*HHI Owners and Beach Lovers Group Thread*

[sleepydog25]

And still limited to Friday through Monday? (That is, no food served at the Beach House Tuesday through Thursday?)

Actually, the hours at Surfman's Sand Bar is more weather dependent than anything else. It is open every day of the week from 11-3 unless the weather dictates that it closes early, and sometimes, if the weather is simply awful (say, constant rain and 45F for a high), it won't open at all. Given we are on the cusp of the busy season (spring break through Labor Day), you can expect the SSB to be open every day.

As for DHHIR, it is the most relaxing vacation out there: great nearby restaurants (highly recommend Fishcamp on Broad Creek AND they take reservations), plenty of activities, and you can walk/bike to groceries, Starbucks, restaurants, and even the Beach House.

 

[rcs]

Under 2 months 'til our visit now! Can't wait... watching the 🗓 impatiently.

Last April we stayed at Vero for a long week and really got hooked on the 4PM cocktail tasting event they have/had in the Green Room. Advanced reservations were required. The F&B director and bartenders did a different themed tasting of 3 different cocktails each night. It was really interesting, tasty, and a heck of a lot of fun.

Is there anything like that happening at Hilton Head?

 

[sleepydog25]

Under 2 months 'til our visit now! Can't wait... watching the 🗓 impatiently.

Last April we stayed at Vero for a long week and really got hooked on the 4PM cocktail tasting event they have/had in the Green Room. Advanced reservations were required. The F&B director and bartenders did a different themed tasting of 3 different cocktails each night. It was really interesting, tasty, and a heck of a lot of fun.

Is there anything like that happening at Hilton Head?

Short answer: no. Once upon a time, they did a similar thing here at HHI but no more. A few months ago, around the holidays perhaps, there was one evening where some beers were sampled, and I hear it was well-received. Of late, on selected late afternoons, they have done the "Longview Lounge" where you simply stop by a pre-designated location (say, outside Murggie's Den or Tide Me Over) and can buy specialty drinks. The selection is limited to two or three drinks, and each costs something like $10. They aren't usually on the printed schedule as it's more a matter of CM availability among other things, so you just have to be alert and ask the front desk or Tide Me Over CMs if they know of any happening while you're there. While there has been talk of resuming the wine tastings, and at least one volunteer has offered to run it, there are no current plans to start the tastings anytime soon.

 

[Corinne]

Under 2 months 'til our visit now! Can't wait... watching the 🗓 impatiently.

Last April we stayed at Vero for a long week and really got hooked on the 4PM cocktail tasting event they have/had in the Green Room. Advanced reservations were required. The F&B director and bartenders did a different themed tasting of 3 different cocktails each night. It was really interesting, tasty, and a heck of a lot of fun.

Is there anything like that happening at Hilton Head?

That sounds like fun!

 

[hhisc16]

According to DVCRM (site sponsor), the average price for a HHI DVC contract has jumped from an average of $81 per point in Feb. 2021 to $98 per point in Feb. 2022! (Roughly 20% increase!)
Glad to see that trend for us DHHIR owners and lovers.
https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/dvc-resale-average-sales-prices-for-february-2022/

 

[hhisc16]

Just wanted to share the Disney pocket guide to DHHIR and I also put the link on post 1. (It was released by Disney in 2/22.)
https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...ey-Pocket-Guide-Hilton-Head-Island-Resort.pdf

 

[sleepydog25]

I posted this at the HHI Refurb thread, as well...

A subtle, yet distinct, change from the current theming. Ironically, the pictures they've tossed in there are from a bygone era before the last renovation/refurbishment. The rooms don't look like that now, though the furniture is largely the same--LOL--and they'll look nothing like the picture when the refurbishment is complete.

Other noteworthy things: a) they list bus and boat as transportation options. Well, there is the resort shuttle to/from the Beach House but there are no Disney boats, and I just don't see that returning. Heck, they don't even rent kayaks anymore. b) Signals is closed except to sit inside and eat offerings from Surfman's Sand Bar which isn't even mentioned. Granted, the Bar uses the Signals kitchen, but technically you neither order or pay at Signals. c) Dolphin & Nature Discovery Boat Rides are also not actually Disney, though they do "partner" with a nearby company in Shelter Cove, i.e., the company is recommended. d) Legendary storytelling...ummm, not any more.

 

[hhisc16]

I posted this at the HHI Refurb thread, as well...

A subtle, yet distinct, change from the current theming. Ironically, the pictures they've tossed in there are from a bygone era before the last renovation/refurbishment. The rooms don't look like that now, though the furniture is largely the same--LOL--and they'll look nothing like the picture when the refurbishment is complete.

