Just Came Back from HHI, Stayed at Disney HH and Marriott Grand Ocean

[lat]

We had a GREAT time at Hilton Head. I think I actually like it more than Disney!!! We don't golf but we love HH for the amenities it offers.

We like the activities Disney offers and its customer service is top notch.

LOVED "A Private Affair with Chef Gordon", we had 10 people and it is definitely a highlight of all our meals at HH.

Marriott Grand Ocean offers a much better unit. Almost 1400 sf and much more upscale than Disney's unit. Plus it is right on the beach, my brother in law jogged on the beach every morning. The water was very warm. The best beach I have ever seen, wide, fine sand, and can ride a bike on it.

Loved to ride bikes through Sea Pine. GREAT bike paths!!!

However, I actually like Disnye's location because it offers both the beach acess and the marsh. Loved the marsh area to do crabbing and all that.

I wish we can have Disney's activities combined with Marriott's villa.

Went to Grand Ocean's owner's social. The people there are much older. We are the youngest ones (we are not that young either). All they did was to complain about their unit. I thought they had a great unit as is and could not believe no one would give the management any credits. I tried to say something but could not even squeeze in a word.

Will be back next year at HH. Definitely A Private Affair Again!!!

 

[BWVDenise]

Wow, sounds like you had a great time! I was wondering what it was like at Marriott. Do they have 2 bdrm units there?
We also love HHI even more than WDW! We haven't tried Chef Gordon's Private Affair yet, though!

 

[Judique]

Originally posted by lat
We had a GREAT time at Hilton Head. I think I actually like it more than Disney!!! We don't golf but we love HH for the amenities it offers.

We like the activities Disney offers and its customer service is top notch.

LOVED "A Private Affair with Chef Gordon", we had 10 people and it is definitely a highlight of all our meals at HH.

Marriott Grand Ocean offers a much better unit. Almost 1400 sf and much more upscale than Disney's unit. Plus it is right on the beach, my brother in law jogged on the beach every morning. The water was very warm. The best beach I have ever seen, wide, fine sand, and can ride a bike on it.

Loved to ride bikes through Sea Pine. GREAT bike paths!!!

However, I actually like Disnye's location because it offers both the beach acess and the marsh. Loved the marsh area to do crabbing and all that.

I wish we can have Disney's activities combined with Marriott's villa.

Went to Grand Ocean's owner's social. The people there are much older. We are the youngest ones (we are not that young either). All they did was to complain about their unit. I thought they had a great unit as is and could not believe no one would give the management any credits. I tried to say something but could not even squeeze in a word.

Will be back next year at HH. Definitely A Private Affair Again!!!

Glad you enjoyed my favorite vacation, Lat!
Also curious about Grande Ocean...do you own there? I am interested in trying out a week there.

 

[spiceycat]

the Marriott's Grande Ocean only has 2-bedrooms.

I think Dean owns there.

I think this resort is pretty nice - I liked it better than Disney's HH - but hey everyone has different taste.

lots of the GO members have been complaining on Tug too - evidently in their opinion the resort has gone downhill?????

 

[vonderbar]

Disappointed to hear accommodations are better at the Marriott than Disney's HH. I have never been to HH. Considering taking my Mom, who turns 80 in February. It would be her belated gift, as we would go in early May. Now I'm not sure. I would hate to take her to a Disney VC in HH and be disappointed. Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea or we should just go to WDW with her.

Mom loves Civil War history and the plan was to stay at HH and then do a day trip in Charleston and day trip in Savannah.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by vonderbar
Disappointed to hear accommodations are better at the Marriott than Disney's HH. I have never been to HH. Considering taking my Mom, who turns 80 in February. It would be her belated gift, as we would go in early May. Now I'm not sure. I would hate to take her to a Disney VC in HH and be disappointed. Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea or we should just go to WDW with her.

Mom loves Civil War history and the plan was to stay at HH and then do a day trip in Charleston and day trip in Savannah.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

I just returned from DVC HHI (nine night stay). You may want to read my trip report on this forum.

 

[mikesmom]

I've not been to Grande Oceane, but can guarantee you will not be disappointed in HHI. If your Mom likes Civil War history there is an old plantation ruins on the island that we wandered around. It was fascinating.

