Hilton Head--is it worth going?

[OneMoreTry]

is the DVC resort there a good experience or should we stay somewhere else?

If you HAVE to be beachfront then don't stay at the DVC.

We can afford to stay somewhere else but never would, and my kids have never asked to. (We own OKW.)

 

[cgcw]

We also went to HHI the first time because we'd just bought DVC and "Let's try out this place at HHI." We weren't expecting too much. Well, we love it! It's now something we look forward to every year.

Same story for us. We bought in September and didn't want to go back to WDW anytime soon. So, we thought, lets try HH. We ended up loving it there and added on before our 1st week was over. Next summer, we added on again. Next summer, same story. We're fortunate enough to have enough points for a week mid-summer every year. And, we plan on vacationing there every one of them.

For our kids, DS6 & DS11, they actually look forward to riding bikes to the beach. They have never complained and I think it adds some fun to the trip. One year, my little guy was 4 and rode his two wheeler all the way to the beach. The wind kicked up and a sand storm came along. There was no way he could ride the bike back so we left the bikes and came back in the car (which DH or I drove down there with all the stuff). All the way back all my DS could talk about was wanting to ride his bike back. He didn't want to be in the car -- wanted to be on that bike!

As a Mom with children, I like the added comfort of knowing the beach is not right there. I know the resort is surrounded by water but knowing that the temptation of going out into the water at the beach is not right there, gives me an added sense of security.

 

[MLbooks]

My two boys, 8 and 10, just loved HHI. We just got back yesterday, and we had a great time. This was our first time at a DVC resort, but we loved it! The resort is small enough that I let my two kids ride their rented bikes all over the resort ("just don't go off the island") and they had a great time. Kids Night Out (pizza and scavenger hunt), we kayaked, played in the pool at the resort, rode bikes to the beach house, played shuffleboard (more times than I can count), foosball, ping-pong, went crabbing and caught 6 crabs and saw a sea ray, and on and on...

Just my two cents -

Mary

 

[jonestavern]

We took our 1st trip to HHI at the end of this past March--& we loved it! We'll be back

As the others have said, if you like being out on the beach & need to go in the summer, it just may not be for you~I understand the parking lot at the beach house fills up rapidly & the shuttle stops running around 6 pm--somebody help me here!--I know it stops running earlier than you'd think it would
we wouldn't consider going in the summer for the same reason we avoid WDW during at that time, heat & crowds--but I think, most others adore HHI in the high summer

We LOVED The MARSHES!
so much birding, porpoises--it was just terrific! the guys--DS, DFIL & DS17 kayaked, took advantage of the nature programs. You can crab or fish, too.

No, HHI doesn't have a sit down venue but may I tell you the area is teeming with restaurants--a few of them within easy walking distance of the beach house~some of them have a DVC discount, also.
We used the barbeques at the resort & cooked in the villa, attended the shrimp boil & had some super local food, too

The buildings themselves are lovely--tabby style foundations, tin rooves, 'worm eaten' wood. So many of the surrounding resorts have, what our family calls "concrete bunker' architecture

We spent a day touring Savannah--a short 1 hour drive from HHI--loved it!
Lots of folks swear by a great day trip to Charleston, too~

Hey, the TV gets in many more channels than at WDW! But BEWARE! There is an activities channel that features music, at least some of it, from rides at WDW! Yikes, it put into my mind--"only 10 hr drive from HHI!"
those Disney-marketeers sure know what they're doing!

We enjoyed HHI so much we paid cash for an extra night. Loved getting up at 5 am & walking along the marshes & beaches. Having freshly ground & brewed strong coffee out there on the balcony watching the sunrise over the marshes

Jean

 

[reesecup]

Jonestavern,

We were there just recently and on Monday, the lady driving the shuttle service asked around 5 or maybe even a little earlier if anyone needed a ride back b/k it was her last trip. We told her we rode our bikes. Not sure what time the last pick up usually is.
And you are right, the parking lot fills up quickly. Well, actually, one day it was very full but on Thursday it didn't seem quite as bad. But the pool area was full.

I agree also with what you said about food opportunities. There are some great restaurants within a 5 minute walk or bike ride. And we did not do the shrimp boil this time, but are looking forward to doing that on the next trip.

We did grill out one night. The other night we didn't eat out, we prepared lasagne.

I really, really, hope when we go home to BWV, we will have these same feelings about how wonderful the place is! We just love HHI and will add points on when we are able. Would love to not have to worry about being waitlisted as much.

My mind keeps going back to riding my bike early in the morning as the sun began to rise over the marsh. When I'm teaching yoga now and we relax in the end , and we go to our happy place; this will surely be one I visit often in my mind!

