Newbie considering buying; have questions

[jennfrM]

I just wrote a long post and lost it My family of 6 recently visited Disney and stayed somewhere that wasn't Wyndham. We toured/did the sales pitch at Bonnet Creek (BC) because I had read so many great things about the resort. We loved it, but in short, were not ready to drop $30K on something we just learned about, knowing that there was a lot more information to learn before dropping that type of cash. Secondly, due to my previous reads on TUG, I know the resale market allows less expensive purchases. I read the article (can't find it now) that gives all the beginner info.; this was helpful, but further confused me. I forgot how I found that article here, but it was titled with sections/Roman numerals (i.e. Section I, Section II, Section V...)

1. Thinking of buying resale points at Bonnet Creek b/c I could see staying here every few years. I am wondering if I should make this my home resort b/c I know I will want the higher seasons (Xmas, Easter..). I work in schools so my vacations are pretty fixed (major holidays, summer). Thinking ahead, there may be some years I can't travel and want to sell the week to a friend/family/ebay. I figure if I book at BC, I'll be more likely to sell a week at Easter time in Disney vs. some other spot.
Is Easter at Disney a higher season where ARP status will be helpful?
Is there a point chart somewhere that I can view that shows how many points at each property during each time of year?

I am also wondering if it's not a high season if I should make my home resort somewhere else with lower MF and just hope that I can book somewhere south for Easter break every year with 10 mos. instead of 13 months.

2. VIP: Can I only get VIP status with retail? What are the key benefits (big ones) that VIP status gets me? Wondering if it's worth buying the status via retail. Doubt it, but curious.

3. Map confusion: I found this link to say where Wyndham properties are.
https://www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com/ffr/resort/search.do
I am confused by the terms though. What is the difference if I own points? I see Club Wyndham Plus Resorts, Associate resorts, Affiliate Resorts, Associate Hotel. Can I use my points at all places?

4. Leftover points: I want to buy less than more to start. If I do have leftover points at some time, I am confused on all the options for leftover points.
I read about cancelled points. What is this and why does one 'cancel' points?
Hotels: Can I use some points at a hotel, say in Chicago, for a weekend since that is an 1.5 hour drive from me. I could see 'using up' points there as a quick weekend (easy to get to) getaway. Can I do this? Or maybe Wisconsin Dells since this is a quick getaway. (Talking about doing this during low seasons, not priority time frames).

5. Something Plus. I can't remember what I read, but people are talking about having something (forgot the name) plus membership. What is this and why would i want this? How does one gain this status if buying resale?

Any other tips may be helpful. In short, I have a large family and a fixed vacation schedule. Flying away every Easter may not be a possibility. I am fine with selling a vacation to someone if I can't swing buying airplane tickets for 6 every year. We like Disney, but also want to see the rest of the country; I see going to Orlando every 3-5 years and hopefully using the time in other states on the other years. I realize this is a lot of questions. If there are links you think that would be helpful to read, I appreciate them. We are just trying to approach this smart instead of putting $30K down after a quick walkthrough of Bonnet Creek. TIA.

 

[staceyeileen]

1) Yes, you would want ARP for Easter week. Point charts are in the member directory which can be found here. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/wyndham/memberdirectory11-12

2) VIP is only for retail purchasers. It gets you additional point discounts when booking within 60 days (on top of the discounts already available to everyone), unit upgrades when available, additional free reservation transactions and guest certificates.

3) You can use your points for all of the resorts but associate/affiliate resorts have very limited availability. In general, just focus on the CWP resorts.

4) Cancelled points are just points that you had at one time used to book a vacation but then you cancelled the reservation. In most cases there's not really any difference between cancelled points and regular points as far as I can see, but if the points were originally pooled they will no longer be pooled once they become cancelled points and will expire at the end of the year. Read up on the point credit pool.

5) Plus Partners- not too familiar with this since it is only available when purchasing retail. I do know it gives you access to RCI Points inventory in addition to RCI Weeks, but you also pay a larger program fee when you have plus partners. It lets you use your points for other things like air, car rentals, etc. Generally not a good value though.

