Hilton Head Booked SOLID over Easter - any suggestions?

[st92jmdc]

Dear Fellow DVC'rs. This morning, my DW attempted to book HH over Easter Weekend, but was told it was booked solid.

1.) Member Services said that there are rooms, but none available to DVC.
Does this type of thing happen ? I was under the impression that HH was strictly a DVC resort.

2.) Is it too late to be put into a "waiting cue" for HH? Does something like this exist. I saw earlier posts for things like this at WL or Christmas time.

Our plans for Easter fell through and I thought that it would be nice to drive down for that weekend.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

1.) Member Services said that there are rooms, but none available to DVC.
Does this type of thing happen ? I was under the impression that HH was strictly a DVC resort.

All timeshare reorts -- including DVC -- work best for people who can plan ahead and who can then stick with those plans. Easter 2005 is only a few weeks away.

Rooms for cash and room for points are two distinct categories of inventory. At sold-out DVC resorts, such as HHI, cash nights are available under three circumstances:

1. The developer (Disney) retains a small percentage of the resort capacity so that some rooms can remain unoccupied for maintenance and refurbishments. If these rooms are not needed for this purpose, they are rented out through CRO, with the money going to the delveloper.
   
2. If there are still rooms available for points 60 days before check-in, these rooms can be turned over to CRO if they would otherwise be likely to remain empty. The "breakage income" from renting out these rooms goes the operating fund of the resort, so members can pay slightly lower annual dues.
   
3. The biggest reason for cash inventory is when members choose to use points for the Disney Collection (such as Disney Cruise Line and non-DVC WDW resorts), the Concierge Collection (deluxe non-Disney hotels), and the Adventurer Collection (including Holland America cruises in Alaska). A corresponding amount of point inventory is turned over to CRO, which rents out these rooms for cash. That's how DVC recovers the cost of providing the cruises, non-DVC rooms, and other excursions.

 

[st92jmdc]

We have a LONG DVC vacation planned for next year. We plan ahead VERY efficiently.

We were just HOPING that there would be an oportunity. That's all.

Thank you.

 

[canda]

If I remember right, from my tour in 1997, the marina has some rooms blocked off for the people that dock their yachts. It was also my understanding that all the the people that dock there can use the pools and beach house. (for the ones that sleep on their boats). So that could be the rooms that MS was talking about.


If you still want to go to HHI for the weekend, try the Westin, Marriott (the hotel, not the timeshares) and the Crowne Plaza. I have recieved pretty good rates before to stay at these places and they are right on the beach.

The westin and Crowne Plaza has really good breakfast buffets that are nice to start the day.

 

[DVCLiz]

Sure - call back and ask to be put on a waiting list - you never know when someone will have an unexpected event and have to cancel. Also, don't misunderstand the Easter comment -from your original post it did sound a little like you were surprised that one of the most popular beach resorts would be booked three weeks before one of the most popular vacation times. We never know when we read original posts what your other plans are and how savvy you are about the various resorts and their patterns of use, so Horace might have felt he was being instructive.

Any thought to just paying cash (with DVC discount, I think!) for the time you want? It's a beautiful resort, and you really don't want to be up in cold PA when you could be lounging in sunny SC, now do you???

 

[Fenceman]

We are in the same boat. We also had plans for Easter that fell through at the last minute. We were put on the wait list at HH but I am not holding my breath. It seems all DVC resorts are already booked for that last week of March.

I am pretty sure that boats docking at Shelter Cove can not use the Disney Facilities. They do have their own pool by the appartments/condos that they are allowed to use.

There is one or two dock that are available for DVC Members to use at Shelter Cove. They are not very big so you can not bring the yacht but a small boat would fit. I remember reading this in my original contract. There was also a warning about the big difference in tide and the dangers of the marsh and ocean.

 

[quentina]

Add on at HH...The 11 month booking window is by far the best of all resorts. There are not many rooms.....I can always get a room at WDW.

By the way, I just added on last week. There are points available!!

Kim

 

[Alexander]

Is there the availability to "take back" a room from the cash inventory like they can in WDW? It usually has to be 7 days prior to arrival however. You know when DVC turns the rooms over to CRO for cash ressies, but sometimes can get one back at the last minute to be used for points. Can this happen at HH? Just a thought! Good luck! And get on the waitlist! You've got nothing to lose!

