Odds for non-owner at HHI over Labor Day

[Anal Annie]

Anybody who's a non-owner ever have any luck getting a studio at HHI for either Sun-Thur or for the whole week of Labor Day?

I have been trying to plan an extended family trip to WDW for late Aug. for my parents 50th Anniv. but my plans seem to be falling apart. Even tho we're offering to cover the accomodations I don't think anybody else in the family wants to part with the extra expenses (gas or airfare to get to FL, $ for extra meals out and of course the biggie, park tickets)!! It is just too much for them to comprehend and plan for. Everybody's broke and losing money in the stock market etc. My Mom's job was helping to care for an elderly woman and the lady just died a couple weeks ago so she's out of a job. My Dad drives for an auto auction but even his hours have been cut to only a couple of days a week....everything is just tanking.

So. I have been re-thinking my offer to my parents as I've asked them to decide by Jan 16 what they want to do (our 7 mo. booking window for mid-Aug). Their anniv. is actually Sept. 5 which is the start of Labor Day weekend. The point charts at HHI drop Sept. 1. My Dad could drive from WV to HHI I think w/o too much problem. My thought was instead of trying to plan for all of us to get together, we'll just plan our vac. in Aug. and if I could get HHI for them then we could just give them a few days or a week down there alone. They camp & fish and are not necessarily beach people, but so I think they would really enjoy HHI since it's not ON the beach. That way they wouldn't need park tickets, could probably eat cheaper in that area and they wouldn't have the added stress of trying to keep up with whatever we wanted to do. But before I say anything to them (OR to DH) I wanted to get a feel for the availability.

Anybody ever have luck getting studios down there for this time?? TIA!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Anybody who's a non-owner ever have any luck getting a studio at HHI for either Sun-Thur or for the whole week of Labor Day?

I have been trying to plan an extended family trip to WDW for late Aug. for my parents 50th Anniv. but my plans seem to be falling apart. Even tho we're offering to cover the accomodations I don't think anybody else in the family wants to part with the extra expenses (gas or airfare to get to FL, $ for extra meals out and of course the biggie, park tickets)!! It is just too much for them to comprehend and plan for. Everybody's broke and losing money in the stock market etc. My Mom's job was helping to care for an elderly woman and the lady just died a couple weeks ago so she's out of a job. My Dad drives for an auto auction but even his hours have been cut to only a couple of days a week....everything is just tanking.

So. I have been re-thinking my offer to my parents as I've asked them to decide by Jan 16 what they want to do (our 7 mo. booking window for mid-Aug). Their anniv. is actually Sept. 5 which is the start of Labor Day weekend. The point charts at HHI drop Sept. 1. My Dad could drive from WV to HHI I think w/o too much problem. My thought was instead of trying to plan for all of us to get together, we'll just plan our vac. in Aug. and if I could get HHI for them then we could just give them a few days or a week down there alone. They camp & fish and are not necessarily beach people, but so I think they would really enjoy HHI since it's not ON the beach. That way they wouldn't need park tickets, could probably eat cheaper in that area and they wouldn't have the added stress of trying to keep up with whatever we wanted to do. But before I say anything to them (OR to DH) I wanted to get a feel for the availability.

Anybody ever have luck getting studios down there for this time?? TIA!

The resort is mostly 2 bedrooms. I think studios after Labor Day will be easier...September is supposed to be beautiful!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Hello? Anybody else?

 

[RobDoc]

There are only 21 Studios total at the resort and they do fill up quickly - especially during the summer months and finding 2 available Studios may be a challenge. That said, the dynamics of the DVC reservation system often allow for availability of Studios even during busy times.

HH is still busy over Labor Day, so I'd suggest calling right at 7 months (that's only a month away). As already noted, there is often availability for 2BR villas, which are in the majority at the HH resort. There are 21 1BRs, 5 GVs and 76 dedicated 2BR villas.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Anal Annie]

There are only 21 Studios total at the resort and they do fill up quickly - especially during the summer months and finding 2 available Studios may be a challenge. That said, the dynamics of the DVC reservation system often allow for availability of Studios even during busy times.

