HHI: Too far for a side trip from WDW?

[timC]

Hi all... We're undecided about our summer trip next year. We're thinking about taking a drive up to HHI after our week at BCV. I understand it's a 5+hr trip. With time for only a 3-day diversion, is that long-enough for a good HHI vacation, or is the drive from WDW too much trouble for only 3-days?

Also, does anyone know a good/quick route west across Georgia? We'll be heading back to Texas...

Thanks in advance.

 

[sratay]

I'd say stay at WDW and enjoy it. HH is a beautiful place but you wouldn't have time but to say hello, goodbye and not really take in the island. Another negative is that I-95 is a bumper to bumper headache from Maine to Florida. Go to one or the other, not both, especially just for a 3 day vacation.
Enjoy,
Steve in Iowa

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I voted to go for it. But than again, that advice comes from someone who will be flying into Savannah, driving to HH for two nights, then driving to VB for four, then WDW for seven.

Have fun!...

MG

 

[Simba's Mom]

I voted 'No" to the side trip, but my reason wasn't primarily because it's too far, but that HH is such a beautiful place, it deserves its own vacation. But then again, if you want to "check it out" and then consider going back just to HH, OK. After all, I've done that with the different DVC on site resorts-stayed at one just for one night before the resort we know and love, with the understanding that if I really like the resort after just one night, I'll go back and stay longer next time. BTW, so far I've returned to every one I "tried out" for one night. Haven't found a DVC resort I didn't like!

 

[dis-happy]

I'd do it in a heartbeat. We begin and end every trip to WDW with HH, but then again, it also breaks up our trip home to Charlotte. Hilton Head is a wonderful place all its own, and would be very relaxing and different after WDW. Plus, if you've never been, it will whet your appetite to come back next summer. We have DVC friends from Dallas who went to WDW last summer and are doing Hilton Head next summer. They really miss the summers they aren't in HH.

 

[mbhoxsie]

Depending on what your goal is...

I'm with Simba's Mom on this one... If your goal is to just check out the resort, and get the basics, I'd say go for it...

But... IMO, three days is really not long enough to go, stay, and unwind...

 

[rocketriter]

If you want a longish drive (but not THAT long), take the kids to the Space Center. They'll see *real* spaceships and never forget it.

 

[vernon]

I voted go for it, as I think HH is a great resort and if you've not been before it's an excellent chance to check out the resort without making a designated trip to do so.

It is a little dependant on the type of trip your making to WDW, if you've only got a week and you plan to split it 4 and 3, I think unless you've been going to WDW a coupel of times a year for several years you're cutting it too short. If however you're veterans and looking for something different it's an excellent choice, again if you've got 2 weeks and are doing 11 days in Disney already then I think it's an excellent plan.

HH is a great resort, I hope you enjoy it. While I agree it's easy to spend a lot more time than just 3 days at HH it will give you an enjoyable break as well as giving you an idea as to if you'd like to make a trip there for a vacation solely spent relaxing at HH.

 

[JimC]

Voted no as a side trip. Wait until you can spend a week and really settle in. If I were to do a quick side trip from WDW it would be to VB.

 

[Beast fan]

IMO, if you want a short change of pace, choose either a 3 day stay at VB or OKW.
VB is closer than HHI and is more "self contained" than HHI (more on-site dining options).

DW and I have stayed at both VB and HHI (along with our "home" of WLV). Both are awesome, but HHI truly does deserve/warrant a longer stay than 3 days.

Good luck in your decision!

Dave

 

[ArRzrbk]

Five hours is nothing, and three days is a lot! We live sixteen hours from our family back home in Arkansas. We know how lucky you are to only be facing five hours. And our vacations are usually just three to four night long when we do get to go someplace fun like Disney or the Henderson Park Inn (Destin, FL). So, you're still doing what we normally do, and we can have a great time in just three days!

The senario you described is a breeze, honestly. I think you'll be fine. And the sooner you check out HHI, the sooner you can try and add-on there! Do it. I bet you won't be sorry. You may not want to leave though, as we usually hate to leave after only a few days someplace, but at least you'll know what you're wanting to go back to!

Char

 

[msdis]

We stopped for 1 night on our way home and 1 night is enough "to check it out"-3 days will give you a good feel for it. I vote go for it.

 

[TXMommy]

I, too, voted to go for it! Driving 5 hours to spend 3 days is nothing! We are planning on driving to HHI next summer and will stay for 4 nights and then drive back home (I'm in the Houston area, too - as for that drive back home, the best way is to take 95 back to 10, then 10 all the way home). We are a "road trip" kind of family, tho - we think nothing of driving long distances. We just got back from a road trip to Chicago (from Houston!) to see our son graduate from Navy Basic Training! HHI is beautiful - go and enjoy it!

 

[kweaver]

After a little consideration...I'd say we would do it. 5 hours is not terribly long if you are used to driving during trips. Our 7 hours from Atlanta to WDW is a breeze.

If it were our family, I'd try to stay 4 nights (5 days) at HH...just to make it more worthwhile. Check out themember cash rates...sometimes it works out.

Oh...and your options for going west back to TX through GA are limited. You can go back up I-16 toward Atlanta and take I-20 toward Birmingham (much further north that you probably want to go)...or just head back down I-95 and go west on I-10. We've avoided I-95 on our travels...but I've heard the traffic horror stories.

 

[Disneyaholic]

For our vacation style, it's too quick. But we like to go to HH and RELAX. We do go over Labor Day weekend most years, which is a 3-night visit, and it's "okay", better than not going at all...

It depends on how you like to vacation. If you're the non-stop kind of people, then you will probably enjoy your 3-day side trip. If you want to relax at HH, then you'll be wishing for more time.

In any case, enjoy it!

 

[Macnjac87]

Posted by sratay: "Another negative is that I-95 is a bumper to bumper headache from Maine to Florida."

This is just not true! We do the drive from NY to WDW every year and we've yet to hit a bumper to bumper except for a 20 minute traffic jam in the DC loop a few years back. We wouldn't do it if it was a bumper to bumper headache!

Last year we spent we drove down to WDW, spent 5 nights at BWV then drove up to HH for 4 more nights. Easy drive and HH is not to be missed!! This year we are driving down to do our first Wonder cruise, then driving back up to HH for 6 glorious nights, no WDW at all!!

Go for it!!!!