*** Homeschool List ***

[meandtheguys2]

Is it really just $180.00 for a week? Have you done this before? Is it legit? That's amazing!

There is a $20 charge, also. But if you buy more than one, they only charge you once (same auction).

 

[earthfaries]

Yes, we have done it several times. We never pay more than that for 7 nights. You do have to take stock on hand. Stock/Availability is always changing, so you can keep checking. Sometimes a 3 bedroom will pop up last minute.

I have heard that Orbit One is a nice place (that is one of their RCI condos available.) We used to stay at Vacation Village with them (have done it 3 times. Had a 1 bedroom twice and a 2 bedroom once).

It is timeshare condos that are leftover rooms that they want to rent out for cheap. YOU DO NOT have to sit through anything!!! This is just surplus supply.

I bought 3 of these for this year. I will use one or two weeks for this vacation and then we may do Atlantic Beach for a week later in the year.

Dawn

So if you look up your dates and it says there is a 2 bedroom available, do you get that 2 bedroom for sure? Or do they give you what they have when you get there? Can you reserve it now, you know ahead of time sometime for next year or do you wait until you want to leave?

 

[earthfaries]

There is a $20 charge, also. But if you buy more than one, they only charge you once (same auction).

Do they charge you cleaning fees or anything else during your stay?

 

[DawnM]

I think you have a year to use it, so you can check availability. You book the condo you want based on availability. There is no bait and switch. If you book a 2BR, then you get a 2BR.

If no 2BR is available then you have to get what is.

If it isn't showing available this week, check back next week. It changes all the time.

Dawn

So if you look up your dates and it says there is a 2 bedroom available, do you get that 2 bedroom for sure? Or do they give you what they have when you get there? Can you reserve it now, you know ahead of time sometime for next year or do you wait until you want to leave?

 

[DawnM]

No, no additional fees. No taxes on top of the cost, etc...this is the total cost.

There is no daily cleaning in the condos though.

Dawn

Do they charge you cleaning fees or anything else during your stay?

 

[earthfaries]

I think you have a year to use it, so you can check availability. You book the condo you want based on availability. There is no bait and switch. If you book a 2BR, then you get a 2BR.

If no 2BR is available then you have to get what is.

If it isn't showing available this week, check back next week. It changes all the time.

Dawn

No, no additional fees. No taxes on top of the cost, etc...this is the total cost.

There is no daily cleaning in the condos though.

Dawn

Thanks for the info That seems like such a good deal, it is hard to believe. Why do people pay so much for hotels and condos when they can buy this???
Too bad I can't cancel mine. There is a 200.00 cancel fee if I do. We saved over $700.00 on our rental though so we are happy. Trip Advisor rates it the number 1 place in Kissimmee to stay so that's good
I'll know for next time. Now if they do homeschool days again in Sept. and I get one of those condos how could I pass it up... Just another excuse to go back!

 

[silvergoldberry]

Silvergoldberry- We are going to be there the same days as you!! We also homeschool- son 11(turning 12 in Dec.) son 8 and daughter 4. We are at the Beach Club- let's hope for perfect weather and no crowds! Until then I just keep working away at home -counting our days!!

Hey cool!
My daughter turns 11 December 4.

70 days to go!

Barb

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for responding with the Sept. dates! I'd love to go in January, especially if there would be a group we can meet up with. I just don't know if we can swing it right now. I'll follow along with this thread for updates.

 

[TNKBELL]

http://www.skyauction.com/anyoffer/71746?adref=EM111507VACA2

I bought one of these. I think Jan. will be a good bet to find a 3 bedroom.

Click on getawayweek.com half way down the page. Then put in dates and destination Florida to see availability.

Dawn

WOW!!! Dawn, how do you find out about these blowouts??? I have used skyauction many times but have never seen this great of a deal!! I just bought 2 weeks!!! I will be checking to see availability everyday!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! I was going to bid on a regular auction and that would have been around 250 with fees!!

 

[TNKBELL]

Do they charge you cleaning fees or anything else during your stay?

I have used skyauction many times, they don't charge you a fee if you don't ask to have your room cleaned. That is not a problem for us, just like being at home. Each resort is different, some of the resorts we have stayed at have a trash and towel service once per week, where they come in and change out your towels and take out the trash and do some general clean up, but most of the resorts they don't do anything. But it's worth it to me for the full kitchen and laundry facilities alone, I save money on meals and don't have to pack as much, not to mention having room to spread out!!
I love skyauction!!!!

 

[sweet maxine]

***********

 

[TNKBELL]

As far as I know, Silver Lake is the only resort charging a mandatory cleaning fee as per getravelop. I have confirmed this with them per phone. The only other time I have seen a cleaning fee is if you are doing a nightly rental through getravelop.

Thanks for the heads up!! I wasn't aware that they ever charge a fee!! I guess I better check before I book!

 

[earthfaries]

I have used skyauction many times, they don't charge you a fee if you don't ask to have your room cleaned. That is not a problem for us, just like being at home. Each resort is different, some of the resorts we have stayed at have a trash and towel service once per week, where they come in and change out your towels and take out the trash and do some general clean up, but most of the resorts they don't do anything. But it's worth it to me for the full kitchen and laundry facilities alone, I save money on meals and don't have to pack as much, not to mention having room to spread out!!
I love skyauction!!!!

