DVC v. Marriott Vacation Club - Beware!

[dioxide45]

My in laws are platinum mvc owners and there is no waitlist system.

With Marriott weeks, there is no waitlist system. The post was referring to DC points where owners can waitlist for a reservation.

 

[ndang3]

Friend, you are posting in a forum absolutely full of people who not only know something about the hospitality industry, but people who pore over the 10Qs, quarterlies, and annuals for resorts at which they do not even own looking for any small advantage they can find in using their timeshares, and have been doing that for years and years now. Some of these people have (had) careers in that industry, served on the boards of HOAs of timeshares, etc. etc. So you might want to think twice before snarky little comments like that.

And, what those people are telling you is that unlike the hotel side of the business, the timeshare side of the Marriott world is managed entirely by the legal entity that is VAC. That is separate from the legal entity that is MAR, but that is only because the latter spun off the former for stock price manipulation; they are still for all intents and purposes one thing.

You've been asked to share specifically which Marriott timeshare resort you have expeirenced that compared so unfavorably to DVC, and have yet to answer that question. Until you tell me otherwise, I'll assume that means you have stayed at precisely zero of them.


Everyone has their weird success story. Here's mine.

In '13 or maybe '14, I got a 1BR at BCV. It was just sitting in open inventory. It was under a Wyndham RCI promotion and discounted less than a mid-season studio normally costs.

It was over Halloween and during Food & Wine. (!)

If I owned DVC, I would have had to scratch and claw to get that booking, and even then would have had to have had some luck and maybe sacrificed a chicken. But, due to some sequence of strange and unlikely events, there I was on a whim. I'd say it was due to clean living, but that was well before I got sober, so that's certainly not it!

Listen friends, my in laws are platinum Mvc owners and we own vistana and dvc. We’ve traveled tons stayed at several mvc in Orlando, Myrtle beach, Hilton head, Oahu, Maui, NJ, Marco Island, NYC pulse….. not impressed guys. The rooms are plain, the furnishings are gross, customer service is terrible or average, there were definitely “findings” of some sort in the bathrooms, they all smell dingy and not one had been recently refurbished. You all seem to know a lot about all brands except Disney and that’s fine. Don’t take up dvc rooms from others who have a much better appreciation for Disney. You get what you pay for. Marriott = quantity; Disney = QUALITY. Oh and the maintenance fees for mvc and how much they go up each year are a lot more in comparison.

 

[ndang3]

Seriously, you need to stop proving that you know absolutely nothing about any facet of the hospitality industry. Yet another thing you have backward. In the hotel franchise world, owners PAY franchisors for the use of their names, brands, and reservation portals. Marriott fetches among the highest franchise fee rates in the industry, and for good reason: They have built a strong and trusted brand.

But to reiterate, this has NOTHING to do with the topic at hand, because this thread is about timeshare systems and resorts, not hotel chains.

I don’t care, Marriott is overrated and is only good for the quantity. They have the most amount of hotels and timeshare properties. I’d rather stay in a Hilton or Hyatt timeshare. Marriott is quantity over quality at the end of the day. Totally overrated.

 

[Ty1on]

Listen friends, my in laws are platinum Mvc owners and we own vistana and dvc. We’ve traveled tons stayed at several mvc in Orlando, Myrtle beach, Hilton head, Oahu, Maui, NJ, Marco Island, NYC pulse….. not impressed guys. The rooms are plain, the furnishings are gross, customer service is terrible or average, there were definitely “findings” of some sort in the bathrooms, they all smell dingy and not one had been recently refurbished. You all seem to know a lot about all brands except Disney and that’s fine. Don’t take up dvc rooms from others who have a much better appreciation for Disney. You get what you pay for. Marriott = quantity; Disney = QUALITY. Oh and the maintenance fees for mvc and how much they go up each year are a lot more in comparison.

Once again, you're lecturing a panel of veteran timeshare owners and travelling with bad information and using your veteran timeshare ownership as your authority.

 

[Ty1on]

I don’t care, Marriott is overrated and is only good for the quantity. They have the most amount of hotels and timeshare properties. I’d rather stay in a Hilton or Hyatt timeshare. Marriott is quantity over quality at the end of the day. Totally overrated.

Okay, I'm out. /Ignore

 

[SueDonJ]

Yeah, if you know anything about the hospitality industry, the brands pay the brick and mortar owners to slap their name on the buildings. Marriott pays the owner to put their name on the structure. Someone else typically manages the operations. I suggest you read the investor filings. Disney own and manages all their properties.

