HHI reflections after 1st visit (with photos added)

[Dad's Not Funny]

We spent 5 days at HHIR this past week. It was our first DVC outside the parks after 5 yrs. We would probably never have done it if my parents' 50th anniversary hadn't been the centerpiece. They live a few hrs. away and were willing to travel there so I could set up a grand gathering for the celebration.

We really loved our time there and are planning to return in the future. It is totally different in terms of activities but you still have the quiet, safe environment for the kids to roam in and plenty to do. We completely lost touch with the regular world like at WDW and got to enjoy our nieces and aunts and uncles in a relaxed setting. I think some planning is important to not miss out on things you would like to experience but not as much as WDW by any means. The CM's are very friendly and helpful and give you the normal Disney attitude and support. Since there are only about 80 - 100 families there at full occupancy it is a little more intimate and you get to know them a little better.

It is a very nature activity based place. We had nice weather everyday so we got to do a lot of things we had on our wish list. Some of the things we did were:

- crabbing and fishing from the pier. DS12 caught about a dozen crabs once he learned how to do it at low tide form the other kids down there. Some kids spend almost all their time on the pier from what I saw.

- walking and sitting at the beach. We only did this one day out of five at HHI although I could see it being an everyday thing for many people. There are a lot of life guards and plenty of chairs and umbrellas to rent. My kids did some kite flying as well as lots of body surfing. The water doesn't get deep very fast so they could move about without much danger. The pool and chairs were pretty full at the beach house so we only ate up there. The parking was also pretty limited with the resort full so taking the shuttle or biking over was almost required.

- nature kayaking tour. I had never kayaked before but found it pretty easy and fun. DS15 and DS12 led the two boats for myself and DD9. It was a cool morning and the wind and current were not too hard to work against. There are a few dolphin (Nick, Lucky and Baby Lucky among others) right in the creek behind the resort which we got very close to several times as they were feeding. One swam right under the front of our kayak. There were also a lot of birds diving in after fish all around us. It was two hours well spent and no one was exhausted by it. some of the others in our session were also novices and had a hard time keeping up in solo kayaks but still seemed to have fun. The lady CM who was our guide was very knowledgible and patient.

- dolphin boat tour. We had Capt. Scott as our guide on this event. He is a DIS board favorite and lived up to his hype. He is very smart and a true nature lover. He told us lots about HHI and the local restaurants as well as the animals in the area. His dog Woody was along for the ride and helped him hunt out the dolphin pods. We saw at least 10 dolphin near the boat on the trip but not as close as in the kayaks. No feeding is allowed but they come close enough to see if you will anyway. Two hours of fun was had for about $36 per person as it was members day.

- beach combing tour. We went out with Scott again for a 3 hr. cruise. It was pretty calm in the inter coastal waterway so we could go pretty fast in the boat. We saw many more dolphin and made a few brief stops where about a dozen were herding and feeding on a school of fish. We actually got a few pictures of the dolphins this day as we had shifted to the regular camera instead of the digital with its time delay. We found a wide variety of shells including large conchs and some small crabs and many intact sand dollars. We came back with several buckets of booty. There are no shells on the resort beach so this was real treasure for the kids. We also saw some turtle nests and some live sea anemonae and small jelly fish which we left behind as the law requires. It was $70 per person but well worth it. There are other people who give this tour but we think it was nice to do it as a private group and not with dozens of others like the larger boats.

This post is getting pretty long so I will continue it in the next segment... Maybe I will be able to add some photos as well if I figure out the photo bucket process

 

[Dad's Not Funny]

Some other things we did and saw included -

- sea racer riding at Sea Pines Plantation. We drove down in the afternoon to try this for the 1st time ever. DW and DD9 are now hooked. It was $100 for an hour on a double ski. After a short slow ride out into the over water, we were set free to scoot around.

There were lots of dolphin in the area so when you tired of getting salt water up your nose you could slow near them. It was probably the closest and longest encounters we had with dolphin of them all. The water was choppy so we had fun jumping some waves. DW said she would do it all day if she could and DD9 said it was her best birthday present ever.

- The star spangled Tuesday dinner at the pool. This was fun for the kids as a lot of games are set up by the CM's which create special picture opportunities...if you want to see kids with pudding up to their ears after the marshmellow madness event, people with ice cream in their noses and ears after the ice cream "drop" event or teens covered in watermelon after the eating and seed spitting contests. The CM's give out prizes and lots of encouragement. They also do a HSM2 dance with the kids and some other fun things.

The food was OK (BBQ'd ribs and chicken and burgers) and lots was available from the buffet. There were only about 100 people who ate at ours. We would do it again but passed on the Thursday night low country boil at the beach house.

We also took part in pin trading and some arts and crafts sessions during the week. There is way more to do than anyone can fit into a week. We also had some time talking with B'Lou Crabbe at the lodge. He had some AK start up stories to share as well as the more local ones and seems to be a very talented guy who is great with kids. He is worth seeking out while you are at HHI. We played shuffle board, ping pong and foosball as well as a few games of pool at the lodge.

