Question about Hitlon head resort

[JBx3]

very good point... the only draw back is the higher dues at HHI....

You really need to work all the numbers out to 2042 as best as you can. When doing so VB and HH are not as bad as everyone says "the MF's are too high".

Once you tie in a resale buy at the price both of those resorts are at, then multiply out the MF's times 32 years left on the contract, add that to you resale price and you will see over 32 years what small differences there are.

Ex: 220 points from the following:

BWV @ $70 plus MF 5.36 x 32 years = $53,134
SSR @ $60 plus MF $4.46 x 32 years = $44,598
OKW @ $60 plus MF $4.87 x 32 years = $47,472
HH @ $50 plus MF $5.56 x 32 years = $50,142

Note MF's are only multiplied by CURRENT MF's and this can change with all of the above each year.

For me this one a simple way to guesstimate your purchase but surely not perfect. what it helped me do is rationalize that constant comment about "high MF's at HH and VB". Sure you pay more MF's each year at those resorts but if you can find a ripe resale, it really helps offset that popular comment.

For me, if you look at the highest above and the lowest,BWV and SSR, the difference is about $8,500. over the 32 years. Divide $8,500 by 32 and you get $265.00. So even though SSR has the lowest dues and BWV higher plus higher point cost, if BWV is where you want to buy it really comes down to $265. a year more to be happy!

My 2 personal choices for resale were BWV and HH, we want to stay at HH in the summer, so for us it was even easier decision,the difference in the 2 was $3,000. divided by 32 years or about $95.00 a year more.

I am not saying the above is perfect but it really helped us mentally when choosing a resale.

 

[Dean]

very good point... the only draw back is the higher dues at HHI....

VB and HH to a degree are not a good choice to use MAINLY for WDW because the dues will eat up most or all of your savings that you experience up front AND you won't have a home resort priority for WDW plus it's only worth what you paid minus the expected declines. However, this is a different scenario where the OP is looking at staying at HH I think it was EOY alternating with WDW. IF they're looking at summer at HH and aren't that particular for WDW, owning at HH is likely the best option. Depending on how many points they'll need, the other best approach is to own both and use banking/borrowing for EOY trips with an 11 month window.

 

[Anal Annie]

We have never been to HHI but wanted to give it a try and I called RIGHT at 9:00 on our 7 mo. window and got a studio for August 14-21. My cousin called to try to get one for June (but she called a few days after her 7 mo. window) and was not able to get anything. We have also always found availability at a WDW resort at 7 mo. (or slightly under). I DO try to plan by 7 mo. We like to stay at a different resort each time we go so the home resort advantage is not as important to us. Our longer trips are usually in the summer, not over major holidays which helps somewhat with availability. After reading how hard it is to get into HHI I DO consider that one of our luckier reservations. IF after going we find that we love HHI to the point of wanting to guarantee a trip there every year or two then I would do as others suggested and buy a small resale to use for banking & borrowing. The MF's are high there tho so I wouldn't go overboard on how many points we purchased... You really need to study the point charts and various seasons to get an idea how many points you'll need. But unless you're planning at the last minute (well under the 7 mo. window) if you owned at HHI then you should be able to find SOMETHING available at WDW somewhere... But only buy at HHI if you're willing to plan further out than 7 months for the booking advantage - otherwise you're just paying higher MF's for no reason.

 

[JBx3]

Both previous 2 posts sure have valid assessments, and it actuall gets back to the OP's original thoughts on which to buy and yes, it appears buy smaller lots of both WDW and HHI would be best fit for their needs.

Yet maybe even better for the OP, is what Dean mentioned in another thread, there are probably 3 or 4 Marriott HHI's that are most likely better than Disney and in my opinion probably the only one better other than Disney on HHI. Maybe best would be a Marriott resale at HHI and then a DVC WDW resale? Marriott has much better MF's at HHI than Disney. Personally I simply have struggled with Marriott implenting 2 systems right now or I would have accomplished the same set up as OP is after, whcih would have been AKL for my WDW trips and Marriott for my HHI trips! Decisions, Decisions!

 

[mintee]

Lots of great feedback/advice! I really do appreciate it!
This is such a hard financial decision that we want to make sure that we step in cautiously.
I would hate to get in and find out that it wont meet our needs...I am also weary of having two timeshare companies...if we decide that timesharing is not for us, then we will have two to sell! Also, I really do not want to pay 2 MF's each year!

You guys have been great...we are hoping to make our decision soon
Thanks all

 

[Dean]

Lots of great feedback/advice! I really do appreciate it!
This is such a hard financial decision that we want to make sure that we step in cautiously.
I would hate to get in and find out that it wont meet our needs...I am also weary of having two timeshare companies...if we decide that timesharing is not for us, then we will have two to sell! Also, I really do not want to pay 2 MF's each year!

You guys have been great...we are hoping to make our decision soon
Thanks all

Two maint fees doesn't matter, it's the total amount that's the issue. Spend 6 months or so investigating what you like. Then once you think you have the one best for you, try it and leave the secondary options till later. From a DVC standpoint, buying HH alone is a good starting point based on your specifics but it will be harder to sell if you decide it's not for you. Assuming a 2 BR for a week each location, you're looking somewhere in the range of 300 points a year. If you did 2 contracts (HH & SSR), that'd be somewhere in the range of $18K and yearly fees of roughly $1600-1700 a year.

