Why buy DVC if RCI or II can trade easy to Orlando?

[Lisa P.]

Looking for trades into DVC can yield virtually nothing for days or weeks at a time. Then you can unexpectedly see pretty good availability.

For example, here's what was online just yesterday, Wed 6/18/08:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Jul 20 2008 - Jul 27 2008 1BR
Jul 25 2008 - Aug 01 2008 studio
Aug 22 2008 - Aug 29 2008 studio
Aug 22 2008 - Aug 29 2008 2BR
Aug 24 2008 - Aug 31 2008 studio
Aug 24 2008 - Aug 31 2008 2BR
Sep 20 2008 - Sep 27 2008 2BR
Sep 21 2008 - Sep 28 2008 1BR
Nov 16 2008 - Nov 23 2008 2BR
Dec 12 2008 - Dec 19 2008 studio
Dec 19 2008 - Dec 26 2008 2BR (yes - Christmas!)

Disney's Old Key West Resort
Aug 22 2008 - Aug 29 2008 studio
Aug 24 2008 - Aug 31 2008 1BR
Sep 14 2008 - Sep 21 2008 studio
Nov 16 2008 - Nov 23 2008 1BR
Jan 10 2009 - Jan 17 2009 studio

And here's what was there this morning, Thu 6/19/08:

Disney's Beach Club Villas
Jan 09 2009 - Jan 16 2009 studio

Disney's Boardwalk Villas
Jan 04 2009 - Jan 11 2009 1BR

Disney's Old Key West Resort
Aug 22 2008 - Aug 29 2008 studio
Aug 24 2008 - Aug 31 2008 1BR
Sep 14 2008 - Sep 21 2008 studio
Sep 14 2008 - Sep 21 2008 1BR

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Jul 20 2008 - Jul 27 2008 1BR
Aug 22 2008 - Aug 29 2008 studio
Aug 24 2008 - Aug 31 2008 studio
Aug 31 2008 - Sep 07 2008 1BR
Sep 12 2008 - Sep 19 2008 2BR
Sep 21 2008 - Sep 28 2008 1BR
Oct 25 2008 - Nov 01 2008 2BR

Three of our family's seven weeks (good, solid, non-branded timeshares) are able to get this same availability via II. And they are really very reasonably priced as resales. To confirm any of these DVC weeks for our family's vacation, it only costs us up to $825 total for our maint fees, exchange fee and the Disney Resort Fee charged at check-in to II exchange guests. Even if we didn't stay the whole week, it's still a very good deal.

The downsides to trading in via II are that availability varies so much; the smaller DVCs are less readily available; it requires more effort and patience to do this than to just call Member Services and secure what you want in a single phone call. Also, 3BRs are not part of this; neither are summer weeks at HHI's DVC (though other non-DVC HHI weeks are available).

However, if you only expect to want 1BRs (pretty readily available), if you're flexible with which onsite DVC resort you get; if value for the dollar matters to you... well, then it's kind of a no-brainer, when you compare the low purchase prices of a good resale week with much more expensive DVC points. 2BRs are tougher and so are prime holiday weeks. But the price is tough to match, if the circumstances are right for a timeshare person. JMHO.

 

[crisi]

Lisa, your last few words are really important - "right for a timeshare person."

A lot of DVC members aren't timeshare people - they are Disney people who happen to own a "vacation club" that lets them stay at Disney. This is a different group of people than "timeshare people."

Disney people are going to use the majority of their points at Disney. People for whom DVC works for are people who "live the Disney lifestyle" and plan their vacations months in advance. They may or may not value the "home resort advantage."

Timeshare people seem to be a different breed - especially those who own and trade their timeshare around a lot. They are willing to work the system. They are willing to be flexible in when and where they go. Successful timeshare people know how to make the most out of their contract - they've researched to make sure they own something that will get them what they want, they know how to deposit it and search for what they are looking for.

As Lisa's searches point out, you can trade into DVC from outside, but you aren't going to have the same sort of control if you own DVC. If you want to go to Disney occationally - and staying on site would be cool - and you aren't picky on the resort, but staying offsite would be ok, but want to really use your timeshare mostly to travel other places, DVC is a BAD CHOICE. Its an expensive timeshare. If you want to go to Disney every year and stay onsite, a different timeshare company is going to mean more hassle and less control.

 

[Starr W.]

Lisa, your last few words are really important - "right for a timeshare person."

A lot of DVC members aren't timeshare people - they are Disney people who happen to own a "vacation club" that lets them stay at Disney. This is a different group of people than "timeshare people."

Disney people are going to use the majority of their points at Disney. People for whom DVC works for are people who "live the Disney lifestyle" and plan their vacations months in advance. They may or may not value the "home resort advantage."

Timeshare people seem to be a different breed - especially those who own and trade their timeshare around a lot. They are willing to work the system. They are willing to be flexible in when and where they go. Successful timeshare people know how to make the most out of their contract - they've researched to make sure they own something that will get them what they want, they know how to deposit it and search for what they are looking for.

As Lisa's searches point out, you can trade into DVC from outside, but you aren't going to have the same sort of control if you own DVC. If you want to go to Disney occationally - and staying on site would be cool - and you aren't picky on the resort, but staying offsite would be ok, but want to really use your timeshare mostly to travel other places, DVC is a BAD CHOICE. Its an expensive timeshare. If you want to go to Disney every year and stay onsite, a different timeshare company is going to mean more hassle and less control.

I'll agree with Crisi, I have a "brand name" timeshare that trades on II. Yes I do see DVC, somewhat on a daily basis, mostly SSR and OKW studios and 1brs. Yes, I've come across the 2br SSR for Xmas, plus 2 OKW studios for the same time frame. Also have seen a BCV studio right smack in the F&W timeframe. There was a VWL 1br for 9/5 up this morning.

From what I have seen if you have your heart set on going for F&W or any of the parties or the 1st 2 weeks of December. Buy DVC. If you want to live on the edge and it doesn't matter what resort or room size or when you want to go buy a timeshare, but you have to be careful that it has the "quality" rating to be able to pull a DVC unit.

I really think for non-DVC owners it's the thrill of the hunt to get a DVC unit.