 

[st92jmdc]

Isn't EVERYONE diappointed when they aren't going to get something that they wanted?
I was more confused than disapointed about the availability of a "cash" reservation than dissapointed about not getting the room. Now that you guys explained it, it makes sense. I appreciate ALL of the responses. Thank you.

As of Friday afternoon, we are now on the wait list.

How much in advance do they notify you if a reservation is cancelled?
We're even willing to find out the day before the reservation is available.

 

[ErinC]

I think the waitlist will clear at 7 days out. You will need to call member services to be put back on the waitlist. If I were you, I would probably call every other day or so to check on a reservation just in case something turns up. You might also mention that cash is available towards the end of your waitlist, sometimes they can pull inventory back at the last minute if it looks like that cash room is not going to be rented anyway (or so it seems). Good luck, and I hope something turns up for you.

 

[Dean]

See if there's anything at the Marriott's on HH for the same time as an exchange.

 

[Judique]

Sure - call back and ask to be put on a waiting list - you never know when someone will have an unexpected event and have to cancel........... snip......
Any thought to just paying cash (with DVC discount, I think!) for the time you want? It's a beautiful resort, and you really don't want to be up in cold PA when you could be lounging in sunny SC, now do you???

I gave cash a thought, but Easter Sunday and Monday have been very elusive in a two bedroom. I called MS, trying to book those nights on points or cash and also CRO. I already have a room at the resort, but would like a two bedroom for those two nights. (I already have the two bedroom for 4 additonal nights. I'm on the waitlist as well. If I get my two bedroom, my studio (and my friends studio also) may get cancelled, so - it's possible the waitlist may work for a couple of us. It's still early in the waitlist game, so don't give up hope!

 

[st92jmdc]

Should my DW be calling everday - even though we are on the call list now?

 

[ErinC]

If it were me, I probably would. Not saying the waitlist doesn't work. I've just read too many accounts of people calling and suddenly they have space, when yesterday there was nothing. If you really want to go that badly, I'd call at least every other day if not every day!(I'm not so patient) Others may disagree, but I would call often, especially as Easter approaches. I hope it works out for you. Do you have a back up plan?

 

[Dean]

Also, the wait list discarded at at 30 days out and a new one started. Then at 7 days, no wait list. I'd call then call a couple of times a day within 7 days if you can wait that long to get it.

 

[st92jmdc]

At seven days there is not waitlist, so you have to call daily?

We don't mind waiting at all. It would be great if this worked out. Thank you.

 

[Dean]

At seven days there is not waitlist, so you have to call daily?

We don't mind waiting at all. It would be great if this worked out. Thank you.

That's correct, no wait list inside 7 days. it's first come first served starting from the point a unit opens up. So if you really need something, multiple phone calls a day starting 7 days out from that day would give you the biggest chance of success.

 

[st92jmdc]

Has anyone ever asked MS how many people are ahead of them in the waitlist? Does MS give you an answer?

 

[RobDoc]

MS will usually not tell you where you may be on the wait list. Since there are different ways to be waitlisted, you could be the first one on the waitlist and still not get the next available date that comes in.

If you have asked to be waitlisted for October 2-7 (5 nites), you won't get a match unless all 5 nights become available at one time. DVC will not "save" individual days as they become available. 4 of the nights could be cancelled right now and someone else will get them since you are waiting for 5 nites.

If you are patient and have enough time before you travel, tell MS to put you on the auto-confirm/daily waitlist. That way you will get each day as it becomes available and they won't even call to ask if you want it- you'll just get a confirmation letter in the mail. The only problem with that method is that it's possible to still end up with a missing day - in the middle of your stay. We've have always used that process and have never been disappointed by the waitlist.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

I totally agree with Doc but would add that you must decide whether you want to run the risk of having some days but not others. If you have enough points and other factors work out (use year and banking window), you could keep all your initial reservation, if you have one, and only cancel it when you get all of your wait list. In that scenario, always do day by day with auto confirm. If you don't have enough points or there are other complicating factors, you musts decide whether you want to take the chance or not. I don't really mind changing resorts or unit types but I prefer not to change more than once if I can help it so I'd hate to not get a single day or two in the middle of a stay.