Blue Week Trading Power- Will it get Orlando in RCI?

[esk444]

Does anyone have a blue week in RCI? I have a question on their trading power. I am thinking of buying a summer beach week, but the deed requires me to have a blue winter week (week 2) which is the bluest of the blue. I don't have any interest in going to the beach during the winter, but I am curious if this blue week would get me anything decent in Orlando through RCI (or even Williamsburg). I not looking for a 2BR, a summer week, a holiday week, or necessarily a GC, just something decent. If not, then this blue week will probably be wasted and I really have to consider the summer week as having a huge maintenance fee.

Any experiences with a blue week trader would be greatly appreciated?

 

[Nancy]

Yes

Yes as long as not seeking a peak week, a blue week will get you Orlando or Williamsburg and many other places.

Nancy

 

[bnoble]

You can even get peak-season weeks in decent Orlando resorts with low-value traders if you plan far enough in advance.

 

[cerralee]

Summer beach week with winter

I had a week 6 ocean city that came along with a week 26 that I had purchased. I traded into Orlando during president's week and several other high dates. You can't get any bluer than week 6. I just made sure that I traded way in advance or on really short notice. Luckily I sold it to someone for a pittance($5) and don't have to worry about it anymore. He thought he had made the bargain of the century, I thought I had made the bargain of the century

 

[cr4909]

Potential Tiger

Looking at a very weak SA trader I have, it pulls only 6 resorts in June 08 for Orlando, a few Silver Crowns, but nothing exciting. I suppose offseason you might do a little better and find something acceptable.

However, the best thing to do with that dark blue week is to keep it for a last-minute exchange. Within 45 days of check-in all trading power limitations are lifted. This means that you can see ALL available resorts, both weeks and points, that are in RCI. The best pickups are usually last-minute cancellations (within 2 to 3 weeks of check-in) at prime resorts. Just looking at what's available now for Orlando in the next 5 weeks, I see many GC's, including both HGVC resorts in Orlando. I don't know where you live, but if you're within driving distance of Cape Hatteras or HHI, I'm sure you could easily pick up a beach week at a prime resort during the summer, IF you know when to look (hint: very late at night if you're in the Eastern time zone).

 

[bugzapper]

I'm not an RCI member, so I can't see the inventory that is available at 45 days. I'm real curious, though, how does it compare to the "buy it now" rental inventory available at skyauction? I've been tempted to buy a Colorado blue week so I could see what is available at 45 days, but most blue weeks are going to cost more than the $349 or even $525 (that skyauction is asking) by the time you figure MFs and RCI fees.

 

[Carolinian]

We used to have an RCI employee, who posted here unofficially and unsanctioned, to help out timesharers, who used the name ''Bootleg'' and was extremely helpful. He suggested that one value of blue weeks was to trade for the areas RCI always seemed to have availibility - Branson, Orlando, Williamsburg, and Massanutten. All are nice places and in demand, but they have been overbuilt in timeshare so that supply overwhelms even the strong demand for them.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I'm not an RCI member, so I can't see the inventory that is available at 45 days. I'm real curious, though, how does it compare to the "buy it now" rental inventory available at skyauction? I've been tempted to buy a Colorado blue week so I could see what is available at 45 days, but most blue weeks are going to cost more than the $349 or even $525 (that skyauction is asking) by the time you figure MFs and RCI fees.

bnoble is right. We use a blue week and can see lots of Orlando, Gold Crowns, for next summer. I like to wait until about five months out to pull the best stuff. We also pulled a 3 bedroom at Hilton Seaworld for 9/23 of this year. Of course, that one was supposed to be used by a good friend (former foster son), who is a goof and canceled on it. I told him it isn't like a hotel, I still am out an exchange and guest certificate fee.

bugzapper: If you are serious about wanting a blue week, Pines at Meadowridge in Winter Park has blue weeks with maintenance fees of $220 for a two bedroom. You can't beat it!

 

[bnoble]

I like to wait until about five months out to pull the best stuff.

I'm noticing that for my particular situation, earlier is better---but I'm a late February visitor, which has a higher demand index than does summer. At more than a year, the 2BR GCs are easy pickins. At eight months, there were still several nice resorts to pick from. Right now, Week 8 in February 08 (when I next visit) doesn't have any acceptable 2BRs in RCI that my decidedly mediocre trader can see. And, my list of "acceptable" resorts is pretty long---it's not just GCs. There are even a few Hospitality resorts on that list.

