Thanks for all the kind comments! I'll try to answer as many questions as I can then back to the report. . .
First, our room was 1211, a one bedroom villa! That's right those who know your numbering schemes, we had the first room in the first building on the first floor!
Pros: REALLY close to the front desk for unlimited coffee (amazing in the morning. PLUS it wasn't that swill Disney calls coffee at WDW!), unlimited lemonade in the afternoon, and a pool table in the library off the check-in area. Underground parking which kept the ol' minivan nice and cool when we needed it. GREAT balcony with tall, old oaks for shade that made a PERFECT spot for reading on a hot day! Cool and relaxing! REALLY close to the shuttle to the beach house. My DS 12 used the shuttle a few times and found the room to be a perfect walk. The room was HUGE and well appointed! Lots of windows to let the sunshine in and the marshland moon in. We think we had a handicap room, but not really sure as we did not get a look at any other rooms.
Cons: Somewhat of a long walk to the pool, the rentals, and the pier. Nothing ridiculous. I tend to be optimistic, so in my mind, the walk also made sure we could walk across the GORGEOUS boardwalk over the marsh area.
There is so much shade at HHI, that the walk was great. For somebody else though, it may have been an issue.
As you can tell, the pros far outweighed the cons. All in all, a GREAT room! That's our room right above Bambi:
Back to the report. . . . . .
While the 2 year-old slept, I headed to the Piggly Wiggly close by for groceries for the week. We committed to eating many of our meals "in" and we wanted to get stocked-up before our vacation was in full swing. I found the Pig to be somewhat expensive and limited, but workable. Here's what $170 in groceries looks like:
A bit expensive, but still cheaper than eating out everyday. They general schedule for the week was: eat B-fast in the room (Dad always makes Bacon at least twice when staying at a DVC resort), make sandwiches for the beach, come home around 1 for DS 2 nap, then take part in the late afternoon activities. Dad cooks dinner, then it's fun, fun, fun around the resort. A great plan from my DW and it worked perfectly. We did eat out a couple of times, and I'll give you the scoop on the places we did try. . . .
As I was bringing the food in, I was met by my DW and DS 2 saying hello to Shadow and B'Lou. Those who have never been, Shadow is the mascot of HHI and B'Lou is the local "flavor" filled with stories, magic, and great songs.
Shadow is a cutie and B'Lou just helps to "melt away" the stress on the other side of the magnetic gates. I could just sit and listen to B'Lou tell the stories of the islands and talk to my sons all day. If Shadow is the mascot, B'Lou is the heart and soul of that resort. Just LOVED him.
While DS 12 was taking part in the "Teen Hoops" happening on the B-Ball court, DW and I got things put away. We decided to do a quick check of the beach house while we waited for the campfire to start at 8. The mile long trip is SUPER SIMPLE to get to. The fact that it is gated and only for Disney guests is truly magical!
I have to tell you, that first glimpse of the ocean made the 10 hour drive worth every minute!
And of course, watching the DS 2 step in ocean water for the first time is truly magical!
Wow! If this is what it looks like around 6, imagine what it looks like in the morning and afternoon!
When we returned, we headed down to the campfire for S'mores and songs.
Quick question for everyone. . . . Why does smoke always go where you are sitting? It must be the beauty of my DW, because it followed us EVERYWHERE!
I have to tell you. . . .I've seen bigger campfires made by Weebloes at a Cub Scout retreat. Actually, I've seen bigger fires in my backyard when my neighbor is illegally burning his trash for the week. . . But hey, the spirit was there. The fact that the cast members were trying to keep it going with a plastic lid only made the whole scene REALLY funny to me. Disney is a multi-billion corporation and their cast members have to resort to a plastic lid? Really?
Of course, I am a guy, so I believe that the size of a campfire is a direct indication of your ability as a Neanderthal to keep your family safe and warm. . . This group of cast members working this pitiful fire would have been eaten by a baby Wooly Mammoth with the size of that fire! But I digress. . . .
The songs were fine, but, we left before the S'Mores came out. The smoke was really quite annoying and the DS 2 had enough of wheezing from the smoke, coughing from the smoke, and trying to "shake it all around" with blurred vision from the smoke. . . "
My DS 12 seemed a little bored as well as the activity is more suited for the 4 to 10 year old crowd.
Not a criticism at all, just an observation. My DS 12 did stick around for the "Movies Under the Oaks" and really enjoyed himself.
But wait!. . . . . Just as DW, DS 2 and I were getting up to leave, here is the sight we saw:
Truly, a cherry on top of a delicious sundae called the second day! I was falling in love with this place slowly but surely! So was my DW. But I had no idea how deeply we would fall in love until the second and third day. . . . .
Coming soon. . . .!