Grand Villas at HH-availability & reviews?

[KyMattDisney]

Hi there....my family is looking into staying at HH next July (mid-late) and would like to stay at a Grand Villa. Are they tough to get with the 7 month window? (Home base is Beach Club)...if not could we do 2-2 bedroom units? Our group will be a total of 14 people (8 adults, 5 children, 1 infant).....

Also what are the Grand Villas like? We stayed last year at a GV at OKW and loved it?

 

[RobDoc]

The HH GV's are wonderful. They have a fireplace and are similar in layout to the OKW version. There are, however, only a total of five and they do go quickly during the summer months.

2BR villas are the most plentiful and many have reported success at 7 months for those. I would plan to call right at 7 months and expect to need the waitlist (at least for the GV).

Good Luck!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by KyMattDisney
Hi there....my family is looking into staying at HH next July (mid-late) and would like to stay at a Grand Villa. Are they tough to get with the 7 month window? (Home base is Beach Club)...if not could we do 2-2 bedroom units? Our group will be a total of 14 people (8 adults, 5 children, 1 infant).....

Also what are the Grand Villas like? We stayed last year at a GV at OKW and loved it?

Have a backup plan as most units at HH for summer fill quickly and are rarely available during mid June to late August. Getting 2 units or a GV would be unlikely. I'd say the GV is impossible and the 2 BR just unlikely.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

Your chance of getting the 2-2bdrms will be better if you can be flexible with dates. The GV, I think will be impossible at 7mos. We booked ours day-by-day at 11 mos for the 1st week of June.

Have you considered trying to trade with another DVC member whose home resort is HH so it could be booked at 11mos?

 

[DownNeckBoy]

The GV's are wonderful. We booked one last year for NYE and we are doing the same thing this year. However, it appears that there are too many people in your group for a GV. You would be better off with two 2 BR's.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Macnjac87]

I don't know about your chances for a GV at HH, but we booked a 2 BR for mid july at the 7 month window (we just got back and LOVED IT!!!!) and had no problem at all booking it. Gave MS my dates and they had plenty of availability when I called at the 7 month window.
Good luck, we are going back next Easter (if I can get it at that 7 month window!!!)

 

[sparkysfriends]

The Grand Villas at HH are really beautiful and spacious. We just booked one for 2/14 - 2/21/04. This is not as popular a time as summer, but we've been going for the past few years for this week (usually in a 2 bedroom), and the resort is always close to full. Don't forget that this is a vacation week for many states in the northeast. The weird thing about our booking is that we had to book the nights of 2/14 and 2/20 for cash. We booked the nights of 2/15 - 2/19 on points, and we're paying cash for the 2 nights we mentioned. I know some people like to do this because the weekend nights are a lot more points, but I was really surprised by this. It was not a big deal for us since we are bringing my sisters and their families as a sister trip. They will split the cost of the cash nights and we will use our points. We were just so happy to get the Grand Villa that we didn't care how we booked it.

 

[babylisa4]

All of you that go regularly to HH in times other than summer. Please tell me what you do- I assume you can't swim in the ocean then. Can you swim in the pool? Are things like dolphin cruises etc. still comfortable?

 

[sparkysfriends]

You can swim in the pools if you want to. My son always does. I have, on occasion, and we're there in February. We always take a Dolphin Cruise, we've gone kayaking, horseback riding, we always rent bikes. There are other planned activities at the resort. We also like to go into Savannah for a day.

 

[Disneyaholic]

Swimming in the ocean is probably the only thing that's a definite "no". We've been there in November when the temperatures were in the 80s, so we still sat out on the beach, but the water was a bit too cold.

The pools are heated. If it's cold out, you'll be fine as long as you stay in the water. Those first few minutes when you step out can be a little bit of a shock. The hot tub at in the pool area is usually pretty popular in the cooler months, too.

Most of the programs are still offered (like the dolphin cruise) are offered year-round, but might be more likely to be cancelled due to the weather. We've been there several times during the cooler months and haven't been bored yet!

 

[stacy6552]

Why dont you go to the rent trade board and swap points with a HH owner. They can get you into the grand villa now and you can get them into yours for christmas or something.

 

[donald@home]

Sue Holland has a photo tour of the HH GV...

http://www.mouseplanet.com/sue_holland/sh030725.htm

Enjoy.

 

[babylisa4]

Can anyone confirm this? That there was a way they maybe have a 3 BR config all on one floor in the main lodge building?

 

[sparkysfriends]

I have never heard of a 3 bedroom in the main building, but I bet Tommy would know.

 

[DownNeckBoy]

There are no GV's in the main building.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I have also heard that there is a way to get a 3 bedroom in the lodge with lockoffs. I believe this is available is someone is wanting a GV, but needs an HCA room.

 

[Disneyaholic]

I believe there is a 2BR with a connecting studio on each side -- for someone who wants a GV, but needs the accessibility. It doesn't have the fireplace though.

 

[sparkysfriends]

I just spoke with my sister. She said that she remembers being told by a castmember that there is a way to get a 2 bedroom and a studio that open up to each other in the main building. I never heard this myself, but it's worth checking into. It wouldn't be nearly as big as a Grand Villa, but you would get 3 bedrooms.

 

[colleen costello]

I also got a 2-bedroom at HH at the 7-month window. I called daily each morning and had no problem. It was July 4th week but we left on the 2nd, might have had problems if we had wanted to stay on.

HH was wonderful. I personally liked the "outlying" buildings better than the main Lodge location (we were in #20). I would personally get 2, 2-bedrooms in these buildings before trying to "create" a 3-bedroom (handicapped besides) in the main Lodge.

Just my 2 cents! The resort is lovely. We can't wait to go back.