DVC to affiliate with RCI beginning January 2009?!

[Denise]

There is already a discussion OY, but this was in my email box today via a newsletter:

"With a growing number of Members exploring a world of vacation destinations beyond their Home Resorts, Disney Vacation Club is committed to ensuring that those Member Getaways exchanges present the best and most diverse experiences possible. It's with this commitment in mind that Disney Vacation Club has formed a relationship with RCI, the world's largest vacation-exchange company, effective Jan. 1, 2009.

While Members will continue to choose from more than 500 destinations across six continents and 25 countries, the enhanced Member Getaways program will offer a significantly broader range of resort experiences, length-of-stay options (including more nightly exchanges) and more.
Members will receive more details by mail and here on the Web site beginning in late December, and the new Vacation Planner is scheduled to begin mailing in the late spring.

To ensure a smooth transition to RCI, Members may continue to confirm available exchanges through the current World Passport Collection through Dec. 31, 2008, and all exchanges booked by that deadline will be honored."

Not sure if this means that DVC is dropping II or just adding RCI, but I am wondering about that last sentence . Crossing fingers that it is just adding RCI.

If DVC does drop II, I'm sure that members will be complaining loudly.

[GrayFal]

That is just crazy!

Not to insult the Loyal RCI members - but most of the quality resort groups are with II - Hilton and the Grand Mayan Group (hampered in RCI by the Visit one year - NO return for 5 more rule!) being the exception.

Manhattan Club - one in 4 year rule.
Morritt's Grand - one in 4 rule.

No more Marriott's or Westin's or Four Seasons or Hyatt's Or Royal Resorts....this is going to hurt the owners!

DVC REALLY doesn't want you trading outside of their properties.

[Denise]

Well, I am just hoping it's going to trade with both. Otherwise, I won't be able to try trading into DVC with my II traders .

Such a vague few paragraphs from DVC on that change, and it's just plain weird to only give a month's notice. What about ongoing exchanges that DVCers have going on with II? Those can't possibly be cancelled, can they? You'd think tons of members would already be planning their 2009 exchanges.

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by Denise

There is already a discussion OY, but this was in my email box today via a newsletter:

"With a growing number of Members exploring a world of vacation destinations beyond their Home Resorts, Disney Vacation Club is committed to ensuring that those Member Getaways exchanges present the best and most diverse experiences possible. It's with this commitment in mind that Disney Vacation Club has formed a relationship with RCI, the world's largest vacation-exchange company, effective Jan. 1, 2009.

While Members will continue to choose from more than 500 destinations across six continents and 25 countries, the enhanced Member Getaways program will offer a significantly broader range of resort experiences, length-of-stay options (including more nightly exchanges) and more.
Members will receive more details by mail and here on the Web site beginning in late December, and the new Vacation Planner is scheduled to begin mailing in the late spring.

To ensure a smooth transition to RCI, Members may continue to confirm available exchanges through the current World Passport Collection through Dec. 31, 2008, and all exchanges booked by that deadline will be honored."

Not sure if this means that DVC is dropping II or just adding RCI, but I am wondering about that last sentence . Crossing fingers that it is just adding RCI.

If DVC does drop II, I'm sure that members will be complaining loudly.

It looks as if as long as u deposit into II before 12/31/08 - you will be fine.
They will not allow you to do any more II deposits after that date.....so you would have 2 years to use a 12/31/08 deposit to trade////or, if you were depositing 2009 points - it would be 2 years beyond that - I am unsure how DVC handles deposits - any exchanges that are already made will of course be honored....

EDIT - the BAD news is the phrase A SMOOTH TRANSITION which to me implies you are moving from one company to the other....

Transition 1
Definition: Passage from one place or state to another; charge; as, the transition of the weather from hot to cold.

Definition: Change from one form to another.

Definition: A passing from one subject to another.

NOTHING about these definitions suggests you get to keep BOTH

[bnoble]

It sure sounds like they are switching, doesn't it?

That's pretty big news...

[ArtsieAng]

Wow, I might have to join RCI. I wonder what the members reactions will be?

[bnoble]

I'm guessing that, for most of them, it will hinge entirely on how many resorts end up On The List. One of the major complaints about DVC's II relationship was the limited number of available resorts.

RCI has a larger number of resorts overall, but I have no idea how many DVC will consider acceptable. I wouldn't be surprised to find that, in the end, not that many make the grade.

[JLB]

Wow!

Regarding transition, some here transitioned to TS4Ms, but are not exclusive to it, while some are.

[BocaBum99]

Originally Posted by ArtsieAng

Wow, I might have to join RCI. I wonder what the members reactions will be?

Just get one of those RCI Point lease weeks and use PFD to load up on points. That will be the cheapest way to get in and I can show you how to load up on points for cheap. It may end up being cheaper in RCI than II to get the same DVC units.

[ArtsieAng]

Originally Posted by BocaBum99

Just get one of those RCI Point lease weeks and use PFD to load up on points. That will be the cheapest way to get in and I can show you how to load up on points for cheap. It may end up being cheaper in RCI than II to get the same DVC units.

OK....What is PFD? You'll definitely have to show me how to do this, because I've never belonged to RCI, and don't have a clue how they operate.