Booking points anomaly

[dougp26364]

At Chairman’s level owners we are allowed to book 13 months out. Generally speaking we have our destinations planned 13 months out and I begin the process of looking for dates a few days ahead of the release date. In the past this has been no big deal. Sometimes resorts that are nearly 100% weeks ownership take a little more time for availability to open up, but generally I’m able to book what I want at the time we want with few exceptions.

For January 2026 we wanted to book either Ocean Pointe or Oceana Palms with a preference for Ocean Pointe. Absolutely nothing was available from the last two weeks of December through the first two weeks of January, which is unusual for those resorts based on past experience. Normally I wait until the last minute to pay our MF’S, this year being no exception. I literally paid our trust MF’s this morning (tried last night but the system was glitchy) and then went to the search engine again to check availability. Miraculously every day was available to some extent whereas yesterday absolutely nothing was available, not even studio ocean side units at Ocean Pointe.

Perhaps it was a glitch, but I had been searching frequently for availability for the past couple of weeks. It’s not something I’ve noticed in the past. I have seen where I had to wait to get the exact u it view I wanted, but never no availability until I paid at least part of our MF’s. It makes me wonder if MVC is anticipating defaults accelerating and has decided to hold future (2026) out of view until an owner made payment on at least a portion of their 2025 fees.

 

[bazzap]

At Chairman’s level owners we are allowed to book 13 months out. Generally speaking we have our destinations planned 13 months out and I begin the process of looking for dates a few days ahead of the release date. In the past this has been no big deal. Sometimes resorts that are nearly 100% weeks ownership take a little more time for availability to open up, but generally I’m able to book what I want at the time we want with few exceptions.

For January 2026 we wanted to book either Ocean Pointe or Oceana Palms with a preference for Ocean Pointe. Absolutely nothing was available from the last two weeks of December through the first two weeks of January, which is unusual for those resorts based on past experience. Normally I wait until the last minute to pay our MF’S, this year being no exception. I literally paid our trust MF’s this morning (tried last night but the system was glitchy) and then went to the search engine again to check availability. Miraculously every day was available to some extent whereas yesterday absolutely nothing was available, not even studio ocean side units at Ocean Pointe.

Perhaps it was a glitch, but I had been searching frequently for availability for the past couple of weeks. It’s not something I’ve noticed in the past. I have seen where I had to wait to get the exact u it view I wanted, but never no availability until I paid at least part of our MF’s. It makes me wonder if MVC is anticipating defaults accelerating and has decided to hold future (2026) out of view until an owner made payment on at least a portion of their 2025 fees.

That is very strange.
I can see almost total availability at these 2 resorts, whether for a single night or up to 7 nights right through to the 13 month mark on 13th January 2026.
And I definitely have not paid any 2025 MFs yet?

 

[vol_90]

At Chairman’s level owners we are allowed to book 13 months out. Generally speaking we have our destinations planned 13 months out and I begin the process of looking for dates a few days ahead of the release date. In the past this has been no big deal. Sometimes resorts that are nearly 100% weeks ownership take a little more time for availability to open up, but generally I’m able to book what I want at the time we want with few exceptions.

For January 2026 we wanted to book either Ocean Pointe or Oceana Palms with a preference for Ocean Pointe. Absolutely nothing was available from the last two weeks of December through the first two weeks of January, which is unusual for those resorts based on past experience. Normally I wait until the last minute to pay our MF’S, this year being no exception. I literally paid our trust MF’s this morning (tried last night but the system was glitchy) and then went to the search engine again to check availability. Miraculously every day was available to some extent whereas yesterday absolutely nothing was available, not even studio ocean side units at Ocean Pointe.

Perhaps it was a glitch, but I had been searching frequently for availability for the past couple of weeks. It’s not something I’ve noticed in the past. I have seen where I had to wait to get the exact u it view I wanted, but never no availability until I paid at least part of our MF’s. It makes me wonder if MVC is anticipating defaults accelerating and has decided to hold future (2026) out of view until an owner made payment on at least a portion of their 2025 fees.

I believe payment of maintenance fees has no impact on the availability of booking resorts. If it did you would not be able to book reservations using borrowed points.

 

[ljmiii]

I believe payment of maintenance fees has no impact on the availability of booking resorts. If it did you would not be able to book reservations using borrowed points.

My understanding is that having to pay MFs to 'activate' borrowed points is a Vistana thing. But not MVC (at least previously).

 

[dj_drf]

At Chairman’s level owners we are allowed to book 13 months out. Generally speaking we have our destinations planned 13 months out and I begin the process of looking for dates a few days ahead of the release date. In the past this has been no big deal. Sometimes resorts that are nearly 100% weeks ownership take a little more time for availability to open up, but generally I’m able to book what I want at the time we want with few exceptions.

For January 2026 we wanted to book either Ocean Pointe or Oceana Palms with a preference for Ocean Pointe. Absolutely nothing was available from the last two weeks of December through the first two weeks of January, which is unusual for those resorts based on past experience. Normally I wait until the last minute to pay our MF’S, this year being no exception. I literally paid our trust MF’s this morning (tried last night but the system was glitchy) and then went to the search engine again to check availability. Miraculously every day was available to some extent whereas yesterday absolutely nothing was available, not even studio ocean side units at Ocean Pointe.

Perhaps it was a glitch, but I had been searching frequently for availability for the past couple of weeks. It’s not something I’ve noticed in the past. I have seen where I had to wait to get the exact u it view I wanted, but never no availability until I paid at least part of our MF’s. It makes me wonder if MVC is anticipating defaults accelerating and has decided to hold future (2026) out of view until an owner made payment on at least a portion of their 2025 fees.

