Day trip to Hilton Head???

[Mouse Ears]

My DW and I will be heading to Savannah GA for a 10th anniversary trip in June. I discovered in the Member Guidebook that HHI is about 45 minutes away.

As DVC members, is it possible to spend part of a day at Disney's HH resort and look around? What activities and options would we have? Any other recommendations for the area?

As you may remember from other posts, we bought in sight-unseen to BCV and have yet to visit any DVC resorts. Since our next trip to WDW is not until December, I would love to at least check out a DVC resort and feel Welcomed Home in some small way. So, what do ya'll think?

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I would just call and ask. Probably the answer is yes since there is a good chance they have a sales office there.

 

[Jollymon]

We did it 12/30/02. The front desk told us that because they were at full occupancy, that we could only stay for 20 minutes to look around. I am a practical man though; after accessing the situation and realising that there was no feasible way they could enforce the 20 minute limit, we moved the car from the 20 minute parking area to the guest parking and enjoyed the resort for several hours.

It was way too cold for swimming but my little one enjoyed the play area and the pier.

We too were 'driving through'; down from North Carolina, and although this was a 4 hour deviation, it was well worth it as we got to see Hilton Head, the resort and are planning to return there for vacation soon.

We also 'drove through' Vero as well; also a great resort.

Andrew

 

[CaptainMidnight]

It was way too cold for swimming but my little one enjoyed the play area and the pier.

In my opinion, the Florida DVC locations have problems with some people having the perception that since they are owners and they live close, that they can come by and use the pools whenever they would like, perhaps weekly. This is improperly substituting the advance purchase of a vacation through DVC, with a country club membership. DVC is not a country club, we didn't purchase the priviledge of using the facilities whenever we are not using cash or points for a room. If they are not staying at the resort, they should not be able to jump in and use the pools, if many people did that, then the pools would be way too crowded. I don't think it would be appropriate to stop in the resort when your not staying there just to go swimming. To walk around a look, in order to plan for a future stay seems fine as long as the Front Desk is OK with it. But using the facilities to the extent of swimming or some other similar activities is going over the line. But, the ultimate decision rests with the resort management. If you call and ask if you can go swimming, and they agree, enjoy your swim. I do not suggest that ignoring the instructions they provide is an appropriate course for a fellow DVC member to pursue.

In many of the resorts, you could go to the dining facilities to eat as a part of your visit. That option isn't available at HH.

 

[BeckyV]

In June while I was there, the life guards were checking room IDs as they had some problems with others crashing the pools. I was also at HH in Shipyard Plantation over New Years and wanted to visit the gift shop. I told them at the gate what I wanted and then went to the front desk with my DVC membership card. They gave me a pass for 24 hours although I only stayed about an hour. We did buy about $40 of DVC items. I have done this many times and don't think you will have a problem with it. My parents will be at Sea Pines at HH next weekend, and I may plan to stop by again just to see if they have any different or sale items. You can also go to Palmetto Dunes across the street and tell the guard that you are going to the Hilton. Then, go to the beach house and look around. I have done this as well. I am not saying swim in the pools, but I see nothing wrong with a member who is staying in the area looking around the resort to see if they want to stay there in the future or not. I have done this with many other timeshares in RCI or II and most resorts are understanding.

 

[CarolA]

HH may have an issue in that the Marriott resorts there did advertise that you could use their facilities if you were a member and staying someplace else. People who own or took the Marriott tour might just assume DVC works the same way.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolA
HH may have an issue in that the Marriott resorts there did advertise that you could use their facilities if you were a member and staying someplace else. People who own or took the Marriott tour might just assume DVC works the same way.

Most Marriott's allow day use "with a pass" for owners at THAT resort only. You can't go to any Marriott resort just because you're a Marriott owner. DVC has always been clear about use of facilities. I am certain that anyone that would have bought DVC-HH that was local would have been informed of the no day guest policy. There are many resorts that allow owners to use and I know people that have bought a timeshare just to use it as a country club with the resorts blessing.

