We're getting ripped off

[bumbershoot]

Or that they are totally believing someone who probably isn't giving them the whole situation (much like the OP didn't give us the whole situation).

...I know a guy who just paid 1500 for a dumpy timeshare and traded to disney...

Very little info.

If I owned something, DVC, and honestly felt they are basically a scam artist, as you seem to always imply, I would sell it as fast as I could.

It's what I've thought for ages! bought around the same time and at the same place, I read here almost every day, have NEVER read the same spooky posts s/he has. I love a good conspiracy theory (darned iphone 4 losing contact lists to get us to upgrade to an NSA-compatible OS... now THAT's a good conspiracy theory), but the DVC stuff...I'd just sell, personally, if I thought such shady things were going on.

I'm also totally biased against RCI b/c of mom and stepdad's repeated experiences with it in the 90s, and always just feel sad for owners b/c they get so little. They ended up selling b/c they could never get a place they actually wanted. So I just automatically figure that IF this guy's friend did trade into DVC like this, it was a total fluke. (totally biased, I am)

 

[Dean]

Or that they are totally believing someone who probably isn't giving them the whole situation (much like the OP didn't give us the whole situation).

The same thing, if they understood the system they'd have either not posted or worded it much differently. It's very possible that the trade info was factually correct.

 

[Kebova1]

Buy a "junker timeshare" let know how it works out when they start dropping special assessments on top of your maint fees, my in-laws are dealing w/ that right now and this year the assessment effectively tripled the maint fees, they couldn't give away the timeshare If they wanted too.

 

[Dean]

Buy a "junker timeshare" let know how it works out when they start dropping special assessments on top of your maint fees, my in-laws are dealing w/ that right now and this year the assessment effectively tripled the maint fees, they couldn't give away the timeshare If they wanted too.

But not all timeshares fall into that category and even the ones that do can be a great value to use and trade even if there is no real cash value. Even with a SA, many timeshares are cheaper than DVC yearly and much cheaper to buy in. One would have to look at each option individually.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I often wondered why, at HHI at Thanksgiving, I often met people in the hot tub who'd traded in from RCI, yet when we booked at 7 months (before we bought points there) we often had to wait list. Are you saying that RCI people without points at HHI could book at 8 months, yet DVC owners, whose points were not at HHI (but still DVC) had to wait until 7? If so, this seems kind of unfair to me. Why can't they at least make it equal time? Is there a reason that RCI owners have an advantage, time-wise?

 

[hakepb]

I often wondered why, at HHI at Thanksgiving, I often met people in the hot tub who'd traded in from RCI, yet when we booked at 7 months (before we bought points there) we often had to wait list. Are you saying that RCI people without points at HHI could book at 8 months, yet DVC owners, whose points were not at HHI (but still DVC) had to wait until 7? If so, this seems kind of unfair to me. Why can't they at least make it equal time? Is there a reason that RCI owners have an advantage, time-wise?

RCI owners that trade in 8+ months out are the result of an HHI owner trading their HHI points into RCI. What HHI owners want to use their points for is up to them.

There's nothing stoping you from, say, trading use of BWV points with HHI points 10 months out.

 

[Dean]

I often wondered why, at HHI at Thanksgiving, I often met people in the hot tub who'd traded in from RCI, yet when we booked at 7 months (before we bought points there) we often had to wait list. Are you saying that RCI people without points at HHI could book at 8 months, yet DVC owners, whose points were not at HHI (but still DVC) had to wait until 7? If so, this seems kind of unfair to me. Why can't they at least make it equal time? Is there a reason that RCI owners have an advantage, time-wise?

I hope that once you understand how RCI gets DVC villas, you'll be more comfortable, if not, you'd be in the camp that would want DVC to not belong to an exchange company.

Exchange companies get time at resorts by deposit from members, deposit from the developer and by buying time from the developer. DVD doesn't usually do developer deposits (owned by DVC for exchange) but they have given time to RCI to rent out. That's time owned by DVD or they have back from members for cash type exchanges. Those 2 categories are not available for RCI members to exchange to but might be available for them to rent for cash through RCI.