Again, you're simply wrong.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC stock,) is the timeshare company under which Marriott Vacation Club-branded timeshares and several others fall. As the developer/manager, MVW owns and manages all timeshare intervals which have not been sold to owners or conveyed to any of the Trusts that have been established by the companies which come under the MVW umbrella (which Trusts consist of the underlying intervals that support sales.) MVW also owns equal shares to the common areas of every Marriott-branded timeshare, and holds the rights to improve/expand all common areas.

Prior to the change in corporate structure that spun-off the timeshare segment to the new MVW company, Marriott Vacation Club-branded timeshares came under the Marriott, Int'l (MAR stock) hotel company's umbrella. In neither corporate structure have the timeshares ever been franchised to outside owners or managers.

What you're describing routinely happens in the majority of hotel company structures, that the individual hotels are franchised under separate ownership with each individual franchise owner paying a fee to MAR for licensing/name branding and inclusion in MAR's reservation system as well as other items. VAC also pays a fee to MAR for licensing/branding/IT systems but as an affiliate, not as franchisers.

You're correct that Disney-branded hotels come under the Disney umbrella, which makes them an outlier in the industry, but you're absolutely wrong in claiming that Marriott timeshares are or ever have been franchised. Like DVC, MVW as the developer owns unsold/unconveyed intervals until they're purchased/conveyed, and MVW manages every Marriott-branded timeshare. Perhaps it's you who should be reading the investor filings for MAR and VAC, before making any more claims that are simply false.

You have made a very strong effort to prove that DVC is THE superior timeshare company in all the industry, but you're hurting your own cause by telling lies about the other companies. Besides, even if you knew and told the truth it would still be a futile effort because we all have favorites, sometimes for intangible reasons. Now that your untruths about Marriott timeshares have been cleared up by several experienced long-time Marriott owners, it is time to take the focus of this thread off of the DVC v. MVW topic and back on to the topic of DVC re-affiliating with Interval International. If you must continue it, please note the TUG Rules and try to do it a little more courteously.

 

[ndang3]

Again, you're simply wrong.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide (VAC stock,) is the timeshare company under which Marriott Vacation Club-branded timeshares and several others fall. As the developer/manager, MVW owns and manages all timeshare intervals which have not been sold to owners or conveyed to any of the Trusts that have been established by the companies which come under the MVW umbrella (which Trusts consist of the underlying intervals that support sales.) MVW also owns rights to the common areas of every Marriott-branded timeshare. Prior to the change in corporate structure that separated the timeshare segment to the new MVW company, Marriott Vacation Club-branded timeshares came under the Marriott, Int'l (MAR stock) hotel company's umbrella.

In neither corporate structure have the timeshares ever been franchised to outside owners or managers. First MAR and then VAC managed the properties and that continues to this day.

What you're describing routinely happens in the majority of hotel company structures, that the individual hotels are franchised under separate ownership with each individual franchise owner paying a fee to MAR for licensing/name branding and inclusion in MAR's reservation system as well as other items. VAC also pays a fee to MAR for licensing/branding/IT systems but not as franchisers.

You're correct that Disney-branded hotels come under the Disney umbrella, which makes them an outlier in the industry, but you're absolutely wrong in claiming that Marriott timeshares are or ever have been franchised. Like DVC, MVW as the developer owns unsold/unconveyed intervals until they're purchased/conveyed, and MVW manages every Marriott-branded timeshare. Perhaps it's you who should be reading the investor filings for MAR and VAC, before making any more claims that are simply false.

Could care less how Marriott operates. The experience is inconsistent and terrible. They most certainly do not refurbish every 5 years like you all are claiming. From personal experience they’re all terrible. The Maui Marriott vacation club property looked like a dump. The Hyatt is 1000x nicer.

 

[dioxide45]

Could care less how Marriott operates. The experience is inconsistent and terrible. They most certainly do not refurbish every 5 years like you all are claiming. From personal experience they’re all terrible. The Maui Marriott vacation club property looked like a dump. The Hyatt is 1000x nicer.

How Marriott operates was the whole basis for your argument as to why you thought the resorts were inconsistent.

I have not seen the Hyatt in Maui, but would probably agree that it is nicer than the Marriott. It is also 18 years newer. The Hyatt Maui is also an outlier in their system. They seem to have a few very high end resorts and the others are just about on par with Marriott. We have been to two Hyatt properties (Coconut Plantation and Windward Point) and they are certainly not any better than any Marriott unit we have been in.

