No pool hopping at HH

[TwingleMum]

I just looked into visiting HH for an hour while I'm in Savannah on business. I was told this is not allowed. You must be a registered guest to go to the pool house (where apparently all the dining/shops are located). I'm bummed I wanted to look around and maybe get a little souvenir to bring back home. I didn't even want to swim or use the beacch just look around.I thought as members we had access to all DVC properties except SAB??? Please excuse the writing , eye DR put drops in this am and I'm still a little fuzzy.

 

[Chuck S]

There is nothing that guarantees access to DVC resorts if you are not a guest, for instance, you can not pool hop at WDW if you are not staying at a DVC resort. If you are staying off-site you can not just walk up and use the pools. However, you can visit the WDW DVC resorts if you are not staying there because the restaurants are open to the general public.

Does HH have a table service restaurant that is open to the public? If not, I can see why they have a "closed" policy to non-guests.

 

[RobDoc]

There is a snack bar at the Beach House but there are no shops there. The snack bar (Signals) has an access area for the public located on the outside of the facility. In order to even get to the Beach House, you would need a permit at get thru the Palmetto Dunes security gate - all resort guests get one.

There is a pool, snack bar and mercantile right at the resort and they will usually allow non-guest members to take a walk around the resort. You'll just need to drive up to the security gate (at the resort) and ask if you may park and take a look around the resort. They will usually allow that if there is parking available. (There are times when it is NOT available and they even have CMs stationed outside the resort checking room ids to limit the number of walk-in "visitors" at the resort.)

The pool hopping perk is only for the WDW resorts and does not automatically include HH or VB. However, both of those resorts will usually allow a member to visit as long as the resort is not at capacity at the time you arrive. There are also times when pool hopping is suspended even at the WDW resorts and is at the discretion of each resort. Even then, it is available only to DVC members staying at DVC resorts.

 

[Barnum01]

I just looked into visiting HH for an hour while I'm in Savannah on business. I was told this is not allowed. You must be a registered guest to go to the pool house (where apparently all the dining/shops are located). I'm bummed I wanted to look around and maybe get a little souvenir to bring back home. I didn't even want to swim or use the beacch just look around.I thought as members we had access to all DVC properties except SAB??? Please excuse the writing , eye DR put drops in this am and I'm still a little fuzzy.

Besides what everybody else wrote regarding the passes necessary to even get to the pool house, there is nothing akin to a gift shop there (unless you wanted to buy a refill mug). The reason you must be a registered guest to visit the pool house is because the ocean-front area of Palmetto Dunes Plantation is a gated-community, and as has been posted, only reg. guest get a gate pass. I'm not sure if you can buy a daily pass for Palmetto Dunes as you can for Sea Pines, but if you were able to, you could drive right upto and park at the pool house as the parking lot there is public access (for Palmetto Dunes residents and visitors).

This time of year, you should have no problem visiting the actual resort, especially if you are a member. Even if you they won't let you in the gate, you could always park in Shelter Cove Marina parking (the resort is located adjacent to the marina) and walk across the bridge to the resort. The only times I have ever seen CMs guarding the walk is on Tuesday nights during the summer prior to the weekly fireworks that are shot off from a barge in Broad Creek just behind the resort. Once in the resort, you could make your way to the Mercantile where they sell souvenirs. If they let you drive into the resort, follow the parking to the left along the marina (unless they make you stop in the lodge to show your membership card) and park towards the back end of the resort where you'll be closer to the Mercantile, but visit the Lodge on your way out to see Shadow's house and the theming in the den.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks everyone! I really just wanted to take a look around and be an advance scout for my family. My DH always talked about staying here after a trip to WDW. I understand not wanting tons of people using the beach that wasn't my intention. I just wanted to spend an hour looking around while my business partner watched the Jet game in Savannah. I live in NY and have never been in the area so when I had to go to Savannah for work it seemed like a golden opportunity.

 

[Caskbill]

Just FYI, depending where you are in Savannah, it can still be awhile to get to Disney's HH. According to my mapping software, Savannah riverfront (Marriott) to Disney is 41 miles, and should take 1:15 to get there. (If traffic is bad, it can take longer.)

That's if you take the bridge for route 17. If you go all the way back to I-95, the distance would be much farther.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I wonder what would happen if OP went to the front desk and told them she is a DVC member (and show membership card). Tell them that she is interested in looking around and just ask if it would be okay to take the shuttle over to the Beach House? I bet you (especially if it is not very crowded) they would let her go. They would need to give her a card key to get through the door though. I know we stopped off one time coming back from WDW before we bought our HH points and just asked to look around and they said no problem at all. We didn't go to Beach House though because we only had an hour. That visit though is what prompted us to buy our HH add-on (and possibly another one if we ever see the right contract for sale).

 

[BeckyV]

We visit Hilton Head a number of times each year. Many times we stay with family at one of the Marriotts. I always drive to the resort and at the gate request to visit the gift shop for our Disney fix. We also usually have a sandwich outside the shop while we are there. It is usually a slower time, but they have never said no. I also tell them that I am a DVC member. The Beach House is probably a different story. A few years back I was told that you could not even visit it unless you were staying at the resort. You can always go to the Marriott Beach and Golf Resort in Palmetto Dunes and park and walk over to the Beach House. We stayed right next door to the Beach House at Villamare one time and attended a conference at the Marriott. We walked on the beach to the conference since the hotel was next door. You can also tell the guard in Palmetto Dunes that you are going to the Hilton for a drink or lunch. You have to drive right by the Beach House to reach the Hilton Resort. You may not be able to enter the Beach House, but you will be able to see it. Hope this helps.