No one got too upset about winning and losing which was pretty miraculous and a sure sign of pixie dust presence. The wifi was good at the lodge but spotty elsewhere. The DVC giveaways on Wed. for Member's day were a nice perk! We got some coozies and a mesh back pack. Several of the group also fit in some serious hammock sleeping time in the afternoons. I am not sure why they were tired out.

The pools were pretty crowded during the day time on our visit but we weren't in them much other than early morning as shown below or at night. Considering the resort was full it was not a big surprise to us.

Parking was also pretty limited. I had to park up by the lodge one night and walk back. We were in bldg. 22 which had a good marsh view and was next to the pool and activity area which was nice. It looked to me like Bldgs. 14, 15 and 17 had the best combination of view and parking access with only a short walk to the pool. The food was OK at the two CS places but we ate off the resort most of the time. We found the Salty Dog to be good for lunch and Redfish and Charlie's Crab House to have good dinner fare (although pricey). Fuddrucker's, Stacks, the HH Diner and the Kingfisher were near by and decent quality food but not worth a special trip. The food was not a really memorable part of the trip as it often is at WDW.

The CM's were very helpful at finding places to shop for things during the week and managing small crises like broken glasses. They were from all over the world like at WDW and had the same types of badges. They helped with florist and photographer recommendations during the planning phase of the trip. We took some large family portraits on the beach at sunset at Sea Pines Plantation which came out great. Thank God the thunder storm held out until just after that event as I don't know when we would have fit it in again.

There were a lot of planned activities and craft options each day for small kids which we skipped and some tours we could not fit in. I saw them listed thoroughly in another recent post so I will not duplicate them here. The camp fire and unbirthday party are on our list for next time. Maybe the Kid's night out as well so DW and I can get away. I now see that a week here would be just as full as a week at WDW but a lot easier on our feet and waist lines. It is certainly just as demanding on one's wallet if you do lots of nature touring. We did not rent bikes as originally planned as we were too busy doing other things to ride around on them. All the DVC members were just as friendly with each other at HHI as you find at the parks. It was nice to meet some people and share in activities without seeing any ugly scenes in the midst of them. DVC-er's seem to know how to enjoy their vacations with all the practice we get using up our points.

We gave my parents an anniversary celebration to remember and the kids a new perspective on DVC vacations so all in all it was a success. We'll be back at HHI again maybe in the late spring to have less crowds.

 

[SLM]

Thanks for posting-we're going this September for a week and I was hoping to take one of the tours-thanks for your advice! Glad you had such a nice family trip-and congratulations to your parents! I'm sure they were thrilled to have everyone together!

 

[MinnieGi]

We were there this past week also! Wow, you all really did some neat activities. I'd love to see pictures! Reading your post I'm amazed at our two totally different vacations at the same resort. But that is what is so cool about it.

We are the beach people. Every morning we were on the beach by 9:30 am. Plenty of parking can be found and the sand is so wide with it being low tide. Our kids are 3 & 7 who love to play in the sand and splash in the water. DH and I just love the gently rolling waves and no undertow of HHI's water. I love how shallow it is and how far out you can go with it being so calm. We saw dolphins almost every morning. We'd eat lunch on the beach or at the beach house and then swim in the beach house pool which we never found crowded. Then we'd go back for a snack in the villa and head to the Big Dipper pool. By dinner our 3yo was exhausted so we'd fix a quick dinner in the villa and he'd be asleep for the night!!

We were in the Lodge and right next to the water where we saw from our balcony dolphins, turtles, many types of birds, crabs. It was a beautiful view over the marsh.

My parents also visited and they took the kids to the beach one morning while DH and I played the Fazio course at Palmetto Dunes. It was beautiful. Next year we want to play the PD's oceanfront course.

We also brought our bikes and rode around on the trails sometimes in the afternoon. We rode to a really nice park and playground only a little over a mile from the resort.

We also attended the Tues. night BBQ and pool party. My DS did the gummy worm in pudding contest and loved it!!!! My DD was a dancing queen!! So Dad's Not Funny - were you in the Dad's YMCA line up??????

Glad you all had a great time!
Gi

 

[Dad's Not Funny]

I agree with you that the resort is so diverse and full of fun for all. We probably passed each other during the week without knowing it. I did talk to a few other DIS-ers out around the pool area. I would have gladly gone to the beach more but no one else wanted to. I think it would be more relaxing. I eventually took an late PM walk on my own on Thursday. I saw lots of water volleyball being played at the beach pool which looked like a lot of fun.

I was not in the YMCA line up. I was gone by then. I did have to do that dance at my parents' 40th anniversary party so I guess I had my ticket punched then. I am sure my mom would have pushed us up there if she had any warning it was coming. My daughter was the one recognized for her birthday that night later on and she and her cousin were front and center in the HSM2 dance. I missed out on a lot of that time because DS12 had been nipped by a large crab he had in his net on the pier and needed tending to.

I am glad you had a good view by the lodge. It looked like it was about the best spot when I walked by there.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do you own at HHI, and so booked this 11 months out? It's sure sounds like the sort of vacation my family would like as well.
Bobbi

 

[Dad's Not Funny]

No. I own at SSR. I made a cash reservation thru MS last summer at about 11months out. At 7 months, I was able to get a couple of the days on points but not all of them. It was well worth it as I had no date flexibility. My parents had locked that in 50 yrs. ago!

