Traded my Marriott 1 bedroom for 3 bedroom Marriott Grande Vista

littlestar · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 12:16 PM

I was so thrilled today when I was looking for trades for Marriott in Orlando for next March. I was able to grab a 3 bedroom at Marriott's Grande Vista. I've never stayed in a 3 bedroom at Grande Vista, so was very excited to make the trade (and getting it with a 1 bedroom Easter week Horizons Branson made it even sweeter).

I've heard the 3 bedrooms at Marriott Grande Vista have the end unit porches - is that true?

Then to top it off (since we wanted a 10 day trip) I was able to book three nights using my DVC points into a Saratoga 3 bedroom treehouse. I love it when everything falls into place like that.

chriskre · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 01:42 PM

Cooool !!!!!

March is a great time to be in Disney.

I'm going to the Treehouses in December too, also a great time to be in Orlando. I think the treehouses will be very popular so you were lucky to get them.

Have fun.

Ryne08 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 03:40 PM

Great trade !! The three bedroom villas have a small balcony and a screen porch, I think.

bookworm · #4 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 07:22 PM

Sounds much like our own story! We traded our Branson studio for a two bedroom at Harbour Lakes near the end of March 2010. I was surprised to pull this off. I used a summer 2010 Branson week and, when testing on II, found that some weeks pulled the two bedroom and some did not. This was unexpected. We also want to extend our trip and have used Wyndham points to spend time oceanfront in Daytona. Can hardly wait!

littlestar · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2009, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the comments.

Wow, bookworm, that's a nice trade. Summer trade power at Branson must be pretty good.

I was surprised that my Easter week pulled as well as it did. I could also see 2 and 3 bedrooms for various Hilton Head Marriotts for next April and May 2010 into early June (the May and June units were the older Marriotts, though).

I really like owning a Marriott 2 bedroom lock off to use for weeks exchanges. And owning a points resort for picking up extra nights is great for extending a trip.

Ryne08 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 06:42 AM

Easter week is a very powerful tradeing week.

bookworm · #7 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlestar

Thanks for the comments.

Wow, bookworm, that's a nice trade. Summer trade power at Branson must be pretty good.

I was surprised that my Easter week pulled as well as it did. I could also see 2 and 3 bedrooms for various Hilton Head Marriotts for next April and May 2010 into early June (the May and June units were the older Marriotts, though).

I really like owning a Marriott 2 bedroom lock off to use for weeks exchanges. And owning a points resort for picking up extra nights is great for extending a trip.

This is quite impressive. Very nice trade power. That sounds comparable to mine which is great for you considering yours isn't platinum. I'm testing every now and then and I think my trade power has increased as my deposit gets past the year out mark (or else more units are becoming available over time which is very possible.) A little while ago I couldn't pull the two bedrooms, but now recently I can. I wonder if the full two bedroom could actually pull the newer Marriotts in June on HHI, or maybe there aren't any in the system right now.

I'm with you on the lock off. This was exactly our reason for buying the Branson unit and it is working out beautifully. We really wanted it for trading and so far it is coming in handy. Though we will very likely actually use it ourselves too.

GrayFal · #8 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 08:18 AM

I think we are seeing lots more availability due to the economy - but I have routinely been able to see 2BRs in Orlando using a Plat studio.

I will be making my first Branson Marriott resie in the next few weeks and I am looking forward to seeing what it can do!

3BRs at Grande Vista were traditionally lock-off units - it is just the last few buildings that had a dedicated 3BRs.
The L/Os are entered thru a door from the outside into a 'lobby' with two doors, one leads to the studio and one to the 2BR.
The 2BR side has a King in the master, sleeper sofa in the living room and 2 queens in the second bedroom with a balcony/patio off the living room accessible also from the MBR. The studio has a kitchenette, sofa bed, a king bed and its' own balcony - it is a sleep 12 unit.

If you want a 'dedicated' 3BR, call the resort 10 days before check-in to request.

Here is the floor plan of the 'dedicated 3BR sleep 10' unit

littlestar · #9 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 08:38 AM

Thanks for the comments. Thanks for the floor plan, Pat. Our confirmation says sleep 12. Under owner, it says developer. There are actually quite a few 3 bedrooms for March on Interval right now. I wonder if that is due to developer deposits? I agree, Pat, on thinking a lot of people are putting off travel and banking their weeks, too.

I'd like to be close to the Copa Loca on a high floor so I'll put a request in when it gets closer.

Last year I traded my Fairways of the Mountains 1 bedroom lock-off (4th of July week) into a 3 bedroom at Imperial Palms. I liked Marriott's Imperial Palms, but it only had two bathrooms. With Grande Vista, it will be nice to have that third bathroom with our large group.

Disney's Treehouse villas is a three bedroom, but it only has 2 bathrooms. But the nice thing about the Treehouse's is they cost the same amount of points as a regular two bedroom - so I can't complain too much.

GrayFal · #10 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlestar

Thanks for the comments. Thanks for the floor plan, Pat. Our confirmation says sleep 12. Under owner, it says developer. There are actually quite a few 3 bedrooms for March on Interval right now. I wonder if that is due to developer deposits? I agree, Pat, on thinking a lot of people are putting off travel and banking their weeks, too.

I'd like to be close to the Copa Loca on a high floor so I'll put a request in when it gets closer.

Last year I traded my Fairways of the Mountains 1 bedroom lock-off (4th of July week) into a 3 bedroom at Imperial Palms. I liked Marriott's Imperial Palms, but it only had two bathrooms. With Grande Vista, it will be nice to have that third bathroom with our large group.

Disney's Treehouse villas is a three bedroom, but it only has 2 bathrooms. But the nice thing about the Treehouse's is they cost the same amount of points as a regular two bedroom - so I can't complain too much.

I stayed at SSR in April - the treetop villas look as if they will be a FUN location - those Disney people are so clever to take something old and make it new again!