New Horizions Branson name: Marriott’s Willow Ridge Lodge

[abdibile]

Just received this eMail:

Earlier this year, we announced that Horizons® by Marriott Vacation Club at Branson would soon become part of the Marriott Vacation Club® family of resorts and be given a new name. Today, we are excited to inform you that the new name of the resort is Marriott’s Willow Ridge Lodge.

We want to assure you that your vacation experience will remain unchanged and the resort will continue to offer the same unique family-focused experiences you’ve come to expect. You’ll notice different signage and other subtle touches, but you’ll experience the same high level of service from the same dedicated Associates.

The transition to the new name will begin immediately, and we look forward to welcoming you to Marriott’s Willow Ridge Lodge on your next visit.

 

[littlestar]

Thanks for the heads up about the news. I checked my e-mail and sure enough, we had a message from Marriott, too, about the name change.

 

[ruthjayne]

Any ideas why? I'm wondering if they intended to create a different "brand" and started with Branson and Orlando. For what ever reasons, they never added to it.

People really underestimate the power of a Branson unit. There aren't many places that someone in the midwest can drive to, and Branson offers something for everyone: shows, lake, golf, shopping, and there is a lot of everything.

 

[sernow]

"People really underestimate the power of a Branson unit."

The market has been valuing Horizon Branson platinum weeks for less than $1500. Is the market underestimating their power? Do they trade well, or is the platinum season too long at Branson and only some (if any) weeks within the season trade well? Why are they commanding so little?

 

[dougp26364]

Any ideas why? I'm wondering if they intended to create a different "brand" and started with Branson and Orlando. For what ever reasons, they never added to it.

People really underestimate the power of a Branson unit. There aren't many places that someone in the midwest can drive to, and Branson offers something for everyone: shows, lake, golf, shopping, and there is a lot of everything.

If memory serves me correctly, Marriott wanted to create an option that was more family oriented and, while still having the Marriott quality maybe didn't have as upscale and pricey units. We've been to the Marriott resort in Branson several times and, while it's a great resort, it still wasn't quite the quality of the regular MVC resorts. Small things mostly like a no frills bathroom and no granit counter tops.

As I understand it, some upgrades are planned for the units and the HOA's have had to readjust their budget's a little. Marriott was suppose to be working with the Horizon's resorts to lessen any sudden impact on owners.

 

[dougp26364]

"People really underestimate the power of a Branson unit."

The market has been valuing Horizon Branson platinum weeks for less than $1500. Is the market underestimating their power? Do they trade well, or is the platinum season too long at Branson and only some (if any) weeks within the season trade well? Why are they commanding so little?

I believe the market does underestimate the exchange power of Branson. Branson really is over developed for most seasons but, the summer months are generally full. Reserve a good week and Branson really does pull some good trades. Marriott's resort is one of the nicest in town if not the nicest timeshare overall in town. Some resorts might have nicer units but, the overall amenities and landscaping of Marriott will stack up against any other resort in Branson. Plus, I don't believer there's another major hotel branded timeshare in Branson.

 

[ldanna]

Marriott has alreadly updated its site:

http://timeshares.marriott-vacations.com/ownership/resorts/marriott-willow-ridge-lodge/overview.html

 

[dougp26364]

I saw something odd this morning while reviewing my I.I. account. Occasionally I'll look over our history to remind myself of exchanges we've recieved and what's possible using different resorts/unit sizes for exchange. Not only has Marriott updated it's site but, on our history it now longer lists the exchanges we've into Horizon's as Horizon's. The I.I. history now lists those exchanges as Willow Ridge Lodge.

Not that it's any big deal but I found it interesting that they'd even go so far as to change the name in the history section at Interval that shows past exchanges.

 

[Dave M]

I think the change was automatic, Doug. Many software applications have such automatic changes built in.

As an example, if you were to ask us to change your TUG BBS user name to something else, that new user name would show up as your user name for all future BBS posts and would also automatically show up as your user name for all of your past posts.

