Traded to Marriott Manor Club/Colonial Williamsburg - Trip Report

[jejojual]

Here 's the thing...we LOVE Disney. Now that we have DVC we love it even more! We've been a lot lately, so last summer my DH decided he'd investigate the II trading thing. We only need a one-bedroom as DSs are 8 and 6. We love Williamsburg (honeymooned there... ) and have stayed at the Manor Club twice before with my husband's family. ANYWAY - last July DH calls in to see what the availablility was for this summer - thinking there was probably no way.

Well...the person helping him couldn't believe it, but the week of July 4th had literally JUST been deposited and we snatched it up as quickly as we could say yes! We arrived on June 28, departed on July 5th. VERY COOL!

We had an incredibly smooth check in and were placed in building 11 - right next to one of the pools - YES! There were also tennis courts, a LARGE chess set, grills, etc. just across the parking lot. We brought our bikes along and there are great walking/biking trails all through Ford's Colony. (That is the "area" that Manor Club is in.)

I could write for hours about what we did - yes, our kids loved the historical area - much to our surprise. No, we didn't get to see the fireworks - even after we splurged on the Governer's Palace Picnic - it rained and rained and rained and rained. We gave up and left. Then they started the fireworks...

There is a great outlet mall (Prime Outlets) a great movie theater/shopping area called New Town, and lots of other wonderful highlights. I'd be glad to answer questions.

The Manor Club itself is BEAUTIFUL! My DH is a huge golfer, and guests staying at Manor Club get discounted greens fees at Ford's Colony Country Club - with its three golf courses. He played all three. He was in HEAVEN!

The room was really nice - The living area felt bigger than DVC - but it may have been the 11 or 12 foot ceilings. The master bedroom was awesome - two person jacuzzi - separate shower room with the potty in it - two sinks, etc. I'm going to attempt to post some pictures...
This is at the entrance to Manor Club:

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The pool:

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The Master bedroom and bath:

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The kitchen (sorry about all our stuff!) - We did love that there was a huge dining table that seated 6 -8 people - lots of room to eat/color/play games!

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The living area - with my two DSs sitting on the couch that was a hide a bed. This was probably the only time they sat still all week!

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The balcony...some of the rooms overlooked the golf course - ours overlooked a tree...

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Here is the chess set -

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Another pool view...

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The resort was fairly crowded on the weekends, but very quiet mid week! We had the pool all to ourselves one evening.

I can only think of two things that were not great. First - the smoking area is right outside the main door. That meant you had to walk right through the smoke to leave the building.

Second - they painted the hallway the week we were there. It needed it - there were definitely scuff marks, etc. But then we had to deal with the paint smel....oh yum.

It was a great trip - and a great property - but my heart still belongs to DVC! Feel free to ask questions!

 

[wildernessDad]

Very nice! How many points was the 1 bedroom for the week?

 

[Quiksilvr]

Looks great. I went to school in Williamsburg and loved it. It's nice to know we have a good trading option there.

 

[ChelleinNC]

I'd love to hear about the golfing options & prices

 

[nzdisneymom]

thanks so much for posting about your trade. We traded for the first time but for Concierge Club, but now we're looking at an II exchange for next summer. We loved Williamsburg when we were there a few years ago. I hope more and more DISers who trade will post about their trades.

The pictures look great - thanks for taking the time to share them.

 

[Connears]

We loved this resort when we stayed in June 2003. We had our 13 year old ds and his friend and we had a 1 bedroom. Loved the screened in porch! we were in the 2nd phase area. Kids loved the pool , activities, arcade and played tennis every night. Did colonial williamsburg, jamestown, Busch gardens. staff was great with lots of help...I would go back in a heart beat. Its the only time we have traded out of dvc and if all marriotts are the same, i'd try another one. Well worth the 160points for the week!


Connears

 

[Connears]

Very nice! How many points was the 1 bedroom for the week?

160 points when we traded for this one in June 2003..we loved it(see other post).

Connears

 

[jejojual]

It is still 160 points for the week - which felt like a great deal!! I'll get some more details from my husband on the names of the golf courses and the prices and post them later!

 

[nickmom]

That is awesome to hear your luck with getting the room. I'm going to try and trade for Williamburg also. Hopefully have the same luck. Did you go to any of the theme parks? Thanks for the trip report and pics. Did you boys share the pull out couch or did you get a another bed/cot? Glad to hear about biking trails. We usually take our bikes with us too.
Carla

 

[JoEllen]

Being from the Left Coast, I'm not familiar with this area. What is there to do/see around Williamsburg? Are there things to do besides golf?
We've got a trade request in now for II for Hawaii and St John so very interested in other II options.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Being from the Left Coast, I'm not familiar with this area. What is there to do/see around Williamsburg? Are there things to do besides golf?
We've got a trade request in now for II for Hawaii and St John so very interested in other II options.

