Just back from VWL and HHI (kind of long sorry)

[Luvdisney]

Just got in late last night from a great 2 weeks at WDW and HHI. First 8 nights we stayed at our home resort VWL. We had a studio. The Wilderness Lodge was beatiful as always. We checked in on 7/26. I had requested a lake view, but didn't get it. Our room was on the 4th floor over looking the green transformers down below. Oh well, maybe next time. According to the CM at the front desk it was at 100% capacity. I believe it, it was packed. We used the quiet pool because you couldn't find a chair at the main pool. The Tuesday e-night we went to was also sold out according to guest services. It was pretty busy. Had to wait on a couple of rides. But all in all, we had a great time. For the last 7 nights we went to HHI for the first time. My DW fell in love with HHI. As for me, it was nice but I think I would rather be on the ocean. Room was really nice except for a couple of issues. Bugs... Bugs... Bugs... ants and a couple of roaches to be exact. Just so happened it was time for the annual spraying during our stay. This got rid of the ants but I still had to kill a roach on our last day. Also, another problem was mouse keeping forgot to come and clean our room on Wednesday our scheduled day. Had to call for towls and things. But forgot to mention TP. So, wouldn't you know it on our last night at about 10:30 PM the last of the TP was used. Had to call the front desk and after a chuckle they said we'll send more right over. Well 45 minutes later, no TP. I called the front desk agian and after another chuckle and a I'm sorry according to the work order this has been completed at 10:40 PM. I assured the front desk that it had not and I wanted to go to bed. But I was waiting for them to bring the TP. 10 Minutes later finally a knock at the door and we had TP. Not sure but I felt since we had a studio and it wasn't at Live Oak Lodge we got over looked on some things. The place was at 100% capacity and I think mouse keeping was busy doing all the 1 and 2 bedrooms. Our room was in Bldg 18. room 1814. It had a wonderful view of the marsh area and had great seats for the fireworks on Tuesday night. Would highly recommend it to anyone. Even with the 2 issues we still had a great time. The beach was great, Just wished I didn't have to drive or ride a bus to get to it. Oh! we had a couple of aligators come visit us while we were visiting. According to the CM's this is rare. Usually they don't come into this area becuase of the salt water. They thought maybe it was due to all the rain they had. They even closed the pier for a while so know one would feed them. I heard some kid was throwing a crab net over at it and it snapped at it. It's amzing what people let there kids do. But thats a whole other thread..... We drove from VA and I thought DC traffic is bad. Traffic between Jacksonville and Orlando on 7/26 was a B&&*@!!! I didn't think we would ever get there. Every time we get up to spped everything would come to a halt. Neverr knew why, I guess volume. Oh well now to plan the next trip. DW said she doesn't want to go to WDW for a while. So I'm sad but maybe I can talk her into it in a month or so. Wish me luck.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Thanx for the great report!
I hope you noticed the TP situation before........ well,........ let's just say I hope you noticed it ahead of time, and were not "sitting down waiting for it".

Did you tell anyone about the roach? If so, what was there response?

Thanx again....

 

[jodyluvsdisney]

YUCK!!!!!!! we love hhi too...even better than wdw...but now im a little less than excited about our upcoming hh adventure in 13 days....(especially because i had hoped for bld. 18!!!) somebody...tell me this is the exception lately and that this is not a common thing...we have NEVER had 1 problem with housekeeping or bugs with anything disney, but between this post and the ant problems at beach club that have been repeatedly posted,.... im wondering. thx!

 

[Disneyaholic]

They're not really roaches -- they're palmettos -- roaches that FLY! They are all over the place in South Carolina, unfortunately. The biggest negative to Hilton Head, IMHO. We've experienced a few, both indoors and out while there.

Sorry you had to experience them. Hope the annual spraying gets rid of them!

 

[colleen costello]

If you fear the Palmetto bugs, make sure to leave doors closed at night. HH has great porches, but these critters will sneak in at night if a door is open and a light is on... We were there early July and saw not a single bug... Be brave!