Thus, it's likely that when II changed the Horizons name in its database, it had the effect of changing it in all (or almost all) places on II's site where the old name existed.

 

[dioxide45]

To add to Dave's response. Basically II has the resort code, which did not change, and then the name associated with that code. If they changed the name associated with the code, anywhere that their system refers back to that code it will show the new name associated with it.

 

[Stefa]

I believe the market does underestimate the exchange power of Branson. Branson really is over developed for most seasons but, the summer months are generally full. Reserve a good week and Branson really does pull some good trades. Marriott's resort is one of the nicest in town if not the nicest timeshare overall in town. Some resorts might have nicer units but, the overall amenities and landscaping of Marriott will stack up against any other resort in Branson. Plus, I don't believer there's another major hotel branded timeshare in Branson.

So would Branson ever pull a summer Hawaii week if exchanging a 2br for a 2br? We are considering purchasing there because of the low fees plus it is the only Marriott we could drive to. We would use it primarily to trade to Florida, but we might want to go to Hawai at least once.

 

[dougp26364]

So would Branson ever pull a summer Hawaii week if exchanging a 2br for a 2br? We are considering purchasing there because of the low fees plus it is the only Marriott we could drive to. We would use it primarily to trade to Florida, but we might want to go to Hawai at least once.

I wouldn't even venture a guess as I've never looked for Hawaii with a Branson week. I do know that what others have considered a difficult exchange hasn't necessarily proven out that way for us. I do make our reservations and exchange requests as early as possible. Often the exchange request if for a date that's >12 months in advance.

We recently exchanged our Las Vegas 2 bedroom Plat. week for a 2 bedroom week in Kauai. The exchange took 6 days to confirm from when we placed our request first exchange request in. Vegas is widely considered to be over-developed and not a strong exchanger, similar to resort area's like Branson, Orlando or Williamsburg. How this would compare with exchanging Branson for Hawaii I can't honestly say.

I will say that, IMHO, buying with the idea that it's a lower cost resort to exchange into higher cost resorts is risky business. What works today might not work tomorrow. Rules for timesharing change over time. Ask any RCI weeks owner how things are going after RCI came out with it's points program.

I feel that you're better off to buy where you're most likely to go or, where you'd be happy to go if your exchange request doesn't come through. So, if you'd be happy going to Branson any time your exchange request doesn't come through then Branson isn't a bad choice. If you have your heart set on going to Florida beaches during high season, you'd be better served owning a Florida beach resort. If you're talking about Orlando, right now and probably into the distant future, Branson trades easily into Orlando most of the time.

One other thing to consider is that our Florida silver season studio unit routinely see's Branson 1,2 and sometimes 3 bedroom units for most of the year. Summer is harder and requires more advanced planning but, Spring and Fall weeks have been very easy to pick up using that silver season Florida week. I guess what I'm saying is it appears to be much easier to go from low season Florida into high season Branson than vice versa.

 

[Stefa]

Thanks, Doug. I'm not looking for plat beach weeks in Florida. We would be looking at summer/fall weeks that I was able to see when I owned a 1br non-Marriott ts.

I was just wondering if Hawaii (etc.) would be possible for an occasional trade.

 

[dougp26364]

Thanks, Doug. I'm not looking for plat beach weeks in Florida. We would be looking at summer/fall weeks that I was able to see when I owned a 1br non-Marriott ts.

I was just wondering if Hawaii (etc.) would be possible for an occasional trade.

Then yes, I believe that Hawaii would be available for the occasional trade. You'll need to reserve as early as possible and request out as far as possible. Look at the demand index to pick a good week. Oddly enough, I believe it's something like week 22 that has the highest demand index in Branson. I would have though July 4th but that's not the case.

I also believe that your best bet would be with internal Marriott preference or, going Marriott to Marriott. It seems as if there are a number of resorts in Hawaii that are part of a system that gives their owners a preference in reserving. Some of the points based systems really give their owners a huge preference for reserving units.

Now I could be wrong about that but, trading within a system has been very easy. Marriott to Marriott of using our HGVC ownership to get into a HGVC unit.

