Just Back from GREAT HH week!!!

[dizneeluvr]

We just got back from an awesome week at HHI!!! We stayed in our first 1 bedroom villa ever (we do studios) and it was great!!! Very big, had everything we needed and I loved coming home with clean clothes rather then a day of chores!! and when we walked in the door that first time--our DD, 8, commented on "all the rooms". A 1 bedroom is perfect for that kind of vacation, while a studio is perfect for us at the World!

We arrived on Sunday (the 23rd) and our room was ready when we got there at noon! Getting in so early really made us feel like we had a bonus day! We unloaded our stuff and were off to an unbirthday party at 1 p.m!!

We had spectacular weather the whole time. We felt not a drop of rain the entire week and our temps were atleast 72 every day! The forecasters called for rain on Thursday and Friday but we were pleased to see they are as inaccurate there as they are in St. Louis I guess maybe the no-rain duck dance we did at the Wednesday night campfire worked after all. It was CM Todd's last night as he will be heading to Australia for 16 months to play piano with some orchestra type thing.

We did three campfires, un birthday party, sweet goodnights, butterfly house painting, B'Loue's Magic Show and Shadow Tails, kayaking, biking, barbecuing, lots of swimming and beach time, goofy bingo, and kite flying, puttputt, etc... It was really a wonderful vacation!!!

We were thrilled to see B'Loue Crabbe and Bryan again--two CM's that are what Disney is all about!!! Class acts from start to finish!

A bike ride to dinner on our second night came across a shut-down Fuddruckers. Looks like remodeling is going on. Went into Guiseppi's instead!!! Dune's Pizza is no longer (sign still there on road--but its now ramones or something like that). We ate at the diner twice (just for a change from "chicken fingers" for youngest DD) and one of the times we had a FRIENDLY waiter (not common there) named Paul!!!

It was great!!!! Next up???? My free Disney cruise I hope!

~Laura

 

[VMS]

Great report! We can't wait for our upcoming trip. Do they still do the Cheeky - Cheeky dance at the campfire?

 

[luckytso]

Laura,

Thanks for the report.

You just convined me that we will go there for either next Memorial Day week or July 4th, after our AP expires.

It does sound a lot of fun with those kids activities.

Do you remember if they have many activities for 6 and 3 year old?

Thanks

 

[dizneeluvr]

The "Cheeky Cheeky" dance is alive and well!!!!!!!!! And Bryan is--hands down--the best free-styler they've got!!! It was great fun the night he did it!


As for activities for 6 and 3....plenty!!! We have DDs, 8 & 4. And although the unbirthday party splits them at that age, they were happy to have the 8 year old join the younger ones (she is quiet and prefers that anyway). Throw in sand castles and swimming with the activities they offer...and your kids will be thrilled!!!


Looking forward to going back next year hopefully!

Laura

 

[luckytso]

Laura, thanks so much

 

[dizneeluvr]

And to give you an idea of what your 6 & 3 yo may like:

Goofy bingo (family activity)

Sweet Goodnights (bedtime stories with milk and cookies at the lodge)...kids get to sit on floor with storyteller

Unbirthday Party (party activities to celebrate those days that aren't your birthday)

And I'm sure in the summer months they have more of everything. Apparently this is really the beginning of their getting more people there.

Laura

 

[luckytso]

Laura,

I think I remember people say building 18 may have Marsh view. I may need doc's help. If I were looking for marsh view, non-smoking 1-bedroom and elevator, is there such room in any of the buildings? What does the lodge have? Is there any advantage to request the lodge location? For the goodnight thing, it seems to be better to stay at the lodge so that you can go straight back to your room.

Which building were you in? Did you like the location? Thanks again

 

[RobDoc]

Building 18 does have a marsh view and a great view of the Tuesday night fireworks in the summer. There is a 1BR in that building, but no elevator.

The only elevator is in the Live Oak Lodge. Building 11 (Lodge) and 12 are connected and share the elevator. Between those 2 buildings there are 16 1BR villas. None of the other buildings have elevators.

The lodge has marsh view and island view rooms and 12 has island view (but, you can see the marsh from this view at these 2 buildings).

Enjoy!

 

[luckytso]

Doc,

I know you will come through

This is great information. We have never been to HH and I think it would be a nice change after visiting WDW at least 4-5 times between now and next April.

Thanks very much.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by dizneeluvr
A 1 bedroom is perfect for that kind of vacation, while a studio is perfect for us at the World!

[/B]

DH feels the same way. We also stayed in our first ever 1 BR at HH a few weeks ago. In May, we'll be bringing family to a 2 BR at OKW. I can't help buy wonder if his feelings will change after that and we'll be 1 BR converts!
Just curious-which 1 BR did you have? We were in 1137, facing the woods. DH thought the location was perfect, but I can't help but wish we had the unit across the hall over the water with the Dolphins swimming. At least we could watch them from the hall porch bench. Have you ever stayed specifically in a studio at HH? We'd previously planned to and stayed in a studio the last night in building 28. If there were any doubts of our love for the space of a 1 BR and the privacy of our balcony in Building 11, we were sure after that! Boy have we been spoiled!

 

[dizneeluvr]

We stayed in a studio last year at HH and loved it!! #1614 It was a very spacious studio and I loved the way the little "kitchen" area was around the corner.

We decided to try a 1 bedroom because you do spend a bit more time (not much) in the room at HH then you do at WDW. This year we requested our 1 bedroom NOT be in the lodge (I prefer being in the other buildings for a less "hotel" feel) and we got room #1614.

The CM who checked us in, said that they try to put you in the same room or building to keep that "homey feeling". Don't know if that is true, but it was neat!

 

[Geyser Gazer]

Anybody swimming in the ocean while you were there?

 

[dizneeluvr]

A few people were in the ocean...mostly kids. A few brave adults though. I thought about it...but the day I considered it I saw a few pinkish/redish jelly fish here and there and decided against it. I thought they waited for warmer water then that!!!

~Laura

 

[sumessefui]

Laura,
We were there last week also, arriving on the 22nd. We ate at Fuddruckers that night, so it was not closed. The weather was perfect wasn't it. We were in a 2BR (1422) with a great marsh view and the marina right out front. Jerry.

 

[VMS]

We were in 1422 last April! I wouldn't mind being assigned there again. How is the old place? We check in a week from Sunday and CANNOT WAIT! Too long a winter here in CT with some snow still flying around the last few days.

 

[sumessefui]

VMS,
IT was a great room although some times the boardwalk behind it could be noisy. The resort was great, Brian was fun, and "A Private Affair was fantastic. Try the new HHI tour that they now offer.