AAR from HHI

[Conan the Librarian]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this.

We just stayed a couple of days at Disney HHI. We had a few extra points left, so, as it is only 1 hour from the house, we thought "Why not!"

We got there on Monday the 15th about 12:00. I just had my knee repaired last week, so, they put us in the first building in room 1212, right next to Big Murgee's Den. We had elevator access, but, were a good walk from the pool (which is closed) and the Community Hall. There was a crowd of Girl Scouts playing around the garden while we were there. Each girl had their own push scooter and they were everywhere. There is a lot of refurbishment going on, but, the work is, for the most part, hidden from view.

After check-in, we drove over to the BeachHouse for one of Joyce's wonderful Burgers (Best Disney Burger EVER). There was a good crowd of folks at (and in) the pool. The temperature was in the 70s and it was very nice. We then hobbled out on the beach and took a very slow walk up and down near the stairs.

The last time we were their (about 3 years ago now), there was no beach to speak of, but, the city of HHI recently had the beach renourished. Due to storms recently there was a three foot drop from the upper to lower beach, but, I made it down without killing myself.

I was starting to get achy and tired, so we went back to the room for a bit, and then walked around the resort. The girls had left, and we started to feel like we were the only people on the island, except for the guys painting and repairing the pool and community hall. We stopped in the store for a moment, just long enough for me to win a pin for knowing the Trivia Question of the day (What ride opened in 1975 and what area of EPCOT opened in 1986). We then went out on the pier, where the warm breeze was blowing. It was still very quiet on the island, so, we finshed the loop, walking back along the harbor back to the room. There are some VERY nice boats in Shelter Cove, but, we also saw a kayak tided up to the dock.

I needed to rest some more, then we went down to the Publix for some food and drinks for dinner that night. After dinner, we went out for a stroll, stoping long enough in Big Murgee's to play a very bad game of pool, and then went out on the pier again, but, the sky was starting to
degrade, so, not many stars were seen, so we just called it a night.


Tuesday was also a warm day. We went out for breakfast at the nearby HH Diner and had the unfortunate experience of running into a guy pushing hotel rooms on the island. We told him that we were staying at the Disney and were DVC, but, it didn't slow him down. We got away quick.

Went to SeaPines next and drove around for about an hour. We ended up at Harbortown (naturally), were we saw the Stars and Stripes America's Cup racer. During the summer, they will take you out on rides in it. We are thinking of riding over for a ride this summer for a ride. All of the restaurants in Harbortown were closed for the season, so, we just wandered around the harbor and the shops.

We headed back to the beachhouse after a while for lunch and more walking on the beach. The weather was slowly degrading through the day, so, we didn't stay too long.

Later they were showing 'CARS' in the community hall, so, we went to watch for a while, until it was time for supper. We went to the Brick Oven Cafe near the gate of Sea Pines. We would recommend it!

We made it back in time for Storytime, but, as no one but us showed up, we just sat around with the cast members and talked Disney and ate cookies and drank milk. We had a GREAT time!

Wednesday morning we planned on eating breakfast at 'Tide Me Over', but, we hadn't noticed that they weren't searving breakfast at this time, so no breakfast there. A cast member sent us to a place called "Signes" pronounced 'Sig-nees'. It is a very nice little bakery/coffee/tea house with breakfast foods. Very nice indeed. The weather finaly collaped and the cold spell that hit the country reached coastal SC. Instead of 70s it was 40. The bad news is that the flowers were starting to bloom. I hope they survive.

It was time to go home shortly after that, so we took the short drive back to Savannah.

HHI is a very nice place and I would recommend it to everyone.


I hope to post some photos and maybe a video very soon. Check back for more!

 

[dis-happy]

Ah, you discovered Signe's...that alone was worth the drive!

I've been thinking of doing the same as you, spending some points that would otherwise go to waste on a little overnight trip there. How far in advance did you make your reservation? I was hoping that midweek in winter would be easy to do last minute. And any clue as to when the pool will re-open? My kiddos would want to swim.

Thanks for the trip report!!! Now I've got HH on my mind.......

 

[Conan the Librarian]

The letter we got from the resort did not say anything definate. It only said that when they were through with the Big Dipper pool, they were moving on to the Beach House. Midwinter ressies seem to be easy, but, the staff did report being full the weekend before we arrived.

Good luck! The cold has arrived here.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Thanks for the report we're headed there for the first week in June.

 

[Sammie]

Don't just love going during the off season. I will take the bad weather and seasonal closings just to experience that peace and quiet that replinishes your soul. Ahh the closest thing to heaven.

Signe was featured on Rachel Ray's $40 a Day. The Hilton Head episode will air again on
January 30, 2007 11:30 PM ET/PT
January 31, 2007 2:30 AM ET/PT

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks for your report.. We are heading down for Feb. vacation week.. At this point, i will take any warmer weather than we are having now.. highs in the teens is NOT my idea of fun.
We are just planning on a nice relaxing time, and some sightseeing.. We are also going to drive over to Savannah for a day or two..

Did it seem like there was alot of activities planned for the kids this time of year? Also, were there a good amt. of shops open to browse?

Also, why was the Tide Me Over not serving breakfast? ARe they closed for the winter or just limited hours?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Don't just love going during the off season. I will take the bad weather and seasonal closings just to experience that peace and quiet that replinishes your soul. Ahh the closest thing to heaven.

