HHI Planning...

[kristenrice]

I think we are going to *try* for HHI next spring break. Because we are not owners, I still have WDW in June as a backup, but HHI is my first choice.

That being said, I am trying to piece together a budget. Right now, I have our travel expenses (driving) figured out. I can get a dining/food budget fairly easily too, but what I need is an *ACTIVITY* budget.

Here's what I am interested in...
1) MUST do a dolphin tour! I found one listed that would be about $160 for our family of 4. There is a coupon which would bring it down to $140 for the 2-hour tour. Is this reasonable? I have NO clue.

2) Kids Nite Out....the most updated cost I've seen is $20/member. When I looked at the postings of the "daily activities", it looks like this is only offered M-W-F nights. Is that generally correct? Also, I am assuming that this is completely supervised and DH and I would have 3 hours to ourselves, right?

3) What about the other "daily" activities, like the campfire and crafty stuff? My girls are animal and nature buffs (hence the reason we own at AKV) so they will want to do a lot of the nature-based activities. They will be 5 and 7 when we go so I don't even know if they'll be old enough for most of them. How much should I budget for these types of things?

4) Silly question....Refillable mugs...how much are they?

5) Can Disney Visa Rewards points be used at the resort? Also, can you charge things like KNO and the tours to your room?

That's all for now...but I know there will be more questions coming! TIA!

 

[Cap]

Camp fire is free.

You can use Disney Rewards Dollars. I usually give them a credit card, and then the afternoon before checkout, settle up everything to that point with Disney Rewards Dollars.

You can charge HH DVC activities to your room. There is not as much to charge / buy as at other Park DVC resorts.

The availability of activities for kids varies with the season of the year and how full the resort is. In popular times, there are more activities.

There are free things that kids 5 and 7 might like, such as meeting Shadow (the HH mascot dog) and others.

DVC HH offers dolphin tours, kayaking, and others, at a low cost.

If your children like Nature, they might like going to Honey Horn Plantation, which is a low cost and enjoyable experience.

There is always the beach - which is free and fun.

We've found that the vacation costs are much lower at HH than at one of the Disney Park locations.

 

[disneystick]

Prior to my visit to HHI over this past March...I called HHI front desk and had them fax me the activity list for the week. That will give you a better idea of what they offer and cost.

 

[TLPL]

How is the weather in March @ HHI?? enjoyable? too cold to do outdoor stuff?? Please give us a general review.... Thanks

 

[disneystick]

How is the weather in March @ HHI?? enjoyable? too cold to do outdoor stuff?? Please give us a general review.... Thanks

Well for us when we went in mid March...it was cool mornings and evenings. A wind breaker/sweat shirt or sweater. And the afternoons were high in the upper 60s. Night time lows was around low 50s. Was it weather to go swimming at the beach...we did not think so but there were swimmers in the ocean and Disney's pools (water was heated). However, it was great weather to go site seeing. We went fishing, went dolphin watching on a boat. Went to Savannah and Parris Island. Hiking around the beach. And we only got rain 1 day and it was more of a misting rain for just a couple of hrs. A few overcast and a couple of really sunny days...over our 6 day vacation there.

 

[jekjones1558]

Just wanted to add that we brought a 5 year old to HHI in May a couple of years ago and she just loved the pool games (free). She loved having a bike for the week to ride around the resort (at that time it was only $25 for the week). We rode bikes to the beach one day, but that was a little far for her at that time. She did several of the crafts, which I remember as being $10 or less. I was with her for the crafts in case she needed help, but the HHI CMs are really wonderful. As much as she loves WDW I think that she would choose HHI over WDW for a vacation. Your DDs will be having a fantastic time!

 

[MinnieGi]

Just wanted to chime in and say HHI is our "budget" vacation. It is so much lower cost than a trip to WDW. We go every summer and the kids look forward to it just as much as going to WDW. There are many free activities on the schedule and others that are low cost crafts or tours. Don't remember exact prices but the front desk can fax you a copy to help with that. Don't miss the campfire my kids love it! You may want to rent bikes for the week too, HHI is soooooo bike path friendly, loads of fun.

