My First Interval Bonus Week Use for Depositing My Week Using Place Request

[AlmostRetired]

AC's and Bonus Weeks have been useless because they have the restriction of not being to use for a Marriott. It seems like the Bonus Weeks has a function to place a request. When I try it, it does not allow me to add a Marriott. Last May, I decided to try and use it at a DVC resort in Orlando with no idea if I could use it but confident between nieces, kids and Nephew, I could get rid of it. I have no recollection on the dates I requested but I know I requested all the Disney timeshares in Orlando. I have not been to Disney is 25 years. In September I got a confirmation of the exchange into Disney's Old Key West Resort for 2 two bedroom, sleeps nine. The cost 379 plus tax or 426 for the week. When you go to any website that allows booking at the resort, the unit was 850 a night for that week. Let's say this is overinflated by 60%, it is still a bargain. In November, my DIL told us she was pregnant so given they have 2 year old I offered it to them (@@to join us) because once the baby comes, it may be awhile before they can take my granddaughter. @@ You have to have a married son to appreciate this. My son asked with or without my wife and I.

My interaction between Disney customer service (Not DVC) has been a 10 or of 10. Everything from helping me to effectively use the Disney Experience app, getting tickets., linking all the family going on the app and helping me make sure everyone in my group is part of the memory maker package I purchased. We are all staying only 5 days and once we leave my niece and nephew is using the unit with their families for the remainder.

I am posting this because my interaction with DVC has been 11 out of 10. I called them because Disney told me there are advantages of working directly with the hotel before check-in. Disney only could see I will be staying at the Old West Resort at a DVC unit. DVC could see it was an II exchange. When I called I had no DVC membership number to put in, only the Disney Reservation ID. They added all nine names to the reservation so the phones would work for getting into the room. Given it is DVC, everyone checking in the first day gets free access to the water parks until 5. Not a bad way to enjoy the day until your room is ready. The resort offers a limited number of cribs but only DVC members can request in the reservation to increase the odds of getting one. They added it in. They sent over a resort map and we discussed room requests. Given my granddaughter is 2, while my son and DIL are delusional on her enjoying Disney for any length of time, I am not. I requested a room near the kiddie pool or playground. Bid deal no, nice to discuss, yes. Overall. DVC was great to work with.

I am switching no. Will I know try and request Disney properties with my bonus week, 100% yes. It was nice to have that feeling that someone was trying to be helpful because it was important to them. Marriott, "You've lost that lovin feelin".

 

[Hindsite]

Nice use of the AC, how many weeks prior to check-in did you get the match?

 

[dioxide45]

Even with degradation of Disney service, their customer service has always been top notch. It is hard to compare it to Marriott or even many other companies. Disney is on a level with very few companies with consistently good customer service. Apple being one others that I can think of.

 

[Huskerpaul]

I have had nothing but good experiences with DVC customer service - and almost all of those have been through the chat feature!

 

[elaine]

Wow! a DVC 2 BR using a bonus week?! Has anyone else gotten this?

 

[AlmostRetired]

Nice use of the AC, how many weeks prior to check-in did you get the match?

Put request in May, got a confirmation in September.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Wow! a DVC 2 BR using a bonus week?! Has anyone else gotten this?

I haven't used an AC since 2013 after which I started having restrictions on getting any Marriott branded timeshare. The reason for the post was two fold. One, the surprise catch. The other is using a request for a bonus week.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Edited the title to add Place Request. There are two kinds of AC's in my account. One that actually allows placing a request and one that you can only redeem immediately. They both have restrictions on the resorts I can get access to including restrictions on all Marriott's, but how they behave is very different. Maybe this change happened years ago and I am having an embarrassing "daaa" moment but I never noticed this.

The Redeem is more like and instant exchange. You see only what is immediately available. It shows me no Marriott's and mostly undesirable uses for me.

The more interesting AC is the one with the place request function. This looks like it is the bonus from a deposited week and it works very differently than the redeem. The reason it looks like a bonus is because if you go to the first picture, it has a 2 and 1 bedroom AC that can both be place requests and when you go to the last picture, it actually shows my 2 bedroom MGC when I do a place request. The 2 and 1 bedroom comes from my 3 bedroom MGC. When I place a request it allows me to pick any resort that I am not restricted from getting for the complete timeframe that the AC is good for. I have no clue when this started and I when I used it had no expectation on what might happen. In fact, I still am unsure of the power it has and the chances of getting anything but this did get me the Disney.