I just wrote a long post and lost it My family of 6 recently visited Disney and stayed somewhere that wasn't Wyndham. We toured/did the sales pitch at Bonnet Creek (BC) because I had read so many great things about the resort. We loved it, but in short, were not ready to drop $30K on something we just learned about, knowing that there was a lot more information to learn before dropping that type of cash. Secondly, due to my previous reads on TUG, I know the resale market allows less expensive purchases. I read the article (can't find it now) that gives all the beginner info.; this was helpful, but further confused me. I forgot how I found that article here, but it was titled with sections/Roman numerals (i.e. Section I, Section II, Section V...)

1. Thinking of buying resale points at Bonnet Creek b/c I could see staying here every few years. I am wondering if I should make this my home resort b/c I know I will want the higher seasons (Xmas, Easter..). I work in schools so my vacations are pretty fixed (major holidays, summer). Thinking ahead, there may be some years I can't travel and want to sell the week to a friend/family/ebay. I figure if I book at BC, I'll be more likely to sell a week at Easter time in Disney vs. some other spot.
Is Easter at Disney a higher season where ARP status will be helpful?
Is there a point chart somewhere that I can view that shows how many points at each property during each time of year?

I am also wondering if it's not a high season if I should make my home resort somewhere else with lower MF and just hope that I can book somewhere south for Easter break every year with 10 mos. instead of 13 months.

2. VIP: Can I only get VIP status with retail? What are the key benefits (big ones) that VIP status gets me? Wondering if it's worth buying the status via retail. Doubt it, but curious.

3. Map confusion: I found this link to say where Wyndham properties are.
https://www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com/ffr/resort/search.do
I am confused by the terms though. What is the difference if I own points? I see Club Wyndham Plus Resorts, Associate resorts, Affiliate Resorts, Associate Hotel. Can I use my points at all places?

4. Leftover points: I want to buy less than more to start. If I do have leftover points at some time, I am confused on all the options for leftover points.
I read about cancelled points. What is this and why does one 'cancel' points?
Hotels: Can I use some points at a hotel, say in Chicago, for a weekend since that is an 1.5 hour drive from me. I could see 'using up' points there as a quick weekend (easy to get to) getaway. Can I do this? Or maybe Wisconsin Dells since this is a quick getaway. (Talking about doing this during low seasons, not priority time frames).

5. Something Plus. I can't remember what I read, but people are talking about having something (forgot the name) plus membership. What is this and why would i want this? How does one gain this status if buying resale?

Any other tips may be helpful. In short, I have a large family and a fixed vacation schedule. Flying away every Easter may not be a possibility. I am fine with selling a vacation to someone if I can't swing buying airplane tickets for 6 every year. We like Disney, but also want to see the rest of the country; I see going to Orlando every 3-5 years and hopefully using the time in other states on the other years. I realize this is a lot of questions. If there are links you think that would be helpful to read, I appreciate them. We are just trying to approach this smart instead of putting $30K down after a quick walkthrough of Bonnet Creek. TIA.

 

[Pietin]

Good day JennfrM,

I sure there a lot of people out there that will give you advice, this is my take. We have owned a timeshare since 1997, now own Wyndham points instead. We bought our first resale in 1998 for just over 200 with closing cost. It was used as a trader until we got rid of it. We bought all of our points resale. We do not have VIP status of any sort. We own in Orlando, Williamsburg, Colorado, and the Dells. We have had our points now for 7 years and love them. We had toured Wyndham and learned about points probably 10 years ago or so. They had just come out with the program at Tamarack, in the Dells. It was interesting as we had owned weeks. The cost was a factor then as it is now. Even then the resale market for Wyndham points was costly, resale contract still were counted in VIP and the system in whole had more benefits, like the ability to transfer points to other owners. As the prices dropped we got out first contract, it was a converted week. We did not care about APR or such we just wanted the points.

So we used our points and got hooked. As you learn the system, and there is a learning curve, you will start to understand what you should look for to fit your needs. If you plan to go to Bonnet Creek when it is busy, and Easter is busier than Christmas, you should either buy at Bonnet Creek or buy Club Wyndham Access. We have always been able to get a two bedroom for Christmas at the 10 month mark. If you have six people and want a three bedroom you may need the APR. At the 10 month mark points are points and they will work at any Wyndham resort. Depending on the time of year usually we were able to get what we wanted with a few exceptions. Glacier Canyon is one of them. There is usually no availability for the summer months and holidays at the 10 month mark. That means if you do not have ARP at Glacier Canyon you cannot get in. Weekend are hit or miss, sometimes there are a few and sometime there none outside summer. So if you plan on going to Glacier Canyon buy there or buy Club Wyndham Access.

