I have been eyeing a keep at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort for fairly a protracted whereas. As an unabashed grownup who loves Disney (although not a Disney grownup, there is a distinction), I used to be intrigued by the thought of mixing a Disney trip with a seashore trip. After a two-night stick with my household of 5 this summer season, I can safely say Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort didn’t disappoint.
What’s Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort?
Together with Disney’s Vero Seaside Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is one in all three Disney-owned and operated resorts positioned exterior of a Disney park.
The Forties lodge-themed resort is in a tucked-away spot a couple of five-minute drive from the seashore, anchored on one aspect by a big marina and buying middle with eating, buying and boat tour operators and on the opposite by Broad Creek. The waterfront location is quiet and peaceable, whereas the proximity to the marina means you might be by no means too far out of your subsequent nice meal or island tour.
Easy methods to e-book Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
Until you’re a Disney Trip Membership (DVC) member, there are 3 ways to e-book a room at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. You may e-book straight by way of Disney on-line, by way of a Disney trip planner or by renting Disney Trip Membership factors.
For this keep, I rented DVC factors by way of David’s Trip Membership Leases. For a two-night keep in a two-bedroom villa, I paid $1,722, which is the same as 82 DVC factors at a fee of $21 per level.
In my expertise, renting DVC factors by way of knowledgeable service like David’s Trip Membership Leases is extra economical than reserving straight by way of Disney or a Disney trip planner, however renting DVC factors can be extra inflexible. Most DVC rental websites don’t allow you to cancel or change your reservation, and fee is due in full on the time of reserving. Some rental websites do supply journey insurance coverage for a further charge.
You will have extra flexibility when you e-book by way of Disney or a Disney trip planner, however you will most likely pay extra, as effectively, so it’s a trade-off.
Irrespective of which technique you utilize, the toughest a part of reserving a room at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort will probably be discovering availability. There isn’t a true availability calendar for DVC resorts (however this availability software might help), so it is best if you’re versatile together with your dates and have sufficient time to enter a spread of date mixtures to see if you could find an open room. Like different DVC resorts, this one books up shortly when the supply window opens.
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Lowcountry location close to the seashore
You could not see this as a profit when you choose an oceanfront resort if you go to the seashore, however I cherished that the lodge’s location gave my household the prospect to expertise all the weather of South Carolina’s distinctive coastal panorama.
Waking up every morning and looking on the sleepy creek surrounded by mossy bushes made me instantly seize my e-book and an iced espresso to sit down exterior on the balcony. The whole resort had a low-key, laid-back really feel that’s little doubt due partially to its location.
When you find yourself prepared to go to the seashore, it’s only a brief experience away. You may drive your personal automobile, take the resort’s complimentary shuttle or experience alongside the bike path that leads straight to Disney’s Seaside Home. We selected to experience the bikes we had rented by way of the resort and had a couple of 10-minute experience between the resort and the seashore.
Exploring the remainder of Hilton Head Island can be straightforward. The island is just about 5 miles huge and 12 miles lengthy. You will get about wherever on the island in half-hour or much less by automobile, and bike paths are plentiful.
Snug, spacious rooms
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There are three room sorts obtainable at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. Deluxe Studio rooms are just like any customary lodge room, with a shared residing and sleeping house, a kitchenette and a balcony. One- and two-bedroom villas have a full-size kitchen, separate residing and eating space, full-size washer and dryer, and each a bathe and whirlpool tub within the lavatory (two-bedroom villas have two loos).
My household of 5 slept comfortably within the two-bedroom villa and I commented greater than as soon as that it felt massive sufficient to reside in (I could not get my household on board with that plan, although). No matter room measurement, all rooms have a big furnished deck with a view of both the resort, the pool, or the creek.
The inside decor echoed the resort’s lodge theme, with nature-inspired decor, wooden furnishings and paintings that includes woodland animals. The design, paired with the subdued coloration scheme, made the room really feel as serene as the attractive environment exterior the door.
Mickey-shaped meals and fast bites
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For me, no Disney journey is full till I’ve had Mickey waffles, a Mickey pretzel, a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar and Dole Whip (ideally with a rum floater). Fortunately, you will discover all 4 at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.
There are solely two eating areas on the resort, and each are quick-service. Tide Me Over is positioned close to the principle resort pool, and Alerts is positioned at Disney’s Seaside Home. Each are solely open by way of late afternoon and serve a collection of breakfast gadgets, sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks, together with the aforementioned Disney favorites.
