First time Hilton Head questions

[TNMomof3]

Well, I've been inspired. We joined DVC (BWV) in July using Magical Beginnings. We don't get our first allotment of points until June, but I've been reading so many good things here about HHI. Then my Disney Visa statement shows up with an incredible deal on 2 bedrooms there in October. The wheels started turning.

I called yesterday and booked 4 days for us at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort! We'll be going in mid October during our kids fall break.

Now, I've searced this board for HHI info, and I've checked out Doc's resort info, and Tommy Towery's page. I'm just confused on what type view/ building request we should make. Where are most of the activities held? We'd like to be fairly close to the main pool, and if possible where the activities are held. Do we want to be in buildings 19, 21, 28 with a marina view, or is it better to be in the area of buildings 22, 24, 29 with a marsh view? How should I word any request I might make? All we have now is 2 bedroom / non -smoking.

I'd also appreciate any information anyone can share on restaurants in the area, other dolphin tours, or anything of interest in the Savannah or Beaufort areas. I just want to learn everything I can, and get some advice on good, fun places to eat, and things to do in the area.

Thank you!

 

[colleen costello]

Don't fret. The place is not huge, and any building is "close to the action." We were in #20 and enjoyed being close to the pool but also close to parking. You can ask for a room close to the pool if you like. Right alongside the pool is the area for crafts, the little Mercantile store, the area where you do rentals and sign up for excursions, and have campfires. Close by is a long "boardwalk" to the little dock where the kids crab and fish.

Disney has its own activities during the week. You will get a list of them at check-in. There are also local folks who provide various excursions if the Disney ones are booked. We went on a dolphin tour with a local gentleman as Disney's own tours were booked -- they provided his phone number and my kids had a ball. His business is called "Low Country Tours." The whole resort sits on a tiny island accessed by a little bridge. Right across this bridge is a marina and a shopping area with restaurants and gift shops. A short car ride away are other shopping areas and lots of restaurants.

This is a lovely, laid-back place. We only stayed a few nights and can't wait to go back. My kids loved the pool and we enjoyed visits to the beach as well. Look over your map and make a room request but really the whole place is nice!

 

[RumpleMom]

We visited HHI for the first time in July. We had a 1brm in the lodge. The resort is beautiful. IMHO any building would be fine. The resort is compact, so that no building is a long walk from anywhere. Being in the lodge, we had the fartherest walk to the pool, but it was no big deal. DD describes the resort as OKW meets the VWL.

We enjoyed pizza at The Mellow Mushroom. Be sure to meet Shadow and B'Lou Crabbe for lots of fun. There are cookies and lemonade in the afternoon at Big Murgie's Den- we played pool there during the afternoon rain. Stephan at the front desk is a pleasure to meet.

The resort tour was fun to find the HIdden Mickeys.

 

[Laurabearz]

YOu will love HHI..... I stayed in a GV there last October and LOVED IT!

As Colleen said, there are really no bad locations since the resort is so small, and we really enjoyed just walking around. Our GV was near the road, marina area (I forget which building, maybe 36) There is a bit of noise (music, laughing etc) that can be heard from the places across the marina, but only from the outside of the villa...... once your inside, peaceful.

We left the resort once, to eat at fudruckers (a build your own hamburger place, good burgers) So I am no help in what is around the resort itself....... There is so much to do there. The activities they plan are wonderful for kids 3-12. Just sign up early! We esp. loved the treasure hunt that they ran... as well as searching out Tommy's treasure (which we never found, but was still great fun)

Have a great time! And WELCOME HOME

 

[ZerasPride]

Hilton Head is our home resort and we love it! Our first visit was in 2001 on cash when we joined DVC, we spend part of Thanksgiving week there last year and DH and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary there in November. Even though this is our third visit, there is so much we have not done that I am looking forward to.

First off you asked about room requests/views. We like to request a non-smoking marsh view villa. We have stayed in building 31 and building 18. We were happy with both villas. My sister and her husband were in the main lodge and had a beautiful water view (they were in a one bedroom villa though). You will find the resort is pretty compact and no matter where you end up, you are not far from anything. I think building 18 was more "centrally" located (a quick walk to the pool and rec area in one direction) and a quick walk to the main lodge where Big Murgy's den and the check-in center are located.

