Any Cleveland area DVCers??

[KLR-wlv]

We just found out we're moving to Cleveland for DH's residency. We currently live in Charleston SC - and yes I am a bit depressed about the weather change that will happen in Cleveland - but I grew up in that area, so it'll be kind of nice to return "home".

It's been so easy for us to drive down to DW, HH and VB from here. We just did an add on at VB - just wondering how often people in the area get to their DVC homes and can you get decent airfare from there? I know having to add air and possibly car rental onto our trips will make them less often...but the need to "get out of the cold" hasn't been as urgent living in Charleston as it surely will in NE OH, so maybe we will be going every winter...

 

[betslinc]

I no longer live in Cleveland, but did my residency there (family medicine), left almost 11 years ago! It was a nice family-oriented town, and the East side had a lot of interesting cultural events and museums. Good luck with your move! You will REALLY enjoy getting out of the cold. And your husband will REALLY enjoy getting away from residency.

 

[KLR-wlv]

Even though I spent my first 18 years there, it's been 17 since I've been away - and I have become a BIG wimp when it comes to cold. It's 35 degrees out right now - and that's about as cold as I can take it..Everywhere else he interviewed was in southern climates - and he got in up there....we'll learn to deal with it again I suppose...my father was a family doctor up there for 40 years before they moved down here. It will be fun to be in a bigger city again - we'll just have to stock up on the parkas! My kids kept saying they wanted to see snow! They'll get plenty now!

 

[betslinc]

The bad thing about Cleveland is that nobody (except family) comes to visit there, it is not a destination spot. Maybe with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that has changed? Good luck. When we were there the housing prices were great. And for a city with that population the traffic was not bad. I don't know if the still have the Sea World there.

 

[Luv2trav]

I'm not a DVC'er YET but considering becoming one when we visit in Sept.. I rented points to try it out first...

Anyway, I am from Akron/Canton area which is just 40 miles south of Cleveland... To be honest I love this area in the Summer and Fall but the winters seem to go on for at least 6 months. We hardly ever get a spring. It usually jumps from Winter right into summer... The older I get (32) the more I absolutely cannot stand our winters... Every winter we talk about relocating to the Carolina's...

Other than Winter it's a wonderful place to live.

Wendy

 

[kabaird]

Hello! I'm a DVC Want-to-be from 1/2 hr south of Cleveland, OH. Love OKW, and plan on buying a resale contract soon (I hope). Yes the weather up here is crummy many days--that's one or the things that makes our trips to WDW so special as we go during the frist week of Novemeber.

Now as far as driving vs. flying...I haven't had much luck finding airfare from Cleveland or Akron/Canton airports for under $230 r/t. With three of us and a fourth on the way, that can add up to some serious $$$. I'm a stay at home mom so we can't let our travel expenses take up too much of our budget. I'd rather spend about $400 total on driving r/t with some stops at an OK hotel.

If you have the time (16-20hrs total road time depending on traffic, weather and 'bio-stops') and like to drive it's worth it. If money were no object I'd fly and get a towncar!

Good luck with your move!

 

[AmyTags]

Hi. I live about 1/2 hour south of Cleveland. We have driven to Disney at least 5 times from this area. The drive isn't bad(the drive home is worse). We normally drive straight through and have found that if you leave first thing in the morning the drive is not as bad for some reason. I believe we have taken Continental at least 5 times as well. We always get a non-stop flight and it has never cost us more then $220. We now have an 18 month old so at this point driving is out. We are going down May 9-18(our flight cost $217 round trip)and staying at BCV(first time using DVC) and then my husband & I are going down again in Oct. for our 5 year anniversary.

As for the weather..I am going to be completely honest here. I hate it!!! This winter has been extremely harsh for us. Today is 32 degrees and it feels like a heat-wave. If you miss snow then you will love it here but it gets old.

To the person who asked if Sea World is still here.. it is not we do have Six Flags which still has the Marine side but it definitely isn't Sea World. If you like amusement parks Cedar Point is awesome and it's only about 2 hours away.

Good luck to you and your family!!

 

[tzvdmd]

Charleston SC to Cleveland? Sorry to hear that.
Just kidding. I live about 45 min. east just north of Youngstown. We usually drive but we have gotten good deals on flights out of CLE before. Canton/Akron is a nice airport and you can get flights into Tampa. A great way to beat the crowds at both airports.

 

[mayvacationers]

Hi,
We live about an hour and a half south of Cleveland. We are flying down on Saturday using AirTran out of Akron/Canton airport. We usually fly down twice a year. This year we may drive down in the summer as well<since we just bought a resale at OKW. Air fares are not usually too bad if you can shop ahead and watch the prices. You will have two airports to choose from within about an hour drive, Cleveland and Akron/Canton.
Weather isn't great in this area but home prices and cost of living is affordable and people are friendly. PK

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We are about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland. My brother who lives in Brecksville(suburb) is also a DVC member.

