Thanks for the help! The RCI is set up but still in the other persons name. They said I just need to fax over the deed and they will change it.
Do you have access to it already? If so, check to see if there are any points on deposit. When I finally got my account functional, I found a bunch of points there that I didn't even know existed!
How much is it to do an ongoing search? Do they charge you more if you select more than one resort?
No extra RCI charge, but there is some strategy involved, and an understanding of how the OGS matches work would be helpful.
In addition to the RCI exchange fee (which is prepaid if you are doing an OGS, but will be credited back if you don't match), you will pay a $95 fee to DVC at checkin. They will give you some story about what it covers, but the stuff they tell you is free for all onsite guests, no matter how they book. It's just a "because-we-can" fee.
OGS Strategy:
The more flexibility -- in resort, villa size, date ranges, etc -- you have, the more likely you are to get a match. Conversely, the more choices you list on your OGS, the more likely you are to get something that is not what you
really want.
OGS searches are filled in order of the placement date of the OGS -- first in, first filled. So the earlier OGS' go to the front of the line and have priority over more recent searches. BUT...if you modify your search later, you still keep your priority. The same is true if you match, but decline the match -- you don't go to the end of the line, you resume your priority. So what many people do is start with a search for
exactly what you want first, and then broaden it later if you start getting nervous.
While each resort has its own unique theme and benefits, and its own set of fans, availability is not like regular booking availability for either DVC owners or cash rentals through Disney reservations. There are three separate inventories: DVC points, cash through Disney, and RCI exchange inventory. Availability for an exchange occurs when a
DVC owner deposits their points to exchange OUT via RCI.
For that reason, you will see more availability not at the "less popular" resorts, but at the
larger resorts. Why? Larger resort, more owners, more owners likely to exchange out just due to the size of the owner base. So for DVC, you will see more RCI availability at SSR and OKW (the two largest), then AKV, BWV, and BLT (the medium-sized resorts). You will see little RCI availability at BCV, VGF, and VWL because they are much smaller and therefore have a much smaller owner base. But "little" does not mean "none."
Also the popularity of various seasons has nothing to do with RCI availability. For example, December anywhere is virtually impossible to get for DVC owners unless they reserve as soon as the 11-month window opens. But that's not true for exchanges. Last year, we got an OKW 2 bedroom (our only request on our OGS) for Dec 14-21. We got it in late July. That is an impossible reservation for a DVC owner, but we got one, threw it back, and got a second one with better dates. Another example is BWV during the Food & Wine Festival -- impossible for DVC owners who don't own BWV; possible for RCI exchangers.
Anyone have a preference on a DVC?
I do -- but my preference might well not be the best for your family on any particular trip.
I would focus on what you
plan on doing most during your trip, considering the number, ages, and interests of your party. Got little kids and spending most of your time at MK? -- go for BLT. Spending most of your time at Epcot? Go for BWV and BCV. Going to have a car, prefer to drive to the parks, and want parking at your door? Go for OKW/SSR. You get the idea.
All of the resorts are great, and there are no wrong answers.
Good luck!
