Is Hilton Head Fun???

[kimlia]

Hi! In 2004 I became DVC member! I am so excited! this was a huge investment for my family, I still can't believe I did it! Anyway, I could go to WDW 10 times a year, but my husband said let's try something different. SO IS HILTON HEAD FUN??

 

[spiceycat]

depends - do you like beaches, golf, tennis or shopping - then you will be in heaven.

if you don't - there is always the activities at HH to do.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Also, if you are interested in history you can also take day trips to Savannah and Charleston. We love HH. We have 150 points at VWL and 80 at HH; but wish they were reversed.

 

[BWVDenise]

My kids (10, 7, 6) took a vote last week. WDW vs. HH. Hilton Head won hands down. Nuff said!

 

[KAMommy]

We went to HH last summer and loved it. The beach is wonderful, very wide with lots of shell searching opportunities, particularly at low tide. The campfire is so funny and the staff are wonderful. My son (10) who is a science nut, loved the bird watching tour - which was free. We did pay for a dolphin cruise - expensive but well worth the money. The resort is great and it makes for a more relaxed vacation than WDW.

 

[TW1]

You'll find lots of threads abouth HHI on this forum. For us, this is our summer vacation as close to paradise as we can afford. We go every summer with two kids and lounge around the beach and pool. Somehow we do a whole lot of nothing while keeping very busy!

If you like beach vacations, this is your place. If not, well there are plenty of other things to do, but "water" activities are the prime focus, like swimming in the ocean, playing on the beach, or in the bay just paddling around or on a dolphin cruise.

HHI has an outstanding, and I mean outstanding, group of cast members. Truly, they are the best I've encoutered anywhere, Disney or otherwise. They are extremely well trained, very responsive to the guests needs and interests, very knowledgeable and always willing to help. It is the only place within DVC where I can answer that survey question about "Did someone go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable or special?" For this aspect alone, HHI is a great destination for anyone.

Hope you like it as much as we do.

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

We have been there twice and loved it. My children are asking when are we going there again. But it does depend on what you think is fun. In addition to the things already mentioned there are nice bike trails, horseback riding, fishing, crabbing. Keep in mind that HH is different than WDW resorts. If your expecting to see disney characters, you'll be disappointed.

 

[domestic goddess]

Our family loves WDW and we also travel to Cedar Point(another amusement park in Ohio) every year. We usually are on the go, go , go on vacation. I was worried that we would be bored at HH last April. Boy was I wrong!! We found lots to keep us busy but in a very relaxing way. I agree with all of the other posts about the CMs, fun, beach, etc. We are very much looking forward to our next trip there this year.

 

[cgcw]

We ending up going to HH the first time because we bought DVC while at WDW and didn't want to return the next year to use our points. We absolutely loved it there -- we added on during our stay. Then the next summer we added on again and the same thing the summer after that. To say it was addicting to us would be an understatement.

My DS10 & DS4 would choose HH over WDW anyday. Of course, they love WDW but Hilton Head is such a family, relaxing vacation.

 

[JVL1018]

All I can tell you is that we don't golf, I hate the beach, we don't even like seafood really, and we look forard to our HH trip so much!!
We do a whole lot of sitting around the pool, shopping and eating and that seems to keep us busier than I ever thought.
We take advantage of many of the activities at the resort, I have to say-the cast members there are top notch.
We haven't even made it to Savannah yet, even though on each of our 3 trips it was in the plans-we just can't seem to tear ourselves away form the resort. LOL This year it is my one goal-to actually get to Savannah!
My kids(now 3 and 5) love HH just as much as WDW and ask to go back often.

 

[GCM13]

HH is a nice, relaxing vacation. It's great if you like to golf, swim, shop, and eat. My inlaws go every year and love it, but that is the kind of vacation they enjoy. I've been to Hilton Head 3 times (2 at DVC HH). We had a great time. The kids loved the pool and activities. And just like others have said, the staff is awesome. Although we had fun, if my kids and I had to choose between vacationing at HH or WDW, we all choose WDW. To me, it's a little boring sitting by the pool or beach all week (don't golf and kids are too young to take on dolphin cruise). As a matter of fact, we have a week in June booked at HH and I'm trying to talk my husband into switching to WDW. Just wanted to post another viewpoint. It is a great place, but it may not be as fun if that's not what you like to do.