 

[Simba's Mom]

How is the weather in March @ HHI?? enjoyable? too cold to do outdoor stuff?? Please give us a general review.... Thanks

We've been to HHI twice in March and the weather's been very variable. The first time we went, the weather was in the low 70s early in the week, perfect for biking and mini-golf. But then, it got kind of cold later in the week. The second March we went, it never got above 55 degrees (about 13 degrees if you measure in Celsius) all week. However, the standard joke around our house is that we bring the cold weather to HHI with us-we're always hearing things like "The weather usually isn't this cold", or "Boy, you should have been here last week-it was so much warmer!" Next year we're thinking of going for Easter. So warning! It's going to be unseasonably cold if you go next Easter!

 

[Ladygator]

I second the renting bikes suggestion. Every time we go our family rents bikes. You can ride the bikes around the resort or even to the beach. The last trip we had a line of 11 family members riding our bikes to the beach.

HH is a lot cheaper vacation than disney...food is cheaper and no ticket costs. We normally eat in breakfast and lunch and then eat out dinner.

Kids nite out is completely supervised. They usually eat pizza and either take them to a movie or have an activity around the resort.

Not sure what type of room you were looking for but there are a lot more 2 bedrooms so it is easier to get a 2 bedroom at 7 months than a 1 bedroom or studio.

I think you will really enjoy HH. My kids enjoy it just as much as disney.

 

[kristenrice]

I've been planning again....

Now, my working plan is this: IF we can get Su-Th in a 1BR, then that is my first choice. If that is not available, then I am going to book 4 weeknights in a 2BR and pay cash for a 5th night, either Saturday or Thursday. Plan B might still be in effect if we decide to arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday, though. Since I can't make a reservation until September anyways, I am in a holding pattern.

Since we will drive down, we are planning on bringing our own bikes. We are planning on getting a hitch mounted bike carrier, which might be a bit of a PITA for loading and unloading the Suburban, but it is probably more practical than renting for the week.

 

[5forDiz]

I've been planning again....

Now, my working plan is this: IF we can get Su-Th in a 1BR, then that is my first choice. If that is not available, then I am going to book 4 weeknights in a 2BR and pay cash for a 5th night, either Saturday or Thursday. Plan B might still be in effect if we decide to arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday, though. Since I can't make a reservation until September anyways, I am in a holding pattern.

Since we will drive down, we are planning on bringing our own bikes. We are planning on getting a hitch mounted bike carrier, which might be a bit of a PITA for loading and unloading the Suburban, but it is probably more practical than renting for the week.

Keep checking for member's cash discount for HHI; sometimes with that it is worth paying $ than using points ( using the average amounts of $8 - $10 per point that is typically seen for renting points as a guide to help you determine if it may be worthwhile to pay cash for some nights vs using points )

Best wishes on your planning our family DVC's HHI resort & HHI in general, it's a great place to vacation.

 

[emmababy]

Keep checking for member's cash discount for HHI; sometimes with that it is worth paying $ than using points ( using the average amounts of $8 - $10 per point that is typically seen for renting points as a guide to help you determine if it may be worthwhile to pay cash for some nights vs using points )


Where do you check for that?

 

[5forDiz]

Keep checking for member's cash discount for HHI; sometimes with that it is worth paying $ than using points ( using the average amounts of $8 - $10 per point that is typically seen for renting points as a guide to help you determine if it may be worthwhile to pay cash for some nights vs using points )


Where do you check for that?

Have to call MS to see if member's cash discount is available; discount is 25%. Sometimes this will be available and other times not available, it depends upon date(s) & DVC resort you wish to book. Sometimes calling further out it may not be available, but if you call again at later date you may find that it has become available.