Room Assignment Hierarchy

[ral]

This thread is nowhere nearly as important as others today, but just out of curiosity: I am familiar with the room assignment hierarchy with Marriott Timeshare properties (multiweek home resort MVCI multiweek owners, single week home resort MVCI multiweek owners, etc.), but where does the Trust Owner fit in? Since the Trust Owner does not actually own any one unit, how would one provide for the Trust Owner's placement in the hierarchy? Even in Oceanfront units, there is high floor, low floor, facing North, facing South, etc.

 

[dioxide45]

This thread is nowhere nearly as important as others today, but just out of curiosity: I am familiar with the room assignment hierarchy with Marriott Timeshare properties (multiweek home resort MVCI multiweek owners, single week home resort MVCI multiweek owners, etc.), but where does the Trust Owner fit in? Since the Trust Owner does not actually own any one unit, how would one provide for the Trust Owner's placement in the hierarchy? Even in Oceanfront units, there is high floor, low floor, facing North, facing South, etc.

No one really knows the answer to this as Marriott nor the HOA's at individual resorts have released new policies on unit assignments.

 

[SueDonJ]

This thread is nowhere nearly as important as others today, but just out of curiosity: I am familiar with the room assignment hierarchy with Marriott Timeshare properties (multiweek home resort MVCI multiweek owners, single week home resort MVCI multiweek owners, etc.), but where does the Trust Owner fit in? Since the Trust Owner does not actually own any one unit, how would one provide for the Trust Owner's placement in the hierarchy? Even in Oceanfront units, there is high floor, low floor, facing North, facing South, etc.

I don't think there's been a definitive statement from Marriott on this, but here are a couple threads where it's been discussed:

Villa Requests With Points Members
A few thoughts on the Destination Points

 

[wvacations]

NOt sure of how they assign rooms. But as a multi-week owner, Gold member in MRD, here was my view for my last Ko Olina OCEAN VIEW room:

Thanks Marriott!!!!

 

[Topher]

Impressive. Apparently they never changed this room's category when that building across the way went up or after the tree grew.

 

[jlr10]

We had an 'oceanview' Room Kauai Beach Club. When on the lanai we had a beautiful view of the roof of the entrance. But if we went to the far right on the lanai, leaned out over the railing, and squinted through the palm trees....Yep! There it was! If you can see a sliver of ocean in anyway it is oceanview.

 

[wvacations]

Even though I would never convert to points, keep in mind what the Marriott Money Machine considers Ocean View when you use an additional 1000 points ($9,200 + $400/yr MF) to get that great Ocean View. What a joke.:rofl:

 

[Dean]

Impressive. Apparently they never changed this room's category when that building across the way went up or after the tree grew.

They really can't change a given room description or if they did, they would have to compensate with another room move into that category. Grande Ocean has this issue for first floor units, esp for those that are on the perpendicular portion of the L shaped OF buildings. Their really stuck. Marriott uses the descriptions more as general locations, not necessarily as a description of a view from a given unit.

 

[pipet]

They really can't change a given room description or if they did, they would have to compensate with another room move into that category. Grande Ocean has this issue for first floor units, esp for those that are on the perpendicular portion of the L shaped OF buildings. Their really stuck. Marriott uses the descriptions more as general locations, not necessarily as a description of a view from a given unit.

While they may not be able to change a room description in a sold out resort, Ko Olina isn't sold out, so they should be able to change the room description imo. And, if they know they have a crapper room but there is no other availability, they should do something nice to make up for the extra money spent on the "view" room, just like when a restaurant screws up they comp you something and make you happy.

 

[Dean]

While they may not be able to change a room description in a sold out resort, Ko Olina isn't sold out, so they should be able to change the room description imo. And, if they know they have a crapper room but there is no other availability, they should do something nice to make up for the extra money spent on the "view" room, just like when a restaurant screws up they comp you something and make you happy.

Once declared, they couldn't change the overall mix even if not sold out without the vote of the members, all they could do would be to swap rooms around. I don't see the room designations as a guarantee of a view from a given room and would not see compensation as in order, esp since it'd ultimately have to come from the budget and other owners. In addition in Marriott's order Hierarchy OV is actually somewhat down the list. Take a property like Ocean Watch where they have 4 view possibilities, in that case, OV is actually third best with OS being above that. Or Crystal Shores where Gulf view is lower than Gulf side. Certainly they could change the mix if they had undeclared inventory, they could have done so when they added a new building. GO is the poster child for this issue IMO as it had only the top two designations of OS and OF. If you're ever at GO, get the property map and look around with the idea of what is OF and what OS. There are actually quite a few OS room that have much better view than about 10-20% of the OF units and they are locked in to this issue. It's interesting and funny at times to hear people's complaints about unit assignments and the view ultimately comes up in this discussion at resorts where there is variability. I do realize that the view names are suggestive of expectations but that has never been reality and one needs to know this going in. This issue is one of the factors to places like Maui selling fixed week/fixed unit options at a premium price.

