HH report

[Mona Militello]

Were just back from HH and have some observations. The desk help seems not very informed and very laid back. Not willing to help. We checked into a studio on cash for Saturday night and then were moving into a 2 bedroom on points. They would not give us a lock out and said nothing was avilable even near each other. The resort was only half full. We also had a cash reservation for the following Friday night. They couldn't seem to link them and we had to get a new parking pass every two days. Also the heaters in the pool were down and the elevator was not working. the first room had garbage left in the room and the toilet didn't work. They did fix it right away. The two bedroom was clean other then lots of cob webs. that is a pet peeve of mine. The refreigerator went when we were there and they took care of that very fast. The resort does show some signs of use and needs some repairs. On check out the desk was quite argumentative that I make a call which I didn't. After a long dissusion they did take it off the bill. It was to WICK which is a food help agency. It was make on towel and trash day and my husband thought maybe the maid made the call. After all this we still love the resort and will probably go back. The activity people are great. We did Kayak and had a great time. Todd was the guide. As to all your reccomendation we had dinner with chief Gordan. GREAT! The best deal at any Disney Resort and he is great and very helpful. Every restaurant he reccomended was wonderful. We would do this every time. Loved him. We did have a two bedroom over the pool. I think I would prefer a Marsh view next time and a lock-out. The pool area is very bright all night and some nights was quite noisey. Over all a great time.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

You were there the same time we were.

I felt the front office definitely needed additional training. And the elevator thing was perfectly horrible. They didn't seem to care that it might be a problem for their elderly or handicapped guests.

 

[TnRobin]

Just one note about Lock-offs at HH. There are not that many and they are only in Live Oak Lodge - which by the way is the only handicapped acessible rooms too. Most of HH consist of dedicated 2BR units. So the statement that a lock off was not available even though the resort was only 1/2 full could very well be true.

 

[kweaver]

Hmmm...this does not sound good at all. I wonder what's going on there? Maybe it was just a bad week. Maybe there has been so much attention at VB due to the hurricanes, that HH has been pushed to the back burner?

We've only visited once while we were staying at the Westin...and the gals at the front desk were wonderful. I hate to hear that the place might be going down hill.

The phone call to WIC...how interesting. How did you find out who the call was made to?

As far as the elevator issue goes...it sounds like the resort staff needed a bit more of a sense of urgency about the problem. Though, if the elevator stops working, there's not much you can do other than use the stairs (as with any building). They are at the mercy of the elevator repair company. vb, I'm so sorry your Mom had to suffer because of it, though.

Please report this to DVC...and let us know what their response is.

 

[lenshanem]

That is a shame. I was hoping to get into HH later in the summer.

 

[RobDoc]

Sorry to hear of your disappointment!

There are only 21 lock-off villas at thre resort and they are usually reserved only as 21 Studios and 21 1BR villas. If there is a need for an accessible 2BR, one of these lock-offs would be made available.

16 of these are located in Buildings 11 and 12 - they are served by the only elevator. The other 5 lock-offs are located beneath the 5 GV's at the resort.

There are no ground floor units at all- due to building codes on the island. If the elevator needs servicing, those who require it will need to ask the desk for assistance (as at any other hotel with an elevator). BWV, BCV, VWL, VB and SSR will all have this same issue in the event of a power outage or service need for the elevator. OKW has the same issue for 3 buildings.

When reservations include portions of the stay in two types of rooms, it's unlikely to be able to stay in the same villa since the vast majority of rooms (76) are dedicated 2BR villas. It sounds as though you had at least three different reservations and each would require a separate check-in, new room id and parking pass. I'm not sure why you had to get a new parking pass every two days if you had 5 nights on one DVC point reservation.

Glad you enjoyed A Private Affair- it truly is a special evening.

I know your next trip will be better!

 

[Mona Militello]

I forgot to say that if your going soon the no see-ums are still out in force and you need bug spray. Also we did get a DVC member watch there for my husband. Number 15. They said they were sent there from Vero because it was closed.

 

[poohj80]

Quick question for you DVC vets....we just arrived at HHI last night and specifically asked upon check-in whether we would need to check-out then back in when our reservation switched from points to cash on Friday (because I have read on this board many times that this is required) and the person at the desk said no we were checked in until Sunday. On our room cards, it does have a checkout date of 11/28 above our names but on the side of the card in smaller print it shows checkout date of 11/26. I asked about that at the front desk and was told the big numbers are what counts.

Does this sound right to all of you or is this an uninformed desk worker?

Thanks again for all the help!

