. I do love the whole Disney atmosphere. I'm glad we stuck with it this time.

 

[Scotch]

Sherri, more than studios come up. But during prime season more studios are seen via the "sightings." I have pulled many 2BR weeks, primarily at OKW.

 

[STEVEMED]

I joined tug but I can't find where to see the dvc resorts available...I'm a little slow when it comes to computer stuff,can you please walk me through it..thanks

 

[pumpkinboy]

If you deposit your non-DVC week into II waaaaay in advance and have lots of patience and flexibility, you can do it (trade into DVC).

For example I have a developmentally disabled Aunt (64 yrs old w/Down syndrome, she's amazing and very sweet) who we send to WDW with a healthcare worker twice a year on our points. We also own a winter week in a 2BR at a nice timeshare in RI affiliated with II. Ordinarily our RI timeshare week is not a great trader, but a decent trader all the same.
We deposited out RI 2BR 2005 week in November and set up a search for ANY DVC property in Orlando for ANY week between 3/15/05 thru the end of the year, requesting a 2BR. On 1/2/05 we got a call from II telling me that I had some matches for our search, but that they were smaller units. One was a 1BR OKW in May, another a BWV studio in September. Well, we already had a studio ressie for my Aunt in May, so we leaped at the 1BR.
So now, my Auntie and her healthcare worker will have 7 nights in a 1BR at OKW (would have cost 210 points) rather than 6 nights in a std view studio at BWV (cost: 86 points). So 86 points saved at a price of RI timeshare maintenence fees (~$600) plus II trade fee (~$140) and II membership (~$70 a year over 3 yrs) plus the $95 trade into DVC fee. So a little more than $10 a point for the saved points, but she's getting an extra night, the 1BR will be luxurious extra space for her, and I don't have to worry about getting a decent trade for the RI week anymore. We are very happy with the trade.

But the lesson is, you have to be very flexible to trade in. It can be done, but not easily, and not likely on your terms. Best to have your own DVC points, and if your other timeshare (if you should inherit or buy a non-DVC timeshare) manages to trade in, so much the better.

 

[spiceycat]

you need the password only available to members

I will post you a link - but without that password you can't get in this - this is not only your password - but the general password from tug - they should have spend you an email with this word in it.

http://www.tug1.net/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=22

with my cheap timeshare I don't even expect to see 1-bedroom - so I was surprise when OKW 1-bedroom came up in Sept.

I doubt it will ever show a 2-bedroom for me.

most of what the very nice lady on tug sees - I can't. but sometimes you can get lucky - so check everyone that she posts.

 

[Dean]

It's possible to trade for DVC off season, I've done it a number of times. But one has to have a good resort and week and be patient. Knowing the likely times that come up also helps. Essentially eliminate the times when families have kids out of school.

 

[DeeCee735]

I used to own a "cheap" timeshare elsewhere, as did my parents. We put in for trade's with Disney all the time, never got one. We did however, get an offsite near disney, right in the middle of all the road construction on 192 with 40 minutes of traffic in all directions - bought DVC that very month.

 

[Sherri]

Diane: I see that you stayed at the BWV, we are staying there in March.
Did you ever stay in a studio? Do you like it there?
We reserved a studio to save points. The problem is I have a boy and a girl who of course don't want to share one of the beds. I asked if I could have a cot brought in, which I absolutlely didn't mind paying extra for.
I was told that they don't have cots but aerobeds for $10.00 per night. Now honestly I don't mind paying for a cot as you are above the floor and it is similar to a bed. I wasn't crazy about paying for an aerobed so I purchased one to bring because in the end we will get much use out of it.
Here is my question. Have all of the disney hotels done away with cots? I'm not sure if you know or not but figured it might be worth asking someone who looks like they have been to many of the resorts. Any info. or advice would be great.
Thanks- Sherri

 

[livinforvacation]

You should be aware that there isn't much floor space in the studio for a cot or aerobed.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Scotch,

I deposited (thru II )both an AC and a fall week at Marriott, trying to trade into DVC in December, and had no luck. I deposited in June, and I didn't get ANYTHING. Finally, after a million harassing phone calls, I took another Marriott. My sister has deposited Marriott for 6 years, looking for DVC, and she has never gotten anything other than a studio in exchange for a two bedroom. You must be very lucky, or you have deposited very far in advance. Which one is it?

 

[Dean]

Scotch,

I deposited (thru II )both an AC and a fall week at Marriott, trying to trade into DVC in December, and had no luck. I deposited in June, and I didn't get ANYTHING. Finally, after a million harassing phone calls, I took another Marriott. My sister has deposited Marriott for 6 years, looking for DVC, and she has never gotten anything other than a studio in exchange for a two bedroom. You must be very lucky, or you have deposited very far in advance. Which one is it?

I've picked up a number of DVC weeks for trade and two using an AC. You've got to know how and when to do it. If you look for December, that's a tough time though it does come up occasionally. Jan, early Feb, May, late Aug, Sept and early Oct are the times most available it seems. But one thing that's important in trading for DVC is the originating resort's quality rating. Many times there are units there but you can't get them with just anything.

 

[Sherri]

I guess the rooms are smaller then hotel rooms then. That is strange. Whenever we travel we always get the roll out beds. Hopefully our twin aerobed will fit in somehow, especially after we drag it in our luggage on the plane (lol).
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[bwvBound]

If someone from II trades to get into DVC, what hoops do they have to go through? So would it be worht it to get a cheap II resale w/low mf's, then use it to trade into DVC?

FWIW, I've traded into BWV two years in a row for very specific conference-dictated dates in January. My 'hoops' were as follows:

• own a resort that is able to trade into DVC
• use the "shop" feature on II (searching for an exchange w/out a deposit)
• start searching about 10 months prior to travel
• get up every morning at 3AM local time (Pacific) to search ... 'cuz by 5AM they'll be gone!

The first year I booked a BWV studio at 8 months prior to travel and last year I pulled a BWV 1BR at 9 months. You might guess that, once booked, I was rather glad to return to my normal sleep schedule! I'm hoping the process will be much easier for booking next year's stay since I'm now able to book using DVC credits!!

 

[Scotch]

FWIW, I've traded into BWV two years in a row for very specific conference-dictated dates in January. My 'hoops' were as follows:

• own a resort that is able to trade into DVC
• use the "shop" feature on II (searching for an exchange w/out a deposit)
• start searching about 10 months prior to travel
• get up every morning at 3AM local time (Pacific) to search ... 'cuz by 5AM they'll be gone!

The first year I booked a BWV studio at 8 months prior to travel and last year I pulled a BWV 1BR at 9 months. You might guess that, once booked, I was rather glad to return to my normal sleep schedule! I'm hoping the process will be much easier for booking next year's stay since I'm now able to book using DVC credits!!

If you have set dates, why didn't you go an ongoing search? II, particularly, works on a model where ongoing search requests get first dibs and those matched weeks never even make it into the database for "shoppers" to see. The only times I use shop for exchanges is when my dates are not set and I want the option to see what's available, even knowing I am getting only leftovers. I own strong weeks and every ongoing search I've ever requested has matched.