WDW in October vs. Hilton Head in March: a tale of two trips NEW! 10/6 p20

[Mndisneygirl]

Okay - due to a slow response (by me and others), I'm restarting my online fundraiser for Give Kids the World.

I'm having an online Pampered Chef show and at least 10% of the sales will be donated to GKTW! We all love WDW and this charity brings those children with life-threatening illnesses to WDW!

Here's a link to order - MODS - if this is not allowed, please feel free to remove this and people - you can PM me for info.

www.pamperedchef.biz/shereemazz


Thanks everyone! Let's raise lots of $$$ for GKTW!

 

[Dancegrl624]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled HHI report for BREAKING NEWS!!!

This morning, we booked a room for spring break at the
GRAND CALIFORNIAN!!!!!

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

We are at the 7 month mark for booking non-home resorts, and DH got up and was online at 7 a.m. We might bump it forward by a day, and we will add more days as our new points show up (plus we need to bank some of those) from our Beach Club contract. But I'm so glad we got it!! Now to stalk airfares and listen to the Disneyland podcast more!

We now return to your regularly scheduled TR programming...

Yay!!!! That is so exciting!!

I'm loving all of your pics...we never go anywhere, so I'm just going to continue living through you!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow great pictures Sheree! What a beautiful place. You guys always do the coolest things!

 

[KatMark]

Okay - due to a slow response (by me and others), I'm restarting my online fundraiser for Give Kids the World.

I'm having an online Pampered Chef show and at least 10% of the sales will be donated to GKTW! We all love WDW and this charity brings those children with life-threatening illnesses to WDW!

Here's a link to order - MODS - if this is not allowed, please feel free to remove this and people - you can PM me for info.

www.pamperedchef.biz/shereemazz


Thanks everyone! Let's raise lots of $$$ for GKTW!

I sent you an email about this. I keep trying to place a small order and it says they can't find you.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled HHI report for BREAKING NEWS!!!

This morning, we booked a room for spring break at the
GRAND CALIFORNIAN!!!!!

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

We are at the 7 month mark for booking non-home resorts, and DH got up and was online at 7 a.m. We might bump it forward by a day, and we will add more days as our new points show up (plus we need to bank some of those) from our Beach Club contract. But I'm so glad we got it!! Now to stalk airfares and listen to the Disneyland podcast more!

We now return to your regularly scheduled TR programming...

Congrats!!!! That is so cool! We are looking at going out there in late January. Well, we were. Then I got a PIN for WDW for that time and booked a trip there instead. So now I'm not sure what we are going to do!

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[MEK]

So - yeah for a DL trip! That is definitely on my bucket list and I keep pushing it back farther and farther. I need to get that bumped up. I'm thinking maybe Spring 2015.

My friend Patti hated that bridge into Savannah too! It didn't really bother me. I thought it was cool.

I freaking can't believe they turn the water green in all the fountains. That's crazy. But so cool. The St Patties day decorations are so fun!

I really enjoyed all your pictures.

 

[eandesmom]

What wonderful updates! That 2B looks HUGE! Especially the bedrooms. that walk through bathroom config is odd, sounds like the one at OKW and it's confusing! Better with 2 bathrooms at least it's just 2 of you confused than others potentially walking in on you.

Bummer about the couch though. What I really really love is the full picnic table on the balcony. You could have a real meal out there. Lovely villa, just lovely.

I was so worried the rain was going to be an issue and was so happy the girls got pool time, you got hot tub time, wine and book time...sigh, it all sounds perfect.

Nice day in Savannah too, scary bridge and all.

Last but not least congrats on VGC! That will be me in about 6 weeks although I'm starting to worry about our point situation. We decided to add on to our BWV contract when they did the great BWV promo back in March. And have been on the waiting list since. While I don't need those points before 9/19, I am starting to worry I won't have them by then so need to figure out my backup plan. UGH. I hadn't expected them much before now but...did think it would probably be July/August. Last time I spoke to my rep (about a month ago) there were 320 points ahead of us for our UY....and watching the resale boards and ROFR threads...it's not encouraging. I don't really want to rent points but may have to look at it. Plus if they show up after 9/16 we likely wouldn't be able to close until 12/29 given the whole WA sales issue and that could be an issue. We'd figured we could do paperwork in Denver (just got back last night) or San Fran again (will be there in Sept) so fingers crossed!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Yay!!!! That is so exciting!!

I'm loving all of your pics...we never go anywhere, so I'm just going to continue living through you!

Thanks! You are welcome to virtually tag along anywhere we go!

Wow great pictures Sheree! What a beautiful place. You guys always do the coolest things!

Thank you! It was gorgeous! We try to have fun and we want to go lots of places. We've been bitten by the travel bug for sure!

Congrats!!!! That is so cool! We are looking at going out there in late January. Well, we were. Then I got a PIN for WDW for that time and booked a trip there instead. So now I'm not sure what we are going to do!

Thanks! I don't know what kinds of offers they do out at DL, but my neighbors are also planning to go for spring break so we could all be hanging out there! It's tough to pass up using a pin code, isn't it?

Great pics!

Thank you! I took a LOT more!

So - yeah for a DL trip! That is definitely on my bucket list and I keep pushing it back farther and farther. I need to get that bumped up. I'm thinking maybe Spring 2015.

My friend Patti hated that bridge into Savannah too! It didn't really bother me. I thought it was cool.

I freaking can't believe they turn the water green in all the fountains. That's crazy. But so cool. The St Patties day decorations are so fun!

I really enjoyed all your pictures.

Yeah, we weren't sure we could swing DL this year, but we got that little extra BC contract and we figured if we could get the studio we'd have enough points to stay for about 5 days. Here's hoping we can get decent airfare too.
I've never been a fan of BIG bridges over water. But since 2007 and the Minneapolis bridge collapse, I'm a little extra sensitive. Sarah is a nervous nellie about them - a tad overdramatic!

