New to TUG - want to exchange into Kierland Villas - How?

[frani]

I am a Disney Vacation Club owner & am looking to exchange to Kierland VIllas - Arizona for 11/4-11/11/06 - where do I go to do that & am I too late. I was also considering the Marriott. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[DeniseM]

Westin Kirland is a Starwood Timeshare and most of the Starwood posts and owners are over on the TUG Hotel Based TS System board. That would be the best place to ask.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You need to call Disney and request your exchange. It is not too late. Look at the sightings/distressed board here on TUG, there is still availability for Kierland Villas for November. You might be able to get something bigger than a one bedroom for that time with your Disney points.

Congratulations on your Disney purchase. I am trying to talk hubby into a purchase there, but he is not seeing the big picture. Love Disney points for cruises and five-night stays. I see a future for us there. Rick just sees a drain on our bank account.

Oh, I just saw you are a guest on TUG, so you might want to join so that you can see the Sightings/Distressed category of threads.

 

[pvangordon]

I suspect early Nov is pretty easy to pick up there, esp with a DVC exchange. The only question is whether they have the size unit and exact dates you want. You will need to book your DVC week, then exchange it through II. Good luck - I'm looking forward to seeing that resort myself in Jan 2007!

 

[Bill4728]

People reading this thread should note that a trade into Kierland isn't easy. But the OP has Disney and Disney trades GREAT and they shouldn't have a problem getting a November Kierland, 6 months ahead.

 

[JEFF H]

Make sure you get at min a 1-br with full kitchen
The 1-BR limited kitchen is the smaller side of the 2-br lock-off and not as nice.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Re: II Sighting: Bulk Bank for Westin Kierland Villas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Westin Kierland Villas • WKV
Scottsdale, AZ, UNITED STATES
Resort Details & Photos


Jul 21 2006 - Jul 28 2006 1 4 4
Jul 29 2006 - Aug 05 2006 1 4 4
Jul 30 2006 - Aug 06 2006 1 4 4
Aug 04 2006 - Aug 11 2006 1 4 4
Aug 05 2006 - Aug 12 2006 1 4 4
Aug 06 2006 - Aug 13 2006 1 4 4
Aug 11 2006 - Aug 18 2006 1 4 4
Aug 13 2006 - Aug 20 2006 1 4 4
Aug 18 2006 - Aug 25 2006 1 4 4
Aug 18 2006 - Aug 25 2006 1 4 4
Aug 19 2006 - Aug 26 2006 1 4 4
Aug 25 2006 - Sep 01 2006 1 4 4
Aug 25 2006 - Sep 01 2006 1 4 4
Aug 26 2006 - Sep 02 2006 1 4 4
Aug 27 2006 - Sep 03 2006 1 4 4
Aug 27 2006 - Sep 03 2006 1 4 4
Sep 01 2006 - Sep 08 2006 1 4 4
Sep 02 2006 - Sep 09 2006 1 4 4
Sep 03 2006 - Sep 10 2006 1 4 4
Sep 03 2006 - Sep 10 2006 1 4 4
Sep 08 2006 - Sep 15 2006 1 4 4
Sep 08 2006 - Sep 15 2006 1 4 4
Sep 09 2006 - Sep 16 2006 1 4 4
Sep 10 2006 - Sep 17 2006 1 4 4
Sep 10 2006 - Sep 17 2006 1 4 4
Sep 15 2006 - Sep 22 2006 1 4 4
Sep 15 2006 - Sep 22 2006 1 4 4
Sep 16 2006 - Sep 23 2006 1 4 4
Sep 17 2006 - Sep 24 2006 1 4 4
Sep 17 2006 - Sep 24 2006 1 4 4
Sep 22 2006 - Sep 29 2006 1 4 4
Sep 23 2006 - Sep 30 2006 1 4 4
Sep 24 2006 - Oct 01 2006 1 4 4
Sep 24 2006 - Oct 01 2006 1 4 4
Sep 29 2006 - Oct 06 2006 1 4 4
Sep 30 2006 - Oct 07 2006 1 4 4
Oct 01 2006 - Oct 08 2006 1 4 4
Oct 06 2006 - Oct 13 2006 1 4 4
Oct 08 2006 - Oct 15 2006 1 4 4
Oct 13 2006 - Oct 20 2006 1 4 4
Oct 15 2006 - Oct 22 2006 1 4 4
Oct 15 2006 - Oct 22 2006 1 4 4
Oct 22 2006 - Oct 29 2006 1 4 4
Oct 22 2006 - Oct 29 2006 1 4 4
Oct 28 2006 - Nov 04 2006 1 4 4
Oct 28 2006 - Nov 04 2006 1 4 4
Oct 29 2006 - Nov 05 2006 1 4 4
Oct 29 2006 - Nov 05 2006 1 4 4
Nov 03 2006 - Nov 10 2006 1 4 4
Nov 05 2006 - Nov 12 2006 1 4 4
Nov 12 2006 - Nov 19 2006 1 4 4
Nov 24 2006 - Dec 01 2006 1 4 4
Nov 26 2006 - Dec 03 2006 1 4 4
Nov 26 2006 - Dec 03 2006 1 4 4
Dec 02 2006 - Dec 09 2006 1 4 4
Dec 02 2006 - Dec 09 2006 1 4 4
Dec 03 2006 - Dec 10 2006 1 4 4
Dec 03 2006 - Dec 10 2006 1 4 4
Dec 09 2006 - Dec 16 2006 1 4 4
Dec 09 2006 - Dec 16 2006 1 4 4
Dec 10 2006 - Dec 17 2006 1 4 4
Dec 10 2006 - Dec 17 2006 1 4 4
Dec 10 2006 - Dec 17 2006 2 8 8
Dec 16 2006 - Dec 23 2006 1 4 4
Jan 12 2007 - Jan 19 2007 1 4 4
Jan 20 2007 - Jan 27 2007 1 4 4
Jan 21 2007 - Jan 28 2007 2 8 8
Apr 14 2007 - Apr 21 2007 1 4 4
<< Back

