2013 Hilton Head lovers thread

[kristenrice]

My girlfriends and I did a trolley tour last October. Savannah is about 45 -50 minutes from HHI and it is very easy to find. I posted about my experience in a TR I did, so I copied the links for you. We used old Town trolleys and I think they were overpriced. We really didn't spend much time on the trolley at all. We got off at some museums and actually walked to several of the other trolley stops. They run from 9 to 5. We got there around 10am and we missed the last trolley leaving the waterfront, but everything was a short walk.

Parking was free at the visitor center and the next time I go I will just get on the trolley offering the cheapest price. They do give you a map and some lunch discount coupons. We ate the cotton exchange, which was OK, and then visited another bar (forget the name, but its in my report).

And I apologize in advance because when I looked through it I made a lot of typos.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?do=newreply&p=43288621

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?do=newreply&p=43323258

Thanks! I'll check it out.

 

[loveswdw]

We are hoping for a spring break trip since we had to cancel our upcoming fall break trip.
We are currently waitlisted for March 31-April 5. Keeping our hopes up that it comes through!

 

[sheliaanne]

In 67 days I will be flying to HHI to meet my best friend who is flying in from Virginia. We will be staying for 4 days - just enough to get away and relax. Is there much to do at the resort in the winter? We will more than likely take a day trip to Savannah as neither one of us have ever been.

 

[Simba's Mom]

In 67 days I will be flying to HHI to meet my best friend who is flying in from Virginia. We will be staying for 4 days - just enough to get away and relax. Is there much to do at the resort in the winter? We will more than likely take a day trip to Savannah as neither one of us have ever been.

Well, it's hard to say if there's much to do. The resort still has all their resort activities (and I got a one-on-one three hour tour of the island, and also a one-on-one tour of Pinckney one time). When we went, the dolphin tour was running, but wear a warm jacket! Or you can find things to do like DH did-one morning he was watching "Sports Center". I yelled at him for watching TV while we were on vacation. "Hey", he said "Vacation is about getting to do things you wouldn't be able to do at home-at home I couldn't watch this because I'd have to be at work." So he was vacationing his way.

 

[emilymad]

We are looking to use our points in HHI next summer. We have to book at the 7 month mark which is coming up. We are not limited to one specific week. Out of these choices what is our best chance of getting a reservation for a week in a studio?

The week before Memorial Day
2nd or 3rd week of July
2nd or 3rd week of August
2nd or 3rd week of September

 

[kristenrice]

We are looking to use our points in HHI next summer. We have to book at the 7 month mark which is coming up. We are not limited to one specific week. Out of these choices what is our best chance of getting a reservation for a week in a studio?

The week before Memorial Day
2nd or 3rd week of July
2nd or 3rd week of August
2nd or 3rd week of September

Probably September...

I would think that July and August will be nearly impossible to get a week in a studio. There are only 21 studios in the entire resort so that, combined with the peak summer season, will make a June/July/August week nearly impossible.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Probably September...

I would think that July and August will be nearly impossible to get a week in a studio. There are only 21 studios in the entire resort so that, combined with the peak summer season, will make a June/July/August week nearly impossible.

What are our chances of getting in at 7 months in a 1-bedroom for June 2013? Are there more 1 bedrooms than studios at HHI? What about 2 bedrooms?

 

[kristenrice]

What are our chances of getting in at 7 months in a 1-bedroom for June 2013? Are there more 1 bedrooms than studios at HHI? What about 2 bedrooms?

June, July and August are the peak travel season at HHI. It is also a very small resort. There are 5 Grand Villas, 76 dedicated 2BR's and 21 2BR lock-offs. The lock-off 2BR's are generally reserved as a 1BR and a studio (meaning 21 studios and 21 1BR's available), but 16 of those are in the main lodge which is the only building with an elevator. If someone requires a wheelchair-accessible 2BR, it would be one of the 2BR lock-offs in the main lodge which would take a 1BR and a studio out of inventory. There are no ground floor rooms in any of the buildings because they are "elevated" to prevent flood damage. Unless you are in the main lodge, you will have at least one set of stairs to climb.

