Live from HHI

[CheapMom]

Here we are- our 1st stay at HHI (only our 3rd stay as DVC members) and WOW! what a fabulous place.

Our 1 bedroom unit is huge- and the theming is so warm and inviting. Very rustic, lodge/camp feel. We have a gorgeous view of the marsh, and can also see the harbor if we look over to our left. The activity schedule is loaded with stuff for all ages. We have booked quite a few activities. Right now our 11 year old is in the "Messy Science" activity, and is looking forward to making ice cream with the group. Our 12 year old is doing a jewelry making craft. The 5 year old is looking forward to a pirate treasure hunt and a magic show tomorrow. The whole family is also doing the low country boil and the dvc "behind the ears" tour. We plan on a day trip to Savannah also.

We took a dolphin tour yesterday (Captain Sonny, Island Queen) and 3 adorable dolphins played by our boat and popped out of the water right by our 5 year old. He keeps saying "They popped up and smiled at me!".

It has been chilly but should start warming up now until our departure on Friday. I couldn't be more pleased with this place- and what a bargain on points.

I have a question for the experts- are these rooms bigger than other dvc rooms? Our 1 br seem enormous to me.

 

[tammymacb]

Sound like an awesome time!

Can I ask if the activities cost extra? ( I'm sure the dolphin tour does but how about the rest? )

 

[alldiz]

thanks for the report.....I can't wait to go to HH one day

Did you drive there....or fly...rent a car?
Are there restaurants within walking distance?

What is the weather.....anyone in the pool? at the beach?
thanks
Kerri

 

[marvali]

Glad to hear you are having a great time. We will be there this weekend for our first ever visit, so very interested in your input. Besides our 11 yo, we also have two teenage boys. What activities are available for them to enjoy? We will be back in a couple of weeks for a little longer visit, so we will probably try more of the activities then.

 

[SusieBea]

thanks for the report.....I can't wait to go to HH one day
Are there restaurants within walking distance?

Kerri

There are a few good restaurants within walking distance on the other side of the marina in Shelter Cove, but it's really a good idea to have a car on HHead.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks so much for the live report from one of our favorite places. Are you DISing from your villa or from Big Murgie's Den. Which one bedroom do you have? Some people have reported being able to pick up the WiFi signal from their one-bedroom in the lodge, but we've never been so lucky. Seen any dolphins in the harbor? A few years ago, we watched the dolphins in the harbor, but we haven't seen any near the resort in the last couple years.

 

[RobDoc]

.... are these rooms bigger than other dvc rooms? Our 1 br seem enormous to me.

Glad you're enjoying the resort.

The HH 1BR villas are about 856 sq feet - third largest among DVC resorts behind VB (880) and OKW (1056). The AKV Kidani 1BRs will be about 807 and Jambo House 1BRs and those at the other DVC resorts range from 629 - 727.

We enjoy the "mud" room in the 1BRs with the laundry, coat rack and bench. It sounds as though you may be in Building 12?

Have a great trip!

 

[MinnieGi]

I love hearing live reports from HHI as we are headed back there in June!! We took our first trip there in August and couldn't wait to go back! Thanks for the report!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Oh we are so homesick right now!! We just got back from HHI this past Friday night. We had the same view as you did (we were in room 2722 a 2 bedroom) and was the perfect location!!!

Our friends and their daughters were there with us and the kids LOVED Messy Science, Character Pillows and of course Gyutako!!! They loved both Kids Night Out nights!!

Hope you have a GREAT time and can you please go down and tell Rich and Lizzie at Recreation that "their families from last week" said hi!!!

Please keep posting, I love the live reports!!!

 

[CheapMom]

Just to answer a few questions- I am surfing from Big Murgies- I don't have a signal in my room - I can go out my door and get a signal if I need to- but it is so comfy in the den, so I don't mind.

Yes, Doc- We are in building 12. In fact- we thought it was kismet- our room number is actually our wedding anniversary. (1216) It is the last unit on the floor. We love the mud room too- perfect spot to store our air mattress in the day.

As for the activities- there are many free activities- but some of the crafty type things have a fee, as I am sure the materials are costly. The treasure hunt, magic show, goofy bingo (that was fun), resort tour, geocaching, messy science with ice cream making/slime making/and bouncy ball creations.... they are all free. Lots of free guided nature walks too. The only thing that cost extra that we are planning or have done was the low country boil (a big southern buffet dinner on the beach with fiddle music by B'Lou Crabbe) and the jewelry craft. And of course the off-site dolphin tour- that was $16 for adults and $10 for kids under 12 (really little ones might have been free- not sure though). Actually we booked one thing that was really expensive- an extra night- we are just having too much fun. Happy to report we did get the dvc discount though! I am happy they had availability.

I drove from Baltimore with the kids but my DH flew in from a business trip. It was about a 10 hour drive- and wasn't too bad really. I would do it again for sure.

Today we went to Sea Pines nature preserve and saw a huge alligator- cool but kind of scary.

There are a few restaurants within a short walking distance- and there are many more places you could bike or walk to away from the resort- just a bit farther.

I haven't seen any dolphins from the resort- but when we took our boat tour and saw the dolphins- we were very close to the resort- I will try to post some pictures when I get back and I think you can see the resort off in the distance in the background.

 

[JCLNJ]

We are in a 2 bedroom in building 13. We just found out today that we are able to get on the internet from the master bedroom. This is our first trip and having a great time even though it has been a little cool. We went to the wildlife preserve in sea pines today and saw alot of turtles and a racoon. We have done some activities here. WE made the cornbread on the open fire Monday morning which was fun. Today we wnet to the Gator.. croc talk and played goofy bingo. Tomorrow morning we are going on the Pickney island wildlife adventure and the Behind the ears tour of the resort. Not sure what else we are going to do, taking it day by day. My kids are 15 and 13 so most of the activities they are too old for. THis is our first trip to HH and we love it. It is so relaxing. My kids laugh at me as I watch what birds are out on the marsh.

 

[gingermouse17]

I am glad everyone is having a nice HHI vacation can't wait to go

Thanks for sharing it's helping me plan for my vacation next summer

 

[marvali]

Thanks for the great reports. We will be there Friday for the weekend in a 2 BR. This will be our first trip so looking forward to learning about the resort and surrounding area.

 

[Disney Parrothead]

Thanks for the live reports! DH and I are headed down in less than 2 weeks, so reading all your reports is getting me so excited! Can't wait to just kick back and relax while enjoying all the resort and HHI have to offer.

 

[tammymacb]

Sounds awesome! I can't wait to visit.

 

[beezerdave]

Sounds exciting! We are going to be down the end of April for our first visit there and are really looking forward to it. Thanks for the report!

 

[a37027]

Just back from 2 weeks ago and we loved Lizzie and Rich too! Tell them hi from Joseph - the boy on St Patricks Day that Rich gave his hat to (and tell Lizzie the "Mandie" movie family said hi - she will know what that means!). Also, if you haven't done this already, go to Broad Creek and do the trivia question. If you go early in the day, they have YOMD tinkerbell pins as prizes. Also, Goofy bingo is really fun and the family scavenger hunt is a blast. Have a great time!

 

[CheapMom]

You can see the resort in the background- also there is a kayak group out from the Disney resort- they got a nice look at the dolphins from the kayaks.

I hope this comes through ok- if not try pasting this address into the address bar http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd11b3127cceb689ff3c108200000026108BbOHDlm5ak

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Richie and his staff are great. We've been 5 times and he remembers us from the 1st visit.

BTW, we were there during this time.....to give you a clue to who we are....

"My biscuits are burning!"