Stargazer65
Disney Honorary Bus Driver since 2009
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2020
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This is the second Disney Beach Resort we did a full vacation. Last year was Vero Beach, this year we did 10 days at HHI. We meandered down the east coast on the way down, making stops at the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach to sightsee. Our party is myself, DW, and DD. Mid trip we are having our Niece/Nephew and their two daughters join us, which gives DD some companionship later.
We booked a dedicated two bedroom with our own Non-HHI DVC points, which seemed to be about the only availability at 7 months in October.
Arrival and Day 1
We rolled in just before sunset and checked into a 2 bedroom villa, first floor, Building 28. Brought our luggage in. The first floor is one and half flights of stairs BTW. Although there is small elevator in this building, it does not service all the rooms in the building, and it is also nonfunctional currently. The only really good HA is in the main lodge (which you are unlikely to ever book unless you are an HHI owner). More on this later because the second half of our party has a disabled person.
Master bedroom has a King Size bed, a deep soaking tub and a shower. Living Room has a queen size murphy bed, and a pull out chair. Second bedroom has two queen beds, and a private bathroom. Laundry is in the vestibule to the left of the entrance. So it sleeps 9 total, but the 9th person gets a pull out chair, not a murphy bed. We had seven people total this trip, so did not use it. The other four people will not show up until Day 5.
Standard full size kitchen, the coffeemaker is a combined 12 cup pot and single K-cup tank model, very nice. Our small rear balcony overlooked the bocce court, giant checkers, an outdoor grill, and a hammock.
We didn’t do anything that evening and the next day other than lounge around the resort, and make a grocery run at Krogers (5 minutes away – which is really nice). Got breakfast at Tide me Over. TMO is quick and efficient, but of course the choices are limited. You would get really bored if you depend on the resort for food. Thankfully, there are so many great non-Disney options for eating. In ten days we only had three TMO breakfasts, and one snack (no dinners or lunches there). We also cooked in our room more this trip than we have for a long time.
Day 2
Spent the afternoon at the Coastal Discovery Museum, went to some stores, and for some strange reason DW was hankering for Chipotle, so we brought that back to the room.
Day 3
Went hiking at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. You can only drive your car as far as the parking lot a half mile in. You could spend the day out there to cover the trails. We started late, so only covered about half of it. You could do it quicker with bikes, it’s all flat and smooth, but you’ll need a bike carrier to get them there unless you’re brave enough to ride your bikes across the J. Wilton Graves Bridge which is highway with no bike path (we are not that brave!). There is not much shade, there are no facilities or fresh water. Bring plenty of water, food, bug repellant, sunscreen.
After we got back we rented bikes for the rest of the stay finally, and rode them out to the beach house. From the Beach House, we rode them half way to Sea Pines, sheltered at a store during a 10 minute rain shower, and then headed back before dark. I can’t remember eating dinner (we must have ate in the room), but I do remember bringing home Crumbl Cookie which is near Kroger.
Day 4
Today was a bike riding day. We stopped for late lunch/early dinner at A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant at 32 Palmetto Bay Road. I highly recommend it if you want southern food. One thing we found out after dinner is that you can’t ride your bikes into Sea Pines (unless you live there and have a gate key of course – although an owner told us you can ride them in stealthily on the beach side). You need to bring your bikes on a car carrier and drive in if you want to bike there. There is a 9 dollar fee for a daily car pass at the gate, we decided to go to Sea Pines the next day in the car. We rode out bikes to Coligny after that and checked out some shops, then did some turtle and alligator watching at the various marshes the bike paths ride through. After we returned to our room we walked over to Scott’s Fish Market Restaurant and had drinks.
Day 5
Today we drove out to Sea Pines. As I mentioned, there is a 9 dollar fee to get in, cash only (they do have change). That gives you a car pass which is good for the day. We first went to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. There are two entrances to the Preserve, the first is the walking entrance with a small parking lot. We stopped there first, and chatted with a nice local couple, they gave us some advice about things at Sea Pines. We didn’t walk from there but instead drove to the car entrance to the Preserve. Most of the roads are unpaved, I imagine some of the roads may get muddy after a lot of rain, but that was not an issue for us. We were able to navigate it all in an Audi A4S sedan which didn’t have much ground clearance.
After the Preserve we drove to Harbour Town, which is a must when you go to Sea Pines. We climbed the lighthouse, there is a museum on the way up, a gift shop at the top, and fantastic view. But, it costs 7 dollars a person to enter, so I was glad it was just the three of us. We had ice cream at Cinnamon Bear Country Store, then did some more driving around Sea Pines, and did some more gator watching.
The rest of our party arrived late evening, and we helped get them settled. Their younger daughter is disabled and had to be carried up the dozen stairs to our place, she is 8 years old so that still works, but this wouldn’t work for an older person obviously. Getting the wheelchair up and down the stairs was a 2 person job. Not convenient, but it was manageable for us 4 middle aged reasonably fit individuals. They brought a lot of food, so we only ate out two more times this trip.
