Dolphin Cruise & Kayaking at HHI

[Jeff P.]

We are headed to HHI for our first visit in a couple of weeks, and we are interested in taking a Dolphin cruise and doing some kayaking.

Does anyone have any recommendations on the best places to do these things? Can we sign up to do both of these through the Disney resort? If so, are there better options than signing up at the resort? Also interested in the general costs.

I appreciate any input or suggestions.

 

[VMS]

We have done both through signing up right at the resort, and always have had a good experience. Someone who has gone recently may be able to better help you with the costs. I know the dolphin cruises set up at the resort use small boats (I think six people max) and it makes for a much better encounter with the dolphins.

 

[SusieBea]

We booked our dolphin cruise through the resort and had a great experience. The only kayak excursion we've ever done we booked through Outside Hilton (I think that was the name) at the South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. It was also very nice.

 

[LVSWL]

Definitely book the dolphin cruise through the resort. You can book it at the same place where you rent your bikes, right next to the pool. The company is Lowcountry tours, with Captain Scott, he is awesome! We also booked a kayak tour at the same window, very cool. Have a great trip!

 

[MarkyMouse]

Definitely book the dolphin cruise through the resort. You can book it at the same place where you rent your bikes, right next to the pool. The company is Lowcountry tours, with Captain Scott, he is awesome! We also booked a kayak tour at the same window, very cool. Have a great trip!

We did the Kayaking last October and LOVED IT!! We will be doing that again next week.

 

[BillM99999]

We (DW and I) just did the kayaking through the resort and really enjoyed it. $25 on Members' Day is difficult to beat with an outside company. Our neighbors who did the dolphin cruise through the resort said it was extremely enjoyable and informative.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Looks like your questions have been pretty much answered-just wanted to give you a tip. Even if the weather's nice, bring a jacket/windbreaker. When I went, the weather was so nice and warm that the other family who'd brought jackets wanted to run back to their villa to leave them. By the time the tour was nearly over and the boat was coming back, we were FREEZING and so grateful we'd all brought jackets.

 

[MinnieGi]

How long is the dolphin cruise? And can more than one boat go out at the same time or get a slightly bigger boat?

I ask as we are a family of four who are taking another family of four with us and this sounds really fun. It be nice to do it together or at least at the same time rather than at different times.

Thanks!

 

[VMS]

I forget how long it was -- maybe an hour and a half? But we were a party of seven and we had two boats to ourselves. I'm sure if they had a party of two (or a single) they may have been put with us.

 

[minnierealtor]

We have gone on both the Dolphin Cruise and Kayak trip. We saw more dolphins on the kayak trip than the dolphin cruise and at a closer range. We had such a great time on the kayak trips and saw lots of wildlife in the marsh areas we decided we should have our own kayaks so we could stay out longer. We now bring our own and take long trips down to the mouth of Broad Creek.

 

[Desnik]

Can anyone tell me how much the Dolphin Cruise is? We will be at HHI next month and we would like to do this.
Thanks!

 

[MinnieGi]

I forget how long it was -- maybe an hour and a half? But we were a party of seven and we had two boats to ourselves. I'm sure if they had a party of two (or a single) they may have been put with us.

Oh cool! So they do have more than one boat that could accomadate us all at the same time. Thanks for the info!

 

[gingermouse17]

We have gone on both the Dolphin Cruise and Kayak trip. We saw more dolphins on the kayak trip than the dolphin cruise and at a closer range. We had such a great time on the kayak trips and saw lots of wildlife in the marsh areas we decided we should have our own kayaks so we could stay out longer. We now bring our own and take long trips down to the mouth of Broad Creek.

Your kayaking trips sound great!!! How young do you think a child can be to be able to kayak? Does it depend on their swimming ability? Do they make small kayaks for kids?

Thanks

 

[Jeff P.]

Thank you for all of the information. I am looking forward to doing both of these activities while we are at HHI.


Jeff

 

[minnierealtor]

In response to the kayking question: there are single and double kayaks available so if you have a small child get a double and put them in the front just like if you were canoeing. The kayaks are long so they are easier to steer so a smaller one wouldn't necessarily be the right type. When we go out now my DD 14 starts calling for the dolphins and then when she sees them she "talks" to them. I'm pretty sure the dolphins are not listening but it is entertaining to watch her try to catch them in her kayak.

 

[Desnik]

Can anyone answer my question? I was just wondering how much the dolphin cruise is?
Thanks!

 

[MinnieGi]

Can anyone answer my question? I was just wondering how much the dolphin cruise is?
Thanks!

I was wondering this too? Also what company is it that does Disney's tours? I was just on the web trying to scout info and there are quite a few tour companies. Thanks!

 

[JCLNJ]

The cost is $40 per person for an hour and 45 minutes. We did not do this ourselves but just returned and had paperwork available.

 

[GDUL]

Here are a couple of pictures from the dolphin cruise that we took last summer.

 

[cgcw]

Your kayaking trips sound great!!! How young do you think a child can be to be able to kayak? Does it depend on their swimming ability? Do they make small kayaks for kids?

Thanks

When we did this last year, our DS12 wanted to do it alone. Based on him being a taller, the guide said it would be okay, provided he had kayaked before. The guide suggested that anyone who hadn't kayaked before not go at it alone and we had a problem because I had never kayaked.

Our original plan was for DH to go by himself, me & DS7 to go together and DS12 to go by himself. Once the guide found out I hadn't done it before, he thought it was best if DH & DS7 went together and I went with DS12. Let me tell you, DS12 was less than happy losing out because of his mom.

As it turned out, I was glad we were together. We had a great time laughing when we got caught in the current and floating into the oyster beds. I don't think we laughed that much together since over something so silly. The guide said as long as we were laughing he knew we were doing okay.

Polarized sun glasses might help to see the sea creatures swimming by.



We've also done the dolphin tour with Low Country several times. We have decided over the years that we prefer doing the beach combing excursion, as it's the best of both worlds. It's more expensive but we feel we get more for our $$'s that way. We get to see dolphins on our way out to Dufuski Island, then get off the boat and see what kind of other creatures we can find on the beach. Each year I say I'm not picking up any of the dried up sand dollars or star fish, and each year we bring home another bag of them. I just can't pass them up, it's like they are waiting for me to pick them up and bring them home.

I wouldn't hesitate to use Scott with Low Country. We've never had a bad tour with him and always seem to learn something new.