Disney or Marriott? What are the differences?

[csalter2]

I know that this may not be the best time to ask and maybe it has been asked before. But now that Marriott has decided to go to points and everyone who does not have to use it is complaining about it, let's find out what the differences are with Disney's Vacation Club.

What are the differences between Disney and Marriott vacation clubs? Let's talk about costs, reservations, exchanging, resort qualities, etc.

This could be a real good thread if we are fair in our analyses.

 

[5infam]

I will take a shot to add a few items:

1. DVC points is tied to a specific resort; as a Home Resort Priority - Marriott is not tied to a specific home resort. Instead, you own shares in the Marriott Trust - with 250 points being a share (forget the actual term for a share right now - sorry).

2. DVC allows home resort booking at 11 months out - and then 7 months out to any other DVC resort in the system. I need help on the Marriott side, but I believe it is something like 12 months out to book 7 days for regular owners - 13 months out for premiere owners to book 7 days - and 13 months for Premiere Plus owners who can book less than 7 days. I am probably wrong somewhere in here, but someone can correct me.

3. DVC dues ranges from above $4.00 per point to around $5.00 per point, depending on the resort you own. Marriott is at $0.40 per point - but DVC uses less points. A minimum DVC buy in is 150 points, and Marriott (for non-weeks owners) is 1,500 - so they are very similar.

4. DVC used to heavily discount week days, and charged double or more for Friday and Saturday night. At least at the resort I own, that has changed recently. DVC now has leveled that off so the Fri/Sat night points are very close to week day points. Marriott is starting off like DVC did, with Fri/Sat being much higher, giving great values for Sun to Thurs stays. My guess is this will change in the future.

5. Both systems you must call in to make a reservation - no on line access.

6. DVC has several resorts around Disneyworld, which are fantastic if you are going to the parks. They also have Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Disneyland, and next year will open up Hawaii, down the block from Marriott's Ko Olina. Marriott has far more properties than DVC - so a plus to Marriott on this one.

7. You can use DVC points for cruises, exchanges to RCI and other Disney Vacation trips. Marriott has a similar thing, difference is exchange company is II instead of RCI.

8. DVC does not charge you an annual membership fee to use your points (trade) to stay at other DVC resorts, use RCI, cruises, destination trips etc. Marriott is charging $165 per year for 1 week, and $199 per year for multiple weeks. Not sure what the fee is if you are a straight points owner, so maybe this does not apply. Again though, DVC does not have a charge.

9. Resort qualities vary - the older the resort, the theming may not be as current as a newer resort - which is true in DVC and Marriott. Generally, I think Marriott has some better space in their units then DVC. I believe all DVC 1 bedroom or larger has a full kitchen (regular sized fridge, stove, etc.). My Maui Marriott does not have a full kitchen.

10. DVC points to stay at older units are less than staying at the new ones. A week in Hawaii or at Disneyland is a lot more points than the older resorts in Florida. According to the Marriott point chart, that is true for Marriott as well, so they are similar. With each new DVC resort, the cost of points goes up, and the number needed seems to go up. My guess is Marriott will be doing the exact same thing.

11. Resales - If you buy DVC as a resale, you have 100% full benefits just as if you purchased directly from DVC. I have done both so I know this to be a fact. Marriott is fine with telling potential points buyers that the new owner on a resale may not be able to join the system (maybe it is "will not" be able to join, but I am not 100% sure).

12. DVC is active in ROFR, and the points at my resort I bought many years ago, are still selling for what I paid for them. If it dips too low, DVC snatches them up and resells them for a profit (very, very smart in my opinion). Keeps my resale values high if I ever need to get out. Marriott is unknown at this point what they will do with a points person who wants out.

13. DVC is Right To Use - meaning you give it back to DVC at a certain point, usually 50 years from resort build date. Mine goes back to them in 2042 I believe. Marriott you own a piece of the Trust. I assume for life, but I am not a trust attorney so i have no idea what the ownership really means, and if my heirs will be able to take over my points, or be locked out like a resale buyer.

That is it for now - but i am sure I have a ton more if you ask a question to jog my memory

 

[pfrank4127]

I will take a shot to add a few items:

1. DVC points is tied to a specific resort; as a Home Resort Priority - Marriott is not tied to a specific home resort. Instead, you own shares in the Marriott Trust - with 250 points being a share (forget the actual term for a share right now - sorry).

2. DVC allows home resort booking at 11 months out - and then 7 months out to any other DVC resort in the system. I need help on the Marriott side, but I believe it is something like 12 months out to book 7 days for regular owners - 13 months out for premiere owners to book 7 days - and 13 months for Premiere Plus owners who can book less than 7 days. I am probably wrong somewhere in here, but someone can correct me.

