Disney Castaway Cay Paradise

The best place on Earth. Click on picture for a larger view.

HHI day 2

Day Two


We headed to Panera Bread at about 10:30 for an early lunch before heading to the beach. I could really get used to island life (flip flops, and bathing suits). We got to the beach at about 11:30 and it was busy. Found a spot and parked out stuff. I had ordered a beach cart off line and this thing is a life saver. We can get all of our beach stuff in one trip. I’ll try to post a pic of it tomorrow. Anyway, the wind wasn’t as strong today so I didn’t freeze once I was out of the water. Please understand that DS and me are cold natured and if it’s not 100 degrees outside…..we might be cold. The water was nice and I actually got hot laying on the beach.



After boogie boarding and diving for Sand dollars (there are hundreds, and no we didn’t keep any or harm them, just looked and put them back) for 4 + hours we headed back to the room at about 5pm.

Now I do have something to say about the showers at the resort. As I said before, I am cold natured and like a HOT shower. The water in the showers are too hot for even me. It takes a little while to get hot but when it does you better watch out. I mean it is scalding. So watch your kids when bathing them.

We walked to the pier to see the sunset and take some pics. The main pool is located in the back of the resort by the pier. There is also a campfire where they roast marshmallows and make s’mores. There is a mercantile store by the pier that sales t shirts, pins and food items. DH and DS found the ping pong table and played a few games while I wondered around. During low tide in the marsh you can a lot of little crabs.






We noticed that it appears that Disney is refurbing the buildings. We noticed new paint (lighter than it was painted before) and new roofs.





We decided to go to dinner at my favorite place on the island so far (we ate here last year). The Smokehouse. Now don’t be scared., and yes I think it used to be an old Hardee’s. If you like BBQ, this is the place. I’m from Georgia and we have our fair share of BBQ but none like this. I can’t get brisket in GA, Me and DH always get the brisket with fries and slaw. The sauce is on the table and you can choose from hot, mild or mustard. I like the mild on my brisket and the mustard on my fries (I’m a country girl what can I say). DS like the BBQ sandwich and fries. They also have great potato skins (yummy).







Back to the resort to relax, watch college football and do the trip report. If you want a relaxing vacation then Hilton Head is for you. This place makes you relax. It is so different from WDW. I always feel when we are at WDW if we aren’t constantly going and doing things that we are missing something but not here. Of course there are things to do (especially for the kids) but most of all if forces you to do nothing. No one is in a hurry. People ride their bikes everywhere, which is a really good idea if you drive to bring your bikes. There are bike trails and you can ride over to the beach and even on the beach. What a great way to tire out the kids.

New Dvc resort in Hawaii

This is the model of the new Disney Vacation Club in Hawaii. This resort is set to open in 2011. Needless to say we will be there when it opens.

Labor Day at Hilton Head

We arrived in Hilton Head yesterday at about 11am (me DH, DS). I did the on line check in and , it was simple. When we arrived, our packet was waiting for us and our room was ready. We ended up with a 2 br villa (which is way more than we would ever need) but that was all that was available at 7 months. The villa is 1200 sq ft and there is only 3 of us. I could definately get spoiled to vacationing like this.. We decided to unpack before lunch.

They have nice carts for you to use when loading or unloading the your car. These really came in handy.

unloading the car


Like I said this is more room than we need but it was REALLY nice.

Master BR complete with towel octopuss


Living room


Kitchen





Mudroom



dining room


2nd bedroom


Our room has a huge balcony.
View from the balcony





I found my spot!




We decided to go to the Sea Shack for lunch. We have heard alot of good things about the food here and decided to try it. It's nothing fancy and rather hard to find.






Upon entering the establishment I notice several strange signs posted. One read "please know what you want to order before approaching the counter". hmmm....okay. Then I saw the next sign posted above a stack of T shirts that were for sale, "let us know your size and WE will get it for you". I got the feeling that this was Jerry Sienfeld's version of the Soup Nazi. I wanted to take a pic for the boards but my DH insisted that I not for fear of being band. "no food for you!"

