When and What's Happening at Hilton Head and the Low Country in April, (and now May) 2020

[BigEeyore]

Just looked at the calendar and we are scheduled to be checking in in 2 and 1/2 weeks. Anyone have thoughts on how and when Disney will communicate if HHI will be open or shut for Memorial Day?

So are we...I really hope they announce something in the next week or so, because if the resort is not going to open we are probably going to go anyways and just get a condo in Palmetto Dunes (provided that HHI opens the beaches)

 

[terpgirl]

but, right now, we are basically quarantined here on HH since there is little else to do other than long walks and bike rides.

Sounds heavenly

 

[RobDoc]

So are we...I really hope they announce something in the next week or so, because if the resort is not going to open we are probably going to go anyways and just get a condo in Palmetto Dunes (provided that HHI opens the beaches)

The beaches are all open to the public providing you have access to get to the water. Had the DVC Resort been open, guests would have had access to the beach. Those staying in hotels on the beach have always had beach access but, until last week, all public parking areas were closed. Private homes on/near the beach do have access - so Palmetto Dunes should be fine to get to beach using beach trails.

Last week, two beach parking areas were reopened at Islanders Beach and Coligny Beach - but only local residents with beach passes on their vehicle may park in these lots.

Stay tuned!

 

[BigEeyore]

@WebmasterDoc - since you are local, do you have a sense as to how the local authorities are leaning on reopening everything and welcoming tourists back? I would think that local shops, restaurants and other businesses would be pressuring them to open the island back up.

 

[RobDoc]

The SC Governor has not lifted the restrictions currently in place (although he suggested yesterday that additional businesses would be allowed to reopen 'soon').

Until that happens, the town of Hilton Head will not issue any policy contrary to the official state policy. Hilton Head does not have its own law enforcement staff but does have a good relationship with the Beaufort County Sheriff's office (they have an office very near the DVC Resort). When the town inquired about enforcement for some policies being considered, the Sheriff stated that he could not provide staff for anything more than what the state had ordered. The town decided that unenforceable policies would not be in the best interest of anyone.

I will try to update this thread when further restrictions have been lifted.

 

[RobDoc]

Today, SC Governor McMaster lifted restrictions for indoor dining at SC restaurants effective Monday, May 11.

Restaurants will still have rules to follow if they choose to re-open. Tables will have to be spaced at least 6 to 8 feet apart and the restaurants cannot operate beyond 50% of its legal capacity. Guidance for health checks and social distancing protocols for employees will also be issued.

Yesterday, the town of Hilton Head reopened (partially) two more town parks. While the parks are now open, playgrounds and restrooms are still closed. Neither park is near the DVC Resort and not likely a place of interest. There are bike trails in those locations - but the parks (Jarvis Creek and Crossings Parks) are several miles from the DVC Resort.

No official word about the DVC Resort opening yet but rumors abound.

Stay tuned!

 

[luvvwl]

Appreciate the updates so very much! We have our fingers crossed for our own mid June trip and everyone else's!

Today, SC Governor McMaster lifted restrictions for indoor dining at SC restaurants effective Monday, May 11.

Restaurants will still have rules to follow if they choose to re-open. Tables will have to be spaced at least 6 to 8 feet apart and the restaurants cannot operate beyond 50% of its legal capacity. Guidance for health checks and social distancing protocols for employees will also be issued.

Yesterday, the town of Hilton Head reopened (partially) two more town parks. While the parks are now open, playgrounds and restrooms are still closed. Neither park is near the DVC Resort and not likely a place of interest. There are bike trails in those locations - but the parks (Jarvis Creek and Crossings Parks) are several miles from the DVC Resort.

No official word about the DVC Resort opening yet but rumors abound.

Stay tuned!

 

[zumfelde]

Today, SC Governor McMaster lifted restrictions for indoor dining at SC restaurants effective Monday, May 11.

Restaurants will still have rules to follow if they choose to re-open. Tables will have to be spaced at least 6 to 8 feet apart and the restaurants cannot operate beyond 50% of its legal capacity. Guidance for health checks and social distancing protocols for employees will also be issued.

Yesterday, the town of Hilton Head reopened (partially) two more town parks. While the parks are now open, playgrounds and restrooms are still closed. Neither park is near the DVC Resort and not likely a place of interest. There are bike trails in those locations - but the parks (Jarvis Creek and Crossings Parks) are several miles from the DVC Resort.

No official word about the DVC Resort opening yet but rumors abound.

Stay tuned!

What are the rumors for DHH. have reservation for end of June

 

[RobDoc]

Some rumors say they will open when the WDW Resorts open, others say later, and some say earlier.

Personally, I think you may be OK with a reservation at the end of June - but that is just my personal opinion.

A few of the big hotel chains agreed to stop accepting reservations back in March. Hilton Head is a community of 37,000 residents, but the 'population' swells to over 200,000 in the summer. With the restrictions in place for much of the country and the cancellations of many events (like the Heritage Golf Classic here at HH), the occupancy at the large hotels this spring has been around 10%. I expect that will change now that the restaurants will be allowed to reopen next week although I'm not sure how many will actually open and expect that a significant number may never reopen. While HH is certainly a tourism destination, the infrastructure needs to be able to accommodate the demand or that word will quickly get out.

Stay tuned!

 

[hetzeltj]

have a reservation on june 14th. Praying they dont cancel. its on rented points from a private party.

 

[Canigo]

hope I will be checking in on June 21 st .About 5 weeks away

 

[RobDoc]

Hilton Head beaches to reopen on Friday, May 15, 2020.

The HH mayor and Town Council voted yesterday to reopen almost all of the remaining beach access points. Coligny Beach parking lot will reopen to all but will enforce allowing 200 cars (50% of capacity). Other beaches will reopen parking areas with the exception of Burkes Beach which will remain closed. (Burkes is not far from the DVC Resort, but not as nice as the DVC Beach House beach IMO.)