We have booked A Private Affair with Chef Gordon for one evening during our stay and I have been corresponding with him over the last few days. I can say that if his e-mails are any indication, we are going to have a fabulous dinner and I am so looking forward to our private celebration!

We also intend to do a dolphin cruise. I think we'll go through Low Country Touring located at Shelter Cove Marina because one fo the owners used to work for Disney but has his own operation now. His company comes highly recommended from this site. We also look forward to eating at Scott's Fish market a quick walk over the bridge, the Hilton Head diner and a few other places we liked from previous trips. There's lots of shopping in the nearby outlet centers and mini-golf down the street. We also look forward to a day trip to Savannah. When time gets closer, I'm going to book a lunch at Lady and Sons in Savannah - they come highly recommended for their southern cooking and looking at their website made my mouth water! There are many activities right at the resort too like campfires, playing pool or a game of checkers at the main lodge, there's the wonderful beach house with the Atlantic ocean, organized crafts and games plus lots of other stuff. You can even call the resort and they will fax you an activity list.

As you can see, there is so much to do at Hilton Head. If you interested in reading some detailed trip reports, you can go to www.mouseplanet.com and click on the archieved trip reports section. There is a whole divison of off-site DVC trip reports including both Hilton Head and Vero by people who post here fairly regularly.

Hope this helps you out and have a wonderful trip!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Laurabearz
We left the resort once, to eat at fudruckers (a build your own hamburger place, good burgers)

HH is a fabulous resort with many different dining options. Savannah is less than an hour's drive away and worth seeing.

 

[RobDoc]

As others have already stated, the resort is very compact and no buildings are far from anything. Most activities do take place near the pool, but all buildings are within a short walk to that area.

Views include marsh, island and pool views. There are a few buildings that face the marina, but those balconies still face the interior of Longview Island (the small island the resort sits on).

The recreational staff is wonderful and very creative- offering great programs for children, adults and families. If possible, look into "A Private Affair", a wonderful personal dining experience right on the ocean.

The Shelter Cove marina is home to a number of boutique shops and some nice restaurants- all are within easy walking distance of the resort. We especially enjoy Scott's Fishmarket, The Kingfisher, the Deli and The Harbourmaster. A short drive away is Giuseppi's and the already mentioned Fudrucker's. There are over 300 restaurants on HH, so there is truly something for every taste. The resort will provide a list of those offering a DVC discount.

Have a great stay at HH. It's a hidden gem of DVC.

Enjoy!

 

[cgcw]

We've been to HH the last 3 summers and love it. I'm sure you will too. We've always made a request for non-smoking, non-lodge room and been happy with our location. Each one has been a favorite because each trip has been unique.

The one change that I made making our reservation for next summer is asking for a second floor. DH was a bit bothered by the noise coming from above us last trip. Nothing terrible, just the noise of people walking around, sometimes later than the rest of us were up.

Our kids love to crab fish from the pier at the resort. DS8 caught a diamond back terrapin turtle in his crab next last trip. Certainly something to remember.

We cook most of our meals in the villa. Somehow we do manage to dine at the Salty Dog in South Beach. We enjoy it.

I very highly recommend Scott Henry with Low Country Touring Dolphin Tours. Scott also does a beach combing trip out to Dufuskie Island. The trip is 3 hours long. We found more sand dollars and star fish than we could even count and/or carry when we went out last July. Truly amazing. Not to mention the dolphins which come right up to the boat. Well worth the money!

Have a great trip!

 

[cgcw]

One other thing I wanted to mention. We enjoyed the Pinckney Island Bird and Gator Adventure arranged through the resort. We went out as a group to Pinckney Island and walked to the pond. It was a breathtaking sight to see all the birds hovering in the trees. Our group spotted 2 alligators in the pond.

 

[Caskbill]

All the 'action' takes place either in the pool area or the main lodge.

From the main lodge to the pool area is probably a 2-3 minute walk. From all the other buildings to the pool is probably a 1-minute walk.