How many Michigan DVC's are there?

[WDWDad]

Bout time, ShelbyJosh.

I know your husband and kids, I think your the loon. Bet your looking forward to time around the pool in your new suit ? Wish we were going along. We just discovered we have 51 points which we have to use by Sept 30. How does a late summer - early Fall short trip sound ?

 

[nuthut]

From Hastings, SE of Grand Rapids. We alway fly on NWA as it is much cheaper than driving. Jerry

 

[mbhoxsie]

My wife and I have been members since '99...

I live in New Baltimore.. Work in Auburn Hills, and pass through Macomb Township, Utica, and Rochester Hills on the way into work...

And like todsue99, I graduated from Oakland as well... Woo! Go Pioneers! ....errr... Golden Grizlies!

 

[msdis]

My sister lives in the southwestern part of Michigan and will be driving to meet us either along the way or at WDW. She lives a little south of Kallamazoo. How long do you think it will take them? Anyone have a good route they take? We were thinking about meeting along the way somewhere on 77 at about Columbia/Lexington, SC area. Anyone ever stop in this area? Any other tips or advise to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Cruelladeville]

msdis,
For anyone driving from western Michigan, going to Florida by way of South Carolina is WAY out of the way. We are from Ludington (on Lake Michigan), and we go I94 to I69 which goes to Indy. Then you pick up I65 down to Nashville. Then pick up I24 over to Chattenooga where we pick up I75 thru Georgia into Florida. You can also stay on I65 and go down thru Alabama. We have gone to Florida both ways, and Alabama is really quite lovely, and far less crowded than Georgia. You have to get used to the gun racks on all the trucks if you go thru Alabama, though. By going way over to the east coast to drive to Florida your sister will add several hours to her trip. We have gone that way--once--and once we drove west thru Arkansas, down thru Mississippi. But it's the fastest if you drive south down thru Indy. I guess it depends upon whether you are trying to get to Florida fast, or you are going to enjoy the scenery along the way.

 

[TCPluto]

Grand Rapids. Drive and fly, mostly out of Detroit, Spirit.

We have friends there we usually spend the night before with. They become our airport shuttle. It's a good thing they are such good friends and we can return the favor at times!

 

[srmbstark]

We've been members for a few years. We live in Marysville.

 

[dtheboys]

Checking in from Linden, Mi. about 20 minutes north of Brighton.
We have 3 boys, and have been going to Disney for over 14years.
VERY glad to have found DVC!!!!
See you in Florida!!

 

[todsue99]

msdis, Cruelladeville is correct, it is way out of the way to go thru S. Carolina. If they drive straight thru it should only take them 19 - 20 hours.

 

[vbfamily]

We have gone several times and after driving on 75 through Georgia, we decided to go through the Carolinas. It doesn't add that much extra time to our trips and it is a very pleasant drive.

We go this way when we leave Vero Beach and if we are on our way to VB, so I suppose if you were going to Orlando it would be a little out of the way.

If you are headed to VB though, I would suggest giving it a try. We usually make it to Columbia on the first night and then VB the next day.

I think we take the coastal drive on the way back up to MI because it makes us feel like we are still on vacation when we can still see the beach.

We also have driven through Alabama on the way home from Clearwater Beach, which wasn't bad.

 

[mbhoxsie]

srmbstark,

My wife and I are originally from Port Huron... My wife used to live just off of Michigan Rd...

 

[MI mom of 3]

We are from Clawson. We have 3 kids DD 15, DS 11, and DS 10

We have been DVC members since 1994. Can't wait to go back in June.