I know these are not times when kids are out of school. There were more two bedrooms earlier. Seen with a Twin Rivers ski week, Colorado. Not a Five-Star resort, either.
__________________
Cindy

Doesn't look very hard to me.

 

[frani]

WOW - that was quick! Thanks for all your replies- I tried to trade by calling my Disney DVC office - they told me there is nothing available at the Kierland for my time period & I would take either 11/4 (Sat-Sat) or 11/5 (sun-Sun) in a 1 bedroom.

But they also told me that someone from II would have to deposit their week first. I really don't understand all this because w/Disney everything is point based.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Did you want a one bedroom with full kitchen? I only see a one bedroom with limited kitchen online for the 5th check-in. There seems to be no 4th check-in dates at all.

 

[BevL]

But they also told me that someone from II would have to deposit their week first. I really don't understand all this because w/Disney everything is point based.

You're moving outside the DVC point system. Basically, Interval needs someone who has the week you want to put it into their system before they can give it to you. That's probably oversimplifying it but it might help.

Bev

 

[frani]

I don't really care if we have a full kitchen - I DON'T plan on cooking. But why didn't Disney tell me they have that one for the 5th? Or is there something else going on I don't know about. I probably could do the 3rd (Fri) if I could get a late flight out - don't want to take the kids out more than 3 days. They have the Thur/Fri off for something on the 9/10th.

 

[funtime]

Exchanging can be a bit more complicated. In other words, it is not just what is in the system now. You can put in a request and see if it comes up in the next six months. Often that is the best way to get high quality exchanges. Also, join TUG (only 15.00) and read the reviews -- you might find other options that you like as well or better. The review section open only to members is invaluable for a new exchanger. Have fun!

 

[frani]

Interesting - I did join TUG yesterday - wonder why I'm coming up 'guest'.

 

[pvangordon]

Overly simplified answer: if you are reserving within the Disney system, it's points based (X number of points for Y type of unit for Z week). Once you go outside the Disney system, you have to trade through an exchange company. In order to do the exchange, you have to first book your DVC week (in order to have something to trade, because the exchange company trades by weeks, not points). What you trade for is entirely based on availability - either it's other owners depositing their weeks for their own trades or it's bulk banking by the resorts (extra units available deposited directly by the resort).

I'm not sure how trading works with DVC in terms of trade power, but you should probably book the best week possible (i.e., summer, holidays if still available) to increase trade power. Then you can keep checking for Kierland availability or even put in a request for the resort and your desired dates with II. It may or may not be filled - all depends on availability and I believe it's a first-come, first-served policy, so if someone ahead of you has already requested that week and has a stronger trader than you, you might not get it.

The other option is to rent your week and use the proceeds to rent a Kierland villa that week.

(This is my understanding of the process, so it may not be entirely accurate since I don't own DVC!)

 

[DeniseM]

Interesting - I did join TUG yesterday - wonder why I'm coming up 'guest'.

Welcome to TUG! You have to change your membership status yourself, here's how-
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53

 

[rickandcindy23]

Nothing has stronger trading power than DVC, from what I understand after our tour.

