HHI questions

[haleofafamily]

How does HHI compare with WDW DVC properties? If we want to go in July this year, how difficult will it be to get a reservation? How far of a walk from rooms to pool/s? Is there on-property beach/ocean access? I know very little about this property so any info would be very appreciated.

 

[JVL1018]

You won't get a reservation for this July-for the summer you need to make reservations as far in advance as you can.
The resort is pretty compact, an easy walk to the pool from any room.

Disney is not on the ocean, but has a beach house, so you can get a shuttle(or drive or bike) to the beach, and have a place to hang out right off the sand while you're there-they have a bar, snack stand and a pool.

 

[haleofafamily]

Can you get in the ocean and swim from the Disney beach? How far is Disney beach from Disney property?

 

[SWVA BGSU Fan]

We stayed at HHI last summer and loved the resort. We rented bikes and enjoyed riding them around the resort and to the beach. I am going to guess that the Disney Beach House is about 1 mile from the actual resort. It has a parking area if you opt to take your car. The Beach House is right on the beach, so yes, you can get in the ocean from there. We did not use the pool at the beach house, just because we enjoyed being at the ocean.

 

[DVCLiz]

Can you get in the ocean and swim from the Disney beach? How far is Disney beach from Disney property?

The resort itself - where your villa will be, where the pool with the slide is, where the activities are, etc. - is at Shelter Cove, on a little island next to the marina. It is "across the street" from the beach itself - about a mile. As the previous poster said, you can walk or bike, or you can drive your own car or take a shuttle that runs continuously all day.

When you get to the Beach House, you will use your room key to access the gate, then you will walk up some stairs. Once you are upstairs you will see another swimming pool, and then located around the pool are a snack bar, a "bar" bar (place to get drinks), and a room that is enclosed with a TV (and air conditioning, so if the sun gets to be too much you can chill out - literally! - in there for a while.) There is also a ping pong table, I believe, and a small children's water play area.

If you walk past the bar, you will go through another gate, and down a wooden walkway that leads onto the beach. This is the regular old Atlantic Ocean beach - not exclusively Disney's. There are beach chairs and umbrellas to rent (done by the lifeguard who will be roaming around) and you can of course bring your own beach stuff.

We love going to Hilton Head and it's our favorite family vacation by far!!!! (other than WDW, of course!)

It is very difficult to get a summer reservation if you are not an owner - most of us made those reservations 11 months in advance a day at a time. You might get lucky and there is always the waitlist if you want to try that route!! Plans do change, so you just never know.

 

[CarolA]

OK. I am going to be the voice of dissent.

I love HHI. I don't ever have to stay at the DVC there again.

IMHO the BIG thing DVC has going for it is "location" So, I go to HH for a beach. My brother goes for Golf. Guess what... Disney's location is not good for EITHER of these. Beach is not close enough to walk to, golf is not that "easy" either.

My brother generally rents a VRBO that's within Sea Pines plantation and within walking distance to the beach in the summer for well under $1,000 (and it's usually at least a three bedroom unit!) I am going next week for a few days. Marriott Hotel on the beach, $90 on Priceline. (And it's RIGHT next door to the Disney beach house)

I did actually own some points there, but since the only advantage IMHO was early booking for a place I don't want to say, I sold them LOL!

 

[DVCLiz]

OK. I am going to be the voice of dissent.

I love HHI. I don't ever have to stay at the DVC there again.

IMHO the BIG thing DVC has going for it is "location" So, I go to HH for a beach. My brother goes for Golf. Guess what... Disney's location is not good for EITHER of these. Beach is not close enough to walk to, golf is not that "easy" either.

My brother generally rents a VRBO that's within Sea Pines plantation and within walking distance to the beach in the summer for well under $1,000 (and it's usually at least a three bedroom unit!) I am going next week for a few days. Marriott Hotel on the beach, $90 on Priceline. (And it's RIGHT next door to the Disney beach house)

I did actually own some points there, but since the only advantage IMHO was early booking for a place I don't want to say, I sold them LOL!

Those are both very valid reasons for not liking Disney's HH resort. If you must have a beachfront location, or if you want to be more closely aligned with a property that has golf as its primary attraction, then DVC isn't a good fit, I agree.

Personally, I love the resort being on the marsh, as it adds such a "non beach" dimension to the vacation. I am not a person who can tolerate much sun, so sitting under an umbrella for a few hours each day is plenty for me, with a dip or two in the ocean to cool off. So for a vacationer like me, who also wants plenty of hanging out on the villa time, it's perfect and I LOVE it.

