HHI paying cash

[Patty3]

I tried to book accomodations, cash, at HHI for 5 days anytime between the second week of May and the end of June for a grand villa. I was told by MS that it was available. After being placed on hold for almost 10 minutes, MS came back on the line and said that for some reason the computer would not allow them to book it. They checked further, I am guessing with the resort, and was told nothing available. What gives? Why is the inventory showing and then they cannot book? MS told me that DVC accomodations can be booked at 11 months for cash? Do you really think all grand villas are already booked for cash at this time? Thanks.

 

[Plutofan]

I could be wrong but I belive that you can only book cash reservations 11 months out if you own at HH. If you do not own then I think you have to wait until 7 months out. You should call back to see if this is correct.

 

[RobDoc]

While weekend nights are frequently available at 11 months for cash reservations, weekday nights often will not be available for cash reservations until within 6 months.

MS first responsibility is to make reservations using DVC points. Once they recognize that a night won't be needed for a points stay - either because you are within a few months or because of past history for the time period- they will release the villa for cash stays (often with the member discount).

Since there are only 5 GVs at HH and since that time period is very popular for stays using points I'm sure they are not able to release any GVs for cash stays at this time. If there is availability in November/Dec for those May/June dates, I'm sure you'll be able to make a cash reservation, but until they are convinced those villas won't be requested using points, they cannot open them for cash stays.

If MS opened up villa availability for popular times when resort owners were still in their Home Resort Priority period it would defeat the purpose of the 11 month priority.

I'd keep calling periodically, but would not expect much to happen until the end of the year (if at all) for cash reservations in a HH GV for anything except weekend nights. I'd expect that you could reserve Fri/Sat nites there for that time period right now- probably with the 25% discount.

Good luck!

 

[Patty3]

Thanks for the information. I could not even get weekends for the time frame I wanted by paying cash with or without a discount.

 

[Plutofan]

This past June we got the last week of June at HH in a GV. I called right at the 7 month window and booked the cash rate with 25% DVC discount for Friday night and Saturday night and went on the waitlist for Sunday - Friday on points. Our waitlist came through in about a month. The Grand Villas are great and we loved HH. Good luck.