 

[LAX Mom]

I don't think Ko'Olina would assign a Ko'Olina ocean view owner to the room in the photo by mwollert. Owners at that property get first priority on room assignments.

When you exchange into Ko'Olina through II you are not guaranteed a room view. Even if your confirmation # indicates you've got an ocean view you could end up in island view. Ko'Olina doesn't have to honor the original reservation view.

I've exchanged into Ko'Olina many times (stopped counting at 13). I'm a Marriott platinum rewards member and multiple week owner, but not at Ko'Olina. My experience has been that I will usually get the view assigned, but not one of the better views in that category. For instance I might get an ocean view unit, but it will be on the 4th floor and the view will be mostly blocked by the trees. Even though I always request high floor, I rarely get higher than 8 or 9. I've requested high floor many times and ended up on the 4th floor. When you exchange into a resort you shouldn't get your expectations too high. Owners will always get the better rooms and they should!

But it's a beautiful resort and I'm just happy to be there. I've never had a bad room, especially when they only had one building constructed. Most of the units in the first building had great ocean views (even many island view units) before they built building #3.

 

[pipet]

Once declared, they couldn't change the overall mix even if not sold out without the vote of the members, all they could do would be to swap rooms around.

I know the room classifications are in the deeds, etc, but in unfinished resorts like Ko Olina, I also know there are several places in the deeds where they state that things can change, no guarantees everything will be built exactly as promised, etc. IMO, they don't change it because they are greedy, not because it's ridiculously hard to do.

I do realize that the view names are suggestive of expectations but that has never been reality and one needs to know this going in.

Pay 10k premium for a view that is not guaranteed. They need to have that in the print somewhere! At my home resort, I am generally satisfied with room assignments, but I did get a total turd one year. I wasn't too happy about that. If I were buying again, I don't think I would pay extra unless I knew I was guaranteed what I paid for, and about the only category that gets you that is OF, which wasn't even available at my resort.

Disney got a lot of crap about their view classifications at one of their Orlando resorts, and now for their new Ko Olina resort they are pretty clear about how bad the views can be: they all say something about getting at least a partial view of the ocean from the balcony, etc.

 

[Dean]

I know the room classifications are in the deeds, etc, but in unfinished resorts like Ko Olina, I also know there are several places in the deeds where they state that things can change, no guarantees everything will be built exactly as promised, etc. IMO, they don't change it because they are greedy, not because it's ridiculously hard to do.

Pay 10k premium for a view that is not guaranteed. They need to have that in the print somewhere! At my home resort, I am generally satisfied with room assignments, but I did get a total turd one year. I wasn't too happy about that. If I were buying again, I don't think I would pay extra unless I knew I was guaranteed what I paid for, and about the only category that gets you that is OF, which wasn't even available at my resort.

Disney got a lot of crap about their view classifications at one of their Orlando resorts, and now for their new Ko Olina resort they are pretty clear about how bad the views can be: they all say something about getting at least a partial view of the ocean from the balcony, etc.

Without reviewing the paperwork, I seem to recall all the legalities are pretty mute on the view issue. Your post illustrates that the views can vary and that someone has to get the worst views in a given category, that's life in timeshares. That's why you need to understand what your getting before you buy in rather than assume that a given view title has more meaning that what it does and that includes OF frankly.

While they do give themselves an out, I think generally Marriott declares the inventory into the resort when it's ready, unlike say DVC which does it in multiple stages. It's when it's declared that is the controlling item, not how much is actually sold. Disney likely does it in phases more than most because they have a built in rental system that is far more effective than is Marriott's overall. Once declared, they're really pretty stuck, I think they could swap one room for another but that's about it. The next opportunity would be the next phase. For example, there are two row of units at Ko'Olina in the Kona building that are Mountain view but Pool side and 3 rows on the outside away from the pool that are OV. I don't see them selling the next building as a lessor view to compensate.

I don't recall any major issues with views at the DVC resorts and I'm a member. I know there has been some discussion about Bay Lake Towers due to variability of the Magic Kingdom park view but nothing of significance in my book.

 

[Dave M]

If I were buying again, I don't think I would pay extra unless I knew I was guaranteed what I paid for, and about the only category that gets you that is OF, which wasn't even available at my resort.

No guarantees at many resorts, even if you buy OF. Dean's Grande Ocean example is perfectly on point. Growth of trees and shrubs (which the town of Hilton Head severely restricts from pruning) have obscured the views of approximately 30% of the units that once upon a time had a great view of the Atlantic Ocean.

About the only way to guarantee a true OF view is to buy in a high-rise that sits right on the beach so that no tree growth or construction can block the view.

