Asking your help re: a potential purchase

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

I am new to the world of timeshare (really new...I just contracted to buy Wyndham points, but the sale hasn't yet settled)

I am already interested in adding to what I will own by buying some RCI points. My intended use will be for last minute stays at Celebration World Resort. Celebration is within a 3 hour drive from my home and is pet friendly.

I have read that last minute reservations can be done for 9000 points a week. Is that true? My hope would be to buy about 100000 points and do 10 or more of these last minute stays a year. Is that even possible? I dont know how available reservations at Celebration World Resort are. As a test; can someone check availability there for next week?, how about a week next month?

I think I have figured out that points are points in the Wyndham system and wonder if the same is true with RCI. I have been looking for sales that advertise the lowest maintenance fees, but I dont know the RCI fee structure for reservations. Is it cheaper to reserve time at your "home" resort? Im concerned that I might make a great purchase re: maintenance fees but lose what Ive saved there to reservation fees. I guess the real question is; Would I be better off restricting my search for points associated with the one resort I intend to use the most or does it make a difference

My last questions have to do with the pet policy at the resort. Does anyone know; Can I have two small dogs with me and does the resort impose an extra charge?

I know Ive asked a lot...so thanks in advance for any insight or advice you can provide.

Ron Parise

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Last Calls at Celebration World, $269/week, no extra fees

Celebration World Resort (#5389)

7503 Atlantis Way
Kissimmee, FL 34747
USA
Celebration World Resort



Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 7

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 21-Jan-2011 Fri 28-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 04-Feb-2011 USD 269.00

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

Using my week account searching for availability up to Feb:

Celebration World Resort (#5389)
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7503 Atlantis Way
Kissimmee, FL 34747
USA
Celebration World Resort

Location
USA | Florida || Florida Orlando Area
Search Options
Exchange Only

Vacations that match my deposits:
Narrow Your Search
Check-In Month
January 2011 [7]
February 2011 [4]
March 2011 [2]
April 2011 [8]
May 2011 [3]
June 2011 [8]
September 2011 [13]
October 2011 [2]
November 2011 [1]
Minimum Unit Size
Kitchen
Sleeps
Check-In Day of the Week
Exchange Trading Power

Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 48

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price Exchange Trading Power
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 21-Jan-2011 Fri 28-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 04-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee 5
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 04-Feb-2011 Fri 11-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee 7
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 19-Feb-2011 Sat 26-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee 15

Celebrity Resorts Orlando-Resort World II (#8688)
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2800 N. Poinciana Blvd.
Kissimmee, FL 34746
USA
Celebrity Resorts - Vacation ownership and property management company with resort destinations across the U.S. and great deals on timeshare rentals and sales.

Location
USA | Florida || Florida Orlando Area
Search Options
Exchange Only

Vacations that match my deposits:
Narrow Your Search

Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 1
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price Exchange Trading Power
2 Bedrooms 6 (2) Full Sun 25-Sep-2011 Sun 02-Oct-2011 Exchange Fee 7

No idea about the pet policy. It's better to call the resort and ask directly.

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

Celebration is not a weeks resort in RCI therefore won't be discounted for 7500 to 9000 points. If you are particularly interested in this resort then you'd probably be better off just doing last calls unless you want the home resort advantage which might be beneficial if you are an uber planner.

You could consider buying a biennial or triennial points package so that you'd have some points to do these exchanges and mix it up with last calls. I wouldn't put all my eggs in this one RCI basket. There are other Orlando resorts for 7500 available but I'm not sure about the pet friendly thing.

