We have been looking forward to this "relaxing" vacation for months. DS3 has been asking daily for months when were were going to Hilton Head. Our stay was 5/27-6/2 1 BR on cash. This was a trial-run to see what a DVC resort was like.
What we loved:
* Security Gates. Was like entering Fort Knox at both the main resort and beach house. I learned quickly not to go anywhere without the room key! Can't get back into the beach house without it!
* Lifeguards. Had no idea DVC resorts had lifeguards! Mom's stress relief!
* Pool stuff: life-vests for the pool, etc...... are provided.
* Activities: Tons of things for DS12 and DS3 to do! Memorial day pool party was a blast. Unbirthday party, bunny hunts with Shadow, Fishing excursions with 7 sharks caught and a hammerhead being mounted and sent home!
*Washer and dryers. Great for a mom! Have stayed at other places and had to wait (aka: fight) for a working W/D along with a pocket full of quarters, while waiting for your clothes for hours (as you would never dare to leave your clothes unattended! ) W/D for studios are free in each building.
* Rainy-day stuff. What a plus to go down to the lodge and check out free puzzles and board games! DVD players in every room. Free book exchange/check-out, and DVD rentals (free to DVC......$5 guests, but we brought our own DVD's from home). No place but Disney!
* Relaxing. Early morning reading on the deck, sitting around the pool while the kids have a blast (no worries with lifeguards present).
DH quote: "It's quiet. The balcony marsh view was incredible. Serene. Very tranquil. The soft, warm, soothing breeze was unforgettable".
*Plain clothes security: Had no idea of the security plus plain clothes security that constantly are on duty, patrolling the resort. Couldn't have felt safer if I was literally in Fort Knox. Never worried about DS12 going out alone on property. The resort is literally an island in the middle of Shelter Cove. Only way on/off is over the Disney-owned bridge.
* More golf courses than restaurants for DH.
* Huge rooms, huge decks and a jacuzzi tub to die for!
*Fishing pier: tons of crabs.....chicken necks are a must.
* BBQ grills: great way to save money. The aroma is heavenly and charcoal is cheap.
* full size kitchen: Had all meals (and snacks) but 2 in the room. Easy to clean up. Nothing better than hot choc-chip cookies on a rainy day while watching a movie.
*freedom for a 12 year old. He loved having his own key and tooling around the resort without mom and dad. He played pool, went swimming in the pool and crabbing and met tons of new friends. Said it was the best vacation ever and compared it equally to our past WDW trips.
*elevators and indoor parking: loved being lazy! We stayed in the lodge and quick easy access was too good!
*small and quaint: It is not a huge resort. Quick 2 minute stroll to the pool from the lodge. The resort was booked and didn't feel over-crowded at all.
*staff. Couldn't be nicer! Had many a conversation with front desk clerks late in the evening when DH and kids asleep. Great people! FYI: they confirmed that Hawaii is a planned future DVC location!
*family-atmosphere: DH and I agree that this DVC experience was totally more than we ever expected. Friendly DVC members and well-behaved children. Every one seemed to watch out for each other, kids shared toys in the pool and quickly made friends. Was like Little House on the Prairie and the Waltons all rolled up into one nice package, Disney-style.
Wishes:
*recycle bins in each building. (Since we were guests, we had daily T & T service). I didn't see any recycle bins in the main lodge, and we seperated our recycling from regular trash, so I don't know if it all gets piled together by mousekeeping. If trash service cost to disney is billed per pound (like hospitals), this would be a huge chunk of change. Also, would be environmentally friendly and not a huge task to create some sort of drop-off area themed naturally to the resort.Think of the daily recycling total between milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, beer bottles, cans, etc........
*points were cheaper and we could go more often! Several DVC members reported Thanksgiving and Christmas are unbelieveable! They reported Thanksgiving dinners being pre-ordered and prepared by Disney with all the fixings. Heavenly. Simply heavenly.
DH has now experienced Disney, DVC-style, and is ordering me to buy points and has now proclaimed that HHI will be a yearly stop for us! Since it is about a 10 hour drive for us, it's much easier than a 2 day drive to WDW.
