Grande Ocean Exchange

[Dean]

I received a confirmation from II this morning matching a Willow Ridge summer 2 BR to MGO for 4th of July week. I've never gotten such a match outside the 60 day window so I have to figure the unrest played a part. Interesting they matched it to the WR deposit over a fall Kauai 2 BR deposit that was deposited first and far enough out that should not have had any impact. The WR deposit was in my corporate account and the Waiohai in my private account. I'm happy but obviously there's a risk given the current situation, now we just hope we can travel.

 

[Dean]

This morning I received a second match to the same week at Grande Ocean (1 day off). This matched to a 1 BR at Willow Ridge that was deposited at the same time and same dates as the 2 BR above. Again, this matched ahead of my Waiohai deposit. This makes me wonder if II is giving priority to the corporate account deposits over others given that I'd expect a higher trade power for Waiohai for most any week and it obviously has a higher resort quality rating. While the WR deposits were 13 months out, the HI deposit was around 9-10 months out and deposited first a couple of months ahead of the WR deposits. Now to cancel 1 of my points reservations and plan those points for MGO for next year.

 

[jmhpsu93]

That's really interesting, Dean. And a bit disturbing.

Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the great trades and good luck with making that date. I have friends that are planning 6/27 - 7/6 at an airBB that they're hoping will be OK.

 

[Dean]

That's really interesting, Dean. And a bit disturbing.

Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the great trades and good luck with making that date. I have friends that are planning 6/27 - 7/6 at an airBB that they're hoping will be OK.

Thanks, we have reservations for Charleston with Bluegreen for the week before, we'll see how it goes. Fortunately I can cancel for free up until 10 days out with Bluegreen.

 

[sportsfan1]

Can I do multiple trades in II? For example, I have a late deposit MGV that I'd like to trade to an early June MGO (that I know I won't use, but perhaps it will give me an opportunity to extend my 60 day view and give more trading power?). Just curious on strategies...

 

[1st Class]

Can I do multiple trades in II? For example, I have a late deposit MGV that I'd like to trade to an early June MGO (that I know I won't use, but perhaps it will give me an opportunity to extend my 60 day view and give more trading power?). Just curious on strategies...

If you are a member of the DC (Destinations Club) exchanges are free and unlimited. If you have a non-corporate account, regular exchange fees apply. You can exchange as many times as needed until the expiration of the original deposit.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Can I do multiple trades in II? For example, I have a late deposit MGV that I'd like to trade to an early June MGO (that I know I won't use, but perhaps it will give me an opportunity to extend my 60 day view and give more trading power?). Just curious on strategies...

You won’t get more trading power by exchanging to something else- trading power is always based on the original deposit in II.

As first class said you will need to pay an exchange fee to retrade unless you are using an enrolled week in a corporate account.

Once you are in flexchange you are stuck and can only confirm an exchange 60 days from check in.

If you had eplus you could use that to extend your current view further into the future since each retrade can go 60 days from the last confirmation check in.

 

[ml855]

I received a confirmation from II this morning matching a Willow Ridge summer 2 BR to MGO for 4th of July week. I've never gotten such a match outside the 60 day window so I have to figure the unrest played a part. Interesting they matched it to the WR deposit over a fall Kauai 2 BR deposit that was deposited first and far enough out that should not have had any impact. The WR deposit was in my corporate account and the Waiohai in my private account. I'm happy but obviously there's a risk given the current situation, now we just hope we can travel.

I also saw a MGO yesterday morning sitting on the II site for July 4th week, would love to have taken it but am still a little uneasy with the situation so I decided against it. Hoping maybe I'll see a early fall week that I can pick up with one of the weeks I had to cancel. We had two Hawaii weeks through II trades for May and had to cancel both. Thanks to II for working with me to rebook both weeks which are now outside the 60 day window so I can once again do retrades. I am enrolled in the DC program so I can do as any retrades as possible in order to get exactly what I want.

Dean, hopefully everything is under control by than and you have a wonderful trip to MGO.

