What happens when Hilton Head and Disney come together? Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort of course!
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort (DHHIR) is the perfect combination of beach time plus Disney magic. My family stayed at DHHIR for the first time over New Year’s Eve. We were a little nervous because we normally get bored on beach vacations after a few days. However, we were pleasantly surprised that even during this time of year there were many activities to do! The best part of all at DHHIR is the awesome Cast Members that you will meet!
When we arrived at DHHIR, we checked in at the Live Oak Lodge and were promptly given our check-in packet. Also at Live Oak Lodge is Big Murggie’s Den – complete with a television, checker board, and pool table. If you are lucky enough, you might even be able to snag a cookie and a drink in the afternoon. Everything is close together at DHHIR, which is very different than being at WDW resorts. We actually got our full room request and ended up in a 2 bedroom villa #2422. Parking is a little challenging at times because there are no assigned parking spots. Thankfully, we found a spot and used the luggage cart to get everything over to our room. The rooms are currently themed as a 1940’s hunting and fishing lodge, but they are currently undergoing a needed refurbishment. We were not able to see what the new rooms would look like while we were there, but a CM told us that the rooms would be getting stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops for sure. The CM also advised us that the rooms should be done by the end of March 2014.
The Big Dipper feature pool at the resort was fantastic and very warm at around 82 degrees we were told. Our kids swam every day that we were there except one. The temperatures were around the upper 50’s to 60’s during our stay. The best part about the pool (besides it being heated and the slide) are the life guards who double as the recreation/activity staff. Each week the resort publishes an activity sheet with things to do. Some items are free, some have a cost, and some require reservations. A few activities that my kids enjoyed was meeting Shadow and B’ Lou, making shark teeth necklaces, and making tie dye shirts. Their favorite activity was the New Year’s Eve party that DHHIR Cast Members held for kids ages 5 to 17. All of the Cast Members were great during our stay, but it was at the New Year’s Eve party that our kids met CM Joey who we feel went above and beyond with helping create the Disney magic for them. The countdown party to the New Year brought everyone back together and was a great experience as well with CMs providing the pre-ball drop entertainment.
Close to the Big Dipper pool is the Broad Creek Mercantile and Tide Me Over. Broad Creek Mercantile is a quaint gift shop with assorted sundries. Tide Me Over creates scrumptious breakfast and lunch options. All the food locations at DHHIR close by 4 or 5 pm to encourage people to go out and try all the wonderful restaurants on the island for dinner. At and around the Broad Creek building, there is also shuffleboard, Foosball table, community hall, fire pit, and the recreation window where you can rent bikes and reserve your spot for activities.
Even though it was colder, we still went to the Beach House, but never swam in the ocean. We had fun walking on the beach and saw an abundance of sand dollars and crabs. At the Beach House, we ate a fantastic lunch at Signals. Signals also has Dole Whips – score! They also had an arcade and another swimming pool there, but we did not try them out. You can drive your car over to the Beach House, ride a bike, walk or take a shuttle from the Live Oak Lodge over. Since it was not overly busy, we just drove our car. Remember to bring your key card – you will need it to get into the Beach House.
Overall, I can’t say enough about the resort. It was truly a magical Disney style beach vacation and we will be back again. Hopefully you and your family can experience the magic that Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has to offer! Whether you are staying on Disney Vacation Club points or as a cash reservation, I think the resort provides a good value for your vacation dollars. Let’s hear from you! Have you or your family stayed at DHHIR already or are you first timers in the making? What excites you the most about DHHIR?
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