BUT - if you like a beachfront, you'd be happier at Vero if you want a Disney property, or at any of the beachfront locations at HH.

 

[marynvince]

and at 1 mile to the beach, how close do you need to be? I've heard this property is very relaxing with lots of activities available for kids. The fact that it is sold out throughout the summer means it is a disirable property! I am an avid golfer that goes on multiple golf trips every year. Some amount of driving to a course is expected and not an undue burden to "real" golfers.

 

[haleofafamily]

Thanks for the info.

We have stayed at a beach property on HH and loved it. We only had 2 kids then so we stayed at a hotel. Now we need a 2 bdrm so the Disney HH seemed like a good option. Are there other places on HH that are nice resorts and have a 2 bdrom option?

 

[CarolA]

and at 1 mile to the beach, how close do you need to be? I've heard this property is very relaxing with lots of activities available for kids. The fact that it is sold out throughout the summer means it is a disirable property! I am an avid golfer that goes on multiple golf trips every year. Some amount of driving to a course is expected and not an undue burden to "real" golfers.

I find it interesting that you have never been here, but are pretty sure that "sight" unseen I am wrong about it! I have no problem with people liking the place but "just because it's Disney" does not make it perfect and for some of us it's not a good choice.

Actually the reason my brother who I think is "real" golfer finds the Sea Pines resorts BETTER is that he gets (A) perferred t-times via the owners he rents from and (B) a discount!! And Sea Pines is the home of the Verizon Heritage Golf Tourney.

The problem with golf not being "easy" is that when you combine that with the beach that far away it's a tranport nightmare. Brother and his son want to play golf, wife and daughter want to go to beach and/or shopping. Hmm. Who gets the car?


Marriott has some GREAT 2 BR timeshares right on the beach. I have toured them and they are probably nicer then the DVC accomodations on HH. If you plan far enough ahead you can trade into them. (Dean posted some info on here recently regarding that) You can also rent them, but they rent for top dollar!

As for kids activities. There are TONS of them all over HH! Have a great time.

We tend to go a few blocks inland with private rentals and that works well for my family.

 

[HUFF590]

We own at SSR and go every year at least once, but we also go to Disneys HHI resort every summer also. This is my relax place and we love it! The Island is beautifull and the bike ride over to the beach is wonderfull. You dont need a car unless your planning to explore, you can walk to very nice resturants, putt putt golf, boating, fishing etc. I cant always get in on points in the summer but have always got in on our cash discount rate. Everyone should try it out at least once. You may find yourself falling in love with the place, or not liking it at all.

 

[marynvince]

I find it interesting that you have never been here, but are pretty sure that "sight" unseen I am wrong about it! I have no problem with people liking the place but "just because it's Disney" does not make it perfect and for some of us it's not a good choice.


others, I'm confident I'll like it. It is possible for me to disagree with your opinion. I disagree that a mile walk to the beach is too far.

I believe the Sponsors of this board have an obligation to present subjective facts as their opinions are perceived to be more informed. Most Sponsors do, some, are a little too biased, IMHO, and that's what I find wrong.

 

[jekjones1558]

We are trying it for the first time soon. We will be bringing a 5 year old and the activities sound like winners for her. As long as I am on vacation and my room is nice and my guests are having a good time, I will be happy. Trips to Savannah and Beaufort and maybe Charleston are also options that make HHI a fine option for us. To each her own. Aren't choices grand!

 

[Disneyaholic]

I find it interesting that you have never been here, but are pretty sure that "sight" unseen I am wrong about it! I have no problem with people liking the place but "just because it's Disney" does not make it perfect and for some of us it's not a good choice.

Actually the reason my brother who I think is "real" golfer finds the Sea Pines resorts BETTER is that he gets (A) perferred t-times via the owners he rents from and (B) a discount!! And Sea Pines is the home of the Verizon Heritage Golf Tourney.

The problem with golf not being "easy" is that when you combine that with the beach that far away it's a tranport nightmare. Brother and his son want to play golf, wife and daughter want to go to beach and/or shopping. Hmm. Who gets the car?


Marriott has some GREAT 2 BR timeshares right on the beach. I have toured them and they are probably nicer then the DVC accomodations on HH. If you plan far enough ahead you can trade into them. (Dean posted some info on here recently regarding that) You can also rent them, but they rent for top dollar!

