DAY 6 – Monday 5/10/21
Who: Sue (62), DVC Member
SB (63), husband
Pete & Judy (60’s), DVC friends
Chris (34), son
Amanda (32), daughter-in-law
Ari (4), grandson

Plan: Hilton Head Diner, Drive to Gainesville

Actual: I ended up falling asleep before the end of American Idol, but was able to read the recap this morning to see who had been sent home. I was up around 5:15 and SB was already awake & reading online. I made my cappuccino and we had a lazy morning while waiting for it to be time to meet Pete & Judy for breakfast.

The Hollands were up around 7 (actually Chris was up earlier and left the villa – maybe topping off the charge for the car, returning the last movie to the front desk, etc). Ari came in and joined us in bed briefly, then had to go eat his breakfast.

We learned SB’s friend Scott was doing better and moved out of the ICU last night for a bed on a progressive care level for covid. Hopefully he’ll continue to recover on track or ahead of schedule.

I made a couple trips to the car with some of our stuff while SB took his shower. Then I sat out in the living room while Ari finished eating & they packed up. I texted Pete to let him know if they were ready earlier than planned we were ready. When I didn’t hear back we hung out in the villa until 8:15 and then we drove over to Hilton Head Diner. As we got out of the car Pete & Judy pulled in. We were seated right away. Pete got the 2-egg breakfast and Judy just got a blueberry muffin. The server offered to have it toasted on the grill, which was a nice touch.

I had my usual – the French toast, which is made with challah bread.. It’s delicious, but I can never finish it. SB went for the “big breakfast” and ate the whole thing – it was crazy! It comes with 3 eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries and 3 big pancakes. Either it was really great or he was really hungry, because it disappeared. After settling the checks we said our goodbyes and SB & I hit the road for Gainesville. Thanks to a shortcut Holli showed me in December, we left the diner at 9:12 and were home at 1. It used to take between 4 and 4.5 hours, so this was great!

I didn’t take a lot of pictures this trip but the photos are on snapfish at https://www.snapfish.com/share?via=link&token=ucjdG1Px2x6Yk2qTFz5WcQ/SFO/27951973318060/SNAPFISH

This was a wonderful trip and everyone had a really great time. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and for us at least the resort was so quiet and peaceful. Pete & Judy had the awful cigarette stench issue the first night, and then after moving downstairs they heard a LOT of noise from upstairs (sounding like kids jumping or running, jacuzzi tub noises, etc). Pete said next trip they’ll probably just stay at the Marriott the whole time so he can get a decent night’s sleep. SB & I were fortunate not to hear any neighbors – not even outside on porches. I’m sure it’s different in the summer, when the resort is overrun with too many kids.

Once again dining was a big hit, except for not realizing Black Marlin would be all booked up for Mother’s Day. The side building for the Hurricane Bar there absolutely sucks – will not do that again! Chris & Amanda strongly recommend Holy Tequila, so we’ll check out that menu for next trip. The favorite remains Poseidon, and it’s so close!

The covid nonsense needs to come to an end, and sooner rather than later. I want my throw pillows back! I don’t expect to have to check out a golf club or horseshoes prior to 4pm in case we want to play after dinner.. I want to see the cookies in the lobby even though they’re nothing special. I want to play pool. All those things were annoying because they’re so unnecessary and don’t do anything to prevent spreading covid. I was fine with wearing a mask into buildings, since that’s what we do here in Gainesville. Walking around Shelter Cove Harbor very few people wore masks outside, including us (we carried them).

Sadly, this is probably the last trip to Hilton Head with Chris’ family. Ari starts kindergarten in August, and pulling him out of school for these trips isn’t an option. I’m glad we had all these trips together, and I knew it would come to an end at some point (due to school), but we’ll miss them next May. Going during the peak summer months is not an option – too hot, too humid, too crowded, and too many points.

The next trip starts May 27th, and since the concierge lounge is not operating at Jambo House we (me, Holli, Chris, Amanda & Ari) will be sharing a 2-bedroom villa at Kidani Village through the holiday weekend. There are 3 full bathrooms, so that works better than a Treehouse for all of us! SB isn’t coming along, but he’ll be flying up to Maryland for his own adventure a day or 2 after that trip ends.

Sue/WDW1972

On 5/10/2021 1:51 PM, Sue/WDW1972 wrote:

> We learned SB’s friend Scott was doing better and moved out of the
> ICU last night for a bed on a progressive care level for covid.
> Hopefully he’ll continue to recover on track or ahead of schedule.

Very good news!

> Thanks to a shortcut Holli showed me in December, we
> left the diner at 9:12 and were home at 1. It used to take between 4
> and 4.5 hours, so this was great!

Hmm, nice shortcut!

> I didn’t take a lot of pictures this trip but the photos are on
> snapfish at
> https://www.snapfish.com/share?via=link&token=ucjdG1Px2x6Yk2qTFz5WcQ/SFO/27951973318060/SNAPFISH

I knoow I say this every time, but Ari just keeps getting so big and
mature looking! And that food - wow - it looks REALLY good!

> The covid nonsense needs to come to an end, and sooner rather than
> later. I want my throw pillows back! I don’t expect to have to
> check out a golf club or horseshoes prior to 4pm in case we want to
> play after dinner. I want to see the cookies in the lobby even
> though they’re nothing special. I want to play pool. All those
> things were annoying because they’re so unnecessary and don’t do
> anything to prevent spreading covid. I was fine with wearing a mask
> into buildings, since that’s what we do here in Gainesville. Walking
> around Shelter Cove Harbor very few people wore masks outside,
> including us (we carried them).

LOL! I agree! I've had COVID /and/ the vaccine. I'm not a
asymptomatic super-spreader! Since we've ended our statewide mask
ordinance, I've stop patronizing any business that still demands a mask.
Most business now say "masks appreciated", but a few are still
militant about it. There is one small local furniture store and
boutique we used to shop at, but they are mask Nazis so we left the
store. Costco still requires masks and they are as bad as WDW about
yelling at customers who take them off for a moment. My membership
renews at the end of the month. If they are still requiring masks, I'm
going to the service desk to NOT renew and request a refund.

> Sadly, this is probably the last trip to Hilton Head with Chris’
> family. Ari starts kindergarten in August, and pulling him out of
> school for these trips isn’t an option. I’m glad we had all these
> trips together, and I knew it would come to an end at some point (due
> to school), but we’ll miss them next May. Going during the peak
> summer months is not an option – too hot, too humid, too crowded, and
> too many points.

We only took Katie out of school for one day to go to WDW and it was
because we had the trip planned and she changed school systems which had
a slightly different fall break. I don't really think missing school
that it's a big deal in terms of education, but for me, I did not want
to teach my kids that such behavior was acceptable. I wanted them the
think of school as more important than anything else.

> The next trip starts May 27th, and since the concierge lounge is not
> operating at Jambo House we (me, Holli, Chris, Amanda & Ari) will be
> sharing a 2-bedroom villa at Kidani Village through the holiday
> weekend. There are 3 full bathrooms, so that works better than a
> Treehouse for all of us! SB isn’t coming along, but he’ll be flying
> up to Maryland for his own adventure a day or 2 after that trip
> ends.

Thanks for the TR! Cant wait for the next one!

--

- RODNEY

Next WDW Vacation?
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