All II owners that trade into DVC

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

Nonsense. I'm sure that DVC has been negotiating with both II and RCI for quite some time. Rather, the directory was printed before II and Disney officially parted ways---which, as you'll recall, was only a few days ago.

Disney may be a rapacious, money-hungry company, but they're generally not stupid.

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

This make think DVC made a rash, quick, decision.

I'll rephrase -- "A quick, rash decision based solely upon money."

No offense, but if the best trade I can get now is into the HGVC brand, I don't see any benefit. If I can no longer get into the Marriotts in Hawaii, the Westins, Marriott Newport Coast Villas, etc., DVC has greatly diminished in its value as far as exchanges go. I don't see how there is any argument in this.

Having a system based on RCI points again only benefits DVC by letting them fill in the gaps from member reservations. My guess is the RCI trades we'll see, if they aren't rented by RCI, will be scattered nights here and there that no one wants anyhow.

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

No, I think it was a carefully thought out decision based on money.

From a DVC Member's perspective, this is a non-event. A well-informed Member is almost always better off renting out their points for cash, and using that cash to stay where they want, rather than exchanging out. It's more certain, and a better value. The few exceptions are high-season time at truly prime resorts, and such time is rarely deposited anyway---whether II or RCI---because those owners would get better value by renting their weeks, as well.

The only people this really matters to are those hoping to exchange in, along with those Members not well-informed enough to realize that exchange is a poor value.

The effect on sales is probably immaterial. All DVC needs is a few pages out of their own hand-selected Wish List to show starry-eyed tour prospects. I'm sure they can cherry-pick enough resorts out of the RCI list to make that work, and the average tour guest will know effectively nothing about RCI, II, or any other exchange system.

But, if you think DVC was ever in this for anything but the money, from the very first day OKW started selling in '91, then your Mouse Ears are probably on too tight.

Finally, I just don't believe this is to fill unfilled room-nights. As I said in the other thread, one thing the mouse does exceptionally well is rent out rooms---and anything left unreserved by Members at 60 days goes to CRO as breakage inventory. Their resorts run at 90% capacity year round. Why do they need RCI to help them fill rooms? Answer: they don't.

As to whether the DVC inventory available for exchange in RCI is worse than it was in II: DVC certainly doesn't care about people hoping to exchange in, especially the bottom-feeders (like yours truly) who would never spend the scratch to own there, but were happy to use their $1 ebay specials (and the ACs they generated) to stay there a couple times every year.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Very bad decision made over a $95 unfair fee

This make think DVC made a rash, quick, decision.

You are correct. They did exactly that in 1997 when they irrationally changed from RCI to II at least in part because RCI wouldn't allow th unfair $95 exchange penalty fee II embraced (always SO member friendly that II - NOT!). Thank heavens they realized the time to switch back to a real system had come (helped by RCI's unfortunate change in policy that now allows the still unfair fee). Welcome home.

[robin5252 Member Find all posts View Profile Close robin5252]

I went ahead and took the 1 bedroom at SSR in May. I have stayed in a 2 bedroom at SSR the last 2 years in May, but with RCI pending I am scared to wait. I kept hearing bnoble say this is not the time to be picky.... so I took it!

I used my AC and I am keeping my deposited unit. This way in case I don't see any other weeks for Disney I can use. At least my unit will have more areas to trade into than an AC. The one bad part about this is the AC cost more if i were to see a 2 bedroom in the next few weeks if I cancel it will cost more to change. I highly doubt we will see 2 bedrooms coming up for May this month but we shall see.


Thanks to all of you.

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

Hi Robin - glad you were able to grab something for May. Did you end up splitting up the lockoff unit - or did you just keep it as one? I already added SSR and OKW to my November search - hoping I can squeeze that on in before this all goes away. Heck - at this point I would take a studio and live with it. Still better than paying for a regular room on property.

We did have a wonderful time in November with extended family and now I am looking forward to our trip in January which is just us. A bit more laid back and we will spend most of the time with our 3YO in Magic Kingdom instead of exploring the other parks.

There has been somewhat of a positive for me with all this....I was always planning to use 2-4 weeks per year in DVC for us and family. Now that I will have those weeks left over - I am now searching for other places to explore.

Heck - I might even just use some at a place that is 1/2 hour away from our house for a long weekend so my DD can play in the pool!

[robin5252 Member Find all posts View Profile Close robin5252]

I deposited before I knew about all of this or I would have locked off. I ended up depositing the full 2 bedroom in hopes of one in exchange.... but that did not happen. I was really scared to wait any longer... the choices today look really slim... and who knows they could diminish even more soon. I am anxious to see what the next week will bring. I hope you get your week. I am not sure what I am looking for next. I would like a fall week. I will put in a request soon and keep looking. Good luck to you!

One more thought. I remember seeing so many Sept weeks last year yet this week that 1 bedroom just sat there for days... this made me think they must not have very many deposits from Disney for this timeframe.. and what they do have we see... makes me think that Disney has not deposited much for fall yet or we would see so much more than that one week... it's not exactly prime travel time and they don't get taken to quickly... which for us means it wil be tough to get a fall week before the end of the year... since the deposits just are not there.

Let me know how it works out for you.

[robin5252 Member Find all posts View Profile Close robin5252]

I was able to switch my Saratoga for the Boardwalk this am. Same dates and still a 1 bedroom but if I am giving up space I would prefer to be at the Boardwalk for location!

[rsackett Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rsackett]

I was able to grab a Boardwalk one bedroom for June 26-July 3, on line early yesterday morn.. Just keep looking if you still want DVC all you II members!

Ray

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

I grabbed a 1 bdrm at Old Key West this morning, and was wondering how far it was from all the parks?

I've always stayed at the Boardwalk, but I was afraid to pass this up. It's for a 1/23/09 check-in, so I would be there for my b'day.

Any info on this resort would be appreciated.

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

I was able to switch my Saratoga for the Boardwalk this am. Same dates and still a 1 bedroom but if I am giving up space I would prefer to be at the Boardwalk for location!

Did you have to pay an additional exchange fee?

I might do the same if a Boardwalk Villas shows up for my dates.

[robin5252 Member Find all posts View Profile Close robin5252]

NO additional fees but I was within a few days of my original exchange. I just asked nicely and she did it. I had the Boardwalk unit held for the 18 minutes with another unit while I called!

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

NO additional fees but I was within a few days of my original exchange. I just asked nicely and she did it. I had the Boardwalk unit held for the 18 minutes with another unit while I called!

Thanks! I love the Boardwalk, and will try the same thing if I get lucky enough to grab one.

[robin5252 Member Find all posts View Profile Close robin5252]

Angela... Old Key West a nice resort. It's still close to the magic and a 1 bedroom there is nice and spacious. It's in the Downtown Disney area of Disney.

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

Angela... Old Key West a nice resort. It's still close to the magic and a 1 bedroom there is nice and spacious. It's in the Downtown Disney area of Disney.

Yeah, the thing is that Epcot is my favorite park. That's why I love the Boardwalk so much. I just love being able to walk to the park. How long a ride is it to Epcot, would you know?