I've had a similar experience at Maui Ocean Club over the past couple weeks - the search would indicate there is availability in January 2026, but when opening the calendar, all of the dates are grayed out. I finally called Tuesday afternoon and was able to reserve the 21 days that I wanted. Today, for the first time, numerous options are miraculously available. Obviously, there was a(nother) glitch in their system.

 

[dougp26364]

I've had a similar experience at Maui Ocean Club over the past couple weeks - the search would indicate there is availability in January 2026, but when opening the calendar, all of the dates are grayed out. I finally called Tuesday afternoon and was able to reserve the 21 days that I wanted. Today, for the first time, numerous options are miraculously available. Obviously, there was a(nother) glitch in their system.

That’s exactly what I was seeing. It wasn’t until after I paid my MF’s on my trust points (deeded weeks aren’t due until mid January) that the grey turned white and I could book what I wanted.

 

[dougp26364]

I believe payment of maintenance fees has no impact on the availability of booking resorts. If it did you would not be able to book reservations using borrowed points.

Its not suppose to, that’s why its appears to be an anomaly. It is one of those situations where I’m booking for 2026 and in January. Booking anything in 2025 hasn’t been a problem. Booking past January won’t be a problem either as I’ll have paid all my 2025 MF’s before I book our next Marriott Vacation for March of 2026.

 

[dj_drf]

That’s exactly what I was seeing. It wasn’t until after I paid my MF’s on my trust points (deeded weeks aren’t due until mid January) that the grey turned white and I could book what I wanted.

I think resolution of the problem was independent of paying your MF. I paid mine a while back and have been experiencing the same problem until today.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Its not suppose to, that’s why its appears to be an anomaly. It is one of those situations where I’m booking for 2026 and in January. Booking anything in 2025 hasn’t been a problem. Booking past January won’t be a problem either as I’ll have paid all my 2025 MF’s before I book our next Marriott Vacation for March of 2026.

Have you physically called Marriott Owner Services and asked for an explanation? I think that would be my next step in order to determine if it is an computer reservation issue or something which is no longer allowed to be done.

Best of luck!







.

 

[dougp26364]

Have you physically called Marriott Owner Services and asked for an explanation? I think that would be my next step in order to determine if it is an computer reservation issue or something which is no longer allowed to be done.

Best of luck!







.

No, I didn’t call. My work schedule makes that difficult. Plus, it’s not that big of a deal. Just an oddity that I noticed this year

 

[dougp26364]

I think resolution of the problem was independent of paying your MF. I paid mine a while back and have been experiencing the same problem until today.

A glitch their system? Say it isn’t so.

It wouldn’t surprise me since Marriotts IT and their website has been known to be glitchy. It makes it hard to tell what is a minor inconvenience, as in booking 13 months out before MF’s are paid in December or if it’s just the normal random weirdness that is the MVC owner website

 

[igopogo]

That’s exactly what I was seeing. It wasn’t until after I paid my MF’s on my trust points (deeded weeks aren’t due until mid January) that the grey turned white and I could book what I wanted.

I’m seeing this for Ritz Carleton in Truckee for December 2025. I keep thinking there’s some magic incantation that will make some of the grey squares turn white. As yet I haven’t found it.

I’m curious whether anyone can see availability for that month.

 

[sponger76]

I’m seeing this for Ritz Carleton in Truckee for December 2025. I keep thinking there’s some magic incantation that will make some of the grey squares turn white. As yet I haven’t found it.

I’m curious whether anyone can see availability for that month.

Not seeing anything for December 2025. In fact, the last single night I see available for the entire year is in July. But I do see a couple of nights here and there for January 2026. Perhaps fractional owners just haven't elected their weeks into Abound for the second half of the year? That or there's still a glitch for that particular property's inventory for August to December. I don't think that location has much, if anything, owned by the Abound trust.

 

[Hindsite]

@igopogo and @sponger76 Are you exec level of above, as you'll only see 6 months ahead for Ritz C if not.

 

[sponger76]

@igopogo and @sponger76 Are you exec level of above, as you'll only see 6 months ahead for Ritz C if not.

I am Executive level, which is why I can see availability in January 2026 as I stated above.

 

[igopogo]

@igopogo and @sponger76 Are you exec level of above, as you'll only see 6 months ahead for Ritz C if not.

I am Chairman’s level. I was able to book two nights in December 2025 but we were hoping for three

 

[igopogo]

Not seeing anything for December 2025. In fact, the last single night I see available for the entire year is in July. But I do see a couple of nights here and there for January 2026. Perhaps fractional owners just haven't elected their weeks into Abound for the second half of the year? That or there's still a glitch for that particular property's inventory for August to December. I don't think that location has much, if anything, owned by the Abound trust.

Yes, it’s very tough to find anything available there. I’m just noting that at a high level the search says there are available 3br before December 2025 but when you click in, it’s all grey.

 

[pedro47]

We are looking at Marriott’s Beach Place, Ocean Pointe, and Ocean Palms in April after a cruise. The Commander in Chief, is still undecided what she want to do cruise first for ten days and after the cruise a timeshare vacation. The clock is ticking.

 

[ljmiii]

We are looking at Marriott’s Beach Place, Ocean Pointe, and Ocean Palms in April after a cruise....

I can tell you that BeachPlace towers opened up to single night reservations in April...but only for 2BRs. And that you can reserve 7 nights in a studio starting any day that month. And 7 nights in a 1BR starting any night but April 18-24 (which is new-ish...there was 7 night 1BR availability any night in April about two weeks ago).

I've been tracking this because my wife and I may well cruise out of Ft Lauderdale in April. And my son and his partner are thinking of going. But as you say...the clock is ticking and go/no go on the cruise is coming like a freight train.