I'm Soo Excited!!!

[auntsue]

We just got back from our BWV/Disney cruise trip Sunday p.m. and I finally got around to browsing through my 250 new e-mails tonight. I couldn't believe it when I came across the one from DVC that said my Hawaii exchange for next February came through. We are going for our 40th anniversary so it is especially awesome!!!

Besides going to WDW, we've only ever used our points for a few days in AZ and NYC. We have never done a week exchange before, so I wasn't sure how it would work out. DH doubted that it would happen since it was for Hawaii, and I was wondering about it myself since I limited the search to only three properties and four different dates. Luckily I am a planner, so I did go on the waitlist quite a while ago. I'm thinking two years out, but it might have only been eighteen months, I'm not sure. We like being close to everything and I wanted to be on the beach. I read reviews at TUG for every Waikiki possibility and chose the three at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We stayed there in 1975 and remember it fondly. Our exchange is for the new Grand Waikikian which just opened there last year. The pictures look gorgeous and although there are no reviews for it yet, the other two towers are very highly rated, so I am sure it will be just as great, if not even better with everything so new and the washer/dryer now in the room. I really can't wait to go!!!

Thanks to Dean for all of the exchange advice and for suggesting joining TUG years ago. Both were so very helpful in this process.

 

[Sunshine22]

What a great way to spend your 40th anniversary! I'm glad this worked out for you. Enjoy your trip and Happy Anniversary!

 

[kamikazecat]

Congrats! I hope you take lots of pictures to share with us. Happy Anniversary!

 

[Crystal_27]

Awwwww, sounds like it's going to be an awesome anniversary!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yeah!!!! That's where I want to stay too! HGVC properties? There is Lagoon Tower, the new one you got, and one other that I can't remember the name. So you just waitlisted for those three? Gives me hope!

 

[robert@dvcstore]

Congratulations on your anniversary and your upcoming reservations.

Allowing the exchange to be at a choice of 3 different resorts and multiple dates of travel gives you a much better chance of getting a match. You did the right thing.

Enjoy your upcoming vacation.

Robert

 

[Kewz1]

That is exciting! Congratulations on 40 years together!!

Kristen

 

[aalupo]

Congrats!!!

 

[rwcmath]

That's great!
I see you're from Maryland...you were lucky to get home! ....or maybe you just had to go to Naples!

rwc

 

[auntsue]

Thanks for all the congrats on next year's anniversary. Sometimes I don't even feel like I'm forty, let alone that I will be married for forty years. Time sure flies when you're having fun.

BWV Dreamin...I love my signature, thank you again!
The other property at the Hilton is the Kahlia Tower. The ratings for that and the Lagoon Tower were 9.13 and 9.07 so I would think the new tower would score even higher, but who knows? I was super-excited to get the brand new building. The biggest complaints I read about the other two towers were no washer/dryer in the rooms and people who didn't like all the hustle and bustle complained that it was too busy for them. That is exactly what we wanted. We do not just want to sit on the beach. We have that in both places where we live now, and can't really take advantage of it anymore since the big "C." Ironic, since that's why we bought where we did!
When are you thinking of going? I think the sooner you get on the waiting list, the better, but I also read that if you get a match, you give up your points, so be very sure where you want to stay. That's why I didn't put down anywhere other than the three properties at Hilton Hawaiian Village. I didn't want to stay a block from the beach. Also, we really only wanted Oahu, though I do know that many people prefer the quieter outer islands which are quite spectacular in their own right, so check out all the properties you can exchange into before deciding what to ask for and choose the ones that fit your vacationing style best. Good luck!

rwcmath...We are in Naples for seven months, so luckily we just had the five hour drive south. People sent me pictures of our Maryland house covered in snow. It doesn't really snow much there. In the six years that we've owned it, this is the most snow they've gotten since the day we closed when it was also a state of emergency. It hasn't been all that warm down here this year, but at least it hasn't snowed. Family in NJ & PA have gotten hit pretty bad lately, a foot followed by 18 inches. My sis in NJ said they are supposed to get another 3"-6" on Monday night into Tuesday. I miss everyone, but I sure don't miss the snow.

 

[auntsue]

I was reading some threads on TUG and read something about a transient fee on the bill at check-in or check-out, I forget which. Anyone familiar with that? We've never traded a whole week before, so the thought of additional fees never entered my mind. What fees might there be? Is there a housekeeping fee? Do we get housekeeping at all? Do we have to pay room/hotel tax? TIA.

 

[Coach81]

Congrats to you!!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think there may be daily housekeeping charges. I would PM Dean as he knows everything about those resorts. Congrats!