Day 6
Everyone is late to bed and late risers in this party – except me. This afternoon we took a road trip to the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory Museum in Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot on Parris Island. The Kazoo factory is a fun tour, and you get to make your own kazoo and keep it. The tour finishes with everyone in the group playing a number on the kazoo. They were running tours at 10, 1, and 2 O’clock. We didn’t need to reserve. The tour costs money, but the museum and gift shop is free if you just want to walk in.
At MCRD Parris Island we went to the Museum which is really cool, and free. Went to the actual “Yellow Footprints and Silver Hatches” (This is where new recruits arrive). I had a retired military ID so I could just drive in, but visitors can go in after going through an inspection and filling out some paperwork. Our other half of the party had to, and it took about ten minutes.
Day 7
Myself, DD, my nephew and his older daughter went charter fishing this morning from 7 to 11 AM from Shelter Cove. We used Palmetto Lagoon Charters which met up at the pier right next to Scott’s Fish Market Restaurant. So just a 5 minute walk from our place. We arrived by 6:35 and set out early. We caught two small sharks and a large Gar, as well as a variety of smaller fish. We are fishing greenhorns, but Captain Trent was great, he did all the hard work, talked to us, and taught us all about the fish. We met a dolphin, saw a bald eagle, and a variety of other wildlife. Highly recommend this charter, you do need to reserve it ahead of time. I was able to book it about 5 days prior to going out on it, but I imagine it’s harder in the summer.
We lounged around the rest of the day after we got back. The wind picked up today and overnight due to Hurricane Milton which passed through Florida, but we barely noticed it.
Day 8
I woke up at 6 AM to make coffee...in the living room is the completed jigsaw puzzle DW, Niece, and Nephew completed at 3AM. No one else even raised an eyelid until after 9AM, which gives me a quiet peaceful morning of sipping coffee. Today some of us did another all afternoon bike ride around the island, while others lounged around the resort.
We all went out for dinner at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks which comes highly recommended from the locals for seafood. When we got there I knew it was going to be good, because it was just packed with people. We were seated after about a 20 minute wait. The food and service were great, and we highly recommend it as well.
Day 9
Our last full day on Hilton Head. I finally used the pool at the main resort. DD was there every day, and so was her cousin after they got there.
We all went to Sea Pines and hung out in Harbour Town. We had already made reservations for dinner at 6 o’clock at Quarterdeck restaurant so we could dine while watching the sunset. Food and service was great, I highly recommend it. Dress is casual, but reservations are recommended, and many people dressed nice to dine there in the evening. I wore slacks and a button down shirt, DW wore a dress. (Think yacht club casual, not WDW theme park casual lol)
Day 10
Departing time. I didn’t spend much of my Disney Rewards dollars this trip, so I treated everyone to mickey waffles from TMO.
Hilton Head is beautiful, we will definitely return. I’m almost tempted to add on…
We booked a dedicated two bedroom with our own Non-HHI DVC points, which seemed to be about the only availability at 7 months in October.
Arrival and Day 1
We rolled in just before sunset and checked into a 2 bedroom villa, first floor, Building 28. Brought our luggage in. The first floor is one and half flights of stairs BTW. Although there is small elevator in this building, it does not service all the rooms in the building, and it is also nonfunctional currently. The only really good HA is in the main lodge (which you are unlikely to ever book unless you are an HHI owner). More on this later because the second half of our party has a disabled person.
Master bedroom has a King Size bed, a deep soaking tub and a shower. Living Room has a queen size murphy bed, and a pull out chair. Second bedroom has two queen beds, and a private bathroom. Laundry is in the vestibule to the left of the entrance. So it sleeps 9 total, but the 9th person gets a pull out chair, not a murphy bed. We had seven people total this trip, so did not use it. The other four people will not show up until Day 5.
Standard full size kitchen, the coffeemaker is a combined 12 cup pot and single K-cup tank model, very nice. Our small rear balcony overlooked the bocce court, giant checkers, an outdoor grill, and a hammock.
We didn’t do anything that evening and the next day other than lounge around the resort, and make a grocery run at Krogers (5 minutes away – which is really nice). Got breakfast at Tide me Over. TMO is quick and efficient, but of course the choices are limited. You would get really bored if you depend on the resort for food. Thankfully, there are so many great non-Disney options for eating. In ten days we only had three TMO breakfasts, and one snack (no dinners or lunches there). We also cooked in our room more this trip than we have for a long time.
Day 2
Spent the afternoon at the Coastal Discovery Museum, went to some stores, and for some strange reason DW was hankering for Chipotle, so we brought that back to the room.
Day 3
Went hiking at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. You can only drive your car as far as the parking lot a half mile in. You could spend the day out there to cover the trails. We started late, so only covered about half of it. You could do it quicker with bikes, it’s all flat and smooth, but you’ll need a bike carrier to get them there unless you’re brave enough to ride your bikes across the J. Wilton Graves Bridge which is highway with no bike path (we are not that brave!). There is not much shade, there are no facilities or fresh water. Bring plenty of water, food, bug repellant, sunscreen.