Other noteworthy things: a) they list bus and boat as transportation options. Well, there is the resort shuttle to/from the Beach House but there are no Disney boats, and I just don't see that returning. Heck, they don't even rent kayaks anymore. b) Signals is closed except to sit inside and eat offerings from Surfman's Sand Bar which isn't even mentioned. Granted, the Bar uses the Signals kitchen, but technically you neither order or pay at Signals. c) Dolphin & Nature Discovery Boat Rides are also not actually Disney, though they do "partner" with a nearby company in Shelter Cove, i.e., the company is recommended. d) Legendary storytelling...ummm, not any more.

Sad to see and hear.
We still love DHHIR though as our home resort and the cast members are the best!
(I posted this on the other thread)

 

[bobbiwoz]

I posted this at the HHI Refurb thread, as well...

A subtle, yet distinct, change from the current theming. Ironically, the pictures they've tossed in there are from a bygone era before the last renovation/refurbishment. The rooms don't look like that now, though the furniture is largely the same--LOL--and they'll look nothing like the picture when the refurbishment is complete.

Other noteworthy things: a) they list bus and boat as transportation options. Well, there is the resort shuttle to/from the Beach House but there are no Disney boats, and I just don't see that returning. Heck, they don't even rent kayaks anymore. b) Signals is closed except to sit inside and eat offerings from Surfman's Sand Bar which isn't even mentioned. Granted, the Bar uses the Signals kitchen, but technically you neither order or pay at Signals. c) Dolphin & Nature Discovery Boat Rides are also not actually Disney, though they do "partner" with a nearby company in Shelter Cove, i.e., the company is recommended. d) Legendary storytelling...ummm, not any more.

Oh my!
Still, for my friends who have never been there, it is an acceptable overview.

 

[hhisc16]

I found this cool article showing a grand villa at DHHIR before the last refurb I think...(2012 is the article date)
http://www.growingupdisney.com/2012/03/grand-villa-at-disneys-hilton-head.htmlHere is another article from a studio in 2013.
https://blog.dvcrequest.com/a-look-at-a-studio-at-disneys-hilton-head-resort/It would be cool if anyone has the original room pictures to compare to today before the next refurb.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Is there any point to doing online check in for this resort? I did add my reservation to MDE and it gives me the option to do it, but wasn't sure if it was actually worth it.

 

[hhisc16]

Is there any point to doing online check in for this resort? I did add my reservation to MDE and it gives me the option to do it, but wasn't sure if it was actually worth it.

We wait until the email around the 10 day mark and do the online check in with room requests. We have had good luck doing that.

 

[sleepydog25]

Is there any point to doing online check in for this resort? I did add my reservation to MDE and it gives me the option to do it, but wasn't sure if it was actually worth it.

If you mean in terms of skipping going to the front desk and going straight to your room, then no. Even if you do one online, you still must stop by the front desk to get your keys and parking pass (that pass is what allows you to drive over to the Beach House and get past Palmetto Dunes security gate). It doesn't hurt to do it online and put in a request for the room; however, I'd still call 3-4 days ahead of time directly to the front desk and make the same request. Obviously, there are no guarantees but at least it's a bit fresher in the room assignors' minds.

 

[sleepydog25]

I found this cool article showing a grand villa at DHHIR before the last refurb I think...(2012 is the article date)
http://www.growingupdisney.com/2012/03/grand-villa-at-disneys-hilton-head.htmlHere is another article from a studio in 2013.
https://blog.dvcrequest.com/a-look-at-a-studio-at-disneys-hilton-head-resort/It would be cool if anyone has the original room pictures to compare to today before the next refurb.

Great photos! Some of the stuff is exactly the same: the floors in the bathrooms, the wicker waste baskets, the sink/toilet fixtures, and cabinetry (though it's been painted a creamy white color now). I don't know what those green-striped towels are about unless those used to be pool towels. Angel Soft TP?! Ha! It's military industrial complex lightweight paper now. Very cool those throwback photos. Thanks!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

If you mean in terms of skipping going to the front desk and going straight to your room, then no. Even if you do one online, you still must stop by the front desk to get your keys and parking pass (that pass is what allows you to drive over to the Beach House and get past Palmetto Dunes security gate). It doesn't hurt to do it online and put in a request for the room; however, I'd still call 3-4 days ahead of time directly to the front desk and make the same request. Obviously, there are no guarantees but at least it's a bit fresher in the room assignors' minds.

Sleepydog25, I've always just made my room requests through MS, and I've always gotten my requests except for two times. I like the idea of calling the front desk a few days before. When calling, who should I ask for?

 

[Judique]

The green and white striped towels were pool towels and a big stack would be in your room when you checked in.

You could also get extra if you needed them.

Toilet paper? Yes, it was Angel Soft and I used to think 'cheap'. Little did I know where that would 'end'.