 

[Candace]

Vonderbar - My mom is 84, and I take her annually to HH DVC. She loves the resort and the area. While it would be nice to be directly on the ocean, we love the marsh views also, sitting on the porch in rocking chairs, etc. Great restaurants and shopping on the island. If your mom is into history, she will love Charleston and Savannah. Another really good nearby town to visit is Beaufort. Small, but full of fascinating history. Several movies were filmed there such as part of "Forrest Gump" and "Prince of Tides". Don't miss this little town! I envy you for going in early May. I am sure the weather will be absolutely perfect. We are always there in summer when it is so hot and humid. Can't wait to retire in two years so I can go at other times (I teach). Enjoy your trip to HH!

 

[lat]

vonderbar - you will like DVC HH. We checked in there first and really liked it. I love the marsh area and both the kids and adults love the activities there A LOT!!!

However, the Grand Ocean unit is much bigger and nicer than DVC in terms of the size and furnishings. GO has a full dining room table, good size living room and kitchen, and a bigger master bedroom. However, I think DVC HH has a bigger 2nd bedroom. GO does not have a slide, but it has a nicer fitness center plus an indoor pool, of course, the beach is right there. For some days, some of our people would be building sand castles on the beach while some others are by the pool. We could walk back and forth and see each other.

I really like DVC HH for its activities and their GREAT staff (Christopher - Naturalist, B'Lou, and everyone else we have encountered). Plus the Palmetto Dunes area is very nice also.

I think next year, we will try to stay more nights at DVC HH to take advantage of the activities before we move over to GO (yes, I am an owner there too).

GO's clientele seems to be more of retired people (at least during the time we were there) vs. DVC's younger clientele. They had a sand castle building contest and supposedly NO ONE showed up.

In terms of rooms, I feel it is comfortable to fit 8 people in GO, while the set up of DVC unit would make 8 a bit tight in the living room/dining room area.

Dean had assured me that we would like HH and GO and we sure did. Looking forward to next year!!!!!!!!

We did Savannah on a trolly tour. It was OK. I think we much more like the relaxed island vacation than visiting a city. It is a nice city though. The trolly fare is somewhat negotiable. We stopped by the welcome center and picked one of the trolleys there. They gave me a much better price than what they claimed they charge. If you have a large group of people, you should try to see what they really would take. I did not even bargain hard at all.

Ate at Our Lady and Sons for lunch. It was OK, the food was not my cup of tea but it was a nice experience to have some "real" southern food.

A Private Affair is so much better than any other meals we have had on the island or anywhere else. I have already told Gordon we will do it again next year around the same time, possibly with even more people. He said many of his clients do the same. He would have their names notes on his calendar and then firm up the dates a few months ahead of time.

I even received a nice e-mail from him thanking us for the dinner while I feel I want to write to Disney HH to thank them to offer such opportunity for families. Sitting in Signals, looking over the beach, and have the entire room to ourselves is quite an experience. The kids, when they got bored, just went to the other side to play video games and foosball (sp?). GREAT set-up.

 

[Dean]

Glad it worked out. While I like GO far better than DVC HH, it's the location that really impresses me. While I like the units better also, there is not a huge difference. GO is in the midst of a major redo going to granite counters and all non smoking.

 

[lat]

Dean,

We were in Dolphin on the 3rd floor, renovated and very nice. We never even made it to the Dolphin pool. The North Pool was great for the kids already. Thanks again for all the advices. Can't wait for next year's unit. We will have an ocean front unit for the first time.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Glad you had a great time!! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to go again in May.

Allison

 

[Simba's Mom]

What can you tell me about the unit you had at HH? How was the view? And what did you have to eat at the Private Affair? Looking for recommendations here-we have it booked for the first time on our next trip. Can't wait!

 

[lat]

We had unit 2121. The view was nothing to speak about. It was overlooking one of the courtyards. However, it is very convenient to get to the pool and all the activities. Upper floor. Close to the parked car.

I worked with Chef Gordon. Some of us had the stuff on his suggested menu. I ordered 2 surf and turf and it turned out to have a filet migon and a very large lobster tail!!! Hubby ordered some type of seafood that contained lobster which was different than his seafood assortment on the menu. He said it was VERY good. We also ordered a special dessert to go with a particular wine that DH liked.

The caramel fondue was very good.

A Private Affair is not to be missed if you are staying there. $50 per person is a great bargain (no tips or tax) with matching wines, at least for where we live. The food and the setting was the best we had.

My 2 kids did not even order, and they provided drinks for them, in a Disney refillable mug, and gave them mickey ice cream bar!!!