DVC deposit to RCI question?

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

I just got my vacation planning book the other day and was looking over the points and noticed that I can get a week for 75 points at some of the resorts in off season in a studio. My question is, if I reserve a week at one of these resorts in off season can I then deposit it into RCI to do a trade or do I have to give them all my 150 points? Would an off week in DVC give me for example a good or halfway decent week in MC or Hawaii or St. John? Has anyone done this?
Thanks for any help.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Disney is so new to RCI that we haven't a clue as to how they perform as traders.

Since Disney is currently bulkbanking weeks it may be detrimental to an individual owner's deposit. That is what happens to other resorts that have that profile.

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

Makes sense Lawren. I thought maybe someone had tried it but knowing other DVCers they are using their points and not giving RCI any anyway. At least that is the concensus on Mouseowners. I too feel like I don't just want to give them my precious points unless I am absolutely getting something killer in return. I'd just assume use them at Disney but if I could get St. John or Hawaii, well then that is another story. I'll sacrifice my mouse for a hammock under a coconut tree anyday.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Makes sense Lawren. I thought maybe someone had tried it but knowing other DVCers they are using their points and not giving RCI any anyway. At least that is the concensus on Mouseowners. I too feel like I don't just want to give them my precious points unless I am absolutely getting something killer in return. I'd just assume use them at Disney but if I could get St. John or Hawaii, well then that is another story. I'll sacrifice my mouse for a hammock under a coconut tree anyday.

You could always deposit with Trading Places or SFX if you want Hawaii. I'm going for 2 weeks this summer on TPI trades and I got bonus weeks as well.

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

As I understand it, DVC controls all RCI deposits. You cannot pick a week and deposit it, and in fact you can't even get a week that you can search with yourself---you must always go through Member Services by phone, using the generic crossover grid that they've published for trades. Behind the scenes, Member Services deposits a mix of weeks, some worth less than the "nominal" trade value, some worth more. Back in the day, DVC used to charge you the points it took to book the week they used to get the trade, but it was deemed to be too confusing and uncertain, so they've gone to this average-cost approach.

You'll have to ask around to see how to (and if you can) deposit to a third-party exchange. Member Services only talks to Members and the "official" exchange affiliation(s) as a general rule---a guest of a Member cannot even call, the Member must do it personally. So, I don't know how that would work with a third-party exchange.

If you want to go somewhere other than Disney, you're probably best served by renting out your points, and using the proceeds to rent the lodging you require. In almost all circumstances, that will be a better deal than exchange.

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

You could always deposit with Trading Places or SFX if you want Hawaii. I'm going for 2 weeks this summer on TPI trades and I got bonus weeks as well.

I always forget about these companies. I think when Disney opens their Hawaii resort I'm going to try to exchange one of my weeks and also use my DVC to get 2 weeks out of it. Maybe 3 if I get lucky but i guess I'll have to change resorts. Maybe Oahu and another island and luckily a 3rd. That would be awesome, I haven't been to Hawaii in 20 years.

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

As I understand it, DVC controls all RCI deposits. You cannot pick a week and deposit it, and in fact you can't even get a week that you can search with yourself---you must always go through Member Services by phone, using the generic crossover grid that they've published for trades. Behind the scenes, Member Services deposits a mix of weeks, some worth less than the "nominal" trade value, some worth more. Back in the day, DVC used to charge you the points it took to book the week they used to get the trade, but it was deemed to be too confusing and uncertain, so they've gone to this average-cost approach.

Well this sucks. Then why would I give them my week of points only to get a mediocre trader. For that I'll just keep my points and do as you say. No wonder the mouseowner crowd hates RCI. It's just not fair to us owners, they should do like Wyndham and let you reserve your week first and then deposit it. Oh well, off to the Mouse I go again, so much for my umbrella drink.

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

You don't get a "mediocre trader"---as I understand it, there's never a specific week tied to "your" search. Instead, there's a generic placeholder that's "worth" whatever DVC and RCI agreed it would be worth. I suspect that DVC and RCI work pretty closely to make sure that your placeholder is worth "enough" to get your desired trade should it materialize, but not much more than that.

It's still a better deal in most cases to just use cash as your "exchage currency." A little more work for you, but you're a TUGger.

PS: Wyndham doesn't allow you to reserve a specific week and deposit it either. Bluegreen does, though.

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

bnoble

It's still a better deal in most cases to just use cash as your "exchage currency." A little more work for you, but you're a TUGger.

Yeah, this sounds like your best bet, to me.....This way, you can rent timeshares that are not associated with RCI, such as Marriott, and Westin, etc.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

PS: Wyndham doesn't allow you to reserve a specific week and deposit it either. Bluegreen does, though.

They do if you deposit outside of RCI. Although I did hear recently that WYN reneged on a deposit with an indie.

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

That's right. I was talking only about primary exchange affiliation. AFAIK, if your primary affiliation is II, you can't reserve-and-deposit there either. But, lots of folks have done so to independents.

With Wyndham, the recently-changed guest poilcy will probably make the indies more difficult (and a little more expensive), but it shouldn't be impossible.

[Lisa P Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lisa P]

Then why would I give them my week of points only to get a mediocre trader. For that I'll just keep my points and do as you say. No wonder the mouseowner crowd hates RCI.

Chris, DVC handles this the same way with RCI as they did with II, no difference. Some DVCers planned to do future exchanges into Marriotts and they can't do that now. A few haven't really sifted through the info on exchange options through RCI yet. Others have picked up on negative complaints without firsthand experience - you'll always see more vocal negative about anything than positive, IMO. And as always, many people just don't like change.

...they should do like Wyndham and let you reserve your week first and then deposit it.

Wyndham doesn't let you do this with their primary exchange companies, RCI or II.

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

That's right. I was talking only about primary exchange affiliation. AFAIK, if your primary affiliation is II, you can't reserve-and-deposit there either. But, lots of folks have done so to independents.

With Wyndham, the recently-changed guest poilcy will probably make the indies more difficult (and a little more expensive), but it shouldn't be impossible.

Do the independents take a 3 or 4 night reservation in DVC like the deals you see on RCI for rent in exchange for a week?

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

Those rental stays in RCI are CRO inventory that is either owned by Disney, or was turned over by DVC to pay for Members who use their points for cruises, stays in Disney-owned but non-DVC resorts, etc. They are not Member exchanges.

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

Those rental stays in RCI are CRO inventory that is either owned by Disney, or was turned over by DVC to pay for Members who use their points for cruises, stays in Disney-owned but non-DVC resorts, etc. They are not Member exchanges.

So much to learn so little time. Thanks.