Looking to Purchase: Willow Ridge vs Grande Vista

[Gundy]

I am looking for some advice on a possible purchase. I am looking to buy a 2 or 3 bedroom lockoff. I have potentially narrowed it down to Willow Ridge in Branson or Grande Vista in Orlando. From what I see they should both be fairly close in price. I have the following questions if someone can help me out.

1. will one of these resorts give me more trading power than the other?

2. Does anyone know the exact cost of the maintenance fees for these resorts?

3. If I went with a 3 bedroom lockoff at grande vista how does that work? I can lock it off into a 2 bedroom/1 bedroom or 2 - 1 bedrooms/1 studio?

4. Any other resorts anyone would suggest that would be about the same to acquire yet reasonable maintenance fees?

5. Anyone purchased either of these recently and what were your total costs?

6. Is it worth considering a Grande Vista Gold season?


Sorry for all the questions. I am new to Marriott and just want to make an educated purchase. I really appreciate the help.

 

[CashEddie]

I am looking for some advice on a possible purchase. I am looking to buy a 2 or 3 bedroom lockoff. I have potentially narrowed it down to Willow Ridge in Branson or Grande Vista in Orlando. From what I see they should both be fairly close in price. I have the following questions if someone can help me out.

1. will one of these resorts give me more trading power than the other?

2. Does anyone know the exact cost of the maintenance fees for these resorts?

3. If I went with a 3 bedroom lockoff at grande vista how does that work? I can lock it off into a 2 bedroom/1 bedroom or 2 - 1 bedrooms/1 studio?

4. Any other resorts anyone would suggest that would be about the same to acquire yet reasonable maintenance fees?

5. Anyone purchased either of these recently and what were your total costs?

6. Is it worth considering a Grande Vista Gold season?


Sorry for all the questions. I am new to Marriott and just want to make an educated purchase. I really appreciate the help.

Gundy,

You should purchase where you would USE primarly and trade occasionally. I think it has been stated on the forums that Branson is the cheapest in MFs, however, if you dont see yourself going to Branson (or Orlando for that matter) often, you shouldn't purchase either.

Platinum would be the best to purchase. We actually own a 2 BDR gold at Grandvista EOY and I just paid $474 in MF. If you are looking for a every year, mutiply that number by 2 to get what you will pay annually for a 2 BRD unit. Platinum is going to give you most holiday weeks except Thanksgiving. So for trading, go with platinum but honestly Orlando is very easy to get into mostly anytime. I also own a Grand Chateau and I was doing a search with my studio side for Orlando and I could actually trade into some 2BD room Marriotts during summer time. Granted, I was just looking at the instance exchanges (left overs) that are available on II but still I thought it was good that I could trade up with my studio in summer.

In terms of the 3 BDR, I believe the lock off option is 2 Bedroom/1 Bedroom. I don't think any lock offs will give you three units.

 

[SueDonJ]

... 2. Does anyone know the exact cost of the maintenance fees for these resorts? ...

I'll leave the rest of your questions for owners; the 2012 MF's from the "Weeks Owners" resort pages at my-vacationclub.com are:

Grande Vista 1BR
$408.32 Operating Fee
$140.93 Reserve Fee
$70.17 Gold Estimated Property Tax
$83.13 Platinum Estimated Property Tax

Grande Vista 2BR
$598.68 Operating Fee
$206.61 Reserve Fee
$108.56 Gold Estimated Property Tax
$138.89 Platinum Estimated Property Tax

(It looks like the 1- and 2-BR Weeks are also subject to these fees, below, but the 3BR Weeks are not? Hopefully an owner will explain.)
$4.00 Club Dues
$34.50 International Owners Surcharge
$30.45 Owner Services Fee

Grande Vista 3BR
$789.91 Operating Fee
$272.61 Reserve Fee
$122.70 Gold Estimated Property Tax
$149.62 Platinum Estimated Property Tax

Willow Ridge Lodge 2BR
$660.75 Operating Fee
$193.90 Reserve Fee
$23.35 Estimated Property Tax
$878.00 TOTAL
$34.50 International Owners Surcharge

 

[BocaBoy]

In terms of the 3 BDR, I believe the lock off option is 2 Bedroom/1 Bedroom. I don't think any lock offs will give you three units.

