World Passport Change [Merged Threads]

[DVC Mike]

It sounds like DVC is switching from Interval International back to RCI for the World Passport Collection.



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.

[pianobabe]

So does that mean if you use RCI, you can trade INTO the DVC's? That means they are NOT going to be a part of Interval International anymore, right? DH and I are disagreeing on this.

[Mousefever]

I would like to suggest that this topic be moved to the "News and Rumors" forum. Many of us don't check the DVC forum because we're not members or not considering membership at this point. However, I have a timeshare and often use RCI. Those of us who could now book into Disney properties through RCI would likely be very interested in this discussion. It would be great if it were in a less specific forum.

Amy

[Ed]

I'll post a link in the News & Rumours forum, but it would be more appropriate to leave the info here in the DVC forum.

More Info:

Disney Vacation Club signs pact with new timeshare exchange
By Jason Garcia

Sentinel Staff Writer

10:22 AM EST, December 3, 2008

Disney Vacation Club has signed a multi-year contract with the timeshare exchange company Group RCI.

The deal, which goes into effect Jan. 1, means RCI will become the exclusive exchange provider for Disney Vacation Club members, which allows them to use their DVC "points" to rent rooms at non-Disney resorts around the world. At the same time, RCI's more than 3.6 million members will now be able to trade into DVC timeshares.

Disney had previously contracted with RCI competitor Interval International of Miami. A Disney spokeswoman said Disney will no longer work with Interval once the RCI contract kicks in.

In a statement, Disney's Celebration-based time-share division says the pact with RCI, a subsidiary of Wynham Worldwide Corp., will provide members with "a significantly broader range of resort experiences," including access to destinations across six continents and 25 countries.

"Group RCI has the management depth, technology resources and global marketing infrastructure to align with Disney Vacation Club's strategic growth plan," Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis said in the statement. "This relationship will provide our member families with the most diverse experiences possible beyond our signature Disney Vacation Club resorts."

The moves comes with Disney Vacation Club working to lure new customers by convincing them that it offers more than access to Disney-branded resorts and parks. The company has made the exchange feature the centerpiece of a television-advertising campaign it launched earlier this year.

[LoriSan]

so I guess the line that my agent gave me about Disney "inspecting each and every World Passport location to assure it was up to their standards" was bull. And that the DVC membership was sooo much more valuable than a regular ole' timeshare, that an RCI member would never have the value to trade in.

[shellyrmc]

I have a scheduled vacation in September of 09 through interval international. Will Disney still honor this exchanged week?

[Ed]

I have a scheduled vacation in September of 09 through interval international. Will Disney still honor this exchanged week?


I can't imagine Disney NOT honoring existing reservations, but a quick call to Interval would certainly be a good idea.

[Melanie]

GROUP RCI AND DISNEY VACATION CLUB MEMBERS TO RECEIVE BENEFIT OF NEW MULTI-YEAR RELATIONSHIP

PARSIPPANY, N.J. AND LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. 12-02-2008 — Group RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, and Disney Vacation Club, one of the world’s most innovative and fastest-growing brands in the vacation-ownership industry, announced today a new multi-year affiliation relationship. This new agreement allows subscribing members access to a broad array of exciting vacation opportunities.

Effective January 1, 2009, RCI will become the exclusive third-party exchange provider for Disney Vacation Club, enrolling Disney Vacation Club’s more than 135,000 member families into RCI’s global exchange network. RCI has one of the most expansive portfolios of high-end affiliated vacation resorts, as well as more choices in more countries than any other exchange network.

Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to enjoy vacations at a variety of destinations across six continents and 25 countries and will have access to a significantly broader range of resort experiences, including more all-inclusive options, more nightly exchanges than ever before and even a selection of luxurious, high-end fractional properties.

Similarly, RCI’s more than 3.6 million members will now also enjoy the opportunity to exchange into Disney Vacation Club resorts and may rent at Disney Vacation Club resorts throughout the year.

“Group RCI has the management depth, technology resources and global marketing infrastructure to align with Disney Vacation Club’s strategic growth plan,” said DVC President Jim Lewis. “This relationship will provide our member families with the most diverse experiences possible beyond our signature Disney Vacation Club resorts.”

Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of Group RCI, notes that the company is looking forward to working with Disney Vacation Club and its member families in the coming years.

“It’s an honor for all of us at Group RCI to have been selected by one of the most internationally recognized and revered brands on the planet,” commented Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of Group RCI. “For more than 50 years, Disney has been offering unique family vacation experiences with legendary service, superb accommodations and magical touches at every turn. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Disney Vacation Club members into the world’s largest vacation network and we look forward to working closely with Disney Vacation Club to continue to build new and innovative programs that will provide even more member benefits and opportunities.”