Not all the parks are available to everyone. Two beach parks — Islanders Beach Park and Driessen Beach Park — will still be limited to local beach pass holders only.

“The purpose ... of reopening all the beach parks is to spread out the population as opposed to clustering them together,” Mayor John McCann said.

The council also voted to reopen Shelter Cove Community Park which is right behind the Kroger Store close to the DVC Resort.

Here’s a breakdown of which beaches are open and the rules at each one:

Alder Lane: Open to all starting Friday.

Burkes Beach: Closed.

Coligny Beach: Open to all starting May 15. Parking lot is limited to 50% capacity, and all cars can park there. The park’s bathrooms are open. Previously, the parking lot was limited to beach pass holders.

Driessen Beach Park: Open to beach pass holders only starting Friday. Parking lot will be open to 100% capacity.

Fish Haul/ Mitchelville Beach Park: Open to all starting Friday.

Folly Field Beach Park: Open to all starting Friday.

Islanders Beach Park: Open to beach pass holders only. Parking lot open to 100% capacity. The park’s restrooms are open.


Restaurants were allowed to resume indoor seating this past Monday with restrictions. Some have already chosen to do so and others are still offering only carry-out and limited outside dining. I expect many more will reopen for indoor seating in the next few weeks.

Still no word about reopening the DVC Resort.

Stay tuned!

 

[luvvwl]

Hilton Head beaches to reopen on Friday, May 15, 2020.

The HH mayor and Town Council voted yesterday to reopen almost all of the remaining beach access points. Coligny Beach parking lot will reopen to all but will enforce allowing 200 cars (50% of capacity). Other beaches will reopen parking areas with the exception of Burkes Beach which will remain closed. (Burkes is not far from the DVC Resort, but not as nice as the DVC Beach House beach IMO.)

Not all the parks are available to everyone. Two beach parks — Islanders Beach Park and Driessen Beach Park — will still be limited to local beach pass holders only.

“The purpose ... of reopening all the beach parks is to spread out the population as opposed to clustering them together,” Mayor John McCann said.

The council also voted to reopen Shelter Cove Community Park which is right behind the Kroger Store close to the DVC Resort.

Here’s a breakdown of which beaches are open and the rules at each one:

Alder Lane: Open to all starting Friday.

Burkes Beach: Closed.

Coligny Beach: Open to all starting May 15. Parking lot is limited to 50% capacity, and all cars can park there. The park’s bathrooms are open. Previously, the parking lot was limited to beach pass holders.

Driessen Beach Park: Open to beach pass holders only starting Friday. Parking lot will be open to 100% capacity.

Fish Haul/ Mitchelville Beach Park: Open to all starting Friday.

Folly Field Beach Park: Open to all starting Friday.

Islanders Beach Park: Open to beach pass holders only. Parking lot open to 100% capacity. The park’s restrooms are open.


Restaurants were allowed to resume indoor seating this past Monday with restrictions. Some have already chosen to do so and others are still offering only carry-out and limited outside dining. I expect many more will reopen for indoor seating in the next few weeks.

Still no word about reopening the DVC Resort.

Stay tuned!

Thank you so much for keeping us informed!

 

[scurry9515]

Quick question: are the HHI beaches still “exercise only,” or are people able to picnic and sit?

 

[BigEeyore]

Quick question: are the HHI beaches still “exercise only,” or are people able to picnic and sit?

My understanding is that there aren't any restrictions, but hopefully everyone will spread out a respectful distance.

 

[RobDoc]

No restrictions beyond the usual HH beach restrictions. https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/ourisland/beachregs.cfm

Our turtle season has just begun, so PLEASE knock down any sand castles, fill in any holes on the beach, pick up any trash left behind before leaving as they create quite a hazard for the turtles looking for a prime nesting spot (and even more hazards for the hatchlings trying to get into the water in a few months).

Air temps are now routinely in the 80's and the ocean is in the upper 70's. It is 81 here this afternoon after a morning 'low' of 70.

 

[Brett Wyman]

We are booked at the Hilton Ocean Oak June 7th-12th. That week was supposed to be a Disney Dream cruise, canceled and switch to a week at WDW, which was also canceled and switched to 5 nights at HHI(short drive for us). We've been watching local news for that area daily to see how things are unfolding. Thanks @WebmasterDoc for the hands on updates.

 

[RobDoc]

I was just down at the DVC Resort. The entry gate still has a sign - 'Closed until further notice' - sitting there. It looks like they have been doing some repair work as a crane is sitting in front of the main lodge and looks like they have been working on the roof. It looked strange to see the parking areas all empty.

No local word yet about reopening, but I can't believe it will be too far away. The Shelter Cove restaurants all seem to be open but with varied operating hours and mostly outside dining. It looks like a few do offer inside dining as the tables have been rearranged to allow for proper distancing. Some are closed on Sunday, others are open from 4-8, etc. but all showed signs of life. Most of the boutique shops are open (again, with reduced operating hours). The stores and restaurants at Shelter Cove Towne Center are open and seemed busy this afternoon.

There are signs now of things beginning to return to the 'new'-normal whatever that means!

 

[luvvwl]

I'm just curious...is DHHIR cancelling reservations on the same rolling basis as WDW? Does anyone have any upcoming reservations that HAVE been cancelled? If so, how far out did they notify you?

 

[Cowgirl_Jessie]

I'm just curious...is DHHIR cancelling reservations on the same rolling basis as WDW? Does anyone have any upcoming reservations that HAVE been cancelled? If so, how far out did they notify you?

We have a reservation to check in next Sunday and it has not been cancelled yet. Hope that is helpful!