Let something happen and then complain
I am not a Marriott rep, but I have got to tell you that you folks are something else. You speculate craziness for over a year or so about what could or would happen and thought the worse. Now the world is coming to an end after the program has been rolled out and with not a lick of history to substantiate anything. Amazing.
First of all, no one is making you do anything. It is an enhancement because you don't have to do anything unless you want to. You can keep your week and leave it as it is. However, you can enhance your timeshare by using the points program by saving money on some fees, having an opportunity to break your week up or even using the week to do other things in the Explorer program. You have clearly been given options. You can even take the options or not each year. What the heck do you want? Do it or not. It's just that simple.
Reservations are sometimes difficult to get at prime time with the weeks system when one waits. However, I must say that I have purposely waited to get prime weeks in Ko Olina during the summer and have never had to be online at the crack of dawn to make my reservation. However, after reading this board the first time, I began to get paranoid unnecessarily. They key is not waiting too late to make your reservation. I always book 1 year out. It has not been a problem. The folks who have 13000 points in the new Premier Plus category don't bother me too much along with the Premier group because they already had an opportunity to make 13 month reservations. I was still able to make my reservations. I don't think there will be too many points people in those classes right away because to get 6500 points you will need to pay $65,000 and 13000 will be about $130,000. That's a lot of money.
I am with DRI and I make reservations to other properties all over the world at 12 months out (now I do have 13 month to my home collection) and I usually have no problem. In fact, I have never had a problem with my DRI reservation because I plan. Now that I will not be restricted by school calendars anymore, I believe I will have the world open to me traveling off peak. I have too many years before retirement but I will look forward to using my points more during off season. My point here is that you can make reservations and get times that you want in a points system.
I won't be buying any more points. I have 4025 with Ko Olina. I can get two or maybe even three weeks with that. I don't need two bedrooms anymore. If I bank points for a year, I would have 8050 points and I could work that really well depending on what I want to do, but I will have more than two weeks.
I participated in Perry M.'s webinar last night. I enjoyed it. I suggest that you naysayers look for ways to maximize the points program to your advantage. That's what I am trying to do.
This program has potential particularly for those of us at resorts in Hawaii. I spoke with a friend of mine who owns a summer week in Desert Springs Villas. First, she did not receive anything from Marriott as of last night about the points program. (Shame on them) However, maybe they are doing her a favor because I don't believe she may not even get 2000 points with week. She will need to stay out of the points program unless she buys more points. I advised her to use II and keep her money as she can't afford the points.
I understand whining and complaining when you have the facts and experiences to justify your concern. Many of us from DVC, DRI, Worldmark and other points system may see some possibilities.
The skimming piece is a problem, but Marriott should explain the reason to calm you folks down.
