I definitely love how uncomplicated a HHI trip can be!
I think we would love a GV (even though we like doing 3 studios at WDW), but it's so many more points! We probably will need to add on some more just to go every other year, but we will have to add on double to get the GV. We just aren't sure we want to do that since the dues increase. Also, I'm always afraid they will change the
point charts to lower the weekends and raise the weekdays. We are a Sunday-Thursday family, so this would affect how many points we would need to add on. Adding on 50 would give us 300 every other year. Staying the first week of June or Fall Break would require 295 for a GV. That would be totally disrupted with a
point chart change, so we would probably need to look at adding on at least 60. If we add on 30, we could get a 2-BR and a studio and still have 25 points leftover. This would also allow for a 10% increase in weekday points.
Yes, the noise issues at the Disney resort can be bothersome. I can see how a GV would help with that. (Actually now that I think about it, is there a problem with noise from the 2nd floor of a GV? I know the master bedroom is right under one of the other bedrooms.)
I have looked at Harbourside. The thing I think that bothers me the most about it is that the sidewalk is right in front of it. We spend a lot of time on the balcony, and it seems there wouldn't be as much privacy there. I also did wonder about the noise. That's why Captain's Quarters looked appealing. Nothing but marsh in front of the balcony (although I wish there were more shade trees), and it's more secluded from the restaurants and shops (but still close enough to enjoy). We also like that the Disney resort is small. Captain's Quarters is only two buildings, so that makes it more appealing to us. I would love to hear from someone who has stayed there, but since it's so small, there's probably less people here on the disboards that have a first-hand experience.