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Timeshare resale agent Mat acknowledges that there are plenty of resales available, but that well-priced offerings at the most desirable developments go fast. He says he can set me up in a two-bedroom "lockout" (another term for lock-off) at Marriott in low season (spring and fall) for as little as $8,000.

Mat acknowledges that both Sheraton and Marriott don't allow resale buyers to turn their investment into reward points. "But, hey, if you're going to buy a timeshare, stay there or don't bother buying."

1 p.m.

Onward to the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort, adjoining Disney World. The property is one of 140 Wyndham-owned vacation clubs -- Trendwest and Fairfield Resorts properties are now Wyndham Vacation Resorts -- located throughout North America and the South Pacific.

The Wyndham-owned timeshare has a different feel from the first three. The demographics are far more diverse, with people of every size, color, shape, age and style of dress milling about. People queue up within roped dividers as if they're waiting to get into "Pirates of the Caribbean" next door.

When I get to the front of the line, the receptionist says gruffly, "Do you want a courtesy tour or the full 90 minutes? I can't give you a free gift if you do the courtesy tour." I forgo the gift, and buff saleswoman Kim leads me upstairs to see a video that, surprise, is long on happy people and short on facts.

A tour of the resort reveals what I now know is the vacation club formula: a man-made lake, lots of villas, multiple pools with waterfalls, lazy rivers and other cool water features, fitness rooms and activity centers. The basic villas are not as upscale as others I've viewed (formica counters), but the "presidential" one, with its upscale tile, granite, laundry room and 3 1/2 baths, does not disappoint.

Kim gives me the hardest sell, showing me a formal real estate offer but saying I can't take it with me to study later. The price of $27,400 appears to be attached to a two-bedroom unit during "value season" (spring and fall), but there's a $5,900 discount and 166,000 bonus points on the table if I buy today.

"These incentives may not be there next time you visit," Kim warns. "And this place is going to sell out soon." I can't get out of there soon enough.

3 p.m.

My final stop of the day is Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive, where I'm staying. Hilton operates 10 vacation clubs in Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York and Florida, and manages an additional 20 properties in Colorado, Hawaii and Florida.

I go through yet another gated entrance and into the sales center, where friendly salesman Willie is walking out the door but agrees to show me around. He's the first nice guy I've encountered during my marathon, and his pitch is low-key. I can buy in with a two-bedroom for one week for $20,990 during "gold season" (weeks in post-holiday winter, spring and fall), plus $985 in yearly maintenance fees.

I jog through the Mediterranean-inspired grounds. Several buildings are still under construction, but the completed upscale common facilities -- including two large pools, a couple of fitness centers, general store and deli, and outdoor bar and grill -- remind me of the other developments. My studio suite sports a king-size bed, screened porch overlooking the pool and free high-speed Internet access.

Tuesday, 5 a.m.

I drive 3 1/2 hours across the state and south to Bonita Springs, home of the nearest Hyatt vacation club. Hyatt is the only major hotel brand that doesn't do Orlando. Instead, the company has built its 12 properties in more-upscale areas, including Key West, Fla.; Beaver Creek, Colo.; and Carmel, Calif.

The lavish, high-rise Hyatt Regency Coconut Point hotel is separate from the adjoining Hyatt Coconut Plantation vacation club, which is also predictably posh. A mangrove forest leads to the waters on Estero Bay, where a pontoon boat waits to take Hyatt hotel and vacation club passengers across the bay to the barrier island beaches. At the timeshare property, the units are top-shelf and the grounds immaculate. An older crowd sits poolside; the youngest children are older teenagers. There is an adults-only pool and spa, the first I've seen. I'm glad I left my checkbook at home.

Soft-spoken salesman Castullo, who is dressed much nicer than I am, explains that Hyatt's plan works a bit differently from the others': If I stay during the week I buy into, I will always get the same unit, and my deed will reflect ownership of that unit.

But he emphasizes that I can easily trade to other Hyatt vacation clubs and resorts. Hyatt also belongs to the Interval exchange network, he says, but adds, "Most people who buy Hyatt want to stay with Hyatt."

The hard facts: Buy-in for a two-bedroom during low season will cost $26,000, with maintenance fees of $1,000 a year. I tell him my husband and I will be back to stay for a few days to determine whether it's the right place for us. I am half-serious.

2 p.m.

On the flight home, I try to distill the eight-plus hours of spiels. Note to self: Serious potential buyers should not attempt six sales presentations in less than two days. Offers get muddled and all the places start to look the same. Was it the Marriott that had all those palm trees? Which one had those cool swan-shaped paddle boats? Did they all have those giant man-made lakes in the middle?

Maybe some tequila would have come in handy.