Disney Hilton Head

[TampaTom]

Has anyone stayed in Disney's resort on Hilton Head Island? I got some good info on the HiltonHeadLife.com site, but I'm looking for more first-hand reviews. TIA

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We just came beack from Hilton Head on Monday. We chose not to stay at the Disney HHI Resort (can hardly believe I'm saying that!) because it was not directly on the beach. We went over and looked around and weren't impressed. We preferred the Marriott Beach and Golf Resort or the Westin. The DIsney resort was okay but didn't seem to me to have the same feel as the WDW deluxe resorts.

We did have a great time at Hilton Head, hope you do too!

 

[PBB]

We have been to HH twice a year for the past 8 years. We have stayed at Disney's resort and Palmetto Dune's resort. Mainly at Disney's resort. We just got back yesterday and as always we enjoyed the resort.

As Disneymom stated.....The Disney resort is not on the beach and we have not found it to be a problem. The beach club that Disney built is great and gives you a place while visiting the beach. The beach club is about 1 1/2 miles away. Disney has a shuttle service between the resort and beach club.

There are some snack clubs type restaurants at both the resort and beach club but they have a limited menu. So, if your the type that wants room service and such....they don't have it.

I find the resort to be very peaceful and quiet and the view of the marsh area is spectacular. Sometimes the resort is so quiet we feel we are the only ones there.

The time we stayed at Palmetto Dunes, the unit we stayed at was not in good shape and the management did a poor job of trying to fix things. I am sure there are nice units but there is a chance you could get a worn out unit.

I would Highly Recommend Disney's Resort !

Patrick

 

[MinnieGi]

We stayed at Disney's HHI resort the second week in August and had an awesome time. We already booked for next summer. The whole family LOVED HHI. The Disney resort is alot of fun with just a touch of Mickey Magic.

The resort in compact and easily walkable from end to end. They have lots of activities and crafts going on all day in addition to the pools and beach. We kind of liked the seperate accomadations being in Shelter Cove harbor and the beach house being in Palmetto Dunes. We drove to the beach house every morning and had covered parking for our car and an easy trek to the beach with our chairs, umbrella and sand toys. After a morning on the beach we went back to our villa for lunch and rest and then onto the main pool in the late afternoon evening. My DD loved their slide. DS (3) had a great time swimming around.

On Tuesday night the resort holds a pool party that was the highlight of the trip for my 6yo DD. The great cm's led dances pool side such as the electric slide, macarena, YMCA, etc...DD danced the night away. They also had all these silly games, balloon animals, face painting, tatoos. At around 9:00 fireworks are set off by Shelter Cove Marina and poolside offers a great view. Another night we attended a campfire and sang silly songs led by those great lifeguard/cm's and we then roasted smores. Yum!

Another day my kids attended an activity led by a naturalist that they enjoyed. There were lots of other opportunities for crafts and other nature activities but the kids and DH and I loved our beach time and pool time so we never made any of the others.

We found the cm's all to be super friendly and the rec staff to be alot of fun!!

The theme of HHI is a hunting lodge so if you are looking for something beachy, Disney is not the place here for that theme. However after being on the island I think the theme is very apporpriate as HHI is filled with lots of visable animals and plants plus the island is filled with sports activities.

 

[Samsma]

We spent five nights there in July. I agree it is very fun, and we had stayed at the Westin for 3 nights before so we really had our fill of the beach. (We burn easily). The studio was more than big enough for the 4 of us, which is saying something! We rented bikes, went fishing, went on a Dolphin cruise and saw lots of Dolphins, saw the fireworks, spent time at Shelter Cove and just generally relaxed. It is not our typical vacation, rush and run around, but we really enjoyed it.

 

[Slakk]

We have stayed there three times and have a fourth scheduled for March. To be honest we were nervous at first about not being on the beach but have literally spent maybe 1 hour on that side of the island. We love HHI and I love how relzxing it is. My son literally lives in their pool and just sitting and relaxing under all of those trees and soaking in the feeling of true relaxation and southern charm is my nirvana.

The rooms are darker but fit - the rooms are huge and just really homey.

We love it - in fact if I had to choose between WDW and HHI I would probably choose HHI. It has just enough Disney but at the same time it's own charm.

