*HHI Owners and Beach Lovers Group Thread*

[eticketplease]

Where is best place to get groceries near resort these days? I see there is a Krogers nearby... that seems most convenient. But is selection better elsewhere? We definitely plan on doing some cookin' in the villa a few nights. I see a Publix down by Sea Pines... might be worth it if good, but if it gets really crowded and picked over quickly there... no thanks!

We usually to a pickup order from Kroger for a time that we know we will have our room. That Kroger gets a little crazy so we only go in if there is something we have run out of.

 

[sleepydog25]

Yep... I called them... was wondering if I still needed to reserve in advance... but while the 3rd parties they allow onsite do that, Disney doesn't. You arrive... you rent. I kinda prefer the concept that when I arrive, bikes are paid and ready to go... but she assured me it wouldn't be an issue this time of year. Heck for all I know it may turn bitter cold or rainy and I'll hang out at the lodge or some cozy coffee joint most of my days... perhaps it's better this way. We shall soon see!

Yes, as you found out, bikes are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. While the CM is correct in that there will likely be bikes for you to rent from them, it's not necessarily because the resort or HHI is terribly less busy this time of year (they aren't), but more likely due to the expectation that, as you say, the temps may be too chilly or wet, thus it becomes a wait and see aspect for many guests. Fear not, even if the resort doesn't have any, the local bike companies can usually get them delivered to you within a few hours.

To address your Jane's Bistro question, no, I've not been but have heard largely good things about their food and service. There are numerous restaurants who do take reservations, but you do have to check to be sure. For seafood, Fishcamp on Broad Creek is very good and, much like Skullcreek Boathouse, it sits right on a working marina with lovely views and ambiance. . .only quieter and smaller. Nunzio's is an exceptional experience and quite near the resort--they take reservations. Ela's on the Water is right across the bridge (and then a 7-8 minute walk down Shelter Cove Marina) and is a good place to see the boats come and go as you dine, and they have an excellent menu. They, too, allow reservations. There are too many others to list, but you can make plenty of reservations if you so desire.

Kroger is fine for groceries, though usually quite busy. Publix has a slightly better selection, but getting to it is going to require a bit of effort given its proximity to the Sea Pines roundabout. However, they do have an excellent liquor/wine store in the same shopping center as Publix called Rollers. . .if that matters.

As for the general hubbub this time of year, though it doesn't have the madness of, say, mid-summer at HHI, the area is far from sleepy. The second busiest time of year outside of the warmer beach months of late spring through the summer is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The resort itself is always booked solid, and many people have discovered that HHI is a fun place to visit to escape colder climes, so the whole area is usually bustling. After NYE, things will quieten a bit, though few places actually shut down for any extended length of time anymore. HHI has become a year-round destination. Enjoy!

 

[Steelers0854]

Hello HHI owners. DW and I are looking to go for a long weekend in August as our very first trip to the resort. Just us, no kids. I have the points and am open to a 1BR but we generally lean towards studios. Any recommendations or tips for our first visit? Thanks in advance!

 

[sleepydog25]

Hello HHI owners. DW and I are looking to go for a long weekend in August as our very first trip to the resort. Just us, no kids. I have the points and am open to a 1BR but we generally lean towards studios. Any recommendations or tips for our first visit? Thanks in advance!

HHI is a great place to vacation, either with kids or alone. You'll love it! That being said, be prepared to waitlist in August as it is toward the end of the busy season on the island and at the resort. That busy season starts around spring break and goes through Labor Day weekend.

There are an equal number of 1BRs and studios at the resort, and all are located in the same buildings. 16 of the 21 are in the main building 11 (Live Oak Lodge where the checkin desk is located) and 12--they are co-located and share an elevator. The other 5 of each type of room are located in the Grand Villa buildings: 16, 18, 19, 28, and 30. Personally, I like the advantages of a 1BR as I enjoy having a full kitchen and a washer/dryer in the room itself. But, the studios are nice. The ones located in 11 and 12 have easy access to a washroom with two washers and two dryers--rarely are the washers/dryers in high demand. If you're in one of the other buildings, then you'll have to walk to wash anything, though the resort is small.

