Regional Block??

Any thoughts on what the rationale is for disney to block Orlando Timeshares from trading in.

Many TS don't like traders from the same region trading into their resorts. It is much more difficult to sell a TS to someone who can say, " Why would I buy here if I can just trade my cheap TS from just down the road and still stay here?"

agottl2 said:

Any thoughts on what the rationale is for disney to block Orlando Timeshares from trading in.

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They Know they're better than the rest and don't want others in the area trading in. They did this with II and have carried it over to RCI. Truth be known I don't think they'd allow trading in at all if they could figure out a way to give their members the chance to trade out without allowing the reverse.

They may think they are the best but they actually know better

Dean said:

They Know they're better than the rest and don't want others in the area trading in. They did this with II and have carried it over to RCI. Truth be known I don't think they'd allow trading in at all if they could figure out a way to give their members the chance to trade out without allowing the reverse.

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They are better than SOME and not up to the size or quality of the best - it's easy to see why they want to keep both groups out. They are not alone. Many resorts implement the 100mile radius block. SOP.

timeos2 said:

They are better than SOME and not up to the size or quality of the best - it's easy to see why they want to keep both groups out. They are not alone. Many resorts implement the 100mile radius block. SOP.

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John, with the onsite location and amenities and the demand both in RCI and previously, in II, it's hard to argue with their position in the pecking order. Add to that the idea they've been able to essentially dictate their terms to be RCI and II over the years and the liquidity and prices for resale and it's clear what the market forces think about this issue whether you agree or not.

Dean said:

They Know they're better than the rest and don't want others in the area trading in. They did this with II and have carried it over to RCI. Truth be known I don't think they'd allow trading in at all if they could figure out a way to give their members the chance to trade out without allowing the reverse.

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DEAN, I was thinking the opposite. They know their members don't trade out. It has been proven over, and over, historically, members use their points at DVC locations.

What I think DVC is doing (by allowing the vast numbers of trades available now) is hoping the RCI exchangers will buy DVC once they see it. Why else would they put so much inventory into RCI. Not that I've ever seen it but I have heard there are literally hundreds of villas sometimes available. And not just at SSR but at AKV and BCV the most sought after resorts by members.

High demand isn't the same as high quality - ask Carolinian

Dean said:

John, with the onsite location and amenities and the demand both in RCI and previously, in II, it's hard to argue with their position in the pecking order. Add to that the idea they've been able to essentially dictate their terms to be RCI and II over the years and the liquidity and prices for resale and it's clear what the market forces think about this issue whether you agree or not.

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Demand for the Manhattan Club also far exceeds supply due to location/ amenities but no one that has stayed there recently is going to say it is "the best" in timeshare anymore (it once had some stake to claim that title). The simple fact that people want to stay in a location doesn't make a resort better - look at all the so-so resorts on beaches that are super high demand during a 4-8 week period each year - it just means it's a place a lot of people want to visit if they can. DVC is far from "the best" in amenities, unit sizes or physical condition despite some of the highest annual fees in the industry. It does of course have a unique location much like those beach resorts or the MC. Unlike those the demand is nearly year round thanks to weather in Orlando/CA. The original post tried to say DVC is "the best" thus not wanting those cellar dwellers from surrounding resorts trading in. It doesn't take much to find far better quality resorts (Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, many more as Orlando is the meca of high end timeshares) so that isn't the case - they simply want to control access as the rules of II / RCI allow and I already posted the reasons why. It has nothing to do with relative quality but simply good business sense. No one is denying that there is demand for DVC but you are attributing it to the wrong reasons.

icydog said:

DEAN, I was thinking the opposite. They know their members don't trade out. It has been proven over, and over, historically, members use their points at DVC locations.

What I think DVC is doing (by allowing the vast numbers of trades available now) is hoping the RCI exchangers will buy DVC once they see it. Why else would they put so much inventory into RCI. Not that I've ever seen it but I have heard there are literally hundreds of villas sometimes available. And not just at SSR but at AKV and BCV the most sought after resorts by members.

