Just back- 1st non-dvc on points

[Connears]

We just returned from Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony Williamsburg VA. 1st time using dvc points for non-dvc vacation. We got 1bedroom sunday-sunday. Resort is beautiful, very nice accomodations with similar set-up to dvc, but has formal dining room along with snack counter, same master bedroom and bath with jacuzzi in bedroom and shower toilet in adjoining room, full kitchen, stack washer/dryer, gas fireplace, sleep sofa , huge TV/vcr in livingroom, tv in bedroom, enclosed screened porch, 2 outdoor pools and one indoor, 4 tennis courts, shuffle board, arcade, pool table, fitness room and lockers, movie rentals, snack area and store, outdoor gas grills and picnic tables, on site golf course, weekly adult and children activites list include: pool games, tennis and arcade tournaments, wine and hor's heurves reception, scavenger hunts, movie nights, and many more. Staff were very helpful and there is a full-time concierge to help you with attraction tickets, golf times, or anything. We really had a great time visiting Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Water Country (all very close to resort), National Marine Center in Norfolk(30 miles away), great restaurants. It was a relaxing vacation with some learning for DS and his friend (both 14). I used 160 points for 7 nights..I feel well worht it. 1Bedroom has rack of $600.00/ night. I don't know about the II trades, but having experienced the Marriott vacation club, I would not hestitate to stay there again if my plans were convenient to one. Now, the count-down to bcv for 12/26/04!

Connears

 

[jdkdorn]

We were looking at this same place to trade into but on the DVC website it says 270 for high season and 230 for low season. How did you do it for only 160 points?

Thanks for any info you can provide

Judy

 

[Connears]

We only got a 1 bedroom which is 160 points for the week(high season). We booked thru MS in February 2004. You may have been looking at 2 bedroom point chart(207-low, 252-mid, 270-high). We stayed 6/27-7/4/04.
Connears

 

[OurDogCisco]

Thanks for the review.... We'll be there in a few weeks. NOt through DVC but a Marriott trade. Did you stay on the Colony side or the Sequel side?

Glad you had fun... We can't wait!

 

[Merilyn]

Thanks so much for the information. We are going the first week of Oct and wanted more info. I am glad you had a good time. We have stayed at Marriott locations before and we think they are very nice too.

 

[charlottechris]

Wow - that sounds like a great vacation. I've requested a Marriott trade through MS for Mardi Gras 2006 in Park City. How far in advance did you make your request and how far in advance did you get a match?

 

[Dean]

Manor club is actually two sections. One has lockoff's and the other does not. I'd think the chances of getting a 2 BR when searching for a 1 BR are fairly high, maybe 40-50% or so. So anyone who can make it in a 1 BR but prefer a 2 BR. might want to take their chances. Remember tha MVCI is pretty strict on the occupancy issue.

 

[Connears]

We stayed at the sequel, but they are identical. We were in a one bedroom, but it was a lock-off (with a studio attached). There are fewer buildings at the sequel (4) and the outdoor pool is much larger and the tennis courts and shuffle board are at sequel. It is literally across the parking lot and a 2 minute walk. The marketplace, indoor pool, arcade, check-in are all at the original complex. The only small issue was the a/c. You can adjust it, but it seemed to be warmer at night. It was not hot, just not as cool as the day. Our DS, who slept in the livingroom on sofa still complained it was too cold. I thought it might be a motion control, but we didn't have a real problem with it.
Hope everyone has a good time when they visit. We were in Federal building, last one at the sequel. I really enjoyed the screened porch in the evenings.
Connears

 

[mickeymouse710]

We have stayed at this resort twice, not as a DVC exchange but as guests of friends that own timeshares there.
Very, very nice resort. And I hate to admit it, but the units we were in both times were much, much nicer and more spacious than any existing DVC villa, for the same size unit.
But we still love our DVC, because we just love WDW!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Connears
We stayed at the sequel, but they are identical. We were in a one bedroom, but it was a lock-off (with a studio attached). There are fewer buildings at the sequel (4) and the outdoor pool is much larger and the tennis courts and shuffle board are at sequel.

The original does not have lockoff's, so only 2 BR units. The question is whether they list the resorts separately as II does and will they allow you to search for a 1 BR at the original increasing your chances of getting a 2 BR.

 

[allforpooh]

We were also just there, Jun 12th thru the 19th. We stayed in Sequel, and everything was very close. We loved the area, and after a few days found alot of short cuts to the Main attractions. We were on the second floor in a 1 bdrm, it was extremely quiet, and relaxing. The kids loved the activities etc.

My only complaint, and not really that big of a problem was the beds, they were not very comforatble. We also notice the air conditioning issue, where it seems much warmer at night.

All in all we would stay there again.

A few suggestions on the attractions, do not buy tickets ahead of time. Most of the attractions will allow you to upgrade if you need more time. Even though it doesn't say that if you ask they will tell you that you have a couple of days. Just be sure to ask. We bought 2 day tickets to Busch Gardens and didn't really need them. The park is small and not very crowded...

Denise