We go down at least 2-3 times a year. We have the options to fly from 3 airports( 1 hr from each), Cleveland or Pittsburgh or Akron. We usually get fares around $200 -$230 for non-stop flights.

You will find the cost of living and homes a lot cheaper in this area. The winters here are bad

........thats why we are moving to Florida

in 3-4 years. Hopefully your move to NE Ohio is not permanent. Don't plan on seeing a lot of sunshine, even in the summer in Ohio.

Cedar Point is a very nice place to go. The coasters at Cedar Point put the coasters at MGM,Magic Kingdom,IOA to shame.

 

[Kelly&John]

Welcome back home! Cleveland is a great town! Although, I have to admit that winter this year has been especially harsh. We took care of that with a quick trip to WDW at the end of January.

We usually go to WDW twice a year for a week and usually manage a long weekend. We always fly. We've been pretty lucky with airfare - usually around $200.

Kelly

 

[KLR-wlv]

Thanks for all the replies! Although "y'all' aren't making me feel any better about the weather!! I told my Dh that there really wasn't much of a spring - cold to hot like someone said - I'm glad nothing's changed! I am excited about Cedar Point. The Gemini was the biggest roller coaster there the last time I went!

I saw a poster from Warren - I went to elementary school in Champion - and grew up in Orwell - that tiny little town on 322 that people drive through on their way to PA....

I'd send some sunshine your way, but it's cloudy and rainy here today....

 

[KimOhio]

Hi please bring some sunshine with you youngstown now has flights to sanford for about 158 round trip welcome the the cold LOl

 

[mom2rb]

A friend of mine is going to Cleveland on Friday to look at houses and schools. She will be happy to know that airfare to Disney is about the same as from Houston.

 

[Luv2trav]

Originally posted by KLR-wlv
Thanks for all the replies! Although "y'all' aren't making me feel any better about the weather!! I told my Dh that there really wasn't much of a spring - cold to hot like someone said - I'm glad nothing's changed! I am excited about Cedar Point. The Gemini was the biggest roller coaster there the last time I went!

I saw a poster from Warren - I went to elementary school in Champion - and grew up in Orwell - that tiny little town on 322 that people drive through on their way to PA....

I'd send some sunshine your way, but it's cloudy and rainy here today....

I am excited about Cedar Point. The Gemini was the biggest roller coaster there the last time I went!

Wow you haven't been there in a long time then! They have the most roller coasters of any amusement park... Not to mention 2 of the 3 tallest and fastest in the world...

 

[KLR-wlv]

Yes - it's probably been almost 20 years since I was there! That makes me feel VERY old....

 

[Towncrier]

Welcome to NE Ohio. There are quite a few DISers who live in the area. We have an active bunch of pin traders. There are DVC members as well. We bought our first contract at Old Key West in 1995. We'll be going home in less than five months. We drive right past Charleston each year on our trip to WDW.

As far as flights, I have managed to get $139 roundtrip fares on Airtran from Akron to Orlando in the autumn, but those fares are hard to come by in the summertime. I guess that's why we drive to WDW more often than fly. The drive takes 16 hours if you don't stop, but 20 hours is a more reasonable pace. We used to stop in Walterboro (SC) on the way down, but each year we try to make it a bit farther south. Last summer we made it all the way to Savannah (GA) before we stopped for the first night. Our decision to purchase DVC in 1995 was based on the assumption that we'd drive down once a year because we knew that we couldn't afford airfare and rental car and DVC all at the same time.

If you are moved in by Memorial Day, please come to our annual DIS cookout on Sunday, May 30th. I can PM or email directions to you. Last year Tigerlily03 and her husband came to the picnic and brought their goodies from the first DVC member cruise for us to see. We usually go to Cedar Point on the Friday evening and Saturday prior to the picnic as well. Keep an eye on the Dis Meets Board for more information as the date gets a little closer.

Last year we had a DISmeet at the Yankee Peddler Festival (which is held the first three weekends after Labor Day at Clay's Park Resort, south of Cleveland). Perhaps you can come see why I'm called "Towncrier".

My dad grew up in Warren. For a time we lived in Newton Falls. I remember Champion and even seem to recall Orwell. But high school for me was a few years ago.

Again, welcome to the neighborhood. I hope to meet you and your family when you get here.

 

[ellynsoh]

We live in Chardon, which is sometimes called "the buckle on the Snowbelt". When you hear "lake effect snow", that's us!

 

[Towncrier]

Hey. With all you DVC DISers in the area, why haven't any of you (with a couple of exceptions) dropped by for our Memorial Day picnic?

I know that Pop Daddy from over on the Community Board is avoiding me like the plague, but that's no excuse for the rest of you. Maybe I need to start offering DVC door prizes.

 

[Kelly&John]

Sorry Towncrier,

Memorial Weekend in Cleveland is also the Great American Rib Cook-Off. I am part of the staff for that event. Therefore, my whole weekend I am eating ribs and enjoying the music...and working, of course.

Kelly