Here is what I see in RCI points right now for Celebration:

1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Tue 11-Jan-2011 Tue 18-Jan-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 15-Jan-2011 Sat 22-Jan-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Mon 17-Jan-2011 Mon 24-Jan-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 21-Jan-2011 Fri 28-Jan-2011 30,500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 22-Jan-2011 Sat 29-Jan-2011 49,000
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Mon 24-Jan-2011 Mon 31-Jan-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Tue 25-Jan-2011 Tue 1-Feb-2011 35,120
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Tue 25-Jan-2011 Tue 1-Feb-2011 56,260
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 4-Feb-2011 30,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 4-Feb-2011 32,500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 4-Feb-2011 49,000
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 4-Feb-2011 106,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 29-Jan-2011 Sat 5-Feb-2011 41,000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 29-Jan-2011 Sat 5-Feb-2011 65,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Mon 31-Jan-2011 Mon 7-Feb-2011 35,960
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Mon 31-Jan-2011 Mon 7-Feb-2011 38,220
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Mon 31-Jan-2011 Mon 7-Feb-2011 57,580
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Mon 31-Jan-2011 Mon 7-Feb-2011 106,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Tue 1-Feb-2011 Tue 8-Feb-2011 41,000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Tue 1-Feb-2011 Tue 8-Feb-2011 65,500
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Tue 1-Feb-2011 Tue 8-Feb-2011 106,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 4-Feb-2011 Fri 11-Feb-2011 41,000
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 4-Feb-2011 Fri 11-Feb-2011 43,500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 4-Feb-2011 Fri 11-Feb-2011 65,500
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Fri 4-Feb-2011 Fri 11-Feb-2011 106,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 5-Feb-2011 Sat 12-Feb-2011 41,000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Sat 5-Feb-2011 Sat 12-Feb-2011 65,500
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Sat 5-Feb-2011 Sat 12-Feb-2011 106,500
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Mon 7-Feb-2011 Mon 14-Feb-2011 41,000
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Mon 7-Feb-2011 Mon 14-Feb-2011 43,500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Mon 7-Feb-2011 Mon 14-Feb-2011 65,500
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Mon 7-Feb-2011 Mon 14-Feb-2011 120,280
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Tue 8-Feb-2011 Tue 15-Feb-2011 45,400
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Tue 8-Feb-2011 Tue 15-Feb-2011 72,760
3 Bedroom 12 (10) Full Tue 8-Feb-2011 Tue 15-Feb-2011 118,160

These are the other Orlando resorts available for 7500 points this month.
Displaying 1-7 of 7 resorts Page 1

Florida Vacation Villas (#0776) 3 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34746
Available Unit Size 1 Bedroom
Check-In Date Range
15-Jan-2011 - 29-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

Grand Lake Resort (#4300) 1 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34747
Available Unit Size 1 Bedroom
Check-In Date 30-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

High Point World Resort (#2066) 1 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34747
Available Unit Size 1 Bedroom
Check-In Date 16-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

Lifetime of Vacations at Grand Lake Resort (#0851) 1 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34747
Available Unit Size 1 Bedroom
Check-In Date 15-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

Polynesian Isles (#5095) 1 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34746
Available Unit Size 2 Bedroom
Check-In Date 14-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

Villas at Fortune Place (#3654) 2 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34744
Available Unit Size 2 Bedroom
Check-In Date Range 15-Jan-2011 - 29-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

Westgate Vacation Villas (#0899) 4 available units
Kissimmee FL, 34747
Available Unit Size 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
Check-In Date Range 15-Jan-2011 - 29-Jan-2011
Points Value
7500

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

This Sheraton Safari in Orlando is very pet friendly.
My brother goes all the time with his dog whose a beagle.
They have suites.

Lake Buena Vista Hotels: Sheraton Safari Hotel & Suites - Amenities

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

Don't you get an RCI account with your WYN purchase?

Here is current last call:

Celebration World Resort (#5389)
Be the first to write a review
7503 Atlantis Way
Kissimmee, FL 34747
USA
Celebration World Resort



Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 7

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price

1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 07-Jan-2011 Fri 14-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Sat 08-Jan-2011 Sat 15-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 14-Jan-2011 Fri 21-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 21-Jan-2011 Fri 28-Jan-2011 USD 269.00
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Partial Fri 28-Jan-2011 Fri 04-Feb-2011 USD 269.00



Even if you are going with a penny a point the Last Call price is the same.