 

[hhisc16]

Great photos! Some of the stuff is exactly the same: the floors in the bathrooms, the wicker waste baskets, the sink/toilet fixtures, and cabinetry (though it's been painted a creamy white color now). I don't know what those green-striped towels are about unless those used to be pool towels. Angel Soft TP?! Ha! It's military industrial complex lightweight paper now. Very cool those throwback photos. Thanks!

I enjoyed seeing the photos as well! It was interesting to see the comparisons between the rooms roughly 10 years ago versus today.
Now my goal is to find pictures of the rooms when the resort was in the original state.
(I have a DVC sales book from 2001 when VWL was selling and it is really cool to see VWL and DHHIR rooms/points charts/etc.) (I am a history teacher.)

 

[LadybugsMum]

If you mean in terms of skipping going to the front desk and going straight to your room, then no. Even if you do one online, you still must stop by the front desk to get your keys and parking pass (that pass is what allows you to drive over to the Beach House and get past Palmetto Dunes security gate). It doesn't hurt to do it online and put in a request for the room; however, I'd still call 3-4 days ahead of time directly to the front desk and make the same request. Obviously, there are no guarantees but at least it's a bit fresher in the room assignors' minds.

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!

 

[kristenrice]

I'm getting SOOO excited! We are arriving on Sunday evening (April 3) and we have a studio booked for just that night. On Monday, we are switching to a 2BR for the next 3 nights. Normally, we come down for a 5 night stay in a 1BR, but this trip really wasn't on our radar and I had to piece it together with our skimpy 50-pt HHI contract (which is hampered by the 50% borrowing restriction!) and our little 100-pt AKV contract, along with some OTU points....but I made it work! Last year, I failed to book our fishing excursion in advance (the ONE thing my family wants to do when we come down) and we were unable to find one available until a last-minute, 3-hour trip opened up on our last day there. Because of that failure, I planned this trip this year to make up for it.

Right now, the plan is to leave Michigan no later than 6am on Saturday morning. That will be a challenge for some of my family...not so much for me and my DD18, who are used to being to work by 5-6am. We have a hotel booked in Charlotte, NC for the night so we have about 12-13 hours of driving time to split amongst the 4 of us. I am hoping to get there by 9pm, eat dinner and then get a good night of sleep. In the morning, I don't think we will need to rush to get on the road, but I would like to get in to HHI by 3 or so, which means we should be on the road by 10am since it is a 4-hour drive.

We have a 6-hour fishing trip booked for 8am on Monday which means we will barely be in the studio on Sunday night. I plan to make a small grocery stop for some breakfast foods and "grab and go" lunch stuff that we can pack up in our smaller cooler and take on the boat in the morning. We probably won't even unpack the car...just grab our "road bag" for the one night since we are not really going to be able to settle in until after the fishing trip. I am hoping that the 2BR will be ready a little early on Monday since the trip is over at 2 and we should be back by 2:30pm. I am not counting on it, though, so if it is not ready yet, my plan is to use that time to make our "real" grocery trip and get the rest of the stuff we will need for the next 2-3 days. Hopefully, we will have enough room in the car.

 

[Judique]

I enjoyed seeing the photos as well! It was interesting to see the comparisons between the rooms roughly 10 years ago versus today.
Now my goal is to find pictures of the rooms when the resort was in the original state.
(I have a DVC sales book from 2001 when VWL was selling and it is really cool to see VWL and DHHIR rooms/points charts/etc.)

Those look like the original pictures. I remember when they changed out the plaid sofa we got the leatherette ejecto sofa in a solid color green. You would slide right of it. Original one and two bedrooms had some decor that I haven't seen in a few years - little bird houses set sort of at window sill height on the banquette seating. Year by year they kept disappearing, sort of like the Fiesta ware dishes all disappeared. (Many of those probably chipped or broke and the Fiesta also gets scratched up with regular use.)

The last refurb is when we got the most notable changes. Green to cream. Bird valances. Sleeper chair. Sleeper chair and new sofa replaced old sofa and 2 occasional chairs. (At that point there was no longer a comfortable seat in the living area, lol.) Vinyl plank Flooring (no more Shadow pawprints). Flat topped stoves. New dining chairs - one pic shows the old style. I do like the new style better. And, I like less of the green paint. Porches over the years went from wooden rockers to the composite ones. Picnic tables on the porches went from rectangular wooden 8 or 10 ft tables with long benches to the smaller round ones we have today. I'm okay with that as the big ones took up lots of space. And the new composite is easier to clean, doesn't rot and you can wipe it dry. Most progress has been good.

I'd just really appreciate a sofa you could sit on that the cushions didn't slide forward. And, I hope they keep the rolling coffee tables.