hmansure
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2002
- Messages
- 3,094
Just a few notes from short HHI trip over NYE....
Trip down experienced some of the worst traffic I've ever experienced on I-95! The roads were very well travelled last week!
For those who occasionally use good 'ol 95 - overnight stay in Lumberton, NC (Fairfield Inn) was pretty good. Clean and safe - that's all we ever ask for (other than being able to use Marriott reward points!!). We usually make the trip in one shot as well, but I refer back to the unexpected traffic issues above
For the return trip - Courtyard Marriott in Chester, VA - very clean, but breakfast was on the lame side - very lame.
Checked in around noon on 12/30. Villa #2012 was ready and waiting! Had some hot apple cider at the front desk and the kids were given DVC Christmas ornaments. The room was in good working order and was very clean - no mousekeeping issues at all to report. Lunch at Tide Me Over - the usual fare (burgers, Caesar salad, tuna sandwich....).
After unpacking it was off to make Vacation Pillows. We learned our lesson a couple of summers back and limited our pillow production to two this time around.
It's a children's project that basically requires 99% parental work!! Disappointed they were out of "holiday" prints.
Time to squeeze in a trip to Publix before the campfire. This trip was a R&R trip and we were only planning one night out for dinner. Though we brought some food with us - apparently one can't leave NJ without our own "gravy" - that's tomato sauce for the uniformed (which I used to be a part of) - we needed to get some stuff. We hit the Piggly Wiggly for some desserts one day, too. Either store is fine if you need to shop for groceries.
After dinner.... traditional campfire. DD was chosen as the bell ringer and that means - - - - - first in line for s'mores!
Weather - mid 50s & touched 60 on Friday... 30s at night. Sat was in the 40s - chilly. Rained on NYE for a bit and most of Jan 1 was a rain event, but it eventually cleared out.
Other activities we participated in - Jr. Explorers, Shadow's Tales, Dinosaurs, and the New Year campfire (more s'mores).... Kids didn't want to attend the NYE parties (they have in the past), but we attended the midnight ball dropping ceremony. On another thread it has been reported that a CM treated Old Glory in a disrespectful manner when swapping the flag for the ball, but we didn't see that. DVC will certainly be receiving some complaints about that - and rightfully so. There were a few folks who had too much to drink and were a bit on the rude side and few young ladies weren't wearing the appropriate clothes after they made a decision to jump in the pool!
All-in-all it was a rather laid back event. Think dance-type pool party.
Pools were heated and our kids were in the them! I went in one day and found it quite warm (86 degrees I was told), but enjoyed the spa a bit more! I was surprised by the number of people in the pool at various times. The chairs on the deck were totally empty though! On Friday the spa's heater broke down and there were a few unhappy campers around (myself included).
Did I mention what I love best about SC?? Sweet tea! Just not something one finds up here - I don't even ever recall seeing family size tea bags in our food stores (though a couple of boxes made the trip home with us!!).
Dinner on NYE at Kingfisher. DVC discount was available, too. Food was pretty good (she crab soup!!!) and our kids even ate pasta there (see aforementioned note about "gravy"!!). It was nice to stroll on over there and back. Again - rest and relaxation.
We mostly could be found playing football on the beach or in between trees at the resort, lying around in hammocks, or just goofing off.
Scored some new DVC merchandise (which for some reason I can never find anything good when we are at WDW?!). CM's were all friendly and helpful (though scarce in the off season - same woman was helping DW with a watch on Wednesday and then making my lunch at Signals on Saturday!).
So here we are back in NJ....back to school...back to work... while I am clinging to some sweet tea that found it's way back with us....
A couple of pictures to follow...
Trip down experienced some of the worst traffic I've ever experienced on I-95! The roads were very well travelled last week!
For those who occasionally use good 'ol 95 - overnight stay in Lumberton, NC (Fairfield Inn) was pretty good. Clean and safe - that's all we ever ask for (other than being able to use Marriott reward points!!). We usually make the trip in one shot as well, but I refer back to the unexpected traffic issues above
For the return trip - Courtyard Marriott in Chester, VA - very clean, but breakfast was on the lame side - very lame.Checked in around noon on 12/30. Villa #2012 was ready and waiting! Had some hot apple cider at the front desk and the kids were given DVC Christmas ornaments. The room was in good working order and was very clean - no mousekeeping issues at all to report. Lunch at Tide Me Over - the usual fare (burgers, Caesar salad, tuna sandwich....).
After unpacking it was off to make Vacation Pillows. We learned our lesson a couple of summers back and limited our pillow production to two this time around.
It's a children's project that basically requires 99% parental work!! Disappointed they were out of "holiday" prints.Time to squeeze in a trip to Publix before the campfire. This trip was a R&R trip and we were only planning one night out for dinner. Though we brought some food with us - apparently one can't leave NJ without our own "gravy" - that's tomato sauce for the uniformed (which I used to be a part of
) - we needed to get some stuff. We hit the Piggly Wiggly for some desserts one day, too. Either store is fine if you need to shop for groceries.After dinner.... traditional campfire. DD was chosen as the bell ringer and that means - - - - - first in line for s'mores!
Weather - mid 50s & touched 60 on Friday... 30s at night. Sat was in the 40s - chilly. Rained on NYE for a bit and most of Jan 1 was a rain event, but it eventually cleared out.
Other activities we participated in - Jr. Explorers, Shadow's Tales, Dinosaurs, and the New Year campfire (more s'mores).... Kids didn't want to attend the NYE parties (they have in the past), but we attended the midnight ball dropping ceremony. On another thread it has been reported that a CM treated Old Glory in a disrespectful manner when swapping the flag for the ball, but we didn't see that. DVC will certainly be receiving some complaints about that - and rightfully so. There were a few folks who had too much to drink and were a bit on the rude side and few young ladies weren't wearing the appropriate clothes after they made a decision to jump in the pool!
All-in-all it was a rather laid back event. Think dance-type pool party. Pools were heated and our kids were in the them! I went in one day and found it quite warm (86 degrees I was told), but enjoyed the spa a bit more! I was surprised by the number of people in the pool at various times. The chairs on the deck were totally empty though! On Friday the spa's heater broke down and there were a few unhappy campers around (myself included).
Did I mention what I love best about SC?? Sweet tea! Just not something one finds up here - I don't even ever recall seeing family size tea bags in our food stores (though a couple of boxes made the trip home with us!!).
Dinner on NYE at Kingfisher. DVC discount was available, too. Food was pretty good (she crab soup!!!) and our kids even ate pasta there (see aforementioned note about "gravy"!!). It was nice to stroll on over there and back. Again - rest and relaxation.
We mostly could be found playing football on the beach or in between trees at the resort, lying around in hammocks, or just goofing off.
Scored some new DVC merchandise (which for some reason I can never find anything good when we are at WDW?!). CM's were all friendly and helpful (though scarce in the off season - same woman was helping DW with a watch on Wednesday and then making my lunch at Signals on Saturday!).
So here we are back in NJ....back to school...back to work... while I am clinging to some sweet tea that found it's way back with us....
A couple of pictures to follow...
