*HHI Owners and Beach Lovers Group Thread*

[Pens Fan]

This might be easier to read the schedule:

 

[emilymad]

Any update on when the renovations are scheduled? I know they said 2023. We are thinking of trying to book for September.

 

[Pens Fan]

Any update on when the renovations are scheduled? I know they said 2023. We are thinking of trying to book for September.

As we were checking out yesterday, I overheard a CM tell another guest that the renovations would begin in July. That tracks with earlier reports of a summer refurb.

 

[Judique]

This week at Hilton Head I have one of the villas with a replacement sofa. I haven't slept on it but sitting on it is a much better experience than the old slide off sofas!

 

[LadybugsMum]

What's the chance there will be some updated 2 bedrooms the week of Labor Day?

 

[Simba's Mom]

This week at Hilton Head I have one of the villas with a replacement sofa. I haven't slept on it but sitting on it is a much better experience than the old slide off sofas!

Thank goodness!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm still very worried about how they are going to handle the renovations. The rooms have been booked for the summer for awhile now, so how are they going to handle this? Just last week, I read where someone had been moved to WDW due to a problem at VB. Is that what they are planning on doing??? Moving people to Orlando since their villa will be under renovation? We have a trip planned for the end of August. We are in a studio this time. We have several things booked in SC after our DHHIR visit. Moving to Orlando is not an option for us.

 

[Judique]

This little tidbit may be well known by everyone here but I just found out today.

I decided I needed an afternoon snack so I walked over to Shelter Cove to Social Bakery. Unfortunately it was temporarily closed due to low season. I left there and went back and picked up my car to drive over to the French Bakery. Missed that by 10 minutes as it closed at 3pm today.

At this point I want my treat! So I googled 'bakery' and discovered there is a Hilton Head South Social Bakery on 278 just after Panera, near My Sister's Closet. It's where the old Wendy's used to be.

Since it took so much effort I bought myself two pastries. One for now and one for tomorrow.

 

[meekey7197]

This little tidbit may be well known by everyone here but I just found out today.

I decided I needed an afternoon snack so I walked over to Shelter Cove to Social Bakery. Unfortunately it was temporarily closed due to low season. I left there and went back and picked up my car to drive over to the French Bakery. Missed that by 10 minutes as it closed at 3pm today.

At this point I want my treat! So I googled 'bakery' and discovered there is a Hilton Head South Social Bakery on 278 just after Panera, near My Sister's Closet. It's where the old Wendy's used to be.

Since it took so much effort I bought myself two pastries. One for now and one for tomorrow.

Definitely give Odd Birds a try next time you need a treat, they are just off the island and absolutely wonderful. They are also at the Farmers Market on Tuesdays

 

[Judique]

Definitely give Odd Birds a try next time you need a treat, they are just off the island and absolutely wonderful. They are also at the Farmers Market on Tuesdays

I will!

 

[sleepydog25]

This little tidbit may be well known by everyone here but I just found out today.

I decided I needed an afternoon snack so I walked over to Shelter Cove to Social Bakery. Unfortunately it was temporarily closed due to low season. I left there and went back and picked up my car to drive over to the French Bakery. Missed that by 10 minutes as it closed at 3pm today.

At this point I want my treat! So I googled 'bakery' and discovered there is a Hilton Head South Social Bakery on 278 just after Panera, near My Sister's Closet. It's where the old Wendy's used to be.

Since it took so much effort I bought myself two pastries. One for now and one for tomorrow.

Yes, HHI South Social Bakery has been open now for the better part of a year, and it's the same wonderful pastries, breads, etc. Usually, the wait isn't as long as it can be at the original Shelter Cove location, either. As it's less than a five-minute drive from the resort, the location is quite convenient.

Definitely give Odd Birds a try next time you need a treat, they are just off the island and absolutely wonderful. They are also at the Farmers Market on Tuesdays

Absolute gem! As you mention, they are just over the second bridge in the little shopping center on your left. To get there, take a left at the very first light after getting off the island then left again to enter the center, though that second left puts you at the back end of the shopping center. Over the decades, I have tried many blueberry muffins from coast to coast, and Odd Birds' version made with brown butter and a touch of lemon zest are the best I've ever had.