HH is still busy over Labor Day, so I'd suggest calling right at 7 months (that's only a month away). As already noted, there is often availability for 2BR villas, which are in the majority at the HH resort. There are 21 1BRs, 5 GVs and 76 dedicated 2BR villas.

Good luck with your decision!

Ouch! Only 21 'eh? I would only need one studio if they decide to beg off the trip to WDW... I guess I would just call right at the 7 mo mark and see if they had any open. This is all still a really big "IF". So, next question...if I found they had one available, could I snag it and THEN toss the idea to my parents. Then if they still say no thanks can I get all of the points back? I would hate to even bring it up to them in case I couldn't get it. We could really only swing a studio for them. We have a Dec UY so I'd be using points that we JUST got last month and we have until May or July or something I think before anything would have to be banked. I've just never cancelled anything before. There's no penalty this far out tho, right? I could reserve it (IF it's available) and then cancel it like it never happened??

Another thought is that since they're semi-retired they probably wouldn't mind going the FOLLOWING week after Labor Day either which would be less busy and would probably improve my odds of success. Hummmmm....

Thanks Doc!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ouch! Only 21 'eh? I would only need one studio if they decide to beg off the trip to WDW... I guess I would just call right at the 7 mo mark and see if they had any open. This is all still a really big "IF". So, next question...if I found they had one available, could I snag it and THEN toss the idea to my parents. Then if they still say no thanks can I get all of the points back? I would hate to even bring it up to them in case I couldn't get it. We could really only swing a studio for them. We have a Dec UY so I'd be using points that we JUST got last month and we have until May or July or something I think before anything would have to be banked. I've just never cancelled anything before. There's no penalty this far out tho, right? I could reserve it (IF it's available) and then cancel it like it never happened??

Another thought is that since they're semi-retired they probably wouldn't mind going the FOLLOWING week after Labor Day either which would be less busy and would probably improve my odds of success. Hummmmm....

Thanks Doc!

Annie, call at the 7 mos. mark. Grab the studio if it is available. If you're not sure about the weeks, then call back the following week to see if there is availability. MS can cancel that first ressie and book the second. As Doc said, there are few studios....by the way, I hear these studios are HUGE!!!

 

[SLM]

The weeks following Labor Day are much less crowded-they will able to walk into restaurants that have long waits during summer months. We were there the third week in September and the weather was gorgeous-I know you said they aren't beach people, but walking on the beach at that time of year is wonderful-and the beach house is beautiful-they shouldn't miss it-the staff at HH are so nice and with fewer guests around have plenty of time to talk. I can't wait to go back and would ONLY go in September or October (empty-nesters, so no school schedules anymore!) I think they would love HH-what a great anniversary gift!

 

[Anal Annie]

The weeks following Labor Day are much less crowded-they will able to walk into restaurants that have long waits during summer months. We were there the third week in September and the weather was gorgeous-I know you said they aren't beach people, but walking on the beach at that time of year is wonderful-and the beach house is beautiful-they shouldn't miss it-the staff at HH are so nice and with fewer guests around have plenty of time to talk. I can't wait to go back and would ONLY go in September or October (empty-nesters, so no school schedules anymore!) I think they would love HH-what a great anniversary gift!

Thanks...yes, I know September at the Atlantic beaches is wonderful. When I said they're not "beach people" I meant they don't go to lay out on the beach all day. They do like to take walks & surf fish etc. We used to take that Labor Day week at Bethany Beach, DE until DS hit school age. My parents used to take their camper to Myrtle Beach for like the month of Februrary...so they do not have a problem with "off season" at all. My biggest concern with Sept. is hurricanes.

The more I think about this idea the more I like it and the more I think they would like it. Next step is to run it by DH and see if he has any input. His family will get the next "turn" when his brother returns from Iraq...