One of our favorite Disney Resorts you will not find in Florida or California. I know what you’re thinking, how is it possible that our favorite Disney Resort is not even near a Disney Park? Crazy right?  Well, if you are a lover of the beach and all things Disney like me then this is the place for you! The resort is Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and it is located in the beautiful Hilton Head Island, SC it is also a Disney Vacation Club Resort. We love to travel here during the fall when the resort has low capacity and amazing weather. Disney has done a wonderful job with the decor at this resort. It feels like you have stepped into a glamorous rustic fisherman’s cabin (I know what your thinking “how could a cabin be glamorous” …..trust me it is!). I am not a lover of fishing myself but I can assure you that Disney has sprinkled their pixie dust all over the resort and it is stunning! I am a northern girl living in the south and Hilton Head Island is my favorite place to visit in the south for their laid back manner and southern charm. Don’t be surprised if you are greeted with a Mickey hand wave and a “Hey y’all!” upon arriving!

Since the resort is an exclusive Disney Vacation Club Resort all the rooms are either studio, 1 bedroom villa or 2 bedroom villa. The rooms are stunning and so spacious for our family of five. I love it when a resort combines the comforts of home such as adding a washer and dryer with the elements of a relaxing vacation, like the amazing views from our balcony. The views of Hilton Head Island alone are worth a stay at this resort in my opinion. They were so gorgeous that I even decided to snap some photos of my kiddos for our holiday card. My kids thought it was so much fun getting dressed up and couldn’t wait for to share these memories with our friends and family this holiday season.

 

The biggest downside for me is the fact that the resort does not have a sit down restaurant or offer any character meals. The resort does have two quick service dining options though. Both were very good! Signals is located at the Beach House and is only open seasonally from April to October. They have a large variety of sandwiches, salads, and sweet treats! You can even purchase a refillable mug that you can use throughout your trip. My favorite treat to get at Signals is the famous Dole Whip! It is the best sweet treat to enjoy poolside! Tide Me Over is the resorts main quick service restaurant that is open year round for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They offer some of South Carolina’s specialities such as the Carolina pulled pork sandwich and the Southern Fried chicken sandwich! They also offer seasonal treats such as the Halloween Mickey waffle sundae and a Jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel. While the resort does not have a sit down restaurant they are within walking distance to many restaurants as well as restaurants that offer delivery.

My kids not only loved the beach but they also loved the resort pools. The resort has two pool locations: One on the resort property and one next to the beach at the Beach House. We loved the Big Dipper pool because it has a water-slide. It also has a small pool for little ones and a hot tub. In the afternoon Cast member’s play games poolside. So be sure to check out the daily schedule to see what games will be offered. The Beach House pool is perfect for those who want to sit pool side while still enjoying that beach breeze. The Atlantic Ocean is steps away and they have a private walk way  and secure gate for the Beach House, so don’t forget to bring your key card! You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas from outside vendors or bring your own. Disney does provide beach towels, just be sure to grab them on your way to the beach. The Beach House also has a quiet recreation room for those that may not want to enjoy the beach or pool. If you’re looking for a quite place to sit back relax, maybe enjoy some TV or play a game and escape the southern heat than this is the place to for you! The Beach House also offers a beach ball themed splash pad which my kiddos loved! They have a pool table, foosball table and a ping-pong table for your enjoyment. One of my favorite amenities, believe it or not, is the bathroom facilities at the Beach House (I know, pretty silly right?!?). I love how they have shower facilities with shampoo, conditioner & body wash to clean off all that sand before heading back to the resort. There is nothing I can’t stand more than spending all day at the beach then spending hours cleaning the beach sand out of my car the next day.

The cast members, like many Disney resorts, are top-notch! From check-in to check-out we were greeted with smiles. Over our stay we became quite close with the cast members and we were calling them by name by the end of the trip. Everyone you come in contact with at Disney Hilton Head Island Resort is well-mannered and will do anything to ensure your stay is simply magical. Chrissie was by far our favorite cast member who went above and beyond to make sure my son’s birthday was amazing. She brought him a special birthday surprise and treated us like family throughout our stay. It was a nice touch to make you feel welcome and at home.

 

The Magic of Disney is overflowing at this resort. It’s unlike any other Disney resort you may have ever stayed at in the past. For one, it has it’s own beach!! The resort also offers their guests free parking at the resort and the Beach House. If you don’t feel like driving to the Beach House don’t worry, leave the driving to Disney and take their free Beach House shuttle. Stan was our van driver during our most recent stay and he was another one of our favorite cast members. He has been driving for the Disney Hilton Head Island Resort for years and knows all the best places to grab a bite to eat on the island. The longest we ever waited for the shuttle was five minutes. If you happen to wait longer, feel free to pick up the shuttle phone and let them know you are waiting. I don’t know about you but I always seem to forget something at home. The Broad Creek Mercantile Shop has all the necessities you will need. They also offer exclusive Disney merchandise such as Goofy’s Candy shop candy and Disney Parks merchandise and food (be sure to grab a Mickey ice cream bar here!). The Broad Creek Mercantile Shop is conveniently located next to the Tide Me Over quick service restaurant and the Bend and Stretch Exercise Room. I can’t tell you much about the exercise room because I had little ones in tow that were unfortunately not interested in letting Mommy exercise during our trip. I still got my fair share of exercise in chasing them around the resort and spending hours in the pool with them.

If you are looking for the daily resort activities list check out the Today’s Happenings Board on the deck of the Tide Me Over quick service restaurant. It lists all the days events such as beach walks, a meet and greet with the resorts special pup “Shadow”, a nightly movie playing under the oaks and campfire time. It also lists the High and Low tide times for the day. My kiddos and I loved watching movies under the oak located next to the playground. We also loved the campfire. It was unlike any other campfire we had ever been to. It was filled with songs, dancing and roasting marshmallows for s’mores! Some other unique and fun things to do around the resort are the shuffle boards, plenty of Disney themed corn hole’s, free mini golf, a butterfly walk through garden, a gated playground and lots of hammocks to relax in. I was quite surprised how many things there were to do in and around this resort. There is also a place to rent bikes if you would like to explore the island or just for riding around the resort grounds.

Disney Hilton Head Island Resort is truly a gem!  Disney is by far the best place to travel to if you want to receive top of the line service for an affordable price.This resort is the perfect place to enjoy the magic of the south or is also a great place to stay for a night or two on your way to Walt Disney World. It is located off I-95 and is just a short drive away. The only downside for us while staying here is that we didn’t stay long enough! Even if the weather is gloomy the resort still has plenty to do. While the resort is covered with hidden Mickey’s the theming is definitely not over the top Disney like some of their other resorts in Orlando, FL. So if you are looking for a nice place to stay with the Disney touch this is the place for you! Don’t forget to say “Hi!” to Chrissie and Stan for us!

Happy Travelin’