Do I have a snowball's chance in Heck?

[ssawka]

What are my chances of getting a 1 BR at HHI for Fourth of July week at the 7 month mark? I can call tomorrow!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Someone reported the resort did have a 1 bedroom, but not a 2 bedroom for dates around the 4th. If you begin your trip on a Saturday, higher points, people say the chances are better! My family will be there, we have a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom.

Good luck!

 

[moredisneyplease]

not too sure but good luck!! keep us posted!

 

[ssawka]

Someone reported the resort did have a 1 bedroom, but not a 2 bedroom for dates around the 4th. If you begin your trip on a Saturday, higher points, people say the chances are better! My family will be there, we have a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom.

Good luck!

not too sure but good luck!! keep us posted!

Thank you both for the words of encouragement. I'm really hoping to get down to HHI next year, if not for the fourth then some other weekend. The goal is to check out the resort and see if we want to buy a contract there. We already have enough points for our annual trip to WDW, but DW would also like to have a yearly trip to the beach. If this works out, we will plan on having semi-annual vacations. The other question is, can I handle the 9 hour drive once a year? I know others drive much longer to WDW, but for me 9 hours is about my limit.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

The other question is, can I handle the 9 hour drive once a year? I know others drive much longer to WDW, but for me 9 hours is about my limit.

I live near you (in DC) and have in-laws on HHI.

I did the drive from our area to HHI this summer with a 4 and a 1 year old. Wasn't too bad. Left before 5 AM, stopped at 200 mile/3 hour points along the way and was there mid-afternoon.

Flying isn't that much of a time-saver. Unless you take the direct flight from Dulles to Savannah, a connection is involved. So from the time you leave home until you're on the island, flying only saves 2-4 hours.

 

[ssawka]

I live near you (in DC) and have in-laws on HHI.

I did the drive from our area to HHI this summer with a 4 and a 1 year old. Wasn't too bad. Left before 5 AM, stopped at 200 mile/3 hour points along the way and was there mid-afternoon.

Flying isn't that much of a time-saver. Unless you take the direct flight from Dulles to Savannah, a connection is involved. So from the time you leave home until you're on the island, flying only saves 2-4 hours.

Thanks GrnMtnMan! I've done the drive to Myrtle Beach before, which is roughly the same distance. We did stay over where you get off I-95 and head to MB (near South of the Border).

My plan is to leave on a Saturday evening (after the I-95 traffic dies down) and stay overnight somewhere. Then, get up early the next morning and arrive at HHI on Sunday. We would then stay at the HHI resort until Friday and drive home (maybe stop off on the way back as well). That will break up the trip and allow us to conserve points.

 

[MinnieGi]

Thank you both for the words of encouragement. I'm really hoping to get down to HHI next year, if not for the fourth then some other weekend. The goal is to check out the resort and see if we want to buy a contract there. We already have enough points for our annual trip to WDW, but DW would also like to have a yearly trip to the beach. If this works out, we will plan on having semi-annual vacations. The other question is, can I handle the 9 hour drive once a year? I know others drive much longer to WDW, but for me 9 hours is about my limit.

This is exactly why we own BWV and HHI. We go to WDW during the fall/winter and do HHI for a summer beach week. We all love it there!! We drive 12 hours in one day to get to HHI and its worth every minute even with two kiddos itching to get there!!! We'll be there the week before the 4th.

Hope the 7 month window works for you!! The week of the Fourth may be filled but if you are looking at weekends, I think you will have some luck as the resort isn't always completely booked over the weekend with the higher points.

 

[ssawka]

Well, I called at exactly 9:00 AM today and they only had two of the five nights available. They put us on the wait list, but I'm not holding my breath! I guess I'll just have to call every Thursday for the next two months until I get something.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm sorry that your first dates didn't work out. DH and I booked a cash room over Halloween one year and that's how we tried out the resort. We tried getting in at 7 months last year and that didn't work, so we wound up buying resale. That's how we were able to get the early July villas for our family next year.