Here's my thought...when we go to WDW, we could do a studio without a problem because we could spend all day in the parks. A lot of people are of this mindset so they, too, will snatch up studios leaving the attached 1BR's hanging. That makes it a little easier to get a 1BR than a studio at WDW. OTOH, at HHI, we find that we spend a lot more time in our room, just relaxing. I have time to do the cooking that I really don't get to do at home. We do puzzles or watch movies on rainy days. Basically, we just relax. This is why I will always try to book a 1BR at HHI because we do spend a lot of time in the room and I don't think we would enjoy ourselves as much in a studio. Now, do others share my view? Possibly...if so, perhaps the 1BR's are harder to book than the studios at HHI. I know that the HHI studios are some of the biggest ones in all of DVC so I'm not knocking them.

Our first trip to HHI was Easter week in 2011. I was on the phone at 9am sharp the day our 7-month window opened and I was able to get a 1BR for 5 weeknights over spring break. It must have been my lucky day! We ended up buying a small add-on so that we would have the 11-month window. For next year, we are bringing my parents so we need a 2BR. We only had enough points to book 4 nights at 11 months. I made a backup cash reservation, planning to switch one of those nights to points at the 7 month window. I called at noon and there were NO 2BR's available. They had been available the day before so in a matter of three hours, they were all gone. There are no rooms AT ALL available for that week...from studios to GV's...they were booked solid by the next day. (This is for Easter week, not the summer) My point is, you may get lucky, but you are looking for a peak time reservation at a resort with a small number of rooms. I wish you luck because it is a fantastic place to visit.

 

[mickeyplanner]

June, July and August are the peak travel season at HHI. It is also a very small resort. There are 5 Grand Villas, 76 dedicated 2BR's and 21 2BR lock-offs. The lock-off 2BR's are generally reserved as a 1BR and a studio (meaning 21 studios and 21 1BR's available), but 16 of those are in the main lodge which is the only building with an elevator. If someone requires a wheelchair-accessible 2BR, it would be one of the 2BR lock-offs in the main lodge which would take a 1BR and a studio out of inventory. There are no ground floor rooms in any of the buildings because they are "elevated" to prevent flood damage. Unless you are in the main lodge, you will have at least one set of stairs to climb.

Here's my thought...when we go to WDW, we could do a studio without a problem because we could spend all day in the parks. A lot of people are of this mindset so they, too, will snatch up studios leaving the attached 1BR's hanging. That makes it a little easier to get a 1BR than a studio at WDW. OTOH, at HHI, we find that we spend a lot more time in our room, just relaxing. I have time to do the cooking that I really don't get to do at home. We do puzzles or watch movies on rainy days. Basically, we just relax. This is why I will always try to book a 1BR at HHI because we do spend a lot of time in the room and I don't think we would enjoy ourselves as much in a studio. Now, do others share my view? Possibly...if so, perhaps the 1BR's are harder to book than the studios at HHI. I know that the HHI studios are some of the biggest ones in all of DVC so I'm not knocking them.

Our first trip to HHI was Easter week in 2011. I was on the phone at 9am sharp the day our 7-month window opened and I was able to get a 1BR for 5 weeknights over spring break. It must have been my lucky day! We ended up buying a small add-on so that we would have the 11-month window. For next year, we are bringing my parents so we need a 2BR. We only had enough points to book 4 nights at 11 months. I made a backup cash reservation, planning to switch one of those nights to points at the 7 month window. I called at noon and there were NO 2BR's available. They had been available the day before so in a matter of three hours, they were all gone. There are no rooms AT ALL available for that week...from studios to GV's...they were booked solid by the next day. (This is for Easter week, not the summer) My point is, you may get lucky, but you are looking for a peak time reservation at a resort with a small number of rooms. I wish you luck because it is a fantastic place to visit.

Geesh, I really have to be ready to call and keep my fingers crossed that we get in. If we don't get in at HHI then we will try to get in at BCV at WDW or just keep our backup backup plan and stay at BLT at WDW. We really are hoping to go to HHI but I think the kids will be happy with another trip to WDW next summer.