Group RCI Press Release

[pianobabe]

Thanks for helping me prove to DH that I was right. Now getting him to admit it will be another issue all together.

[Ed]

From the DVCMember website:


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.

[c&d]

I wonder how this is going to effect the availability for DVC members if we don't book at the 11 month window?

We always go during April school vacation and I'm such a lunatic that I always book at the start of the 11 month window.

[FiggyFan]

I don't think that this will have any impact on DVC members trying to book DCV resorts. If I understand correctly, a DVC member wishing to exchange into II (and soon RCI) books a room at a DVC resort and then trades that specific reservation for time in an affiliated resort.

In other words, access to DVC rooms by RCI members would be limited to rooms that are booked by DVC members according to the existing booking deadlines, then traded to RCI.

I know the article says that RCI members "...may rent at Disney Vacation Club resorts ...", but this has to be limited to Disney owned "developer inventory" until the breakage period for "member inventory" starts.

In short, I don't think there is anything to worry about.

[Hair_Razor]

I just read an article that as of Jan. 1 2009 DVC will join RCI. Well I am happy since I own with Wyndham I can now enjoy the DVC experience. Curious how DVC owners feel. RCI is a great option we love using it.

[Ed]

I think you might have misinterpreted the information. DVC is still DVC. The only difference now is that DVC will be using RCI in place of Interval International for exchanges.

See this thread (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=146518)for lots more info that will clarify things.

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

I'm not sure if I am happy about it or not. Only time will tell. My worry is that with all the RCI members able to trade for DVC it may become harder to get reservations for the DVC resorts of choice. We will have to wait and see.

[Daisy712]

I just read an article that as of Jan. 1 2009 DVC will join RCI. Well I am happy since I own with Wyndham I can now enjoy the DVC experience. Curious how DVC owners feel. RCI is a great option we love using it.

We are also Wyndham users. How do you book with RCI? Also, we were wondering how you like Bonnet Creek compared to Pop Century? Do you still feel like you are at Disney? We have always stayed onsite. What is transportation like at Bonnet Creek? Thanks.

[Hair_Razor]

I understand that they will still be DVC but from the article I read RCI members will be able to trade their weeks for any RCI affiliated resort including DVC. What would be the point of RCI letting DVC on board if they get nothing in return?


I think you might have misinterpreted the information. DVC is still DVC. The only difference now is that DVC will be using RCI in place of Interval International for exchanges.

[Hair_Razor]

You can trade your points for weeks on the Wyndham website it's really easy. I then call RCI to book. Their website doesn't always let you see your trade week. I have never used the transportation from BC. We had annual passes for this year so we used a car (free parking). I do fell like we are at Disney, but the amenities are MUCH better at BC vs. Pop. I like the option of having a full kitchen and washer and dryer. Owning has made it possible to go multiple times where we were only able to go the one time when we went to Pop. We love owning, especially now that the economy has gone down. BTW where do you own?


We are also Wyndham users. How do you book with RCI? Also, we were wondering how you like Bonnet Creek compared to Pop Century? Do you still feel like you are at Disney? We have always stayed onsite. What is transportation like at Bonnet Creek? Thanks.

[Daisy712]

We own at Ocean Walk in Daytona. We are actually booked for BC for the same time we are booked for Pop. We were just nervous about staying at BC because we love the atmosphere at Pop and feel that it is a great part of our vacation. We know that we would have a great room at BC, but weren't sure of if it would feel like a Disney vacation. I know that sounds silly, but we just love Pop. We are going to hold onto the BC ressie just in case we decide to stay there.

[jjramsey]

So much for those of us that are II members. DVC potential exchange was involved in our purchase decision at the resort we picked :(

[DisneyBabies]

I have a question that you all may know the answer to. My DBIL has a Blue Green timeshare and they have the ability to exchange thru RCI. So, does this mean that they will be able to exchange to one of the DVC resorts? And will they be able to get the dining plan or is there a special dining plan for those who stay in the DVC resorts? My DSIL is graduating in June and they are going to be in Orlando and want to "do Disney". They have both parents taking online college courses and 2 boys in school, church activities and afterschool sports, so they asked me to plan their trip since I have a little more free time than they do :D.
Thanks for your help!

[SoundQ SVT]

I too am a Bluegreen Vacation Club owner, and find this news very refreshing. I love Disney and was just starting to try to figure out how to rent DVC points from someone or even try a direct exchange with a DVC owner (some of my Bluegreen points for some of their DVC points). Now I can bank a week with RCI and wait for DVC owners to do the same.

To answer DisneyBabies' question: yes, Bluegreen owners will have the opportunity to bank a week with RCI and exchange it for a week at a DVC property, to the extent DVC owners also bank weeks with RCI. If there aren't any weeks banked by DVC owners with RCI, then no exchanges into DVC properties would be able to be made.