Disney Hilton Head Island Resort

[Lucky and Pooh]

We are new Disney Vacation Club Members & Owners at:
DVC Disney`s Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina

We recently called the resort and ask the front desk person (Susan)
if we could stop by and see the resort and take photographs

She said to stop by anytime
The next day we stopped by the resort to take a look around
I introduced myself and she remembered talking to me on the phone
She said she was able to see our names in the computer
the day I called and that we were in the Disney System

We ask her if she could give us our Disney Member Number
She started to - stepped away - then said the computer was down

We ask (Susan) for a pass to go up to the Disney Beach House
She gave us a parking pass and told us that we could drive over
and look around but that we could not go inside the building

We would have to use the Public Access to see the beach/ocean
We wanted to take photos of the Beach House, Pool, Signals, etc.

She said NO

As an owner we could not get a one day pass (in the winter)
to go inside the Disney Beach House to look around

We had to be Disney Guests staying at the resort

I am disappointed to say the least
as we came to Hilton Head Island for a weeks stay
just to preview our new Disney DVC Owner Ship...

As new resale owners - I really expected someone to take the time
to show us around our Home Resort - we got nothing... so we left

Not even a Welcome Home...

 

[Doctor P]

Sorry, but I think you were treated more than respectfully and that they bent over backwards to be nice to you. They didn't stop you from looking around the resort and they gave you a parking pass for the Beach House. The resort facilities themselves are for registered guests, so I don't think it was unreasonable to not give you a key (the Beach House requires your room key for access) to get into the Beach House, especially since you could see the whole thing basically without going inside by going around through the public beach access. It's a great resort. Don't let this sour you on your exciting new ownership.

 

[dis-happy]

.....

 

[nestlejean]

When you tour DVC at Disney, you see a set-up demo room. You can walk around the resort. They may not want the guests disturbed by people walking in and around them or you just got an employee that wasn't willing, who knows? I have never been there so I don't know how it is set-up.

 

[Kadorto]

Sorry, but I think you were treated more than respectfully and that they bent over backwards to be nice to you. They didn't stop you from looking around the resort and they gave you a parking pass for the Beach House. The resort facilities themselves are for registered guests, so I don't think it was unreasonable to not give you a key (the Beach House requires your room key for access) to get into the Beach House, especially since you could see the whole thing basically without going inside by going around through the public beach access. It's a great resort. Don't let this sour you on your exciting new ownership.

Ditto

 

[Disneyaholic]

I am disappointed to say the least
as we came to Hilton Head Island for a weeks stay
just to preview our new Disney DVC Owner Ship...

As new resale owners - I really expected someone to take the time
to show us around our Home Resort - we got nothing... so we left

If that is the reason you went to Hilton Head, perhaps you might have called the resort in advance to ask to tour the facility. That way either you would have known that you could not get IN to the beach house or, perhaps, the staff might have been able to schedule someone to give you a tour.

Since there is no sales staff at the Hilton Head resort, there really is no one there to give a tour. In the off season, they run on a skeleton staff and probably don't have extra cast members available.

I also believe you were treated well by the staff. Frankly, I am surprised that you allowed to go to the beach house at all when you weren't staying at the resort.

Just look at it as something new to look forward to when you stay at the resort for the first time.

 

[Doctor P]

The Beach House is a public access point for the beach and even includes public restrooms as I recall. The parking pass was a courtesy, but allowing them to go to the Beach House really was something anyone could do.

 

[CarolA]

I am not sure what you were looking for, but just in case. DVC benefits only exsist when you are staying at DVC. So if you stay at the All Stars on cash at Disney then you don't get the benefits. It's the same way at HH. If they allowed folks who were staying someplace else (like me, I won't stay at DVC HH) to use the facilities then would there be room for the guests staying there???

 

[jennypenny]

We ask her if she could give us our Disney Member Number
She started to - stepped away - then said the computer was down..[/B]

I think this may have raised a red flag. If you had shown her your member card to prove you're legit, she probably would have told you to go look wherever you wanted. This would have made me suspicious that you weren't members. You could have just given the name of members for her to look up--it's the member card that shows you are who you are.

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I'm glad that they are careful about who they let walk around the resort.

Jenny

 

[DVCJEN]

Considering you were not staying at the resort, I think they were extremely gracious to you. I am not certain what you expected. Ownership in DVC does not qualify you to tour anytime anywhere. Otherwise think of the chaos of people just "stopping in".

 

[Judique]

The Beach House is a public access point for the beach and even includes public restrooms as I recall. The parking pass was a courtesy, but allowing them to go to the Beach House really was something anyone could do.