I do not own at Grande Vista, but I am quite sure that the 3BR locks off into one 2BR and one studio, not a 2BR/1BR.

Although I am not a fan of Grande Vista, I would take it over Branson any day.

 

[jdunn1]

Willowridge platinum is a steller trader and a very nice resort. If you give II the entire 2 bedroom, you should get just about any Marriott trade you want. There are some resorts and weeks that are impossible (i.e. platinum plus weeks) but those weeks are out of the question for any other Marriott owner, too.

Sure, you should buy where you want to stay, if you have lots of money and can pay that premium. Truth is, buy platinum and the cheapest dues you can find. If the resort is in driving distance to you, then that is a bonus. Willowridge dues are cheapes in the Marriott family, period and will out trade grande vista any day, at least the summer Branson weeks will.

Personally, I would pick grande vista over willowridge as a vacation spot, but not for ownership. You can ALWAYS get a 2 bedroom marriott in Orlando, not true in Branson. Also, if you have a platinum week, you can always get rid of it. Those weeks might be selling for a dollar on ebay right now, but that means you can get into the marriott system at the second to highest level for free, basically. If you have to give the week away for free (not likely) then you are still out nothing but whatever dues you have paid and you will have those costs no matter what you own.

Trading is far from easy, though and it's something you have to experience to understand. If you buy thinking you will get holiday weeks at the best marriott resorts, then you will likely be disapointed. If you buy thinking you will get into the Carolina beach resorts in the summer, then you will probably be disapointed. Winter ski weeks outside of the holiday weeks are pretty easy. Not sure about Hawaii. The key when trying to get the prime weeks is to deposit like size, then season. No matter what you buy, if you want that next to impossible trade, don't even think about giving up just one side of your lock-off, you will need to give up both parts. Good luck deciding.

 

[BocaBoy]

You can ALWAYS get a 2 bedroom marriott in Orlando, not true in Branson.

This implies that getting a 2BR in Branson can be difficult. I just did an II search with a studio. I was able to pull every single week at Willowridge in an instant exchange between now and January 20, 2013, with the exception of four weeks in mid-June through mid-July. With the vast majority of those weeks, I could choose between any of the three or four weekend check-in dates, and the vast majority of those weeks had 2BR units available. Branson is a very easy trade.

 

[jdunn1]

Not worth debating but I definately meant summer weeks in Branson, mostly July weeks. Any other time of the year and it is easy, definately. Just there is only one Marriott in Branson and five or six in Orlando and half of those only have two bedroom or larger.

 

[MikeM132]

This implies that getting a 2BR in Branson can be difficult. I just did an II search with a studio. I was able to pull every single week at Willowridge in an instant exchange between now and January 20, 2013, with the exception of four weeks in mid-June through mid-July. With the vast majority of those weeks, I could choose between any of the three or four weekend check-in dates, and the vast majority of those weeks had 2BR units available. Branson is a very easy trade.

You weren't looking with your MOC, were you? That's really not fair, as you know.
I have traded everywhere I wanted with Grande Vista. I've traded into HHI 2br (they all are) with a GV studio (early Fall). GV trades pretty well. I have no idea how Branson trades. Nothing trades like MOC, though. It should---almost everywhere you trade you are giving up a big MF differential.

 

[Stefa]

I own Willow Ridge (platinum) and have found it to be a good enough trader for my needs. However, it does not see Crystal Shores even in flex, so there are some limits on trades. Not sure if there are any others. I have had no problem getting the Hawaii trades I wanted and I see plenty of 2br exchanges with the studio.

 

[JustKeepBreathing]

How does Willow Ridge platinum compare in trading power to Shadow Ridge platinum? I could see us using either property some years as we have family that lives near Branson, but at this stage in our lives would use both primarily for trading.

Does Shadow Ridge have significantly higher trading power that would justify the slightly higher up front costs and maintenance fees?

 

[thinze3]

For the cost of a Shadow ridge platinum you may get lucky and find a Grande Vista 3BR platinum.