But, I'm still doing okay, I'm using Wynfield points deposits with MFs of only $100-$250 to get the weeks I'm getting through RCI, so I'm still getting very good value. I'm seeing a lot more availability in II---including Marriotts---for that week, but I'm also using a much stronger trader there, so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Edited to add: I suppose I could play the last-minute exchange game, but I haven't yet felt the need (alternatively, had the guts) to do so, as this is a big family vacation, not a we-could-go-or-not sort of trip. I may check this year just for fun to see what the availability looks like for future years.

 

[Sandy]

I agree with Cindy. Blue weeks can be awsome. I lost count of the number of great trades into GC and peak weeks with my little old blue week. I sold it to my girlfriend, who has wasted it.....

My experience is similar to the fabulous trades I got with the Seapointer in South Africa.

 

[JudyS]

I'm not an RCI member, so I can't see the inventory that is available at 45 days. I'm real curious, though, how does it compare to the "buy it now" rental inventory available at skyauction? I've been tempted to buy a Colorado blue week so I could see what is available at 45 days, but most blue weeks are going to cost more than the $349 or even $525 (that skyauction is asking) by the time you figure MFs and RCI fees.

To me, this is the $64,000 question. (Or at least, the $349 question.) Anyone know the answer? I haven't checked out SkyAuction lately.

Also, speaking of RCI's 45 day inventory, what is the current status of the "9000 points" units in RCI Points? Anyone get anything decent this way lately, and did it require having RCI "correct" the number of points you were charged?

 

[bnoble]

skyauction has tightened up. The frugal Disney visitors on disboards have been grumbling about it for a while now. Still okay for real off-season stuff, but getting harder for good shoulder weeks.

 

[janapur]

We use our dark blue weeks to trade to GC's in Orlando, Branson and Mexico (if you don't mind the AI). I was able to get five 2BRs for week 52, 2008 at Orange Lake for my whole family.

We have never relied on the 45 day or less route. Perhaps when we retire and have more flexibility.

Jana

 

[elaine]

I might consider other options

personally, I might consider other options, unless you have to have that resort and there is no way around it (developer packaged them all like that). There are many summer beach weeks for resale for reasonable prices and I would not want to be stuck paying maintenance fees for a blue week. Beach weeks tend to have higher maintenance fees and insurance is always an issue, which can cause maintenance fees to rise more than other places. I have 3 summer beach weeks and one just had a pretty big jump.

 

[bugzapper]

skyauction has tightened up. The frugal Disney visitors on disboards have been grumbling about it for a while now. Still okay for real off-season stuff, but getting harder for good shoulder weeks.

Right now, on SkyAuction's buy-it-now section, I see more than 60 Hawaii weeks available through the end of the year, ranging in price from $299 to $900. This includes some Christmas weeks. I see three pages of Florida year-end holiday weeks. This includes resorts on both Florida coasts, as well as Orlando. Now, I haven't been watching SkyAuction for very long, so maybe the selection has gotten worse, but it appears that there is still a large selection available. Now, many of these weeks are listed at $900, but the prices seem to drop as the weeks draw nearer.

I'm new to timeshares (still don't own), but it seems to me that any week priced $525 or lower is probably cheaper than a trade, unless you have MFs lower than $270--and you are certain you will never have an SA. The SkyAuction inventory can't be strictly bottom-of-barrel stuff, since it includes some GC resorts and resorts with a TUG rating over 8.0.

This may not help the OP, but I'm still wondering how the SkyAuction inventory compares to the inventory that a blue week would pull. (I notice there is a Pines at Meadowridge blue week, like Cindy referred to, available on ebay right now.)

Keith

 

[Carolinian]

What is sad is that RCI is still getting away with misusing its members exchange deposits to rent to the general public through sites like SkyAuction and many others. Ever wonder why members can't seem to get the exchanges they used to?

Right now, on SkyAuction's buy-it-now section, I see more than 60 Hawaii weeks available through the end of the year, ranging in price from $299 to $900. This includes some Christmas weeks. I see three pages of Florida year-end holiday weeks. This includes resorts on both Florida coasts, as well as Orlando. Now, I haven't been watching SkyAuction for very long, so maybe the selection has gotten worse, but it appears that there is still a large selection available. Now, many of these weeks are listed at $900, but the prices seem to drop as the weeks draw nearer.

I'm new to timeshares (still don't own), but it seems to me that any week priced $525 or lower is probably cheaper than a trade, unless you have MFs lower than $270--and you are certain you will never have an SA. The SkyAuction inventory can't be strictly bottom-of-barrel stuff, since it includes some GC resorts and resorts with a TUG rating over 8.0.

This may not help the OP, but I'm still wondering how the SkyAuction inventory compares to the inventory that a blue week would pull. (I notice there is a Pines at Meadowridge blue week, like Cindy referred to, available on ebay right now.)

Keith