I ordered the shark attack which comes fried, broiled, or blackened. It has shrimp, scallops, oysters, fish and a crab cake. It comes with slaw and fries. I got mine fried. DH had a shrimp poorboy with fries and slaw. DS got fish and chips. We all had sweet teas. The resturant is very small in side and seating is limited. That is why we chose to come at lunch. I have heard that there is a 2 hour wait for dinner. After we got our teas for the self serve beverage island, we noticed the tea wasn't sweet. We didn't dare say a word though. We just added the sugar substitue and smiled. I noticed other patrons doing the same. The food was very good, simple but good. If you are looking for seafood, this is the place. Just remember to follow the rules posted.

After lunch we headed back to the resort to change into our swimsuits before heading to the beach. The temp was 85 but the wind was strong and it was quite chilly when you got out of the water. The beach was more crowded than I remembered it being last year. The beach is about a mile from the resort so we chose to drive. Disney does has a shuttle though.



There is a life guard present until about 5pm. So don't drown after 5.


View from pool house


Pool at the pool house


Before dinner the boys decided to shoot some pool in the community house. This is a great place to relax. They love it.



We decide to go to Giuseppi's for dinner. This is a great place for pizza. We had a 12" pizza, half pepperoni and half supreme and I had a ceasar salad. We all had sweet tea (actually sweet). The bill was only $24.00. Wow!







The best find of the day! Piggly Wiggly rings. Me and DH were so excited. We remember these as kids and brought a handful home for our friends. DS was not so thrilled. kids....

Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds" is a strange title for a film that steals your heart and fills your soul with the wonder of the indomitable spirit of humanity that we seldom experience. Ben Thomas (Will Smith) is an IRS agent who flashes his badge to gain entrance into the lives of seven strangers. He knows all there is to know about these strangers and he treats them with extreme unkindness and abusive language until the day he encounters a young woman (Rosario Dawson) with a serious heart condition. Her remarkable demeanor and resignation have an immense impact on Ben who finds himself falling in love with her. To reveal more of the story would diminish it. Will Smith is such an engaging and charismatic presence but the impact of this film comes from the outstanding soul searching performance of Rosario Dawson. The plot is not told in a linear fashion and often requires a certain suspension of belief, but as the story unfolds it will carry you over those moments. Directed by Gabriele Muccino and co starring Barry Pepper, Michael Ealy and Woody Harrelson this is a story of true love. Surrender to the moment and experience a wonder you will not soon forget.

4 Out Of 5 Stars!

Valkyrie

Valkyrie was a movie I was anxious to see and I found it fascinating and did justice to the little known story of Count Claus von Stauffenberg, a proud, aristocratic and loyal soldier in the Third Reich caught up in the plot to kill Hitler. The film opens in North Africa, and by this time, Colonel Stauffenberg, (Tom Cruise), has been decorated with many awards including the Iron Cross, but disillusionment has set in. Although he has served Germany well, he feels he can serve Hitler no longer. From the beginning he has always been a "reluctant Nazi" never fully embracing such things as Kristallnacht or the disasterous invasion into the Soviet Union. The mass executions of Jews, Poles, Russians, he finds completely abhorrant and repugnant. The film is set on course, when Stauffenberg, bitterly resentful, returns to Berlin to recuperate from wounds. The leading Generals urge him to join in the Resistance Movement. Stauffenberg's acceptance solidifies Operation Valkyrie into an audacious plot that if successful, will end World War II and remove Hitler from power. The film is as intense as any thriller I have seen, although the outcome is well known. The ensemble cast of the Generals is played by such notable actors as Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Terence Stamp. The acting is superb by all including Carice van Houten as Stauffenberg's wife, Nina. Tom Cruise's performance should restore most of the star's former luster. In this film he is clearly the lead, but plays the Colonel with thoughtful certitude and a reserve that proves he can still deliver a powerful intelligent performance. Disenchanted fans will certainly welcome him back. Four out of five stars.

Paul Blart * Mall Cop

The only reason this one got two stars instead of just one is because I like Kevin James. He's a funny guy who you just want to root for. That said, this movie is lazy and lame. The few funny scenes were used in the trailers (I hate that) and the thin premise of a plot in which a gang of what seem to be best described as ninja-skateboard dudes try to rip off a shopping mall after the black friday holiday tells you all you need to know. A second grade student could take that setup and write a similar story to what transpires in this movie. James is charming and the scenes of him scurrying about on a Segway scooter are cute but overused. Predictable and mindless, I could not recommend this dud to anyone other than rabid Kevin James fans. I'm a big fan and I didn't like it if that tells you anything. This is one holiday gift that should be returned to the mall for a refund. Yuk! Two stars out of five.