UPDATED: More questions..., please help!!!!First visit to HHI...some ????'s

[dizzneebabe]

Thanks for the great info!!! I knew I could rely on you experts here! Ok, so a few more questions have come up and if anyone could give insight--that would be wonderful!!!!

Here they are:

1) I read somewhere that the shuttle to the beach stops running at 4:00pm. Is that accurate, even during summer?
2) We see that bike riding is a popular mode of transportation. If we rent bikes and plan to use them for everything--eating out, beach, etc., is it easy to find a place to park them and lock them up?
3) Can anyone recommend a restaurant that DVC members receive a discount at that we could ride these bikes to?
4) Is it better (considering price) to rent the bikes at the resort or another vendor who will pick up and deliver them?
5) Anyone been to Captain Woody's??? DH is drooling over this place online.

Sorry for all the ????'s...but I'm used to being an "expert" when it comes to Disney and right now I'm VERY green!!!!


Hi, we just made a cash ressie for a 2bd for June 24-July1st. Our AKV points aren't available yet and we wanted to go SOMEWHERE!!!!

I did search these forums for information as well as another travel site for reviews/likes/dislikes. A couple of things stuck out and I am hoping someone here can clarify.

1)I know the beach is a drive away. How big of a pain is the ride to and from?
2)If we decided to drive over, what is the parking situation like?

3) How is the pool on the beach side?
4) Anyone know the hours of the beach side bar/store thing?
5) Does the waterslide close early, even in summer?
6) Are there lifeguards at the beach?
7) Where would the "designated areas" for swimming be in relation to the Disney beach area? In other words--will my kids who want to use boogey boards be allowed?
8) Where do I find what discounts we are eligible for, as DVC members for the local restaurants?
9) Can we bring small beach chairs to the beach and leave them while we go back and forth to the pool? Yes, I realize that is a risk.
10) Do they have a refillable mug program???
11)Is this a good shell beach?

Thanks SO much in advance!

 

[dis-happy]

1. 5 minute drive

2. get there early for parking, the lot isn't that big (this is true for all HH beach parking in the summer). Otherwise take the free DVC shuttle.

7. it's a big beach, plenty of room to boogie board

9. everyone does this, shouldn't be a problem

11. not bad....low tide is best

 

[Barnum01]

Hi, we just made a cash ressie for a 2bd for June 24-July1st. Our AKV points aren't available yet and we wanted to go SOMEWHERE!!!!

I did search these forums for information as well as another travel site for reviews/likes/dislikes. A couple of things stuck out and I am hoping someone here can clarify.

1)I know the beach is a drive away. How big of a pain is the ride to and from?

No pain at all, just watch out crossing 278 as most people are making left turns.

2)If we decided to drive over, what is the parking situation like?

Even in the busiest months, I've always been able to get a spot, usually in the garage. A little patience and a little luck.

3) How is the pool on the beach side?

Clean and kept at a perfect temperature. More of a quiet pool than the one at the resort.

4) Anyone know the hours of the beach side bar/store thing?

Seasonal...during the summer, it's open until at least dusk. The store is at the resort, while the beach house has a bar/snack stand.

5) Does the waterslide close early, even in summer?

the slide closes when the lifeguard's day is over. however, there are nights each week in the summer during the resort pool parties when the slide is open much later.

6) Are there lifeguards at the beach?

yes, the beach is actually a public beach within Palmetto Dunes (the plantation in which Shelter Cove and Disney's resort is located). The lifeguards are public employees.

7) Where would the "designated areas" for swimming be in relation to the Disney beach area? In other words--will my kids who want to use boogey boards be allowed?

No special designated areas, but as I said above, it's a huge public beach that wraps around the Atlantic side of the island.

8) Where do I find what discounts we are eligible for, as DVC members for the local restaurants?

In your Welcome Home package that you will receive at check-in

9) Can we bring small beach chairs to the beach and leave them while we go back and forth to the pool? Yes, I realize that is a risk.

yes, we do so. On especially crowded days, we bring them back to the boardwalk and leave them outside the fence if we intend on going back to the beach, otherwise we take them to the car while at the beach house. It's not that far of a walk.

10) Do they have a refillable mug program???

Actually, they do.

11)Is this a good shell beach?

Get there during the morning low tide and you will find many, many shells. Very few "mature" shells, but it's easy to fill several pails with intact ones. If you don't mind digging, sand dollars are plentiful. My DW knows where to dig, but I never have her luck.

Thanks SO much in advance!

Hope this helps!

Regards

 

[canda]

even though the snack bars close at 5, you can get your mug refilled at the gift shop between 5-close

 

[dizzneebabe]

Great! Thanks for the detailed info!!! So, I can fill the refillable mugs at the beach house store/snack bar and the poolside snack stand AND the gift shop? Is that right? Silly me...already thinking about what I would be packing to bring over to the beach!!!!

 

[Barnum01]

Great! Thanks for the detailed info!!! So, I can fill the refillable mugs at the beach house store/snack bar and the poolside snack stand AND the gift shop? Is that right? Silly me...already thinking about what I would be packing to bring over to the beach!!!!

The mugs can be refilled anywhere there is fountain service at the resort (which are the three places you mention, although the poolside snack stand is not truly poolside, it's up a flight of stairs near the pool), with the Mercantile store staying open the latest.

 

[dis-happy]

Get there during the morning low tide and you will find many, many shells. Very few "mature" shells, but it's easy to fill several pails with intact ones. If you don't mind digging, sand dollars are plentiful. My DW knows where to dig, but I never have her luck.

Sand dollars are LIVING CREATURES. Dig them up to look at them, but please put them back. Same with the starfish if you run across them.

 

[dizzneebabe]

Sand dollars are LIVING CREATURES. Dig them up to look at them, but please put them back. Same with the starfish if you run across them.

I'm right with you on that one!!!!! We are very concious and respectful of wildlife. Thanks for the heads up! That would be very neat to see, however, since I like to keep my feet planted on the sand...unlike DH who is a divemaster and wishes I ventured into the deep!

 

[Barnum01]

Sand dollars are LIVING CREATURES. Dig them up to look at them, but please put them back. Same with the starfish if you run across them.

Yes, you are right, of course, and all of the free Island magazines will tell you the same regarding leaving the sand dollars where you find them. I should have been clearer when I wrote that, but it still doesn't change the fact that I never can find them and my DW always can. I've also never seen a starfish on a HHI beach, but almost always see a washed up jellyfish or ten.