Did anyone consider Marriott before going with DVC?

[lnb1230]

At the risk of making everyone here hate me, I have to ask. We are so close to finalizing our decision, but then at my daughter's dance class someone brought up the Marriott Vacation Club. I looked into it, so that I could make sure I had truly considered everything. They sent us info on the Grande Vista. Now I am going nuts! On paper, the Marriott seems like you get more time and space for the money. It also seems like you can go more places. The problem is no magic! Which is a BIG deal.

Then I started checking ratings at the tripadvisor.com for the Disney Villas and the Mariott villas. I was feeling very encouraged when I saw all the rave reviews of OKW and BCV. Then I read ones on BWV, VB, and HH. There were so many which said extrememly negative things such as that Disney had lost the magic, and that the Boardwalk Villas were filthy, and that there is nothing to do at HH and VB.

So now I am confused! We can only afford to buy 150 point (maybe 175 if we REALLY STRETCHED). We love Disney! It is our favorite place in the world to go. I also need to make sure that we will be happy as this is a committment that will affect us for the rest of our lives! We also have two children (4 and 7) and places being family friendly are REALLY IMPORTANT TO US!!

Does anyone have an honest opinion or experience with Marriott Vacation Club? Did any of you consider it and then decide to go with Disney? Does anyone feel that Disney is going down hill service or cleanliness-wise? HELP ME! I am going crazy and I need to make a decision soon, before the prices go up!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can only speak for cleanliness at OKW, but we have NEVER been disappointed there in more than a dozen trips.

If you love Disney, then that is where you want to be. We decided that the most important thing for us was to be on site, and wrapped in the Disney magic. We have never regretted it, and plan to continue our Disney madness for many years.

 

[spiceycat]

I would to own both DVC and Marriott - they have some high quality places (don't buy in Orlando if you go Marriott).

However I love my DVC - if only one - then DVC hands down.

If you can afford both do both.

I can't so I make do with no names/brands for my other timeshares.

Dean owns both and I don't think he complaints about either too much.

Orlando (except for DVC) is fairly easily to trade into - just about any Interval International will get you a Marriott or any other 5 star place. So unless you are buying DVC don't buy in Orlando.

HH has alot of Marriott plus other timeshares - but for some reason - so far - it trading power has not gone down - I would buy a Marriott here.

Or better yet buy one close to your home that you know you will be able to use - no matter what. Marriott are all over the place.

If you can only buy one - then I would go with DVC - especially if you love WDW - kept in mind that DVC because it is expensive to buy and maintain - is not in my opinion a good trader - however for WDW it is the BEST!!!!

 

[lnb1230]

Forgive me, but I am still so new to all this timeshare stuff. I don't understand the whole concept of a resort trading well. Why would buying Grande Vista in Orlando be a bad idea?

 

[disneydiz]

My friends bought a real cheap timeshare ($3,000) in Daytona Beach. They have been able to trade into Grande Vista any time they want. This is the third year they are staying at GV.

 

[llp479]

Other than peak times of year, you can almost always get a very reasonable room rate at GV, or any of the Marriott VC properites in Orlando. We stayed at GV in a 2bdrm last summer before checking into OKW for $135/night. Try getting a rate like that at any of the DVC resorts.

My parents and sister both own with Marriott. My folks have HI and HH, and my sister GV. Mom and Dad haven't had any issues trading theirs for other properties, as both are "strong" traders.

One large downside for me is with Marriott you are always locked into a weeks stay at certain times of the year, and are only allowed to arrive on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. We've been able to "stretch" our points for sometimes up to three stays in one year with DVC.

Plus, you can't "borrow" your year from one to the next. For example, with DVC if you needed a larger unit, or wanted to stay longer, you can borrow next year's points, or bank them for future stays. You can't do that with MVC. They have the ability to turn in your week for Marriott Reward points, but only every other year.