There is no longer a sales office there. Personally I'd have to say that dropping by, walking through, looking around, having a meal at a restaurant (if there were one at HH DVC), shopping in the gift shop would all be OK within reason assuming this didn't fill up the parking lot. I would have to draw the line at use of the excercise equipment, beach house, pool, pier for fishing and other similar activities.

One point that applies to many threads we have going on is that just because some frontline employee says it's OK, doesn't make it OK, even if it happens repeatedly. We know the rules far better than most employees and we should act like it.

 

[Mouse Ears]

Thanks for the feedback, all.

We will see how our trip goes and may drive up to Hilton Head and just see how they receive us. I appreciate that there are limits to the capacity of the resorts and that I have not paid for any special privileges there.

Still, by June I will have been a DVC member for almost a year without ever stepping foot on DVC property (before or after purchase). The urge to do so will probably be too great to refuse. We will try to blend in and impose as little as possible.

As inlanders and new DVCers, my thinking was that having lunch, seeing the beach and visiting the gift shop would be a fun afternoon.

Oh, and don't worry, we won't take the last parking spot. We're not those kind of members! I wouldn't mind giving up a few points, but a night's stay seems a high price for lunch and a walk on the beach.

 

[owensamo]

The beach house isn't actually near the resort itself - it's about a mile away, so you can't really park at the resort and walk on the beach. However, I believe there is a public access through the beach house (go under it rather than through it) so if the front desk says it's okay to go visit the beach house, you can use that to get to the beach. Of course, parking at the beach house during midday in the summer is nearly impossible. And you will likely not be able to get into the beach house area itself - it's locked and uses room keys for access. There is a playground beyond the beach house that's outside of the locked off area, though.

Mur!

 

[canda]

Thanks for taking up the parking spaces from the people who are staying at the resort. What a great lesson for the kids. Only follow rules when they can be enforced.

 

[Jollymon]

Canda:
"Only follow rules when they can be enforced"

Like you don't speed, huh...

To bend rules or to take advantage of them is human nature; to say that one does not or will not, deceives no one.

The majority of the people taking a stand against an abusive behavior are those that cannot partake of the abusive behavior themselves for one reason or another.

I am not advocating that these actions were wrong or right, or whether they constitute a bad or a good example. I am saying that given the right set of conditions, even the most 'righteous' among us would 'bend' the rules and justify it 100%.


Andrew

 

[Mouse Ears]

Wow, I didn't know this could spark controversy. I have been visiting these boards and seen lots of bitterness about the rules over the years, but I never imagined that my inquiry would make people angry.

I will not 'break rules' intentionally to better my trip. I simply wished to make a quick visit to the HHI resort. Is there really such a rule against day trips? If so, that must not apply to the WDW resorts. I have heard of lots of people bragging about Beaches and Cream who are staying at BWV. Also, I don't see anything in the member guidebook addressing this.

I guess I was a bit naive about this whole issue. I am truly sorry if anyone is offended by my desire to see HHI resort. Unless someone here can point me to the rule forbidding such a visit, I will simply ask at the gate if it is OK and proceed based upon their response.

Canda: First, I am not taking my kids on my anniversary trip (I love my family too much to do that). Second, I simply asked if it was possible to stop at HHI and what things you can do there. I think that clearly puts me in the conscientious group, not the 'squeeze 8 into a studio, dump trash over the balcony, and take some complimentary pool towels home' group of members.

FYI... yes, I speed occasionally.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Personally I'd have to say that dropping by, walking through, looking around, having a meal at a restaurant (if there were one at HH DVC), shopping in the gift shop would all be OK within reason assuming this didn't fill up the parking lot. I would have to draw the line at use of the excercise equipment, beach house, pool, pier for fishing and other similar activities.

Mouse Ears, I think the descriptin above is a pretty good outline. That would easily accomodate what your reading about people stopping by and eating at Beaches and Cream. My personal opinion is that canda is going over the line in her response, invoking the lesson you teach your kid probably indicates ..... well lets not even go there. If in doubt, call the resort and make arrangements. It may be fine with them for you to stop in at the beach house for a meal at the pool bar.

