Using Interval with Abound Points

[AnnieBets]

How many Abound points was that if you don’t mind me asking? I too own at SVV Bella, a 2 bedroom.

Out of curiosity, did you ever see any other resorts other than Saratoga Springs? I would like to see about getting Animal Kingdom and apparently they do pop up often but I’m not sure what the TDI would be for that. I too would be looking anytime between September and December 2026.

You would need to ask Marriott. I know each week shows as 1500 points in Interval. I can’t find details in Abound so may have one year points plus a little bit to make the 3000 total.

For a 2 bedroom, I was seeing SSR and OKW. I’ve seen one bedrooms at Boardwalk rarely in addition. I don’t think I’ve seen Animal Kingdom but have seen them on the sightings board.

 

[rad.travel.dad]

As I mentioned in my first post the chart for converting point into a week is on the MVC site under points, interval international.
It has the same numbers as the chart you posted in #6 (points exchange on II).

TDI is read off the chart on II in the resort directory.
Go to the location you want to travel (all of Orlando had the same TDI).
Click on any resort in that area, click on travel demand index and read it off the chart by week number.

For example, week 51 has a TDI of 150.
Using the chart you posted in #6 for a points exchange you would need 4500 Abound points to get a 2 BR.
For a points exchange it is a straight transaction- a 2 BR TDI 150 cost 4500 points. Period.

But if you used the approach of converting the points to a week you could choose a lower TDI week or smaller unit for your week exchange.
As AnnieBets says this approach works- that was my experience too.
And circling back, my whole reason for commenting here.

Points reservations can be expensive, depending on when you travel.
Week 36 is TDI 75, so a 2 BR is 2250 for a points reservation.
But even in that case you could probably spend less points for the deposited week by going for a smaller unit.

Thank you, I’m putting all the pieces together. I currently have 2,825 MVC points which could get me 1 Studio and 1 1-bedroom in “Low” season or 1 Studio in “Medium” and 1 Studio in “Low” Season. Or I could use a little more points from another year to get a couple of “Medium” season Studios with 3,000 club points.

Looking at the TDI chart for Orlando, I’m trying to book something anytime September to December, not interested in weeks 51 or 52.

So it looks like in September there are some weeks that I could find something if my trade had a TDI in the “Low” range (looks like TDI of 80) most others, like December as the previous poster mentioned, would require something in the “Medium” range (TDI 105-95), correct?

 

[rad.travel.dad]

You would need to ask Marriott. I know each week shows as 1500 points in Interval. I can’t find details in Abound so may have one year points plus a little bit to make the 3000 total.

For a 2 bedroom, I was seeing SSR and OKW. I’ve seen one bedrooms at Boardwalk rarely in addition. I don’t think I’ve seen Animal Kingdom but have seen them on the sightings board.

Sounds like you did get a Low TDI 1-bedroom then, interesting you could see Disney in December then based on the TDI charts but I guess things are flexible!

Thanks for the advice, this has been a great suggestion. Hoping I can get a couple rooms for next year now or at least one 2 bedroom!

 

[Pamplemousse]

Sounds like you did get a Low TDI 1-bedroom then, interesting you could see Disney in December then based on the TDI charts but I guess things are flexible!

Thanks for the advice, this has been a great suggestion. Hoping I can get a couple rooms for next year now or at least one 2 bedroom!

My whole, whole point!
Weeks exchanges are flexible!
You can trade a low season 1 bedroom into a high season 2 bedroom! Upsize fee of $99.
But with points no can do- it costs what it costs and that’s it.
See why I’m in favor of week exchange?

 

[rad.travel.dad]

My whole, whole point!
Weeks exchanges are flexible.
You can trade a low season 1 bedroom into a high season 2 bedroom! Upsize fee of $99.
But with points no can do- it costs what it costs and that’s it.
See why I’m in favor of week exchange?

Okay, if it’s that fungible, I should just get one low season 1 bedroom and one low season studio in Interval with my club points and that should let me trade for anything within that date range?

Or should I even just do two low season studios and pay upgrade fees and have some club points left to use on MVC? Can you pay to upgrade a studio to a 2 bedroom if it’s available? Is that typically like $199?

And what happens if I get low season weeks and then I can’t see DVC properties for that time period? That’s the risk I see.

 

[alwysonvac]

I forgot to bank my Abound points last year so deposited them into II. I was given choice of one high season week or 2 low season weeks. I took the 2 weeks. I traded one of those weeks for a 2 bedroom Saratoga Springs villa mid-December. This required the upgrade fee for 1 bed to 2 bed. Home resort is SVV Bella. Hoping for another 2 bedroom Disney next summer with second week.

