Hhi traffic on Saturdays

[emmababy]

We are leaving June 2 on our first trip to HHI. We were planning on leaving at 5 am, which would put us there around 3.

We are paing cash to stay Friday June 8 and leave Saturday. These reports of traffic have me freaking out.

Please give me the lowdown...how bad is it?

Shouldnwe cancel Friday night and come home Friday?

 

[Dean]

We are leaving June 2 on our first trip to HHI. We were planning on leaving at 5 am, which would put us there around 3.

We are paing cash to stay Friday June 8 and leave Saturday. These reports of traffic have me freaking out.

Please give me the lowdown...how bad is it?

Shouldnwe cancel Friday night and come home Friday?

Rush hour traffic can be quite heavy getting on the island AM and off around 5 weekdays. Check in and check out times can also be heavy Fri-Sun esp Sat. It can be bumper to bumper and add maybe an extra 30 min to an hour to the trip normally if you hit it wrong. If you happen to be unlucky and there's an accident ahead of you, it can be even worse depending on where it is. The other component, and the one I find even more important, is that the grocery stores are VERY crowded and often low on stock at and just after the usual check in times. However, I've never seen it heavy enough without an accident that it would limit my trip.

 

[RobDoc]

You will certainly have some traffic arriving onFriday afternoon, but that is usually manageable as Dean noted - and a Saturday afternoon arrival in June won't be any better. Leaving on Saturday morning shouldn't be an issue (although I-95 will still be busy).

I'd keep the reservation as you have it now.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[emmababy]

Our original plan was to leave Saturday at 5am, putting us there around 330. We are staying at Comfort in suites and then going to dvc Sunday. Do we have a shot of getting our room early?

Then we are on points until Friday and paying cash Friday night. The plan was to stay a bit and then head home. I am now thinking of checking out Frida and staying until 2 or so and then head home. Thoughts?

 

[RobDoc]

Our original plan was to leave Saturday at 5am, putting us there around 330. We are staying at Comfort in suites and then going to dvc Sunday. Do we have a shot of getting our room early?

Then we are on points until Friday and paying cash Friday night. The plan was to stay a bit and then head home. I am now thinking of checking out Frida and staying until 2 or so and then head home. Thoughts?

The resort is likely to be at full occupancy so there won't be many villas cleaned and ready early on Sunday but a 2BR would be your best chance. Studios and 1BRs are usually in use Saturday nights in the summer.

It can't hurt to check-in early on Sunday since you will still be able to use the facilities both at the resort and at the Beach House even if your villa is not yet ready.

I think you'd be fine to stay Friday night and then leave Saturday morning as early as possible. I'd rather be in the Sat morning traffic leaving the island than the Friday afternoon traffic. The Sat. traffic seems to start building around 9am and peaks around noon for departing traffic.

Enjoy!

 

[Dean]

Our original plan was to leave Saturday at 5am, putting us there around 330. We are staying at Comfort in suites and then going to dvc Sunday. Do we have a shot of getting our room early?

Then we are on points until Friday and paying cash Friday night. The plan was to stay a bit and then head home. I am now thinking of checking out Frida and staying until 2 or so and then head home. Thoughts?

Your choice of course. My suggestion would be to reconsider your first night reservation and possibly stay en route maybe using priceline or similar, depending on your current rate. Coming from the south we've stayed anywhere from Brunswick GA to Savannah to Bluffton (2 plus hours to 15 minutes away). I would not pay a higher price just to get on the island the night before for a 1 night stay. We then try to hit the island with enough time to get lunch, groceries and still be a little early for check in. We often go by whatever resort we're staying at and do the initial check in first but the rooms are not generally ready. I would stay the extra day if you can. You can always have breakfast or an early lunch before leaving.

 

[MinnieGi]

We drive the 12 hours on a June Sat. and stay overnight at the Hampton Inn on the Island. After eating their free breakfast, we pack up and drive over to Disney HHI which is just a bit further down the island. We check-in early and then head over to the beach house for morning/early afternoon beach time and pool time over there. They usually call between 1:00 and 2:00 to tell us our villa is ready!

I would not change your plans a bit!! I guess since we drive through the DC beltway and Northeast traffic all the time I have not found HHI traffic horrible at all even on Fri. and Saturdays. At least not so crowded that I would ever shorten my vacation there!!!!

 

[udflyer00]

Minnie I'm not sure if you posted about that Hampton on our HHI thread, but I was able to book that Hampton for Saturday to do just as you suggested... We're driving through the night leaving late Friday and hope to be on HHI about 12 on Saturday. Enjoy the Hampton for the day, get a nice breakfast, check-in Sunday then hit the beach until our room is ready!! Can't wait we hit the road on June 1st!!

Mark

 

[MinnieGi]

Minnie I'm not sure if you posted about that Hampton on our HHI thread, but I was able to book that Hampton for Saturday to do just as you suggested... We're driving through the night leaving late Friday and hope to be on HHI about 12 on Saturday. Enjoy the Hampton for the day, get a nice breakfast, check-in Sunday then hit the beach until our room is ready!! Can't wait we hit the road on June 1st!!

Mark

So glad I could help! Enjoy! We're doing the same thing just a few weeks later than you, have a great vacation!

 

[dvc_john]

Note that there is construction on several miles of U.S. 278. (Widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes.) It didn't really cause any delays though a few weeks ago.

 

[MinnieGi]

Note that there is construction on several miles of U.S. 278. (Widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes.) It didn't really cause any delays though a few weeks ago.

Thanks, good to know! While it may be a pain this year, I'm glad they are widening it to 6 lanes!

 

[disneybirds]

We live in Atlanta and usually drive down a day early to visit Savannah. We usually arrive around 10 or 11 on the day of arrival and check-in. Sometimes our room is ready and then other times we have to wait until 3. Last year we arrived on the island around 3 or 4 o'clock on a Saturday and traffic was bad. It probably took us 30-45 mins extra. We had friends checking in Sea Pines that day and the traffic was much worse for them.