Marriott Newport Coast for Disney--chances?

[oldcarrot]

My first post on this forum.

I know that there is no real answer, but I'd be willing to take advice.

I just deposited my 2009 Thanksgiving week at Marriott Newport Coast...and requested week of 12/12/09 at Disney BeachClub Villas OR Disney BoardWalk Villas for Sat or Sun arrival. If I request Friday, I may not be able to use that one day due to work.

We really prefer to stay at one of these two Disney locations to be able to walk to Epcot. But, I have no idea if it is likely, unlikely, or next to impossible to get this exchange.

I don't have any idea how Disney releases inventory. DVC members can only request stays up to 11 month in advance at home resort and 7 months in advance for other DVC resorts. So unless DVC has extra inventory, I doubt they relase to II before that. Yet I've heard that one should place requests 13 months in advance. And DVC member deposit points, not specific weeks.

So my questions are:

1. Chances of getting this request? When might I hear?

2. Should I open up request to include other DVC resorts such as Wilderness Lodge Villas? Or even Old Key West or Saratoga Springs? I'm afraid if I list those also, that's where I'll be exchanged into. But if it is quite unlikely I'll get the two I really want, I'll add on these requests. At what point should I consider adding on the other DVC resorts onto my request?

3. We have stayed before at Marriott Grande Vista (where we are owners), but wanted to stay on site. How do these resorts compare with Grande Vista?

4. If I don't get any of the DVC resorts, how likely is it to be able to get into some Orlando timeshare that week? It appears by looking at this year it would be pretty likely...even at one of the Marriott ones. Is this anyone's experience?

THANKS IN ADVANCE anyone who is willing to give information, advice, etc. I'm going to book airfare as far in advance as I can as FF mile bookings for 6 are getting hard to do so I'll probably have my flight booked before my stay.

I just discovered this forum and you guys seem to be full of advice. Just wish I'd discovered you a few years ago.

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome to TUG!

I'm going to move your post to the Exchanging Board where it will get more traffic.

 

[gmarine]

Even though that week in general is a slow time in Disney it is a busy week at DVC resorts because point values are lower and the holiday celebrations are in full swing.

The biggest factor in whether or not you get the request is the size of the unit that you need. Limiting the check in day to Friday also lowers the chances of getting the exchange. If you require a two bedroom unit then your chances of getting Beach Club or Boardwalk are extremely slim. If you can use a one bedroom your chances increase slightly and then obviously increase more if you can use a studio. Wilderness Lodge is just as difficult if not more difficult to exchange into.

You will greatly increase your chances if you include Old Key West and Saratoga Springs as they are much larger resorts and II gets many more deposits of those resorts than the others.

You will have no problem getting another high quality resort for that week.

 

[bnoble]

The first deposits come in about 10-11 months in advance, then nothing. The next wave seems to happen about 6-7 months and in with a small burst, and then they keep dribbling in every several weeks or so---this is for a relatively low-demand late February week though. Mid-December might be different.

What unit size do you need? If a 2BR, my advice would be to add the other DVC resorts now, so that you maximize your chances of getting something. If you could get by with a 1BR or smaller, I'd probably let the two Epcot resorts ride until about 5-6 months in advance, and then add the others.

 

[oldcarrot]

Thanks. Actually Friday is the arrival day I don't want. Saturday or Sunday is what I requested because living on the west coast, I can't get there on Friday unless I take that day off in addition to the next week...and I really don't know if I can do that.

Should I let the current requests sit as is for a while...or should I go ahead and add on requests for OKW and SS and Wilderness Lodge Villas now rather than wait?

 

[oldcarrot]

I did forget to mention I am requesting 2 BR. And it sounds like nothing will show up until 10-11 months out which would be in Jan or Feb 2009.

 

[JAKEANDERIC]

Hi- I am a DVC member, too. DEFINITELY add Saratoga Springs and Old Key West. Keep in mind that your greatest chances will be to get a unit at one of these two, not at Beach Club or Boardwalk. And you can take Disney's buses directly to each of the parks from these resorts, too.

