You can not reserve any week in a season or resort that you do not own by using a non-requalifies voluntary week.
As you noted, you might be able to do this using an exchange company. Using the example of WMH, just split the lockoff and make two "1 bedroom" depsoits with II. II doesn't use the same color season that Starwood does - in fact II classifies all WMH weeks as "red". So it is theoretically possible to trade into another "red" week at a different Starwood resort.
Two things would help: Get Starwood to deposit the BEST gold WMH week they can - Thanksgiving would be a good week. Then you need to hope that Starwood bulk banks the week you want to trade for (which they don't do very often).
It is possible - look at the Ka'anapali weeks they deposited recently - but you would have to request as early as possible.
Actually I.I. correlates the demand for actual week number with what it will trade for. While you are correct that Thanksgiving is the most highly demanded Gold Season week, July 4th week (also Gold at MH) is another good one. I.I. considers all weeks Red for trading in purposes. All weeks, therefore, have a right to
request a Prime season exchange.Getting it filled is another matter entirely. In this respect, Silver season at MH is
generally as good a trader as Gold season. Why? Demand. Although Silver is considered low season in the desert (summer) because of temperatures, it is the time most families can conveniently travel. One would be surprised at how much demand that actually does create.
Therefore, my advice concerning the selection of a MH Gold or Silver would default to the times that it would most likely be occupied by the owner, even if purchased primarily as a trader. Gold season includes June through July 4th week, and September through 1st week of December. The fall months offer perhaps the most ideal climate of the year, with longer days and balmier evenings than Platinum season, without the Platinum season crowds. Platinum season is the worst time of year elsewhere for the snowbirds taking up winter residence, or vacations, in the Desert.
These distinctions are not lost on secondary market pricing. Without minimizing the price differences, the spread between Gold and Silver is only about 3k. Hence, the consideration for when it might likely be occupied by the owner.
In response to the trade quality of Mission Hills, it is a very good trader. What it has going for it (as a trade vehicle) that Kierland and SDO do not, is its location. A convenient 2 hour drive from the LA, Orange County, San Diego megalopolis. 25 million people can create a lot of demand.
