posted 04-09-2005 13:37               

------------------------

Heather, is one of the quality survey scores you're referring to the "Ratings" portion of this website? Grande Vista did well there (9.11). It also got an average of 5 out of 5 "stars" at http://www.tripadvisor.com (and that's taking renters' opinions into consideration). Where else is there that I might find other reviews/surveys?

Also, what is this 60-day flextime you’re talking about? Is that the last two months before check-in date? What exactly is possible during that period, and how?

I'm highly encouraged by yours, and others', recent posts. I'm getting a better feel of "trade power" now. Location is important, as well as the week, as well as the resort’s quality. I can't also help but think that even though there's a gluten of Orlando resorts, it's that way for a reason. Families from all home resorts probably would like to go to Disney World at least once or twice during their children’s vacationing years. Though a beach resort sounds wonderful and we'd LOVE to buy a week at one if we had the money, it won't have all the theme parks that Orlando has to offer. And theme parks are what my family wants right now. Eventually we will either buy a second week at a more relaxing location or we'll sell our week in Orlando, count our blessings, and put the money towards another more expensive place.

posted 04-09-2005 16:06               

Forget trading power IMO - it's a sales tool and nothing more.

I even got a Marriott Newport Coast Villas for mid-May 2004 using another studio from MSE...and a 2 bdrm at Desert Springs Villas for the previous week using the 1 bdrm portion of MSE. II allows a 1 step up in size unless the resort has only 2 bdrms when you are put into the mix where I suspect you have priority with whatever size Marriott you have unless someone else requests 'the same day' with a larger unit.

My point is: How could you do any better with an 'assumed' higher trader from Maui or Aruba than these deals with my cheap Manor Club lockoffs? If something opens up with II and you are the only request in there, you get it.

Brian

quote:

---

Originally posted by Heather:
[QUOTE]...To get a summer Barony with a Manor Club studio, it's got to be in the 60 day flextime period. I suspect you would not be successful outside this timeframe, and then trading power is an issue.

[This message has been edited by Heather (edited 04-09-2005).]

---

posted 04-09-2005 17:03            

quote:

---

Originally posted by pwrshift:
Heather...sorry to tell you that getting the 2 bdrm Barony for Aug 15, 2004 was done with a Manor Club studio request put in about March 2004 Barony came through really late (July/04) and for a while it looked like nothing was going to come...and there it was (between two hurricanes).

---

Brian,

posted 04-09-2005 20:58               

Brian

posted 04-10-2005 06:32               

However, there are a few mitigating considerations:

If you are going to buy in Orlando, one of the newer Marriott's is certainly a good choice.

If you would stay there at least some of the time, then trading power isn't the only consideration.

Many people don't need the "best trading power." Many good trades and great vacations are available with flexibility if you learn the systems involved (Marriott, II, etc).

If you're buying from the developer, I think Orlando is too pricey -- better trading resorts don't cost much more. If buying resale, the resale prices help mitigate the trading power issues.

The bottom line is needed trading power will be influenced by how specific your trading needs are. If you'll be shooting for particular weeks when you kids are out of school, I'd recommend avoiding Orlando for trading purposes. If you usually have several options in time/place/resort for your trades, Orlando Marriotts may meet your needs very well.

Your particular needs and expectations play a large role. I know several people with both Marriott and non-Marriott Orlando timeshares. Generally, they are happy with their timeshares, though they haven't researched tug and other places to know what might otherwise be possible ;-).

Good Luck!

posted 04-10-2005 06:51               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Elden12:
Location, location, location, means the most in real estate.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by newbie2timeshares:
I was hoping that my idea of buying a 3-bedroom and trading it for a 2-bedroom would make up for the fact that Orlando doesn't have as much trading power.

Is that realistic or unrealistic logic in the timeshare world?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by armlem2:
Does platinum plus allow you to trade(or give you an advantage) to another platinum plus week in Marriott,are they resticted (i.e. PP can only get PP) or can anyone just get lucky and trade into a platinum plus

thanks
Larry

---

posted 04-10-2005 07:09            

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeM132:
Look in the II book for Orlando trade power. The Feb-Mar weeks are the strongest there (all over 100). While some locations have big II number (like 115), Orlando, as I recall, tops out at 105 or something.

---

posted 04-10-2005 07:29            

quote:

---

Originally posted by pwrshift:

My point is: How could you do any better with an 'assumed' higher trader from Maui or Aruba than these deals with my cheap Manor Club lockoffs? If something opens up with II and you are the only request in there, you get it.

Brian

---

__________________________________

We are actually on the same page, but I have one minor point to add to what you are saying. With II, at the very least your week needs to meet the criteria of 'comparable' to be able to make the exchange outside of flextime. So trade power does matter to a degree. But I totally agree with you that once you meet that minimum threshold of comparable exchange, I don't think it really matters much whether you have Orlando or Maui.

If you have top scores in quality, same size unit, and a reasonable demand for your week, you'll get the exchange if it's in inventory. IMHO, once you get to a certain point in 'demand' for your week, it doesn't matter if the next guy has 100x more demand for his--if you reach that threshold you're there.

It kind of reminds me when I worked in sales and you needed 100% of quota to qualify for a trip. The guy who got 200% still qualified the same as the 100% guy and both got to go on the trip.

So I agree with Brian in the sense that once you reach the 'comparable' threshold, if you plan in advance and have enough trading power to match with the week you want--it really doesn't matter if you have Orlando at Easter or Grande Ocean for 4th of July to trade--you can still go where you want to go IF there are deposits to be matched with.