I sure hope your waitlist over Easter comes through for you and your family. How does a smaller contract work? I thought you could only use the points bought on the smaller contract at the 11 month window? Or would I be able to combine our BLT points with HHI points if we bought a smaller contract? But until we actually get to stay at HHI, I won't be looking at any contacts anytime soon.

 

[okw2012]

Geesh, I really have to be ready to call and keep my fingers crossed that we get in. If we don't get in at HHI then we will try to get in at BCV at WDW or just keep our backup backup plan and stay at BLT at WDW. We really are hoping to go to HHI but I think the kids will be happy with another trip to WDW next summer.

I sure hope your waitlist over Easter comes through for you and your family. How does a smaller contract work? I thought you could only use the points bought on the smaller contract at the 11 month window? Or would I be able to combine our BLT points with HHI points if we bought a smaller contract? But until we actually get to stay at HHI, I won't be looking at any contacts anytime soon.

Banking and borrowing would do the trick, allowing you to double, triple or even quadruple your points for a given trip.

 

[minniemomof3]

We'll be going March 10-17. First trip and very excited!

 

[MinnieGi]

So excited to pop on this morning and see a 2013 thread for HHI!! We are trying to figure out when we are going - have to fit in between beach soccer tourney, dance intensives and ccd summer weeks. It gets harder every year to fit in vaca as the kids get older! So now looking at late July or mid Aug for HHI. Will post when we get the reservations done! Thanks for starting this thread!

 

[jmpellet]

Excited as we just got a match for HHI for 4/14/13-4/21/13!!

 

[kristenrice]

Banking and borrowing would do the trick, allowing you to double, triple or even quadruple your points for a given trip.

This is exactly how we do it. The plan is to go every three years over spring break, which is always the first full week of April. Since we want a 1BR, this will cost us 135 points. With our 50-point contract, we have 150 HHI points available every three years by banking one year and borrowing from the next. We go to HHI on our "off" year from WDW.

My family has thrown some wrenches into my plans...but that's OK. Dad paid for an extended family trip to WDW this past June, meaning that we didn't have to use our AKV points this year. Our next trip to HHI was supposed to be in 2016, but now, since everyone had so much fun this year, we are planning another family trip to WDW in 2016. We'll have to use our own points for that one since we are all paying our own way this time. So, I have to adjust and we will probably be doing HHI in 2015 instead. This means that we will only have 100 HHI points available (but quite a few banked AKV points). My plan is to book a studio at 11 months, just to lock in a reservation. Then, at 7 months, I will try to get a 1BR using AKV points, but we might be "stuck" taking a 2BR. Oh well...we'll just bring some friends.

 

[okw2012]

Finally booked our vacation at Hilton Head: March 2-9 in a 1BR. This is a surprise for my wife's birthday. I am a little anxious to see how she'll react. She normally takes a more active part in our vacation planning! Hopefully she will like the idea of going to Hilton Head in March... It will be just the two of us, I think she'll like that after spending Xmas at WDW with the kids.

 

[tfc3rid]

Just back fro ma long weekend at HHI!!! My wife and I love it... So quiet... So different... Great to just go back and forth to the beach, ride bikes, enjoy some great places to eat on the Island... Just another great stay there...

 

[okw2012]

Finally booked our vacation at Hilton Head: March 2-9 in a 1BR. This is a surprise for my wife's birthday. I am a little anxious to see how she'll react. She normally takes a more active part in our vacation planning! Hopefully she will like the idea of going to Hilton Head in March... It will be just the two of us, I think she'll like that after spending Xmas at WDW with the kids.

My wife is soooo happy Her best birthday present ever! Buying plane tickets tomorrow!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

My wife is soooo happy Her best birthday present ever! Buying plane tickets tomorrow!

She's a lucky lady!

 

[okw2012]

We are new owners at HHI also! We closed a couple weeks ago and are patiently waiting for our points to load so we can schedule a week next June. We visited for the first time in April and loved it. We can't wait to start making annual Summer trips!

Hi guys,
Just wanted to know if you'd finalized your plans!

 

[jheltz27]

1st HHI visit June 1 to 6th. Can't wait for a relaxing vacation away from parks though ready to go back to WDW after a DLR visit.