Enjoy your day trip. There's plenty to see all over Hilton Head. Perhaps you could get some take out food at a local restaraunt and have a picnic on the Resort Site, which is still pretty much in line with what Dean suggets above.

 

[TwirlerGirl]

Hi Mouse Ears,

On our last visit to HH, we were at the front desk talking to the manager about crabbing when someone at the front gate asked to visit the resort. The manager gave premission and told them to stop at the front desk first. He talked briefly about the situation, commenting that people see the Disney name and want to see the resort. Sometimes they are DVC members but mostly vacationers at other resorts. Since the sales office is closed, I would guess that a soft sell by the manager might happen. We did not stay to find out. IMHO I was OK with the visit. The resort was at full capacity,
and parking was a bit tight. As long as there no abuse of the properity how else would we expect people to fall in love w/ HH and become members. So very few of us would buy sight unseen. I'm aslo OK with a member stopping by for a short visit, just to look things over for a future stay or to buy merchandise. There is a difference between a inspection visit and a family outting for the day.

When we were purchasing our points, we asked to visit OKW and BWV's to determine which we liked best. I do the same with a car. A short drive before investing my money. Do your visit, I'm warning you, you'll fallin love w/ HH, too. I wish I had points there. Well, maybe some day.

Sandy B.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by owensamo
The beach house isn't actually near the resort itself - it's about a mile away, so you can't really park at the resort and walk on the beach. However, I believe there is a public access through the beach house (go under it rather than through it) so if the front desk says it's okay to go visit the beach house, you can use that to get to the beach. Of course, parking at the beach house during midday in the summer is nearly impossible. And you will likely not be able to get into the beach house area itself - it's locked and uses room keys for access. There is a playground beyond the beach house that's outside of the locked off area, though.

Mur!

Actually you will not be able to visit the beach house without a parking pass given to Resort Guests at check in. Since the Beach House is located in the Palmetto Dunes resort area you need the pass to get through the security gate. This is very much enforced as we forgot our dashboard pass one day and had to go back and get it even though we had our DVC membership cards with us. The pass is dated for your stay.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Jollymon
Canda:
"Only follow rules when they can be enforced"

Like you don't speed, huh...

To bend rules or to take advantage of them is human nature; to say that one does not or will not, deceives no one.

The majority of the people taking a stand against an abusive behavior are those that cannot partake of the abusive behavior themselves for one reason or another.

I am not advocating that these actions were wrong or right, or whether they constitute a bad or a good example. I am saying that given the right set of conditions, even the most 'righteous' among us would 'bend' the rules and justify it 100%.


Andrew

Obviously this will be hard for your to accept, but there are actually people who do "not" speed. And actually there are people who do not bend rules or take advantage of them also.

 

[Jollymon]

You're right. I do find that hard to believe. Blame the cynic in me....or the realist.

Andrew

 

[BeckyV]

If you want to see what the beach house looks like, you can go and park at the Marriott and walk from it. BTW their restaurant has a wonderful crab dish for lunch. Very filling. I attended a convention at the Marriott and stayed next door to the HH beach house at Villamare. Also the Hilton has good food and a wonderful beach band certain evenings. It is located past the gates and the beach house. They will give you a pass to visit the Hilton. You could have lunch and walk down to the beach house.I have two addons at Hilton Head and as I have said before, I see nothing wrong with visiting to see if you want to stay there. What happens when Disney is trying to rent their rooms? Some people want to see the resort before they pay to stay there. My mom rents a beach house and has people stopping by to see the house all the time. If someone is in it, she tells them to come back on checkout days. I don't see any difference in this since DVC HH is also for rent. I saw rooms for rent over Labor Day, 2002. IF I was not familiar with the place, I would want to see it, first.

 

[canda]

I wanted everyone to know that my post was not to mouse ears. It does not bother me if people visit. It is a wonderful resort and a great group of cm's. Mouse ears had already said they were not going to do what another poster claimed to do. Please do not think I was saying that someone should not visit. My opinion was to another post on a different subject. I send my public apology to Mouse Ears for bringing them in the middle. I will not reply to "Day trip to Hilton Head" post anymore.