DH is a CHicken-Butt...

[gopherit]

I told DH the other night that I had decided on HHI for our next DVC vacation -- August 2005. Our kids LOVE the beach, and every year we go to the Delaware beaches for July 4th (because DH's family all live there). But as it is a visit staying with relatives, it's not like going on vacation... it's more like the tour for World Peace. HHI just seems like a great place for our crew -- we love to ride bikes, swim, play in the sand, putt-putt, all that stuff families do! THe activities sound great, and HHI seems a bit more cost-effective than a cruise (especially for a fam of 5). DH and I actually honeymooned in Kiawah Island S.C. (not that far away) so this seemed appropriate to head back to a southern beach for what will be our 15th anniversary!

DH's response: No way Jose (and I don't mean the ice cream kind from Beaches&Cream)

Why?

Hurricanes.

We might have to leave or have our plans wrecked by a hurricane.

Now MIND YOU -- This is coming from the man who sat through Hurricane Charley as it blew RIGHT OVER our heads at BWV last month, and acted like it was such the "small stuff"! And NOW all of the sudden he's hurricane conscious?

Chicken butt.

And I realize that a hurricane at HHI could mean evacuation as it is more "coastally" located, but in S.C., I have oodles of family members a bit further inland (from Columbia on back to Spartanburg), so having a roof to go wouldn't be a big deal for us. In Florida however, we know Mickey... and that's about it!
Besides, I told DH, when was the last time you recall a hurricane season like this one? Appealing to his scholarly side, I noted that statistically, while another year like this COULD happen, the odds of it happening again were fairly slim -- unless I've missed something on the Weather Channel lately that states the contrary.

Double chicken-butt.

What am I gonna do with that man....

 

[Laurabearz]

I agree with your opinion of your DH

And for what it is worth.... we totally think of HHI as a cruise... lots of activities at the resort, and side trips into town... the big difference..... room size!

 

[canwegosoon]

At least he's a good looking Chicken-Butt Head The weather is always an issue...I would go with another family member if possible...perhaps you can also find out exactly when hurricane season begins...I thought it was August, but I could be wrong. I dont remember an early July Hurricane, so perhaps you could do the 4th there. Good Luck....you can wear him down

 

[Disneyaholic]

Maybe you can hit him with the fact that there hasn't been a direct hit by a hurricane on Hilton Head in over 100 years! Of course, that doesn't mean that next year won't be the one to break the streak, but it looks like the odds are with you.

The way I look at it, it's like not living your life because of the fear of terrorism -- there are some things that you just can't control, but I'll be darned if I'm gonna miss out on some fun because of the ever-so-slight possibility of a hurricane!!! ESPECIALLY a vacation at Hilton Head!!!!!

 

[jennymouse]

Didn't he hear the "less costly" part, and he could park at the door eliminating the valet issue.....

 

[lenshanem]

I guess I agree a tad with chicken butt.

I will be a slight bit hesitant to book in September for awhile... As it is I'm constantly trying to catch the Weather Channel to watch for our trip in a couple weeks.

What are they saying? This could be how many years trend of frequent hurricanes?

A bummer cause if our county does decide to go year round they'll most likely have a week off in late September. Perfect for a WDW trip IMO!

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by jennymouse
Didn't he hear the "less costly" part, and he could park at the door eliminating the valet issue.....

Ok, I'm wiping the Dr. Pepper off my monitor that I just snorted out my nose laughing on THAT one!

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_9.gif' alt='Lol' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_10.gif' alt='Computer' border=0></a>

Alas -- you know my DH too well! I'm surprised he isn't ATTRACTED to coastal areas during the stormy season now -- after all, when every one else flees, the parking is GREAT! (And that freebie day we got at EPCOT during Charley wasn't so bad, either!)

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Beca]

I REALLY hope the DVC tag fairy tags you for that one!!! I just HAD to read this thread after THAT title!!!!

Good luck convincing "Chicken Butt"!!!!




Beca

 

[deanna2426]

I always love reading all your posts and have been having a blast reading your trip reports...but this one takes the cake. I may have to borrow that line for my DH!!!

Good luck convincing him...we are actually hoping to go to HHI in August, too!!!

Keep us posted! Maybe we'll get to meet the ChickenButt in the flesh!!!

 

[spiceycat]

okay this does not solve your problem - how about for memorail day instead - hurricane season starts in June - so the last week of May, first week of June should be okay.

after he visited it - I am sure you can get him back there - now if he starts to complaint about earthquakes - yes I am not kidding - there have been several earthquakes in the south that the experts can't explain - well you are on your own....

 

[manning]

What's a little wind and rain. Just bring your yellow ponchos and blend in with rest of the crowd.

 

[rinkwide]

For ages we men have been criticised by women for not doing enough to express our emotions. Now that one of us has gathered the courage to show a bit of understandable trepidation, what do they do, praise us?

Nope, they call us "Double Chicken-Butt".

Guess I'll be keeping my feelings to myself.

