We were on the waiting list for the last reunion (Rhode Island) and cleared within about two weeks. We called the hotel before we cleared HL waitlist, and had a room in the hotel - couldn't have worked out better. (I don't know the price differential for the room, but...we didn't have to pay for the room till after the reunion (ahh, the glories of plastic!)

Good luck getting in; I'm sure it will be worth it!