Specifically related to the villas that RCI gets to use for exchange, RCI only gets something IF a DVC member exchanges to RCI. Once that happens, DVC must give RCI something comparable and they use the guidelines for the points just like the member were making a DVC reservation including the 7/11 month windows. That means it must be the home resort in some cases, that's esp true for HHI where that is a lower demand time comparably speaking to mid summer and a lot of time is not red. As I understand it they can't give a HH DVC member something red in RCI and then give say Jan HH in return though they could give OKW in return. I haven't followed HHI but for WDW, you often see times in RCI that many here say are difficult to get at 7 months out like Xmas and early Dec.

It's really the same process and question for cash availability but even more so because DVD could reserve the most in demand times consistently to rent them and pay for the program, historically they haven't done that from what I can tell though they could if they so chose.

BVTC is a little different and they can actually reserve directly before the 7 month window opens in some cases subject to availability and the balance rules in place.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks Dean. From what I understand now, yes, I'm more comfortable. I just feel kind of bad because it sounds like some DVC owners don't know what they're missing at HHI then!

 

[Sammie]

As Dean said, I think many members don't understand how their membership works especially the parts they don't use.

Many members do trade out. I know that is not a common occurrence on here, but again DISers that own DVC are a very smart part of the total membership.

Actually the one month advantage in booking is probably fair, in that if it was the same as 7 month or less, they would not be successful.

In order for DVC members to trade out, RCI has to be able to trade it.

I don't think trading out means anything other than those members are using their membership within the guidelines of what DVC offers them.

I would not take it to mean anything more.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean. From what I understand now, yes, I'm more comfortable. I just feel kind of bad because it sounds like some DVC owners don't know what they're missing at HHI then!

HHI in general is a very seasonal location. The spouse and I are empty nesters now and have really enjoyed traveling to some places shoulder and off season and not others. We're currently in PCB and it's spring break. My wife said just today that she liked it being less crowed even if our favorite restaurant is closed then.

 

[brertoad]

I only recently heard about RCI to DVC trades. A friend of mine said her mother traded RCI points to get them one week in a 1BR at Kidani Village. My friend said that it only cost them $350 in fees, $95 of it was DVC booking fee, the other fees were RCI related fees. This doesn't take into account her mom's maintenance fees - which I have no idea what that may be.

I was completely shocked when I heard they got 1 week in a 1BR for $350.
The weekly DVC point cost would have been 188 points. For us, that would be impossible, it would use up our entire points for the year and basically costing us close to $950 in dues.

I am a little concerned about this, it definitely seems unfair that they can trade in for less.

I checked into RCI, you can buy them for practically nothing, but there seems to be a lot involved in their system, weeks vs. points, then red, blue, etc, location, size - i.e. 1 BR, 2BR, studio. It's just really complicated to me.

I do know that there is a $95 DVC processing fee when they make the reservation. For us, that wouldn't work out, because we like to go for only 1-2 nights, so each time we go, we would end up having to pay a booking fee of $95 for each reservation IF we used RCI points system. I just added up how much just the $95 fee would have cost us, and it's close to $2300 in theory. We wouldn't like doing the weeks system. I believe DVC only accepts RCI weeks, not RCI points. I'm a little iffy on that, I stopped checking into it once I figured it would be bad for us.

I'm happy with our DVC ownership, it's simple and easy to use, no additional hidden fees, just straight forward annual dues. I wouldn't want to buy into RCI to take a risk on trying to get DVC accommodations for less money at this point. It sure sounds nice, my friend got an unbelievable deal, but who knows what her mom pays in dues, or what her situation is with RCI ownership...

 

[dianeschlicht]

One thing on this thread speaks volumes. It is the fact that the OP never responded. I'd say a drive by posting meant to stir things up.

 

[Sammie]

One thing on this thread speaks volumes. It is the fact that the OP never responded. I'd say a drive by posting meant to stir things up.

I would agree.

And honestly as Dean as stated so well, there is nothing wrong with what the OP stated to begin with. Regardless if people like the situation or not, it is all there when you buy into DVC.

