Submit Your Vacation Preferences Now Emails

[dioxide45]

I was just reviewing the form for the vacation preferences after receiving the email regarding an upcoming DC points stay we have booked for friends at Ocean Pointe. I am starting to think that these forms are almost useless unless you want to schedule some activity or excursion or housekeeping. The options for providing villa preference were... wait for it.. Near Kid's Area or Near Quieter Area. Really? A resort as expansive as Ocean Pointe and those are the options?

In the past we used to be able to select the top three buildings of choice along with north or south view. That was ideal. I know that these emails have been getting worse, but this is worse than I thought. Are the properties seeing an uptick in people calling now for making more specific requests? I certainly called.

 

[Superchief]

I will be staying there in a few weeks and called for my requests. I provided my building and high floor requests, and the person seemed sincere in telling me they would try to accommodate me. I recall being able to give specific requests at Ocean Pointe on the MVC website, but it now appears that a generic email is sent out without options for specific requests.

I typically ask to speak to the rooms coordinator and try to get their email address. I was told by Ocean Pointe and Grande Ocean that the front desk staff takes all requests, but was able to contact the coordinator at other resorts. I think they are making it more difficult to request specific locations, probably due to the challenges from the increase in short stays and VC points.

 

[Quilter]

There are 2 different situations here. One isn't an owner and one is.

For the non-owner you have basically been asked if you need to close to kid's .. .aka the Activities Center and main pool, or if you prefer quiet.. .aka Kingfish.

The rest of the determination of your room will be based on how you fit the grid used for room assignments. You know, the one that places owners first with their requests and exchangers down the list.

The owner who has replied I do believe the front desk staff is in place to help take calls and relay information. I ran into the OP coordinator last year and she was busy the entire time taking care of business. She definitely needs staff she can delegate to.

At GO I always find the front desk helpful. While I have a favorite I don't email anyone in particular. They all see ready to greet me and make me feel I'm their most important owner.

 

[Fasttr]

Do we know if these pre-arrival requests are customized based on who is staying? Owners staying at own resort get one type, DC members booking on points get another, II exchanges get another? I ask because most of my recent DC bookings have been similarly vague as dioxide45's....but when I recently received mine for my newly acquired Grande Ocean week as an owner staying at my home resort, the pre-arrival offerings were much more vibrant....pick top 3 building choices, high floor or low floor, close to elevator, etc, etc.

Made me wonder if providing many more options to choose from is a Grande Ocean thing....or perhaps was I offered more choices as an owner staying there, and if I were booking on DC points, would my choices have been more limited??

 

[aka Julie]

I recently got mine for an II exchange into Cypress Harbour.

Only choice was for floor location -- 1st and 2nd preference -- high, low, ground.

I got this several days ago. Haven't received the usual acknowledgement from the property.

 

[Fairwinds]

Did the form require your selection be made with a check in the box? I ask because I just completed a request for Sabal Palms where they asked for a description of area type (poolside, near sports court, etc) but with a field where you typed the description. I entered specific villa #s and received an email acknowledging receipt and listing the villa #s just as I had typed them.

They are all different but the best request email I've seen is for the resorts in Spain. They were so good it was like being on a relaxing vacation just filling them out. U.S. Resorts should take a lesson from them.

 

[Weimaraner]

Do we know if these pre-arrival requests are customized based on who is staying? Owners staying at own resort get one type, DC members booking on points get another, II exchanges get another? I ask because most of my recent DC bookings have been similarly vague as dioxide45's....but when I recently received mine for my newly acquired Grande Ocean week as an owner staying at my home resort, the pre-arrival offerings were much more vibrant....pick top 3 building choices, high floor or low floor, close to elevator, etc, etc.

Made me wonder if providing many more options to choose from is a Grande Ocean thing....or perhaps was I offered more choices as an owner staying there, and if I were booking on DC points, would my choices have been more limited??

I agree that they are likely customized. It seems like I received a vague Preference email when I had an II exchange to my home resort. When I filled it out, they replied to me noting that I was an owner on exchange and that is when I was able to have direct communication and be more specific about room location. I think many people trade to a resort and think - well I'll just ask for Oceanfront and it's not always that easy.

 

[Bogeygirl]

We just arrived at Canyon Villas for a 1 week stay on DC points although we are owners here. We received a pretty vague preferences email and that was followed up by an email from the rooms controller who indicated they would try but no guarantees. Before even getting that follow up email I called and spoke to the person and had a very pleasant conversation. And we are very happy with the villa assignment - its the room right next door to where we were last time that we loved.

 

[GrayFal]

I was just reviewing the form for the vacation preferences after receiving the email regarding an upcoming DC points stay we have booked for friends at Ocean Pointe. I am starting to think that these forms are almost useless unless you want to schedule some activity or excursion or housekeeping. The options for providing villa preference were... wait for it.. Near Kid's Area or Near Quieter Area. Really? A resort as expansive as Ocean Pointe and those are the options?

In the past we used to be able to select the top three buildings of choice along with north or south view. That was ideal. I know that these emails have been getting worse, but this is worse than I thought. Are the properties seeing an uptick in people calling now for making more specific requests? I certainly called.

It is a joke at this point. Why even bother sending the email?

 

[SueDonJ]

It is a joke at this point. Why even bother sending the email?

I think because it's written in the docs (in several different places with several different wording variations) that the Management Company is required to confirm reservations and follow-up in writing as to the type of unit reserved. That could explain why they're as detailed as they are about what they don't guarantee for placement? And maybe they figure at the same time they can try to head off calls to the room assigners as much as possible?

