Horizons?

[shellbelle]

When we toured Grand Vista in Orlando earlier this year, our salesperson told us that Marriott's two Horizons properties are different from the "regular" Marriott Vacation Club properties.

For our family, Horizons seem like a good choice; since we have 6 young children the family activities (pirate pool, kids' programs, etc.) will be important to our kids (and eventually grandkids) for the forseeable future.

We may sometimes want to trade, though, and this is where I'm wondering about Horizons in general. How does it trade? Is it part of the mystical Marriott priority system within II? I don't understand this very well, so please help educate me.

I guess what I'm really asking is how do the two Horizons properties fit into the whole Marriott Vacation Club system? Especially for trading? (And no, we wouldn't be buying this as a "trader"--we would mostly use it ourselves, but we might occasionally want that option.) Our salesperson kind of made it sound like Horizons are the ugly ducklings of the Marriotts, but we need to have more (and less biased) information.

 

[CMF]

I was looking at Horizons.

I don't really see it as an ugly duckling at all. My two cents about trading. The problems may not be as much with the Horizon name, but the location. The TUG mantra [I hope I'm not offending anyone by using a religious term] has been that Orlando is overbuilt and that diminishes the trading value of Orlando resorts. The same has been said for Branson. Also, it is my understanding that Marriott will not build any more Horizon branded resorts and may drop the Horizon name from the two existing Horizons - you have to take this with a grain of salt because I think I heard it from a Grand Chateau sales executive. My guess is that this will have no affect on trading power.

My advice, if trading is a significant consideration, is to buy in Williamsburg and trade into Horizons when you want to visit. Why Williamsburg? Because a good Manor Club week is reputed to be a good trader and the MFs are low - a bit lower than the Orlando Horizons according to the chart on the Marriott sticky. The Manor Club maybe a couple of thousand dollars more than the Horizons, but you may find a really good deal if you are patient.

About the kids activities - I had the opportunity to see the Horizons and Grande Vista activities staff in action during my recent trip to Orlando, my impression of the Horizons staff was very negative - they meant well, but their heart was not into it. The Grande Vista staff was much more animated and friendly with the kids.

Charles

 

[littlestar]

Good questions. I'll bump this thread.

Didn't Marriott have plans to build something in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge at one time? And if so, was that the Horizons brand? I think I heard the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge resort idea got scrapped though.

 

[mattman27]

Horizons trade

I own at Horizons and have traded out two times in the last two years. One time to Marriott Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge, Colorado in Feb. (great Ski week) and the other time to Grand Timber in Breckenidge, Colorado the week before Christmas. I have had no problems trading my GOLD week with II and getting just what I want. I am going to horizons this year with the kids and it is fantastic for kids and you can go use the stuff across the street at Cypress. I have had zero problems trading. Just deposit early.

 

[JBRES1]

Horizon's

We have stayed at the Horizons resort in Orlando 2 times, and enjoyed it both times. We most likely would not retutrn to the reosrt for another trip because my kids are getting older and Grande vista is more to their liking.
My family had the choice of resorts on each of our Orlando trips, and they picked the Horizons resort 2 years in a row. We have also stayed at the Grande vista 6 times and Vistana 2 times. If it were my pick each year it would have been grande Vista, Horizons as a second and then Vistana if we couldn't get either if the Marriott's
The resort is geared towards the family vacation with younger kids, and I think they do a great job of it.
We( meaning my kids) enjoyed the kids programs and the zero depth pool and interactive pool toys. My son really liked the basketball hoops and pool tables in the outdoor rec area.
The resort is not as nice as many other of the Marriott timeshares, but its no dump either. The game plan that Marriott had when they came out with the Horizon's brand was a lower cost family friendly type of resort.
I think that alot of the things that Marriott had planed for this brand changed after 9-11, as did many other things. At one time there was a web site for the Horizon's brand, now its blended into the MVCI site.
Jim Breslin

 

[shellbelle]

I own at Horizons and have traded out two times in the last two years. One time to Marriott Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge, Colorado in Feb. (great Ski week) and the other time to Grand Timber in Breckenidge, Colorado the week before Christmas. I have had no problems trading my GOLD week with II and getting just what I want. I am going to horizons this year with the kids and it is fantastic for kids and you can go use the stuff across the street at Cypress. I have had zero problems trading. Just deposit early.