As for kids activities. There are TONS of them all over HH! Have a great time.

We tend to go a few blocks inland with private rentals and that works well for my family.

We have been to the Disney resort an average of 3-4 times a year since it opened. (That would make it at least 40 times in all.) We absolutely LOVE the marsh. And that the resort is nice and quiet. We don't want or need to be involved with all the noise and the crowds that come with being directly on the beach.

In fact, we like the marsh so much, we are in the process of buying our own villa right in Shelter Cove! We will have beach access through Palmetto Dunes (although we will no longer be able to take advantage of Disney's Beach House unless we're using points there) and I can relax on "my" marsh all I want! There is nothing like sitting on my porch, drinking coffee and reading the Island Packet every morning. You can do that "a few blocks inland", but you might as well be back home then.

DH and DS golf a few times each trip and have never had a problem with driving to a golf course. In fact, they never play the same course twice in one trip. And as far as being a "real" golfer, DS had to choose between playing golf and playing baseball in college. It was a tough decision, but he went with baseball. (Fortunately, he's a pitcher, so he doesn't have to bat, so he can still golf in his down time! )

As far as who gets the car, I often drop them off at the golf course and then do my own "thing" for the approximately 4 hours I know it will take them to finish. Then I go pick them up. Not a hardship for me or for them. After 4 hours, I've had about enough of shopping or the beach.

I don't like the resort just because it's "Disney", although that sure helps! I like it because it offers our family two vacations in one.

I'm sorry you don't like the Disney resort, but it definitely is not the "hardship" location that you have painted it to be.

 

[disney1474]

We just returned from our first trip to HHI and loved it. We knew this wasn't a "beach" resort. Thats why it's not on the beach. IMHO, having the beach house on the beach is just an added feature to this resort. The mile bike ride was great for our family. We will definately be back!

 

[CarolA]

I find it interesting that you have never been here, but are pretty sure that "sight" unseen I am wrong about it! I have no problem with people liking the place but "just because it's Disney" does not make it perfect and for some of us it's not a good choice.


others, I'm confident I'll like it. It is possible for me to disagree with your opinion. I disagree that a mile walk to the beach is too far.

I believe the Sponsors of this board have an obligation to present subjective facts as their opinions are perceived to be more informed. Most Sponsors do, some, are a little too biased, IMHO, and that's what I find wrong.

If I could figure out HOW to remove the sponsor tag I would trust me! Won't do that again. AND ALL SPONSOR proves is that you once paid them money NOTHING ELSE!

However, I am still a little shocked that "its biased" not to think Disney might have the best product out there

 

[Laxmom]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It appears most people love HHI DVC and I have to agree. We own one of those ocean front Marriott's and just bought DVC HHI for a different experience in a location that we love. We love them both for different reasons. Hey, it just leaves more availability for those of us that love it there.

 

[Grandbuddy]

If I could figure out HOW to remove the sponsor tag I would trust me! Won't do that again. AND ALL SPONSOR proves is that you once paid them money NOTHING ELSE!

However, I am still a little shocked that "its biased" not to think Disney might have the best product out there

A pm to one of the webmasters might help you get rid of your "sponsor" designation. (Remainder of ill-tempered post deleted by normally mild-mannered poster)

 

[CarolA]

A pm to one of the webmasters might help you get rid of your "sponsor" designation. Can't imagine why you bother with DVC at all, since you are so accustomed to the finer things in life.

YEEOWW!!!

I love my DVC. I just don't think HH measures up.


But I forgot, it's the DIS.... Disney can do no wrong and attacking those who don't agree with you is the way to PROVE you are right.

I don't attack folks for saying they love it, I just think that there are two sides to this story.

I am pulling on a flameproof suit. here comes the HORRID statement....

I don't like the DVC at HHI.

Start bashing! LOL!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

YEEOWW!!!

I love my DVC. I just don't think HH measures up.


But I forgot, it's the DIS.... Disney can do no wrong and attacking those who don't agree with you is the way to PROVE you are right.

I don't attack folks for saying they love it, I just think that there are two sides to this story.

I am pulling on a flameproof suit. here comes the HORRID statement....

I don't like the DVC at HHI.

Start bashing! LOL!

Actually, I really respect those that post "realistic" opinions. So many seem like their looking thru rose colored glasses. And where you don't like HHI for your reasons, you are helping others get a different perspective. Thanks for your opinions!