The last one I got for Phuket Beach Club was pretty vague and in the box for concurrent/consecutive reservation numbers it had in red print something to the effect of, "Reservations Only Please." That's the box suggested by TUGgers to add specific details because it's the only place to add text so now I'm wondering if that's a PBC-only thing or if it's going to become the standard.

 

[bazzap]

I think because it's written in the docs (in several different places with several different wording variations) that the Management Company is required to confirm reservations and follow-up in writing as to the type of unit reserved. That could explain why they're as detailed as they are about what they don't guarantee for placement? And maybe they figure at the same time they can try to head off calls to the room assigners as much as possible?

The last one I got for Phuket Beach Club was pretty vague and in the box for concurrent/consecutive reservation numbers it had in red print something to the effect of, "Reservations Only Please." That's the box suggested by TUGgers to add specific details because it's the only place to add text so now I'm wondering if that's a PBC-only thing or if it's going to become the standard.

I have only just today submitted my preferences for our latest Phuket trip.
The current form allows you, as you say, to advise "Multiple Reservations"
It also now separately allows you to advise "Apartment location preferences" in a free text format.
This really is how it should be for all MVC resorts.
Obviously there are still no guarantees, but at least this gives you a fighting chance of getting something that at least acknowledges your preferences.

 

[Superchief]

There definitely appears to be differences depending on resort and type of stay. I am a Chairman level multiple weeks owner with both enrolled and trust points. These are my three recent experiences:

Grand Ocean: Non-owner using II exchange (9/5 check-in)
No pre-arrival email
I called front desk with specific request and received an OK/not great villa location

Oceana Palms: Owner, using VC points for this stay
Received pre-arrival email, could specify floor and North/South preference but not building. I sent email to rooms coordinator and receive immediate response confirming my request.

Ocean Pointe: Owner, Using II exchange to 1BR 11/1
Vague email similar to Dioxide, no specific request options for floor or building
I called front desk (couldn't speak or email directly to rooms coordinator). No reply email or phone call.

I typically call about 4-5 weeks in advance of my stay, and received both pre-arrival emails 3-4 wks in advance (after I had already called).

Ocean Pointe previously had villa request forms on the MVC website on owners page, but this appears to no longer be available.

 

[CCR]

Do we know if these pre-arrival requests are customized based on who is staying? Owners staying at own resort get one type, DC members booking on points get another, II exchanges get another? I ask because most of my recent DC bookings have been similarly vague as dioxide45's....but when I recently received mine for my newly acquired Grande Ocean week as an owner staying at my home resort, the pre-arrival offerings were much more vibrant....pick top 3 building choices, high floor or low floor, close to elevator, etc, etc.

Made me wonder if providing many more options to choose from is a Grande Ocean thing....or perhaps was I offered more choices as an owner staying there, and if I were booking on DC points, would my choices have been more limited??

Faster is correct. At Newport Coast this summer I was able to pick top 3 buildings I'm assuming because we own there. I've also stayed this year at several Marriott resorts booked through interval getaways & exchanges and the letter is completely different with only two choices given such as quiet, or near activities) I just checked in on Saturday using an Interval Getaway (off season) and they gave me everything I requested in my preferences. I think the email works well if the resort isn't busy but actual owners would be prioritized over me. I can't speak to anything in regards to destination points reservations. I would assume they would be prioritized high too and considered very similar to owners.

 

[DB-Wis]

We just returned from a week at Canyon Villas. About a month before our arrival, we received an email inviting us to express our villa location preferences. The form allowed us indicate a "1st Preference" and a "2nd Preference." For each preference, we could indicate a choice for "View" (Near Pool, Near Lobby or Near Lagoon/Splash Pad) and a "Floor" (High Floor or Low Floor).

The form said you could respond electronically or by fax. I printed the form, wrote in that we wanted a top floor in one of several buildings I identified (all of which were close to the pool), and faxed the form to the number listed.

When we arrived, they tried to put us in a top floor villa in the worst building at Canyon Villas (the farthest from the pool and next to a busy/noisy street). They said it met my request for an upper floor unit. I complained (politely) about the location and asked for a different unit. They then offered a second floor unit in a building close to the pool.

We were ultimately happy with the villa we received, but I agree the request forms are getting useless. I realize how difficult it is to try to satisfy everyone's request, and I've become much more flexible about location over the years. But the request options are becoming so generalized that they are pretty useless.

 

[jerseyfinn]

Agree that the abbreviated registration email is mostly useless and absolutely boiler plate; then again this is how govt works so why not Marriott?

We're soon on the road heading to MOW, MMI, & MPB on an anniversary (#40) sojourn in that order. Using enrolled weeks converted to DC points or whatever Marriott now calls them now. We began getting first email contact @ 3-4 weeks in advance of scheduled stay resort by resort. MPB's just came today. The messages vary by resort, but choice or preference is always vaguely stated, especially MPB.

In the case of MOW & MMI we receive a more detailed email follow up in 2-3 days with more information. We are OF at MOW and requested high floor & get the usual disclaimer. Similar request at MMI with same response. Like Superchief , we are Chairman something or other as mult week owners.

I'm optimistic of a decent outcome because all of our many past experiences with MPB always result in a nice assignment despite the email vagarities. That said, I'm going to follow up with MPB when their confirming email arrives to clarify what our true preferences are ( there was a link to click a resort map which was a useless endeavor when we tick off "prefer quiet".

The layer cake products that now comprise MVC guests makes for a soggy recipe when it comes to communication. Lets hope that it doesn't spill over to execution.

Our first time at MOW & MMI so we look forward to this trip ( & the photo stuff I can try ).

barry