Not all Hawaiian timeshares have only 2 bedroom units. Some are lock-off units. I believe with Hawaiian MF's being what they are......high......most owners of a lock-off unit are going to maximize any trade potential by locking off their unit and getting two exchanges for one. So getting a 2 bedroom unit at a resort where they offer studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units might be more difficult. Out Marriott exchange was into Waiohia, which has only 2 bedroom units. We requested 2 bedroom units in Ko Olina and one of the Maui Marriotts but, Waiohia came through quickly.

 

[hazpete]

Thanks, Doug. I'm not looking for plat beach weeks in Florida. We would be looking at summer/fall weeks that I was able to see when I owned a 1br non-Marriott ts.

I was just wondering if Hawaii (etc.) would be possible for an occasional trade.

I have not tried trading for the summer in Hawaii, but have made numerous trades of my branson units for Hawaii in Februray/March over the past five years. KBC has been the easiest, but I have also gotten MOC on several occasions and we are going to Ko'Olina at the end of this coming January. So far, all our trades have gotten ocean view rooms and one was ocean front. I put in these requests well in advance to maximize chances of success.

 

[normab]

Stefa,

We own a "Willow Ridge" silver week which we usually use for 60 day window trading. This year we decided to try putting in a regular request about 5 months out, and within 2 weeks we ended up trading our 2BR for a 1BR at Kauai Beach Club, for week 1 of 2010, which is Platinum.

I don't know if it would have pulled a 2BR or not, since we didn't need 2 BRs, we didn't request it. But we were not even sure if the silver week would pull a platinum week, so we were happy to get the trade. I would think a gold or platinum Branson week would trade even better.

I think the trading power always depends on what is deposited and who else is requesting--if there is a lull in travel, which there is right now, there is better availability to get what you are looking for....but always remember that where there are lockoffs, fewer 2 BRs are deposited.

Norma

 

[Stefa]

Thanks to all of you who responded. I think we will start looking for a biennial plat week.

One more question. Is there anything at all for families at or near the resort besides the swimming pool?

Thanks

 

[littlestar]

Thanks to all of you who responded. I think we will start looking for a biennial plat week.

One more question. Is there anything at all for families at or near the resort besides the swimming pool?

Thanks

I know there are planned activities and a large big screen for games and movies. Friends of ours that also own there said they did s'mores at a campfire, but I'm sure that would depend on the weather. Besides the large outdoor pool, there's also a large indoor pool. We own an EOY Gold week and have been pleasantly surprised with the trade power.

 

[GrayFal]

So would Branson ever pull a summer Hawaii week if exchanging a 2br for a 2br? We are considering purchasing there because of the low fees plus it is the only Marriott we could drive to. We would use it primarily to trade to Florida, but we might want to go to Hawai at least once.

Yes, it would. I exchanged my Platinum Branson for Platinum Aruba. As always, putting in your request 13 months ahead is a good thing. I exchanged Marriott Branson for Marriott Aruba at 9 months out, my exchange took 3 days to confirm - 1BR for 1BR.

 

[brianfox]

I just closed on a Marriott Branson week that I purchased for Flex trading (I know, I know...but it was cheap). The most attractive thing about it was the low MF.

Is there any historical data to suggest that now that the property is formally a Marriott, the MF will skyrocket soon?

 

[thinze3]

No one knows for sure, but changes are coming.

What physical changes can be expected for future units at both resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club brand?

Proposed changes currently being considered for future phases include an updated villa design to improve the flow and use of space, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen as well as new bath and kitchen fixtures.

 

[dioxide45]

I just closed on a Marriott Branson week that I purchased for Flex trading (I know, I know...but it was cheap). The most attractive thing about it was the low MF.

Is there any historical data to suggest that now that the property is formally a Marriott, the MF will skyrocket soon?

The 2010 MF at Harbour Lake (FKA Horizons Orlando) is now the same as that at Grande Vista when it used to be less. I don't think it will skyrocket, but I wouldn't be suprised to see a hundred dollar increase in 2010 or 2011.