Just purchased a unit which included 92,500 RCI points.
Points can be quite confusing to understand and besides, I'm more interested in making use of the deeded week.
Are there any issues in just using the deeded week and not joining RCI?
I think you're "hung up" on the week 51 thing. In your opening post, you mention the 92,500 RCI points. In the beginning, and until you get your hands "dirty", it's understandable why you may be overvaluing the underlying week. I always make sure that I reserve my underlying weeks 12-13 months from check-in. I have up until four months from check-in to cancel the week and get my points allotment. Yes, you are paying RCI a yearly membership fee for that privilege. I would definitely nix the idea of cancelling the RCI Points contract prior to giving it a whirl. Be a savvy exchanger, study it, play with it, take a look at the availability and what you can get for that number of points. There is good potential for being able to use your annual allotment for more than one vacation each year. You will have the opportunity to take vacations for varying lengths of time with check-in days to suit your needs.
Please reread Jan's points below.
Eventually you and your family will want to do something other than go Vacation Village at Parkway for week 51. Have you even looked into what you might pay to rent a two bedroom unit for that week at your home resort or another desirable resort in Orlando? What if you could rent something that week for less than your maintenance fees? Orlando has a lot of great resorts. That is one reason owing a points week there is more valuable than a fixed week.
Something we all neglected to point out is that if you do want to use your underlying week and follow the procedure during the required timeframe you won't pay an exchange fee. I would highly recommend just coughing up the money to pay the annual dues for the RCI points account for a year or two and find out how you go about using your week so you don't have to pay the exchange fee. That will give you the opportunity to see what you can do with those points from previous years before you burn your bridges.
Btw way if you don't pay for the points account what is going to happen to all those extra points? They will just disappear. As breezez pointed out they have a value of $2400. Why would you walk away from that?
You are trying to talk yourself into making a decision on this to save a few bucks. But you haven't experienced using what you have first. You can do all the homework and ask all the questions you want but your own hands on experience is vital. Remember the old adage, act in haste and repent in leisure. Another one to remember is penny wise, pound foolish.
You're a TUG Member. Seriously, do your homework. Invest the money ($124+) to see if you can make this work for you. You can't be a passive exchanger though. Many times, that's where using a timeshare exchange company fails. Folks aren't willing to make the effort. Therefore, a fixed deeded week works for them. However, if you want great future vacations, then make the most of your ownership.
I understand where you're coming from though. It requires extra effort over and above what the "average" timeshare exchanger is doing. You will always have the opportunity to cancel this RCI contract in the future. However, once it's cancelled, your ownership will be hard to give away. It's value is in the RCI points.
Like what has been previously posted........what about all those RCI Points ($2400)?????? You're really going to toss those rather than paying a $124 membership fee? My gosh.......that is where the value lies with this ownership. Underlying week 51 at this resort isn't where the value lies. You think now that you could see yourself going there every year for week 51.
You're already way ahead of the "average" timeshare user. You're a TUG Member.
Use that membership to bring value to your new ownership. Research, explore, ask questions, look past the here and now. Take a gamble. Listen to reason!
RCI's fees are non-stop. I've been a member for 34 years. I have gotten tremendous value for the costs of membership. There's amazing places out there, during many different times of year. Look past that week 51 in Orlando if you can.