Horizons at Branson vs. Orlando

My husband and I are trying to purchase our first timeshare and would like to get some suggestions here from TUG. We read so many mix suggestions on what to get and where to buy and now we came down to Horizons Branson or Horizons Orlando. We are a young family of 4 (1 - 22 months and 1 - 3.5 yrs old) and would like to go to Disney EOY. Some people here at TUG recommended to get a TS in Orlando because we will visit there at least half of the time, but some recommended to purchase a low MF's TS like Branson and trade into Orlando. Does anybody know what are the trading power's are from these 2 TS?

We also saw an ad for Marriott Horizons at Branson EOY plantium week for $3000. Does it sound right to you?

Thanks ahead for reading my post.

Your price is very good. It does trade well and you will get into about any Marriott in Orlando about anytime you want to trade. I even see most all of the Marriott resorts with my AC's, for about any time period. I do think it is a decent trader - at least we have had good luck so far. We bought last year, and have traded 3 times already.
If you get a 2BR, you can opt to separate the 1BR from the studio side and effectively make 2 reservations, which will give you an additional week to trade. They usually trade like-to-like, except in lower seasons, when you can snag a 2BR for a 1BR many times. While your kids are young, you can take advantage of 1BRs - the couches almost always pullout to make a bed. Later, you may want to use a 2BR for more privacy.
I have heard that Orlando Horizons is a good trader too. It would depend on where you live, and what is closer for you... I would opt for the closest with airline and gas prices being so expensive.

Thank you so much for replying. We live in Rhode Island and Southwest usually offers very good deal from Providence to Orlando (direct flight) for $180 - $250 round trip per person. Compare to the flights from Providence to Springfield, mo, it will be $350/person w/ 2 stops. I don't think we are going to Branson anytime soon unless they open a new airport with reasonable airfare. The reason why I'm interested in Horizons Branson is the low MF. Even though we have to pay for the exchange fee, it’s still lower than the MF in Horizons at Orlando.

Another stupid question I have is that. If I purchase a EOY(ODD year) lockoff at Horizons Branson. I split the 2BR into 1 bed and 1 studio for trade. Can I trade a 1 br into 2 br in Orlando for the ODD year (we are very flexible with traveling date) and then use the studio to trade something else (like another 1 br or 2 br) in FL for the EVEN year, so we can go on vacation annually? or those 2 trade have to be travel within the same year.

Thanks again.

EOY unit trade to Orlando

If you have a lockoff you can vacation every year. Orlando is a place where you can get space most times of the year. II policy is that Marriotts trade 'like for like". That means if you trade a lockoff studio unit to let's say MGV, you are likely to get a studio unit. On rare occasions you'll get a larger unit, most likely during flextime. However, if you trade into a resort that has only one or two bedroom units, you will get a larger unit for the studio. (Horizons, Cypress Harbour, Sabel Palm etc.)

Non-Marriotts with one and two bedroom units are easy to trade for with a Marriott studio. I'm sure that others here can offer additional advice.

Another helpful hint that is repeated on TUG is to buy where you might want to go, at least some of the time. If you want to go to Orlando EOY, then you should probably consider Orlando before Branson. Remember that once your kids are school aged, you'll be constrained as to which weeks you can vacation, so you'll be at an advantage if you have Orlando as your home resort. In Orlando, Horizons has many fewer lockoff units than does Grande Vista, so you may want to think about Grande Vista if you want to lockoff down the road. As far as the MFs go, once you are done paying the fees to trade your Branson unit, the difference becomes pretty negligible. We actually decided to buy DVC because, while we really liked Grande Vista, we decided that we wanted to stay in WDW when we visited the mouse. However, the attraction of the Marriott system is undeniable; we are visiting Ocean Pointe/Oceana Palms in August and we are looking to buy a resale (maybe a Branson) to use as a trader in the near future.

If you are not going to Branson, I would just buy it in Orlando. It save money on the exchange fees and wait for the exchange. YOu can book your unit at 12 months and book your airline ticket using FF on 11 months. I won't bother with exchange.