What wonderful updates! That 2B looks HUGE! Especially the bedrooms. that walk through bathroom config is odd, sounds like the one at OKW and it's confusing! Better with 2 bathrooms at least it's just 2 of you confused than others potentially walking in on you.

Bummer about the couch though. What I really really love is the full picnic table on the balcony. You could have a real meal out there. Lovely villa, just lovely.

I was so worried the rain was going to be an issue and was so happy the girls got pool time, you got hot tub time, wine and book time...sigh, it all sounds perfect.

Nice day in Savannah too, scary bridge and all.

Last but not least congrats on VGC! That will be me in about 6 weeks although I'm starting to worry about our point situation. We decided to add on to our BWV contract when they did the great BWV promo back in March. And have been on the waiting list since. While I don't need those points before 9/19, I am starting to worry I won't have them by then so need to figure out my backup plan. UGH. I hadn't expected them much before now but...did think it would probably be July/August. Last time I spoke to my rep (about a month ago) there were 320 points ahead of us for our UY....and watching the resale boards and ROFR threads...it's not encouraging. I don't really want to rent points but may have to look at it. Plus if they show up after 9/16 we likely wouldn't be able to close until 12/29 given the whole WA sales issue and that could be an issue. We'd figured we could do paperwork in Denver (just got back last night) or San Fran again (will be there in Sept) so fingers crossed!

Thanks Cynthia!
The 2br with the nice deck was great. I definitely would have gone back for spring break, but California is calling! We really want to hit all 50 states, so we have to spread ourselves around.
Hot tub, wine, books, what could be better, right?
Waiting on the points thing is sooo hard! I have absolutely NO patience, so I'm always checking things. Dave's not much better than me! Our points all showed up this morning so now we just have to add our days on! YAY!
So you are waiting to buy or to get the contract closed? Sometimes I think it's all so confusing it's over my head! Once I own the points, I can usually figure things out. But that process is crazy. I hope yours goes well with your weird "can't sell to WA" issue! How strange.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Okay.. I officially want to go there too!
Loved your family photo!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Okay.. I officially want to go there too!
Loved your family photo!

Add it to your list!! It's TOTALLY worth it!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thursday March 14
Our last day at HHI! BOO! We got up around 7:15 and had a little breakfast. Sarah wanted to go get something from Tide Me Over again, so we walked over there too and did some shopping in the gift shop there. Sadly they didn’t have any HHI or Shadow pins. But we still found things to spend our $$ on!!





That's about as close to the fitness center as I'll ever be seen!





Tide Me Over and the gift shop etc are up on a deck. This is the view looking down at the fire pit.


We'd be back here later



Looks like a nice day for swimming!


We signed Sarah up for a learn to draw class over at the Beach House and both girls for painting sand dollars. We also signed up for Family Bingo that night! Once we got all that set up, we headed to the Beach House. Sarah took her class inside, and Paige got in the pool – she was the only one in there for a while!! But this was the day she learned to swim with her face IN the water!!! She just decided to try it and didn’t even hold her nose like she used to! Very exciting! I lounged in the sun, went down to the beach and took some pictures.











Sarah joined Paige after her drawing class


We enjoyed lunch from Signals at the Beach House (it had been closed up until that day) They had a good steak sandwich and the kids’ meals came in sand pails with shovels (I can see using these when the weather was nicer!)


Back over to the villa – the girls did their sand dollar painting and we hung out by the pool in the sun! It was nice and warm in the sun. I went back and forth to the room so I could get all the laundry done. It is so awesome to have the laundry in the villa! I appreciated going home and not bringing a week’s worth of dirty clothes!

I've still got a bit more to report on - but we are leaving in 3 days, so I don't know if I can get it done. Plus, we do have some pictures from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC if you're interested I can post those too.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

heck yeah!! Biltmore pics please! But, really,...only if you have time... I can't believe it's already time for your trip!!!

 

[MEK]

Definitely interested in the Biltmore. I haven't been there in about 25 years and I remember it being amazing.

I hope between the two of us we have convinced some people to try HHI. It's such an amazing resort and I am so glad you and your family enjoyed it. I really loved reading all about your experience. the girls look like they had a blast and having the pool to themselves is definitely a bonus!

I am bummed I never went back and bought the HHI Resort mug. Things just got crazy and I never got around to it.

Have an awesome cruise. I really look forward to that report as well!

 

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[Poolrat]

, and Paige got in the pool – she was the only one in there for a while!! But this was the day she learned to swim with her face IN the water!!! She just decided to try it and didn’t even hold her nose like she used to! Very exciting!
Sarah joined Paige after her drawing class



I've still got a bit more to report on - but we are leaving in 3 days, so I don't know if I can get it done. Plus, we do have some pictures from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC if you're interested I can post those too.

Congrats Paige!!!! I have always said the beach is a magical place .... It always seems like kids pick up a swimming skill or two while there.

That is a huge hurdle and she did it on her own terms. No stopping her now!!!

Yes I will admit - I have not been to Biltmore in years. Not too far away and yet far enough to keep it out of reach.
Would love to see what you saw there.


Above all ....safe trip and have a wonderful, magical time.

 

[MeMom]

I had just a minute to scroll through pictures this morning, but I am coming back to read when I have more time this weekend. That pool looks inviting!

I'm always up for pictures of new places, so bring on the Biltmore!

 

[jenseib]

Great updates. it looks like such a fun trip.
I would love to see Biltmore too.

 

[petals]

luvin the updates

 

[Lovemy3babes]

This is one of my favorite photos Sheree! I'm all caught up now after being MIA. Hope you and yours are well! Are the girls going back to school after Labor Day?