RCI timeshare trading

Hi Shelly! First off, let me say

I'm a DVC Member, so I haven't traded through RCI, but I know that we have at least one member on the forums that trades through her non-Disney timeshare.

Though I don't know much about the trading aspect, I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the DVC rooms and resorts. When are you hoping to travel?

We are also RCI members and always do an RCI exchange to get into DVC resorts (and sometimes offsite resorts). A few pointers based on our experience.

First, because you have a specific time of year and type of villa in mind, your best bet is to get an ongoing search started at least a full year in advance. So pay off those maintenance fees and bank your points or weeks as soon as you can. You want to be first in line if what you're looking for becomes available, because those two and three-bedroom villas are hard to come by. Which leads to...

Second, we have NEVER seen a two or three bedroom DVC villa available through RCI. Never. That could be because we've never had enough points banked to qualify - but we also rarely see studios, and we always have enough points for those. One bedroom units are what's usually available. So just because RCI tells you it can be done doesn't mean that what you want will be available when you want it.

Third, you're probably going to end up in Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. Other DVC resorts pop up on RCI much less often than those two. So don't get your heart set on Bay Lake or Animal Kingdom Lodge until you actually see availability there.

Finally, Disney charges a fee ($95 last time we exchanged) for RCI members who exchange into a DVC resort. The fee covers incidentals like the Magical Express that DVC members pay for through their maintenance fees. You'll have to pay twice for two separate villas, so be sure to figure that into your budget.

We've exchanged into Saratoga Springs and Old Key West and are going back to Saratoga Springs in September. (Our upcoming Animal Kingdom Lodge week in November is using an acquaintance's DVC points.) All I can say is, one week at any DVC resort is absolutely worth two weeks at our usual resort. The resorts are lovely and the amenities associated with staying on site (Magical Express, Extra Magic Hours, etc.) are awesome.

But if you can't get what you want from Disney, there are several very nice offsite resorts nearby. I can personally vouch for Bonnet Creek and Grand Beach. I know Bonnet Creek has some three and even four-bedroom villas, and we exchanged into a three-bedroom at Grand Beach three years ago.

(I can't help with RCI...but wanted to say hello!)

Yay! I knew that there was someone here who could help

You are most welcome. I agree, an RCI exchange would be the most economical way to stay at WDW if they had what you're looking for. If you ever decide to do a Disney trip with just you and hubby, try it. You won't regret it.

Edited to add: I'm just a little ticked off at RCI for telling you that you could bank four years' worth of your timeshare and get two 2- or 3-bedroom Disney villas in exchange. They know as well as I do that those units rarely (if ever) have availability through RCI. But they make their money on exchange fees, and having your weeks/points in their inventory means potential revenue for them. What do they care if you can't get what you want in exchange? Jerks.