Please tell me about HHI in July :) !

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I'm so excited! We have ressies for HH the third week in July. Want to give HH a trial run before we decide to purchase any points. Anyway, can you tell me about weather, crowds, activities, anything you think will be of interest for that time of year. Any tips will be appreciated. We are a family of 4, myself and DH, DS who is 6 and DD who will be 3 by then.

Thanks very much!

 

[ILuvDVC]

We were there last July and it was beautiful. We were there 3 days before July 4th. It was a little humid one day, but other than that it was great. However, I think the norm is HOT, HOT, HOT! I believe we got really lucky! But, hey, if you are there to swim in the ocean....or in the pool....HOT is a good thing.

It's a beautiful place...enjoy!

 

[cgcw]

We're coming up on our 3rd July trip to HH. It's hot and humid to the point of where you walk outside and begin to sweat - even first thing in the morning. Perfect weather for lazing around the pool and hanging out at the beach. We enjoy riding our bikes from the resort to the beach, swimming and building sand castles for a good part of the day, then riding back to the resort. I absolutely hate cooking at home but find it's much easier than getting changed and going out every night. Probably because the kids are younger - DS8 and DS2. Our DS8 most of the time will say that he prefers HH to WDW. He loves to ride his bike around the resort. He loves the pools and beach. He enjoys crabbing off the pier at the resort. In fact, most of the time he can tell you exactly how many he caught each trip. We enjoy both the dolphin tour and the beach combing. Hope to try the fishing outing next trip - not sure the younger DS will be up to that yet. For us it has been a very relaxing vacation and nice family time. We look forward to spending many summer vacations there over the next 40 years (oh, I suppose now it's down to 39 years, huh?). We have added on twice at HH and probably will do another one when the time is right. DH would love to spend a solid two weeks there one of these days.

 

[Cora]

We try to go each year in July and have a ball. I think we'll be there the same time as you...we arrive the 20th and depart the 25th. As the previous posters said it is HOT but it is fun. Personally I don't like being at the beach unless it is hot. There are alot of kids things going on. We have one son who will be 9 1/2 when we are there and my parents are coming with us.
Cora

 

[TerriBelle]

We are taking our first HH trip this year, 7/27 - 8/1. We were able to get a 2BR and studio at 7 months. I'm really excited about trying it. We have never been. I am NOT looking forward to the drive down with the 3 kids. We always fly to Disney. I would love to hear about restaurants and activities.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi thanks for the replies everyone! Look forward to seeing some of you there! It certainly sounds nice

So how big is this resort? Can you compare it to one of the Disney World ones to give me an idea? I'm assuming that the resort will be pretty full. Since it'll be hot are the pools really crowded? Is there a kid's pool?

Have you seen many animals, dolphin etc on the tours? I think the dolphin trip would be fun, especially for my kids - and I KNOW they'll love playing in the sand.

Thanks so much!

 

[December99]

We will be there for the first time on July 27 leaving on the 28th. We will be heading there after we get back from our cruise and making a couple of stops. It's going to be our "on our way home" trip. Looking forward to being able to see it and check it out briefly. I know that the southern temps can be bad at that time but hopefully it will be beautiful and nice!!! Maybe we can have a mini-DVC meet!!!

 

[mitros]

All I can say is HOT in July. AND crowded. If that doesn't bother you, go for it. Will the children get cranky in the heat/ How well will they hold up?

 

[Candace]

I have only been to HH resort in July several times, so I will tell you that the heat and humidity are unreal. Last July, as soon as we would walk out the door, we were WET. But the resort and the whole island are wonderful. There are literally hundreds of restaurants for the choosing. Be sure to ask for a restaurant guide if they don't give you one at check-in. Many offer the "Early Bird" specials which are great if you have small children along (or parents in their 80's like I do). The resort itself is extremely small which makes for very easy getting around. Traffic will be very heavy in July, and remember there are no tall signs on the island, so sometimes places are hidden behind lots of foliage (places like Walmart, grocery stores, etc.) Be sure to walk across the bridge at night to either eat or listen to the music. There is a show nightly when an entertainer named Shannon ? (can't remember last name) performs for children in an outdoor area. He is a musician and draws a large crowd. Enjoy!

 

[Cora]

This is how we beat the heat at HH. We are early risers and are at the beach by 8am at the latest. At this hour it is wonderful and there is hardly anyone there. We then have lunch either at Shutters (I'm having a senior moment and can't recall if this is right) or the Marriott next door. Sometimes we opt to leave and go back and get sandwiches from PJ's @ shelter cove. Regardless we leave the beach by Noon-1p. We then head back to the room and either just relax or head to the pool. We then re-emerge around 4-4:30 to head for dinner. Then back to the pool later. This has worked very well for us over the past 3-4 years and our son has been fine with the heat.

Cora

 

[Dean]

We have two 2 BR units at Marriott's Grande Ocean (on the beach) for 5-12 July this year. We will have our EOY family get together there will about 15 of us total. We've been 3 times during the summer including 2 weeks in July, 2001. It can be hot but living in FL that doesn't bother us that much. Once the kids are a little older, we may be there more off season.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hmm, you know hot doesn't bother me so much and I think the kids would be ok with the pool and all but DH might not do so well in it (he's a northern guy). Now I'm thinking I might ought to try for a different time. Is early June better (as far as hot and humid)? DS also has a 4 day weekend in mid October so that might be an option. We don't have time to go before summer . . .

What do you think?

 

[cgcw]

Shannon Tanner is the man who performs an outdoor show at Shelter Cove. The children seem to love him and we did too. He invites all the kids up onto the stage to help him out. Of course, the kids love the opprotunity.
We have had good luck seeing dolphins on both the beach combing and dolphin tours with the exception of one outing. It really a wonderful experience to see the dolphins in their natural habitat.