 

[ssawka]

I'm sorry that your first dates didn't work out. DH and I booked a cash room over Halloween one year and that's how we tried out the resort. We tried getting in at 7 months last year and that didn't work, so we wound up buying resale. That's how we were able to get the early July villas for our family next year.

Ya, the CM offered to look for a cash reservation, but I'm not ready to go that route. We are really flexible about dates, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. We are looking for any Sun-Fri in July or August.

 

[nickspace]

Sometimes rooms open up days before your request. Before we purchased at HHI we booked a short trip and then kept adding on days while we were there. It wasn't ideal but once we got there we were hooked and wanted to stay longer.

 

[ssawka]

Well, struck out on 7/8 - 7/13 too. They actually had 7/8-7/10 available in a studio. Maybe I should have taken it, but we really want a 1 BR. I guess I'll try again next week!

 

[Anal Annie]

The CM's told me that it's easier to get in there at 7 months if you start with a Fri or Sat - I realize you want to conserve points but so does everyone else so if you're willing to pay the cost your odds may be better. Maybe you could spring for the weekend points to get in then perhap cancel the weekend days LATER once you get the week you want.

We're just a little further than you (upper Montgomery Co., MD) and went to HHI in August 2010. Taking the advice of the CM's to get in we booked Sat - Sat and left home on Fri. night, driving almost to the NC line. Stopped overnight at a Hampton Inn that included breakfast & finished up the last 6 hours to HHI on Sat., arriving right around check-in time. I would NOT do that Fri. night I-95 thing again from where we live!! Leaving on Fri. night might be OK if you live in Fredericksburg or something. We left home around 7:30-8:00 thinking rush hour should be winding down. NOT!! We were OK until the mixing bowl then we pretty much crept along all the way to where the hotel was. It was just a few minutes before midnight when we got there. Should've been closer to 11:00. Both DH & DS said that was far enough for a road trip. FWIW the drive home was much better. We left HHI around Noon on Sat., stopped a couple of times & were home by around 10:00 PM.

 

[ssawka]

Well week three and I struck out again! I think I'll try a few more weeks and if we start to get into August, I may have to look at ways to "game" the system. One thought is to try and book Saturday through Friday, then cancel Saturday and ask them to put back my current year's points instead of the borrowed points so they can be banked. Does anyone know if that would work? I'm assuming it would.

 

[Sandisw]

Well week three and I struck out again! I think I'll try a few more weeks and if we start to get into August, I may have to look at ways to "game" the system. One thought is to try and book Saturday through Friday, then cancel Saturday and ask them to put back my current year's points instead of the borrowed points so they can be banked. Does anyone know if that would work? I'm assuming it would.

Yes, if you have a reservation that has both borrowed and current UY points, and then shorten the trip, just ask the CM to be sure to free up current UY points and not the borrowed one.

 

[ssawka]

Well, after my fifth strike out, I guess I'll have to try to book Saturday to Friday next week. We really want to check out the resort to see if we want to add on, but so far it dosen't look like that's gonna happen. Maybe August will be better!

 

[supersuperwendy]

I hope you can get August...good luck!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Well, after my fifth strike out, I guess I'll have to try to book Saturday to Friday next week. We really want to check out the resort to see if we want to add on, but so far it dosen't look like that's gonna happen. Maybe August will be better!

I really think if you call promptly at 9:00 and start your request with a Saturday that you'll have better luck getting in than trying to start on a Sunday. Keep us posted!

 

[ssawka]

I really think if you call promptly at 9:00 and start your request with a Saturday that you'll have better luck getting in than trying to start on a Sunday. Keep us posted!

Yep, that's the next plan! I also put something on the trade board to see if anyone is interested in swaping reservations.

 

[ssawka]

Well, I had partial success today! I was able to book a studio from 8/4 - 8/10. I wait listed for the 1 BR, but I'm not holding my breath! I will most likely have to cancel the wait list anyway in order to make WDW reservations for next Christmas. We really only need a studio, but want a 1 BR for the Kitchen. Anyway, at least now we will be able to check out the resort and decide if we want to buy there or not!