 

[gmarine]

Since you need a two bedroom dont wait on adding the other resorts. Your chances of getting a two bedroom at BC or BW are extremely slim. If you wait too long you risk getting nothing.

 

[Big Matt]

I'd add all the other DVCs. Wilderness Lodge is the best one anyway (IMO) and OKW is a great resort with the largest units. Saratoga Springs is nice and new with a great location relative to Downtown Disney.

If you stayed at Grande Vista in an new building/unit, you'll finde that GV is nicer than DVC as the units go, but the DVC theming makes a huge difference. The ability to get the Disney dining plan is also a plus especially if you want to go that route.

 

[JAKEANDERIC]

I wouldn't recommend the dining plan. It used to be a much better value before 2008. Then they made changes that just made it more expensive than without it.
Since you are looking for a 2 bdrm, you really can't be too choosy. Keep in mind that Disney is in control of what is released to Interval. Studios and 1 bdrms are much more likely to be available. How many people will be staying in your unit?

 

[oldcarrot]

We will have at least 6 people...and possibly 8. All adults..at least adult size. I guess I need to add the other resorts. Staying at Grande Vista has always been pleasant and the drive not too bad.

I've heard of some bad experiences with the Disney transportation...like full buses if you are not at one of the first stops. And LONG walks from the room to the DVC resort parking lots if you choose to drive.

I wanted to stay on site and thought BeachClub and Boardwalk would be the most convenient, but it appears from all the comments that either of those is most likely not going to happen. One of the things I wish II allowed was to rank choices for exchange...and allow one to swap up. By listing other resorts, I suspect I have no chance of getting BeachClub or Boardwalk.

For the week I plan to stay (been there that week before in the past), it wasn't too busy and traffic wasn't bad. I just hope that staying on site and needing to use Disney transportation isn't a worse option than staying at Grande Vista or one of the other Marriott resorts off site.

It appears, though, that I should open up my options.

 

[bnoble]

I've heard of some bad experiences with the Disney transportation...like full buses if you are not at one of the first stops.

This is unlikely if you are an early riser. There's some crowding at park close, but that's to be expected.

And LONG walks from the room to the DVC resort parking lots if you choose to drive.

Not an issue at all at Old Key West---you'll typically park right outside your unit. I suspect Saratoga is the same, but haven't stayed there yet.

 

[LLW]

At Boardwalk Villas, depending on where your room is and where you park, you often have to walk far from your room to the elevator on your floor and from the elevator on the ground floor to a spot in the huge parking lot.

 

[Werner Weiss]

There are now six on-site DVC resorts at Walt Disney World with codes in Interval International:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - DAK
Disney's Beach Club Villas - BCV
Disney's BoardWalk Villas - DBW
Disney's Old Key West Resort - DVO
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - DSS
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge - DWL

I've stayed at all of them, and I'd gladly return to any on them.

There's a big difference in how DVC weeks are deposited into II, compared to how Marriott weeks are deposited. DVC owners do not reserve and deposit their own weeks. Instead, DVC chooses the weeks to be deposited. Although DVC can pick any week during the entire year, it appears that DVC normally waits until after DVC members have booked reservations at 11 months out. Then, DVC picks weeks that are still in the system, usually no sooner that 10 months out and often only a few months out.

That means that weeks that are in high demand by DVC members are much less likely to make it into II.

The first 15 days of December are quite slow in Orlando. Kids are in school; people are getting ready for Christmas; it's not a traditional vacation time. Plenty of off-site timeshare weeks are available through II, and there are plenty of vacancies at Orlando area hotels.

However, DVC members love to book the first 15 days of December at DVC resorts. That's because the DVC point chart makes it very advantageous to book during that time. Many longtime DVC members are empty-nesters, and many new DVC members have pre-schoolers for whom missing school is not a problem. The weather is much better than in summer. Disney does a great job decorating for the holidays. The lines are short at the attractions because the Christmas crowds aren't there yet.

It's hard to predict when DVC will deposit December weeks or which DVC resorts they will deposit at all -- especially 2BR villas.