The beach itself is public, but the access is not free to the general public. The beach house is inside Palmetto Dunes and you have to have a pass to enter the area of Palmetto Dunes where the beach house is located, which we get when we stay at Disney. Palmetto Dunes residents are able to access at the beach house and park at the beach house, because they live there. But, even though they can literally park under the beach house, they can not use the beach house itself, beyond the keycard areas that we access. I believe you can also get a beach parking pass as you come into Palmetto Dunes, if you stop at their information on the right, but if I remember correctly it costs money........
The area is also gated at Leamington, as you go past the beach house.

 

[Lucky and Pooh]

As I mentioned in my first post
We are (brand) new Owners
Just settled earlier this month

We have not received our Membership card yet
I did take a copy of my Recorded Deed and ID

Susan did say she looked us up the day
I called & we were in the Disney System
So all she had to do was ask for our ID

Note:
It is January and not many guests are at staying at the resort
Its cold here in Hilton Head & its not like we wanted to use anything.
We just wanted to look around and take photos (Off Seaon)

If it were not for Disney Owners

Disney Vacation Club would not exist

We have stayed at Disney Hilton Head
on an Exchange a few years ago
but this was our visit as Owners..

 

[Dean]

This is one of those "You had to be there" situations. They would not have anyway of truly knowing you were a member. Had you had a membership card, I suspect you would have gotten further. However, I doubt they have a way of giving anyone access to the Beach House unless they are staying there. And I certainly wouldn't want them to take their duty lightly in this situation. But I do understand your situation and it would have been nice if they could have found a way for you to see a unit and the beach house.

But since you were there for a week to preview your new purchase, why not just stay there, even if for cash?

 

[doccath]

I am very sorry for your experience but honestly the staff at Hilton Head are the best in the business. We were evacuated from a hurricane a couple years ago that was heading north. Rather than get stuck in a hotel on I95 we headed south. This was our 2nd year as DVC owners. We called them when I remembered they had a resort in SC. They could not have done more for us. I have always been impressed with the quality of the staff HH has. I understand your disappointment and maybe they could have tried to work something out but don't let it sour you on the club or HH. Congrats to you and your family for joining. It is the best purchase we ever made.
cathy
member 1996
OKW,BWV,HH
cruising again with the mouse 8/06

 

[gharrer]

Yikes. You really saw most of the resort. and the beach house is nice but probably the thing we see the least. Hilton Head is the best! Don't let this small detail ruin your disney magic Nancy

 

[Monkey Bum]

We have stayed at Disney Hilton Head
on an Exchange a few years ago
but this was our visit as Owners..

You were not there as owners, your were there as visitors. To be there as an owner to have access to all facilities, you would need to have used some points for a reservation.

 

[CHEBJO]

I am so sorry you had an experienced that left a sour taste! We are owners at HH and love everything about the resort. We have never had an unpleasant experience with any cast member. When you return I hope all is well and magical!!

 

[linco711]

I can understand how you felt. When at disney, you can go to the different DVC resorts and look around. What harm could you have done? You really can't fault the staff though. I'm sure they were only following Disney policy. As a cast member, you either follow their policies or work elsewhere. Sorry they made you feel unwelcome. They were definately wrong in doing so, but I'm sure you will enjoy your membership.

 

[Doctor P]

I can understand how you felt. When at disney, you can go to the different DVC resorts and look around. What harm could you have done? You really can't fault the staff though. I'm sure they were only following Disney policy. As a cast member, you either follow their policies or work elsewhere. Sorry they made you feel unwelcome. They were definately wrong in doing so, but I'm sure you will enjoy your membership.

Sorry, but I don't get this. Have you been to HH? It takes a room key to access the beach house!!! What do you want the CM's to have done differently? What did they do wrong? Even at the WDW DVC resorts, you can't just go in and look at the rooms. You can't go into SAB, but you can look at it from the outside much like they would have been able to do at the Beach House at HH. Again, I'm sorry that the OP was disappointed, but I think they had very unreasonable expectations.

 

[Daitcher]

Sorry, but I don't get this. Have you been to HH? It takes a room key to access the beach house!!! What do you want the CM's to have done differently? What did they do wrong? Even at the WDW DVC resorts, you can't just go in and look at the rooms. You can't go into SAB, but you can look at it from the outside much like they would have been able to do at the Beach House at HH. Again, I'm sorry that the OP was disappointed, but I think they had very unreasonable expectations.

Doctor P is once again right on the money. I don't understand the OP being upset? The CM in this case should be commended, sounds like they handled it perfectly. To the OP life is full of rules and let downs. This won't be the first or last, hope this doesn't sour your DVC experience.


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