DVC er looking for Marriott Vacation Club info

[emacman]

I have been a DVC er since 97. I received a call from a friend last night concerning a potential purchase into Marriott Vacation Club. He was looking for advice and comparison to DVC. Well Obviously I can share my viewpoints but I told him I had "friends' at5 the DIS board who knew more than I do. Maybe even some with Marriott Vacation Club and Disney Vacation Club experience who could maybe offer insight.
So I am looking for anybody out there who may have these perspectives or looked into MVC pretty hard before becomming a DVCer and would like to share why. Any takers on this topic?

 

[stacy6552]

My (dvc member) friend's parents belong to Marriott. MArriott uses the same travel company that we do when we trade out. Tell yur friend to join DVC instead, here's why: when my friend tried to use har parents week to stay at Disney (before she joined DVC), she was told there was a 7 year wait list! SO theres a higher demand for our resorts, and therefore easier for DVCers to stay elsewhere, then it is for people to stay at WDW.

 

[jmatias]

We are MVC owners and love the Marriott resorts. The best thing I would suggest is to visit the MVC site at www.vacationclub.com and also www.tug2.net which has great participation and information on the Marriott board.

DVC is a very difficult trade mostly because so few members deposit. But it is possible and doesn't take 7 years. We traded our Marriott Kauai into OKW in 2002 and throughout the year I've seen several DVC trades while searching II...though mostly at OKW.

If your friends are set on staying at WDW on property then buy DVC. If they can live with maybe getting a trade into DVC or staying at the several Marriott timeshares in Orlando then MVC is a great alternative.

 

[emacman]

Thanks for the help Stacy and jmatias. I should clarify something. He is looking at a Horizons something in Branson, MO. He is interested in going lots of places and they have given him the impression that trading out is easy. WDW would be a location he would look to trade to once in a while, but is not consistently looking to get to WDW.
Now trading through Interval International is similiar I would guess. Stacy I think what you said is it is easier to trade WDW because it is a desirable location. Is that right?
Can anybody clarify exactly how the trades work?

 

[stacy6552]

If ive got it right....as a DVC member I book a week at my resort. Then I trade it out to II to book a week somewhere else.

While my friend was trying to get spring break, which explains the longggg wait list, I do think that it would be easier to own dvc and trade to someone else then it would be to own something else and trade to disney.

 

[chips]

I've been researching the same thing. You absolutely have to look at the tug boards. Jmatias has the link. I was seriously looking at marriott. I sense the timeshare industry is leaning towards a point based system. RCI, worldmark, Fairfield, are doing points. Trading out of your week requires getting lucky or planning 12-18 months in advance.

There is a surplus of off season timeshare weeks. These weeks become available as low cost rentals on numerous web sites. Originally these were only available to timeshare owners with memberships to RCi or II. they call them bonus weeks or getaways. In overbuilt timeshare areas like orlando it is easy to rent for cash without this affiliation. Essentially the low end off season market is available for cash rental. 300-400 for a two bedroom for the week. Pretty amazing.

Marriott had abuy back program. It is rumored they were getting only off season weeks and were getting stuck with them. Many owners successfully traded intramarriott for good situations with these contracts. They are effective trading vehicles but don't hold resale value or even liquidity. Bot cheaply they can be effective. Marriott owners have first trade intra marriott.

I like the dvc point system. I also like you have the option of mixing cash and points. I like the flexibility and withing reason availability of ressies. I think week based systems are hard in real time use. Many weeks go unused or rent for the mf.

However many feel it is best to rent the dvc points and pay cash for the out trade. Many feel disney does not trade at equal value.

I've read with marriott, buy where you want to go and the appropriate season. there is some debate if a platinum designation will trade the same no matter where the home resort is.

I like the locations and facilities marriott offers. they have a resort 30 feet from the chairlift at park city. they have a finished resort on the beach in aruba. etc.

I haven't spoken to brokers and I can't seem to get a feel for the sell price. With dvc it is close to the ask price. I do know marriott is offering original marriott buyers 50 cents on the dollar. I bet there is a way to figure out the original price and offer 55-60
percent


It is very hard to trade into dvc. Generally the trade ins get a studio and hate it. They are used to 1 bedroom suites.

You need to look at a previous thread. (Dean what is a good trad?) or something like that.

 

[musical2]

We own at both Marriott Manor Club in Williamsburg, Virginia and at DVC Old Key West. We bought Marriott Manor Club because we like to go to Williamsburg. Also it is easy to trade within the Marriott system, and it has the Marriott quality name. I have found that most Marriott resorts are of high quality. I suggest that your friend visit the Timeshare Users Group (TUG) boards and ask questions there on the Marriotts. I have enjoyed owning the Marriott.

