BCV vs. HH; a dilemma

[colleen costello]

Help! I need advice and this is the place to get it. I am obsessing and can't make up my mind, and suddenly it hit me! I said to my dh,"I'll put it to The Boards!"

We have reservations for 8 nights at BCV this summer. We have been before and will also stay at OKW this March for Spring Break. We are staying in a studio at BCV to conserve points.

Now here's my dilemma. Dear pals have moved to Charleston SC. I am planning on ATTEMPTING to get lodging at HH after our week with Mickey. We currently plan to check out of BCV on Monday 6/30. I thought we could knock off one of our Orlando nights and head to HH, where our friends and their 2 children could join us in a 2-bedroom for 2 nights. They are not big vacationers and I know this would be a great opportunity for all of us to enjoy DVC together. The kids get along like siblings and the whole idea sounds wonderful.

SO: here's what I need to know. Is a 2-night stay at HH enough? I know there is the pool at the resort as well as the pool by the beach, and of course the ocean. The lodge has some activities and I know we can look for critters. I can leave Orlando on Sunday and spend Sunday night and all day Monday at HH, checking out Tuesday morning. Is this enough time? Our kids will be 9, 8, 5 and 4. My other alternative is to leave BCV a day early and spend Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights at HH.

I can't just add a night at HH because we are then traveling to my parents in PA and I don't want to be cruising up interstate 95 on the eve of July 4th. All this may be moot as HH may be completely booked by the 7-month window! But for those of you who have been there, is there enough there to do with 4 kids for 2 -3 days? Is it worth giving up a day at BCV? I don't want to feel rushed but I don't want to be bored, either. Please advise! Keep in mind that our friends are pretty conservative about vacation dollars. I doubt they will spend money on something like the dolphin cruise or an expensive dinner.

PS: I have a backup plan! If HH is booked that week I will try to lure our friends to WDW. They live a measly 6 hours away and have never taken the kids to the MK. Go figure...

 

[KyBill]

I would think that HH should be a 3 night minimum for a quick visit. You and the kids will have plenty to do. You will find the dinners at HH much less costly than WDW with many options. The 2 BR in the summer at the 7 month window may be a tough ressie. But since HHDVC has mostly 2 BR you might have a good chance.

 

[colleen costello]

Thanks, KyBill! Anyone else?

Maybe I can do 3 nights at HH and go down to Orlando a night early. Last year we did that and just paid cash for a night at Coronado Springs. It was fun and I never would have seen Coronado otherwise. This will get my dh griping that I am always trying to make our trips LONGER!

 

[ILuvDVC]

A couple of years ago, we stopped at Hilton Head for 2 nights....it was wonderful. You don't get the whole feel of the resort, but it was still great. It was before our New Year's trip to WDW and we stopped there to break up the trip some. My Dad and Brother went golfing even though it was close to 32 degrees. And, we all went to the outlets. My son got to play pool, they even went swimming, even though it was too cold!

Anyhow, you can get a feel for the place with just 2 nights, and come back later when you have more time to spend there. We have since stayed 5 nights and 3 nights, and had a wonderful time!

 

[dznymom1]

A couple of years ago we had booked a 2 night stop in HH to break up our drive back to New Hampshire. To make a long story short, we ended up staying 3 nights and upon returning home bought HH points. In my opinion 2 nights is just a tease, and you sure can find plenty to do to keep the kids busy forever in HH!

 

[Dean]

If you haven't spent much time at HH, no way I'd go for just a day and a half. At least stay 3 nights. Since it's unlikely you'll get a unit during mid June to mid August at HH, you should consider alternative options. My first though is BCV followed by HH using cash for a 2 BR. You might even try to get your friends to join you at WDW then travel with you to HH since it's so close for them.

 

[vernon]

I think it's worth trying HH for 2 nights, but i'd try to maximise the time there ( ie leave WDW early on the day you drive up there and leave HH fairly late on the day you depart. If nothing else it's worth a visit to get a taster of the resort as , IMHO, you're likely to want to return.
As you're a ware getting a room might be the deciding factor, it may be easier ( and cheaper) to pay cash at HH than at WDW.

 

[colleen costello]

SO you guys are saying that if HH is all booked up next week when I call I should try to get a 2br for cash? I assume it would be one of those rooms that rent out instead of going for points? This is a good suggestion although following a week with Mickey I don't think I will have the cash to cover it -- I think the going rate for that room will be HIGH. If I had've know more a few months ago, I might have tried to trade some points with someone or rent some from a HH owner. I plan to call member services this week and ask what is currently available. I am guessing that we may have to travel earlier to get a HH room. I would be happy to go even for a night, just to see what it's like until I can return for longer.

 

[Tommy]

I find that I fool myself sometimes when I go on these trips. I have to ask if two days are really two days. If you don't get to check in until after 4pm, you have one night that day. The next day is a whole day, and then you have to check out by 11am the next day. You really have one whole day, and two nights in the worst case scenario. Many of us do not like to leave all our stuff in our cars while and go off and do stuff while we are awaiting check-in. And after check-out, you have the same problem. So, this scenario might leave you with only one day, which in my opinion does not give you a lot of time to vacation.

 

[colleen costello]

If I stay two nights I know it will really give us only one full day. I would definitely stay longer but for July 4th coming up.

I am looking over my itinerary and I think we will try to get to HH a bit earlier. I tend to obsess about points but I will only be in a studio at WDW so I am OK there.

I need to call member services and find out if there are rooms at BCV for a few days earlier than we had planned ot go. I think I will book those so we have more flexibility about when we go to HH!