Thanks for sharing.
Does mid December mean week 49 or 50? not week 51 or 52 Correct?

You would need to ask Marriott. I know each week shows as 1500 points in Interval. I can’t find details in Abound so may have one year points plus a little bit to make the 3000 total.

For a 2 bedroom, I was seeing SSR and OKW. I’ve seen one bedrooms at Boardwalk rarely in addition. I don’t think I’ve seen Animal Kingdom but have seen them on the sightings board.

Were there any sighted weeks/months that you couldn't see with your low season week?

 

[AnnieBets]

Thanks for sharing.
Does mid December mean week 49 or 50? not week 51 or 52 Correct?

View attachment 114363​

Were there any sighted weeks/months that you couldn't see with your low season week?

Correct. Week is 14-21 Dec. I know Christmas weeks were seen but wasn’t what I was looking for.

Plenty of weeks others post that I never see but may just be someone grabbed them before I looked.

 

[AnnieBets]

I did try an ongoing search but had to refuse a couple of offers from II for other resorts. And then I got the week before the search picked it up.

 

[VacationForever]

I wouldn’t do a low season studio but low season 1BR is much better. Low season studios are blocked from being able to exchange into most good resorts, especially if you are looking for larger size units.

 

[Hindsite]

I agree with @VacationForever and @Pamplemousse, so recommend that you go for the option of the points for a 1-bed week deposited into II for you, and submit a request as well as searching manually as often as you can once you get to within 7 months of your desired check-in.

I'm a bit more cautious than others here so would choose low season if you are OK with going shoulder season and mid season if you are looking to go in a peak time and hope for unit size upgrades being available.

What will influence the opportunity of unit size upgrades is the trading power that the DVC deposits require, which is variable. In the recent few months there has been a lot more DVC inventory available so more has been available and more opportunities for unit size upgrades. That may be linked to reduced overall demand, which may be a temporary thing, so while people can and have got upgrades using a studio, that may not last, or it could continue.

Working out what to do with any leftover club points will also influence how you approach this, so go with whatever you feel you can make work one way or another.

Thanks for posting this question, its revealed information about how this works that I haven't seen before.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Okay, if it’s that fungible, I should just get one low season 1 bedroom and one low season studio in Interval with my club points and that should let me trade for anything within that date range?

Or should I even just do two low season studios and pay upgrade fees and have some club points left to use on MVC? Can you pay to upgrade a studio to a 2 bedroom if it’s available? Is that typically like $199?

And what happens if I get low season weeks and then I can’t see DVC properties for that time period? That’s the risk I see.

Have you exchanged weeks on II before? I may be telling you things you already know.

It comes down to trading power and availability.
As others have mentioned if you are trading to a high season/ high TDI- like week 51 in my example above, I would only lower 1 thing in your week deposit- maybe 1 season lower or 1 unit size lower. Still a savings over a straight points exchange.

But after week 35 (last week in August) until the last 2 weeks of the year- when the kids are in school- demand for Orlando is low.
I would probably deposit a low season 1 bedroom.
Place your request for a 2 br DVC as soon as you deposit, listing as many resorts and dates as you would be really happy with since I think you are looking a year ahead, you can add more later. Search yourself too while the request is pending.

You may be faced with what to do with your leftover points.
I think it is too late to bank them MVC.
Perhaps book some days at an MVC Orlando to extend your trip?
You could also deposit a studio and try your luck with that- you’ll have 2 years to exchange.

Good luck!

 

[AnnieBets]

Not sure if this is the reason that this isn’t done more often, besides the high maintenance fees, you pay the exchange fee to II and $200 or so resort fee direct to Disney. I’d rather use my points within the Marriott system. I am excited about getting the Disney week though.

 

[dioxide45]

It doesn't take all that much trade power to see DVC deposits. If you're wanting a 2BR, you may need to have a 1BR deposit placeholder, but just about any 1BR or studio can be seen with a studio deposit.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Not sure if this is the reason that this isn’t done more often, besides the high maintenance fees, you pay the exchange fee to II and $200 or so resort fee direct to Disney. I’d rather use my points within the Marriott system. I am excited about getting the Disney week though.

Agreed- certainly figure out the cost- Abound maintenance, II fees and be sure the exchange is worth it vs perhaps booking another way. The DVC fees will be there no matter how you stay.
I also understand that sometimes you just need to use your Abound ownership- it may hold all your vacation dollars.
And sometimes you just want a certain resort/ experience like staying on site Disney so it’s worth it.