If you wanted to go a different route, say Marriott, no good way to get EOY options that work well so I'll contrast EY options. For summer 2 BR units at HH EY and Orlando 2 BR EY, you should be able to get our for $20-25K with yearly fees of roughly $2K. That gives you more time and more non DVC options but doesn't give you an on property option. I don't think there are other options that give you good direct access to HH and Orlando though it's VERY easy to trade into Orlando for top places if you wanted to look at Coral or Spinnaker or similar. Bluegreen has a poor choice for HH and a great choice for Orlando with direct access to RCI included. Wyndham doesn't have a HH option. Both BG and Wyndham offer other great options for MB and similar areas though. One could get BG and Wyndham for a fraction of the costs I listed above.

 

[JBx3]

Yes, and if i recall the OP perhaps in another thread first mentioned MB as an option to get to thru DVC, while having DVC for a home base WDW, then i believe she added HH into the mix since DVC had an HH option.

Funny after reading many threads and seeing the trade powers and other things with Wyndham, I momentarily refocused on a MB as a second spot with Wyndham ownership but then we took a trip in June to HHI and family just fell in love with the feel of HHI.

If the OP goes back to her original thoughts Wynham / MB and DVC /WDW looks really nice! If Wynham had a HHI option, I am pretty certain that is what we would have done since we had AKL/ WDW for that purpose. And wow, with Bonnet Creek, what a nice mix at times! Anyway, we have a offer in for a DVC / HHI resale right now and it went to ROFR on Friday!

And as Dean mentioned its about the total amount not 2 MF's.....

 

[RobDoc]

very good point... the only draw back is the higher dues at HHI....

The HH dues comment is an oft repeated one and currently that is the case (they are $0.21 per point higher than BWV). However, until 2007 HH dues were still among the lowest in DVC - only OKW, VB (subsidized) and SSR were lower. Thru 2006 (and HH even saw a large increase that year) HH maintenance fees were still lower than BWV, VWL and BCV. BLT and VCG were not open until 2009.

In 2005 the HH resort found it necessary to advance the capital reserve schedule for some exterior structure repairs. This was already included in the capital reserve budget, but not for a few more years so the reserve fund was inadequate to cover the expense. DVD stepped in and provided a loan to the HH owners to cover the expense, the repairs were made and the owners saw their annual dues increased to pay back the loan (with interest) from 2006 until 2012 when DVD will be repaid. After that time the dues should return to a more normal level (we shall see).

Please note that this additional expense was not an assessment and the increase fell within the allowed % for an increase. The increase was $0.48 for 2006, $0.64 for 2007 but the subsequent increases have only been $0.18, $0.16 and $0.21. In 2005, the HH dues were only $0.03 more than SSR.

From 1996 when HH opened, thru 2005 the HH dues had a total increase of $0.70 for that 10 year period. In 2006/2007 (when the Cap. Reserve Budget was underfunded) the increase was $1.12 and 2008/09/10 saw an increase of $0.59.

Many on this board have suggested that the HH dues are higher due to hurricane related issues, higher staff costs, higher maintenance costs, etc - but the fact remains that the loan provided by DVD is the one single factor responsible for the majority of the increase over a 2 year period (2006/2007)and the dues should return to a more normal level after another 2 years. Actually, a decrease should be anticipated for the 2013 fees barring some other reason for an increase.

Stay tuned!

 

[JBx3]

Awesome Doc, that is very well stated and as future owners at HHI, we really appreciate your thorough explanation. You are correct, postings always mention due to hurricane insurance, It is good to know exactly what has happened in the time frames quoted.

Hopefully this clarifies things up for DVC / HHI owners and future owners who often get some "bruising comments" on MF's.

We found the resort to be just outstanding on our first trip and the entire staff, no doubt, perhaps the best of all DVC resorts we have stayed at. So happy, we are anxious to pass ROFR with our first HHI add -on!

 

[wdrl]

First of all, let's talk about one word you keep using -- "guarantee." Lose that word when you talk about DVC.

DVC ownership does NOT guarantee you a particular kind of accommodation ANYwhere on certain dates, nor in a certain time period or season. In fact DVC doesn't guarantee you anything at all. DVC is entirely points-based -- SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. It doesn't matter how many points you own or where -- if there is no availability, you don't get in.

Times are changing. With the opening of Aulani, Disney is letting owners at that resort to choose between the conventional DVC points system and a new Guaranteed Week Option. The Guaranteed Week Option will guarantee the owner a particular kind of accommodation for a specific week at Aulani. As Dylan says, the times they are a-changing.

 

[JimMIA]

Times are changing. With the opening of Aulani, Disney is letting owners at that resort to choose between the conventional DVC points system and a new Guaranteed Week Option. The Guaranteed Week Option will guarantee the owner a particular kind of accommodation for a specific week at Aulani. As Dylan says, the times they are a-changing.

You're right - I overlooked that one. But on points, there are no guarantees.

 

[Disney On The Bayou]

I have been a HHI owner since 2001 and my experience since then would indicate your initial thoughts are valid. Since owning at HHI I have never stayed one night there, however, I have swapped with many DVC members who needed the 11 month priority window at HHI. On the other hand, I have not experienced 1 time in the past 9 years not being able to get on WDW property at a DVC resort with my membership. I have stayed at all times of the year except during Easter or Christmas. I travel last minute and sometimes book 7 months out, I also own at VWL and book 11 months out. Over all I would say most of my trips have were booked within 2 months. Now, what that means is that you will be spending most nights at either OKW and SSR since they are so large and usually have the best availability. In recent years however, its been pretty easy getting BCV and BWV for sometimes of the year. Example... I have stayed at BCV the last three July 4th holidays and I have booked it in May, March and February. I hope this helps...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks all for your guidance!
I would NEVER want a timeshare for a specific week every year...we are so not planners!....

If you aren't a planner, you might want to rethink buying DVC. You really have to make those HHI reservations before the 7 month timeframe to get those villas. Just because you own there, doesn't give you priority over everyone else after you hit the 7 month time frame.