PJ

 

[Mona Militello]

We had the same thing with the small numbers and got the same reply. It is fine. I don'e undestand the small numbers and they can't explain it but it works out and you shouldn't have to check out.

 

[poohj80]

Great, thanks Mona and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

PJ

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

We just got back from HHI last night. It was our first time there and we loved it. We stayed in villa 2011 which is a 2 bedroom dedicated unit. It was beautiful and our kids had a blast.

The pool heater was working when we left. Don't know about the elevators.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

HH was great had a 2 bdr 2411 this to me is the best room for location. Next to pool gates by the shop and activites.

 

[Laurabearz]

I had a lot of trouble with check in my first stay there.... it was so frustrating, but thankfully the front desk staff is not representive of all the other CM's that work there.

For our trip in June I am very worried. First night points, second night cash, 3-5 on points and 6-7 on points... 4 different reservations. We shall see....

 

[Disneyaholic]

For our trip in June I am very worried. First night points, second night cash, 3-5 on points and 6-7 on points... 4 different reservations. We shall see....

Laura, we had a similar situation last summer, with a combination of cash nights and points nights. When checking in, I made sure that we wouldn't have to change rooms and was assured that we wouldn't. (Helps to remember the CM's name, just in case...). Also, make sure your parking pass goes through the end of your stay as well.

For some unknown reason, we did have to get new keys when we switched over... not sure why. It was a little frustrating, but nothing like checking out and back in might have been!

 

[Disneyaholic]

For our trip in June I am very worried. First night points, second night cash, 3-5 on points and 6-7 on points... 4 different reservations. We shall see....

Laura, we had a similar situation last summer, with a combination of cash nights and points nights. When checking in, I made sure that we wouldn't have to change rooms and was assured that we wouldn't. (Helps to remember the CM's name, just in case...). Also, make sure your parking pass goes through the end of your stay as well.

For some unknown reason, we did have to get new keys when we switched over... not sure why. It was a little frustrating, but nothing like checking out and back in might have been!

 

[Judique]

I had a lot of trouble with check in my first stay there.... it was so frustrating, but thankfully the front desk staff is not representive of all the other CM's that work there.

For our trip in June I am very worried. First night points, second night cash, 3-5 on points and 6-7 on points... 4 different reservations. We shall see....

**
Just check with Member Services to make sure that all the reservations are linked together. I am just back from Hilton Head and I had no problem with this type of situation. In fact, I was surprised not to be asked at checkin to report to the desk to get checked in again when I switched to cash, as I've previously had to do in the past. The CM told me that things had changed in the last couple of months and they no longer had to do this. My parking pass was printed with the final checkout day. My keycard had the final checkout day on it as well as small numbers on the side indicating the date we changed to cash vs points. It was no problem at all, but he did mention the reservation has to be linked by MS for this to occur. As far as the front desk CM's, many have departed.

 

[wildcatwmn]

We were there last week, and stayed one night in a 1br, left for two nights and then spent two nights in a studio. The air conditioner in the 1 br was not cooling well. Fortunately, it was not really hot, but we reported it when we checked out.

The studio was fine, but of course much smaller....couldn't convince DBF to upgrade to the 1br with those "extra" points. We were fortunate to have water views on the corner of the lodge in both rooms.

We got a knock on the door Friday at 10:00pm (!!!!) that they were there to replace a light bulb in a ceiling light (we hadn't called) but all the light bulbs worked. We let the woman know there was a wobbly light fixture over the bed, and she said she would send someone right away (!!!!). We told her it was fine and they could fix it Saturday. They never did, and we mentioned it again when we checked out.

Also, the snack bar at the Mercantile is closed temporarily due to some "necessary, but unexpected" plumbing repairs. They are making and selling coffee in the shop (I thought it should be free)!

 

[WDWNewbie]

Harley-mouse--what was your view like from building 24? We were recently in building 29--Marsh view. It was actually a 'tree' view. We couldn't see the marsh at all.

Are there any buildings where you can actually see the marsh, or do you know if all Marsh view buildings have a good layer of trees between the building and the marsh?

Thanks.

 

[poohj80]

We were in building 22 and we could see the marsh through the trees, but I think there would be a layer of trees between the rooms and the marsh from most buildings..

 

[WDWNewbie]

Thanks poohj80. We couldn't see the marsh at all from 29--there was a very deep layer of trees. It was very private and had a nice secluded feeling. I was just curious if any building actually overlooked the Marsh. Looking on the resort map, buildings 22 and 24 look like very nice locations.

The year before we had a pool view, and that was nice too because sometimes I stayed in the room on the veranda and watched the family in the pool.

Our next trip back is still 10 months away, but I'm already starting to think about it...