I don’t own/ understand Vistana/ Star options- my brain is full with MVC but I’d better there is a better financial value using ownership in house.

 

[Pamplemousse]

It doesn't take all that much trade power to see DVC deposits. If you're wanting a 2BR, you may need to have a 1BR deposit placeholder, but just about any 1BR or studio can be seen with a studio deposit.

So @dioxide45 you think @rad.travel.dad could convert the points to a studio if he wants to travel during the below 100 TDI season to a 2 BR DVC?
I dont have a week to look with (I own Orlando), but I do frequently see DVC sitting in inventory- mostly key west and Saratoga.

 

[dioxide45]

So @dioxide45 you think @rad.travel.dad could convert the points to a studio if he wants to travel during the below 100 TDI season to a 2 BR DVC?
I dont have a week to look with (I own Orlando), but I do frequently see DVC sitting in inventory- mostly key west and Saratoga.

It's possible. We don't use studios to trade into DVC, only because our studios are in Orlando. But I often see people reporting that they were able to confirm a 2BR using only a studio.

 

[rad.travel.dad]

Not sure if this is the reason that this isn’t done more often, besides the high maintenance fees, you pay the exchange fee to II and $200 or so resort fee direct to Disney. I’d rather use my points within the Marriott system. I am excited about getting the Disney week though.

Even at a very conservative $300 retail per night plus taxes, fees, and parking at a DVC resort, a 1 bedroom certificate worth of MVC points plus the $300 exchange fee plus $200 Disney fee, I still figure I’m well under $2k total for a week booking. And many of these resorts are twice that $300/night retail, some even over $1k a night for 1 and 2 bedroom units.

That’s my rational, but I also have 4 young kids so I’m probably more Disney motivated than most here.

 

[rad.travel.dad]

I agree with @VacationForever and @Pamplemousse, so recommend that you go for the option of the points for a 1-bed week deposited into II for you, and submit a request as well as searching manually as often as you can once you get to within 7 months of your desired check-in.

I'm a bit more cautious than others here so would choose low season if you are OK with going shoulder season and mid season if you are looking to go in a peak time and hope for unit size upgrades being available.

What will influence the opportunity of unit size upgrades is the trading power that the DVC deposits require, which is variable. In the recent few months there has been a lot more DVC inventory available so more has been available and more opportunities for unit size upgrades. That may be linked to reduced overall demand, which may be a temporary thing, so while people can and have got upgrades using a studio, that may not last, or it could continue.

Working out what to do with any leftover club points will also influence how you approach this, so go with whatever you feel you can make work one way or another.

Thanks for posting this question, its revealed information about how this works that I haven't seen before.

I too am a bit more cautious and am leaning towards getting a 1-bedroom low season as suggested here to try my luck, sounds like my odds would be good. I am okay with a 1 bedroom unit too, though a 2 bedroom would be nice as well for the upgrade fee.

As for leftover points, I have until at least the end of June 2026 to decide what to do with them and I would be fine booking something MVC, banking them on MVC, or getting an additional studio II deposit to play around with.

Thank you too for your advice, glad we could all learn some new things!

 

[rad.travel.dad]

Have you exchanged weeks on II before? I may be telling you things you already know.

It comes down to trading power and availability.
As others have mentioned if you are trading to a high season/ high TDI- like week 51 in my example above, I would only lower 1 thing in your week deposit- maybe 1 season lower or 1 unit size lower. Still a savings over a straight points exchange.

But after week 35 (last week in August) until the last 2 weeks of the year- when the kids are in school- demand for Orlando is low.
I would probably deposit a low season 1 bedroom.
Place your request for a 2 br DVC as soon as you deposit, listing as many resorts and dates as you would be really happy with since I think you are looking a year ahead, you can add more later. Search yourself too while the request is pending.

You may be faced with what to do with your leftover points.
I think it is too late to bank them MVC.
Perhaps book some days at an MVC Orlando to extend your trip?
You could also deposit a studio and try your luck with that- you’ll have 2 years to exchange.

Good luck!

I have exchanged weeks before but haven’t gotten into the details of how those weeks are actually valued, TDI, etc so this is all great to learn!

What you’ve said is likely going to be my plan, deposit a 1-bedroom low season and see what happens. And I would be okay with a 1-bedroom unit even, though 2-bedrooms would be nice too for the upgrade fee.

As for leftover points, these are all 2026 so I do have time to use them on MVC, bank them, or deposit a studio to II to test exchanging for two years, leaning towards just banking with MVC for whatever I wish to do in 2027.

Thank you again!