Here' a copy of my post from another thread detailing my Marriott experience:
I also purchased a Marriott (Aruba Ocean Club in 2007) with the help of Dean's excellent expertise and advise. While we absolutely LOVE our DVC, the addition of a Marriott significantly enhances our timeshare experience in areas where DVC could use some improvement for it's DVC owners.
Specifically, Marriott offers excellent advantages for exchanges to other resorts outside Disney. The high trading power of Marriott through Interval International offers higher quality exchange resorts and much better selection than DVC offers through RCI.
As I said before, I love my DVC for trips at Disney Vacation Club resorts, but for exchanges to places outside Disney, Marriott cannot be beat. We love the Marriott quality at the Aruba Ocean Club, plus we have already exchanged into the fabulous Royal Islander in Cancun this past February (before the swine flu scare) and last month I exchanged my 2010 use year Aruba Marriott for Freshwater Pointe Resort on the Gold Coast of Australia as a gift for my daughter's honeymoon in 2010!
We're SO pleased with the highly superior exchange capabilities at Marriott that we just purchased our 2nd Marriott at Marriott Manor Club in Williamburg - we'll be taking our first vacation there with family later this month! We already have an exchange request in for our 2010 year usage - we placed our exchange request for Marriott' Newport Coast Villas at Newport Beach in California (only 30 minute from
Disneyland) Now I can get to visit Dineyland in the busy month of August without needing the 11 month window advantage enjoyed only by the limited few DVC ownerships available at Disney' Grand Californian Hotel.
So far this combination has provided us with fantastic vacations inside DVC and unsurpassed exchanges through Marriott (in addition to the unsurpassed quality of our 2 home resort at Marriott).
Best wishes,
David