More HHI questions...

[gopherit]

I am really getting fixated on trying HHI for our gang next year, but I still have some burning questions about the programs / activities:

How can I find out the "age groups" for the activities? I need to know what stuff my youngest (and oldest, even!) can and can't do.

How can I find out what days of the week these are typically offered?

WHen are the shrimp boil and such typically offered -- is it on a particular day of the week as well, weather permitting, or does it move around?

And what about a price list?

We are looking at August 2005 timing -- the 3rd week, to be precise. Thought I'd ask now in case someone had just been there and could answer these questions from a 2004 frame of mind!

I wouldn't care if the price list was old and everything crept up a buck or 5 by the time we get there -- just a good feel for the ol' budget and what the daily pace is (schedule)-- that's what I'm hoping for!

THANKS!!

 

[jacksmom]

We took our first trip to HHI this past June and loved it! I will try to find my activity list, but they have a lot of great activities! Most all of them are suited for families (all ages)! Some activities are free (campfires/nature walks) and others are minimal expense (crafts), more expense (boating/kayaking). We also took our own bikes, but they do rent bikes! It was a great trip! We have a ds(7) and he loved it! We are definately planning on returning!

 

[Kathy O]

I actually called the resort last time we went and they were nice enough to fax me a copy of the activity sheet. Although if you are going next summer things may change, but it will give you an idea. I think I have the direct telephone number for the activity desk at my office. Email me on Thursday and I will give it to you if you would like. komocozo2000@yahoo.com. Kathy O

 

[gopherit]

THanks for the info folks -- knew I could count on my fellow DVCers / DISers!

About the bikes: We are debating whether to haul our kids' bikes or rent. What is the weekly cost on kid bikes? On adult bikes? We would be there exactly 1 week.

And about the beach rentals (chairs, umbrellas): what does an umbrella run per day / week? We have a very nice/big one (the canvas and wood type-- heavy duty!) that we keep at my in-laws house in Lewes DE for use every summer. We could haul it home with us over July 4th to use in HHI in August, if need be.

Depending upon what the prices for bikes and umbrellas are, we may want to pick and choose what we "haul down" with us! I'm not as concerned about chairs -- we are usually too busy to sit, and it would be no biggie to spread a blanket under the umbrella for those times we need shade. If we desperately need a chair, we could pick up cheapos from wal-mart and give 'em away when we left, as we have heard other folks do.

We don't have a bike rack (yet) so if we do want to haul our bikes, I may want to look around at these end of summer sales and snag one now...

THANKS!!

 

[TW1]

Seems some activities stick to certain days of the week for years. For instance every Tuesday is "Star Spangled Tuesday" that includes pool games, the all you can eat BBQ dinner, deck party after the BBQ and fireworks.

Wednesay seems to be Members day when most activites and snack bar foods are 10% off. With the discount this is a good day to do either the kayaking or dolphin trip or other higher price activities. I think Wednesday has been pizza and movie night for teens. Wednesday is also one of the two campfire and smores nite (Sunday is the other.)

Thursday has been the other of two pizza and movie nights, usually for the younger set (6-12 yrs) as well as the Shrimp Boil.

If I can find my weekly activity sheet I'll scan and post it next week. But after 5 years we seem to see the same types of activities happening on the same days.

Some arts and crafts are repeated and happen continously throughout the week.

ONe more point off thread, Members no longer seem to get a 10% discount in the HHI store on Members day. When I inquired at the store the CM said many folks were complaingin about this. He seemed to think members were still getting discounts at the other resorts stores on certain days. Any insight into this?

Thanks,

 

[wintergreen]

Are there any regularly-scheduled activities on the weekends? I know most folks don't go on weekends b/c of the high points involved, but we are going for a weekend at the end of the month, and I am beginning to worry that there won't be much going on.

 

[DVCTiff]

...and does anyone know if there's bike storage if we bring our own? I need all my precious studio space!

 

[Jenn]

We just spent a week at HH from 8/22-8/29. I have some info here so I will list it for you - hope it helps!

Bike Storage - We didn't bring bikes but alot of the buildings had bikes that were leaned up against the stair railings and locked.

Dolphin Tours - $30 per person, $27 on Wednesdays (member day). We did this on my daughter's 7th birthday and it was incredible. Highly recommend.

