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

[Disney Mommy 3]

Biltmore is on our To-Do list..but we would have to incorporate some other things because the airfare there is unreal...and it is just too far of a drive...so, maybe someday!!

I say just fly to Cali and forget the hassle of driving...and I am pretty sure gas over there is even higher than every where else...or that's what I have been told... A friend just took the family to DL for a couple of days and to see San Diego...they thought it was beautiful in Cali, but she said it would be a long time before they went back~things are expensive over there....
Can't wait to hear about the next trip!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

What a great way to end your trip! Biltmore looks absolutely gorgeous. My mother has been there and she was the estate is beautiful.

Good luck on deciding where to go on your next trip!

 

[micandminforever]

The pictures of the Biltmore House are great. Your posting the pictures came at a great time for me. My cousin and I have tickets to visit the house next month when the Biltmore estate is decorated for Christmas. I can't wait.

Plus DH and I just got home from Hilton Head. We stayed at a condo on the beach. Several mornings on my morning walk I passed the Disney Beach House and thought of my Dis friends who have stayed at the DVC.

 

[MEK]

Biltmore is SO cool. I had just graduated from college when I saw it with my parents. I remember really enjoying Asheville. I would LOVE to go back. Thanks for all the awesome pictures. Great place to stop.

So glad you loved HHI so much. I can't wait to go back myself. I was actually considering something short in March, but might do something else within driving distance instead.

Love all the souvies.

Having to decide where to vacation is never a bad thing.

Can't wait to read about Alaska.

 

[jenseib]

I love your Biltomre pictures. I have wanted to go there for years, and we have looked at it so many times, but it's just never been close enough to anything else we were doing. Close...but not close enough.

 

[Poolrat]

Caught up and I have not been to Biltmore in years, since the kids were little. Maybe a return trip is in my future.

I have been when the flowers are in full bloom and it is beautiful.


What a great collection of goodies from your travels.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Sheree, welcome back we missed you.

What a fun afternoon/next day. The weather looks gorgeous, the Biltmore looks gorgeous, the flowers are beautiful. Glad you got to see your college roommate too.

Thanks Kathy! I'm trying to get back into my DISing! It was fun to tour the Biltmore and see my roomie!

Great ending to your HHI TR Sheree! Looks like you all had a great time. I am really shocked that the girls would choose HHI over WDW though!!

The Biltmore looks beautiful! We always say we are going to go there during one of our Charlotte trips, but we never seem to make it.

That is quite the decision you have about the next trip... We have been contemplating next summer. Really thinking about biting the bullet and finally heading out to Disneyland!! But, we've been close to going before and always seem to end up back at WDW! I wish we could do Hawaii, but the airfare is ridiculous and I'm not sure about that long of a flight.

Thanks Shelly! HHI was a lot of fun - low pressure and they had a lot of freedom to decide what to do, so I guess I understand their choice a little!
We're still booked at Grand Californian...but haven't booked flights yet.

What a great collection of souvenirs.

You do have a dilemma there. All of your suggested ideas sound great!

Thanks! I feel like there was more - t-shirts and stuff, but I must not have taken pictures. Dave got a shirt and hat I think that said Disney's Hilton Head Island resort. Love that resort specific stuff! I know, I really shouldn't complain - I'm lucky to even consider all those options!

Biltmore is on our To-Do list..but we would have to incorporate some other things because the airfare there is unreal...and it is just too far of a drive...so, maybe someday!!

I say just fly to Cali and forget the hassle of driving...and I am pretty sure gas over there is even higher than every where else...or that's what I have been told... A friend just took the family to DL for a couple of days and to see San Diego...they thought it was beautiful in Cali, but she said it would be a long time before they went back~things are expensive over there....
Can't wait to hear about the next trip!!!

Biltmore was cool - I should have mentioned how beautiful the inside was - so many rooms, one nicer than the next! We also got to see the servants' areas, the kitchen etc. Just amazing!
California is still the plan for now. Trying to find the cheapest way to do it! Not easy!

What a great way to end your trip! Biltmore looks absolutely gorgeous. My mother has been there and she was the estate is beautiful.

Good luck on deciding where to go on your next trip!

It was a nice transition to head home with a fun stop! The place is very opulent and excessive - so much special stuff - clearly a LOT of money involved!! It was still a long way, and we did stop for the night in Indiana I think.

The pictures of the Biltmore House are great. Your posting the pictures came at a great time for me. My cousin and I have tickets to visit the house next month when the Biltmore estate is decorated for Christmas. I can't wait.

Plus DH and I just got home from Hilton Head. We stayed at a condo on the beach. Several mornings on my morning walk I passed the Disney Beach House and thought of my Dis friends who have stayed at the DVC.

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the Biltmore. I bet it's gorgeous at Christmas time!! Hilton Head was so much fun, I could totally see retiring there, at least part time!

