Spring Break at Hilton Head

[cruisehopeful]

Yeah....you just never know. Being stuck inside an inside stateroom on a cruise is probably the worst. Those rooms are small

It worked out well for my husband. He was holed up in the cruise cabin and had me delivering dinner, coffee, etc. I think he loved it. It would be totally different holed up with a sick child, though.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Bummer about the pink eye but thank you for doing the right thing by distancing until the antibiotics kicks in! Not everyone is that considerate.

This is really making me want to go to HHI. Looks so peaceful. Would love to relax on that balcony with a coffee in the morning!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Bummer about the pink eye but thank you for doing the right thing by distancing until the antibiotics kicks in! Not everyone is that considerate.

This is really making me want to go to HHI. Looks so peaceful. Would love to relax on that balcony with a coffee in the morning!

I tried to find a balance of still doing some stuff but also staying away from people

The doctor we saw was like you can still go to the beach just don't go near other people but DS3 was like NO because of the previous day

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then we did some more exploring plus went to the playground since it was empty. There's just so much outside little games and stuff set up outside to do so we'd walk and if there was no one there I'd ask the kids if they wanted to do that







Of course we found chip and dale. That mannequin/CPR dummy? looks funny





Then we bought some ice cream in the gift shop and brought it back to the room.

I had also asked the craft area if I could buy one of the crafts (specifically the Mickey stone cuz that's what DD6 wanted to do the most) from the activity center and bring it back to the room. I didn't get into it with them but I explained I had to go back to the room because of DS3. They said no ... probably cuz of the mess? Maybe they would have given us an alternative if I explained it was due to illness and me trying to stay away from people but I didn't want to do all that. DD6 picked up some magnets they had displayed for us to color and was like "it's ok. We can color these in the room." Still kind of a bummer tho.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

After 530 DH was done with his work for the day. We talked about whether it was ok or not to go to the pool. The kids hadn't been begging or anything but they really really REALLY love pools.

We decided to go for an hour but just stay away from people and make DS3 keep his goggles on in the water.

They were really happy. I do feel kinda guilty but also I feel like we probably didn't spread any germs. But I'm usually like overly cautious about not spreading germs. Anyway I don't know





Then we got take out from a seafood place across the harbour




DH and I ate on the balcony. It was a nice end to the day. The crab soup was SO good

 

[PolyRob]

Then we did some more exploring plus went to the playground since it was empty. There's just so much outside little games and stuff set up outside to do so we'd walk and if there was no one there I'd ask the kids if they wanted to do that

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Of course we found chip and dale. That mannequin/CPR dummy? looks funny

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Then we bought some ice cream in the gift shop and brought it back to the room.

I had also asked the craft area if I could buy one of the crafts (specifically the Mickey stone cuz that's what DD6 wanted to do the most) from the activity center and bring it back to the room. I didn't get into it with them but I explained I had to go back to the room because of DS3. They said no ... probably cuz of the mess? Maybe they would have given us an alternative if I explained it was due to illness and me trying to stay away from people but I didn't want to do all that. DD6 picked up some magnets they had displayed for us to color and was like "it's ok. We can color these in the room." Still kind of a bummer tho.

Aww such a bummer about the pink eye, but you really pivoted well!

Is the Mickey stone like a mosaic tile craft? If it's that craft WDW offers a similar activity at All Star Music, Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village, Contemporary Resort, both Port Orleans, and even Riviera if you can swing it on your next trip for DD! Some resorts offer the traditional Mickey head while others have unique themes (i.e. Riviera has a Tangled sunburst).

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Aww such a bummer about the pink eye, but you really pivoted well!

Is the Mickey stone like a mosaic tile craft? If it's that craft WDW offers a similar activity at All Star Music, Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village, Contemporary Resort, both Port Orleans, and even Riviera if you can swing it on your next trip for DD! Some resorts offer the traditional Mickey head while others have unique themes (i.e. Riviera has a Tangled sunburst).

