What resort did you trade to get DVC thru RCI?

[jdunn1]

Just wanted to add to this converstaion a little. I was a DVC owner who got a little tired of the high maint fees and the changes to the point requirements for all the resorts. When I bought in, I had 170 HH points and that was enough for 5 days in a two bedroom at HH in the summer or in Orlando. I started off with maint fees around $800 but by the time I sold last April, the fees were close to 1k and with the point changes I couldn't get 5 days anymore.

Very reluctantly, I sold my points and was out of timesharing. Then, I discovered Worldmark points and I think that is the best way to get into DVC, and for far less than DVC maint fees. With Worldmark, you can rent points from other members so easily and with no restrictions. It takes 10k Worldmark points for a 2 bedroom DVC property no matter what time of the year you want to go. If you had to rent those Worldmark points from someone (very easy to do), it would cost about $600. RCI trade fees are another $194 and if you trade into the Orlando DVC properties it is another $95.

At most, it costs $900 for a 2 bedroom DVC in Orlando no matter when you want to go, even for Easter, Christmas, New Years, 4th of July, etc... To boot, if there is a DVC unit available within 60 days of checkin (doesn't happen very often at all, though) it only takes 4k Worldmark points to trade into DVC no matter what the unit size is.

If you trade into Vero Beach or Hilton Head or Disneyland, then there is no extra $95 trade fee so the cost for those exchanges is $800.

There are plenty of cheaper ways to trade into DVC, there's one guy over on TUG (Michael something or other) who seems to trade into DVC at least once a month and he claims to have trade fees of only $400 for each DVC exchange. How that is possible is beyond me.

The nice thing about Worldmark that is unique is that Worldmark trades into both RCI and II so it doesn't matter what trade company DVC goes with. If you have Worldmark points, you can trade into DVC. Worldmark timeshares can be had on Ebay for about $2,000 for a 6k point contract. 6k Worldmark points will not get you far but the maint fees for those poins are only $350 or so a year and you can bank and borrow points to get as many as 18k points with a 6k point contract. If you need more points or can't borrow or bank points, then no problem, you rent points at $600 per 10k from other members. $600 per 10k points seems to be the ceiling on how much those points costs, also.

I'm not saying Worldmark is better than DVC in anyway, but for trading, I don't know of a more sure fire bet then Worldmark. I just know that with my DVC points, it would cost me close to 2k in maint fees for a full week during the summer in a 2 bedroom DVC property. With Worldmark, I do not have the same level of access to DVC inventory and I am restricted to full week exchanges but that same exchange now costs me no more than $900 a week.

Just my thoughts on trading into DVC. Other's espeically Dean will likely have much better thoughts on this.

I really like DVC, by the way. I miss my points but not the ever increasing fees and having only 170 points was not nearly enough, at least for me.

-Jim

 

[psac]

Thanks for the details. I was surprised to see some of the tight lips on what is generally a very open and honest Disboards. Good to see the community lives on!

 

[fitzpat]

This discussion has me curious, does anyone have a link or site they can suggest to sell an RCI week? I've heard of the resale market for RCI weeks, but honestly haven't seen anyplace to sell my week. I have a fantastic week, but no longer live close enough to enjoy it. Any recommendations you can make, I would appreciate.

 

[ldo]

if it makes anyone feel better, my anuual fees, exchange fee, etc. total about $900-1500 for my RCI-DVC trades to a 1 BR and 2 BR--and I think that many of us trading into DVC are not using a $400 a week trader--as most weeks' annual fees average $700+.

 

[JimMIA]

This discussion has me curious, does anyone have a link or site they can suggest to sell an RCI week? I've heard of the resale market for RCI weeks, but honestly haven't seen anyplace to sell my week. I have a fantastic week, but no longer live close enough to enjoy it. Any recommendations you can make, I would appreciate.

I can't answer your specific question, but TUG is generally a great source of info for most things involving timeshares.

You might also check eBay. If you see the kind of listings you own, open them up and contact the realtor who is selling the contract.