 

[lsutigger2]

Another "HH is great" lover here! HH is the most peaceful resort. My favorite activity is to sit in the rocking chairs on the porch and read the day away! My DH loves to play golf, so he is in his element. We have enjoyed many restaurants on the island. We have only visited the beach for a short while one day. We are not really beach people - I don't do well in the sun. But we did enjoy the pool at HH on our trip there in Sept 06.

If you can share more of what you are looking for in a vacaton spot, you may get information geared to what you are needing.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I am just back from HHI on Friday, and count me as another HHI lover.
The resort is beautiful, peaceful, and there is plenty to do if you are a doing things type of person.

We liked it so much that my DH wants me to call out guide about an add-on there.

 

[shellbelle1971]

HHI is not our family's cup of tea, I think mostly because when we want the beach...we want the beach right there. Anyway, lots of other people love it. Let us know how your trip goes!

 

[buzz5985]

Another HH lover here - and Saturday morning I will be calling and making my reservations for next summer. 2 - 2 BR's. I can't wait to get back there. I love being on the marsh. The activities for the kids are great. Every morning we have hard decisions to make - the pool, the pool at the beach, or the beach.

I'm looking to recreate the family beach vacations I had as a kid in NH- only the great thing with Disney's HH - I am not constantly sweeping sand out of the cottage and my ankles aren't numb from the 60 degree water.

 

[EmyRose]

Are there any activities one should reserve in advance? We aren't golfers.

 

[PBB]

Are there any activities one should reserve in advance? We aren't golfers.

We always call the resort the week we are going and ask them to fax the activities sheet for the time we are staying. Then if we are interested in certain activities we will call ahead and make reservations.

Since you are not golfers, that will be easy. If you are tennis players then I would advise you to call Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center and make reservations for court time. They have a great Mixed Doubles Round Robin Tournament every day which is a lot fun if you and your spouse play tennis

 

[Simba's Mom]

Another HHI lover here. I think of the resort as "comfy". It's very nature-oriented. Although it's not on the ocean, as people have said, it is right on the marsh and has lots of huge trees around and through the resort. And birds are everywhere! I love to sit out at the end of the resort, by building 31, and watch the boats come and go. Another spot I love is in back of the main lodge, where I've seen several dolphins swimming by. Unfortunately, though, last time we were there they'd removed the Aidirondak chairs back there. The resort's not everyone's style-no valet parking or room service, but everyone there's so friendly, we love it!

 

[Mickey4me!]

Another HH lover here! We love it so much, it's our home resort! I'm a big beach person, but that's not why I go to HH. I love the "natural" aspects of the marsh side. It's reminiscent of how the island was originally used - as a hunting destination, not a beach one. The rooms are larger than most WDW resorts (same layout as OKW) and it's a very relaxed atmosphere. Decor is along the same lines a WLV so if you don't think that resort is "deluxe" then you probably won't think HH is either. For a true beach vacation, we head to the Outer Banks each summer. When there, I want a house "on the beach" so I can walk out the door at 8AM and plant my butt in a beach chair under an umbrella with a good book and not leave until I feel like it. At HH though, I enjoy all the activities the resort has to offer as well as the great shopping and occasional side trips to Savannah or other parts of the low country. Can't wait until our Dec. trip!

 

[CarolA]

I am going to go against the "DVC" board theory of "If it's Disney it's WONDERFUL" LOL!

I found this resort to be a big disappointment. It was WAY too far from the beach and WAY to close to "other development" I sold my points and won't stay there again and I love HHI! I don't want to have to cross a major road to get to a beach, I want to WALK LOL!

(And Disney IF you do the Hawaii resort PUT IT ON THE BEACH LOL!!!!)

 

[Slakk]

I am going to go against the "DVC" board theory of "If it's Disney it's WONDERFUL" LOL!

I found this resort to be a big disappointment. It was WAY too far from the beach and WAY to close to "other development" I sold my points and won't stay there again and I love HHI! I don't want to have to cross a major road to get to a beach, I want to WALK LOL!

(And Disney IF you do the Hawaii resort PUT IT ON THE BEACH LOL!!!!)

Hey Carol I heard a rumor that DVD is looking at the land next to the Marriott Ko Olina on Oahu which would be on the beach.

 

[dizzneebabe]

We LOVED it there! Being beach lovers, I wasn't sure how we'd handle NOT being right on the beach. But honestly, it was only a minor distraction. The island is so beautiful and there is so much to do. We didn't do a whole lot--other than sit our butts on the beach, but that's what we wanted to do!

Here's my mini trip report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1521627