Yes, it's the mosaic tile. That's a great idea. Do you know is it frowned upon for us to do a craft at a resort if we aren't staying there? We have a resort only stay coming up in August so that would be a great time for it. Splitting between CCV and OKW

 

[PolyRob]

Yes, it's the mosaic tile. That's a great idea. Do you know is it frowned upon for us to do a craft at a resort if we aren't staying there? We have a resort only stay coming up in August so that would be a great time for it. Splitting between CCV and OKW

You should be totally fine! A lot of the community halls and recreation crafts are open to guests even if you are not staying at that specific resort. For some activities like ceramic painting, a CM may need to apply a finishing glaze, and they will usually just ask which resort you are staying at and your checkout date to make sure it is finished in time. It does not have to be the same one hosting the activity.

Definitely double check the schedules online since days and times can vary by resort, and I believe the mosaic tile craft does have a fee. Some locations may even let you prebook. August sounds like a perfect opportunity when you want a break from the heat!

Contemporary Resort is really easy to get to from Copper Creek. You can take a bus (AK, DHS, or DS) since Wilderness Lodge is the first stop and Contemporary is second. MK and Epcot busses from Wilderness Lodge won't stop at Contemporary Resort since Contemporary Resort has the monorail and walking path. Another option is heading to MK and taking the monorail one stop or walking over if it's not too hot yet. The blue flag boat line between the resorts doesn't start running until 3 pm if you want to take that home.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

You should be totally fine! A lot of the community halls and recreation crafts are open to guests even if you are not staying at that specific resort. For some activities like ceramic painting, a CM may need to apply a finishing glaze, and they will usually just ask which resort you are staying at and your checkout date to make sure it is finished in time. It does not have to be the same one hosting the activity.

Definitely double check the schedules online since days and times can vary by resort, and I believe the mosaic tile craft does have a fee. Some locations may even let you prebook. August sounds like a perfect opportunity when you want a break from the heat!

Contemporary Resort is really easy to get to from Copper Creek. You can take a bus (AK, DHS, or DS) since Wilderness Lodge is the first stop and Contemporary is second. MK and Epcot busses from Wilderness Lodge won't stop at Contemporary Resort since Contemporary Resort has the monorail and walking path. Another option is heading to MK and taking the monorail one stop or walking over if it's not too hot yet. The blue flag boat line between the resorts doesn't start running until 3 pm if you want to take that home.

It's a plan now thank you

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Checkout and drive home day

Tuesday was our check out day but we didn't plan to drive home until after 5pm. I packed up the car except for a lunch box which contained DS's seizure medication which I asked the front desk to hold for me. Then we drove DH to a local library because he had to work but was afraid the resort would be too loud for meetings.

Then we were back at the resort. It was much warmer and DS's eye looked much better. We were ready to enjoy as much as we could !

The kids wanted to go to the pool immediately but I said we needed to get food in our bellies first.



Look who we ran into! The day was starting well



And they were still serving breakfast!!! So I got Mickey waffles.



And then we went to the pool!



For like 3 hours....I basically wanted to let them swim until they were done. We went on the slide over and over and over. DS3 loves water slides. DD6 can swim on her own well so I let her decide if she wants to follow DS3 and me around or do her own thing. Today she wanted to follow us around. Usually she makes her own friends but she didn't want to today.

DS3 learned (on his own) that if he layed down on the slide he went faster so he started doing that. And after doing that a couple times....he flipped over in the slide while going down and got hurt...so then he was done with the slide

DD6 had been asking to go in the hot tub so we all went there and DS3 tried to float on his own without flipping over and was able to a little....

And then they started doing 90s Disney trivia at the pool and A LOT of people showed up for that...and came out on their balconies...so I didn't officially play cuz I couldn't write stuff down while in the pool with the kids but I listened and played in my head. I love trivia

The kids finally said they were ready to be done so we went on the slide two more times before getting out

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

We decided to get some ice cream before taking our showers cuz we were all dragging. The kids picked some ice creams from the gift shop and I got a dole whip float

Then we all showered in the bathroom. It really wasn't that bad. There was a private area to get dressed that was pretty spacious next to the shower that had a bench so that was pretty useful

I forgot to mention earlier that in the morning I had signed us all up for Mickey tie dye so it was time for that after we were done showering

Finally DD6 gets to do a craft!



DS3 didn't want to do it. He was really tired but he told me what colors to use. It was actually really fun I'm glad I got to do it

Here is DS3 in his shirt after we got home



I'm glad they did the rubber band part. I heard someone say they did this craft at Vero Beach and they taught the guests how to do the rubber band instead of it being ready to go.