There have been times when premium Crystal Shores weeks have been deposited and many Marriott platinum owners could not view them because their weeks were not strong enough. I know that some Desert Springs weeks could not see all of the CS weeks, so I would assume SR was the same.

3BR owners at MGV could always see them. The extra bedroom is a huge advantage.

There are several Crystal Shores weeks on II right now. Can WillowRidge owners see them. Shadow Ridge??


Added:
I just checked to see what could see Crystal Shores.

MGV 2BR for President's week 2013 NO
MGV 3BR for President's week 2013 YES
MDS 2BR for President's week 2013 YES (probably similar to Shadow Ridge)
Waiohai 2BR for President's week 2013 YES

 

[dioxide45]

For the cost of a Shadow ridge platinum you may get lucky and find a Grande Vista 3BR platinum.

There have been times when premium Crystal Shores weeks have been deposited and many Marriott platinum owners could not view them because their weeks were not strong enough. I know that some Desert Springs weeks could not see all of the CS weeks, so I would assume SR was the same.

3BR owners at MGV could always see them. The extra bedroom is a huge advantage.

There are several Crystal Shores weeks on II right now. Can WillowRidge owners see them. Shadow Ridge??


Added:
I just checked to see what could see Crystal Shores.

MGV 2BR for President's week 2013 NO
MGV 3BR for President's week 2013 YES
MDS 2BR for President's week 2013 YES (probably similar to Shadow Ridge)
Waiohai 2BR for President's week 2013 YES

Can't see it with a 2BR MGV Easter week either. A 3BR in Orlando seems important if you want Crystal Shores. It doesn't appear that these Crystal Shores are peak weeks by any means. Not sure why II places them in such high regard. My guess is that they have been sitting for a while? I couldn't see any mention of them on the first two pages of the sightings board.

 

[thinze3]

Can't see it with a 2BR MGV Easter week either. A 3BR in Orlando seems important if you want Crystal Shores. It doesn't appear that these Crystal Shores are peak weeks by any means. Not sure why II places them in such high regard. My guess is that they have been sitting for a while? I couldn't see any mention of them on the first two pages of the sightings board.

Those CS weeks have been there a while. Neither Ocean Pointe nor BeachPlace 2BR for Presidents week 2013 can see them either. Even though these resorts cannot see them, you can bet your bottom dollar that a trade would come through overnight using any of them as a deposit.

I was simply using MGV 3BR as a suggestion for maximum trading power and flexibilty at a low cost .

 

[tlwmkw]

We own at Grande Vista (platinum 3 bed) and have made great trades. Someone above said that you can't get Carolina summer beach weeks with these resorts but we have made that trade in the past as well as gold time at the Carolina beach front resorts. I haven't owned at Branson and haven't been there so I can't comment on that.

tlwmkw

 

[momeason]

Those CS weeks have been there a while. Neither Ocean Pointe nor BeachPlace 2BR for Presidents week 2013 can see them either. Even though these resorts cannot see them, you can bet your bottom dollar that a trade would come through overnight using any of them as a deposit.

I was simply using MGV 3BR as a suggestion for maximum trading power and flexibilty at a low cost .

This is really confusing. I mistakenly thought that if you owned Marriott, you would be able to see available II Marriott inventory. Is it true that if I own Marriott and put in a request, I would probably get what I wanted..beaches and Hawaii excluded?

I own an II affiliated Wyndham. My fav II rep told me the season of my Wyndham deposit does not matter, only unit size. I get to break up my points into several deposits and I am flexible on when we can travel. It sounds like size, season and location all very much matter in Marriott. I do not want to sign up for a lifetime of high maintenance fees, but it seems the less expensive units have low trading power. I love bargain shopping...but it may not pay with Marriotts. I don't shop at SAX 5th Avenue, so maybe I can't afford Marriott. I may just have to be content with leftovers I have been going to. I get quite a few since I am flexible on dates. Can't afford to travel to Hawaii from the East Coast very often either...been there 2 x so far.

The only Marriott I really want is Custom House since II has no other properties in Boston. If I can't get it maybe I will find a Tugger to rent it to me. I do not have to always stay in Marriotts. We don't travel much in summer and never on holidays. We live on the coast so summers are nice at home with lots of company.