There is the whole historic Colonial Williamsburg & Jamestown stuff, Busch Gardens & Water Country. It's about 2-3 hours to Washington DC, an hour/hour & half to Norfolk & Virginia Beach. There are a lot of things to do in the area (we used to live just down the road in Newport News)

 

[Quiksilvr]

Being from the Left Coast, I'm not familiar with this area. What is there to do/see around Williamsburg? Are there things to do besides golf?
We've got a trade request in now for II for Hawaii and St John so very interested in other II options.

Williamsburg is one of those towns to which almost every middle-class family on the east coast seems to make a pilgrimage at least once while the kids are young. I lived in Williamsburg for several years during school and it really does have a lot to offer. The town of Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia for a significant portion of the 18th Century. The College of William and Mary (Go Tribe!) was founded their in 1693, and is the second oldest college in the United States after Harvard College. It is also one of the few American colleges with a royal charter from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others are alumni of William and Mary. The College is still going strong today and is an excellent collegiate experience. It's also a place people like to tour because of its age.

Anyhow, in the 19th Century Williamsburg became less and less important and was pretty run down (especially after the Civil War). In the early 20th Century (I believe) the Rockefeller family began restoring the colonial town of Williamsburg. That is what started Williamsburg on the path to "tourist mecca" that it is today. The Colonial Williamsburg area is the largest and most extensive living history tourist attraction in the United States. It's definitely something to see. Major Williamsburg area attractions include:

Colonial Williamsburg (restoration of the colonial Capitol of Virginia)
Historic Jamestowne (first permanent English settlement in the Americas)
Yorktown Battlefield (site of the final major battle of the Revolutionary War)
Busch Gardens Williamsburg (large amusement park owned by Anheuser Busch)
Water Country (water park also owned by A-B)
College of William and Mary (some of the oldest academic buildings in America)

Because Williamsburg is such a tourist town it also has a number of other activities. The tourists used to drive us nuts but it just comes with the territory at W&M. They have a bunch of major outlet centers for shopping, lots of restaurants, some outdoor mall type places, etc. And of course, what would a southern tourist town be without several miniature golf courses. The golf around Williamsburg is also excellent, but I didn't play all that much when I lived down there. Richmond is also easy enough to drive to (about an hour to the west) and there some fun things to do there. Virginia Beach is about an hour and a half to the east of Williamsburg if you're interested in that.

 

[musical2]

We love Williamsburg too!! This is one of the reasons why, besides our beloved OKW, we also own a Marriott Manor Club Platinum week. We usually go there every other year and trade out to another Marriott every other year.

 

[littlestar]

Nice pictures! Thanks so much for posting. We're planning on staying there next fall.

 

[jejojual]

That is awesome to hear your luck with getting the room. I'm going to try and trade for Williamburg also. Hopefully have the same luck. Did you go to any of the theme parks? Thanks for the trip report and pics. Did you boys share the pull out couch or did you get a another bed/cot? Glad to hear about biking trails. We usually take our bikes with us too.
Carla

We didn't do any of the theme parks - we are headed to BCV in mid-August, so we figured that would cover the theme parks for the summer. The boys did share the pull out and did fine with it. I thought about taking an air mattress, but didn't- there would have been plenty of room for it though!

The biking trials are great - there is a 6 mile and two 3 mile trails - it doesn't sound long - but boy were they hilly! We have a 12 mile loop we do at home - fairly flat - it took us just as long to do the 6 mile because of all the hills!

Best wishes with your trade!

 

[BroganMc]

I and Grandpa Mohawk love Manor Club so much we own a Platinum week there. Actually it was Grandma Mohawk who insisted we buy there. Her last and only trip to the place was the summer before she died. Since then, we have visited a week every summer. Usually we take my sister and her boys. In fact, we're set to go down next Friday (August 1) and then take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel up to our beach place in OC, MD for the weekend after.

Grandma Mohawk got me into going to Williamsburg about 10-15 years ago. She went during a conference one time and fell in love with the place. It is a mixture of history, resort and mid-size city amenities.

