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Credit: DVCFan.comIf you’re a Disney Vacation Club member or are looking into becoming one, you’ll want to be aware that effective January 1, 2022, there is an update in the works for the exchange network portion of the membership.
We knew we wanted to become Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members for the opportunity to enjoy Disney’s Theme Parks while staying at the many DVC Resorts on property, as well as explore the big blue with vacations on the Disney Cruise Line. But, what really sold us on the Disney timeshare was the ability to travel beyond the Parks and cruise ships. While we love a great Disney Park vacation, sometimes taking a break to explore this massive globe we live on is too enticing to pass up! That’s why when we learned of the exchange network, we committed and became DVC members, and haven’t regretted it since.
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When traveling outside of Disney Vacation Club Resorts, DVC members can use a point exchange network. This simply means you basically cash in your DVC points to stay at hotels associated with the current RCI vacation exchange network which has loads of hotels around the world. Disney has announced that effective January 1, 2022, Disney Vacation Club will be switching over to Interval International with RCI no longer being the vacation exchange network for DVC.
The official announcement from Disney came in a statement shared by Bill Diercksen, senior vice president and general manager of DVC Membership:
“Since opening our first resort in 1991, we’ve been unwavering in our passion to provide our Members with one-of-a-kind vacation. As we continue to grow our portfolio of new experiences, we are excited to join forces with Interval International to offer our Members even more ways to use their points through access to Interval’s quality exchange network and their travel and lifestyle offerings.”
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Jeanette Marbert, president of Interval International shared her excitement with:
“For the past 30 years, Disney Vacation Club has been a leader in vacation ownership and has provided its Members and Guests with exceptional experiences. We are delighted to welcome them back to the Interval network. Our companies have always shared a strong commitment to customer service excellence. This common vision, along with the superior quality of Disney’s world-class resorts, make this affiliation an ideal match for our members.”
The switch from RCI to Interval International allows DVC members the opportunity to exchange vacation points for stays at resorts in Interval’s global network of more than 3,200 properties. The switch includes flexible exchange opportunities and upgraded benefits and services. These include the ability to exchange their points toward ShortStay Exchange®, receive discounts on Getaway vacation rentals, and utilize VIP ConciergeSM for personal assistance, 24/7. Interval’s hotel exchange benefit will also be available to eligible Disney Vacation Club Members at a later date.
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The notice emailed to Disney Vacation Club Members reads:
Dear Member,
At Disney Vacation Club, we know how much you enjoy exploring destinations and experiences beyond your Home Resorts. Our team is dedicated to helping you create unforgettable vacation memories around the world. That’s why we’re thrilled to name Interval International as our exclusive new exchange provider for traditional exchanges, effective Jan. 1, 2022.
This new relationship will offer you a broad range of resort experiences, providing flexible and diverse opportunities in amazing locations across Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, as well as destinations closer to home including the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Through Interval International, you will have access to thousands of resorts including a specially curated portfolio of high-quality properties selected especially for Members. This expanded portfolio includes well-known resorts offered by Marriott, Sheraton, Hyatt and Westin, to name a few.
In the meantime, you can continue to book nightly and weekly exchanges in the traditional exchanges through our current program until Dec. 31, 2021. Additionally, any confirmed reservations or points that have been deposited to RCI will be honored through 2023. If you have confirmed exchanges with RCI, deposited points with RCI or made a booking with RCI using cash, you can always review your activity on the Member website.
We’re excited to continue to provide you and your family with a whole new world of vacation possibilities!
All the best,
William C. “Bill” Diercksen
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Disney Vacation Club and Aulani
We love our Home Resort of Disney’s Old Key West and Disney’s Copper Creek Villas and the ease of accessing the Disney Parks, but every now and then it’s good to branch out! We’ve enjoyed the ability to use RCI and are looking forward to seeing what Interval International has to offer as we plan future getaways as Disney Vacation Club members.
Are you a DVC Member? If so, have you ever used the exchange network for vacations outside of the Disney bubble?