Signe was featured on Rachel Ray's $40 a Day. The Hilton Head episode will air again on
January 30, 2007 11:30 PM ET/PT
January 31, 2007 2:30 AM ET/PT

Thanks so much-I love that Rachel Ray show, almost as much as I love Signe's. For anyone going to HH for Thanksgiving, Signe's has a Thanksgiving meal you can order, guess who's going to order one?

And I agree with you about the off season-the closest thing to heaven, even if the weather's bad.

 

[Caitsmama]

And I agree with you about the off season-the closest thing to heaven, even if the weather's bad.

Well, i'm going to be holding you guys to that when we drive down next mo.!

 

[Muushka]

I enjoyed reading your report and I have a question,

What is AAR? Sorry, just can't figure it out and going crazy (not enough coffee in me yet)

 

[Sammie]

Well, i'm going to be holding you guys to that when we drive down next mo.!

Now you do know that it is all relevant. One's man heaven is another's "boring".

Also depends on what you are experiencing on a daily basis. Peace and quiet might be plentiful in RI, but rare for me. So sitting on my porch at HH with a hot mug of spiced cider and rocking and hearing nothing but the rustle of the pines, is just about as good as it gets.

 

[Caitsmama]

Ahhhh so true.. I'll tell ya, at this point, just to be able to sit OUTSIDE and drink my coffee/cocoa/cider, and have it be above 20 degrees, will be heaven enough for me. LOL..
I will also have my 6 yr old with me, so believe me, there won't be TOO much peace and quiet! LOL.. But, I am just looking forward to a week where i don't have to stress about anything, and just enjoy my dd and my mom's company. - Oh, and SHOP. LOL

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Children's Activities: Quite a few! But we missed the camp fire

The storytime was quite fun, even if we didn't get a story. The cast memebers are quite friendly and talkative if you get them asside. Mrs Conan did have to give them the DVC story though .

AAR - After Adventure Report. It's a take-off on After Action Report used by the military to tell the upper level folks what happened. I added a twist.

I still have some photos to post, if I ever can get a few moments.

 

[Muushka]

Thanks Conan. It is so funny, I just looked at this thread 5 minutes ago and said 'I still don't know what an AAR is!!!' Did you hear me or something? Was I that loud?

 

[connorlevismom]

Thanks so much for the report. We are headed to HHI March 4-9 for a romantic getaway. I cannot wait! We have never been and we want to go to Savannah as well. Any suggestions on things to do?

Kristine

 

[ZaccardoDM]

I have never been to HHI but I did go to Savannah in OCt '06. It si a beautiful city. Definitely take a ride out to Tybee Island to the beach. ALso take a tour of historic downtown. Let me know what yoiu think of HHI.

DZ

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Thanks so much for the report. We are headed to HHI March 4-9 for a romantic getaway. I cannot wait! We have never been and we want to go to Savannah as well. Any suggestions on things to do?

Kristine

Savananh...my home town! Be very careful driving over. People drive on the roads over there like it is a race track.

Savannah has lots to offer. Paula Deen's place is here and there are plenty of other places to eat. You might like to take a tour bus for the highlights, but, walking is also good. I would highly recommend going to Ft Pulaski and then go on to Tybee. I like the beach at Tybee much more than the beach on Hilton Head, but, you have to share it with more people also. Our favorite restaurant on Tybee is the North Beach Grill, across the street from the Lighthouse. It looks like a shack, but, the food is heavenly.

If you have any specific questions about it, drop me a note PM and I will do what I can. I can even count it for work

BTW, another place that isn't too far from HHI is Beaufort, it is very quait and there are some fine restaurants there also. One of my ancestors is burried under the alter of the Big Episcopal (sp) Church there.

I will be listening out!

 

[Caitsmama]

Savananh...my home town! Be very careful driving over. People drive on the roads over there like it is a race track.

Thanks for the Savannah info! I am looking forward to visiting this city.. I heard about the good drinks!

And, the driving doesn't scare us--- we live about 45 min from Boston -- now THERES some scary driving!!

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Thanks for the Savannah info! I am looking forward to visiting this city.. I heard about the good drinks!

And, the driving doesn't scare us--- we live about 45 min from Boston -- now THERES some scary driving!!

But do they have color days? In the town of Bluffton, SC....and you HAVE to go through Bluffton at some point, they have Car Color days. If you drive a Red car, you get a ticket. Another day it could be blue or green.

Just so you are aware, drive about 3 mph below the speed limit.

 

[osprey84]

Nice report Conan. We must have passed you on the way in as you were leaving. I came down with a group of friends to play 3 rounds of golf for 3 days starting on Wednesday. We drove all night and checked in around 9:00 am. The grand villa was ready when we arrived so we got settled in the room and then off for our first tee time at Palmetto Dunes course, Robert Trent Jones. They have the most beautiful hole that sits right at the edge of the beach. You don't notice it until you get on the green and you see the ocean breaking on the beach. That night we went to dinner at Jump and Phil's bar and grill. Very good food at a reasonable price. The weather was cooler then I had been tracking the week before. Thursday it rained and then was drizzling off an on throughout the day so we canceled and move the next tee time to friday morning. Friday we played the Arthur Hills couse in the morning and George Fazio in the afternoon. That evening we went to The King's Wharf for all you can eat crab legs. Saturday we were up early for the drive home. It was a fun 3 days which may be a yearly thing now.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

There was a group of folks checking in when we were walking around trying to find food. It may have been your group.

I don't play golf right now, but, I have walked the old PD course a couple of times with my Dad. He was a great golfer. The hole you are talking about would be 7 or 8 if I remember.