 

[meekey7197]

Absolute gem! As you mention, they are just over the second bridge in the little shopping center on your left. To get there, take a left at the very first light after getting off the island then left again to enter the center, though that second left puts you at the back end of the shopping center. Over the decades, I have tried many blueberry muffins from coast to coast, and Odd Birds' version made with brown butter and a touch of lemon zest are the best I've ever had.

I always stop for the Mexican chocolate cookies and everything biscuits

 

[emilymad]

I'm still very worried about how they are going to handle the renovations. The rooms have been booked for the summer for awhile now, so how are they going to handle this? Just last week, I read where someone had been moved to WDW due to a problem at VB. Is that what they are planning on doing??? Moving people to Orlando since their villa will be under renovation? We have a trip planned for the end of August. We are in a studio this time. We have several things booked in SC after our DHHIR visit. Moving to Orlando is not an option for us.

I am also concerned about this. We are thinking of trying for September at 7 months but will they hold back rooms? Last I looked, there is no refurbishment language for HHI on the website. We aren't interested in going to WDW.

 

[Judique]

I am also concerned about this. We are thinking of trying for September at 7 months but will they hold back rooms? Last I looked, there is no refurbishment language for HHI on the website. We aren't interested in going to WDW.

September has almost full availability in all room types. Last two weeks in August have lots of availability.

I doubt there will be any refurbishment issues as this is a known and scheduled event. Cash rooms may also be available that we can't see.

Vero Beach was an emergency.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

September has almost full availability in all room types. Last two weeks in August have lots of availability.

I doubt there will be any refurbishment issues as this is a known and scheduled event. Cash rooms may also be available that we can't see.

Vero Beach was an emergency.

I sure hope you are right! My question is if it’s a scheduled refurbishment, why do they not go ahead and block the rooms so no one can book them at this point? And how are they starting in July when those rooms have been booked for months?

 

[Judique]

I sure hope you are right! My question is if it’s a scheduled refurbishment, why do they not go ahead and block the rooms so no one can book them at this point? And how are they starting in July when those rooms have been booked for months?

You cannot see all availability because you can't see what has been traded out for other options or Disney's percentage of rooms that they sell for cash. So the rooms may already be blocked out.

At Hilton Head they also have the ability to go building by building, such as when they created the sample rooms. That creates a buffer zone in itself.

They were working on/refurbishing the Big Dipper Slide this past week. The work did not impact my stay and I was not far away in building 28.

Another thing is people book and cancel all the time and keeping a hotel at maximum occupancy is always a work in progress.

 

[Pens Fan]

We are currently on HHI, on our way back from WDW. We stopped here at the Disney resort on the way down from PA, and decided it would be fun to try out one of the ocean front Marriott properties on the way home. We traded in some DVC points to II and booked the Marriott Grande Ocean for a week. In case anyone is interested, I'll share my thoughts on this resort.

It's huge compared to Disney and while it is oceanfront, very few buildings actually face the ocean. Don't be expecting that great ocean view! Still, having the beach be a 5 - 10 minute stroll away is nice. You can't book a specific view with II (though you can if you book directly with Marriott) so we didn't expect to have a great one, but we were shocked to get a building that faced a huge construction zone. They are turning one of the large pool areas into a lazy river and we get to look at and hear all of that for the week which quite frankly, sucks. There are two onsite restaurants, but we were told at check in that both were closed because "they were being fixed up for the busy season". I guess Jan guests don't deserve at least one being open.

The unit itself is very nice - much larger than Disney. We are in a 2 BR and the kitchen and LR are huge (and the couch is actually functional .) Note that there are no sleeping surfaces in the LR, so this unit only sleeps 6. The 2nd BR also only has one queen and a sleeper sofa which I found odd as this is not a lock off. The unit is decorated nicely in a bland, Marriott kind of way but we miss the charm of Disney. My arthritic knees do appreciate the elevator after 9 days at WDW! The outside is very meh - gray stucco, grey concrete, gray everywhere.

