Southern Beach Resort with Disney Flair: A Stay at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

Kristen Kiefer on Island Time!

By: Kristen Kiefer

Hilton Head Island holds a special place in our hearts. My husband and I both grew up vacationing with our families to this island. With any destination, it has changed and evolved over the years, but it has still kept its charm. There are no high rises, no elevated business signs and plenty of lush greenery and preserved marsh land. It has that true island vibe which is what we adore.

This past trip we stayed at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. We are a Disney loving family so this was the perfect mix of beach club and Disney magic. The rooms were spacious with beautiful views of the marsh. If you are wanting Oceanview, this may not be the resort for you. The onsite pool is great with a waterslide and games led by activity directors. My kids loved riding their bikes around the resort to play activities like bocce ball, shuffle puck, cornhole and putt putt. They also had activities at an additional cost like Mickey tie dye and make your own ‘Mickey holiday wreath’. They only have one quick service restaurant on property but you can’t go wrong with mickey waffles and cold adult beverages (get the Mai-Tai). Although they may lack in dining options, you can walk over the bridge to Shelter Cove marina where there are multiple great dining options including Scott’s Fish market and Bistro 17. Our favorite part about Disney HHI was their private beach club. Yes, you have to take a shuttle across the street but its worth it! A private pool, quick service dining and private path to a very secluded beach was worth the shuttle ride. We decided this resort is best for a long weekend vs a weeklong stay compared to some of the other locations on the island.

One thing we love about Hilton Head is the bike trail system that connects the entire 12- mile island with over 60 miles of public pathways and nature trails. The hard packed sand is good for beach rides, just be aware of the wind direction or you could have a tough ride back to where you started. This trip we rented from Island Life Rentals and they had top notch customer service.

With over 250 restaurants, it is always hard to make a decision where to eat but here are a few of our favorites: Watusi for girls brunch or pet friendly meal, Quarterdeck with amazing views near the lighthouse, Fishcamp on Broad Creek has great live music, Old Oyster Factory for a classic staple, Black Marlin for an amazing variety of seafood and Skull Creek Boathouse for the best sunsets and sushi (get the vegetarian roll, add avocado, you won’t regret it!)

If you are looking for a cold drink with your toes in the sand, check out the Tiki Hut on Forest Beach Drive. They have great live music in the evenings but mostly bar food. A fun treat for the whole family is Frosty Frog café, nonalcoholic slushies for the kiddos with full strength options when the adults need it. Watch out for the ones made with 190 octane, they are sneaky!

Hilton Head remains a top family destination because there are so many kid friendly hings to do besides the beach. Some of our favorite spots to play include Coligny Plaza playground, the Pirate Ship at Celebration Park and Harbortown playground. Rainy day? Check out Sandbox Children’s museum where my kiddos could literally stay for hours. The restaurants even know how to entertain the kids. We like the huge sandbox at F.I.S.H. restaurant at Coligny or The Bank for lawn games and a projection TV for events.

One new adventure that has become tradition for our family is taking a dolphin cruise. Hilton Head Boat Charters offer a variety of options but we chose a 3 hour family dolphin cruise with a stop at Daufuskie Island. I would highly recommend the Daufuskie stop for families or even groups of friends. We docked at Old Daufuskie Crab Company which gave us access to cold drinks, a potty break and a playground for the kids. Food trucks were not open but were set up for busier times or weekends. It’s a must do!

With so many things to entertain the family, moms just may finish a book on your vacation. Pro tip: check out the local book exchanges located around the island to grab a new story and leave your finished one behind.

I could go on and on about all the things we love about the Hilton Head but truly you must see it for yourself.

If you would like to plan your perfect stay on the island, be sure and contact Kristen at Kj.jollyholiday@gmail.com