How hard to Book HH at 7months?

[ErinC]

DD's get out of school May 24th next year. We would want to do a Sun. - Thursday stay in probably a 1 bedroom. If we checked in Sunday the 28th, we would be there over Memorial Day. Or we could do the next week, checking in June 4th. Anybody have any experience with booking this time of year at the 7 month window? What do you think my chances will be?

 

[mikesmom]

It's tough. Last year we wanted to spend our 10th anniversary at HH. I started exactly at 7 months out attempting to get ANY dates close to June 10th. We wanted 4 nights. I got 2 nights - no big surprise, it was Saturday and Sunday night and they are HUGE point increases. Went on waitlist for 2 more nights either side of that nights we had reserved. Kept checking back and also checked within the 30 day window. Got one of the nights from the waitlist at about 3 weeks out. Never could get a 4th night.

Normally I would say May would be easier than June, but for Memorial Day, I would think it would be harder.

If I were to ever do this again I think I would post on the Rent/Trade board to trade ressies with someone who had an 11 month window as I have an 11 month window at BWV - useful during Food & Wine Fest.

There is always hope, but I would have a backup plan.

 

[disnutt]

Oops, wrong time of year. Sorry.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

There are only 21 (or is it 22?) 1BR's and studios, so those my be hard to get at 7 months, especially over a holiday weekend. Plus weekend points are killer, Fri is 2x's Sun-Thu and Sat is 3x's! So those two days alone cost the same as Sun-Thu.

You may have better luck snagging a 2br at 7 months, but the weekend points will kill you if you can't do cash.

 

[iloveokw]

A two bedroom isn't many more points than a one bedroom - you might have better luck getting one of those at 7 mo. We were there this year the first week of June - it was totally full.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

we were able to get a 2br within the 7 month window with no problems, and were able to change our original plans with less than 6 months to go due to kids activities that caused some conflicts.

It is definitely possible.

 

[Disneyjamie]

I was able to get a 2 bedroom 7th months out for the end of July, Sunday through Thursday.

 

[Danthesand]

The southern schools systems opening up in early/mid August somewhat lowers demand for villas at HH. Last year, I easily got a one bedroom 7 months out for the third week in August - resort was relatively but not 100% full while we were there; the crowd at that time was made up of lots of people from the northeast and the U.K. Also sensed a good number of guests were not DVC members.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

The southern schools systems opening up in early/mid August somewhat lowers demand for villas at HH. Last year, I easily got a one bedroom 7 months out for the third week in August - resort was relatively but not 100% full while we were there; the crowd at that time was made up of lots of people from the northeast and the U.K. Also sensed a good number of guests were not DVC members.

NC schools were starting in early in August so kids could finish the 1st semester before Christmas. The coastal communites, which rely on tourism, were able to lobby the NC Legislature to change that. This year, NC passed a law that regulates the start of the school year until the time frame of last week of August/week before Labor Day. So now the schools won't get out until 1st of June.

 

[Danthesand]

NC schools were starting in early in August so kids could finish the 1st semester before Christmas. The coastal communites, which rely on tourism, were able to lobby the NC Legislature to change that. This year, NC passed a law that regulates the start of the school year until the time frame of last week of August/week before Labor Day. So now the schools won't get out until 1st of June.

My gut is that isn't going over well at all with families that for decades have been planning their schedules around school "starting early and ending early." Or stated differently, there is going to be a strong reaction to this (I suspect the Legislature is already getting a lot of less than friendly mail about the change).

 

[ErinC]

Thanks for the replies. I guess we will try it and see. I really don't want a 2 bed. as my kids are pretty small, and I think the second bedroom would go unused. We'll see. Our kids go back to school around the second week in August, so late August would not be an option. We could probably do any week in the Summer, although when school lets out we are ready to go "somewhere"! I'll just mark the 7 month window on my calendar, and give it a try!

 

[dougmatt]

I agree with (and highly recommend you take) the advice of an earlier poster. Post on Rent trade board asking a HH owner to trade with you to do the reservation. I was locked out 2 years straight on summer accomidations at HH at 7 months out. Once for Mem Day and once for 4rth of July, both times trying weeks before and after with no success. I ended up adding on there in order to be able to go during the summer... I have a trip planned for this coming 4rth, so I couldn't trade, but I would be willing to do it (and have done it in the past) if I didn't.... Post over there, someone can probably help .

Good luck.

D

 

[ErinC]

Thanks for the advice Dougmatt. I'll talk to DH about it and see what he thinks. What type of accomodations were you looking for at HH when you were trying to make your reservations? Or was everything booked?

 

[dougmatt]

Anything for a Sun - Thurs stay. Could get a day or 2 here and there, but not the whole stay.

D