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One could say it's elitist or little man syndrome, more likely, a combination of the 2.

timeos2 said:

Demand for the Manhattan Club also far exceeds supply due to location/ amenities but no one that has stayed there recently is going to say it is "the best" in timeshare anymore (it once had some stake to claim that title). The simple fact that people want to stay in a location doesn't make a resort better - look at all the so-so resorts on beaches that are super high demand during a 4-8 week period each year - it just means it's a place a lot of people want to visit if they can. DVC is far from "the best" in amenities, unit sizes or physical condition despite some of the highest annual fees in the industry. It does of course have a unique location much like those beach resorts or the MC. Unlike those the demand is nearly year round thanks to weather in Orlando/CA. The original post tried to say DVC is "the best" thus not wanting those cellar dwellers from surrounding resorts trading in. It doesn't take much to find far better quality resorts (Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, many more as Orlando is the meca of high end timeshares) so that isn't the case - they simply want to control access as the rules of II / RCI allow and I already posted the reasons why. It has nothing to do with relative quality but simply good business sense. No one is denying that there is demand for DVC but you are attributing it to the wrong reasons.

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John, my guess we'll have to agree to partly disagree. Comparing resorts is in large part subjective and thus it depends on what is important to you as to what's best. By your own admission in the past you are biased against DVC. Location is a major part of the criteria for real estate and timeshares. However, ignoring specific location, DVC resorts compare very favorable to those other resorts you alluded to. For Orlando I'd put this group as the A list:

• All DVC resorts.
• Marriott's (CH, GV)
• Hilton's (Sea World, Tuscany)

It's almost a certainty that the new Hilton and new Marriott will fit into this list. If you asked 10 different people to rank them I think you'd get 10 totally different lists.

A- list

• Marriott's Harbour Lake (maybe, esp once upgraded)
• Vistana Villages
• The Fountains
• Maybe Bonnet Creek but partly due to location.
• ? Houses at Summer Bay

There really are not any other resorts to put in this group from what I can see. Certainly none of the other Wyndham, Worldmark, Marriott's or Starwood properties. Certainly the rooms are smaller overall at DVC but not dramatically so compared to say MGV which is under 1300 sq ft compared to just under 1100 for most DVC resorts (OKW, HH, BWV & VB are larger, most larger than MGV). The pools at the other resorts tend to be a little more elaborate with more activities but that's in large part BECAUSE their off site. And the TUG ratings are comparable to those other resorts as well, actually look at the ratings for Orlando, the are dominated by DVC resorts. It may be hard to say their better other than location but it's impossible to say their worse overall than even one of the specific resorts I mentioned taken as an overall resort.

what can I say, I went, I stayed, I bought!

I'm guessing it's a marketing ploy, and it worked for me! After 5+ years of trading into the top timeshares in Orlando and thinking DVC was too $$$ and not worth it, we stayed at DVC for a few days 2 years ago---I was so impressed, I came home and bought (a small) DVC contract.
It was not so much the rooms, HGVC is nicer, or the pools, although they are good. It was the kids' activities, the ME bus from the airport, the WDW buses throughout the entire complex, the Dining Plan, and the great cast members---I felt like I was on a "land cruise."
DH joked that they must sprinkle pixie dust in the water! So, maybe the DVC-RCI marketing or whatever they are doing will work for them.

Heres what a VC told me today about the block. I currently have a week in Quebec, week in Orlando and week in Cape Cod. My Cape Cod week pulls all the Disney even after the mess of the revamp of RCI. I am safe for trading into DVC because my account number is linked to my Quebec week and not to my Orlando week, so if my Cape week pulls DVC I am able to get away with the exchange, but I cannot use the Orlando week. This I was told is a DVC rule and not RCI's.

schiff1997 said:

Heres what a VC told me today about the block. I currently have a week in Quebec, week in Orlando and week in Cape Cod. My Cape Cod week pulls all the Disney even after the mess of the revamp of RCI. I am safe for trading into DVC because my account number is linked to my Quebec week and not to my Orlando week, so if my Cape week pulls DVC I am able to get away with the exchange, but I cannot use the Orlando week. This I was told is a DVC rule and not RCI's.

