CLOSED: Thread Dedicated to the Upcoming/Anticipated Integration of Vistana & Marriott Ownerships (Marriott Link + Vistana Discussion)

[TravelTime]

All salespeople want to sell something. I’ve documented earlier in this thread how I received the information and what I’ve been told - he didn’t just pull the number from thin air.

He didn’t try to tell me that I needed to buy more flex to bring our resale mandatory into the system - which I was surprised by given other TUG reports.

I hope he is right.

 

[vacationtime1]

South view front corner at WKORV is the best unit, not the center. The corner units have side windows which - at least in my opinion - makes it much more desirable. The center is only best when considering MF.

I agree that the south view corner WKORV-OF are the best view units on Maui (specifically, room 3629 or 3529).

But the center units are better for those who typically split their unit and stay one week in each half. The center OF studios are true OF units with an ocean facing lanai; the corner ("deluxe") studios are not directly ocean facing (the studio actually has an OV view, not an OF view).

 

[rickandcindy23]

The best views on Maui for Westin, yes. This is what I want to buy for us at Westin.

There are resorts that are closer to the water. Hono Koa oceanfront units are 40 feet to the water, not 200 feet.

I agree that the south view corner WKORV-OF are the best view units on Maui (specifically, room 3629 or 3529).

But the center units are better for those who typically split their unit and stay one week in each half. The center OF studios are true OF units with an ocean facing lanai; the corner ("deluxe") studios are not directly ocean facing (the studio actually has an OV view, not an OF view).

 

[Bill R]

WKORV OFD > OFC (w/o considering MFs) for many reasons (I’ve been in both) that have been discussed here before.

And the B2 South corner villa being the best in VSE IMO

The reef outside WKORV/N makes the location a premium.
I actually saw a sea snake in front of B2 for the 1st time (in 16 years) last week - amazing. Wish I had my GoPro with me.

But too each his own. I can go to a mall and restaurants here at home.


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I sure hope you meant a Moray Eel, NOT a sea snake! I agree the reef area in front of the Westin is great, plenty of fish and turtles to see there. The only problem has become the declining beachfront in front of the Westin. It's getting way smaller than the rest of Ka'anapali beach.
And Ocean Front bulkhead there is one of the nicest we have ever experienced. Great location and nice rooms, especially the outer/corner ones, as you mentioned.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I sure hope you meant a Moray Eel, NOT a sea snake! I agree the reef area in front of the Westin is great, plenty of fish and turtles to see there. The only problem has become the declining beachfront in front of the Westin. It's getting way smaller than the rest of Ka'anapali beach.
And Ocean Front bulkhead there is one of the nicest we have ever experienced. Great location and nice rooms, especially the outer/corner ones, as you mentioned.

The beach size is season dependent.

It wasn’t a moray eel (seen plenty of these).
After looking it up - it was a large saddled snake eel (about 6 feet long).
It was located at about 1 o’clock from center of B2 about 100 feet out in about 10-15 feet of water.
I wanted to to shore to get my GoPro, but figured it would be hard to find again, and Robin wouldn’t stay out there alone to keep it in sight - she was a little freaked out by it.

It looked like this…
You can see why mistaken for a sea snake.
(From Internet)

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[TravelTime]

When I stayed at WKOVR, it did not look like there were any reefs nearby but I am probably wrong. The water was deep and cold so I did not go in. We are going to Oahu next week and I purchased a shortie bc Hawaii water is way too cold for me.

 

[kozykritter]

Not to be that person but this helpful and informative conversation is a bit off topic for the merger post so maybe someone could start a thread for it or move the conversation to an existing one instead.

 

[CPNY]

The beach size is season dependent.

It wasn’t a moray eel (seen plenty of these).
After looking it up - it was a large saddled snake eel (about 6 feet long).
It was located at about 1 o’clock from center of B2 about 100 feet out in about 10-15 feet of water.
I wanted to to shore to get my GoPro, but figured it would be hard to find again, and Robin wouldn’t stay out there alone to keep it in sight - she was a little freaked out by it.

It looked like this…
You can see why mistaken for a sea snake.
(From Internet)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not to be that person but this helpful and informative conversation is a bit off topic for the merger post so maybe someone could start a thread for it or move the conversation to an existing one instead.

agreed, I was about to ask @DavidnRobin about their GoPro as I’m going to bora bora and am thinking about buying one but not so sure. I also didn’t want to hijack the thread so I turned to google. But while I’m writing, how do you like the GoPro? I hear the battery doesn’t last at all.

 

[Ken555]

When I stayed at WKOVR, it did not look like there were any reefs nearby but I am probably wrong. The water was deep and cold so I did not go in. We are going to Oahu next week and I purchased a shortie bc Hawaii water is way too cold for me.