Another case of people not knowing what they are buying.

 

[keishashadow]

You know you can't book more then 7 months at a resort that isn't your home but anyone in RCI program can book it also it take only 8 rci points for a week in a 2 bedroom for a week almost anytime of year this is why we as members can't get reservation when we want I know a guy who just paid 1500 for a dumpy timeshare and traded to disney what a joke I'm selling gonna go buy couple of Junkers and trade

let us know how that works out for you

Interesting to read a new twist on the oft repeated: I didn't buy where I wanted to stay/I bought a cheap DVC resale...angry I can't switch over to (insert your favorite non-ownership resort here) at 7 months vent.

 

[Dean]

I only recently heard about RCI to DVC trades. A friend of mine said her mother traded RCI points to get them one week in a 1BR at Kidani Village. My friend said that it only cost them $350 in fees, $95 of it was DVC booking fee, the other fees were RCI related fees. This doesn't take into account her mom's maintenance fees - which I have no idea what that may be.

I was completely shocked when I heard they got 1 week in a 1BR for $350.
The weekly DVC point cost would have been 188 points. For us, that would be impossible, it would use up our entire points for the year and basically costing us close to $950 in dues.

I am a little concerned about this, it definitely seems unfair that they can trade in for less.

I checked into RCI, you can buy them for practically nothing, but there seems to be a lot involved in their system, weeks vs. points, then red, blue, etc, location, size - i.e. 1 BR, 2BR, studio. It's just really complicated to me.

I do know that there is a $95 DVC processing fee when they make the reservation. For us, that wouldn't work out, because we like to go for only 1-2 nights, so each time we go, we would end up having to pay a booking fee of $95 for each reservation IF we used RCI points system. I just added up how much just the $95 fee would have cost us, and it's close to $2300 in theory. We wouldn't like doing the weeks system. I believe DVC only accepts RCI weeks, not RCI points. I'm a little iffy on that, I stopped checking into it once I figured it would be bad for us.

I'm happy with our DVC ownership, it's simple and easy to use, no additional hidden fees, just straight forward annual dues. I wouldn't want to buy into RCI to take a risk on trying to get DVC accommodations for less money at this point. It sure sounds nice, my friend got an unbelievable deal, but who knows what her mom pays in dues, or what her situation is with RCI ownership...

RCI only gets weeks that DVC/DVD has given to them. Once they are given to RCI, they are gone. If there is a beef, it's with DVC, not RCI. The only way to change this would be for DVC to eliminate ALL trades including cash type exchanges such as DCL. My usual costs per trade is around $600-650 now which is more than the $400 per a couple of years ago and that is inclusive of fees. The next RCI member may have paid retail and may have aggregate costs that are more than owning DVC. RCI has a system that accounts for the demand value of what someone owns, not what it cost them.

I would caution people about worrying about the costs of what others do, it's a dangerous approach other than as a tool to find out how one might save money going forward themselves.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Exactly, Dean, and that is why I shy away from trading my DVC for other timeshares. Trading in is a better deal than trading out.

 

[Dean]

Exactly, Dean, and that is why I shy away from trading my DVC for other timeshares. Trading in is a better deal than trading out.

Trading out CAN be a good deal as well but only for a subset of the RCI offerings. Buying DVC with plans to trade routinely is a poor choice but owning and cherry picking if available is reasonable. The problem is that the cherry owners are thinking the same way and are less likely to deposit than are other RCI members. That's why I've long stated that one of the ways to trade is to have a bucket list and keep an ongoing search(s) for those items. For example, one might look for a Maui 2 BR at KBC ever summer starting 2 years out and keep amending the search as needed to keep it current. Or simply target a given trip but start 2 years out with a backup plan.

 

[bonrea]

Interesting to read a new twist on the oft repeated: I didn't buy where I wanted to stay/I bought a cheap DVC resale...angry I can't switch over to (insert your favorite non-ownership resort here) at 7 months vent.

Agreed.