We miss being able to stroll over to Shelter Cove for dinner. I know some of the restaurants over there are closed right now, but we still found plenty open a couple of weeks ago. Plus, we just love the walk and the views. And we miss the marsh!!! So, so much. And we really miss the wonderful CM's at Disney. The staff is nice enough here, but there is no comparison to Disney. And no one waves at us with big Mickey hands when we drive into the resort .

I imagine if we were here in the summer when everything is open, I might have different thoughts on this resort. But for us this is a one and done. Sorry we strayed, Mickey!!! We'll be back where we belong on our next trip to HHI .

 

[hhisc16]

We are currently on HHI, on our way back from WDW. We stopped here at the Disney resort on the way down from PA, and decided it would be fun to try out one of the ocean front Marriott properties on the way home. We traded in some DVC points to II and booked the Marriott Grande Ocean for a week. In case anyone is interested, I'll share my thoughts on this resort.

It's huge compared to Disney and while it is oceanfront, very few buildings actually face the ocean. Don't be expecting that great ocean view! Still, having the beach be a 5 - 10 minute stroll away is nice. You can't book a specific view with II (though you can if you book directly with Marriott) so we didn't expect to have a great one, but we were shocked to get a building that faced a huge construction zone. They are turning one of the large pool areas into a lazy river and we get to look at and hear all of that for the week which quite frankly, sucks. There are two onsite restaurants, but we were told at check in that both were closed because "they were being fixed up for the busy season". I guess Jan guests don't deserve at least one being open.

The unit itself is very nice - much larger than Disney. We are in a 2 BR and the kitchen and LR are huge (and the couch is actually functional .) Note that there are no sleeping surfaces in the LR, so this unit only sleeps 6. The 2nd BR also only has one queen and a sleeper sofa which I found odd as this is not a lock off. The unit is decorated nicely in a bland, Marriott kind of way but we miss the charm of Disney. My arthritic knees do appreciate the elevator after 9 days at WDW! The outside is very meh - gray stucco, grey concrete, gray everywhere.

We miss being able to stroll over to Shelter Cove for dinner. I know some of the restaurants over there are closed right now, but we still found plenty open a couple of weeks ago. Plus, we just love the walk and the views. And we miss the marsh!!! So, so much. And we really miss the wonderful CM's at Disney. The staff is nice enough here, but there is no comparison to Disney. And no one waves at us with big Mickey hands when we drive into the resort .

I imagine if we were here in the summer when everything is open, I might have different thoughts on this resort. But for us this is a one and done. Sorry we strayed, Mickey!!! We'll be back where we belong on our next trip to HHI .

We had the same experience staying at Marriott SurfWatch and Marriott Monarch at Sea Pines in December.
We prefer our DHHIR timeshare over the grandparent's Marriott HHI timeshare.
But we are a Disney family, so

 

[sleepydog25]

Haven't stayed at the Marriott timeshares, but did stay twice at the Marriott hotel near the Beach House. Both times got a ocean view room and it was great. First time was particularly lovely. Second time? Not so much as the hotel had added a band playing all afternoon and evening down in the pool area, and not only were they loud, they weren't very good. Started around 2 and was still going into the early evening hours. No way to relax with them playing.

 

[Judique]

Haven't stayed at the Marriott timeshares, but did stay twice at the Marriott hotel near the Beach House. Both times got a ocean view room and it was great. First time was particularly lovely. Second time? Not so much as the hotel had added a band playing all afternoon and evening down in the pool area, and not only were they loud, they weren't very good. Started around 2 and was still going into the early evening hours. No way to relax with them playing.

Was this summer season? I've considered staying there to start a DHH trip as check in day sort of wastes most of a day. (I can stay for pretty much free.)

I used to do that with the Westin in Port Royal but haven't recently.