 

[dioxide45]

ACs where you can place a request usually come as a bonus for depositing your week. The freebie ACs that II just hands out don't usually have the option to place a request with them.

 

[AnnieBets]

You didn’t mention it so just a reminder - there is a $200 resort fee you must pay to Disney at check in.

 

[bnoble]

ACs where you can place a request usually come as a bonus for depositing your week. The freebie ACs that II just hands out don't usually have the option to place a request with them.

The "bonus-for-deposit" ACs also (usually) have SIGNIFICANTLY better trade power.

 

[dioxide45]

The "bonus-for-deposit" ACs also (usually) have SIGNIFICANTLY better trade power.

This is true. It should also be noted that the ACs for deposit usually have a tiered pricing structure. The cost of the AC goes up as you move up in unit size. Freebie ACs are usually a flat fee regardless of unit size. I have to say "usually" because someone will undoubtedly come along with an exception to the rule.

 

[Hindsite]

Agreed on the tiered pricing, usually the cost of the Studio for the promo AC is cheaper than the flat fee for the one that turns up for no reason.
I also have got MVC resort with the promo ones, but found doing a request too difficult as you have to navigate the restrictions to get the request to work. The also regularly get inventory that is in the restrictions, you just can't request it.

 

[dioxide45]

Agreed on the tiered pricing, usually the cost of the Studio for the promo AC is cheaper than the flat fee for the one that turns up for no reason.
I also have got MVC resort with the promo ones, but found doing a request too difficult as you have to navigate the restrictions to get the request to work. The also regularly get inventory that is in the restrictions, you just can't request it.

When you say "promo", are you referring to the ACs for deposit? I ask because there are also ACs that I call promo because you receive them as a part of a promo offer to sign up or renew membership or upgrade to Gold or Platinum. These are usually Flexchange restricted but I think they may have a $0 redemption fee.

As for Marriott weeks not being available for ACs. I no longer say "never" because I have been chastised in the past for using absolutes like that with regard to ACs. Many years ago; 2000s and early 2010s, getting a Marriott with an AC was quite common. Then around the same time they started restricting Marriotts from XYZs (previous iteration of now defunct Choose 2) they also started to block Marriott resorts from ACs. Then during the pandemic Marriotts came back to ACs. Then during the revenge travel surge we saw very few Marriotts available with an AC. Now we are seeing them more again. That said, they are more often last minute or smaller units (studios), but they aren't impossible. Just much more off season when they don't work for many people.

 

[bnoble]

That's been my experience too. The "searchable" ACs often won't let you list a Marriott resort for an ongoing search, but they can see some in e.g. flexchange.

 

[Hindsite]

When you say "promo", are you referring to the ACs for deposit? I ask because there are also ACs that I call promo because you receive them as a part of a promo offer to sign up or renew membership or upgrade to Gold or Platinum. These are usually Flexchange restricted but I think they may have a $0 redemption fee.

Yes I do mean the ones for depositing that last 1 year and have the ability to request, and not the ones for membership renewal or upgrade. I've not heard of any with a $0 redemption fee so will keep an eye out for that in the future. Its all I can do to use the ones I get with deposits, without building up more ....

No intent to chastise, just to share my experience as you're somewhat of an encyclopedic resource on these matters so keeping you advised of things is in all our interests

 

[dioxide45]

Yes I do mean the ones for depositing that last 1 year and have the ability to request, and not the ones for membership renewal or upgrade. I've not heard of any with a $0 redemption fee so will keep an eye out for that in the future. Its all I can do to use the ones I get with deposits, without building up more ....

No intent to chastise, just to share my experience as you're somewhat of an encyclopedic resource on these matters so keeping you advised of things is in all our interests

I certainly wan't referring to you about being chastised. It happens and I am sure I've done it too

 

[claraj]

I'm curious what month/week OP traded into. Sorry if I missed it above.

 

[dioxide45]

I'm curious what month/week OP traded into. Sorry if I missed it above.

It was March 2025.