Sun, Shopping, Sand, Surf, Sweat & Shamu: A Splashin Summertime Sabbatical at SVR!

[crazyfordisney2000]

Twistee treats is our favourite!! We are really hoping to sneak in that xmas trip. Fingers crossed. Having a hard time finding a rental at our price point. We lucked out last yearand got a rental for $550 for 10 days at Orange Lake booked in March.
Sweet tomatoes, we love it. There is meat in the soup. Chunks of chicken, a chili soup. Bacon to do potatoes with. Some pasta.

Sweet Tomatoes is one of our favourites too! So looking forward to it this trip!

We have a loose plan for our dining, not for "schedule" purposes, but more to make sure we fit in our must-do's on the days they are best suited (like bringing in our favourite pizza on a night after being in the heat and sun at a waterpark all day.....those days are much more fitting for a "bring in" dinner than a sit-down-and-dine larger meal.....by then, we just want to put our feet up and relax!).

Here's what we kind of have planned as far as meals go:

• Saturday, August 16th: dinner at Dinosaur Barbecue, our Syracuse favourite
  
• Sunday, August 17th: breakfast at Tim Hortons before our flight, lunch at Friendly's in Orlando (its an arrival day tradition!), dinner at Cici's (a Jake favourite, and its conveniently right across the highway from the resort)
  
• Monday, August 18th: breakfast in the villa, lunch while we're out shopping (maybe Checkers?) and dinner at Millers Ale House (a new restaurant for us!)
  
• Tuesday, August 19th: breakfast at the villa, lunch at Typhoon Lagoon (maybe a picnic? still undecided), Giordano's pizza for dinner (take-out, eaten in the villa)
  
• Wednesday, August 20th: breakfast in the villa, lunch at the villa (maybe homemade subs), dinner at Olive Garden (Steve's #1 pick)
  
• Thursday, August 21st: breakfast at the villa, all-day dining at Aquatica
  
• Friday, August 22nd: breakfast at the villa, lunch at the villa (grilled cheeses? or something easy), barbecue for dinner (burgers, hot dogs, salad)
  
• Saturday, August 23rd: breakfast at the villa, lunch at Steak & Shake in Daytona, late dinner at TGI Fridays (my favourite!!)
  
• Sunday, August 24th: breakfast and lunch at the villa, dinner at Nascar (meal and mini golf package)
  
• Monday, August 25th: breakfast and lunch at Discovery Cove, frozen pizza for dinner (if anyone even wants it!!)
  
• Tuesday, August 26th: breakfast at the villa, all day dining at Aquatica
  
• Wednesday, August 27th: SeaWorld all day dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  
• Thursday, August 28th: breakfast and lunch at the villa, Buffalo Wild Wing for dinner (take-out.....this is a great meal to bring in)
  
• Friday, August 29th: breakfast at the villa, lunch at Sonic Drive-In (another Jake fave), and Golden Corral for dinner after a long day at the malls (or we might try the Wood Grill Buffet this trip....its fairly new, sounds very similar and we've never been there yet)
  
• Saturday, August 30th: the plans are for SeaWorld...maybe all day dining again?
  
• Sunday, August 31st: Homeward Bound….breakfast at Dunkin Donuts (a departure day tradition), lunch at ?? (depends on what we do and where we end up for that final day), dinner at Nathan's at the airport (another departure day tradition) before our evening flight

The boys are quite miffed that Chili's is not part of the plans. Its another one we love. I just can't figure out where it would fit, though. It looks like it may need to wait for the next vacation!

We loved Miller's Ale House and Cici's is my daughter's favourite!! We will definitely be going!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

3 weeks....I wish I was going too. I knew I'd really be missing it. In particular, with this stupid weather we have had. The summer conditions today are a hot and disgusting 24 (there's no sarcasm smiley face but insert it here).

Ditto on the bathing suit comment. I think the bathing costume should come back into style.

This summer has been so bizarre, weather-wise. I'm really not sure what to make of it. I seriously hope this doesn't mean we're in for another disaster of a winter.

I actually found a neat little retro-style swimsuit online yesterday that I don't hate. Its the same brand as the one I bought last year, and I loved the fit....so I might order it next weekend and have it delivered to our park and fly hotel in Syracuse. In fact, they are so affordable in comparison to the swimsuits here, I may even order two.....I tend to go through suits quite quickly as the chlorine at our Y eats them up within a couple of months.

YYep, I too like the Mac and cheese pizza at cici's. I always find some odd combo that I like. You can also ask them to make a pizza. Their salad is good, even if just basic.

