posted 05-23-2005 15:37            

I'm actually relieved since I was fearful that the poor availability this year was some systemic change within RCI that was going to forever impact my capacity to get good resorts. If his theory is right, it will all level out by year-end, and maybe next January and May will be what it once was.

posted 05-24-2005 05:50               

I would email you if you had a link.

The following is the fourth generation of my SW Florida search results, with the important ones from the third generation carried over.

Note the post I made last Dec. 19, concerning January availability. It was suspicious to say the least.

However, lack of availability in SW Florida is "systemic", as you call it, having occurred long before the hurricanes.

http://www.tug1.net/tugbbs1/Forum11/HTML/005440.html

Also, in my comments after returning from Orange Lake in January, I mentioned that some RCI exchanges were being refused at check-in, supposedly because RCI had overbooked OL with hurricane cancellations.

http://www.tug1.net/tugbbs1/Forum11/HTML/004983.html

Orlando was much busier than normal Week 1. Disney parks were packed and understaffed, since they did not have their normal extra help (college kids) they have for Week 52.

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posted 05-24-2005 19:27            

quote:

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Originally posted by JLB:
Orlando was much busier than normal Week 1. Disney parks were packed and understaffed, since they did not have their normal extra help (college kids) they have for Week 52.

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We were at OLCC during week 7 this year. We had no problems at OLCC, and the Disney parks were no busier than they were in week 4 of 2004. I had drilled the kids repeatedly on how packed everything was going to be, and they thought I was nuts once they saw the actual turnout.

posted 05-24-2005 20:39               

quote:

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Originally posted by Vodo:
I'm actually relieved since I was fearful that the poor availability this year was some systemic change within RCI that was going to forever impact my capacity to get good resorts. If his theory is right, it will all level out by year-end, and maybe next January and May will be what it once was.

Cindy

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IMHO owners of non-Florida resorts (and even some FL owners) became too fixated on the temporary glut of units in FL from 2001- 2004. Between the 911 diaster, the bad economy and a real glut of hotel rooms prices dropped and availablity skyrocketed for those years. Now things are returning to normal, demand and travel is up, and prices are up all over but especially the most desireable destinations such as Orlando. USA Today had an article today about rising costs and lack of available rooms (a hotel article not timeshares but the idea is the same). The days of easy trades and low cost rentals may be ending as owners start utilizing their units again rather than depositing them as they did in 2001-2003. Places that can be driven to by large areas of the Country (such as Orlando) are also showing high demand as airfares rise. Don't assume Orlando or any warm weather, year round demand area is an easy trade or rental any more.

posted 05-25-2005 13:48               

in Orlando, the new celebration began this May and goes for 18 months. So I would expect the demand for Orlando to continue that entire time.

WDW is heavily advertising it.

plus their free transportation (magical express) to WDW resorts also includes the DVC resorts. DVC resorts are always hard to get and I am expecting this to make them even more popular.

posted 05-26-2005 06:21            

September and October both look good, even this far in advance (usually AFVC has its best availability 30 or so days out), but then those months have always been the widest open of all time periods (especially September). I booked two September weeks awhile back and have an October on hold.

posted 05-27-2005 14:44               

quote:

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Originally posted by bogey21:
I needed November in the Fort Lauderdale area and had multiple choices using my RCI Points Account. I picked up a full week searching RCI Weeks with my Points and an extra day searching the Standard RCI Points availability. All first try with no trouble!

[This message has been edited by bogey21 (edited 05-27-2005).]

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Bogey...I believe the OP was discussing January and May....not November.

posted 05-31-2005 09:49               

RCI has 62 timeshares and II has 50 timeshares listed in their directories - the listing here is pretty complete and only list 78 total.