Activities - there are activities on all 7 days of my schedule. Here are some snipits - free unless fee is noted:

-Gyotaku - ages 5 & up $10 for members
-Meet the Naturalist - seashells - adults and families
-Arts & Crafts - Birdfeeders - ages 5 & up $10 for members
-Campfire
-Secrets of the Marsh - families
-Shadow's Funny Bunny Hunt - families
-Beach Nature Walk- families
-Nature Kayaking Trip - $30 adults $17.50 kids
-Behind the Ears tour of the resort - families
-Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge - families
-Todder Tales - all ages
-Music and Lore of the Low Country - all ages


There are more but this will give you an idea. Many offered each day and repeated throughout the week, so if you miss it today, you can catch it another day.

The Shrimp Boil is on Thursdays and I think only in July and August. $24.95 per member.

The BBQ/Star Spangled Day is Tuesdays. My daughter's birthday was on a Tuesday, so this was great. We did the dolphin tour, went to the BBQ that evening, went to the pool dance party, watched fireworks over the marsh. A great day!
BBQ was $20 per adult and $10 per child, I think.

Beach Chairs and Umbrellas - I think it was $27 per day or $80 for the week. We didn't bother. We would spend an hour or two in the water and then head up to the pool.

 

[gopherit]

Thanks for all the info!

I think our kids will be the perfect ages for all of this next summer (ages 5, 9, and 10). Old enough to do most anything, and not yet teens (to balk at everything!)

Hmmm... I see the point about spending time on the beach, then just going up to the pool. Unless one had a goal of, say, reading a book on the beach or sunbathing / snoozing there, I am not sure it's even worth it for us to bring our umbrella from Delaware!

A question, though -- we will likely pack a lunch on many days. Are there shady spots / umbrellas near the pool or are these quickly scarfed up, and/or only for use if you buy food from the HHI vendors there near the pool? It's mainly during snacks and such that we head for the shade... that's the main time I could see us wanting that umbrella.

 

[dis-happy]

If I were you:

I'd leave the big heavy umbrella in DE and stop by Wal-Mart to pick up a umbrella for around $12. Should work great, and a lot less hassle!

Bikes you can probably rent for about what it will cost to get a bike rack for all your bikes. I would just budget the bikes in---about $25. for the week (per bike) and well worth it.

JMHO!

 

[Jenn]

There were several tables in and out of the shade in the pool area where you could eat lunch. Some familes had soft siders coolers with food they brought, others bought lunch at Signals and ate. Most people were considerate and didn't park themselves at these tables for the day, so we always found a table to eat at. There were plenty of lounge chairs around the pool, too.

 

[Halle]

We were there in August. The August sun is very intense so I would recommend bringing or renting some sort of umbrella. If you bring your own make sure you get it in the ground securely, we saw one take off and hit a woman in the shoulder!

 

[pklein09]

We were planning on going next November during Jersey Week. Does anyone know what the activities are like then?

 

[Lesley]

Most of the activities listed were even offered in February...so I'd suppose they are available in Nov.

We did the campfire program on a very cold February evening...it was fun! Wanted to do the gyotaku (where you paint a fish and slap it onto a tshirt....) but we had to leave before the scheduled time.

We only spent one night at HH...and it just gave me enough to begin imagining the great family trips we could have there!

 

[threegoofys]

Hi there!! HH is our home and we have been in Oct., Dec., and Jan, and Feb. There have been lots of activities for the kids during all these times and those are considered the slower months for HH. One activity you have to do is the gyotaku ( I know I probably slaughtered the spelling on that), nothing like slapping a dead fish with some paint and smacking it unto a t shirt. My daughter still has her first shirt and loves to go back to do another. Have fun!!

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by TW1
every Tuesday is "Star Spangled Tuesday" that includes pool games, the all you can eat BBQ dinner, deck party after the BBQ and fireworks.

We'll be arriving on a Tuesday evening in November. What time does the BBQ start and how late could we join in? We're not sure how long it will take us to drive so we may not arrive until 6 or 7.

Thanks!

PJ

 

[Disneyaholic]

Sorry, "Star Spangled Tuesday" is only during the summer months. The resort does it to go along with the Shelter Cove fireworks that are right off the resort in Broad Creek on Tuesdays in the summer. Once the fireworks stop for the season, so does the BBQ and pool party.



Weather in November would be kind of "iffy" for this type of event, anyhow. We've been for Thanksgiving when it's been in the 80's and also when we've needed jackets. (Last year it was both on the same trip!) It also gets dark much earlier in November than it does in July.

You WILL be able to swim at the resort in November, as the pools are heated. It's the outside air temperature that you have to worry about. Ocean temps aren't inviting to most people, either.

But there WILL be plenty to do -- just mostly during the day!