We own at AKV, VWL, and OKW. OKW was purchased resale before the 2011 restrictions on use were put in. We'd love to have all our points at one Home Resort. It takes a little work to do the bookings but the CMs work it out for us every time and they have been able to do some creative shuffling of our points to maximize them FOR US. Booking a DVC resort at 11 months Home Resort (HR), and 7 months Non-Home Resort (NHR) for all the years we have owned has never been a problem.

One does have to mention that on the exact day of 11 or 7 months out. DH sets the alarm clock for 5:45am ET to get up, go downstairs to the study, turn on the computer, take a quick trip to the powder room , then right at 6am he books the resort of our choice [11 months HR, OR 7 months NHR] and NEVER has an issue with getting the room we want IF we are using the points for one resort. Points from multi HRs requires CM assistance.

IF we need CM assistance he dials the DVC owners phone number and punches the right buttons to get to a CM and then tells them what we want and when. He does this exactly at 7:59am ET. The phone lines come active just after he finishes dialing the number and he gets right in. The CMs book what we want even if we use points from differing resorts [11 months HR, OR 7 months NHR] and NEVER have had an issue with getting the room we want. One exception; Tree Houses. Thanksgiving and Xmas week.

You have to understand something he has told me; Disney technology uses computers like we do. Either UNIX or Microsoft Windows based. They connect to the same “Time Servers” that our computers at home do. Because of this the Disney computers have the same time on their clocks as our computers do so when the Databases for the available rooms are updated we can book at the time it is completed. That time is “Online” 6:00am ET, AND the DVC 800 number automated voice system stops telling you that they are “currently closed” right at 8:00am ET. Simple huh?
___________________________________

Now for the complainers, about not getting the room you want. Answer me this one simple question; When do YOU call or get online to book?

This isn't a trick question. When do YOU call or get online to book?

If you are not a planner, if you don't think about your vacation (using DVC points) a year or so in advance. If you don’t iron out your accommodation plans ahead of at least the 7 month booking window. If you don't care where you stay as long as you get something; then why are you complaining? You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit.

We have friends that own RCI, friends that own Blue-Green (or whatever it is called) and they have told us that they hate their ownership. The RCI owners have told us they can’t trade into DVC because they couldn’t get the week they wanted. So sorry! Take what is available.

DVC ownership isn’t easy. You have to want it! You have to learn how it works! You have to learn how to work the system or it will work you and your DVC vacations. If you aren’t a planner and will take whatever room type and wherever the room is then that is wonderful.

If you cannot plan ahead at least 11+ months out, then DVC may not be right for you. My brother wants to buy DVC so bad but USAir/American Airlines can’t give him a yes or no on vacation plans more than 3 to 4 months out. DVC isn’t for him UNLESS he will take what is available when he CAN book. If you can’t plan ahead then this is what you must do as well. Good luck to you and blessings too.

OH! We have NEVER wait listed for anything and always get what we want. One exception; Tree Houses. Thanksgiving and Xmas week.

 

[Mousewerks]

Agreed.

We own at AKV, VWL, and OKW. OKW was purchased resale before the 2011 restrictions on use were put in. We'd love to have all our points at one Home Resort. It takes a little work to do the bookings but the CMs work it out for us every time and they have been able to do some creative shuffling of our points to maximize them FOR US. Booking a DVC resort at 11 months Home Resort (HR), and 7 months Non-Home Resort (NHR) for all the years we have owned has never been a problem.

Why'd you have to go and give them all the secrets? Seriously, for those who don't get what they want, read this post. Then read it again, and again, and again. There is no secret to getting what you want, most people don't want it that badly.

This goes for the whole MyMagic+/Magic Bands/RFID Tickets issue as well. I am fully convinced that those who have problems with this new system are those that are resisting the change to the n-th degree. Understand the underlying technology (and the limits of that technology) and like magic, things will start to 'just work' for you like they did for us our last trip a couple weeks ago. The only issue we had was the other people not knowing how things worked and causing the entry lines at the park to back up. My one gripe with the whole thing is that they don't have a "Know What You're Doing" line for those of us that do. Instead we have to wait (impatiently I do admit) behind these yahoos. Other than that though, I was VERY pleased with the MyMagic+ implementation that I saw.