PS Do not ever commit to something because it is pet friendly. There are a lot of very unhappy Silverleaf owners.

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

Thanks

As expected I got lots of answers...Thanks

Im glad I asked because it looks like any money I might spend on RCI points to get discounted last minute reservations there would be wasted

Do I understand correctly? RCI points resorts offer last minute reservations for money, not points. So therefore; I cant use RCI points for last minute reservations at Celebration World Resort.

But I can use my RCI membership (when I get it through my purchase of Wyndham points) to make last minute reservations (1 bedroom =$269)

If thats the case I wont need to buy RCI points

It would seem that Im set...My Wyndham points will be used for the big deals, once every year or two to gather kids and grandkids at a 3 or 4 bedroom resort like Bonnet Creek or National Harbor or San Francisco (the dogs will have to stay in a kennel) and my wife and I will get away to Orlando with the dogs for $269 when there is availability

Ron Parise

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

You're gonna get a full fledged RCI account for free with your Wyndham points so you don't need to buy RCI points to pay cash for last calls for $285 for a 2 bedroom in Orlando.

There are Petco's in Orlando if you wanted to board your pooch.
Disney also has a new kennel. At least that way you could see your pooch during the day.

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

chriskre

As I understand it I will be getting something less than a full RCI membership. I think its weeks only, not points. Thats why I was interested in RCI points in the first place. The last minute 9000 point reservation thing is what got my attention, although $269 doesnt sound too bad either


I still dont understand what you said in your earlier post. Does that mean if I did own RCI points I could use them (9000 or 7500) for last minute reservations at a "weeks" resort? I have an RCI directory, but I dont see any distinction made between weeks resorts and points resorts.

By the way I visited the pet resort at Disney. The larger kennels come complete with a big screen TV and a web cam so you can see your pet from your computer. Nice stuff....I asked if I could rent one of the larger "villas" for myself. They are more expensive than some of the Kissimmee motels, but much nicer. And you get two potty walks and a massage every day

Thanks again

Ron Parise

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

Ron,

A weeks membership is a full RCI membership.
Many owners just have a weeks membership with RCI.

RCI gives a weeks membership to RCI points members if they have a week so you can consolidate your membership fees into one account. Wyndham only gives you the weeks membership but some of the points resorts deposit into the weeks side of RCI. I know it seems a bit confusing but you'll just have to trust me on this til you understand the difference. It's possible that with the Wyndham changes coming soon we will have access to RCI points too like Hilton does thru their portal.

Many weeks resorts also sell RCI points memberships that's why it's a bit confusing. Usually you will see the little RCI points logo on a resort that has RCI points. I don't think there are many resorts that are strictly points resorts since RCI points was a scheme thought up by RCI and the developers to get current weeks owners to upgrade their memberships to points.

Many people paid $2500 or more to upgrade their membership to RCI points.
My home resort offered to do this for me but I opted to just buy a converted week on ebay instead and save myself $1500.

As far as using 7500 points for last minute stuff, yes if you owned RCI points you could stay at weeks resorts for 7500 points. That's why I posted a few Orlando resorts so you could get an idea. These are resorts that don't have RCI points and the owners of those weeks may have done a PFD and now the inventory is available as a weekly exchange only. You cannot do nightly stays in weeks resorts with RCI points only in points resorts.

Apparently the 7500 points benefit was used to sell RCI points so people would convert and stretch their timeshare use which in turn gives RCI another exchange fee or two.

The exchange fees are lower in RCI points than they are in RCI weeks.
$139 as opposed to $189.

I hope I haven't confused you too much.

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

Just to be clear, nothing with or from Wyndham is free. The RCI account you get, you pay for in your maintenance/program fees.

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

Just to be clear, nothing with or from Wyndham is free. The RCI account you get, you pay for in your maintenance/program fees.

Yes you're so right. Thanks for correcting me.