Usually we do a day in Historic Williamsburg. (Dad and I get the Patriot Pass which gives access to every building and event discounts.) Stroll down Duke of Gloucester street from Merchant's Square to the Capitol or take one of the carriage rides. The street is paved, but be wary of horse treasures along the way.

They also started a living history story every day between 12-2pm where re-enactors stage various "shows" right from the days of the Revolution. You'll see the citizens in a frenzy because the Governor has taken all the gunpowder out of the magazine; the slaves debating which side to join based on who is more likely to deliver the promised freedom; wives pleading for help because their husbands have been arrested for treason or lost in war; even Benedict Arnold telling the Americans to give up the fight as he did and submit to the British. And last George Washington will ride into town, address the townspeople and troops with reports from the battle of Yorktown. Usually they alternate programs: one for the beginning of the war (rebellion) and the other for the end of the war (victory at Yorktown).

They also do nightly Ghost tours through the district and taverns. There's a free organ concert at the Bruton Parish church (oldest existing parish in the US). And they do event shows at the Courthouse and Capitol (like a witch trial re-enactment). My 6 & 8 yo old nephews just loved the audience with Thomas Jefferson last year where they asked him all sorts of questions. He didn't know what a Transformer was but could definitively say he knew all the presidents of the US (to his date) and was friends with them. (Or as friendly as could be.)

Jamestown is actually two separate parks. There's the re-enactment settlement on the mainland. Has an Indian village as well as colonial settlement and docks. All with re-enactors filling the place as if they were taken outa time. The National Park is on the island and consists of a scenic drive, walking park, excavation site and museum. This sits right on the James River and makes a great picnic area. The original church (which founded Bruton parish) still stands with its little graveyard of 400 year old colonists.

Yorktown Victory Center is the re-enactment area to go along with the battlefield. It depicts an American military encampment with demonstrations in living, medicine and weaponry. And Yorktown is a quaint little riverside town.

Of course there's also shopping. Williamsburg Pottery Factory is one of the largest outlets you've ever seen. The Prime Outlets are nearby. Yankee Candle Factory. Several wineries (Manor Club hosts wine tastings from local selections). You have mini-golf. Busch Gardens has a theme park (one of the prettiest in the world... just imagine Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Animal Kingdom melded together). There's also a water park.

You must take your family to a tavern for dinner one evening. You eat by candlelight and are introduced to the cuisine of the Colonial South. Christiana Campbell's and King's Arms are our favorites.

Manor Club has a lot of activities during the week for families. Just check the schedule at check-in. Scavenger Hunts, pool games (for arcade tokens), wine tastings, movie nights, story time (with milk & cookies), walks and bike treks through Ford's Colony. There's even a day trip to DC and kid's night.

One thing I love best about Manor Club are the bike/walking paths. They are paved trails off the road and along the golf courses. When you walk down the pathway from Manor Club and come across that first bench in the clearing you've entered Grandma Mohawk's spot. It was her favorite view and site of this picture:

We always remember her there.

 

[jejojual]

I'd love to hear about the golfing options & prices

Finally remembered to ask DH about golf - The discounted greens fees were $60 including cart. (Regular greens fees are $75) Hope that helps!

 

[Quiksilvr]

I think that to say that the Williamsburg Pottery Outlet is one of the largest outlets anywhere is the best thing you can say about it. It's certainly not one of the cleanest or most aesthetically pleasing. The quality of the stores there has also declined dramatically as the Prime Outlets have swelled to the bloated smorgasbord of fashionable factory stores that it is today. The Pottery Factory definitely has character; it's like the redneck country cousin of the Prime Outlets. My wife hates it but I occasionally enjoy a trip out there.

However, if you go to the Pottery Factory, make sure that on your way you stop at the Wythe chocolate outlet on Route 60. It's owned by the same people who own the Wythe candy store on DoG street in Colonial Williamsburg but everything is cheaper (sometimes they have really good sales too). If you don't know what the Wythe candy store in CW is, you will when you visit DoG street. As soon as someone opens the door you can smell the chocolate.

 

[littlestar]

Last fall, my sister and her family booked a Washington DC day trip (by bus) from Marriott Manor Club and thoroughly enjoyed it. Marriott had all the info they needed to book the DC trip. They said Marriott's Manor Club was great to stay at. Lovely.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Besides DVC, I own 3 contracts at Marriott(resales/eBay for cheaper prices) and most of the newer Marriott's have pretty much the same facilities, including the Marriott in Orlando, Cypress Harbour Resort. I have often used my Marriott in Williamsburg to trade IN to DVC for a week in a one bedroom at SSR.