So, just to clarify, Horizons properties DO have the "inside the Marriott system" advantage? Or did you just do a "regular" II trade? I've never traded the one TS we do own, so I'm a little fuzzy on how it all works. Thanks for your patience as I try to figure it out.

 

[ArBravesFan]

I own four Marriott weeks: 2 weeks at Marriott Kauai Beach Club, 1 week at Marriott Ocean Pointe and 1 week at Horizon's by Marriott in Branson.

Here's my take on Horizon's ...

Our Horizon's week was our first timeshare purchase. At the time we knew very little about TS, had never heard of TUG, knew nothing about Marriott Vacation Club, etc. Since then we have learned a great deal. Our second purchase was Marriott Ocean Pointe. We bought it sight unseen because it was oceanfront and lockout. Last year we bought two weeks of Kauai Beach Club resale. So we have learned as we went along, as most people do.

Having said all of that, we are still very satisfied with our initial and somewhat uniformed Horizon's purchase. We have used it to trade into Marriott Imperial Palms (3 bedroom), Marriott Grand Ocean, and Marriott Ko Olina.

We reserve a good week and lock it out and deposit it for trade and it trades well.

If you want to call it the ugly duckling of our portfolio ... it ain't too shabby!

 

[mattman27]

Horizons

I agree... Two straight years in ski season Colorado is good trading power. Not to mention they are still building Horizons and it is a very nice resort.

 

[wuv pooh]

We own at Horizons and have been 13 weeks (our kids 6 and 4 are addicted in a good way). Great resort for kids. The programs are good - your kids can have breakfast or lunch with the pirates for about $5-$10 a kid and you get a few hours of adult time The pirate pool is great and the new waterslide is very cool and moves some of the older kids out of the pirate pool. Also, mini golf is free this year for owners.

As stated Horizons was originally a new family resort that cost less and had a 3 day Marriott preference that was after the 21 day MVCI period. This has now been folded in and Horizons has the same standing as any other MVCI resort - based on demand. They are no longer planning any more Horizons resorts although that could change.

We traded this year and our gold week exchanged for a late August week at Grande Ocean, so pretty good for us. The II rep at the last meeting I was at actually said that the demand for the property is pretty good vs. other resorts so that trade power should be OK. I think people's results bear this out. We have friends who have traded gold for platinum Ocean Pointe weeks.

You can still get incentive points for your purchase. If you want to trade for points then I would not recommend the resort. The point values are lower and the maintenance fee is high compared to the points you get. I would probably buy resale if I wanted to pick up another week.

 

[ruthjayne]

We own at Horizons Branson. It doesn't sound as child-friendly as Orlando. Yes, they have some family activities, but so do other resorts that are not Horizons. Their units I think are a little smaller (sq. footage) and the decor is not quite as plush.

I think our Branson week has offered us great trading power. Our initial investment was only 13k and our yearly fees are around $550. We have traded into peak seasons into Aruba (twice) and Barony Beach/Hilton Head with no problems. Whenever we took a tour, the salespeople say, "you traded HERE from WHERE?"

I think the trading power at Branson is overlooked. They are very careful about adding the additional buildings, so always to keep demand high. It's a place where many people can drive, and most do. It's one of the few "branded" timeshares there. The place is growing--their property values just went up 30% this year. They are building a new boardwalk area and are just now bringing in big name shopping attractions. Nordstrom, etc. It has survived (healthyfully) without all the big names. The people in this town are the absolute nicest folks you will meet in one place. They are incredible.

We have since bought at Hilton Head for the points, but this Branson is a hit in my portfolio!

ruth

 

[shellbelle]

Thank you all for your helpful replies! Please know that I'm not calling Horizons an "ugly duckling"...those were the Grande Vista salesperson's words. I was trying to discover whether she was correct, or just trying to sell me something!

I especially appreciate knowing that Horizons has "full standing" for trading within the MVCI system. I understand that it may or may not have the magical trade power of, say a Hawaii resort, but like I said before, we would primarily be looking at this to use, and only occasionally to trade.

You all are so patient and helpful! Thanks again!