Hilarious. The reef is maybe 3-5 feet from sand and only a few feet below surface. We've been discussing it and posting pics for at least 16 years on TUG.

 

[Ken555]

agreed, I was about to ask @DavidnRobin about their GoPro as I’m going to bora bora and am thinking about buying one but not so sure. I also didn’t want to hijack the thread so I turned to google. But while I’m writing, how do you like the GoPro? I hear the battery doesn’t last at all.

I think if Marriott sales tossed in a GoPro and 50,000 BonvoyPesos (now that they've been devalued again) I might agree to a five minute meeting.

 

[DavidnRobin]

This thread is already off the rail.
Sorry - using Tapatalk and not friendly when it comes to thread sorting.

No issue with GoPro (Hero 10) but I have backup batteries and don’t pay attention to battery usage.


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[TravelTime]

Hilarious. The reef is maybe 3-5 feet from sand and only a few feet below surface. We've been discussing it and posting pics for at least 16 years on TUG.

I do not read the Vistana thread too often.

 

[Bill R]

Not to be that person but this helpful and informative conversation is a bit off topic for the merger post so maybe someone could start a thread for it or move the conversation to an existing one instead.

I'm gonna be the guy - not a TUG regular, but love the info. - that says this whole topic and mega thread is pretty "off topic", in that the speculation and reactions to speculation is rampant, with essentially no Facts. It has been a good learning experience for me, though, as I knew next to nothing about the MVC stuff, however, all the speculation and rumors tend to make it more confusing not less, as none of this really tells us exactly how it all will work. As I have remarked earlier, writing this up on the Marriott side will be a very tough slog - trying to make it comprehensible to the "common" owner...and presumably trying to make it enticing to participate in?

Having been to an owner's presentation at WKORVN last summer, then one in Cabo in January, and a relative having gone to one a couple of weeks ago in Palm Springs, I can attest to how all over the map these "rumors" and speculation have been in the sales presentations. We saw an early conversion chart in Cabo in January, but I don't think it was anything more than sales speculation to try and sell from and didn't even match most things folks here are reporting. The relative who went to a presentation in Palm Springs more recently just said what others have been saying - as a Vistana Flex Owner you won't be able to use any of it unless you buy "more" NOW! But here we are, 42 pages into this thread, and I'd say there's been more "off topic" than on. My 2c.

What I DO know is that while I haven't spent hours on the computer searching, EVERY TIME I do search for inventory for trips in planning I either get the system error, or no results, with the "odd" availability at times and places I am NOT that interested in! So this system issue is the bigger factor for right now, IMO.

 

[Ken555]

I'm gonna be the guy - not a TUG regular, but love the info. - that says this whole topic and mega thread is pretty "off topic", in that the speculation and reactions to speculation is rampant, with essentially no Facts. It has been a good learning experience for me, though, as I knew next to nothing about the MVC stuff, however, all the speculation and rumors tend to make it more confusing not less, as none of this really tells us exactly how it all will work. As I have remarked earlier, writing this up on the Marriott side will be a very tough slog - trying to make it comprehensible to the "common" owner...and presumably trying to make it enticing to participate in?

Having been to an owner's presentation at WKORVN last summer, then one in Cabo in January, and a relative having gone to one a couple of weeks ago in Palm Springs, I can attest to how all over the map these "rumors" and speculation have been in the sales presentations. We saw an early conversion chart in Cabo in January, but I don't think it was anything more than sales speculation to try and sell from and didn't even match most things folks here are reporting. The relative who went to a presentation in Palm Springs more recently just said what others have been saying - as a Vistana Flex Owner you won't be able to use any of it unless you buy "more" NOW! But here we are, 42 pages into this thread, and I'd say there's been more "off topic" than on. My 2c.

What I DO know is that while I haven't spent hours on the computer searching, EVERY TIME I do search for inventory for trips in planning I either get the system error, or no results, with the "odd" availability at times and places I am NOT that interested in! So this system issue is the bigger factor for right now, IMO.

It almost sounds like you expected, after 1000 comments, that this thread would have…facts. C’mon, we’re talking timeshares here! Facts aren’t allowed.


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[robertk2012]

Every post that I made about not having facts was deleted.

 

[dioxide45]

I think if Marriott sales tossed in a GoPro and 50,000 BonvoyPesos (now that they've been devalued again) I might agree to a five minute meeting.

They would probably give out some old HERO 5 or HERO 7.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

Phone call from Marriott today - offering 25K Bonvoy or 400 Marriott points to attend a virtual update. Office message said "Marriott Points Sales Office" out of Utah...801-828-1996 - I feel 25K Bonvoy is really low as I received 50K Bonvoy points in Feb for same type of virtual update. Surprised they called me again so soon.

