Hilton Head Island Trip Report July-Aug 2011

[dis-happy]

Love, love, LOVE your storm photo!!!!!

 

[mm6mm6]

There are many marsh view, 2nd floor 2 bedroom villas so I don't think you'll have a problem getting one. They're all great, but 1321 was just outstanding for us with its seclusion.

Several people did get stung by jellyfish. I was in the water quite a bit a didn't have a problem. The lifeguard said it's a day to day thing and I would think it'll be over by the time you get there. I remember the jellyfish being a problem one year at Vero, but they were gone all the other years.

 

[pennst8r]

Mugs were $15.

I think we probably just missed you guys--we checked out on the 23rd.


That white bird (egret?) stole the chicken necks as we were putting them in our crab nets!

 

[NJDVCmember]

Our family vacations at HHI everyyear since becoming members in 1999! We love it there. We had to cancel our vacation this year at HHI. DH and I thinking of going to VB for long weekend in Oct. we have never been there...How is it? Is there bike paths. Golf? Resturants? Any info would be appreciated. part of me wants to go HHI because we just love it there...

 

[mm6mm6]

Disney's Vero Beach Resort is very similar in both style and layout to DHHIR. They have virtually the exact same activies and choices of rooms. They have kayaking and nature tours as well.

Some additional advantages of Vero is that it is truly right on the beach. We had an oceanfront balcony and I would watch the lights of the shrimp boats way out there on the Atlantic at night. It's very dark at night because of the sea turtle nesting.

They rent jet skis and sailboats right there on the beach and the beach is very big and very private. The pool is awesome with a great slide and lots of activities. Lunch right by the pool very similar to DHHIR.

There are two Disney restaurants on the property. Shutters and Sonya's. Shutters is a character breakfast with Goofy and Max and is open for lunch and dinner, including a buffet some nights. Sonya's is a fancy restaurant. There is also the Green Cabin bar which is outstanding and serves appetizers. We had drinks on the Green Cabin bar balcony outside with shrimp cocktail and the two sauces made a Mickey on the serving plate. Truly magical!

There is a lot to do off property too, including a "must see" at the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum just a 15 minute drive north to Sebastian. Fisher discovered the sunken 1715 fleet in 1969 and they're still recovering treasure today! The museum is really cool for adults and children. Who doesn't love a real life treasure story worth billions. You can actually hold an almost 300 year old bar of gold recovered from the fleet that sunk in 1715. The weight is amazing. It was worth $850,000 when were were there years ago. Today is would probably be worth more than $1.5 million.

There are plenty of great restaurant choices off property too, including Captain Hirams and Squid Lips, both of which I highly recommend.

Once you've gone to Vero Beach, you'll have a hard time choosing between DHHIR and Vero.

We always went to Vero because we drove to WDW in Orlando first. Then we relaxed on the beach. We tried DHHIR because we were going to Charleston first for our cruise. We're so happy we did because we love DHHIR just as much as Vero.

 

[NJDVCmember]

Thanks so much for all the info.
Printing out your response now so I have the names of the places you recommended.

We have to use our points of lose them so I'm going to try and get the cottage! How cool would that be! I would ask our friends that live by Orlando to come out. If not ...well thats okay!

 

[bunnybee]

Great trip report. We must have been there when you were - we were in bldg 11 for part of it and then in 24.. we loved it. We just got back after spending a few days in Orlando as well.
We only saw one jelly fish and it was washed up on shore at high tide so I guess we were lucky.
Envious of the pp that is going there soon - wish we were going back. We had a great trip!

 

[buzz5985]

We were in Building 13 our last stay, but on the 2nd floor. When we were there we saw a dolphin come into the little inlet next door feeding every night, he came in with the tide. It was awesome.

My DS crabbed the entire time we were there - but I don't think he caught anything that big. When you cooked the crab - is it like cooking lobster?? I may have to send my DS out to catch our dinner!!!!

Thank you for getting me very excited. I am heading out next friday for Orlando, weekend at Vero Beach then a week at Hilton Head. I can't wait.

Janis

 

[mm6mm6]

Just like cooking lobster!

 

[VMS]

and miss it so much already. Was our 10th year going (most of the earlier years were during the spring). We were there from 7/31 - 8/5 in building 24. So sad to leave and we are not sure when we will be back . . . 3 kids with 2 of them in college this year. No one has the same weeks off anymore.

LOVED all the photos, thanks for posting!

 

[Plutofan]

THanks for the photos. We will be going back to HH in June. We got to Vero every other year and then HH the other year. Our kids love the activities at HH.

 

[Credit Man]

Wonderful trip report and great pictures. Thanks for posting.

 

[Bribrittmom]

We just got back too.Were there from 7/31-8/5.We had a great time but in the fifteen times I've been to HHI,not all at Disney resort,the jellyfish were the worst I've ever seen.

 

[Cee]

This is a wonderful TR and excellent photos! I've always been curious about HHI and now I want to go there so badly! Thank you for taking the time.

 

[seelyt2]

Thanks for posting! We'll leaving this coming weekend for our first trip to HHI. I thought I couldn't get more excited until I saw your post! Yay!!! Love the pix of the crabs and crab cakes. YUM!!!! Glad you had such a great time. What a beautiful family you have. Thanks for sharing!