waltfan1957 said:
Hi Beca can you explain what II is have seen it in another post and don't know what it refers to, many thanks
Well, I can try. Interval International is a timeshare trading company. Basically, when you buy into a timeshare, ownership at many of those timeshares gets you ownership into a trading company (II is one of the biggies).
Individual membership means that you can contact the company directly (either phone or website), and trade use of your timeshare with someone who has listed theirs as well. Often, these trading companies will allow you to pay a VERY small fee, and get a week in a timeshare unit somewhere...sometimes these are short notice, and sometimes they are not. There are some REALLY amazing "specials" to be found if you have direct access to II. DVC trades with II, but only DVD has access to them. In order for a DVC member to trade with II, you have to go thru MS, and that leaves us no way to access some of the great "specials" this company offers.
Also, many people believe that WDW makes out BIG TIME in these trades. Say you own at BCV (a VERY high demand property), and you want to trade a week into II. DVC takes your BCV points, and usually deposits a week at OKW or SSR into II...not BCV. Then, they take that BCV week, and rent it out via CRO over a VERY high demand and high price time...like Easter or Christmas, and they make HUGE money on the villa that week.
Then, DVC finds someone who wants to trade for OKW or SSR (or rarely...BWV...at a LOW demand time), and you get their week at a timeshare. DVC sets a "standard" number of points that the trade will cost you, when you might could do much better yourself, if you had access to II. However, for me...the biggest benefit would be the "bargain weeks" that you can actually purchase if you are an II member.
Anyway...I'm not really the person to ask about this. DVC is my only timeshare, so I am not as savvy as someone who owns multiple properties...this is just the way friends have explained it to me.
If I am wrong...please, someone "chime in" to correct me here. Dean would probably be the best person on this....so, Dean....give us your thoughts.
Beca