We had no housekeeping problems but the pace at this resort is definitely "slower." There's not that much action and there's not that much staff. This was an impression only, but may explain why it took a while for your TP. I have NEVER before been to a Disney resort where you walk up to the front desk and find... no one! Simply doesn't happen! At HH, I had to ring the bell and then someone would come... DH and I also joked that kids were running the place. I swear I so no employee over 20 except for a nice woman in the gift shop one afternoon! Go figure...

This is a place to RELAX... Enjoy. It's different than WDW but wonderful in its own way!

 

[cgcw]

Your post just reminded me of what we encountered last month at HH. We stayed in a 1 bedroom in building 19.

We saw a palmetto bug slowly making its way across the bedroom. It wasn't in a hurry and it was daylight. I've always thought the roaches people associate negativity with came out at night in the dark. This was the first time in 3 summers we ever saw one.

Anyway, DH just so happened to have an empty beer bottle and he put it down on the floor and said "watch this". Never in all of my years did I think the bug would crawl into the bottle but it did. I'm sure it was one drunk bug by the time it got out or that was one heck of a way to die!

 

[timC]

I am soooooo looking forward to our first trip to HHI, next summer. There's just that pesky 7-month window problem to deal with.

 

[colleen costello]

TimC, good luck. I called bright and early at the 7-month window. It was Thanksgiving weekend, I believe -- I couldn't call til they opened again Monday -- but I got a 2-bedroom for the 3 nights I wanted, right at July 4th week. It IS possible!

 

[rwebbirish]

jodyluvsdisney,
We stayed in building 18 over July 4th week and did not see one bug in the room. In fact, the only bugs we saw were the bees going after the food that people left behind. I never understand why it is so difficult for some to throw away their trash. No mosquitoes either!!

We did experience problems with housekeeping. We paid for T & T each day and twice we had to call for towels when we came back in late in the afternoon to get ready for dinner. One night my husband had to go get towels because we had dinner reservations. However, when we had problems with the air conditioning, we called the front desk just before we went out and while we were unlocking our bikes, maintenance arrived. Probably less than five minutes to respond!!

The relaxed atmosphere of HHI is wonderful. The staff is very friendly and there is so much to do, both at the resort and on the island. Be sure to visit the other areas on the island.

Have a wonderful stay!

 

[dizneeluvr]

When in South Carolina always keep a shoe handy (for the Palmetto bugs)! Apparently they breed in pine straw which is the landscaping material of choice down south. Go figure...

I'm sure HH sprays to keep those little buggers away...but as one poster said, they are everywhere in S.C.!

Here's an amusing tale about these bugs that will show you just how hardy they are!

After college I had an apartment in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Brand spanking new building and I was a neat freak in those days so there wasn't so much as a crumb left out. Palmettos (a fancy word for Roach) made their visit often--resulting in me climbing on the mattress I slept on more times than I can count. Unfortunately it only got me about six inches off the floor as I had spent my money on the nice apartment and didn't really worry about a little thing called "furniture".

Anyway, fast forward a few months and along comes Hurricane Hugo. I evacuated, as I had to, with my beloved Pier I Papasan strapped to the roof of my Plymouth Horizon (I'm rolling my eyes at the memory) to see my fiance at Fort Rucker in Alabama. The storm made landfall about a mile away from my place. While the building was left standing it still had water in the electrical lines and brought the ceiling above me down in places. About a week later we drove back to reclaim as much stuff as possible. Sure enough there was a lovely little Palmetto Bug sitting (alive) in the bathtub of my pretty messed up apartment just smiling up at me (well, maybe not smiling but mocking me no doubt).

They have amazing survival instincts. So, while I'm sure HH sprays, the best measure is to keep that shoe handy and kill one for me!

~Laura

ps. HH is soooo worth any critters you might see.

 

[Tomskatt]

Hmmmm...we were there for a week in July and never had a bug problem! We loved it! I would love to book another trip with our 11 month window, but since we loved it so much we are moving down there! Now what do I do with a timeshare in the town I will be living in?!