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Subsequent door to Tide Me Over, you will discover the Broad Creek Mercantile, a present store with Disney souvenirs, journey requirements you could have forgotten to pack, snacks and drinks to maintain you going after the eating areas shut.
Like most Disney Trip Membership resorts, this one is designed for longer stays. Your room is outfitted with every little thing you have to cook dinner an excellent meal, and there are grills positioned across the property. There are additionally some wonderful eating places throughout the water at Shelter Cowl Harbour and Marina. I assume that is the explanation for the dearth of nighttime eating on the property.
The entire meals was tasty, however I used to be most impressed by the fish tacos with a aspect of candy potato fries (about $10) at Alerts. They have been surprisingly flavorful and got here with a tangy slaw. Hilton Head was scorching throughout our go to, so I cooled off with one (or two) boozy Dole Whip floats made with pineapple Dole Whip and darkish rum (about $12). My oldest was spoiled by his final all-inclusive journey and solely drinks virgin piña coladas on trip now, which they fortunately made for him for under about $5.
Tiny gymnasium, however loads of outside actions
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The gymnasium, positioned in the identical constructing as Tide Me Over and Broad Creek Mercantile, is small however adequate. There are free weights, a number of weight machines and a handful of cardio machines. When you find yourself someplace as attractive as Hilton Head, I am a agency believer it is best to take your health routine exterior.
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The resort has a basketball court docket on-site and rents tennis tools that company can use at one in all Hilton Head’s lots of of tennis courts. It’s also possible to hire bikes on the resort which you could take everywhere in the island (however not off the island) beginning at about $25 per day or $40 for the size of your keep. That they had bikes sized for teenagers and adults, in addition to bike trailers and seats for youthful youngsters.
Hilton Head additionally has many clothing stores who hire kayaks and paddleboards if you wish to discover the world’s tidal waters.
2 swimming pools and seashore entry
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has two swimming pools, one that’s centrally positioned to the eating and actions on the resort and the opposite on the oceanfront at Disney’s Seaside Home. Households might most benefit from the resort pool because it has a waterslide, a splash pool for toddlers and a scorching tub.
The pool at Disney’s Seaside Home is smaller however solely a brief stroll away from the seashore. Each swimming pools maintain each day actions like trivia and video games. Throughout our go to, the actions group led the youngsters on a “treasure hunt” by hiding gems throughout the pool.
If you wish to go go to the seashore, you will discover a stand the place a neighborhood firm rents out seashore chairs and umbrellas (or you possibly can reserve them forward of time). When you find yourself prepared to go again to the pool or to the resort, there are showers the place you possibly can rinse the sand off your self and your belongings.
That particular Disney contact
What impressed me most about Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort was that I nonetheless felt like I used to be at Disney regardless that I used to be lots of of miles away. We had our photograph taken with Pluto, noticed Disney topiaries across the resort and received to play Disney trivia and make Disney crafts. We even acquired “first go to” buttons at check-in, similar to if you go to a Disney park for the primary time.
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It wasn’t solely the bodily reminders that we have been at a Disney resort; it was additionally the extent of service and the friendliness of the solid members. My center son was battling the bike we rented and a solid member took the time to spice up his bike abilities (and confidence) with a brief lesson. Everybody we encountered was pleasant and fascinating, precisely as you’d count on at a Disney park.
Causes Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort may not be for you
There’s actually nothing to not love right here until, that’s, you wish to go to sleep listening to the sound of the waves and stroll straight out to the seashore within the morning. That wasn’t a difficulty for us as a result of it was really easy to get across the island, but it surely’s one thing to remember if you’re contemplating this resort.
Accessibility
Like different Disney resorts, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has accessible paths between all public areas, the foyer and your visitor room, guaranteeing company in wheelchairs can simply entry all facilities. The resort additionally has wheelchair- and hearing-accessible visitor rooms, accessible parking and accessible seating on the seashore shuttle. It’s also possible to borrow complimentary seashore wheelchairs at Disney’s Seaside Home to make use of throughout your time on the seashore.
Trying out
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort greater than lived as much as my expectations of a Disney trip. It was actually a deal with to get all one of the best components of a Disney trip – pleasant service, considerate touches and magical recollections – with the enjoyable, rejuvenating components of a seashore trip. This grownup who loves Disney thinks it is a virtually excellent mixture.
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