 

[DisneyRefugee]

It certainly does not have to, but do either HH or VB have any Disney-theming to them? Characters or anything like that - or just pure vacation property like a Marriott?

 

[WolfpackFan]

Count us in with those that love HH. As far as beach front goes, there is no way DVC could have purchased enough beach front property for the entire resort and kept the cost per point in line with the other DVC resorts. Plus the dues would be out of sight. Personally we like the sound location. It is so nice and peacefull there. We love being next to the marina. It takes all of 5 minutes to drive to beach and we've never had problems getting a parking place. Others mention no on-site restaurants. The fact is most folks who go to the beach, do a whole lot more cooking in their units than when at WDW. A full-service restaurant would be a waste of money. Plus you have the restaurants right across the bridge at Shelter Cove as well as all the other great restaurants on HHI.

For those that don't like HH - that's great. Don't go back. Makes getting ressies easier for the rest of us.

 

[Patty3]

We are going at the end of May and we are all really looking forward to the trip!

 

[DisneyMomOfThree]

We are going this July and can't wait.
I had a patient that told me she goes there every summer with her 3 kids and loves it. She pays cash to stay (she does not own DVC). She informed me of several activities to do with my kids.
I need to get my DD2 riding her bike so we can bike to the beach.

 

[canda]

If you go to HHI you will regret it........................

you will go home and call the TSS to look for resales.....................

you will call the banks to find money to buy at least 200 points.........

you will now have SSR and HHI points and have to decide where to go each year............

HHI in the summer, SSR in the fall, Or SSR in the spring and HHI in the winter, are you sure you want to risk this each and every year until 2042?


back in the early days before 2001, many people in DVC thought HHI was evil, and should be sold. Man those were the good days, when my family had the resort almost to ourselves in the summer time.

 

[Doctor P]

I agree totally. If you don't need on site dining or being on the beach HHI is a fine choice. It all depends on what you want.

I will flame you on this issue. Saying that Disney's HH resort does not have on-site dining is like saying that there are no dining choices at BWV. IMHO, with approximately 10 restaurants within a couple hundred yards of the Disney resort and other ten within a quarter mile or so, the assertion just doesn't hold water. In fact, there are more restaurants in proximity to Disney's HH resort than in the same proximity to most villas at BCV! Check it out next time you are at each resort.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I took my family to HH in May 2005. It was awesome. I would highly recommend it.

 

[byoung]

It's great there is winning. I'll try it out soon.

 

[FlyingfreeWDW]

I will flame you on this issue. Saying that Disney's HH resort does not have on-site dining is like saying that there are no dining choices at BWV. IMHO, with approximately 10 restaurants within a couple hundred yards of the Disney resort and other ten within a quarter mile or so, the assertion just doesn't hold water. In fact, there are more restaurants in proximity to Disney's HH resort than in the same proximity to most villas at BCV! Check it out next time you are at each resort.

Flame away Doctor. I guess we differ on our definition of on site. On site, by my definition, means actually at the DVC HH Resort. Not accross the bridge or 5 minute walk down the road. By your definition most resorts have many on site options. How about SSR at WDW? Using your definition all of the restaurants at DTD would be on site dining. Lets see........ Rainforest Cafe, Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgand Pucks Express, Giradhelli ice cream, Fultons Crab House, Portobellos Yacht Club, did I forget any of the on site eateries at SSR?

Seriously, that was all in jest since you called me out. I'm sure HH is a fine choice for many, just not for me. I'm a little picky when it comes to beach resorts. I wouldn't call HH a beach resort, by the way, so I wouldn't even consider it for a trip to HH. HH is a golf and beach destination, HH DVC offers none of the above ON SITE. Doesn't make it bad, I just feel there are better options available. To each his own. I realize HH DVC has many fans.

Why try to sway me? I'm one less person competing for those summer months. I'll stick to Marriott there, thanks.

 

[Doctor P]

I would recommend one of the Marriott properties on the beach for HHI like Marriott's Grande Ocean. There are others like Surfwatch, etc. so check them all out.

Gee, only problem is that of the six Marriott timeshare properties on HH, only two of them have onsite eating facilities, and only one of them has what one would consider to be a fine restaurant. Well...I guess if you don't want an onsite restaurant, these resorts would be OK...wonder where I heard that. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I wholeheartedly agree that Disney's resort is not a beach resort and will likely not appeal to those people who want to be on a beach on their vacation, but the criticism of the lack of an onsite restaurant is ludicrous in view of the facts and the competitor's standing on that point.

 

[MagikMom]

I'm getting excited reading this thread. We are going to HH for the first time in July. Can't wait!