I have a Platinum Branson. Its a fantastic timeshare. Easy to book prime weeks. Always get a binus week, whether I lock it off or use the full 2bd.

I got a summer Marriott Maui week with the 2bd, I got a Marriott Kauai week with the 1bd. I got a summer Newport Coast week with the 2bd.
I think its by far the best bang for your buck in the Marriott System.

try all the usuals places.. www.ebay.com , www.redweek.com , www.myresortnetwork.com

Good luck

I would buy the Horizons Branson (platinum) because by buying there, you'd also be able to trade into DVC (Disney) with it. So not only could you stay at any of the Marriotts in Orlando, you could also stay on property. If you buy Horizons Orlando, you'll be blocked from trading into DVC because of the regional block.

There is talk of a major airport coming to the Branson area. Horizons Branson is rated No. 1 on Trip Advisor and Horizons Orlando is rated No. 2.

We own an EOY (every other year) Horizons Branson gold week and it trades very well. I first check with II on what 1 bedroom weeks will pull an AC (bonus accomodation certificate) and I lock my EOY 2 bedroom off and I get a 1 bedroom, a studio/efficiency, and a bonus week to trade when I deposit with II. So we get three weeks of vacation out of our little EOY. Not bad. We do love a lock-off! You might have to wait to get a 2 bedroom with your studio unit until flexchange (59 days or less of check-in) but it's very doable. Especially with the Marriott priority in II for Marriott to Marriott. When I'm trying to trade a Marriott studio in flexchange, I get up early and check the II website and I've been successful in catching bigger Marriott units in Orlando (even New Years week). Orlando has a big supply so that helps.

Also, don't forget that once you are a member of II (Interval International) you will be able to purchase their cash Getaway weeks. We have purchased two of them for our fall trip in October and one of them for a 2 bedroom Sheraton Vistana Villages was only $414 for the week. We buy the cash Getaways quite a bit because we usually have family or friends that come with us on our trips.

Good points on many posts here.. Great thread!..

I personally almost always recommend buying the resort you plan on using most often. Most frustrated owners I speak with (who quickly become sellers) bought simply to exchange and weren't happy with the exchange process or availability, or with staying at their home resort.

My only other suggestion is for you to really think about the exchange factors such as the regional block (Orlando Horizons to other Orlando resorts) and the possible issues which may result if you buy Branson and want to exchange into Orlando (there are limited lockouts currently available at Horizons Orlando- so you'll probably be trading your lockout for a standard 2br most years- reducing the value of the lockout feature to you).. Also, DVC exchanges aren't always found consistently- so chances are you'd be exchanging your Branson week for either Horizons Orlando, Cypress Harbour, or one of the sections by the Marriott World Center.. Out of these choices- your kids will probably like Horizons Orlando the most...

Weighing these factors- I'd stay with the Orlando recommendation...

Thank you so much for all your responses and your valuable opinions. I'm glad that we joined TUG before we purchase any TS. You guys has been wonderful!

I guess it really comes down to the cost of the TS at Branson or Orlando. My gut told me to get a Platium unit at Branson and trade into Orlando.

Littlestar- Thanks for letting me know the possiblity to trade into DVC properties with the Branson TS. I'm excited to hear about that!

I'll keep my eyes open and see any good deals around on ebay, redweek and classified ads here at TUG.

ricolangelos said:

Littlestar- Thanks for letting me know the possiblity to trade into DVC properties with the Branson TS. I'm excited to hear about that!

I'll keep my eyes open and see any good deals around on ebay, redweek and classified ads here at TUG.

Click to expand...

I've used our Horizons Branson to trade into a 1 bedroom at Disney's Beach Club (April/early May of 2008) and the AC/bonus week for a Villas at Wilderness Lodge 1 bedroom for January. Ive also gotten an Old Key West 2 bedroom (September 2006) with my studio at Branson during flexchange.

