HHI Room Renovations - what were they thinking?

[gscott8075]

We are long time DVC members and this was our 12th trip to HHI. My daughters prefer HHI to any other vacation. We started coming here when they were 6 and 8 - my oldest graduated from college last month!

The resort itself is in great condition.

This was our first time in a renovated unit. I can't believe Disney would allow such a disjointed, mismatched outcome!

The biggest issues are usability...

- The island in the kitchen was replaced with a two level island. It was done to accommodate a larger TV. The end result is 5ft by 18" usable portion facing the kitchen side.

- A 2 BR sleeps up to 9. The large picnic tables were replaced by a small round table (plastic/trex) that barely seats 4. My family enjoyed many big meals on the balcony over the years - the change makes no sense at all.

The designers mixed old with new. Cheap materials were used in the upgrades. It looks like a patched together after thought.

We still love it here - but other than the addition of the single chair sleeper and the new wall color, this is a big 'miss'.

 

[disneynutz]

Don't know why DVC is doing such a poor job refurbishing the resorts. Their choice of design and quality of material is moving the DVC in the wrong direction IMO.

Bill

 

[ajwolfe]

Interesting how everyone has a different perspective. We just stayed there for the first time and loved the décor and the kitchen island. Based on the pictures I've seen on-line I prefer the new color choices compared to the old look.

 

[NJDVCmember]

Gscott I agree with you totally...
Have been Members since 1999 with HHI as our home.
I don't get it. The birds above the master bed really freaked me out!! lol
Loved the original look. Was so fitting for the atmosphere of the resort.
Still love going of course ....just cover up the birds with bed sheets!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was afraid I was the only one not really a fan of the HHI rehab. But when we were there last Thanksgiving, a "well-known" CM there remarked that rather than the fishing lodge it was originally designed to be, it now looked like a mid-80s Florida condo resort. And what bothered me, and probably him too, was that Shadow's footprints were gone. And did you notice that the new resort design in the General Store seems to have done away with Shadow's existence. Yet, she must be some kind of miracle-after 12 years visiting HHI, she doesn't look any older to us!
And what bothers me about the island is that with the old island, you could come back with your bag of take-out from Tide me Over and plunk it on the big green tile island. Now you have to place that bag carefully on only about 18 inches of space.



But it's still my favorite resort.

 

[NJDVCmember]

I miss Shadows paw prints!! Memories...my kids would run in the condo to see if the paw prints were still there! lol

Sometimes leaving things alone is best. Of course spruce up but learn alone!

Also HATE the round cheap tables on the deck. We would order wings in and the picnic table was perfect for us and guests to sit around!

But Love the island so DVC will have to do until I get my own place.. lol

 

[WolfpackFan]

Hope lots of people hate the refurb. Makes it easier for me to get a ressie . Our favorite resort even with the refurb. Wish we had all our points there.

 

[gscott8075]

Don't worry - we don't hate - just love it a little less!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hope lots of people hate the refurb. Makes it easier for me to get a ressie . Our favorite resort even with the refurb. Wish we had all our points there.

Unfortunately, based on what just happened to us, I think most people like the renovations and are booking there. We recently tried to add days to our Thanksgiving ressie. Unfortunately, the resort was booked solid but we were lucky enough to get MC. I agree with you about points, though-we've added on there twice.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have actually thought about selling my VWL contract and buying a HHI contract. We are really tired of WDW but absolutely love HHI and we're getting to the age when HHI will be the only resort we want to go to. I know I would loose a lot of money doing this though. I wish there was a way you could just trade contracts, I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to own a VWL contract.

 

[quinnc19]

I really like the renovation. Have stayed in all room sizes and think they're well done. Like this update more than the other resorts.

 

[DebbieB]

Unfortunately, based on what just happened to us, I think most people like the renovations and are booking there. We recently tried to add days to our Thanksgiving ressie. Unfortunately, the resort was booked solid but we were lucky enough to get MC. I agree with you about points, though-we've added on there twice.

Since it's the only DVC at Hilton Head, I doubt liking or not liking the renovation is a factor in people booking. Even if people don't like it , most will probably still book.

 

[emilymad]

We stayed in a studio and loved it. Thought it was a huge improvement over what it had looked like. I just didn't understand why they didn't replace the bathroom floor tile. With everything else being new it makes that floor look really bad. And they need to add a few more shelves or something in the bathroom. There certainly is room.

 

[MickeyBobby]

We liked the renovation so much, we just purchased points there. LOVED IT! I certainly understand how BCV and BWV can be seen as a little plain compared to what was before, but the HHI rehab was fantastic.

 

[lsyorke]

The renovation is much better...no more ejecto-couch! I love the lighter cabinets

 

[JessLCH]

We only stayed there for the first time last month, post renovation, but I loved the rooms! I found the 2 bedroom unit to have lots of charm and character while being modern and up to date. I do agree that the table on the balcony is small and would not suit a large group. I also love the VWL renovations.

 

[Vicki926]

I loved the renovation..and really liked the new island, I like that the top you can see from the living room area looks neat and you can still have stuff on the kitchen side, but not look at it when watching TV.
I am in 100% agreement with you about those tiny little tables! They're terrible! We're a family of 4 and my brother and sister in law travel with us, and even the 6 of us can't sit together out there. So annoying!

 

[csharpwv]

We have stayed in a studio, 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR... before and after the renovations.
I felt the old rooms were starting to get a little rough around the edges, and the theme accessories were a dated.

Removing the tile by the front door caused a HUGE gap under the door and believe me, in the heat of summer, the draft of hot humid air constantly streaming under that door was very uncomfortable. The cool air from the air conditioned room hitting the hot humid air coming in, I thought we were going to have to issue a severe storm warning! HAHA

When DVC resorts were built, they used high quality materials that could stand the test of time and constant abuse from guests constantly coming and going, check in, check out, clean... time and time again 365 days a year.
The materials they are using now are far from high quality. They aren't considering the amount of noise that carpet absorbed. Heaven help the family that was under us last July, we were CONSTANTLY on our nieces and nephews not to stomp around, but with no carpet, they must have sounded like elephants!

The softer colors, and more light, airy, and beachy theme is nice. It's luxury, not rustic. The outside of the buildings are rustic. The overall theme of the resort... rustic. I think the rooms are beautiful, but they do not complement the theme of the resort.

We've had appliance problems on nearly every stay, from the fridge, to the washer/dryer, to the dishwasher, our stay last July was a result of them replacing good quality appliances with 'junk' according to the cast member from engineering.

We love DVC, and we always will. I think some decisions over the last few years have been GREAT decisions (farewell old, horrible, polyester bedspreads!), and others... vinyl flooring, yeah, I hope it lasts long enough to prevent premature remodeling... and maybe by then carpet will be back in style!

The worst decision at HHI, I agree, the picnic tables were SO nice! Very heavy pieces, and left enough room for everyone to gather outdoors for dinner.

But, none of the changes will keep us away, we can't wait to go back!

 

[Simba's Mom]

When DVC resorts were built, they used high quality materials that could stand the test of time and constant abuse from guests constantly coming and going, check in, check out, clean... time and time again 365 days a year.
The materials they are using now are far from high quality. They aren't considering the amount of noise that carpet absorbed. Heaven help the family that was under us last July, we were CONSTANTLY on our nieces and nephews not to stomp around, but with no carpet, they must have sounded like elephants!

In the same spirit of "far from high quality", what we found interesting was the couch. At least it wasn't the eject-couch! However, after a week of being there we noticed a deep depression on the side of the couch DH had been sitting on, and he certainly isn't heavy. Come to think of it, maybe he was just watching too much ESPN!