Just returned from HHI! (July 1-7)

[deerh]

Just got back from HHI and wanted to give a quick report. We arrived at 12:30PM from Atlanta (4.75 hrs), and got a 1BR in the lodge. Room 1132 on the 3rd floor looking at the lagoon (next to Shelter Cove). The room was very nice, and everything worked great. The only thing that fell was the cover off of the door out to the patio that raises the blinds. Also, those doors out to the deck/patio need repair-they would not lock.

The 1st day we ate at Scott's Fish Market, and will not go back. The seafood was overcooked, and the service was bad...
The next day the ocean called us, and we went to the Beach House and stayed and swam by the pool for the next several hours. It was great weather ALL WEEK!!
The 2nd day, we went back to the beach/pool and did the same thing as the 1st day. We ate at the Sea Shack, and it was great!! A great price, and great food!
For $38, 4 of us ate seafood!
The 3rd day we went shopping at the Tanger outlets. I was very disappointed, as a lot of stores have closed there, and not really great bargains. The only thing decent was the Golf Warehouse, they have some good deals there for golfers.
The 4th day, I played golf at Fazio across the street from Disney. The price was high ($84)! But, a VERY tough course, and it was a lot of fun as the guy I played golf with was very nice... *That can be a problem, you pair up with another guy or 2, or 3, and sometimes they can be REAL jerks!! This guy was from Chicago, and very nice to play golf with... I shot a 101... Not great, but it was fun.

The 5th day, we went back to the pool/beach, and it clouded up and rained about 3 pm. We went back to the resort and ordered Gisapppe pizza. The BEST pizza I have ever had!

On the 6th day, it was raining, (we thought about staying till 2pm since it was a short drive to Atlanta), but we saw the rain, and left about 10am, and got home around 3:30pm..

So to summerize:

YES!!
Sea Shack, Golf, Accomodations, Gisappe Pizza, Beach, Pools and Weather!

NO!!
To broken doors, Scott's Fishmarket

Also, no "pool crashers" this time, all doors were locked, and had to use your key each and every time.. Although, no one checked my ID card, they never have done this...


DeerH

 

[disgirl]

It sounds like you had a great trip! Good for you. I would love to visit HHI someday, but I can not convince DH and DS of a week at the beach. They think they would get too bored without the parks. Thanks for reporting to us!

 

[byoung]

Sounds like you enjoyed your trip, thanks for reporting.

 

[deerh]

Forgot a few things:

1. When we got there on Sunday at 12:30, B'Lou Crabbe was on the front porch of the lodge playing a banjo with SHADOW the dog!! It was cool to see him 1st thing we got there..

2. The fireworks on July 4th were great, and GLAD we were at Disney, the crowd at Shelter Cove was unbelievable!! It was wall to wall people with traffic to boot. We went down the elevator, walked 45 steps to the "long boardwalk" at HHI Disney, and stopped there at 8:55, and 5 min later we had fireworks! NO traffic, not many people, it was great not to get into that crowd!

3. We did not do any of the activities with Disney, as the 2 girls we were with, DD 13 and a friend (13), thought it was for little kids...

DeerH

 

[Disneyaholic]

Did you arrive on Saturday or Sunday? We got there on Saturday, July 1 and also ate at Scott's. (Pretty much by default because by the time we got through the traffic on 278 and the crowds at Publix, we didn't feel like going anywhere else!) Can't remember what DH ate, but I had the grouper special and it was FANTASTIC!! We ordered a salad to-go for DD who arrived later (after SHE had to deal with the traffic on 278 ) and she loved it. Amazing, how we can have such different opinions at the same time...

If you watched the fireworks on the 4th of July fromthe boardwalk, you were probably right in front of us. We were in building 15, on the first floor. We not only saw the Shelter Cove fireworks, but could see the ones from Skull Creek and Harbourtown as well!!!

It was a fantastic week. I want to go back.

Now.

 

[deerh]

We got to HHI on Sunday the 2nd I guess. Got my dates mixed up! HEY, I was on vacation-LOL!!

At Scott's, the shrimp was overcooked, and my cajun seafood was too hot (as in pepper hot), to eat! How can you overcook fried shrimp????

You were probably right behind us,disneyholic, we were there, and I agree,I am ready to go back, or maybe buy more points???


DeerH

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the report. What time did you eat at the Sea Shack? We wanted to eat there for lunch sometime, but recently someone came back and reported that it doesn't open until 5:00. Also, glad to hear you like the Fazio golf course. DH hasn't played that one, but now he will. I hope you're planning to go back and try the other two over there-RTJ and Arthur Hills course, I've heard they're beautiful.