3. DVC dues ranges from above $4.00 per point to around $5.00 per point, depending on the resort you own. Marriott is at $0.40 per point - but DVC uses less points. A minimum DVC buy in is 150 points, and Marriott (for non-weeks owners) is 1,500 - so they are very similar.

4. DVC used to heavily discount week days, and charged double or more for Friday and Saturday night. At least at the resort I own, that has changed recently. DVC now has leveled that off so the Fri/Sat night points are very close to week day points. Marriott is starting off like DVC did, with Fri/Sat being much higher, giving great values for Sun to Thurs stays. My guess is this will change in the future.

5. Both systems you must call in to make a reservation - no on line access.

6. DVC has several resorts around Disneyworld, which are fantastic if you are going to the parks. They also have Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Disneyland, and next year will open up Hawaii, down the block from Marriott's Ko Olina. Marriott has far more properties than DVC - so a plus to Marriott on this one.

7. You can use DVC points for cruises, exchanges to RCI and other Disney Vacation trips. Marriott has a similar thing, difference is exchange company is II instead of RCI.

8. DVC does not charge you an annual membership fee to use your points (trade) to stay at other DVC resorts, use RCI, cruises, destination trips etc. Marriott is charging $165 per year for 1 week, and $199 per year for multiple weeks. Not sure what the fee is if you are a straight points owner, so maybe this does not apply. Again though, DVC does not have a charge.

9. Resort qualities vary - the older the resort, the theming may not be as current as a newer resort - which is true in DVC and Marriott. Generally, I think Marriott has some better space in their units then DVC. I believe all DVC 1 bedroom or larger has a full kitchen (regular sized fridge, stove, etc.). My Maui Marriott does not have a full kitchen.

10. DVC points to stay at older units are less than staying at the new ones. A week in Hawaii or at Disneyland is a lot more points than the older resorts in Florida. According to the Marriott point chart, that is true for Marriott as well, so they are similar. With each new DVC resort, the cost of points goes up, and the number needed seems to go up. My guess is Marriott will be doing the exact same thing.

11. Resales - If you buy DVC as a resale, you have 100% full benefits just as if you purchased directly from DVC. I have done both so I know this to be a fact. Marriott is fine with telling potential points buyers that the new owner on a resale may not be able to join the system (maybe it is "will not" be able to join, but I am not 100% sure).

12. DVC is active in ROFR, and the points at my resort I bought many years ago, are still selling for what I paid for them. If it dips too low, DVC snatches them up and resells them for a profit (very, very smart in my opinion). Keeps my resale values high if I ever need to get out. Marriott is unknown at this point what they will do with a points person who wants out.

13. DVC is Right To Use - meaning you give it back to DVC at a certain point, usually 50 years from resort build date. Mine goes back to them in 2042 I believe. Marriott you own a piece of the Trust. I assume for life, but I am not a trust attorney so i have no idea what the ownership really means, and if my heirs will be able to take over my points, or be locked out like a resale buyer.

That is it for now - but i am sure I have a ton more if you ask a question to jog my memory

Very Nice summary!!!

I thought about tackling this but didn't have the energy. :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Janette]

Good job of describing Disney. We love both. The units at the Marriotts are much larger. At Disney you don't stay in the units very much. I'm sitting at Grande Ocean watching a storm at the moment. I can see the ocean and one of the pools. At Disney, I wouldn't have this space and this view. Both companies offer a great product.

 

[Ggatorgirl]

. At Disney you don't stay in the units very much. .

We own both and I disagree with the quote above....it depends on which resort and what kind of vacation you are on. The Animal Kingdom Resort has excellent theming, several unusual restaurants, many, many on-site activities such as lectures about the animals, native arts and crafts, etc. It has 2 large pools, games for the kids, etc. You could have a wonderful vacation there and never leave the property!

Old Key West also could be a destination in itself you were just looking for a very relaxing, mellow trip.

Just some more thoughts.

To quote Lloyd Benson on Dan Quayle..."I knew DVC and you (Marriott) are no DVC."

 

[Dean]

There is actually very little in common from a usage standpoint between the 2 other than both are expensive for points to buy in. There appears to be much more in common from an exchange standpoint and I expect more and more similarities as time goes on on the exchange side.

 

[SpikeMauler]

To quote Lloyd Benson on Dan Quayle..."I knew DVC and you (Marriott) are no DVC."

Really? I never new Lloyd Benson was a big fan of DVC...

 

[Ggatorgirl]

Lloyd Benson

He probably meant DeeVee See....The Disney Vaqcation Club 'mascot'.

 

[Ggatorgirl]

Lloyd Benson

He probably meant DeeVee See....The Disney Vacation Club 'mascot'.