Since the resort is small, you'll have no issues getting around. The main pool, Mercantile, and Tide Me Over quick service are located toward the back third of the resort. . .all of a 6-7 minute walk from the front of the resort. As for things to do, there are some right there on site:
- lots of yard games from horseshoes, to corn hole, to giant checkers, to bocce ball, to shuffleboard, and others
- rent bikes from the resort (can only reserve them after you arrive) and pretty much bike anywhere on the island as there is a huge collection of interconnecting, paved biking/walking paths. You can start from the resort!
- there are activities at the resort; some are free (campfire a couple of times a week with s'mores) and others have a nominal cost (tie dye t-shirts, for example)
- pool games at the main pool
- sitting on the balcony and just watching people, nature, and/or the water (if you get a water view)

Off the resort, there are hiking/walking nature trails nearby, as well as kayak/paddleboard/fishing/dolphin-watching-cruises that you can rent/reserve at Shelter Cover Marina. The resort itself has a standalone Beach House with a second pool, a QS, and access to the beach. The beach is gorgeous and can be accessed without getting into the Beach House. The resort has a shuttle that runs daily, roughly every 20 minutes or so from mid-morning to late afternoon. Or you can bike there or walk there or drive there.

Restaurants are too many to list and most are better than any Disney restaurants outside a handful of top tier ones at the World. Seafood? So many great ones to choose from. Italian? There are three excellent ones within a five-minute drive. Typical American fare? Everywhere.

Lots to do and see at HHI, both the resort and the island itself. Enjoy!

P.S. This is a laid back, low country vibe place to vacation. No rush to get tickets, no angst about not getting an ADR, few (if any) lines to stress about. This is the place to go simply to relax.

 

[Steelers0854]

HHI is a great place to vacation, either with kids or alone. You'll love it! That being said, be prepared to waitlist in August as it is toward the end of the busy season on the island and at the resort. That busy season starts around spring break and goes through Labor Day weekend.

There are an equal number of 1BRs and studios at the resort, and all are located in the same buildings. 16 of the 21 are in the main building 11 (Live Oak Lodge where the checkin desk is located) and 12--they are co-located and share an elevator. The other 5 of each type of room are located in the Grand Villa buildings: 16, 18, 19, 28, and 30. Personally, I like the advantages of a 1BR as I enjoy having a full kitchen and a washer/dryer in the room itself. But, the studios are nice. The ones located in 11 and 12 have easy access to a washroom with two washers and two dryers--rarely are those in high demand. If you're in one of the other buildings, then you'll have to walk to wash anything, though the resort is small.

Since the resort is small, you'll have no issues getting around. The main pool, Mercantile, and Tide Me Over quick service are located toward the back third of the resort. . .all of a 6-7 minute walk from the front of the resort. As for things to do, there are some right there on site:
- lots of yard games from horseshoes, to corn hole, to giant checkers, to bocce ball, to shuffleboard, and others
- rent bikes from the resort (can only reserve them after you arrive) and pretty much bike anywhere on the island as there is a huge collection of interconnecting, paved biking/walking paths. You can start from the resort!
- there are activities at the resort; some are free (campfire a couple of times a week with s'mores) and others have a nominal cost (tie dye t-shirts, for example)
- pool games at the main pool
- sitting on the balcony and just watching people, nature, and/or the water (if you get a water view)

Off the resort, there are hiking/walking nature trails nearby, as well as kayak/paddleboard/fishing/dolphin-watching-cruises that you can rent/reserve at Shelter Cover Marina. The resort itself has a standalone Beach House with a second pool, a QS, and access to the beach. The beach is gorgeous and can be accessed without getting into the Beach House. The resort has a shuttle that runs daily, roughly every 20 minutes or so from mid-morning to late afternoon. Or you can bike there or walk there or drive there.

Restaurants are too many to list and most are better than any Disney restaurants outside a handful of top tier ones at the World. Seafood? So many great ones to choose from. Italian? There are three excellent ones within a five-minute drive. Typical American fare? Everywhere.

Lots to do and see at HHI, both the resort and the island itself. Enjoy!

P.S. This is a laid back, low country vibe place to vacation. No rush to get tickets, no angst about not getting an ADR, few (if any) lines to stress about. This is the place to go simply to relax.

Amazing. Thanks so much! Was hoping that going for a 1BR would give us better odds but we will see next month when the window opens. Thanks again!

 

[sleepydog25]

Amazing. Thanks so much! Was hoping that going for a 1BR would give us better odds but we will see next month when the window opens. Thanks again!

No, the 2BRs have the most availability since those are the majority of the rooms at the resort. There are no 2BRs in either building 11 or 12. Every other guest building on property has four 2BRs for a total of 76 as opposed to 21 studios, 21 1BRs, and 5 GVs. Best of luck!

 

[Simba's Mom]

No, the 2BRs have the most availability since those are the majority of the rooms at the resort. There are no 2BRs in either building 11 or 12. Every other guest building on property has four 2BRs for a total of 76 as opposed to 21 studios, 21 1BRs, and 5 GVs. Best of luck!