It seems you always stay in the oldest refurbished unit. You must not be staying as an owner. They most certainly do have a 5/10 year refurbishment cycle at most resorts. DVC has shown that they certainly aren't up to par on the refurbishment cycle. Riviera is also their newest resort, so one would expect it to be top notch. The units are only a couple years old. Though the balconies are tiny. That is one thing where DVC definitely lacks, postage stamp sized patio/balconies.

 

[SueDonJ]

My in laws are platinum mvc owners and there is no waitlist system.

In the Marriott systems "Platinum" can either refer to a status tier in the MAR hotel company's Bonvoy customer loyalty program, or, a high-demand calendar season in several of the VAC timeshare resort calendars. If your in-laws are Plat status in Bonvoy, that has nothing to do with ownership in Marriott timeshares. If your in-laws own a Platinum-season Week in a Marriott timeshare, if that Week is enrolled in the Destination Club then they most certainly are eligible to use the waitlist function when they elect DC Points for their enrolled Week.

 

[SueDonJ]

Could care less how Marriott operates. The experience is inconsistent and terrible. They most certainly do not refurbish every 5 years like you all are claiming. From personal experience they’re all terrible. The Maui Marriott vacation club property looked like a dump. The Hyatt is 1000x nicer.

It's "couldn't," not "could," unless you're saying that you do care about how Marriott operates? Regardless, perhaps you'll stop telling untruths about how Marriott operates in order to bolster your argument that DVC is apparently THE MOST PERFECT timeshare in the entire world. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else participating in this thread.

 

[ndang3]

How Marriott operates was the whole basis for your argument as to why you thought the resorts were inconsistent.

I have not seen the Hyatt in Maui, but would probably agree that it is nicer than the Marriott. It is also 18 years newer. The Hyatt Maui is also an outlier in their system. They seem to have a few very high end resorts and the others are just about on par with Marriott. We have been to two Hyatt properties (Coconut Plantation and Windward Point) and they are certainly not any better than any Marriott unit we have been in.

It seems you always stay in the oldest refurbished unit. You must not be staying as an owner. They most certainly do have a 5/10 year refurbishment cycle at most resorts. DVC has shown that they certainly aren't up to par on the refurbishment cycle. Riviera is also their newest resort, so one would expect it to be top notch. The units are only a couple years old. Though the balconies are tiny. That is one thing where DVC definitely lacks, postage stamp sized patio/balconies.

I stay with my in laws who are platinum owners. I’m sharing my experiences with you all and thus how it has influenced my perspective on the Marriott brand in general. Not a big fan. When they announced acquisition of Vistana we were not happy.

 

[ndang3]

In the Marriott systems "Platinum" can either refer to a status tier in the MAR hotel company's Bonvoy customer loyalty program, or, a high-demand calendar season in several of the VAC timeshare resort calendars. If your in-laws are Plat status in Bonvoy, that has nothing to do with ownership in Marriott timeshares. If your in-laws own a Platinum-season Week in a Marriott timeshare, if that Week is enrolled in the Destination Club then they most certainly are eligible to use the waitlist function when they elect DC Points for their enrolled Week.

Again, platinum mvc owners. I do know what I’m talking about. Never said anything about bonvoy status.

 

[dioxide45]

I stay with my in laws who are platinum owners. I’m sharing my experiences with you all and thus how it has influenced my perspective on the Marriott brand in general. Not a big fan. When they announced acquisition of Vistana we were not happy.

Fair enough, but you don't seem to be equally open to the opinions that others have of DVC resorts.

 

[ndang3]

It's "couldn't," not "could," unless you're saying that you do care about how Marriott operates? Regardless, perhaps you'll stop telling untruths about how Marriott operates in order to bolster your argument that DVC is apparently THE MOST PERFECT timeshare in the entire world. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else participating in this thread.

Yes, dvc is the best timeshare IMO and many others. They have 15 properties vs Marriott 65. Disney’s brand is all about quality. You get what you pay for. Not sure what Marriott does with all the revenue but they certainly do not reinvest back into their properties. You can see how desperate they are in their sales tactics. Dvc just stands by and has many interested parties flocking to them. They don’t need to tell lies or manipulate or strong arm in the presentations. Sorry for the incorrect grammar. I do have a day job and other things going on. Also can’t help that Apples auto correct is terrible. Yet another overrated company but we won’t go there.