 

[daviator]

Phone call from Marriott today - offering 25K Bonvoy or 400 Marriott points to attend a virtual update. Office message said "Marriott Points Sales Office" out of Utah...801-828-1996 - I feel 25K Bonvoy is really low as I received 50K Bonvoy points in Feb for same type of virtual update. Surprised they called me again so soon.

I don’t think there is any waiting period between presentation offers any more. I’ve done an owner update and had them invite me to do another (on a different stay) two weeks later. It used to be (I think) six months, but now they seem to be happy to pay you over and over if you’ll give them a shot at taking your money…

We are heading to WDW at the end of next week, and I will probably do an update just to hear what they have to say about the new changes. I will use the ongoing website problems as my reason not to buy, because I want that message getting back to corporate. You can’t reserve online, you often can’t reach anyone on the phone… why would I want more of that?

 

[CPNY]

I assume this has been posted but I find it hilarious the part that says “for a complete list of benefits and terms and conditions, ask your sales representative”. Unless they have complete program terms and conditions printed out (which I doubt they do) This basically gives sales reps carte Blanche to say what they want and make up their own terms and conditions.

the fees below also state that VSN Members will pay the new consolidated fee. Is VSN membership counted only for developer and retro enrolled ownerships? I was under the impression that VSN Membership was based on the mandatory status of the resort. it doesn’t specify whether it’s only for enrolled members or for all VSN members. I assume non VSN members (voluntary resale owners) pay split housekeeping and cancelation fees that are mentioned? they would pay a housekeeping fee if they locked off their unit or if they booked multiple trips with a resale flex ownership, correct? So one could assume that mandatory resale units may be eligible to convert. Something tells me that ALL VSN members will be paying the new fee and ALL VSN members will be eligible.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Based on this chart fine print, "VSN Mandatory will pay annual club dues rather than VSN Network Membership Fees." I don't see any mention of elimination of resale. How would one trade SOs?

If they are eliminating SOs for resale Mandatory by eliminating the VSN Membership, there is no way I would give them one more penny. If true, such heavy handed tactics is not not a way to build positive relationships with owners. Will use or rent our current unit and spend our travel money elsewhere.

 

[TravelTime]

Based on this chart fine print, "VSN Mandatory will pay annual club dues rather than VSN Network Membership Fees." I don't see any mention of elimination of resale. How would one trade SOs?

If they are eliminating SOs for resale Mandatory by eliminating the VSN Membership, there is no way I would give them one more penny. If true, such heavy handed tactics is not not a way to build positive relationships with owners. Will use or rent our current unit and spend our travel money elsewhere.

How would they eliminate SOs for mandatory resale owners? Wouldn’t that be impossible? They might grandfather in current mandatory resales owners and do this with new resale owners, I assume.

 

[CPNY]

How would they eliminate SOs for mandatory resale owners? Wouldn’t that be impossible? They might grandfather in current mandatory resales owners and do this with new resale owners, I assume.

I don’t think they can, mandatory resorts must be part of the program that is managed by the developer/program manager. The VSN is the program and if they combine programs I’d assume all mandatory units will be able to be part of both.

 

[dioxide45]

Based on this chart fine print, "VSN Mandatory will pay annual club dues rather than VSN Network Membership Fees." I don't see any mention of elimination of resale. How would one trade SOs?

If they are eliminating SOs for resale Mandatory by eliminating the VSN Membership, there is no way I would give them one more penny. If true, such heavy handed tactics is not not a way to build positive relationships with owners. Will use or rent our current unit and spend our travel money elsewhere.

The odd thing is that most non VSN members, those at voluntary resorts don't have housekeeping fees or cancellation fees. The fine print doesn't even really make sense. Non VSN members would not have a VSN fee any any fees would be based on the underlying deeds and CC&Rs.

I don't see this as eliminating SOs for Mandatory or eliminating VSN membership, just that the fees associated with VSN membership go away. It does seem pretty heavy handed to increase this fee for some single week owners that always use their home resort but are developer owners or own a mandatory resort.

 

[TravelTime]

I don’t think they can, mandatory resorts must be part of the program that is managed by the developer/program manager. The VSN is the program and if they combine programs I’d assume all mandatory units will be able to be part of both.

That is what I have been thinking but Tuggers keep saying we won’t be

 

[dioxide45]

I don’t think they can, mandatory resorts must be part of the program that is managed by the developer/program manager. The VSN is the program and if they combine programs I’d assume all mandatory units will be able to be part of both.

I highly doubt we will see VSN go away in favor of a combined program. I fully expect DC will just be another layer.