Everyone talks about getting the lowest maintenance fees, because at the 10 month mark you can uses your point to get into any Wyndham property listed with a points chart, assuming they have availability. We bought into Glacier Canyon to assure us that we can get in, the maintenance fees are only .07 per K more than one of our Orlando properties, they are 1.24 more than Virginia. In the grand scheme of things .07 is not much more to ensure we get into the resort, it works out to 12.75 and even at 1.24 it is about 225.00, still less that it would cost to rent in the summer. The point being, buy where you want to use it at but by resale.

VIP has some nice benefits, additional guest certificates, the ability to bank points after the start of the year usage, no need to worry about housekeeping credits, discounted rates, and a couple of others but is it worth the price of admission. In my opinion no. I would like to be VIP but the 40 or 50 grand it takes to be VIP does not work out for me. We have little over $1200 invested in the 682K points we have. We get treated the same as all other owners, let me say that again, we get treated the same as all other owners, even though we have resale points. Now the sale staff will tell you differently, but the resort staff and office staff are great. Our resale points work the same with the exception they will never get us to VIP. DO NOT BELIEVE THE SALE STAFF.

Cub Wyndham Plus Resorts, Associate resorts, Affiliate Resorts, Associate Hotel all take Wyndham Points. The hotels may not be a deal when using points but it they have a points chart and availability you can use your points.

Leftover points ? I am not sure if you mean points that are ready to expire or points you did not use in make a week’s vacation. If it is the later, then you can use them at as above for any resort that has availability, for whatever they will get you. They may get you one night in the Dells or three nights in Branson, or you may be just a few K short to complete your reservation. In that case you can rent points to finish your reservation (with 60 days of travel). If they are ready to expire and you cannot use them you can bank them with RCI. You can use your point to book through RCI too. With Wyndham points your RCI membership is included.
I think you are referring to Partners Plus, being resale I do not have knowledge on that.

I did read that you may only be planning a vacation every 3-5 years. If that is correct I would not buy a timeshare or points but I would rent from an owner. If you plan on using it every year, then it can be a good deal. Maintenance fee are forever. So if you don’t plan on using it at least every other year do buy one. You can bank point for two year in the future. I would start off with a points package that gets you into the resort you want, in the time you want, and the size you want. Wyndham points charts are behind the login but you can do an internet search and find some more info or search ebay as some of the sellers will put up the points chart in the ad. Look at all the fees in the ad, when you are responsible for maintenance fee, transfer cost, and when you will receive your first set of points. Watch TUG for people who are trying to give away their points.

I know I been rambling a bit but I hope this helps.

Steve

 

[massvacationer]

I think Steve's (Pietin's) observations are pretty spot-on.

IMO: All else equal, going with points with low maintenance fees (maint $/per point) makes sense. But, if you are going to be using one resort a lot (especially if you may need ARP there), then buy points deeded at that resort.

Also, make sure you understand the different types of points ownership: CWP UDI; CWA UDI; & Converted weeks. They work the same at ten months but do have different ARP privileges.

 

[jennfrM]

Thank you all! Much appreciated. Steve, I hope/intend to travel yearly, but only do Disney every 3-5 years. I want my kids to see the rest of the country; I love Mickey, but there is so much more to see in our country. So yes, I want to travel yearly, but only at Disney every 3-5 years. After I typed all of this, I noticed the Wyndham Club Access. From what I can see, this looks like a better deal, but I'm not sure if I'm understanding it all. Curious if you can use your points at any CWP resorts and only some of them get 13 months booking. I would think there is a downside to this vs. owning a home resort, but I can't find out what it is.

Also, make sure you understand the different types of points ownership: CWP UDI; CWA UDI; & Converted weeks. They work the same at ten months but do have different ARP privileges

. Thank you. I will look all of those up again to figure out the difference between them all.

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate the help navigating through here!

