Hilton HHonors - Orlando Vacation w/ kids (3 yrs & 3 mths) - help please

Hi there, I'm planning a vacation to Orlando this October with the family (actually taking a Disney cruise) and would like to spend a few extra days taking in the sites. I'm a silver member only but would like to take advantage of any possible upgrades and other benefits. We want to be able to relax at the pool, do some shopping, etc., we don't plan to visit Disney World this time around.

By the way, I'm also a gold member at Starwood's (another option for me).

Can you please give me some advice.

Thanks for all your help.

ST

Hi there, I'm planning a vacation to Orlando this October with the family (actually taking a Disney cruise) and would like to spend a few extra days taking in the sites. I'm a silver member only but would like to take advantage of any possible upgrades and other benefits. We want to be able to relax at the pool, do some shopping, etc., we don't plan to visit Disney World this time around.

By the way, I'm also a gold member at Starwood's (another option for me).

Can you please give me some advice.

Thanks for all your help.

ST
Same answer as I gave you in the starwood forum

You might want to see if you can get into the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive. You won't get an upgrade as there aren't any, but you can get a 1 bedroom condo unit will full kitchen, living room and whirlpool tub. These are sometimes available for a regular hotel stay. This is a timeshare, but just tell them that you are not interested. They have some good pools and kid's programs.

I travel to Orlando quite a bit.

I recommend the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive. If available it's bookable through the HHonors website. It's in a great location right next to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall (great outlet with great deals!). And I mean right next door; you can walk (there's even a pedestrian gate between the two parking lots, they're adjacent). Directly across the street in the other direction is a shopping center with a Publix Supermarket to stock the kitchen.

I'm not sure how many are in your family/party, but for the same price (or less) as a single room at the Hilton Walt Disney World, you can get a huge two-bedroom, two bathroom condo with a full kitchen, jacuzzi tub, DVD player and two balconies, that sleeps six. There's even a washer/dryer in the unit. Gorgeous rooms. Puts ES suites to shame!

As far as HHonors upgrades/benefits... unfortunately the Silver Membership level doesn't offer much in that regard at any property. I believe the primary benefit of Silver level is being able to book VIP Rewards with points. But look at it this way: you'll be able to accrue lots of points towards Gold! ^

I have been looking at the timeshare units as well. But it appears to only let me reserve a studio with my points. Since I have a 6 and 3 yo coming along, I was hoping to be able to use my diamond status to reserve a 1BR or 2BR place. Has anyone had any luck when calling the diamond desk or the place directly?

...I recommend the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive. If available it's bookable through the HHonors website. It's in a great location right next to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall (great outlet with great deals!). And I mean right next door; you can walk (there's even a pedestrian gate between...^

I concur with the above poster, it is a great property. However, he is referring to the HGVC on 8122 Arrezzo Way. Don't get it confused with the HGVC near Sea World. The Arrezzo property is better and they are both near International Drive. Good luck!

I concur with the above poster, it is a great property. However, he is referring to the HGVC on 8122 Arrezzo Way. Don't get it confused with the HGVC near Sea World. The Arrezzo property is better and they are both near International Drive. Good luck!

We are considering going to one of the HGVC's in Orlando with daughter and granddaughter and just wondered why you or anybody else considers the International Drive property is better than the Sea World property or perhaps vice versa?

I have been looking at the timeshare units as well. But it appears to only let me reserve a studio with my points. Since I have a 6 and 3 yo coming along, I was hoping to be able to use my diamond status to reserve a 1BR or 2BR place. Has anyone had any luck when calling the diamond desk or the place directly?

You can't book suites with points no matter what avenue you choose. You could book the studio with points and then call the hotel reservation manager and inquire about paying up for a larger suite. He/she may do it for you complimentary, offer you a buy-up price to confirm in advance, or do nothing and say you get what you pay for.

We are considering going to one of the HGVC's in Orlando with daughter and granddaughter and just wondered why you or anybody else considers the International Drive property is better than the Sea World property or perhaps vice versa?
Well, for one thing it's a lot newer. It opened around 2003 I believe... while the Sea World location has been around for at least 15 years. In fact, the final building is just being completed right now! (if it hasn't already opened this year). I also prefer the location (it's very close to Disney property, where I spend a lot of time in Orlando), and I like the proximity to the Outlet Mall, and also the supermarket I mentioned earlier right across the street.

Having said that... the Sea World location is excellent! The last time I stayed there I was in just a studio and I have to say I preferred the room to a studio at the Tuscany property. The SeaWorld property has sofabeds in the studios, something that is very rare in HGVC properties anywhere. I don't understand this... most other timeshares (Disney, Marriott, etc) all have studios with King beds and sofabeds. But it's not a big deal to me because I don't really use them ... plus I'm almost always in a one bedroom unit anyway. The SeaWorld property is kept up very well, and the pool looks bigger to me than at the Tuscany property. I will definitely stay there again, so I really enjoy both.

What I am really looking forward to is the new Ruby Lake property... it looks amazing!

I'm HHonors Diamond and fairly loyal to the program but on paid stays in Orlando I've had much better luck using HotWire.com or passholder discounts at Disney properties. On HotWire.com, by sticking with 3 star and higher in the Lake Buena Vista Downtown Disney area I've always ended up in Sheratons, Hyatts, Hiltons, and the like... usually at around $65/night. Occasionaly (4 times/yr or so) we'll use passholder discounts for disney properties. We've got Value resorts as low as $59/night and moderates for as low as $95/night.

Orlando and Anaheim (basicly anywhere Disney) I usually have better luck with HotWire or passholder discounts than I do through HHonors. The one exception was the Hilton Garden Inn Lakeland on a 3 night point-stretcher over New Years (when everything in LBV was $250+/night). 3 nights for 36k points with free breakfast and an upgrade to a Jr. Suite were well worth the 30-40min drive to the parks.