My biggest "complaint" about staying at GV was the drive back after a day in the parks. Listening to 3 tired dds whine and fight was not a pleasant experience. We also weren't able to return to the room to dry off after getting caught in an unexpected downpour. Ir really missed the convenience of being "on-site."

 

[LoveToDisney]

Originally posted by lnb1230
So now I am confused! We can only afford to buy 150 point (maybe 175 if we REALLY STRETCHED). We love Disney! It is our favorite place in the world to go. I also need to make sure that we will be happy as this is a committment that will affect us for the rest of our lives! We also have two children (4 and 7) and places being family friendly are REALLY IMPORTANT TO US!!

Although we have stayed at both Marriott Grand Vista and Marriott Cypress Harbour and believe they are both nice resorts, there is something to be said for being able to take a Disney bus back to your resort in the middle of the day and let your young children nap and swim a bit before heading back to the parks later in the day. When you have driven to the park from offsite, there is so much more hassle in leaving and coming back. We purchased only 160 points (minimum to be used to trade out through Interval for 1 BR Prime season). We can go every year and enjoy a studio/1BR mix or borrow points from the next year and stay in a 2 BR. I LOVE the flexibility that Disney has. We can arrive and leave on Wednesday...not very many timeshares that let you do that. Plus, we can stay as little as one night...again, timeshares are traditionally a week at a time. I suggest you only buy what you can afford. You will have fun no matter what because it's Disney!!

 

[disney4me4ever]

I looked into Marriott and Starwood on the premise of "fair balance" before purchasing, although my heart is and always will be with DVC. We bought our initial 150 points and have added on twice....all in about 18 months. To me, the *Magic* is everything and I feel it as soon as I get on property. While I respect everyone's financial considerations when making this decision, to me, there is no place like HOME!

Nancy

 

[Tiggery]

I love staying onsite so the choice was simple. If your just as happy staying ofsite then it will probably suit you better to go with marriot.

 

[DarKim]

Recently, I looked at both Marriot and DVC. In the end, I decided to stay at Boardwalk with the convience of walking in and out of two parks. I want to avoid renting and driving as much as possible. I did not want to be so far from the parks. I will be bringing two young nieces this summer, and will love being able to walk into the Studios early in the morning, walk out for a nap in the afternoon, and then go walk back to see Fantasmic, or walk into Epcot to watch Illuminations.
I also love the idea of taking off for a romantic weekend with my wife for just three or four days. I want to stretch the days out throughout the year.

 

[Dean]

DVC and Marriott are both great but different. If you can predict what unit size and time of year you want and are interested in trading to go other places, a regular timeshare may be better for you. OTOH, if it's for use at WDW mostly, you want to go different times of the year, for other than 7 days and for different unit sizes; DVC may be better.

I would concur that they complement each other nicely and owning both is a great choice, that's what we've done. You have to decide how YOU will vacation and how you will use the timeshare.

 

[MinnieGi]

We also looked briefly into Marriott before making our DVC choice. For Disney trips DVC won us over for several reasons. Number one we love staying "on-site." We love being immersed in the atmosphere 24 hours a day. I like the transportation options I have with DVC. We can easily take a bus or boat back to our resort. I like the fact that if our party needs to split up its no big deal for half of our party to take Disney transportation back while the rest remain. I think this will be even more helpful as our DD and D_ #2 grow to be teenagers. And it has already been a help when we have had grandparents along with us. I love the flexibility of DVC. We are not locked into a week or term of weeks every year. With DVC we can also choose the amount of days we stay and what day we arrive and leave. I know you can't do that with most timeshares. Plus although the Marriott resorts look beautiful they do not give me the same feeling as Disney resorts.

