Best Chance At an Exchange Into DVC

[JulieAnne]

I am looking for some advice from any of you that have done this a lot.

My husband and I stayed on property at WDW in 2005, at Wilderness Lodge. We really loved the whole "on property" feeling. We live near Seattle so buying into DVC, however appealing it might be - just doesn't feel practical. Our kids are all college aged (there are 4 of them) and they were not with us when we went in 05. We pretty much forfieted our "Parent of the Year" nominations for the rest of our lives over that one.

We are going to Orlando in May and taking the kids. During wk 20. I posted a wish ad on the exchange board. Maybe I did it right, maybe not. I posted one ad, and since we have WM, it is awkward to list your "home resort".

We have stayed at a lot of WM resorts in WA, OR and CA. Most of them have been great. My niece stayed at the one in New Zealand and she said it was really nice as well.

I understand that DVC is a premium ts. Is there any reason that I shouldn't be able to do a trade? It appears that WM members were able to trade in when DVC was with II? I wish I had known that II was an option while it still was but since it isn't anymore, are there any other options outside of RCI (which sounds like a long shot) and the exchange wish list ad (which sounds like an even longer shot)? If all else fails, we will stay off property. The sky will not fall, but while I have some time to try to work with this, I am going to try to explore any possibilities.

Oh! One last question, I was a "guest" for a long time (2 years, maybe?) and just became a member. Will my brand new status make me a risk for another TUG member if they DID want to do an exchange? I saw that mention of an RCI Certificate, but I wouldn't be going through RCI if I did a direct exchange.

This is such a great forum! Thanks to all of you for sharing so much!

 

[bnoble]

If worse comes to worst you can easily find an owner who will rent to you. The going rate is around $10-$12 per point.

 

[rsackett]

What exact dates are you looking for and what size unit do you need? Do you have a way to trade through II now?

Ray

 

[BocaBum99]

Since DVC is eliminating its affilation with II at the end of this year and is entering into an exclusive affilation with RCI, so the only way to get an exchange is via RCI. Probably points. We shall see how they set it up.

You can try to do a direct exchange with a Disney owner, but that isn't as easy. Or, you can rent points from an owner like has been already suggested.

 

[BocaBum99]

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you are a WorldMark owner, you will probably be able to access DVC using the RCI interface from WorldMark. That is as long as they don't limit DVC access to RCI POints.

 

[LLW]

You may want to put in a Request First with II, using Worldmark. II is still calling WM owners who have requests in for Disney, so either they are still getting new inventory, or have inventory that they have been holding. Just a couple of nights ago I saw an Old Key West February and September 2009 one BR. Wmowners.com usually has more detailed information on uses with Worldmark, and there are a few threads on Disney.

 

[JulieAnne]

What exact dates are you looking for and what size unit do you need? Do you have a way to trade through II now?

Ray

Thanks for all of the replies!

We are planning to arrive in Orlando on Friday the 15th of May and need to return by Sunday the 24th. I hope to get a week on property. I will make reservations off site for the remaining two nights.

I need a unit that will accommodate 6 people. I haven't registered with II at this moment but will if it will help.

Someone asked if we own WorldMark and yes, we do.

 

[DeniseM]

Did you know that they are building a DVC resort on-site at Disneyland? Much closer for you.

 

[wuv pooh]

We are planning to arrive in Orlando on Friday the 15th of May and need to return by Sunday the 24th. I hope to get a week on property. I will make reservations off site for the remaining two nights.

For six people you will need a 2bd. Your chances of getting a specific week in a 2bd DVC in May via exchange less than 6 months out are virtually 0%. This is compounded by the reduction in the inventory flow as the change over is made.

You need to expand your search into the Marriotts or look to rent from a DVC owner. But even DVC owners may have problems because it is inside of 7 months. Don't know how the demand is holding up. May is not as popular so you may still have a shot at one of the larger resorts.

 

[JudyS]

For six people you will need a 2bd. Your chances of getting a specific week in a 2bd DVC in May via exchange less than 6 months out are virtually 0%. This is compounded by the reduction in the inventory flow as the change over is made.

You need to expand your search into the Marriotts or look to rent from a DVC owner. But even DVC owners may have problems because it is inside of 7 months. Don't know how the demand is holding up. May is not as popular so you may still have a shot at one of the larger resorts.

Yeah, I think "2-bedroom" is the deal-breaker here. Disney has never deposited many 2-bedrooms.

If you were looking for a smaller unit, you could get one through II. (Assuming you could get your II account set up fast enough to do a trade. Disney is only depositing into II for the next two weeks.) There was actually a Wilderness Lodge studio for your dates sitting online today at II.

One possibility, although it's a bit complicated, is to request a 1-bedroom through II and then rent a studio from a DVC member. Disney should be able to link the two units into a 2-bedroom. Saratoga Springs would be the easiest place to do this, followed by Old Key West. DVC members should be able to book either resort for May right now; May doesn't fill up early. I'll email you with more details.

 

[bnoble]

Disney has never deposited many 2-bedrooms.

A minor amendment: not many made it into the "leftover" pile, but they do get deposited. You just need to have an ongoing search to have the best chance at getting them.

I've gone 2-for-3 in getting 2BRs when I've been looking for them, but the successes have either been in slower times (which includes May), or requests placed a year out.