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It's actually an RCI rule that DVC chooses. Prior to DVC, regional blocks were rare in RCI but I understand they have existed in some situations. They are common in II. What you were told is different than what I have been told. As I've noted, I do know of at least 2 incidence where a member was able to trade in and later been called to be canceled. It's a gamble if you decide to take it. One thing with DVC, as compared to say the Grand Mayan, is you won't be turned away at the front desk with an exchange conf in hand due to this rule if it wasn't canceled previously by RCI.

Dean said:

It's actually an RCI rule that DVC chooses. Prior to DVC, regional blocks were rare in RCI but I understand they have existed in some situations. They are common in II. What you were told is different than what I have been told. As I've noted, I do know of at least 2 incidence where a member was able to trade in and later been called to be canceled. It's a gamble if you decide to take it. One thing with DVC, as compared to say the Grand Mayan, is you won't be turned away at the front desk with an exchange conf in hand due to this rule if it wasn't canceled previously by RCI.

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Dean, here is what happened, I saw 100+ DVC units the my Cape week, one I wanted but need to know how many bathrooms, called VC to check and they could not see any of the DVC showing up that I saw online, after numerous tries by the VC using different things he said must be extra vacations I see, but I advised him that they said exchange fee only. So while on phone I put the unit on hold and suddenly wham poof it appears in my account in front of him, he didn't know what to say or how it happened. So we confirmed it online together, nothing said about my Orlando owned week at all, let's hope I get to keep it.

schiff1997 said:

let's hope I get to keep it.

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We'll certainly hope but I'd give you about a 50/50 chance of getting a phone call prior canceling it. Let us know either way, good luck, I hope it works out for you.

Dean, with the state of RCI being in turmoil now, and DVC not caring where their trades come from, I am pretty confident this trade will go through. DVC want bodies.. That's the bottom line... Otherwise why would they, DVC, be submitting so many weeks for trade. They want those people to buy their product, otherwise, I don't understand why they, DVC again, is doing this dumping of weeks into RCI..

icydog said:

Dean, with the state of RCI being in turmoil now, and DVC not caring where their trades come from, I am pretty confident this trade will go through. DVC want bodies.. That's the bottom line... Otherwise why would they, DVC, be submitting so many weeks for trade. They want those people to buy their product, otherwise, I don't understand why they, DVC again, is doing this dumping of weeks into RCI..

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I don't think that's the case. As I noted previously, they have recently canceled 3 weeks for 2 people that were made under RCI points. Plus DVC does not market to exchangers specifically. It may get past them but it won't be because they look the other way to get bodies in.

I'm not sure I'd use the word turmoil with RCI. They did an upgrade and it didn't go smoothly. I don't think anything else has fundamentally changed. I'm confident we'll end up back where we were once all is said and done, seems to be back pretty close to where it was before now from a trade standpoint.

What are the latest observations on the regional block?

If you have linked accounts and an Orlando unit in one, is the other blocked as well? For instance, if I have an Orlando unit in RCI Weeks, is a linked RCI Points account safe? From previous posts in this thread, it appears so.

Would a completely separate RCI account avoid the regional block? I would suspect so, and I'm seriously thinking about going that way. It's worth $89/year to me to have the ability to book into DVC. (And a nice side effect is that 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 resorts would become 2 in 4 and 2 in 5.)

MichaelColey said:

What are the latest observations on the regional block?

If you have linked accounts and an Orlando unit in one, is the other blocked as well? For instance, if I have an Orlando unit in RCI Weeks, is a linked RCI Points account safe? From previous posts in this thread, it appears so.

Would a completely separate RCI account avoid the regional block? I would suspect so, and I'm seriously thinking about going that way. It's worth $89/year to me to have the ability to book into DVC. (And a nice side effect is that 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 resorts would become 2 in 4 and 2 in 5.)

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The last info I had suggested that any single account with a direct Orlando connection was technically off limits but that those restrictions did not pass from a separate weeks account to a points account or vice versa. Some have reported success using non orlando deposits in weeks when they had a listed Orlando week that was not the object of the exchange. However, I personally know of people with confirmed exchanges later being canceled in both weeks and points due to this "rule".