Michele

 

[msdis]

Does that mean you stay over in Columbia? Where have you stayed there before and any suggestions? I haven't gone back to look at my map-n-go since reading the previous posts but my first attempt said it was only about 30 miles total longer to make the stop in Columbia. The reason we want to do this is the drive for us is about 26 hours. For sis and family as predicted here is about 19 hrs. to WDW. If we meet up in Columbia that makes about 20-21 hours for us which is about our limit. We haven't seen each other in a long time and an extra night would mean a lot to us and then we will all arrive together the next day. Since I am putting everything in my name(credit card requirements), they will not even be able to check-in without me. Not thay they will in Columbia either. But, I would rather our first day there be a little more rested. Any more tips you can give would be greatly appreciated. And thanks to those who also replied. This trip is amounting to a hugh undertaking that I so want to do, but it is stressing me out. Thanks again everyone!

 

[bcvprincesses]

We are from Marysville and just became owners 2 days ago. We have 200 pts at BCV and can't wait for our first trip home.

 

[vbfamily]

msdis:

We stay at the Hampton Inn in Columbia-the one at I-26 at Harbison Blvd.

We usually do this on the way to and on the way back from Vero Beach. I don't know how much time this would add to your trip if you were going to Orlando. I wouldn't think it would be too much because it is only a 2 hr drive from Orlando to the coast, which is where we come in if you drive through the Carolinas.

We just enjoy the drive on 95 or A1A through Florida-it does make you feel good.

The Hampton Inn I spoke of is very nice-it's about 4 floors and they have a huge breakfast. They also have a guest laundry room and are right next door to some restaurants where you can get a decent meal.

On the way back from VB in October we stayed over in Columbia the first night and left there about 9:00/9:30 and arrived home in East Lansing at about 10:30/11:00. We stopped for lunch somewhere in Tennessee and thought that we made pretty good timing to arrive home when we did.

Also, the highways in the Carolinas are often lined with wildflowers that the state plants and it makes for a really pretty drive.

Have you ever thought about making HH your halfway stop? It might work out if you have some extra pts you need to use.

 

[TiggerFreak]

Hi Todsue99,

We're almost neighbors! We are S of Tienken and W of Livernois!
Lived in RH for 16 years and DVC owners at VWL since 12-2000. Also, have an add-on at BCV! Our youngest DD is a senior at Stoney Creek and will be in their first graduating class.

Hi Travelbug,

Hope you have a great time on your upcoming BCV trip!
I see you too sucumbed(s) to the add-on "Bug" at BCV.
Seem to remember you were going to try to resist

Remember what MM said:

"Resistance is futile, you WILL give in to the Magic."

 

[mbhoxsie]

bcvprincesses,

Welcome Home! Nice to see another member from the Blue Water Area!

 

[msdis]

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to check out that Hampton Inn. Yes, I've called about a stop in HH but the resort is completely sold out the night I need. I forgot, the ocean is that close on 95 ? My BIL has never seen the ocean and would very much like to do so. We drove from WDW to VB for 1 night last May. The ride was not that bad from WDW, but when we left we went to HH for 1 night and that drive seemed forever.Thanks again!

 

[vbfamily]

msdis:
I would say the drive to HH is out of the way compared to staying in Columbia. It would be good if the people making the ride had the time and really wanted to see HH or use pts.

If time is an issue, then the Hampton Inn in Columbia is a good stop for us.

We left VB in October around lunch time-we ate lunch in VB and then got on the road. We were going to pick up 75 but for us that would have seemed like just another highway and the end of our vacation. So we took A1A North and got to see the ocean and all the little out of the way places, etc. It made us feel like we were still on vacation. We drove North through Flagler Beach-which is such a cute little town. Continued through Daytona Beach, etc. I don't remember where we picked up 95, but it was somewhere in Florida.

Then we continued to Columbia. This took us about the same time as if we drove through Georgia-we made it home in about 13 hrs-the same time it took us to make it home from Forsyth, GA the last time we went to Florida.

If you are traveling with someone who has never seen the ocean, I think this is a good way to go. I think you have to be on A1A to see the ocean which is not 95 but as I said it's only a couple hours out of the way.

Have fun.

 

[bcvprincesses]

srmbstark just tried to pm you and you have to turn on your pm. Thanks