Then we got some food and ate and chilled in the community hall. We were the only ones in there so I put the TV on super kitties for the kids



And I saw the scent machine in there! I think they are usually hidden

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

After eating we got some pressed pennies and looked in the gift shop one last time.

I got us an ornament



And then we had to make our way back to the lobby to get our lunchbox



I realized after getting the lunchbox back that they had put it in the fridge....which I get why the mistake happened but it was still frustrating because then I had to look up stability information on DS3's seizure medication to determine if it was still ok for him to take or not (it's supposed to stay room temperature). I just hadn't kept it in the car because it was getting hotter that day. I was able to find the information I need though luckily and his medicine was ok. (I'm a pharmacist and have a history of drug research) Not a fun way to end a vacation though. Next time I'm going to tell them specifically that the one with his medicine needs to be room temperature

Then we picked up DH and drove home. DH did tell us that when he went outside to do a meeting that day a caterpillar fell on him and he FREAKED out. I wish I could have seen that

Next up final thoughts

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

First our swag

I didn't really talk about it but DD6 also did a lot of pin trading with the boards and once unsuccessfully with another girl so this is what we got now. DS3 tried pin trading for the first time this trip



And before the trip I bought the kids pressed penny books because they like getting them but then we usually lose them so now they won't





And here is DD6's finished shirt



Ok so we want to go back to HH but in the Summer. The first day we got there was really cold.

And there was other stuff going on for us that made it hard to fully enjoy...like DS'3 very recent epilepsy diagnosis and then his pink eye. But I think we all did a good job of making the best of it

So I don't really think I can be a good judge. There were some bummer moments for me but I'd still like to go back. Like not finding the board games until we were leaving and not giving us crafts or other options for the room and then storing the medicine wrong. But also I don't really blame anyone. Just left me with some meh feeling but also I had like a huge panic and sadness and fear feeling in the background of the trip anyway because I was worried about what DS3's MRI was going to tell us.

We didn't even see the beach house. So yeah we will probably go back at some point but definitely in the summer so we know it will be warm. Oh also the slide at the pool -

Oh also none of the rest of us ever got pink eye even though either me or my husband now sleep cuddling DS3 while we sleep. So that's nice

We have a lot of upcoming Disney trips
June: AKL Jambo/BLT with 2 park days
August: CCV/OKW resort only
Spring Break 2027: VB/Pop Century with 3 park days

(I feel entitled and bougie saying this but I'm kinda sad because I had a Disney cruise booked for this time but I had to cancel because I'm afraid to not be near hospitals just in case for DS3. So no more cruising for us. I'm also afraid to leave the US just because I don't want us to have to deal with a huge bill if we have to use another country's healthcare and what if a mistake happens due to language barrier or they are not well equipped etc etc. and I was hoping to start traveling internationally since the kids are getting older. But now that's not in the cards. But yeah I should be grateful that he's ok and we have enough money to vacation like way more than most people. And I'm not that sad or anything but every once in awhile I'm like . Thankfully the kids took it really well when I told them no more Mickey boat. DD6 understood instantly why without me having to explain. I'm really lucky. They're both really good kids.)

So until next time!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for sharing your trip. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've been going every year for 21 years, yet I never knew there was a community hall. Nor have I ever done the tie-dyed Mickey shirt. Do they supply the shirt? And can you wash it and still maintain the color afterwards? Have you? Hope you can enjoy the resort again some time.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Thanks for sharing your trip. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've been going every year for 21 years, yet I never knew there was a community hall. Nor have I ever done the tie-dyed Mickey shirt. Do they supply the shirt? And can you wash it and still maintain the color afterwards? Have you? Hope you can enjoy the resort again some time.

They supply the shirt. They ask you for your size when you sign up and the after pictures I posted are after the kids wore them and they were washed a few times so....so far so good! They are actually the best tie dye we've ever done color wise and design wise

 

[Moonspinner]

I’m not sure if it was just our experience but two of our kids did the mosaic tiles and almost all the tiles fell off within a couple of days. You didn’t miss anything with that craft!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I’m not sure if it was just our experience but two of our kids did the mosaic tiles and almost all the tiles fell off within a couple of days. You didn’t miss anything with that craft!

Oh no. Maybe I'll wait and see if she is still interested come August