For anyone looking for a blissfully peaceful and beautiful beach vacation plus the “Disney difference”, the good news is that two of my very favorite vacation destinations are the perfect solution – Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina, and Disney’s Vero Beach Resorts on the “treasure coast” of Florida. Both resorts offer the usual sand and sea that make a beach vacation a perfect place to relax and have fun. But when you add in those “extras” that you’ll find at Walt Disney World or Disneyland in California, the result is a magical combination. Disney details and service, but without any park stress? Sounds perfect doesn’t it!
Both locations offer similar types of accommodations – studios (think large hotel room with mini-kitchenette), one bedroom (living/dining space, full kitchen, 1 bedroom and 1 ¾ shared bathroom space: double sink/whirlpool tub on one side, and sink, toilet and shower stall on the other) and two-bedroom villas, which adds a second bedroom and full bath to the one bedroom. And if you need even more space than that, you can rent a grand villa. In addition, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort also has standard type hotel rooms available. You’ll also find a small deck or patio with table and rocking chairs that are perfect for spending time outside to enjoy the peacefulness of the resorts, especially in the fall, winter, and early spring.
Beyond these “basics”, each resort has its own personality and uniqueness that make them wonderful vacation destinations. Let’s take a look.
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
One of the first things you’ll notice as you drive onto this property, are the huge old oak trees and Spanish moss. While they provide a sense of picturesque stateliness, they also have a very practical purpose – they provide lots of much-needed shade!
There are several things that make this a great place to relax. To start, the resort is actually located on a small island, between Shelter Cove harbor and marina and Broad Creek, a marshy area that is perfect for small boats, kayakers, crabbing, fishing, and even dolphin watching.
There are also lots of bike/walking paths winding throughout the area. We often bring bikes with us, but you can rent them too. Biking is a great way to get around on Hilton Head, and you will find that many folks use that as their main method of transportation while there.
Interestingly, this resort is not located on the beach, and many folks find that to be a negative, but I have to say that for us, it has not a problem at all. In fact, I kind of like the sense of being “away from it all” – and it is only a mile away, so it is easy to drive or bike to, or Guests can take Disney’s convenient shuttle. The Disney property at the Hilton Head beach has a lovely beach house with a snack bar, game area, shower facilities and pool. If you prefer to just hang out at the resort and skip the beach, there is a pool at the main resort: with a slide, baby pool, and hot tub, this is a popular place for kids and adults. And of course, Disney offers a variety of events and games at the pool in true Disney fashion.
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Unlike Disney’s resort at Hilton Head, the resort at Vero Beach is directly on the beach, so Guests here are just steps away from a blissful day on the beach. Where the resort at Hilton Head has a distinct “Carolina” feel to it with the Spanish moss and somewhat rustic décor, Disney’s Vero Beach definitely feels “Florida” with its light beachy colors. You’ll also quickly get the idea that sea turtles are an unofficial mascot of this resort as sea turtle designs and details pop up in both the room and public areas. And there’s a very good – and very cool – reason why this is.
It turns out that Vero Beach is a prime nesting spot for sea turtles, and so if you visit during the nesting, or hatching season (March through October) you will more than likely encounter some – or many – sea turtle nests on the beach. The nests are roped off as the new ones are discovered each morning, so that they are protected. And once the baby turtles begin to hatch, you may see their tracks as they head to the ocean – or you may even see them hatching! Disney offers a variety of programs and nature tours that help Guests to learn about these fascinating creatures, and if you visit during sea turtle season, you’ll even be asked to keep your drapes closed at night so that the light from your room won’t shine out onto the beach and disturb the turtles.
Of course, here too as at Hilton Head, there’s also a great pool with a fun slide, kiddy water play area, and mini golf course. There is a rental station at the pool where you can rent the golf clubs, as well as tennis rackets, ping-pong paddles, shuffleboard equipment, and bikes. There is also a game room, and fitness center located off of the pool area. If you get hungry or thirsty from all the fun in the sun, you can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner plus drinks poolside. And if you really want to relax and unwind, Vero Beach has a spa that offers a variety of services.
What Makes Them Both Special
Disney Cast Members at both Hilton Head and Vero Beach provide the same level of friendly and helpful service that you are familiar with from Walt Disney World or Disneyland. It’s actually a welcoming feeling to arrive and be greeted just as you would be if you were checking into any other Disney resort. From the front desk folks to the Cast Members who lead activities for the kids, the service is Disney at its finest.
Programs and activities also are Disney at its finest. There are many choices offered for families and kids of all ages. Campfires, s’mores, singalongs, ghost stories, tours, boat trips, kids’ night out, teens night out, beach parties, karaoke, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts – you get the picture. The Cast Members in the recreation department do an awesome job of providing a wide variety of fun and family friendly activities. Sun or rain, summer or winter, there’s never a lack of things to do at both resorts!
We have had the opportunity to visit each of these resorts and I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed ourselves. It’s a very different experience from vacationing at Walt Disney World -which is part of what makes Hilton Head and Vero Beach so special. That Disney “magic” is there too though, so you kind of get the best of both worlds – and Disney offers little “reminders” all around the resort, just in case you forget.
In fact, they make it perfectly clear, just in case you are wondering, exactly how close you are to your next Disney vacation.
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