 

[deerh]

By Simbamom:Thanks for the report. What time did you eat at the Sea Shack? We wanted to eat there for lunch sometime, but recently someone came back and reported that it doesn't open until 5:00. Also, glad to hear you like the Fazio golf course. DH hasn't played that one, but now he will. I hope you're planning to go back and try the other two over there-RTJ and Arthur Hills course, I've heard they're beautiful.

The Sea Shack is open at 5pm. Not for lunch. I have played both the RTJ and Arthur Hills course 2 years ago, and they are MUCH easier to play than Fazio.
This is my opinion of course..

Go to the Sea Shack, you won't be disappointed, just get there around 5 or 5:15 to avoid a huge line!

DeerH

 

[lsutiggeratwk]

Thanks for the report. Makes me want to be there now!

We're headed there in Sept. DH will golf and I'll relax. Doesn't get much better than that.

Glad to have the recommendation of Sea Shack. Where is it? Do they serve anything non-seafood?

 

[deerh]

The Sea Shack is down by the circle, make a circle, and go to Pope Ave. After you are on Pope Ave, WATCH (hard to see), the road on the LEFT (about 1/2 mile) is Executive Ave. Turn Left there, go on around the road, and Sea Shack is on the right.

Yes, they have other food besides seafood...
HTH!

ENJOY!

DeerH

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks for the report. We've been at HH the last few years over the 4th and it is a fun time to be there. Plans changed this year and we wpn't get to go ... until Friday!

There will be 11 of us in a GV - with five grandkids age 5/under. It will not be at all relaxing, but it will be LOT of fun.

Thanks for the update and trhe restaurant reviews. We usaully hit Scott's on our first night but will rethink that after your experience.

 

[JoEllen]

We were in 1138 two weeks ago with the same lagoon view and loved how quiet it was.

The Sea Shack was one of our favorite stops. My teen DD and I got there around 6 pm and waited in line for 45 minutes. But the time went really fast as everyone was talking to everyone else. It was really cute how everyone talks to find out what relatives they have until they find one in common! Must be a southern thing. My DD played with the two little ones in line with their family ahead of us. By the time they got seated the Mom was asking my DD for her number so she could babysit!

 

[Disneyaholic]

Thanks for the report. We've been at HH the last few years over the 4th and it is a fun time to be there. Plans changed this year and we wpn't get to go ... until Friday!

I was wondering why we didn't see you this year, Doc! Although since our kids are late teens/early20s, we didn't do a lot of the traditional resort activities, so I thought maybe we just didn't cross paths this time.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Disneyaholic]

You were probably right behind us,disneyholic, we were there,

Well, I'm sure we ran into each other at some point during the week -- either that or at the grocery store sometime, since we're from the Atlanta area, too!!

 

[cgcw]

Thanks for the report! We'll be there in another 10 days. Not that I'm counting.

The Sea Shack is open at 5pm. Not for lunch. I have played both the RTJ and Arthur Hills course 2 years ago, and they are MUCH easier to play than Fazio.
This is my opinion of course..

Go to the Sea Shack, you won't be disappointed, just get there around 5 or 5:15 to avoid a huge line!

DeerH

I'm so glad I read through this thread. We went to the Sea Shack for lunch last year. We were one of the first there when they opened, along with many local people who were there for their weekly visit. They did quite a lunch business as they were hopping when we were on our way out. We would have tried to hit it for lunch again this year. Now, I know better.

Guess we'll have to plan on a "late" lunch this year.

 

[drise]

We were there 7/2 - 7/8 also. Loved the activities on 7/4, bike decorating, pool party, dj, dancing, and we watched the fireworks from the boardwalk too. We were in 1B 1221 at the lodge. The walk to the pool and pier were longer but loved the elevator for luggage and groceries. We ate at Scott's seafood on Sun. night and had a decent meal, the electric lemonade I had before dinner blurs the meal a bit. My ds7 loved crabbing and fishing although he only caught a few small crabs. Great time, long drive from Pa but love to go back.

 

[dis-happy]

Good news....
Sea Shack is open for lunch, from 11:00 am-3:00 pm, and then for dinner from 5:00-9:00 pm. (Mon-Sat)

Also, it's on the left side of the street, not the right, if you follow deerh's directions.

HTH

 

[cgcw]

Good news....
Sea Shack is open for lunch, from 11:00 am-3:00 pm, and then for dinner from 5:00-9:00 pm. (Mon-Sat)

Also, it's on the left side of the street, not the right, if you follow deerh's directions.

HTH