Please advise: HGVC to DVC

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this whole hting and I was hoping someone could help me. Details of my planned trip are:

July 10-17, 2011
Trading from HGVC to DVC via RCI.

I have an ongoing search in RCI right now for ANY DVC vacancy for the week above. I'm hoping that someone can estimate my chance of a successfull trade, considering that my request was made 13 months in advance of my trip. Are there certain times when DVC deposits points? If I AM going to be successful, when do you think I will hear back from RCI? At what point should I give up, move on, and just book a non-Disney location at one of my HGVC sites?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

You might want to follow the sightings threads so that you can pounce.
I wouldn't rely on RCI solely. I think you need to check yourself including going thru the HGVC portal to RCI.

I think your chances are good but you need to track it IMO.
I haven't yet booked any DVC with my HGVC but I have played with it and when I see the sightings increase, I can see them thru the HGVC portal entrance.

Here is a thread you should be able to see by now.

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...july-10-a.html

Thanks to BNoble for his work for us DVC fanatics.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

You should be fine. DVC deposits at most 11 months prior to use, so you have a few weeks to go. Generally, HGVC can see any DVC deposit in the spacebank, and there are enough units that I'd expect you will see a match. You are willing to accept any resort, and that is helpful. Can you only take the 10th, or the other days that weekend? If you could take the others, expand to the entire weekend. Finally, if you don't need a 2BR, I'd guess your chances are near-certain. Even with a 2BR, I think you are in a good spot.

DVC typically deposits in two waves: one about 10-11 months prior to use, and another about 6-7 months. If you don't have a match by mid/late-January, that would be time to look elsewhere.

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

You should be fine. DVC deposits at most 11 months prior to use, so you have a few weeks to go. Generally, HGVC can see any DVC deposit in the spacebank, and there are enough units that I'd expect you will see a match. You are willing to accept any resort, and that is helpful. Can you only take the 10th, or the other days that weekend? If you could take the others, expand to the entire weekend. Finally, if you don't need a 2BR, I'd guess your chances are near-certain. Even with a 2BR, I think you are in a good spot.

DVC typically deposits in two waves: one about 10-11 months prior to use, and another about 6-7 months. If you don't have a match by mid/late-January, that would be time to look elsewhere.

Well my wedding is on Saturday, so taking the reservation on Friday wouldn't work too well . But I couldn't care less what size room we got. It's just going to be my (then) wife and me so a studio or 1br would actually be better for us than the 2br.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Well my wedding is on Saturday, so taking the reservation on Friday wouldn't work too well . But I couldn't care less what size room we got. It's just going to be my (then) wife and me so a studio or 1br would actually be better for us than the 2br.

Sometimes I take a check in date on an exchange that might not be the exact date I want to check in but it is still cheaper than if I had rented the place for the exact dates.
Example, I often go to Orlando with the last calls from RCI for the weekends and just use it for 3 or 4 nights and throw away the extra nights. Still is a deal. It still might be worth doing with DVC if your MF's are low enough.

[glypnirsgirl Member Find all posts View Profile Close glypnirsgirl]

Well my wedding is on Saturday, so taking the reservation on Friday wouldn't work too well . But I couldn't care less what size room we got. It's just going to be my (then) wife and me so a studio or 1br would actually be better for us than the 2br.

You will want a 1BR. You do not know it now, but you will MUCH prefer it to a studio. A 1 BR has a nice jetted tub, a separate shower, privacy for the water closet. They are just much nicer.

And although not important for you on this trip (probably), there is a full kitchen. If all you use the kitchen for is storing cold drinks, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries, at leat you will have room for all of that in the full size refrigerator. Even on the trips we plan to eat out on (getting rarer and rarer), it is still nice to have the kitchen for snacks and drinks. It is much harder to manage breakfast, snacks and drinks with the "kitchenette" which is really just a wet bar with a microwave.

And there seem to be MORE availability in RCI for 1 BR than for studios.

For DVC members, there is a big jump in points required for a 1BR vs. a studio. Because of that, the one bedrooms are more frequently available (IMO).

elaine

[glypnirsgirl Member Find all posts View Profile Close glypnirsgirl]

ACKKK ... WDW in July for your honeymoon???

I had one of those nano-seconds when I realized you are planning on going to WDW for your honeymoon in July.

Please rethink this. July is HOT, HUMID and CROWDED. I love WDW. I love it so much that we go 3 or 4 times per year.

My son and his wife went to WDW for their honeymoon (they got married 2 years ago in June). But because of the date of their wedding, they took a delayed honeymoon. They waited until October for the big bash and took a simple local trip for the immediate after the wedding trip.

If you are having a big wedding, both of you will probably be exhausted from the festivities. And you will need to recuperate and relax and enjoy each other rather than being in crowds of hot sweaty people. Is your future wife just set on WDW for the honeymoon?

elaine

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

I had one of those nano-seconds when I realized you are planning on going to WDW for your honeymoon in July.

Please rethink this. July is HOT, HUMID and CROWDED. I love WDW. I love it so much that we go 3 or 4 times per year.

My son and his wife went to WDW for their honeymoon (they got married 2 years ago in June). But because of the date of their wedding, they took a delayed honeymoon. They waited until October for the big bash and took a simple local trip for the immediate after the wedding trip.