Surprisingly, that's not always the case, although it seems like it should be. We were there once, in Big Murgie's Den, when a guest came to the front desk and wanted to stay for an extra day and wanted to know if there was any availability. The CM told him that although she saw that he was staying in a 2 BR, the only thing with availability was a 1 BR. Since extended family was leaving, but he and his wife were hoping to stay, it worked for him. So check everything-you never know!

 

[RapunzelRN]

Christmas week!

 

[bnlbebes]

Christmas week!

Thanks for sharing… we will be there starting 12/28. Please post the following weeks activities if they are available.

 

[RapunzelRN]

A few notes from our Christmas trip this week. Been amazing as expected!

Beach House- Good news is the beach renourishment project hasn’t started near the Beach House yet, but they said it could be any day. We were able to have a nice beach walk and found several sharks teeth. Rode our bikes all down both sides of the beach and didn’t see any work started. Beach is in good shape, but lots of bumps and deep pools form close to the shore line when the tides are both high and low.

Rooms- renovations are clean and simple. They’ve added pump dish soap for the dishes, took away the single bottles, also added hand soap pumps and lotions to all the bathroom sinks in our 2BR as well as a whole set of bath products near the large tub. I don’t remember that since last being in a 2BR last year.

The cast members and relaxing vibe at this resort is what draws us back every year. Will attach more photos in next post…

 

[RapunzelRN]

…Christmas week photos

 

[gopherit]

Another post-Xmas report here! Hadn’t been to HHI since 2007… but it was a wonderful “reunion” and had me wondering “why HAVEN’T we?!?” My sister and her DH (also DVC) had reserved a 1BR prior to us deciding to join them there, so DH, DS (16) and I managed to grab a studio just a few mos before Xmas. (So getting ressies for resorts that are not your home resort for Xmas week is definitely doable lol). We were pleasantly surprised - we don’t normally stay in a studio - and it was quite spacious. Love that they replaced shower curtains with glass doors. All the Disney touches in the artwork were awesome. Especially love the snoozing Pluto and Chip/Dale inside the Murphy bed area. My sister’s 1BR was also spacious- very large porch, too. Both our villas were on the 3rd floor of lodge, which we loved, with views of the marsh. Weather was outstanding for Xmas week; highs in 70’s, lows in 50’s. Lots of sun, a few clouds, and a gentle breeze - perfect for bike rides, long walks around resort, marina, and beach; or just sitting in a hammock or porch. Love how the staff rotates around… the same person who checks you in may pop up next behind a cash register at the mercantile; the guy who hands you a Dole whip at Signal's may take your order tomorrow at Tide me Over. It makes it easy to learn names and they seem to make a point of it, as a personal touch (several called me by name within a few days and I wasn’t wearing a name tag to make it easier like they were!). We rented bikes for length of stay- highly recommend that. The marina, the Palmetto Dunes area and pathways, and Disney resort itself are so nicely lit for Xmas, it’s worth it to take an evening ride! We got groceries from nearby Kroger (super-accessible!) and cooked breakfasts and Xmas day dinner in the villa, but also ate at the Top Dawg tavern, Signals, Tide Me Over, Poseidon, and Jane Bistro. Top Dawg was excellent service and convenient- but I gotta confess, I think perhaps my salad was “old” (as I got to the middle- some of the veggies were slimy and questionable in terms of mold growth)- so I just avoided them. Everyone else’s food seemed good. Everything we got at the Disney quick service places was good; my sister got 4 chicken strips and fries which for the price, honestly wasn’t bad. Loved being able to get Dole whips at the beach! Poseidon and Jane are both in shelter cove (not the marina side, but over by the Kroger and other shops). This area was SO pretty at night with all the colored lights! Both Poseidon and Jane were excellent - good service and excellent food. We especially loved our Cmas Eve meal at Jane- the food presentation was SO lovely! Even my
simple glass of iced tea was super-pretty with mint, slices of orange, lemon and strawberry, lol. I’d gladly dine there again! There were plenty of activities at the resort, though we only participated in a few… Poolside trivia; holiday singalong; the campfire/smores; Chip and Dale selfie scavenger hunt. One day we decided to just roam the resort and play all the outdoor games (horseshoes, bocce, putting green; basketball, shuffle board, etc). My BIl and I also love to dabble in photography and there is no lack of scenery there… I spent one morning with a cup of coffee and my Canon, taking photos of marsh & beach areas. Our teen son had a great time as well; he enjoyed playing pool at the beach house and riding bikes to the beach. All I can think about now is how we can get our extended family to join us there for a week! I’ll add some photos soon, but any questions about anything I’ve listed, lemme know.