 

[dioxide45]

Again, platinum mvc owners. I do know what I’m talking about. Never said anything about bonvoy status.

Do you mean they own weeks in Platinum season? In that case, Platinum, silver, gold, it doesn't really matter in this context.

 

[ndang3]

Do you mean they own weeks in Platinum season? In that case, Platinum, silver, gold, it doesn't really matter in this context.

Wow lol, if you knew so much and are a veteran in the hospitality industry you would know. Platinum mvc status refers to how many total points they own.

 

[Ty1on]

 

[dioxide45]

Wow lol, if you knew so much and are a veteran in the hospitality industry you would know. Platinum mvc status refers to how many total points they own.

It certainly does not. See the post above this one (#156). I think someone else needs to do a little research.

 

[ndang3]

View attachment 43234

Yes, Presidential is what I meant. Guess I couldn’t get my “P’s” straight today. Go ahead and cancel me!!! Lol

 

[SueDonJ]

Again, platinum mvc owners. I do know what I’m talking about. Never said anything about bonvoy status.

Do you mean they own weeks in Platinum season? In that case, Platinum, silver, gold, it doesn't really matter in this context.

Wow lol, if you knew so much and are a veteran in the hospitality industry you would know. Platinum mvc status refers to how many total points they own.

The chart in Post #156 and linked here shows that the status tiers in the Marriott timeshare points system are: Owner, Select, Executive, Presidential and Chairman's Club. "Platinum" is not an option.

If what they own is a Platinum seasonal calendar Week and it is enrolled in the Destination Club, then they do certainly have access to the waitlist system if/when they elect DC Points for their enrolled week.

If they are "Platinum" status in the hotel company's customer loyalty program, it has no bearing on the timeshares.

Now, as a TUG moderator: This thread has been hijacked enough with the DVC v. Marriott nonsense, but as we all know there are Marriott owners who are perfectly happy doing this every day and twice on Sundays. If this vein continues I'll be separating out the nonsense to a new thread because it's not helping those who are coming to this thread to learn about DVC's re-affiliation with II as their external exchange company.

 

[ndang3]

It certainly does not. See the post above this one (#156). I think someone else needs to do a little research.

Seriously, not high on my priority list dude. Platinum presidential whatever. Obviously presidential is what I meant. Marriott will just change all of it when they merge the Vistana owners in at some point. The merger closed in 2019? And it’s been almost 3 years still no consolidation. Can’t get their act together. Yet Disney rolled out a brand new park reservation system within months after covid began…

 

[ocdb8r]

...stepped away for a few minutes to pop another batch of popcorn. Still complete craziness going on over here?

Seriously, not high on my priority list dude. Platinum presidential whatever. Obviously presidential is what I meant. Marriott will just change all of it when they merge the Vistana owners in at some point. The merger closed in 2019? And it’s been almost 3 years still no consolidation. Can’t get their act together. Yet Disney rolled out a brand new park reservation system within months after covid began…

I guess so.

 

[dioxide45]

Seriously, not high on my priority list dude. Platinum presidential whatever. Obviously presidential is what I meant. Marriott will just change all of it when they merge the Vistana owners in at some point. The merger closed in 2019? And it’s been almost 3 years still no consolidation. Can’t get their act together. Yet Disney rolled out a brand new park reservation system within months after covid began…

They are Presidential? That is a lot of Marriott ownership. Perhaps we should ask what they think about the resorts.

 

[SueDonJ]

Seriously, not high on my priority list dude. Platinum presidential whatever. Obviously presidential is what I meant. Marriott will just change all of it when they merge the Vistana owners in at some point. The merger closed in 2019? And it’s been almost 3 years still no consolidation. Can’t get their act together. Yet Disney rolled out a brand new park reservation system within months after covid began…

But Marriott wasn't forced to stop selling any of its timeshares while correcting their mistake of underfunding the initial Maintenance Fees such that MF's in a single resort are assessed based on the date of purchase as subsidized or not. That was DVC. That is Aulani. That was a major industry error and one that no other timeshare company has made. Obviously, DVC has had its own problems getting its act together.

 

[VacationForever]

I stay with my in laws who are platinum owners. I’m sharing my experiences with you all and thus how it has influenced my perspective on the Marriott brand in general. Not a big fan. When they announced acquisition of Vistana we were not happy.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MARRIOTT PLATINUM OWNERS. I INTENTIONALLY BOLD MY POST BECAUSE YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT READING AND UNDERSTANDING OTHER PEOPLE'S POSTS.