 

[jennymouse]

Originally posted by gopherit
Ok, I'm wiping the Dr. Pepper off my monitor that I just snorted out my nose laughing on THAT one!

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_9.gif' alt='Lol' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_10.gif' alt='Computer' border=0></a>

Alas -- you know my DH too well! I'm surprised he isn't ATTRACTED to coastal areas during the stormy season now -- after all, when every one else flees, the parking is GREAT! (And that freebie day we got at EPCOT during Charley wasn't so bad, either!)

Thanks for the laugh!

I can see your family at HHI. Rich & Ryan will be out on the ocean on a jetski, Caroline will be building Cinderellas castle in the sand, and Evan will be hanging out in the beach house watching ESPN and playing pool, because he knows there are sharks in that ocean and he doesn't want to get swimmers ear again. You, my friend, will be running about trying to get the best photos and making sure the kids are happy.

You can tell I'm one of your trip report fans, eh... I've enjoyed yours more than the Delswife series. I hope your son's ear is better and I'm still waiting for the "going home" day and "final thoughts"!LOL

 

[donald...really]

A life lived in fear is a life half lived.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for the laugh!

If your family is like mine, you are completely and totally in charge of the DVC points. If I were in that situation, I'd book HHI for August 2005 now, thinking I could cancel later if Chicken Man doesn't fully regain his senses. If he takes too long to rediscover the right hand side of his brain and you don't reserve now, you'll just plain be out of luck!

So I'd reserve now and plan to "discuss" another day - maybe in the "dead" of a cold winter night, LOL!

Anyway, my advice is to do what you have to do to keep your options open and then give it a rest. Talk to us if you have to, but let him be for a while! He needs time to remember that HHI is a very good idea and aren't you all glad he thought of it!!!

Best wishes -

 

[erikthewise]

Is he the blue one or the one in the white T-shirt?
I'm with CarolMN. Book now, discuss later.

 

[gopherit]

Originally posted by erikthewise
Is he the blue one or the one in the white T-shirt?

Ok, great, now I've just added spewed Cheerios and milk to my Dr. Pepper monitor montage!
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_12_6.gif' alt='Cereal' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_4_20.gif' alt='Milk' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_5_3.gif' alt='Bowl' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_213.gif' alt='Laugh' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_10.gif' alt='Computer' border=0></a>


I am ashamed to admit how long it took me to get the "blue one" part, however. I actually had to go back and LOOK at my signature pics! (I just wish I hadn't taken a bite of my breakfast immediately prior...) I think the Blue One is substantially less fearful, though, what with being a space traveler and all -- so to answer your question, Mr. ChickenButt is indeed the man in white.


As for trying this on a different month, we were trying to do something special around our 15th anniversary (which is kinda immovable, and as I haved mentioned elsewhere before, I'm somewhat of a purist, believing you have to celebrate on the actual date... moving it around seems like cheating to me!) The irony of this is that 15 years ago, he had no problem renting a condo right on an island beach in South Carolina. Now he suddenly gets cold feet? This year we've experienced Charley (close up and personal down in Orlando) but also Frances and Ivan to a real degree (we live in the rain-sodden, incredibly flooded Mid-Ohio valley).
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/28/28_2_4v.gif' alt='Thunderstorms' border=0></a>

Frankly, HHI seems pretty safe to me!

 

[ErinC]

You really have nothing to lose. If for some reason a Hurricane should come to HHI, DVC will refund your points and you can make other plans later. My next concern would be evacuating, and you mentioned you have family nearby. And this advice comes to you from a Baldwin County, Alabama(Ivans eye passed right over our county) resident who just returned from Jacksonville, Florida (the only place within 400 miles from home that we could find a hotel room, since we needed to evacuate, who was without power for a short time, just got a phone back, and still waiting on cable, and spent the last few days cutting and cleaning downed trees and other folks roof shingles from my yard.) Really it will be probably be fine. Go and have a good time! Erin

 

[OneMoreTry]

I got the impression that DVC restored all the members' points lost during the hurricanes -- not to a holding account but to full status. If that is the case I wouldn't be chicken if the trip was early in the use year -- so they could be used or banked if a hurricane hit.

I would be chicken if my use year ended soon after the trip.

 

[Jenn]

Some more info to help you decide...

We were just in HH last month from 8/22-8/29. I did the behind the scenes tour and the tourguide (Chef Gordon) told us that HH is inland enough that they haven't had a direct hit from a hurricane in over 100 years. The hurricanes seem to pass by and hit higher north near Charleston. We had a hurricane warning the day we left and it was sunny, blue skies. We had no problems getting out. The storm hit the Charleston area.

Also, in his 8 years with the resort (since it opened), it has been evacuated 3 times (twice in the first year and one other time early on). All 3 time the hurricane changed course and didn't hit them. In the meantime, they helped guests make airfare arrangements, hotel arrangements, etc. In fact he said they suggested Atlanta to one family from overseas and they ended up getting a lovely thank you note because they had such a good time.