Disadvantages of Hilton Head purchase?

[Zaw]

I am considering a HH. Resale. Other than the 7 month restriction what might be a disadvantage to this purchase?

I will not be making plans more than 7 months out anyway.
I realize I will be limited in choices at WDW resorts but is there a good chance I'll be locked out altogether? Do I face that chance anytime I book 7 months out?

the cost seems so much cheaper for HH.

THANKS FOR ANY INPUT

 

[dsnydaddy]

I am considering a HH. Resale. Other than the 7 month restriction what might be a disadvantage to this purchase?

I will not be making plans more than 7 months out anyway.
I realize I will be limited in choices at WDW resorts but is there a good chance I'll be locked out altogether? Do I face that chance anytime I book 7 months out?

the cost seems so much cheaper for HH.

THANKS FOR ANY INPUT

Are you considering HHI because you want to stay there or because you want to stay at WDW but buy in at the low HHI price point?

If you are planning to use your points at HHI and occasionally trade into WDW then it may not be a bad purchase for you.

Otherwise, you need to look at your annual maintenance fees and decide if it's truly worth it. Since the fees are higher there you will pay more over the life of the contract. Ultimately it'll eat up your savings.

As far as the 7 mos availability goes it will greatly depend upon what time of year you are traveling. If you want to be there over Christmas then you probably have a rough time getting that reservation. Regardless, at 7 months you'll be paying for premium views as the standard views will be booked.

 

[crisi]

Dues will eat up the purchase price savings quickly.

HHI is a great resort and if you want to stay there in Summer then buying HHI points is a great idea - its very difficult for non-owners to book in the Summer. But if you are buying it for WDW, then dues are very high due to hurricane and insurance risks - and you are better off with SSR or extended OKW where dues are low and the purchase price is reasonable

 

[CarolMN]

IMO, if you aren't picky about the resort or villa size, you will virtually always be able to get something at WDW when the 7 month window opens. However, the closer to arrival, the less likely you will be able to find consecutive nights at the same resort in the same villa.

If you are certain that you will or can not plan more than 7 months ahead, HH points work just as well as any other points.

Have you factored annual dues into your cost comparisons? 2015 dues for HH are $6.52 per point. 2015 dues for SSR are $5.17 per point. For 100 points that's an extra $135 per year in annual fees. Annual fees do increase an average of 3%-5% per year. Unless there is a large difference in upfront costs, it may not take long for those fees to eat up any savings you realize from the initial buy-in.

 

[jerseyduke]

The dues!

However, I do think about it from time to time. It might be nice to stay there once in a while in the summer (which I would imaging is hard at 7 months), so owning there has that benefit.

but it is also going to take in the neighborhood of 15 years for the dues to eat up your savings.

 

[Zaw]

Thanks for the responses. I did not really consider the dues.
I plan to mostly stay somewhere in WDW but would like to stay at HH if I were to drive down during Summer.

It's good to know that I will be likely be able book at WDW 7 months out.

Again thanks

 

[missycj96]

If you are planning to regularly stay at hilton head over the summer then buying there is a good idea as the 11 month window is helpful for summer there.

 

[cmrdgrs]

Thanks for the responses. I did not really consider the dues.
I plan to mostly stay somewhere in WDW but would like to stay at HH if I were to drive down during Summer.

It's good to know that I will be likely be able book at WDW 7 months out.

Again thanks

I own at HHI and can tell you that booking at the resort is difficult in the 7 month window during the summer. I imagine that at more off peak times it might be easier, but during Premier Season (busiest season) having the 11 month window to book in will be a plus. Without the 11 month window to book, you may struggle to get a room, especially over 4th of July (if you want to travel at that time).

If you don't feel you can plan inside the 11 - 7 month owner window, there really is no reason to buy at HHI. The only reason to buy at the resort is to have the owner advantage booking window.

 

[CMOORE185]

I bought at HHI because we go there a lot, but when I bought in the dues were one of the lowest of all the resorts. We are now finding out these beach resorts are ending up with the highest dues and probably will continue to increase faster than the WDW resorts do. For that reason I would not but HHI unless you plan on using the points, at least sometimes at HHI. SSR or OKW extended contracts are the best deal if you want use them for WDW and you do not care where you stay.

