Hey guys! Just wondering if anyone went on the time share tour and if so, did they do anything special just for giving them a try? Thanks!
robinb said:Hi everyone! I am considering renting one of the smaller 1BR units in Cascades. I see that they have a kitchenette. I'm trying to plan what I can cook in the unit. Is there a cooktop and/or oven? I can't seem to find this information. Also, I see that there are no laundry facilities in the unit. Are there some common laundry facilities in the resort? Thanks!
I think there are two kinds of 1BRs, the Premium 1BR and a Standard IBR. They become a 2BR lock-off when the doors are opened between them. I think you had a Premium one. I did finally find the info on the kitchenette: it has a cook top, but does not have an oven. The microwave had a convention oven. I've been in places like this before (in Tampa and Maui) so we can make that set up work. This rental is over Christmas and I just need to decide if I want to stay offsite or onsite at AKV where I currently have reservations. Vistana would save us a ton of money and I could rent out my DVC points to cover the expenses for my whole trip.Hi,
I stayed in a Cascades one bedroom unit in 2011. In the unit we had, there was a full kitchen with a stove top and oven, dishwasher, microwave.
Yes, there are laundry facilities in the room. With our unit, the washer/dryer were hiding in the front closet (right next to our unit's front door).
If you search for my posts in this thread you'll see some of the pictures I posted.
Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards
robinb said:Hi everyone! I am considering renting one of the smaller 1BR units in Cascades. I see that they have a kitchenette. I'm trying to plan what I can cook in the unit. Is there a cooktop and/or oven? I can't seem to find this information. Also, I see that there are no laundry facilities in the unit. Are there some common laundry facilities in the resort? Thanks!
robinb said:I think there are two kinds of 1BRs, the Premium 1BR and a Standard IBR. They become a 2BR lock-off when the doors are opened between them. I think you had a Premium one. I did finally find the info on the kitchenette: it has a cook top, but does not have an oven. The microwave had a convention oven. I've been in places like this before (in Tampa and Maui) so we can make that set up work. This rental is over Christmas and I just need to decide if I want to stay offsite or onsite at AKV where I currently have reservations. Vistana would save us a ton of money and I could rent out my DVC points to cover the expenses for my whole trip.
I think there are two kinds of 1BRs, the Premium 1BR and a Standard IBR. They become a 2BR lock-off when the doors are opened between them. I think you had a Premium one. I did finally find the info on the kitchenette: it has a cook top, but does not have an oven. The microwave had a convention oven. I've been in places like this before (in Tampa and Maui) so we can make that set up work. This rental is over Christmas and I just need to decide if I want to stay offsite or onsite at AKV where I currently have reservations. Vistana would save us a ton of money and I could rent out my DVC points to cover the expenses for my whole trip.
So glad to have found this post! I didn't read every post, but it has definitely gotten me so excited for our May trip!!!
DH and our 2 DDs are staying 5/3-5/10 in a 2 bedroom. We "bought" the week from a friend who owns and couldn't use it. We wanted to stay here in 2011 but there wasn't any 2bdrm availability for the week we wanted so we ended up at a Westgate...so excited to finally get to the Sheraton!
Anyway, it looks by my skimming posts that if we're checking in on a Friday, we'll likely be in the Spas area? We'll need a crib (or Pack N Play), is that something I should request ahead of time? We'd like to be close to a pool and not on a ground floor, so it sounds like the Spas is a good area for those requests?
My sister and her BF are staying nearby, will they have any issues coming to visit us to have dinner in our villa?
Thanks!
I went back and read a bunch of posts, and now can't find something I read - is there an area that does NOT have screened in porches/balconies? I think Cascades is going to fit our needs the best, so I plan to request that with Diamond Lane when we're closer, but I don't want that if the balconies aren't screened.
Also, any buildings better than others in Cascades that I can add to my request?
I am not sure if I am able to discuss this on this site or not but, as anyone that has viewed my posts SVR has become our #1 vacation choice. Considering purchasing a two bedroom. I have recently viewed several resale websites and what surprises me is that there are units available(floating wks). for sale throughout the resort at incredible??? prices, ranging from $1000 to $2800 at approx. $1000 a year in taxes and maintenance fees. Are these desperate individuals looking to get rid of their time shares or dose this great deal come with some extravagant(unpaid fees?) hidden costs. A little free advice from some current owners would be welcomed before I inquire further into ownership.
My words of advice:
- Don't rush it. These deals have been around for years now, and unless you think the market is about to miraculously rebound in the next few months (it won't), the deals will still be there when you are done point number 2. And yes the TS market depression is primarily because people can't afford those $1k/yr MF's in today's economy, and they can't get out.
- Get educated. Spend a few weeks or months reading the posts on TUG BBS http://tugbbs.com/forums/ and join the main TUG site for the classified ads. There are lots of very opinionated participants over there; it is a wonderful education. Most will advise against the Orlando market, but for some of us it makes sense, and I get very good value for my ownership on exchange.
- Heed the common advice and keep renting. It is generally cheaper to rent TS weeks from existing owners than it is to own, and you don't have the obligation to pay MF's. After a few years of renting, perhaps it would make sense to buy; but even as a resale owner I realize I could do it cheaper by renting (but I do like the fact that paying my MF's forces me to take a vacation - I'm not too good at that otherwise).