Thanks to all for wonderful advice and previous trip reports! Proud future-DVC owner signing out!
What we loved:
* Security Gates. Was like entering Fort Knox at both the main resort and beach house. I learned quickly not to go anywhere without the room key! Can't get back into the beach house without it!
* Lifeguards. Had no idea DVC resorts had lifeguards! Mom's stress relief!
* Pool stuff: life-vests for the pool, etc...... are provided.
* Activities: Tons of things for DS12 and DS3 to do! Memorial day pool party was a blast. Unbirthday party, bunny hunts with Shadow, Fishing excursions with 7 sharks caught and a hammerhead being mounted and sent home!
*Washer and dryers. Great for a mom! Have stayed at other places and had to wait (aka: fight) for a working W/D along with a pocket full of quarters, while waiting for your clothes for hours (as you would never dare to leave your clothes unattended! ) W/D for studios are free in each building.
* Rainy-day stuff. What a plus to go down to the lodge and check out free puzzles and board games! DVD players in every room. Free book exchange/check-out, and DVD rentals (free to DVC......$5 guests, but we brought our own DVD's from home). No place but Disney!
* Relaxing. Early morning reading on the deck, sitting around the pool while the kids have a blast (no worries with lifeguards present).
DH quote: "It's quiet. The balcony marsh view was incredible. Serene. Very tranquil. The soft, warm, soothing breeze was unforgettable".
*Plain clothes security: Had no idea of the security plus plain clothes security that constantly are on duty, patrolling the resort. Couldn't have felt safer if I was literally in Fort Knox. Never worried about DS12 going out alone on property. The resort is literally an island in the middle of Shelter Cove. Only way on/off is over the Disney-owned bridge.
* More golf courses than restaurants for DH.
* Huge rooms, huge decks and a jacuzzi tub to die for!
*Fishing pier: tons of crabs.....chicken necks are a must.
* BBQ grills: great way to save money. The aroma is heavenly and charcoal is cheap.
* full size kitchen: Had all meals (and snacks) but 2 in the room. Easy to clean up. Nothing better than hot choc-chip cookies on a rainy day while watching a movie.
*freedom for a 12 year old. He loved having his own key and tooling around the resort without mom and dad. He played pool, went swimming in the pool and crabbing and met tons of new friends. Said it was the best vacation ever and compared it equally to our past WDW trips.
*elevators and indoor parking: loved being lazy! We stayed in the lodge and quick easy access was too good!
*small and quaint: It is not a huge resort. Quick 2 minute stroll to the pool from the lodge. The resort was booked and didn't feel over-crowded at all.
*staff. Couldn't be nicer! Had many a conversation with front desk clerks late in the evening when DH and kids asleep. Great people! FYI: they confirmed that Hawaii is a planned future DVC location!
*family-atmosphere: DH and I agree that this DVC experience was totally more than we ever expected. Friendly DVC members and well-behaved children. Every one seemed to watch out for each other, kids shared toys in the pool and quickly made friends. Was like Little House on the Prairie and the Waltons all rolled up into one nice package, Disney-style.
Wishes:
*recycle bins in each building. (Since we were guests, we had daily T & T service). I didn't see any recycle bins in the main lodge, and we seperated our recycling from regular trash, so I don't know if it all gets piled together by mousekeeping. If trash service cost to disney is billed per pound (like hospitals), this would be a huge chunk of change. Also, would be environmentally friendly and not a huge task to create some sort of drop-off area themed naturally to the resort.Think of the daily recycling total between milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, beer bottles, cans, etc........
*points were cheaper and we could go more often! Several DVC members reported Thanksgiving and Christmas are unbelieveable! They reported Thanksgiving dinners being pre-ordered and prepared by Disney with all the fixings. Heavenly. Simply heavenly.
DH has now experienced Disney, DVC-style, and is ordering me to buy points and has now proclaimed that HHI will be a yearly stop for us! Since it is about a 10 hour drive for us, it's much easier than a 2 day drive to WDW.
Thanks to all for wonderful advice and previous trip reports! Proud future-DVC owner signing out!
If you ever make it down there.