Becky

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks everyone. Becky a Disney fix is exactly why I want to go!!! We were going to do 2 trips to WDW next year but decided to skip WDW next year and do DL while the kids are young so they would enjoy Toon town and the kid rides only available at DL. I'm really going to miss my SAB.

 

[Dean]

Someone recently posted they drove to the island specifically to take a peak at the DVC resort. They pulled up to the gate and were denied access since they weren't staying there and it is for guests. As noted, one could simply part and walk across to look around. One other item if you do go. Get someone to fax you the discount list for DVC, you CAN use your DVC for the discounts even if not staying at the resort.

 

[rillsung]

I realize this is a very very old thread that I'm reviving Does this info still apply? My DH is going to Savannah for business and would like to stop by the hotel to walk around and see it. He's really only interested in seeing the hotel and gift shop and not so much the beach house, but if he could see the beach house he would like to know. Can he get on the shuttle?

Thanks,
Terri

 

[chalee94]

I realize this is a very very old thread that I'm reviving Does this info still apply? My DH is going to Savannah for business and would like to stop by the hotel to walk around and see it. He's really only interested in seeing the hotel and gift shop and not so much the beach house, but if he could see the beach house he would like to know. Can he get on the shuttle?

i stopped by the DVC resort when i was staying at a nearby marriott at HHI. as dean suggested, i opted to walk around the resort as my parents parked nearby...i could tell disney security was following me. no big deal but it's definitely not an open resort like the resorts at wdw.

you can ask at the gate if you can look around but they may tell you no. i really doubt they would let you have access to the beach house as a non-guest.

you are probably better off just looking at pics online IMO...

 

[CruznLexi]

When we stayed I got lots of gate keys so no one would have an issue.

 

[ejsteg]

My family and I were recently down in HH and drove right up to the gate and told them we were members at AK and wanted to look around and they let us in. We even took it further and went up to the desk and asked if they had any vacant rooms to show us and we got a personal tour of a studio, 1bd and 2bd. We were then allowed to walk around the resort - even the pool area. I also believe that it never hurts to just to up and ask.

 

[rillsung]

My family and I were recently down in HH and drove right up to the gate and told them we were members at AK and wanted to look around and they let us in. We even took it further and went up to the desk and asked if they had any vacant rooms to show us and we got a personal tour of a studio, 1bd and 2bd. We were then allowed to walk around the resort - even the pool area. I also believe that it never hurts to just to up and ask.

Hehe I told him he should take his DVC member card!

 

[RobDoc]

I realize this is a very very old thread that I'm reviving Does this info still apply? My DH is going to Savannah for business and would like to stop by the hotel to walk around and see it. He's really only interested in seeing the hotel and gift shop and not so much the beach house, but if he could see the beach house he would like to know. Can he get on the shuttle?

Thanks,
Terri

He can likely ride the shuttle, but the Beach House is a gated property and he'd still need a room key for access to the Beach House. In season, non-guests can still use the bathrooms and even buy food at the snack bar without having access to the Beach House - but without a room key you still won't have full access to the Beach House and the pool there.

He can definitely "see" the Beach House from the outside! ... and will be able to enjoy the beach since the Beach House is a public access to the beach itself once there. Without using the Disney shuttle, he would not have access to that area since it is also gated and limited to property owners with a valid parking pass. (All guests at the DVC resort will get a parking pass for the resort that doubles as access to the beach area.)

 

[nickspace]

There are changing rooms next to the pool. Just jump in the pool and enjoy!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Wow... took me some time to put this thread back into perspective. Hey, Bill...

 

[Conan the Librarian]

WE visit HHI frequently. It's just a short drive from Savannah. We usually find an excuse to drive over, stop at the DVC for lunch at the Grill, walk around and have used a hammock. Felt wrong about using the pool, but, I don't think anyone there would notice or care as long as you had your DVC card and they weren't too busy. It's very laid back and quiet.

As for the Beach house, you could get on the shuttle and ride over. They don't check IDs. But, as previous posters have said, you can't get in without a key. You can go to the beach from there very easily.

During our last stay, we rode bikes over and they didn't check us at the Palmetto Dunes gate.

They are being a little more strict at PD, that could change.

 

[Judique]

WE visit HHI frequently. It's just a short drive from Savannah. We usually find an excuse to drive over, stop at the DVC for lunch at the Grill, walk around and have used a hammock. Felt wrong about using the pool, but, I don't think anyone there would notice or care as long as you had your DVC card and they weren't too busy. It's very laid back and quiet.

As for the Beach house, you could get on the shuttle and ride over. They don't check IDs. But, as previous posters have said, you can't get in without a key. You can go to the beach from there very easily.

During our last stay, we rode bikes over and they didn't check us at the Palmetto Dunes gate.

They are being a little more strict at PD, that could change.

I have seen transient 'guests' escorted out of the pool area who were not staying at the resort.

I am a frequent visitor and one of my favorite spots is to sit in the shade near the recreation area.

The recreation cms tend to know who their guests are and usually the tresspassers will take a walk onto the pier or stop at the rec window to ask questions.

I've also been at the desk when people have asked to see rooms. Answers have ranged from nothing available to 'there is no one to show you around'. I was chatting with one couple who just 'dropped by' when we were all treated to a dolphin swimming by. I think they decided to buy on the spot.

And, if you have ever relaxed on the little wooded hill in front of Live Oak Lodge, you will realize that people do a 'turnaround' at the gate every few minutes.

People also come in and ask for lodging off the street.

You can get access through the Palmetto Dunes gateway without staying there. There is a historical site in Palmetto Dunes area (actually in leamington) that people visit.

I'll be there soon. Can't wait!