 

[jdunn1]

Just wanted to second JimMIA's suggestion about contacting TUG. That site is a wealth of information, thought I am not sure it is the best site to sell a timeshare, but members can list their timeshares for free. Ebay is probably the best.

If you go to TUG and click on the DVC board, you will see a few people who post all the time on the DVC board. A couple of the posters (Michael) seem to live at DVC resorts through exchanges. If you join TUG, you can send them a private email with your questions and I am sure they will respond quickly.

Getting back to the subject of what timeshares to buy to trade into DVC, I think Worldmark wins hands down becuase buy in costs are so low (about 2k) and Worldmark trades into both RCI and II, so it doesn't matter what trading company DVC is with. Also, you can easily rent points for just the cost of the maint fees if you owned those points from other owners. Lastly, RCI is owned by the same company that owns Worldmark so Worldmark exchangers get top priority in RCI. It's not easy, but ongoing requests seem to pull 2 bedrooms at all times of the year. I also spoke to one guy who got a 3 bedroom at AKV using Worldmark points last summer through an ongoing request. One last thing, if you buy Worldmark points it gives you access to DVC, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, etc..., through either RCI or II, something DVC does not do.


Just my oppinions but if you are like me, you never have probably never heard of Worldmark but if you investigate it a little, I think you will be impressed. Not DVC by a long shot but it a pretty cost effective way to get into DVC and any other timeshare and there is a good market on EBAY and TUG for Worldmark contracts, especially the smaller 6k contracts so it's not like you will be stuck with a timeshare you can never get rid of.

 

[chalee94]

This discussion has me curious, does anyone have a link or site they can suggest to sell an RCI week?

buying a timeshare is very easy.

selling is not easy at all these days.

many timeshares sell on ebay very cheaply...some brand names like hilton might have more value but most are less than $500 and many for $1 if they sell at all. maybe check ebay for completed listings to see if anything like yours has sold recently.

just make sure you never talk to a broker who wants money upfront - lots of scammers out there. tug is a great resource for more information.

 

[kansas_wazzu]

I know this isn't about Interval, but the best trade I ever made with Interval was for my one week at Westin Kierland (Scottsdale) for one week in a first-floor 1 BR at OKW in May 2009. I even think that the week we stayed came after DVC switched to RCI.

If anyone was there the week of May 17 2009, the weather was terrible. Total rainfall for the week was almost 8 inches, so we spent extra time in the spacious room with our kids watching WALL-E on DVD. However, my wife and I also spent time on our patio after they fell asleep to have drinks while listening to the rain hit the water. It was perfect.

I'd happily trade my Westin Kierland week again for a week at OKW. Too bad DVC is no longer with Interval.

 

[fitzpat]

Showing a little ignorance here -- who or what is TUG? Several people have referred to this and I have no idea what it is. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!!

 

[dvc_john]

TUG: Timeshare User's Group (www.tug2.net)

A website/message board with info about all timeshare companies and exchange companies. A small fee to join (to get all features, including resort reviews, etc.), but the message board is free to use.

www.tugbbs.com/forums to go straight to forums

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Yikes ... remember, loose lips sink ships :

No kidding!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I know this isn't about Interval, but the best trade I ever made with Interval was for my one week at Westin Kierland (Scottsdale) for one week in a first-floor 1 BR at OKW in May 2009. I even think that the week we stayed came after DVC switched to RCI.

If anyone was there the week of May 17 2009, the weather was terrible. Total rainfall for the week was almost 8 inches, so we spent extra time in the spacious room with our kids watching WALL-E on DVD. However, my wife and I also spent time on our patio after they fell asleep to have drinks while listening to the rain hit the water. It was perfect.

I'd happily trade my Westin Kierland week again for a week at OKW. Too bad DVC is no longer with Interval.

When DVC was with Interval, the best trades I was getting were 1 bedrooms off season. Now that they are with RCI, I can get 2 bedrooms in high season with change to spare. I still love my Interval trader for Marriott, though.