Here's what I would do:

1. Put in requests with II for all six DVC resorts.
2. Wait patiently.
3. If still unsuccessful 3 months before vacation, then exchange for a 2BR villa at Marriott's Cypress Harbour (my favorite Orlando Marriott timeshare) or a 2BR or 3BR at one of the other excellent Marriott resorts in Orlando.

Good luck!

 

[oldcarrot]

Werner,

I am going to do essentially as you said. However, I wonder if I really must book something else at 3 months rather than wait until nearly the bitter end before giving up on a Disney location.

I think there are last minute options available at other timeshares including Marriott's which seem to remain available almost up to a week before. I don't want to get burned, but I'd hate to miss out on a Disney stay by giving up too soon.

Keith

 

[Werner Weiss]

However, I wonder if I really must book something else at 3 months rather than wait until nearly the bitter end before giving up on a Disney location.

Yes, you can probably wait until 1 or 2 months before your December 2009 vacation, and still get something decent in Orlando.

However, it's unlikely that DVC will deposit any December weeks when it gets that close to December. As I wrote in my earlier post, the first half of December is very popular with DVC members. In fact, over at DISboards, it seems there are posts every year around September or October from DVC members who are surprised that every DVC resort is fully booked for early December when they want to go. If DVC members can't book nights for personal use, then DVC isn't in a position to deposit full weeks into II either.

It's not like Marriott, where owners might wait until close to vacation time to deposit weeks with II.

Of course, 2009 could be different because of the economy. More DVC members may choose to bank their 2009 points for the following year (which is an option they have) instead of booking stays for December.

My suggestion of 3 months is based on the idea that additional DVC deposits are unlikely at that point for December 2009, but you should still be able to choose from several other excellent off-site resorts. If you wait too long, your other options may be limited.

Now, despite having written all that, I believe you'll be successful with your request for a 2BR at one of the 6 DVC resorts at WDW, long before you reach the 3-month mark. And that's even if you limit your search to only Saturday or Sunday check-in. Newport Coast Villas Resort is a high-demand, high-quality resort with great trade power. You've deposited a full 2BR unit (because that's all they have at NCV). And you'll have your requests into II far in advance. So you're likely to be near the front of the line.

The only real problem would be if DVC deposits very few 2BRs that match your check-in preference (and other II members get them), or if DVC deposits no 2BRs at all for when you want one.

 

[oldcarrot]

Called in and requested the others. DAK, though having an II code can't yet be requested. Probably because most of the units aren't yet built. Kidani opens in May or so next year.

I hope you are correct in guessing we will get a match. And your logic about the 3 month time period is probably also right. I'll probably start calling II about other availability about 3 month before if no match into Disney to get a sense of what's available. Thanks for your help.

 

[oldcarrot]

With announcement of DVC going to RCI, I assume that DVC will no longer deposit any weeks into II...so my chances of exchanging into a Disney resort have now vanished.

Does anyone know if DVC will continue to do both II and RCI exchanges?

 

[bnoble]

Only the Magic 8-ball (and certain II, RCI, and DVC employees) know for sure.

 

[Bill4728]

With announcement of DVC going to RCI, I assume that DVC will no longer deposit any weeks into II...so my chances of exchanging into a Disney resort have now vanished.

Does anyone know if DVC will continue to do both II and RCI exchanges?

I'm afraid you're right. DVC is with RCI as of Jan 1 and no exchanging into II.

 

[Werner Weiss]

With announcement of DVC going to RCI, I assume that DVC will no longer deposit any weeks into II...so my chances of exchanging into a Disney resort have now vanished.

Does anyone know if DVC will continue to do both II and RCI exchanges?

Your chances of exchanging into a Disney resort have not completely vanished... yet. (But they don't look nearly as good as when I replied to you on November 23.)

The old II-based DVC World Passport Collection will continue to be in effect through December 31, 2008. There may even be a scramble by DVC members to line good exchanges into Marriott resorts and other other desirable resorts that will no longer be available after the transition to the RCI-based DVC World Passport Collection on January 1. That will mean additional weeks deposited by DVC into II, perhaps even a surge above normal deposit rates.