Biltmore is SO cool. I had just graduated from college when I saw it with my parents. I remember really enjoying Asheville. I would LOVE to go back. Thanks for all the awesome pictures. Great place to stop.

So glad you loved HHI so much. I can't wait to go back myself. I was actually considering something short in March, but might do something else within driving distance instead.

Love all the souvies.

Having to decide where to vacation is never a bad thing.

Can't wait to read about Alaska.

I bet you'd enjoy Asheville Mary Ellen! It seems like your kind of place! YOU are the reason we tried HHI, and now we are convinced! It was fabulous, and I really do look forward to going back! I wish things were a bit closer for us though. Yeah, we have it rough with vacation choices, right? I am thinking California for now. It's not the cheapest option, but it's not the most expensive either! Working on organizing the Alaska pictures soon!

I love your Biltomre pictures. I have wanted to go there for years, and we have looked at it so many times, but it's just never been close enough to anything else we were doing. Close...but not close enough.

Yeah, most people don't drive halfway across the country for vacations, so some places just aren't on their radar! I hope you get to go sometime - it's pretty cool!

Caught up and I have not been to Biltmore in years, since the kids were little. Maybe a return trip is in my future.

I have been when the flowers are in full bloom and it is beautiful.


What a great collection of goodies from your travels.

Hi Pat! You should go back! It's so much fun - especially the wine tasting! I bet those gardens are something in the spring and summer! There were a few more purchases - the girls and Dave got some t-shirts too.

We are still booked for Grand Californian - I'm going to re-read your TR Pat! I need to start listening to the Disneyland podcast!

 

[MeMom]

All in all, a great trip! The girls liked HHI for the swimming and fun activities, and they enjoyed having their own bedroom and bathroom. Dave and I really loved how everything was so relaxed and stress-free! I definitely would go back!

Nice tour of Biltmore. I love seeing new-to-me places, and I dream of visiting them someday.

Glad you enjoyed HHI. Relaxed and stress-free are wonderful terms to be able to incorporate into our lives.

Sarah says she prefers HHI over WDW unless it's a special season like Christmas or Halloween at WDW. She claims she's done all the rides she plans to do.
Paige preferred HHI too. When I asked which one they'd rather do, she said HHI. Paige even said, I've already done the Halloween party! So she doesn't need to go back! I was stunned!
I highly doubt they would object to another WDW trip though.

To these girls,
I have no words.

HHI must have been waaaay awesome to overrule WDW!

I also doubt they would argue with a Disney World trip, though, if offered one.

As we are shopping airfare - we are reconsidering our next spring break trip! We have Grand Californian booked for 5 nights. We were planning to fly to Vegas cuz it's cheaper, and drive to LA. Then maybe take a couple days in San Diego. But that makes it more expensive. For a little more, we could go to Aulani!! Then the little frugal elf inside my head says, "HHI is cheaper!" and no park tickets to buy. But it's also been a year since we were at WDW. Now I don't know WHAT to do!!!

Holy moly!

What nice options you have! I'd go for Aulani, if I thought I could make the flight, but I'd have to add money into the budget for a knock-out pill that would let me sleep through the entire journey.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Hi Sheree! I'm incredibly far behind but I hope to get all caught up soon. Are you loving this incredibly COLD weather we have in Minnesota? Brrr!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hi Sheree! I'm incredibly far behind but I hope to get all caught up soon. Are you loving this incredibly COLD weather we have in Minnesota? Brrr!!

Hey Kelli! I've been a DIS slacker for a while now. I'm going to spend some time today to get caught up and MAYBE start a TR for Alaska.

Yeah - the cold is so great - NOT! I'm not ready for this! I was up north with DD10 for three days for the 5th grade trip. OH. MY. GOSH! it was so cold up there!! We were outside all the time too!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

It has finally gotten cooler here! Y'all know how I feel about our weather down here...It's so nice to have days without humidity!! we have already been warned that next week it's coming back for a few days So this week and weekend we are soaking it up!! Sheree~I know we can't relate to your weather, but for us,we have 70s* during the day and are in the 50s* at night and it's fantastic!! Anything under 90 during the day for us is better! Can't wait to see you TR for Alaska!!!

 

[MickeyFanIncognito]

Thanks for this great trip report. I enjoyed the balance of photos and commentary. I think HHI and the surrounding area in late August (yuck) will be perfect for my family.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thanks for this great trip report. I enjoyed the balance of photos and commentary. I think HHI and the surrounding area in late August (yuck) will be perfect for my family.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it and hopefully got some helpful information. I imagine it will be REALLY hot there in August!! You'll be able to go in the ocean at least!

 

[jenseib]

Let us know if you do a TR for your DL trip. I would love to read it especially since I was there about 2 weeks before you and would love to see what you did compared to what I did!