 

[pedro47]

The Dolphin, The Pelican and The Sand Piper villas all could have direct ocean views if the trees could be prune back.

 

[Dean]

No guarantees at many resorts, even if you buy OF. Dean's Grande Ocean example is perfectly on point. Growth of trees and shrubs (which the town of Hilton Head severely restricts from pruning) have obscured the views of approximately 30% of the units that once upon a time had a great view of the Atlantic Ocean.

About the only way to guarantee a true OF view is to buy in a high-rise that sits right on the beach so that no tree growth or construction can block the view.

The rule at HH is that you can do it once every 3 years and you have to get an inspector to approve it.

A couple of years ago we were at Surfwatch with 2 units, one a GV but entitled to OV at that time and one an exchange. We had to make a choice, have them together on a smoking floor or first floor or have the split but in the same building. We decided on having them split with one 5th floor and one first thinking we'd at least get the good view. As luck would have it the view from the first floor was actually better than the fifth floor.

pipet, I think many people make far too many assumptions in these and similar areas. Since you mentioned DVC, let me give you some info on their Boardwalk resort. Initially there was only one view. Before it was opened completely, they took about 20% of the rooms and reduced points much as you're saying could be done and they could only do because they had not yet declared all of the inventory. That gave them two views, standard and preferred. If you took the name literally and didn't understand the history, you'd assume the views from the preferred were good views, often that isn't true and at times, the standard are better than the "preferred". They later made it more complicated because they then took an additional 20% and reclassified them as Boardwalk views, which are desirable, but kept the points the same. As luck would have it, the original view category is by far the least desirable.

 

[pedro47]

Dean, Surfwatch allow smoking in their villas ?

 

[Dean]

Dean, Surfwatch allow smoking in their villas ?

Not now but Surfwatch was one of the last to go completely none smoking even though at the time it came on board it should have been totally NS. At the time they were putting smokers on certain floors but asking them to only smoke on the balcony. Now it's totally NS AND NS on the balcony's and they'll come knock on your door if you're smoking on the balcony and they know about it.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks you very much !!!

 

[pipet]

That's why you need to understand what your getting before you buy in rather than assume that a given view title has more meaning that what it does and that includes OF frankly.

I don't recall any major issues with views at the DVC resorts and I'm a member. I know there has been some discussion about Bay Lake Towers due to variability of the Magic Kingdom park view but nothing of significance in my book.

LOL, I am just unhappy because I didn't do lots of research before I bought a "view" unit, and of course, the sales reps always promise more than can be delivered. I knew enough not to look at TS as a great money saver or an investment, but I did go in with a little more expectation on view. My own experiences have obviously taught me to just hope for the best, but it's still a little annoying when I remember how much extra the supposed view cost.

BTW - I was referring to BLT. It might not be that big of a deal (I haven't personally stayed there), but I did read a lot of complaints about it when I checked into DVC. The new Disney Ko Olina resort seems to correct any expectations that people have. And, to me, that's a good thing: give people an low expectations (a sliver of a view), and then people are fine when they get that and are pleasantly surprised when they get the good room.

 

[Dean]

LOL, I am just unhappy because I didn't do lots of research before I bought a "view" unit, and of course, the sales reps always promise more than can be delivered. I knew enough not to look at TS as a great money saver or an investment, but I did go in with a little more expectation on view. My own experiences have obviously taught me to just hope for the best, but it's still a little annoying when I remember how much extra the supposed view cost.

BTW - I was referring to BLT. It might not be that big of a deal (I haven't personally stayed there), but I did read a lot of complaints about it when I checked into DVC. The new Disney Ko Olina resort seems to correct any expectations that people have. And, to me, that's a good thing: give people an low expectations (a sliver of a view), and then people are fine when they get that and are pleasantly surprised when they get the good room.

You've learned some valuable lessons. My general approach is to expect the worst and hope for the best, within reason of course. You have to realize that as a group, DVC members have high and often unrealistic expectations. In many ways they don't see themselves as timeshare owners at all but as owning a part of Disney. Some complained but I didn't see it as a big deal, still don't.

 

[dioxide45]

BTW - I was referring to BLT. It might not be that big of a deal (I haven't personally stayed there), but I did read a lot of complaints about it when I checked into DVC. The new Disney Ko Olina resort seems to correct any expectations that people have. And, to me, that's a good thing: give people an low expectations (a sliver of a view), and then people are fine when they get that and are pleasantly surprised when they get the good room.

Wouldn't it be better if the developer properly allocated views. Instead of calling a unit that gets a sliver of ocean view as Ocean View, how about they call it the garden view or ocean side that it really is? Instead they try to expand the number of units in the prime views only to soak buyers even more. They know in many cases these cruddy views will go to exchangers, so in most cases owners won't be very upset except in the first couple years when they don't exchange out.