One question that isn't answered so far is what will happen to DVC members who put in "request first" searches for II resorts through DVC. Will such searches result in exchanges in 2009? And will DVC then deposit DVC inventory into II? Or will DVC and II cancel such requests if an exchange is not confirmed by December 31? DVC and II really need to take care of such "request first" searches because it's not the DVC members' fault that DVC is switching to RCI. However, even if DVC and II do the right thing and keep those requests alive, there would be a far smaller number of deposits in 2009 than if Disney were not transitioning to RCI.

My suggestion would be to keep your II request for a DVC resort alive for a few more months.

As to your question, "Does anyone know if DVC will continue to do both II and RCI exchanges?" the answer, based on the wording of Disney's announcement, is that RCI is replacing the current World Passport Collection. As of January 1, it will no longer be possible for DVC members to request from the current World Passport Collection. Also, they use the word "transition."

Good luck with your request. I hope you'll be successful despite the news today.

 

[oldcarrot]

I am trying to exchange into Disney with my Marriott Newport Coast week which I just deposited into II. Since my request is for late next year and DVC will not be using II, I think my request will be voided by II, unless between now and the end of the year DVC deposits a Dec 2009 week. And I can't imagine why they would do that.

I'll be able to make another request...but not Disney. This really ticks me off since I already own Marriott Grande Vista and Cypress Harbour in Orlando. You can't exhange for a property where you own, so I had specifically requested Thanksgiving week from Marriott Newport Coast so I could use it to deposit and request any one of the DVC WDW resorts. So 2 weeks after I do that, this happens.

I can't get my week back from II, nor can I decide to exchange that week for Marriott points now. I can't do a direct exchange with anyone else. So I'll probably end up exchanging it for one of the Marriott Orlando properties where I would have stayed anyway without sacrificing a Newport Coast week. Sheesh!!

I guess it doesn't hurt to keep the request active, but its probably pie in the sky to thinks it'll come through.

 

[gmarine]

DVC deposits no farther than 11 months in advance so unfortunately there is no way for you to get a confirmation for next December.

 

[Werner Weiss]

I guess it doesn't hurt to keep the request active, but its probably pie in the sky to thinks it'll come through.

I had forgotten that your request was for December 2009.

My comments in post #21 are still valid, but I agree that getting a trade into DVC for December 2009 is highly unlikely at this point.

For someone who has a request in for the next 10 months or so, there's a bit more of a chance. I have two requests in with II for DVC for the next ten months, but I'm not counting on success.

I spoke with DVC Member Services today. Until the end of this year, DVC will still make instant matches for DVC members using available II inventory, but they are no longer accepting ongoing searches for II exchanges. So DVC will need to deposit weeks into II through the end of the year. Based on DVC's rules, such deposits could be for as far as 11 months out. (II exchanges for DVC members normally involve a "request first" model, not a "deposit first" model.)

I asked about ongoing searches (by DVC members) that have not been matched by the end of the year. The woman at DVC Member Services said that there has not been a final determination, but they expect to call such DVC members and offer RCI alternatives. I assume there will be some DVC members who will not want to switch to RCI. For example, let's suppose a DVC member has requested Marriott's Newport Coast Villas for some time in 2010, and they're waiting for deposits to begin in 2009. There is no comparable RCI resort in that location. So DVC may find itself fulfilling some "grandfathered" II requests in 2009, and they may then deposit DVC additional weeks into II. However, the chance that you will get the December 2009 week that you want under these circumstances would be like winning the lottery.

 

[bnoble]

So DVC may find itself fulfilling some "grandfathered" II requests in 2009

I think this is unlikely. RCI's press release made a big deal about the "exclusive" nature of the affiliation. My guess is that they would not use that word without having it spelled out carefully in the contract. My bet is that existing ongoing searches that cannot be moved to comparable resorts in II will be canceled, refunding the Member's $95 exchange fee.