After we got back we rented bikes for the rest of the stay finally, and rode them out to the beach house. From the Beach House, we rode them half way to Sea Pines, sheltered at a store during a 10 minute rain shower, and then headed back before dark. I can’t remember eating dinner (we must have ate in the room), but I do remember bringing home Crumbl Cookie which is near Kroger.
Day 4
Today was a bike riding day. We stopped for late lunch/early dinner at A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant at 32 Palmetto Bay Road. I highly recommend it if you want southern food. One thing we found out after dinner is that you can’t ride your bikes into Sea Pines (unless you live there and have a gate key of course – although an owner told us you can ride them in stealthily on the beach side). You need to bring your bikes on a car carrier and drive in if you want to bike there. There is a 9 dollar fee for a daily car pass at the gate, we decided to go to Sea Pines the next day in the car. We rode out bikes to Coligny after that and checked out some shops, then did some turtle and alligator watching at the various marshes the bike paths ride through. After we returned to our room we walked over to Scott’s Fish Market Restaurant and had drinks.
Day 5
Today we drove out to Sea Pines. As I mentioned, there is a 9 dollar fee to get in, cash only (they do have change). That gives you a car pass which is good for the day. We first went to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. There are two entrances to the Preserve, the first is the walking entrance with a small parking lot. We stopped there first, and chatted with a nice local couple, they gave us some advice about things at Sea Pines. We didn’t walk from there but instead drove to the car entrance to the Preserve. Most of the roads are unpaved, I imagine some of the roads may get muddy after a lot of rain, but that was not an issue for us. We were able to navigate it all in an Audi A4S sedan which didn’t have much ground clearance.
After the Preserve we drove to Harbour Town, which is a must when you go to Sea Pines. We climbed the lighthouse, there is a museum on the way up, a gift shop at the top, and fantastic view. But, it costs 7 dollars a person to enter, so I was glad it was just the three of us. We had ice cream at Cinnamon Bear Country Store, then did some more driving around Sea Pines, and did some more gator watching.
The rest of our party arrived late evening, and we helped get them settled. Their younger daughter is disabled and had to be carried up the dozen stairs to our place, she is 8 years old so that still works, but this wouldn’t work for an older person obviously. Getting the wheelchair up and down the stairs was a 2 person job. Not convenient, but it was manageable for us 4 middle aged reasonably fit individuals. They brought a lot of food, so we only ate out two more times this trip.
Day 6
Everyone is late to bed and late risers in this party – except me. This afternoon we took a road trip to the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory Museum in Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot on Parris Island. The Kazoo factory is a fun tour, and you get to make your own kazoo and keep it. The tour finishes with everyone in the group playing a number on the kazoo. They were running tours at 10, 1, and 2 O’clock. We didn’t need to reserve. The tour costs money, but the museum and gift shop is free if you just want to walk in.
At MCRD Parris Island we went to the Museum which is really cool, and free. Went to the actual “Yellow Footprints and Silver Hatches” (This is where new recruits arrive). I had a retired military ID so I could just drive in, but visitors can go in after going through an inspection and filling out some paperwork. Our other half of the party had to, and it took about ten minutes.
Day 7
Myself, DD, my nephew and his older daughter went charter fishing this morning from 7 to 11 AM from Shelter Cove. We used Palmetto Lagoon Charters which met up at the pier right next to Scott’s Fish Market Restaurant. So just a 5 minute walk from our place. We arrived by 6:35 and set out early. We caught two small sharks and a large Gar, as well as a variety of smaller fish. We are fishing greenhorns, but Captain Trent was great, he did all the hard work, talked to us, and taught us all about the fish. We met a dolphin, saw a bald eagle, and a variety of other wildlife. Highly recommend this charter, you do need to reserve it ahead of time. I was able to book it about 5 days prior to going out on it, but I imagine it’s harder in the summer.
We lounged around the rest of the day after we got back. The wind picked up today and overnight due to Hurricane Milton which passed through Florida, but we barely noticed it.
Day 8
I woke up at 6 AM to make coffee...in the living room is the completed jigsaw puzzle DW, Niece, and Nephew completed at 3AM. No one else even raised an eyelid until after 9AM, which gives me a quiet peaceful morning of sipping coffee. Today some of us did another all afternoon bike ride around the island, while others lounged around the resort.
We all went out for dinner at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks which comes highly recommended from the locals for seafood. When we got there I knew it was going to be good, because it was just packed with people. We were seated after about a 20 minute wait. The food and service were great, and we highly recommend it as well.
Day 9
Our last full day on Hilton Head. I finally used the pool at the main resort. DD was there every day, and so was her cousin after they got there.
We all went to Sea Pines and hung out in Harbour Town. We had already made reservations for dinner at 6 o’clock at Quarterdeck restaurant so we could dine while watching the sunset. Food and service was great, I highly recommend it. Dress is casual, but reservations are recommended, and many people dressed nice to dine there in the evening. I wore slacks and a button down shirt, DW wore a dress. (Think yacht club casual, not WDW theme park casual lol)
Day 10
Departing time. I didn’t spend much of my Disney Rewards dollars this trip, so I treated everyone to mickey waffles from TMO.
Hilton Head is beautiful, we will definitely return. I’m almost tempted to add on…
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