Using HGVC to stay at Disney Resort

[ccomp23]

Hello!

I was very close to signing up for HGVC two weeks ago, but have been doing a bunch of research and can't find an answer to my question. I hope you can help me! A friend's family does Disney Vacation Club and I hesitate with that timeshare because you are limited to Disney locations. What attracted me to HGVC is using points through RCI to be able to travel virtually anywhere. However, when I was talking to the sales rep with HGVC, they couldn't give me a clear answer and I'm hoping that you guys can shed some light. Although it is "technically" a possibility to stay at a Disney resort via RCI with HGVC points, is this ever actually something that is plausible? For example, if I get the 3400 points deed, would this ever be enough to stay at a Disney resort through RCI? Is there ever actually availability at a Disney resort via RCI? Is this something I would need to book 2 years in advance to have a chance? Are there any additional details that I maybe don't understand yet that you could shed some light on?

Thank you again for your help as I navigate making the best decisions

 

[brp]

Here is one of a number of threads on the identical topic that may have useful information (Title Search Term: Disney)

Exchanging through RCI for RCI disney exchange

Just returned from Las Palmeras...not my favorite. We would like to be able to exchange hgvc through rci for a disney stay. The marketer indicated there was a new way for hilton users to book thru RCI. Does anyone have specifics on this? We did not go to an owners update. Last year we did an...

tugbbs.com

Cheers.

 

[Panina]

You can use your hgvc points to trade within rci to get disney. Currently you would have an additional $239 trade fee from Rci and an additional $190 fee from dvc but this would include park parking. These fees can increase at any time. Also if Hgvc stays with rci and DVC leaves , or the other way around, this option can be gone.

I have often gone to DVC using HGVC. The only availability we have seen in recent years are one bedrooms which will use 3400 hgvc points. For best chances of getting the week you would put in an ongoing search and check manually daily. You will not know if you match until approximately 6-9 months out. Also Saratoga is the property you will probably get as most available.

 

[ccomp23]

Thank you! both of you were very helpful *and I promised I searched RCI and Disney and Disney by itself and couldn't find that thread

 

[Talent312]

One more thing: 3400 points isn't enuff to do squat in HGVC.
It gets you into a 1 BR in an RCI exchange, but for flexibility, you need at least 4800-7200 points.

 

[MikeinSoCal]

However, when I was talking to the sales rep with HGVC...

Hope you're not planning on buying directly from HGVC.

 

[escanoe]

I assume you like what HGVC has to offer and just want to be certain you can exchange into Disney? If all you want to do with an HGVC ownership is to exchange using RCI (the current exchange to get into Disney) there are more affordable/efficient options out there.

 

[GT75]

What attracted me to HGVC is using points through RCI to be able to travel virtually anywhere

I wouldn't recommend buying into HGVC in order to use RCI thereby trading somewhere else. I would only recommend looking at the base HGVC program. If you don't plan to use that for most travel needs then I wouldn't recommend that you purchase into HGVC. Now, I should also state that I have never used RCI. Every time I look at using RCI, I don't like the options that I see and I don't like the extra fees. Now, I also know that some TUG members have been able to make RCI work for them.

 

[alwysonvac]

Yeah, take the “travel virtually anywhere” with a grain of salt. They are just telling you what you want to hear. It’s good that you’re asking questions before buying. As stated earlier, hopefully you’re not buying from developer when you can save thousands in the resale market.

See this thread “First Time Poster!” - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/1st-time-poster.301868/#post-2398709

Honestly, if you want Disney on a regular basis buy DVC to get the most options. This will greatly improve your odds in getting your desired Disney resort, unit size, the number of nights and your travel dates. With exchanging you’re limited to whatever is deposited into RCI.

Welcome to TUG

 

[Panina]

Yeah, take the “travel virtually anywhere” with a grain of salt. They are just telling you what you want to hear. It’s good that you’re asking questions before buying. As stated earlier, hopefully you’re not buying from developer when you can save thousands in the resale market.

See this thread “First Time Poster!” - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/1st-time-poster.301868/#post-2398709

Honestly, if you want Disney on a regular basis buy DVC to get the most options. This will greatly improve your odds in getting your desired Disney resort, unit size, the number of nights and your travel dates. With exchanging you’re limited to whatever is deposited into RCI.

Welcome to TUG

I do believe buy where you want to go but the buy in for disney could be financially out of their reach whereas a hgvc purchase can be minimal.

I original got hgvc to use it for Disney. Even with additional fees it made more sense to me. I didn’t mind where in disney I stood as long as it was in disney.

The risk with how I did it is if Disney leaves rci and hgvc doesn't, or hgvc leaves, no disney.

Ultimately because I chose to get hgvc where I love to go I ended up not trading as much to Disney as I thought I would and am using the weeks I got or using the hgvc system which was not my original intent.

 

[brp]

I do believe buy where you want to go but the buy in for disney could be financially out of their reach whereas a hgvc purchase can be minimal.

This is true. As DVC add more resorts at very high prices, even the resales are going up in vakue. We bought resale in 2008 and could actually make 75-80% profit if we sold those same resales now. Also, current resale purchases come with some restrictions that could make them less attractive in some cases.

Cheers.

 

[escanoe]

I do believe buy where you want to go but the buy in for disney could be financially out of their reach whereas a hgvc purchase can be minimal

It would make sense to buy Disney if you went there once a year and were particular about where you wanted to stay at Disney, when you went, and the size room you want.

I am going to take my kids there once every two or thee years using an RCI trader (at a place we also like to go) for much less than I could own Disney.

If Disney leaves RCI, I think I can get about as much out of my RCI resale trader as what I paid for it. And we can generally stay anywhere we want to at Disney as long as it is SSR. (We are staying at OKW a week ending Easter Sunday this year. )

 

[alwysonvac]

For newbies that don’t know, being an owner is different than being an exchanger (aka trader).
Ownership has its privileges .


There‘s currently a TUG discussion titled “DVC vs Wyndham” - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/dvc-v-wyndham.302019/

Here’s an old thread titled “Have you had success trading your HGVC into Disney” - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/have-you-had-success-trading-you-hgvc-into-disney.269621/