That is a great deal We go through armed forces vacation club and get a good discount on condos but this is better!!! Last year we got a 2 bdrm. wonderful condo for $299.00 incl. all taxes, etc. at Summer Bay Resort. This time since it is January the prices are higher. We got our 3 bedroom townhouse at Hapimag Lake Berkley for $629.99 PLUS tax~they stopped including it in the deals this year So with an extra night and taxes it was $860. which is a great deal for that particular place which goes for at least $160.00 a night.
I see they also have good deals for cruises on there also...thanks for that link

So, has anyone else purchased their homeschool days tickets? I ordered mine Halloween night and she said when I called the day before yesterday I should get them within 2 weeks. She was also supposed to send me a Y.E.S. program dvd with info about the Y.E.S. stuff, I sure would like to get that

Is anyone else doing a program? The ocean discoveries looks so neat how you get to go behind the scenes at LS. Not too many people get to do that!

 

[DawnM]

Where else would I find out about it???? Through THESE boards!

Someone posted it on the Hotels board. They have these blowouts periodically, but when I saw it last week I decided to snag 3 of them and then we can do Disney for 2 weeks and maybe the beach for a week in September or October.

I have heard Orbit One (one of the condos listed that you can use) is good.

Dawn

WOW!!! Dawn, how do you find out about these blowouts??? I have used skyauction many times but have never seen this great of a deal!! I just bought 2 weeks!!! I will be checking to see availability everyday!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! I was going to bid on a regular auction and that would have been around 250 with fees!!

 

[TNKBELL]

Where else would I find out about it???? Through THESE boards!

Someone posted it on the Hotels board. They have these blowouts periodically, but when I saw it last week I decided to snag 3 of them and then we can do Disney for 2 weeks and maybe the beach for a week in September or October.

I have heard Orbit One (one of the condos listed that you can use) is good.

Dawn

We stayed at Orbit One in 2005, it was very close to WDW, it wasn't the fanciest resort especially the interior, but the postives were that we were on the ground floor and our screened in porch opened up into a courtyard that had a picinic pavillion, shuffleboard court, playground, basketball court and pool/hot tub. This was great for the kids, they could just go outside and play and we could see them from the living room kitchen combo. Also everyday they offered free donuts while they lasted. I have pics of the inside and outside of our unit, I could email them to you and answer any specific questions you may have just pm me with your info.

 

[disneymom3]

Well, our logical plan we came up with last night has been thwarted this a.m. DH was supposed to find out how much his bonus would be by Dec 7th. We decided we would wait to decide for sure about Jan until then. Well, he got an email this a.m. that now he won't know until Dec 21. (Hope others weren't planning on using that money for Christmas!!) So, I don't know what to do at this point. It comes down to--go in Jan and save approx $500 on the tickets, or wait until Oct/Nov when we have time to save more money. The thing is that we are already planning a trip to CA in May. Managing to save the money for two trips in 5 months is going to be tricky! Especially since DHs second bonus doesn't come until June.

sigh.....

 

[earthfaries]

Well, our logical plan we came up with last night has been thwarted this a.m. DH was supposed to find out how much his bonus would be by Dec 7th. We decided we would wait to decide for sure about Jan until then. Well, he got an email this a.m. that now he won't know until Dec 21. (Hope others weren't planning on using that money for Christmas!!) So, I don't know what to do at this point. It comes down to--go in Jan and save approx $500 on the tickets, or wait until Oct/Nov when we have time to save more money. The thing is that we are already planning a trip to CA in May. Managing to save the money for two trips in 5 months is going to be tricky! Especially since DHs second bonus doesn't come until June.

sigh.....

$500.00 is a lot of money to save, but sometimes if it just seems to possibly mess everything up and make it harder for you guys before and after the trip and harder for your next trip then it might be better to just wait. I think they may have it again in Sept.
If not you could organize a group yourself. I would be interested. If you posted it around DIS. All you have to do to get the good prices is have a group of 10 or more.
Is going in January going to interfere with your Christmas budget or your May trip budget? If so it would probably be better to wait and have a stress free holiday and May trip and a great trip in Sept.~then you'll be there for MNSSHP too!!!

 

[disneymom3]

earthfairies--that is what we are thinking we are going to do. It would be more end of Oct than Sept so I would need to organize it myself with others from here. I will def be posting to let everyone know. As you say, I am feeling like it will make a lot of situations less stressful.

 

[Ellester]

Boy, I would love, love, love to take advantage of the Homeschool Days. But, not this year. We are most likely buying a house between now and January and every little bit of disposable income is going towards that. I'll have to settle for our planned trip next October, although I'll think about moving it to September if they offer the Homeschool Days then.

On a totally other topic, there is a cute video on youtube called "Homeschool Girl". A friend mentioned it at park day today, it's by a group called "Bunch of Believers".

Hope you all have a great weekend! We are looking forward to a full week off of school.

 

[disneymom3]

Ellester--when in Oct to you plan to go? If we go around the same time we could combine and become a group. We would only need 4 more homeschooled kids to make our 10 min. and then as parents we would qualify as chaperones and get the same ticket prices.