Anybody under 40 is saying Lloyd Who????

 

[luvsvacation22]

Very Nice summary!!!

I thought about tackling this but didn't have the energy. :rofl: :rofl:

Great summary! However, there is one error...buy in is not at 150 points but 50 points at some resorts ( for non members) but with no incentives. We just came back from AKV and spoke to a DVC guide which gave us the new buy-in point requirements.

 

[littlestar]

Great summary! However, there is one error...buy in is not at 150 points but 50 points at some resorts ( for non members) but with no incentives. We just came back from AKV and spoke to a DVC guide which gave us the new buy-in point requirements.

Wow, 50 direct from Disney as the minimum. The economy must really be taking a toll. I know most of our friends are extremely afraid of any additional debt or extra expenses.

 

[jlf58]

Marriott has about 20 special assesments. DVC has ZERO. I know, DVC has less resorts so mutiple the 5X as many resorts and you still get zero

 

[Tommy_Boy]

I'm 34 and vividly remember that moment in the debates...but perhaps I am a nerd

He probably meant DeeVee See....The Disney Vacation Club 'mascot'.

Anybody under 40 is saying Lloyd Who????

 

[5infam]

Great summary! However, there is one error...buy in is not at 150 points but 50 points at some resorts ( for non members) but with no incentives. We just came back from AKV and spoke to a DVC guide which gave us the new buy-in point requirements.

Wow, you learn something new every day!! I usually only keep up on the DIS DVC boards when I am planning my DVC trips, which is usually every 2 to 3 years. If I hang out on those boards, I just feel homesick for DVC, so I try and stay away, but then I miss good info like this.

When I bought into DVC several years back, as a new owner the minimum buy in had to be 150 points, whether it was resale or retail; didn't matter. I then later added on 50 points, but then I sold those 50 to help fund my Marriott Maui purchase. Right now I feel like a knucklehead for selling those 50 points, and wish I had more DVC. But we have had great vacations in Maui, so I can't complain I guess.

Loved the Lloyd Benson comment, and I am 41 so I guess that is why I got the joke

 

[Dean]

Wow, you learn something new every day!! I usually only keep up on the DIS DVC boards when I am planning my DVC trips, which is usually every 2 to 3 years. If I hang out on those boards, I just feel homesick for DVC, so I try and stay away, but then I miss good info like this.

When I bought into DVC several years back, as a new owner the minimum buy in had to be 150 points, whether it was resale or retail; didn't matter. I then later added on 50 points, but then I sold those 50 to help fund my Marriott Maui purchase. Right now I feel like a knucklehead for selling those 50 points, and wish I had more DVC. But we have had great vacations in Maui, so I can't complain I guess.

Loved the Lloyd Benson comment, and I am 41 so I guess that is why I got the joke

It's a very new change and I believe there are some limitations though I haven't looked at it formally.

 

[chriskre]

Wow, 50 direct from Disney as the minimum. The economy must really be taking a toll. I know most of our friends are extremely afraid of any additional debt or extra expenses.

Maybe Disney will build some more value units given the difficulty in getting a value unit at AKV. Hopefully at their new resort. I know I'd welcome it.

 

[chriskre]

Marriott has about 20 special assesments. DVC has ZERO. I know, DVC has less resorts so mutiple the 5X as many resorts and you still get zero

And this is a great selling point for DVC. :whoopie: No surprises yet.

Hopefully the good fortune and management will continue if DVC keeps Marriott out of the picture. :annoyed:

 

[dioxide45]

Marriott has about 20 special assesments. DVC has ZERO. I know, DVC has less resorts so mutiple the 5X as many resorts and you still get zero

And this is a great selling point for DVC. :whoopie: No surprises yet.

Hopefully the good fortune and management will continue if DVC keeps Marriott out of the picture. :annoyed:

The new trust based ownership won't have any special assessments either. If there is a specific resort that is in the trust that has a special assessment, the MF/point will just be calculated out to include that special assessment for a given year. Those assessments will be spread across all owners in the trust, unlike in a weeks system where only owners at that specific resort pay the assessment.

 

[jlf58]

I am not sure I would be lovin that with some of those mismanaged resorts

The new trust based ownership won't have any special assessments either. If there is a specific resort that is in the trust that has a special assessment, the MF/point will just be calculated out to include that special assessment for a given year. Those assessments will be spread across all owners in the trust, unlike in a weeks system where only owners at that specific resort pay the assessment.

 

[luvsvacation22]

Wow, 50 direct from Disney as the minimum. The economy must really be taking a toll. I know most of our friends are extremely afraid of any additional debt or extra expenses.

Although they are not aggressively advertising this ( you must ask to find out about it) but it is available.