My kids are glad that we didn't use all our 2008 points up. Now they get to go to WDW in early Dec. as well!

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks for the report!

It sounds as though you were abel to take full advantage of all the resort has to offer.

 

[bobbiwoz]

No. I own at SSR. I made a cash reservation thru MS last summer at about 11months out. At 7 months, I was able to get a couple of the days on points but not all of them. It was well worth it as I had no date flexibility. My parents had locked that in 50 yrs. ago!

My kids are glad that we didn't use all our 2008 points up. Now they get to go to WDW in early Dec. as well!

Great! What a nice time you gave your parents and family!!!

Bobbi

 

[MinnieGi]

Dad's Not so Funny - Now that you posted your pictures, I remember seeing your 8 yo DD in the pool and at the Tues. pool party! And I'm sure we passed each other several times over the week. I do think it is neat at HHI how you do actually get to meet and talk to other DVC'ers and see them for a week around the resort and beach.

 

[Dad's Not Funny]

I am thinking we were right near each other when the kid's were doing the pudding game on those small tables. I am sorry I didn't have my camera then. I didn't think I would ever get her or my niece clean. I also noticed the CM's guarding the quick path to the pool so no one did a quick clean up that way!


DW and I lived in Newark, DE when we were first married and traveled up thru your part of the state many times so maybe we passed on the road back there then too. It is a small world that way. I hope you have a nice summer up there!

 

[jdg345]

Thank you for sharing! Great stuff!

 

[twebber55]

We were there this past week also! Wow, you all really did some neat activities. I'd love to see pictures! Reading your post I'm amazed at our two totally different vacations at the same resort. But that is what is so cool about it.

We are the beach people. Every morning we were on the beach by 9:30 am. Plenty of parking can be found and the sand is so wide with it being low tide. Our kids are 3 & 7 who love to play in the sand and splash in the water. DH and I just love the gently rolling waves and no undertow of HHI's water. I love how shallow it is and how far out you can go with it being so calm. We saw dolphins almost every morning. We'd eat lunch on the beach or at the beach house and then swim in the beach house pool which we never found crowded. Then we'd go back for a snack in the villa and head to the Big Dipper pool. By dinner our 3yo was exhausted so we'd fix a quick dinner in the villa and he'd be asleep for the night!!

We were in the Lodge and right next to the water where we saw from our balcony dolphins, turtles, many types of birds, crabs. It was a beautiful view over the marsh.

My parents also visited and they took the kids to the beach one morning while DH and I played the Fazio course at Palmetto Dunes. It was beautiful. Next year we want to play the PD's oceanfront course.

We also brought our bikes and rode around on the trails sometimes in the afternoon. We rode to a really nice park and playground only a little over a mile from the resort.

We also attended the Tues. night BBQ and pool party. My DS did the gummy worm in pudding contest and loved it!!!! My DD was a dancing queen!! So Dad's Not Funny - were you in the Dad's YMCA line up??????

Glad you all had a great time!
Gi

hey how much are those courses? in the moring and afternoon....i just played Osprey Ridge and Palm last week...going to HHI next year

 

[gingermouse17]

Thanks for the great pictures and trip report.

 

[Connears]

We exprienced all of what you did on our first trip to HHI in 2000 when our son was 10. He loved the activities and espcialy the "different" pace..its a real vacation. All of these wonderful reasons lead us to buy add on points there in 2002 to get 11 month window for June and July. We have spent many great vacations there and they compliment our wdw vacations.

Connears

 

[Dad's Not Funny]

We exprienced all of what you did on our first trip to HHI in 2000 when our son was 10. He loved the activities and espcialy the "different" pace..its a real vacation. All of these wonderful reasons lead us to buy add on points there in 2002 to get 11 month window for June and July. We have spent many great vacations there and they compliment our wdw vacations.

Connears

I'm glad to hear you are still enjoying it so many years later. It is tempting to add points but I'm fighting the urge. My nieces are from Scituate, MA and really enjoyed the warmer water temperatures to swim in!

 

[MinnieGi]

I am thinking we were right near each other when the kid's were doing the pudding game on those small tables. I am sorry I didn't have my camera then. I didn't think I would ever get her or my niece clean. I also noticed the CM's guarding the quick path to the pool so no one did a quick clean up that way!


DW and I lived in Newark, DE when we were first married and traveled up thru your part of the state many times so maybe we passed on the road back there then too. It is a small world that way. I hope you have a nice summer up there!

DS loved that pudding contest!!! He was the little guy (3yo) at the end of the table. Thank goodness they gave them all an apron or it would have been even harder to clean them up!!! I noticed one kid went over to the kiddie pool frogs that spit out water and cleaned up there! DS has mentioned already he wants to do that contest again next year!

Wow, what a small world - that you lived in Newark! DH and I lived in Newark too when we first got married. We both went to U of D. We're just about 15 minutes away now so we are often in Newark and on Main St. Hope you all have a good summer too!