 

[Dean]

IMO and assuming one is only buying to get points to use in they system, it makes no sense to buy DVC points just for access. The savings are not enough to justify the dues risk and you do not get an 11 month window for WDW. If the price difference we enough, I'd say it was reasonable but we're talking a large difference between OKW & SSR to justify the fees and risk.

 

[jnamadison]

Also, it makes no sense to own at HHI if you aren't going to make plans farther than 7 months out. You can just as easily own at SSR or OKW for the cheap points/dues and then book HHI within 7 months.

 

[Zaw]

Thanks again.

I am not ready to buy just yet but I found a HHi contract for $54 per point for 150 points. This is very tempting. The price seems to justify paying the extra dues.

 

[bellablue2]

hilton head is wonderful. the disney resort is not oceanfront and not one i would choose again when i return. location, mf's are a real downside imo. i also think would be hard contract to resell.

 

[Dean]

Thanks again. I am not ready to buy just yet but I found a HHi contract for $54 per point for 150 points. This is very tempting. The price seems to justify paying the extra dues.

IMO this difference is not large enough. Personally I'd say $20 difference between SSR and HH is the minimum difference, even more for VB. Assuming all planned usage is either non HH at or after 7 months. I think most people looking at this type of entry forget the Maint fee risk and the lack of an 11 month window. OTOH

 

[dsnydaddy]

IMO this difference is not large enough. Personally I'd say $20 difference between SSR and HH is the minimum difference, even more for VB. Assuming all planned usage is either non HH at or after 7 months. I think most people looking at this type of entry forget the Maint fee risk and the lack of an 11 month window. OTOH

And... Unless you are using your HHI points at OKW, you'll probably be limited to more expensive views at, lets say, BLT or AKV. That adds to the equation.

 

[rmcildw2m]

For me none , I owned at hhi for 3 years and never had a problem booking at any of the wdw resorts . And to be honest I have never stayed at hhi . but I do have a reservation for there coming up soon . but as u may have guessed I sold hhi and bought back in at okw and bcv .

 

[Dean]

And... Unless you are using your HHI points at OKW, you'll probably be limited to more expensive views at, lets say, BLT or AKV. That adds to the equation.

True in some situations but not specific to HH. It's the 7 month window availability and the chances of a successful wait list for those specialty items that is the question there. From that standpoint the only differences between buying OKW, HH or SSR are the dues difference (complicated for OKW due to the 2057 extension of only a portion and the HH risk adding weather issues) and the fact one has an 11 month option for WDW if owning there. As for specialty items that are unlikely to be available at the 7 month window such as AKV value or MK resorts standard, they do add some value but only for those that will use those options routinely. When I went through the numbers comparing SSR used at AKV standard to AKV points for value, you had to use AKV value somewhere at or more than 65% of the time to break even and even then you get less in some ways. For those who want to get into the system in general, it's still not likely to be a reasonable choice for most people to buy the more expensive option just for the possibility of a cheaper room they won't use very much. But every situation is different and thus the specifics must be added to the equation. For example, if one anticipated 9 people fairly often, the AKV value usually drops out as a reasonable consideration.

 

[djohn06]

Are you considering HHI because you want to stay there or because you want to stay at WDW but buy in at the low HHI price point? If you are planning to use your points at HHI and occasionally trade into WDW then it may not be a bad purchase for you. Otherwise, you need to look at your annual maintenance fees and decide if it's truly worth it. Since the fees are higher there you will pay more over the life of the contract. Ultimately it'll eat up your savings. As far as the 7 mos availability goes it will greatly depend upon what time of year you are traveling. If you want to be there over Christmas then you probably have a rough time getting that reservation. Regardless, at 7 months you'll be paying for premium views as the standard views will be booked.

I own at HHI too. I got the week of Christmas this past year in a BLT lake view studio at 7 months. Anything is possible.