 

[dioxide45]

We actually confirmed a trade in to Crystal Shores for Labor Day week using a 2BR Harbor Lake week yesterday. It was actually sitting online, just up for grabs. I know Sept is hurricane season, but we have still never seen a Crystal Shores week with our lowly gold 2BR Orlando units. The deposit we were using expires in November, so it should work out well as long as the island is open to visitors.

 

[Dean]

I also saw a MGO yesterday morning sitting on the II site for July 4th week, would love to have taken it but am still a little uneasy with the situation so I decided against it. Hoping maybe I'll see a early fall week that I can pick up with one of the weeks I had to cancel. We had two Hawaii weeks through II trades for May and had to cancel both. Thanks to II for working with me to rebook both weeks which are now outside the 60 day window so I can once again do retrades. I am enrolled in the DC program so I can do as any retrades as possible in order to get exactly what I want.

Dean, hopefully everything is under control by than and you have a wonderful trip to MGO.

Thanks. I have 9 weeks there we own reserved for that week as well so losing an exchange would be the least of our worries. Both of my exchanges came through in the middle of the night so it could have been ghost availability or it could have been an additional unit.

 

[Dean]

Just to circle back around on this. Of the 2 weeks, one was OF and the other OS though on Marriott.com they list them as "near the ocean" or "courtyard" view.

 

[disneymom1]

Just to circle back around on this. Of the 2 weeks, one was OF and the other OS though on Marriott.com they list them as "near the ocean" or "courtyard" view.

Are you referring to Grande Ocean views? Have you ever stayed at GO? Many of the oceanfront units have views blocked by large trees, which are protected by HHI.
Some of the oceanfront units are on the sides of the 2 OF buildings. Thus, oceanfront is more location, rather than view. All rooms in Sand Castle and Sea Horse are OF. The rooms nearest to beach in Dolphin and Star Fish are also designated OF.
Enjoy your stay!

 

[Dean]

Are you referring to Grande Ocean views? Have you ever stayed at GO? Many of the oceanfront units have views blocked by large trees, which are protected by HHI.
Some of the oceanfront units are on the sides of the 2 OF buildings. Thus, oceanfront is more location, rather than view. All rooms in Sand Castle and Sea Horse are OF. The rooms nearest to beach in Dolphin and Star Fish are also designated OF.
Enjoy your stay!

Thanks but yes, we've stayed there many time and own 9 weeks there some OF & some OS so I'm quite familiar with the options and limitations. We'll actually have 14 units total of which 5 will be OF and the rest OS with 9 owned, 2 exchange and 2 on DC points. We'll almost certainly cancel at least one of the points reservations as our current projections are that we'll only need 13 max and if anyone bows out, likely less. We have a plan to handle the options if that happens. We routinely request Dolphin and to get all units in the same building and so far we've not been disappointed with those 2 requests. GO treats exchanges and DC reservations the same, or at least have historically. They're base plan, at least for busier times, is to alternate higher and lower floor for owners using their own weeks with lower floor being 3rd and higher 4th or 5th. For exchanges & DC reservations they target 1st & 2nd floors but keeping view type.

I have to say that I don't have as negative a view for OF at GO as you do but maybe it's because most of our OF units over the years have been on owned weeks and I use the happy wife/happy life principle which means my wife gets the best applicable unit.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I also saw a MGO yesterday morning sitting on the II site for July 4th week, would love to have taken it but am still a little uneasy with the situation so I decided against it. Hoping maybe I'll see a early fall week that I can pick up with one of the weeks I had to cancel. We had two Hawaii weeks through II trades for May and had to cancel both. Thanks to II for working with me to rebook both weeks which are now outside the 60 day window so I can once again do retrades. I am enrolled in the DC program so I can do as any retrades as possible in order to get exactly what I want.

If your weeks are in DC as you say, why not take the MGO? I know you said you are uneasy with current situation, but, you could always retrade it if things were not to your liking. There's no harm or cost to that. In that way, if things are unexpectedly better, you'd have it.

 

[Dean]

I ended up getting 2 additional exchanges, one for Saturday check in and one for Sunday. That gets me to the number I need without my points reservations so I've canceled those. I got one with a HI 2 BR and the other with a Willow Ridge studio. Both were Oceanside for these 2 exc Obviously on a normal year most of these would not have come through so we're just hoping we can at least go and hang out.