However, I believe the Horizon brand of Marriott resort is their bargain brand. These tend to be smaller and not as high quality as their regular Marriott brand, but I hear people do like these also.

Don't get me wrong, I like DVC the best, but I don't think I will be trading it anytime soon if ever.

Bart

 

[Dean]

DVC and Marriott are two different animals though both good in their own way. If you want to go to WDW most years, stay on property, need the flexibility of stays other than a week or different units sizes; DVC may be best. Marriott is a more traditional timeshare system with full weeks and either fixed weeks or more likely, floating weeks within a season. If you're talking trading out, Marriott is a far better option. The reason it's better are the limitations that DVC places on trades and the Marriott internal trading priority.

Like with DVC, I'd say buy where you want to stay. While you can trade and make out like a bandit in some situations, most of us are not in those situations where we can and will travel off season.

Personally I think owning both is the way to go for many. They complement each other nicely. Do not buy Horizons with the idea of trading though. Don't buy DVC with the idea of much trading and don't buy anything else with the idea of trading in to DVC.

It you do decide on Marriott, you've still got a lot of choices to make then look for a resale that's right for you at a price that's fair.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you buy DVC, it will cost a minimum of about $10,500 regardless if it's from Disney or from a resale. The cost has continued to increase since DVC began, and DVC memberships are pretty much protected from losing money--it's not guaranteed, but it hasn't happened so far. Once the price falls to a certain level (about $72 per point) Disney will buy it back, so it's a good investment. Once you are a member, your main yearly costs are dues. If you trade out, I believe there is a non refundable $75 fee, but that's it.

At Marriott, a buy-in costs about $18,000 for a week, but prices do vary. If you have to sell, watch out! You recoup only about 1/2 -2/3, again depending upon resort. Resales are CHEAP! If your friend wants to buy in Orlando, Marriott resales begin about $5500 and go up from there. Dues are $500-$700 or so per year. If you trade to ANY Marriott resort, there is a fee for that. $79 to Interval, and $121 if they get you a trade, and changing your ressie in any way means a fee, too ($50??) Marriott has lots of small fees for things that DVC members take for granted. Marriott also requires a week's stay, so if you want to visit Arizona, you will visit Arizona, you can't spend part of a week there, and then go to Colorado. Marriott is good if you want to STAY put for a week, but if you want to travel around, it's hard.

Your friends need to decide if staying on-property at Disney is important. If it is, by all means, buy Disney. If they don't care, maybe a Marriott resale is good for them. As you have heard before, buy at the place that you want to stay at. For Disney on-property, it's a must, and it's cheaper for the owner of a Marriott property, too.

 

[mickeyc]

We own both DVC and Mariott. I agree with the above post that the tug website is a good resource. You can acquire a wealth of information concerning timesharing.

I would recommend that you consider purchasing a resale because you will save thousands. The tug website classified section has some Mariott and DVC for sale. However, prior to purchasing I would suggest you know the retail prices. Hence, you can determine if the purchase price is fair. When purchasing a Mariott via a third party you will not be able to obtain Mariott points. This is another debate whether you should buy a Mariott with or without points. There are pros and cons to both sides.

Do the research and you will not be disappointed. I purchased resales except when my son was working for Disney and we received a discount buying the second contract. Both are excellent programs. Good luck!

 

[Lisa P.]

He is looking at a Horizons something in Branson, MO. He is interested in going lots of places and they have given him the impression that trading out is easy.

The Marriott brand is a good one and their Horizons resorts have sold well since they have a reasonably priced product (for a developer purchase) and offer many family-friendly resort activities.

However, Branson has a LOT of resorts and it's not an internationally popular destination. It appeals more to people within a one-day drive and it's more seasonal than Orlando. Most weeks are very, very easy trades into Branson, meaning those who trade out probably do not enjoy the highest trade power. A summer (July) week might be a decent trader. But I wouldn't pay developer prices to own a Branson trade week.

The only time it may make sense to pay developer prices for a Branson area timeshare would be if the buyer absolutely LOVES the resort and wants to vacation there yearly and there are no resales available. Big Cedar might be an example of this, for the right family.

...it is easier to trade WDW because it is a desirable location. Is that right?

As in, ONSITE at WDW, that would be right. Offsite Orlando offers so many nice timeshares that most weeks are not strong traders.

Your friend REALLY needs to visit TUG and learn more before making a timeshare purchase. Hope they get over there soon!