 

[gbpackerfan62]

Glacier Canyon

Hi JennfrM,

There is some pretty good insight from fellow tuggers. Actually, I spent some time at Bonnet Creek last year, and thought that would be the place to buy. But why buy in a flooded market of Orlando? However after months of research and some great advice from my sister, who has been a Wyndham owner for 10+ years, (she bought resale...ouch!!) she told me that if I came across a resale opportunity in a "hot market" where the demand is high, but the supply is low, and it is a place that I can get to in a couple hours, is to jump on it.

Well, I purchased 308,000 points off the resale market for a pretty good price, and my home resort is Glacier Canyon. Like everyone else, once everything was transferred over I could not wait to make my first reservation at GC, but when I logged on, everything that everyone one wanted (summer, holidays, three day weekends). However, having ARP at Glacier Canyon has its advantages, I was able to book 13 months out for MLK weekend, Presidents/Valentines weekend Spring and Memorial Day weekend 2014, and I still have points available if I want to go to Bonnet Creek. Honestly, I really have no intention of staying at GC all those dates, and I rarely plan vacations 13 months out, and my youngest kid, just graduating from high school this month, has had his fill of water parks. If I don't use the points anywhere else, I can rent out those weekends alone and make enough to pay my yearly maintenance fees, and I still have the freedom to book at other Wyndham resorts and RCI.

The Wyndham Points Plus I believe is where you more or less have a stake in twenty something Wyndham resorts. I am not sure if you have the 13 month ARP, but I believe the MFs are averaged out.

Don't let those Wyndham sales people tell you that you do not have the benefits when you buy resale. Like I mentioned earlier, my sister bought RETAIL and I have the exact same Wyndham Benefits as her. The only difference is she paid $37K more than I did. :hysterical:

If you like to travel with kids, and stay near home except for that occasional long haul to Florida etc., Glacier Canyon may be right for you, and you could find some pretty sweet deals on the TUG Marketplace to purchase that resale.

 

[jennfrM]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I haven't done anything yet, so this infor. is insightful. Thank you.

 

[gbpackerfan62]

Glacier Canyon

Oh...and Wyndham refers to me as a VIP. It may have something to the number of points a person owns. Like I said, my sister's VIP status is no better than mine.

 

[jennfrM]

Nice. I thought the VIP thing wasn't possible. Thanks.

 

[vacationhopeful]

It is NOT going to stay ... give it 30 days or less on your member number.

And if you KEEPING telling everyone or go to an Owner's Update and it will be immediately gone -- either by your bragging or the sales manager looking at your contract profile when you agree to attend.

VIP magically appearred and will disappear - please report back as to how soon that happens.

PS The new point requirement is 400K for VIP; Gold VIP is 700,000.

 

[gbpackerfan62]

Linda. You're right. I just called and they recently jacked up the points to 400,000 for VIP. I am fairly new to the timeshare gig. I was not bragging. All I was doing was posting a thread to a fellow Tugger. When I went to an owners update less than two months ago, they told me I was a VIP. It must have heard it wrong, because timeshare sales reps have the highest level of integrity. They would never tell you what you want to hear for the sake of a sale/upgrade. BTW, could someone please tell what benefits a VIP has over a non VIP?

 

[MaryBella7]

could someone please tell what benefits a VIP has over a non VIP?

You can check the 2011-2012 Directory page 288 (waiting for the new one, still). Some of the perks (and they vary depending on level) are points discounts within 60 days, upgrades to larger units, extra free guest certs, free reservation transactions, credit pool extension, unlimited housekeeping credits, early check-in, midweek "clean and tidy", VIP check-in, free newspaper.

Some of these are "as available" and are subject to change, it seems.

Hope that helps!
Linda

 

[markb53]

Linda. You're right. I just called and they recently jacked up the points to 400,000 for VIP. I am fairly new to the timeshare gig. I was not bragging. All I was doing was posting a thread to a fellow Tugger. When I went to an owners update less than two months ago, they told me I was a VIP. It must have heard it wrong, because timeshare sales reps have the highest level of integrity. They would never tell you what you want to hear for the sake of a sale/upgrade. BTW, could someone please tell what benefits a VIP has over a non VIP?

Since it looks like you have an account. Here is a link to the VIP at a glance section on the wyndham website. In my opinion, now worth the cost.

https://www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com/ffr/member/help/learningCenter/details.do?id=LIB-0002208