Just this past year, I was able to trade my studio at Branson during New Years week (flex change) for a Horizons Orlando 2 bedroom. I just got up bright and early, 5:30 to 6:00 a.m., and looked for it on the II website (it helps that there's a 3 day hold during flexchange for Marriott to Marriott exchanges).

We own Horizons Orlando annual gold. We also have a young family (5g, 1.5b) and the kids LOVE it. We went this year and brought the my brother, sister and mom along and there was plenty of room in the 2bd/2ba. The only minus to owning in Orlando is not being able to trade into Orlando. It would have been nice to be able to stay in a DVC one time, but I think being able to book 12 months out counterbalances any minus. All the Horizons MF's are low, so that's not much of a factor. I guess purchase price, and where you want to spend most of your time are the most important factors. For us, it was Disney in Orlando.

Just make sure to keep an eye on the ROFR website and try to get as close to something that will pass, but not pay too much.
http://dioxide45.tripod.com/rofr.html

justinbrenda said:

Just make sure to keep an eye on the ROFR website and try to get as close to something that will pass, but not pay too much.
http://dioxide45.tripod.com/rofr.html

Click to expand...

Actually one should negotiate the best price they can. While the ROFR database is a useful tool, it shouldn't be used to determine an offer price, as you never know when Marriott will exercise their ROFR. They could exercise today at one price and pass at a lower price tomorrow. With the economy the way it is, Marriott may be looking to purchase back fewer units.

Timeshare 101

Timeshare 101 - Buy where you want to use. Therefore I recommend buying in Orlando. Plus Orlando has some great deals.

-TJ

http://www.tug2.net/advice/TimeShare-101.htm#_Deciding_where_to


B. Deciding where to own
A good general rule is to buy a timeshare you would like to use regularly. By doing so, you are guaranteeing that you will be able to take vacations that you will enjoy, and you will avoid paying exchange fees to obtain accommodations in the area. Furthermore, if you have little flexibility in vacation arrangements (such as specific vacation periods or a need for units that accommodate physical disabilities), owning a suitable week in your desired vacation area may be the only way to reliably secure timeshare accommodations.

Keep in mind that Branson is very much a seasonal vacation destination. If you decide to own at Horizon's Branson, I would be certain to always get a summer week for exchange. Preferably July which seems to have the most trade power. Even though Branson is very well developed and has plenty of availablity as far as timeshares go, it does trade well.

Horizon's Branson has been a very slow developing resorts. At present they have just completed the third building. I believe the overall project has been scaled back from it's original plans. I have read that there is no longer an onsite sales office and that they will only be building two more (total of five) building's. Why it did not take off I can not say because it is one of the better family resorts in Branson and has a very good location IMO.

If you would like to view pictures of the resort, click the photo below to see pics from our two visits to this resort. The units we've stayed in have been a 1 bedroom portion of a 2 bedroom lock off unit and the entire 2 bedoom lock off unit. We have never stayed in the traditional 2 bedroom unit so we do not have photo's of that particular style. Horizon's Branson probably has the best pool complex of any of the Branson resorts, making it one of the best timeshares in Branson for families.

As for the "major" airport being built in Branson, ground has been broken and it's apparently moving along. Exactly how "major" this airport will become is up to pure speculation. For now one has to fly into St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock or Tulsa and then drive a couple of hours to get there.

Pics of Horizon's Branson (click on the photo or the link in my signature below)

We just picked up an EOY Horizons Orlando for about 4,200, which included closing costs and one year MFs. We considered Branson, but did not choose it for a few reasons: 1) Even though we can drive to Branson, we only see ourselves going there once 2) we plan on going to Orlando if not EOY, most times 3) We need a 2 bedroom, trading into a DVC 2 bedroom during times when the kids are out of school (and in the months we want to travel, like June) is very, very hard, if not impossible 3) based on all the threads here, we are hopeful if Marriott ever moves to an internal system we will be grandfathered in, but at the end of the day nothing is for certain, and trading is never guaranteed, so we bought where we knew we would want to go if we could not get trades.

Good Luck. Jim