You also inquired about the conditions of the resorts. We have stayed at both BWV and OKW during the past two years and have always found spotless rooms in beautiful resort grounds with friendly staff cm's. Every now and then you do read about a unclean room or unfriendly cm, but I believe those are the exceptions to the countless of wonderful stays DVC members enjoy.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[BeckyV]

If you go to www.tug2.net join for $15 and read the reviews by the timeshare members, you will find that there are even negative reviews for Grande Vista about some of the rooms were dirty and needed a lift. We stayed there in December for a few nights before checking into Boardwalk and were very impressed. It is a wonderful timeshare and our unit was very clean and had just been redone. I will stay there again, but not to do Disney. Even though we enjoyed our stay and our trip to Sea World, we always feel the magic as soon as we enter the gates. Grande Vista is truly beautiful, but it is just not Disney.

 

[CarolA]

Rule one.

Why do people trust Trip Advisor? I have read thier reviews and as far as I can tell some of the reviewers are in some strange place. Also ANY site like that gets more negative then positive as general rule. It is just like here. No one posts on the clean room, nice cast members etc.... Most people only post when something goes wrong.

I looked at Marriott, but I found the DVC points system better for me in terms of flexiblity. I am a single female and don't always need a two bedroom.


That said if you buy Marriott GO RESALE and consider some of the less popular resorts. However, I say that with caution since I was looking at Marriott in Hilton Head and Marriott sold the resort!

 

[LoveToDisney]

Originally posted by CarolA
No one posts on the clean room, nice cast members etc.... Most people only post when something goes wrong.

Wow, I don't know about other sites, but I have been impressed with the trip reports here and MANY glow about the resorts and how nice the rooms are and the nice CM.

 

[WildernessMickey]

My parents own at both Marriott Horizons and DVC. They weren't planning on getting the Marriott week, but loved the place for their grandchildren even better than the Marriott Cypress Harbour where we were staying. They just bought at SSR this week!! So I'm sure it is a difficult choice, but if you can only choose one, I would choose the DVC. If you appreciate the Disney Magic, you will be happiest there.

 

[KLR-wlv]

AS far as the DVC resorts - I have been to every single one and can't say anything bad about them! I LOVE HH and VB - we own and VWL and I looked into buying Marriott and instead added on at VB! We're going for spring break this year - our 3rd trip there alone - and the kids can't wait! My kids are 5&7 and we have had such great family vacations for the past 3 years since buying. I would say - do DVC now while the kids are young - it's flexible and you need that with kids. Later, if you like the timeshare thing - buy a Marriott. I would love to someday buy Marriott - but now while the kids are young - I can't imagine anywhere else. The DVC resorts have the best CM's and a lot of kids' activities. I haven't been to any other resorts - including westins, ritz carltons, Marriotts - that cater to families as well as Disney does.

We bought 150 pts initially - and we've gone to Disney 6 times, HHI 3 times and VB 2 times since joining (we're in a constant state of borrowing...) We've gone at peak times - slow times - stayed in studios and 1 BR's - brought family and friends - it's just made so many more vacations possible.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[wuv tigger]

It also depends on the time of the year that you want to travel. This year I traded my Marriott Manor Club lockoff studio for an OKW 1 bd in January. Total cost for me was $75 + $121 exchange fee + $95 Disney transportation fee = $291. On the points calculator this week was worth 160 points.

If you want to stay onsite occasionally at off season times this can be a viable option. I purchased my Manor Club for $19k plus 160,000 Marriott points and a free week that I used in San Diego. I guess you can buy about 250 DVC points for that.

What's nice is that you can easily trade into Orlando. We have been trading into Horizons by Marriott 3 weeks per year with our Manor Club by paying our maintenance fee $582 + lockoff fee $75 + exchange fees $158 + bonus week $299 = $1,114 for 21 nights of great 2 bedroom lodging. The bonus weeks and trades are not guaranteed, but we have gotten them for the last 2 years.

You also have the option for preferred trading to other Marriotts. Next year we will go to California that way.

I do like the flexibility of the DVC days concept and the theming although we prefer our car to Disney transport.

This is just how we do it.

David