DVC's move to RCI has made it so I have zero incentive to ever buy another DVC point and am seriously considering selling my 200 point BWV contract (as soon as DH agrees it's going up for sale). When they were with Interval, I traded in as a way to stretch my points. Now that they are with RCI, I can trade in period and don't have a huge use for the DVC points unless DH insists on staying at BLT. As soon as they start depositing BLT, owing DVC is all over for us...DH will agree to sell. The DVC points can be used for long weekends and such, but frankly I prefer using our (resale) Wyndham points at Bonnet Creek for long weekends...I like that resort better for pools/mini golf/playgrounds for the kids/grounds in general.

If they go back to Interval I'd be happy as a DVC owner as I could theoretically trade my DVC points for a worthwhile exchange, but sad as an exchanger as the DVC trades in Interval just weren't as good IMHO.

ETA - If you buy a red week at a desirable resort, I don't see it as being difficult to "dispose" of if you no longer need it as a trader. I had an extra week of the famous II Tiger trader that I didn't have a use for once DVC moved to RCI so I offered it up for free last year w/me paying the closing costs and it was gone in a matter of weeks. It was a prime summer week...it cost me a little more up front, but I got major trade value out of it while I owned it and had no issues disposing of it when I no longer needed it.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

The new system for Weeks owners at RCI has really enhanced our membership there. We owned a 2-bedroom Red Week unit at a well-rated resort in Branson. We actively used it for many summers with my parents and our children (when they were younger). But, as the kids got older, our summers got more hectic and we stopped making that drive. We tried trading those weeks through RCI with the old plan and never could locate a decent trade... so we banked everything. Now that the new RCI plan is in effect, we were able to combine some of those old weeks that were banked and could secure a DVC reservation. So, of course, we are THRILLED with this trade. The thing is... my viewpoint is obviously going to be influenced because of the trading history (or in this case the lack thereof) we had been able to experience with RCI prior to the new plan.

 

[hsmamato2]

but frankly I prefer using our (resale) Wyndham points at Bonnet Creek for long weekends...I like that resort better for pools/mini golf/playgrounds for the kids/grounds in general.
.

really? do you like Bonnet Creek better than the DVC properties? sorry to go OT here,but why? and...in looking at RCI last year,I found more inventory for DVC places ,nothing for Bonnet Creek ever showed for me....(we use RCI POINTS) curious...I'd love to try them all!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

really? do you like Bonnet Creek better than the DVC properties? sorry to go OT here,but why? and...in looking at RCI last year,I found more inventory for DVC places ,nothing for Bonnet Creek ever showed for me....(we use RCI POINTS) curious...I'd love to try them all!

It's nicer/more luxurious than DVC in my opinion. Come on over to the "We love Bonnet Creek" thread on the off-property board and see the hundreds of pages of posts on why people love it!! I love the location, the beautiful lake views, the big balconies, the big 2 bedroom units that I can get for cheap on my Wyndham points, the free mini-golf course, the great playground for my kids, the awesome pools/lazy rivers/slides, the activities...I could go on and on! Sometimes I just like to stay there while DH and the kids do the parks. It's just so nice.

DVC is nice for Disney themed stuff, but I just don't find the units as luxurious as I find the Bonnet Creek units. Since the location is a wash for me, I'd choose Bonnet Creek every time. Also, Bonnet Creek seems to give upgrades on request if they're available. We've gotten upgraded to a 3 bedroom from a 2 bedroom before. The check-in person surprised me too...when I requested it, he said that there were no 3 bedrooms available and when I opened the room it was a 3 bedroom I was happily surprised.

ETA - I don't know if Bonnet Creek shows up in RCI points? I only use RCI weeks so I'm not sure. I book Bonnet Creek directly w/my Wyndham points, though, as it didn't seem to be such an easy trade in weeks either when I was looking.

 

[Brian Noble]

Wyndham resorts do show up in Points, but rarely. Most traffic is in Weeks.