If you are having a big wedding, both of you will probably be exhausted from the festivities. And you will need to recuperate and relax and enjoy each other rather than being in crowds of hot sweaty people. Is your future wife just set on WDW for the honeymoon?

elaine

Haha yeah we're dead set on it. We're both hugely obsessed with Disney and there was never even a choice on what we'd do for our honeymoon. By obsessed I mean framed movie posters line my apartment walls, lanyards full of Disney Trading Pins hang from the lamp shade, etc. The wedding will be small(ish) so that won't drain us TOO TOO much, and we're experienced Disney goers who know when to pack it in for a rest and not worry about missing a thing or two. I love hot, humid, and crowded, and being moderately miserable in the baking heat is part of the experience (IMO).

Not to worry, we're not going to kill ourselves. After a week at "The World," during which we'll be worked to the bone, we have a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise lined up out of Tampa for rest, relaxation, and recovery.

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

Sometimes I take a check in date on an exchange that might not be the exact date I want to check in but it is still cheaper than if I had rented the place for the exact dates.
Example, I often go to Orlando with the last calls from RCI for the weekends and just use it for 3 or 4 nights and throw away the extra nights. Still is a deal. It still might be worth doing with DVC if your MF's are low enough.

How does this work with the $95 check-in fee required at DVC resorts? I considered taking Friday-Friday or Saturday-Saturday if available and just getting there a day or two late, but don't I have to be there to pay the $95 on the day of check-in?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

How does this work with the $95 check-in fee required at DVC resorts? I considered taking Friday-Friday or Saturday-Saturday if available and just getting there a day or two late, but don't I have to be there to pay the $95 on the day of check-in?

Haven't done a DVC exchange with RCI yet since I am a DVC member and don't have to pay it, but I'm sure if you call them and let them know you are checking in a day late then you just pay it on the day you check in. BNoble will know better since he does lots of RCI exchanges in. It's probably the same with the meal plan which you might consider adding. Might save you some money.

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

Haven't done a DVC exchange with RCI yet since I am a DVC member and don't have to pay it, but I'm sure if you call them and let them know you are checking in a day late then you just pay it on the day you check in. BNoble will know better since he does lots of RCI exchanges in. It's probably the same with the meal plan which you might consider adding. Might save you some money.

All over that haha. Word is the 2011 plan is chaning a bit. They're saying slightly cheaper but no desert. Remains to be seen though.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

You will want a 1BR. You do not know it now, but you will MUCH prefer it to a studio. A 1 BR has a nice jetted tub, a separate shower, privacy for the water closet. They are just much nicer.

And although not important for you on this trip (probably), there is a full kitchen. If all you use the kitchen for is storing cold drinks, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries, at leat you will have room for all of that in the full size refrigerator. Even on the trips we plan to eat out on (getting rarer and rarer), it is still nice to have the kitchen for snacks and drinks. It is much harder to manage breakfast, snacks and drinks with the "kitchenette" which is really just a wet bar with a microwave.

And there seem to be MORE availability in RCI for 1 BR than for studios.

For DVC members, there is a big jump in points required for a 1BR vs. a studio. Because of that, the one bedrooms are more frequently available (IMO).

elaine

Yeah Elaine is right you get spoiled with the 1 bedrooms but if you take the meal plan then a studio is fine but you won't have the jacuzzi.

The points are only 3400 HGVC points for the 1 bedroom as opposed to the 2400 for the studios. I think it's a great deal for the 1 bedroom but if you are low on HGVC points 2400 is still a great deal for DVC exchanges.

If you haven't stayed at AKV yet, I'd recommend it because the pool at Kidani is much quieter with nice comfy lounge chairs and a pool bar.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

All over that haha. Word is the 2011 plan is chaning a bit. They're saying slightly cheaper but no desert. Remains to be seen though.

They give you soooooooooo much food anyway that you really end up forcing yourself to eat dessert which is something I definetely don't need.

[wizards8507 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wizards8507]

Yeah Elaine is right you get spoiled with the 1 bedrooms but if you take the meal plan then a studio is fine but you won't have the jacuzzi.

The points are only 3400 HGVC points for the 1 bedroom as opposed to the 2400 for the studios. I think it's a great deal for the 1 bedroom but if you are low on HGVC points 2400 is still a great deal for DVC exchanges.

If you haven't stayed at AKV yet, I'd recommend it because the pool at Kidani is much quieter with nice comfy lounge chairs and a pool bar.

Yeah I have a ton of points to play with so that's not really an issue at all. AKV is definitely my first choice but I'm not going to be picky as the dates are much more important to us than the resort.

[glypnirsgirl Member Find all posts View Profile Close glypnirsgirl]

Haha yeah we're dead set on it. We're both hugely obsessed with Disney and there was never even a choice on what we'd do for our honeymoon. By obsessed I mean framed movie posters line my apartment walls, lanyards full of Disney Trading Pins hang from the lamp shade, etc. The wedding will be small(ish) so that won't drain us TOO TOO much, and we're experienced Disney goers who know when to pack it in for a rest and not worry about missing a thing or two. I love hot, humid, and crowded, and being moderately miserable in the baking heat is part of the experience (IMO).

Not to worry, we're not going to kill ourselves. After a week at "The World," during which we'll be worked to the bone, we have a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise lined up out of Tampa for rest, relaxation, and recovery.

I am so glad that you are EXPERIENCED WDWers. It will make all the difference in the world. And I will stop worrying about you. Especially with backing it up with a cruise. What a great idea that is!

elaine