This works especially well if you are an advance planner. I find that requesting 12 to 13 months out you can really grab those 'early deposits' with a comparable week. Most people aren't organized enough to put in ongoing requests this far in advance, so the 'good stuff' is there for the taking if you can match it.

Having a decent Marriott of course enhances this if you want to go to other Marriotts because of the 21 day internal exchange priority with II.

posted 04-10-2005 07:32               

quote:

---

Originally posted by newbie2timeshares:

How well does Orlando trade? What are the best weeks that we should reserve to trade? Would a 3-bedroom increase its value(...perhaps to trade down to a 2-bedroom in places like Aruba, Colorado or Hawaii)?

[This message has been edited by newbie2timeshares (edited 04-08-2005).]

---

It would NOT increase your trade value. Buy the 3 bedroom if you need a 3 bedroom. Don't pay extra thinking you will get a better trade.

posted 04-10-2005 07:36            

quote:

---

Originally posted by newbie2timeshares:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Heather:
[B]Quality survey scores are a significant component of trade power.
Heather, is one of the quality survey scores you're referring to the "Ratings" portion of this website? Grande Vista did well there (9.11). It also got an average of 5 out of 5 "stars" at http://www.tripadvisor.com (and that's taking renters' opinions into consideration). Where else is there that I might find other reviews/surveys?

Also, what is this 60-day flextime you’re talking about? Is that the last two months before check-in date? What exactly is possible during that period, and how?

---

The Quality Survey scores I am referring to are the ones II tabulates based on the surveys they distribute to exchangers. After each exchange, each II member has the opportunity to 'rate' the resort. These scores are used by II to help them determine the quality component of their trade power.

The 60 day flextime I'm referring to is the time when trade power restrictions are eased/lifted and weeks can be matched regardless of trading power. It is the 2 months before checkin date. A December Branson studio at this point may be matched with GO for 4th of July if nobody else is waiting. The Marriott priority still applies though, so it does help to have a Marriott if you want to trade into another Marriott resort.

So let's say you have a 3 br Grande Vista, and you lock it out and use 2br for a tough exchange--the studio portion may work well to get you something in flextime.

Hope that makes sense.

posted 04-10-2005 23:39               

quote:

---

Originally posted by MOXJO7282:
Seth,
I personally think a 3BDRM unit does carry some weight in II. In my experience, one of the ways you can really increase your Marriott Orlando trading power is to offer a downgrade in size. Most people don't want to do that, but I have seen some good trades in platinum when owners accept a 2 for a 3, or 1 for a 2.

Regards.
Joe

---

There should not be an advantage in trading a 3 bedroom for a 2 bedroom vs just using a 2 bedroom to get a 2 bedroom. I typically recommend that if you don't need a unit of the size that you own, you lock off your unit. Since many people lock off their units, you can do well trading a smaller sized unit for a smaller sized unit.

posted 04-11-2005 15:07            

My Orlando TS is not a Marriott and it's not a 5 star. It does have solid internal ratings with II as well as solid TUG ratings. I've deposited X-mas, New Years and July 4th weeks with II with it before and I've never been offered an AC for it.

This leads me to one of two conclusions:

1. Orlando's trading power is on the rise with II
2. II is loosening up their criteria for giving out AC's

posted 04-11-2005 17:19               

WHOA!!!! Take a breath, newbie, you don't HAVE to buy anything.

You certainly don't have to buy an expensive marriott, with maintenance fees around $800 per year or more, just to turn around and trade.

Until you find someplace you want to visit every year, just stick around here and RENT where you want to go. If you want a 3 bedroom at the Grande Vista during the summer, just rent one for $700 or so and forget about buying.

posted 04-11-2005 18:44               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PA:
Reading through this thread, at this late date, is comical. Here's an absolute newbie, almost pulled the trigger on developer pricing at Orlando to trade 2 out of 3 years, then thinking resale, and now you have him buying at Aruba, beachfront Marriott, etc.

WHOA!!!! Take a breath, newbie, you don't HAVE to buy anything.

You certainly don't have to buy an expensive marriott, with maintenance fees around $800 per year or more, just to turn around and trade.

Until you find someplace you want to visit every year, just stick around here and RENT where you want to go. If you want a 3 bedroom at the Grande Vista during the summer, just rent one for $700 or so and forget about buying.

All this advice is well meaning, but these people have no idea what your family's needs are. Where you want to go, what you want to do, how often and for how long. A $20,000 timeshare for your first purchase is high risk, just rent.

---

Actually, PA, I think you are missing some of the history here. The OP had origianlly posted here in another thread asking if she should recind the GV purchase. She indicated that she had small children and wanted to trade into places like Aruba and Hawaii during spring break and school vacations.

The reason I suggested she check out prices for Aruba (I did not say buy) was because in several posts she indicated a desire to trade into Aruba. I did not suggest Aruba as a strong trader, but rather as a resort she would want to use.

Stefa

posted 04-11-2005 19:15               

quote:

---

Originally posted by ACCfan:
There's another thread in the exchanging section where a person is getting two AC's for an Orlando L/O deposit with II. That would only be the second time I've heard of it. Maybe Orlando is starting to tighten up for II.
http://www.tug1.net/tugbbs1/Forum2/HTML/008921.html

---

posted 04-12-2005 02:36            

quote:

---

Originally posted by pointhound:
Do I still get an AC if I already deposited my applicable week before the offer?

---

posted 04-12-2005 04:49               

quote:

---

Originally posted by sethnock:
There should not be an advantage in trading a 3 bedroom for a 2 bedroom vs just using a 2 bedroom to get a 2 bedroom.

---