You will not have any problem using your points for a week at Kierland Villas. Plus, with Disney points, you don't have to reserve a week in advance. I have the literature in front of me. A Disney guide will help you with your exchange, and it will be a good one.

 

[pvangordon]

Cindy: They don't have to book a week in order to get a trade via II? It's been a couple years since I reviewed DVC for a possible purchase, so my memory is hazy.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The DVC rep just handles everything. I am in the process of talking Rick into buying DVC, so I keep calling Mario, our salesman, with questions. You just give up whatever number of points it takes for the exchange and Disney does the rest.

Easy system that I wish I would have discovered years ago. Love DVC!

 

[frani]

Just talked w/DVC & I dont' have to give up any points until they find a resort in II for me plus pay them $75. But it looks like Kierland is not showing up in their system as available for my time period - they did say that there is new construction & there may be availability at year end.

Anyone have any other info - should I place an ad requesting a direct exchange for my dvc pts for Kierland?

THANKS FOR EVERYONE's HELP!

 

[Avery]

Tell DVC that this week is sitting in Interval International's inventory NOW and that you want it:

Westin Kierland Villas • WKV
Scottsdale , AZ , UNITED STATES
Resort Details & Photos
Nov 03 2006 - Nov 10 2006 1 Bedroom(s): 4 people privately. 4 people total. 1 4 4 Limited Kitchen

I am seeing this with a Marriott, so I don't why you wouldn't be able to pull it with DVC...

 

[Werner Weiss]

Just a few comments...

Much of the advice that you get on this board about trading DVC for II resorts is likely to be wrong, unless the person posting the advice is genuinely familiar with DVC. The usual II process doesn't apply. DVC members arrange trades through DVC Member Services, and the points are based on the DVC World Passport Collection chart. DVC members are not individual II members, and cannot use IntervalWorld.com to make trades, nor can they call II directly.

As with any II trade, the availability of a particular week of a particular size unit at a particular resort is dependent on deposits into the II system. For some resort systems, such as Marriott, the individual owners usually try to book good, high-demand weeks (within their season) and deposit them to II. For other resort systems, such as DVC, the management company usually picks the weeks, and so the deposits tend toward lower-demand weeks.

Exchange requests for high-demand properties and seasons tend to be filled through ongoing requests. That's why it's almost impossible to get an instant confirmation into prime beach properties in summer, prime desert properties in spring, prime ski properties in winter, or the better Hawaii properties any time of the year. But there are deposits, and there are successful exchange requests. The weeks typically go to owners of other high-demand properties who put in ongoing requests way in advance.

Starwood Vacation Ownership designed a clever type of 2BR lockoff for the Westin Kierland Villas resort and some of their other locations. As with other 2BR lockoffs, one side is a spacious, full 1BR with a real kitchen. The other side is more of a glorified efficiency/studio. Unlike DVC studios, the sofa and the bed have a wall and door between them, and each has its own TV; there is a kitchenette, only slightly more complete than the kitchenette in a DVC studio. The "limited kitchen" 1BRs that people are seeing at IntervalWorld.com are these glorified efficiencies/studios. So DVC Member Services might consider such units to be studios, not 1BRs. If this is sufficient for you, then go for it, especially if DVC will use the studio column in the World Passport Collection chart to determine the number of DVC points that are needed. But if DVC insists on using the 1BR column, you might want to hold out for a real 1BR.

 

[pvangordon]

That's great that you don't even have to book a week first...makes things easier, as long as DVC can see the Kierland week.

Good luck on your exchange!

 

[Dean]

Nothing has stronger trading power than DVC, from what I understand after our tour.

You will not have any problem using your points for a week at Kierland Villas. Plus, with Disney points, you don't have to reserve a week in advance. I have the literature in front of me. A Disney guide will help you with your exchange, and it will be a good one.

I would question the trade power. While I think DVC has very strong trade power, I do not feel it is at the very top.

This situation puzzles me. The units are there and based on what I see them with, I don't think it is a trade power OR internal trading preference issue. There seems to be no reason I can think of unless DVC is not inputting the right info. Which was happening with Bluegreen when a member was trying to trade for DVC recently.

 

[Dean]

That's great that you don't even have to book a week first...makes things easier, as long as DVC can see the Kierland week.

Good luck on your exchange!

Actually DVC members can do request first without having a week reserved for up to 2 years out AND they get the chance to say yes or no once a match is found.

 

[frani]

If I'm understanding correctly, you can decline the match, but if you declne the match, you still have to pay the $75 fee. Is that correct?