When most people think "Disney resort vacation," at least in the US, their minds probably immediately go to one of the many resorts at Disney World, with Disneyland California following behind in second place. Both Disney World and Disneyland have multiple themed resort hotels on their property, and besides, that's where all of the rides and attractions are. Barring one of their locations overseas, where else would you stay for a Disney vacay?
True, Florida and California may be home to the only two US Disney parks, but there are Disney resorts outside of the parks! In fact, there's one on the East Coast - not in Orlando, but over 300 miles north in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
That’s right, we got a hefty dose of @Disney magic at the resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina!! Even as non DVC members we were able to book this vacation that’s the perfect mix of Disney favorites and low-key beach fun! How cool that we were able to enjoy our @Disney Parks favorites like Dole Whip and Mickey Pretzels, and waffles beachside?! We even got to give Pluto a squeeze! I’ll share a full review soon. What do we want to know?? Have you been to this hidden gem?
If you'd never heard of a Disney resort in South Carolina before, I don't fault you. Neither did I, until I saw @occasionsbyshakira 's video about it - and judging by her comments, tons of nearby South Carolinians didn't even know about it either! The crazy thing is, this resort isn't even new. According to AllEars.net, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort opened in 1996 , two whole years before Animal Kingdom opened in Disney World. I guess when Disney World's just a few hours' drive from Hilton Head Island, most people tend to overlook the smaller resort.
No, the Hilton Head Island resort may not have iconic thrill rides and world-famous attractions, but it does have something that Disney World doesn't: miles of authentic Atlantic beaches. According to the Hilton Head Island Resort's website , guests can hike a mile, rent a bike, or take a short, complimentary shuttle ride from the resort to Disney's Beach House, where they'll have access to over 3 acres of private Atlantic beachfront. For families who want to make a splash a few steps away from their resort room, there's the Big Dipper Pool with its huge Water Tower Slide, which we caught glimpses of in Shakira's video.
As seen in Shakira's video, this resort has a few of the other classics Disney fans have come to associate with the parks, like character meet-and-greets and Disney-themed food (peep the Mickey waffles and the Dole Whip ). The vibe looks distinctly more laid-back and attuned to its local environment than the Disney parks, though. The resort offers all kinds of beachy activities, like guided nature walks, dolphin and nature discovery tours, and campfires perfect for roasting s'mores around.
Booking a Stay Here
This is a Disney Vacation Club resort property, but naturally, you don't have to be a DVC member to stay here. Shakira said she wasn't a DVC member, and she booked an awesome family vacation here all the same!
If you're not using DVC points, though, you do have to pay full price on the room rates. Obviously, that will fluctuate a lot depending on when you go. I ran a couple dates and found rates starting around $291 this October, but obviously, that's off-season for a beach vacation. Availability was frustratingly sparse, so I had trouble running specific dates, but I would anticipate a big jump in price for a summer vacation there. Shakira understandably kept the cost of her family's stay close to the chest, but she did promise a full review in the future. Perhaps she'll spill the tea then?
Of course, the only way to know for sure what your hypothetical vacation would cost is to do your due diligence. If you don't have a travel agent, you can call the Disney Hilton Head Island Resort's front desk at 843-341-4100. If you want a Disney vacation that's more laid-back than a trip to the parks, don't sleep on this surprisingly well-kept secret!
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