 

[Scotch]

We've been meaning to try HH for years given all that I've read about it as a summer beach vacation spot. But I'm a mosquito magnet and the thought of vacationing there during the hot humid summer in an area surrounded by water/swamps gives me great pause. Or does the island have some special mosquito control?

 

[TW1]

"...But I'm a mosquito magnet and the thought of vacationing there during the hot humid summer in an area surrounded by water/swamps gives me great pause...''

Actually, I've never encountered a mosquito problem in HHI. Can't say the island has any special controls over them, just doesn't seem to be an issue there. We were eatan alive in Assateague last summer, kids looked like they had chicken pox. But never in HHI, knock wood.

 

[klh]

I just bought HH as my home site. I never been there sounds like a great resort. What is the best thing to do there? I have three kids.

I hope I made the right dicision to buy HH. OKW and HH looked like the best deals on the resale market with the lower price per points and the maintenance fees.

Is the 7 months in advance going to be an issue is WDW? I can go any time to WDW

 

[spiceycat]

the first two weeks in Dec at WDW - are one of the few hard times - lots of DVC members LOVE that time - low points, low crowds, everything is decorated, the shows, etc....

 

[TW1]

...Is the 7 months in advance going to be an issue is WDW? I can go any time to WDW...

HHI is our home as well. We've never had trouble getting a WDW ressie at 7-months, even for BCV during spring break. And you are right, the dues level does make HHI a great deal.

 

[Sammie]

I just bought HH as my home site. I never been there sounds like a great resort. What is the best thing to do there? I have three kids.

I hope I made the right dicision to buy HH. OKW and HH looked like the best deals on the resale market with the lower price per points and the maintenance fees.

Is the 7 months in advance going to be an issue is WDW? I can go any time to WDW

Right now booking WDW at 7 months is not bad. If you are flexible when you can go, avoid the peak DVC member requested times, and are flexible as to where you stay, you should be able to get in without problem. This might change in the future.

 

[klh]

Many have made the comment that the 7 months window my become harder in the future. But the more members the more rooms that are built. I would think that this would even out. They are only selling for SSR right now which are all new rooms added to DVC members. If the 7 month window was not a problem with out SSR avaiable, way would it be a problem in the future. Am I missing someting? It is not like they are adding members and not adding rooms.

 

[Disneyaholic]

Many have made the comment that the 7 months window my become harder in the future. But the more members the more rooms that are built. I would think that this would even out. They are only selling for SSR right now which are all new rooms added to DVC members. If the 7 month window was not a problem with out SSR avaiable, way would it be a problem in the future. Am I missing someting? It is not like they are adding members and not adding rooms.

Getting *a* room might not be that much more difficult, but getting a specific type of room at the resort of first choice definitely will be. For example, BWV or BCV during F & W Festival or VWL over the Holidays ...not to mention HH during the summer months.

 

[TW1]

What is the best thing to do there? I have three kids.

This is one of the prime reasons we bought here, there is SOOOO much to do. We were so close to signing on at VB and just didn't jump in then, deciding we should see HHI first, and how glad we were that we did.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the CMs are outstanding. This is the only resort we have ever checked our children into a program and not felt the need to sit there to make sure they are safe and happy. In HHI, we even sign them up to go with the group to the movies, which the first time was a big test of faith for us. And everything went very well.

Upon check-in you will receive the weeks activities and you can and should sign up for several. They are arranged for all age groups from 4 yrs old through teens and many all-family type programs. There are arts and crafts, nature programs, dolphin trips, special meals, movie night, game night, pool games, campfires, ghost stories, fireworks, kayaking, etc., etc. Plus you can rent or bring your bikes and boats, play tennis, golf, and so forth. I just found a copy of the weeks activities from last summer and it was fun re-reading the things we did.

You cannot sign up in advance. You have to check-in first. That said, sign-up right after checking in since many fill up. Our favorites are any of the nature walks and explorations of the coast and marsh with the Naturalist, Christopher. We've learned more about barrier islands and their impact on the ecosystem from his programs than anywhere else.

But the beauty is you don't have to do anything at HHI, just enjoy the beach and pool all day and you'll be more than happy. ENJOY!