Stormy Sunday on tap today. High winds and chance of hail. Oh fun. Sunny right now. The calm before the storm......

I don't think many folks know that they can custom order a pizza at Cici's. If some Buffalo chicken thing isn't on the buffet when we arrive, Jake always requests it....and its hot and ready in about 10 minutes, delivered to our table . I also enjoy the mac and cheese pizza....low cal and all that it is ... and their cinnamon buns are so good too . lol, I have never tried their salad. Which is obviously one of the reasons I have swimsuit/body issues .

I can't wait to see what section of the resort you get this time! And TWO weeks!! That entire first week you won't even have to think about going home! You can start the "5 days left.. 4 days left …" countdown your second week.

We will be in Fountains this time, that I'm 99% sure of . That's the section that our purchased units were in, and the pre-arrival co-ordinator has already confirmed that that's where we will be assigned. I am looking forward to giving the other side of the resort a try, and being close to the Tiki Bar and the Fountains pool (which shows the poolside movies throughout the week).

If there's anything specific ya'll want to know about SVR that I could investigate or ask about while I'm there (that's not already mentioned in bankr63's awesome SVR thread), just let me know. I am happy to seek out any info on your behalf .

20 days is just right around the corner! It's so exciting when you know you have a vacation coming up and it's going to be both fun and relaxing!

What requests are you going to make? I don't know if we can make requests since it was through Interval International... There's already a number on our documents of our supposed room...

We will request a top floor unit with a vaulted ceiling and skylight, in a building that is close to a pool and not bordering the two highways. We avoid the highways to minimize the noise (I want to be able to sit out and enjoy the tranquility on our balcony), we like the top floor to minimize the pitter patter of feet (or stomping! ) above us, and I love, love LOVE the look of the units with the vaulted ceilings.....they look so bright and airy! Being close to a pool is a huge convenience since we spend so much time swimming.

Sweet Tomatoes is one of our favourites too! So looking forward to it this trip!

We loved Miller's Ale House and Cici's is my daughter's favourite!! We will definitely be going!

When is your next trip scheduled for? I am sure you have probably told me and I have forgotten! For some reason, the bottom of your ticker doesnt show up when I view your posts.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well, I got another reply back from Discovery Cove regarding the parking pass. They wanted to know what happens when I click on the link to access the pass, can I print it? I have told them yes, I already DID print it (though the PDF link appears unresponsive now.....probably not a good sign).

I have offered to fax them the pass I have. Maybe if they actually SEE it, they can get to the bottom of it?

My mission for Monday to is get this resolved.....even if they have to reissue (I'm at exactly 28 days to DC as of tomorrow).

I will also book a pedicure for Ms. Kitty for sometime next week. We want her to have comfy feet for when we're gone, but since she finds a vet trip upsetting at the best of times, we don't want to leave it until the last possible minute either.

I'm starting to get the itch to pull the suitcases out, but I know its too soon. I have the overwhelming urge to organize, but have precious little left to do!

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

When I updated my signature with some more recent photos than what I had, it messed up my ticker! We leave in 20 days! We fly out on the 16th!
We pulled out the suitcases today, I will start packing next weekend!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

When I updated my signature with some more recent photos than what I had, it messed up my ticker! We leave in 20 days! We fly out on the 16th!
We pulled out the suitcases today, I will start packing next weekend!

Oh, right!! You are flying from Rochester . Jealous that you are going to get there a smidge before me!! We'll be in Syracuse while you are arriving in Orlando.

Your kids must be getting SUPER excited!

I was kind of thinking of hauling the suitcases out next weekend, too. Steve will be working night shift all weekend, so I should have some extra time to spend sorting and organizing. I might have to keep them in the rec room, though, so as not to upset Patches. She seems to know that the suitcases mean Mom's going to pull a disappearing act very soon....which generally activates her "cattitude"

 

[pigletto]

We will be in Fountains this time, that I'm 99% sure of . That's the section that our purchased units were in, and the pre-arrival co-ordinator has already confirmed that that's where we will be assigned. I am looking forward to giving the other side of the resort a try, and being close to the Tiki Bar and the Fountains pool (which shows the poolside movies throughout the week).

If there's anything specific ya'll want to know about SVR that I could investigate or ask about while I'm there (that's not already mentioned in bankr63's awesome SVR thread), just let me know. I am happy to seek out any info on your behalf .

That's very kind of you Gina. I can't think of anything yet that I need to know, but I am sure I will be bothering you with questions as it gets closer.

I too LOVE the look of the units with the Skylight! I am still up in the air about which section to request. DD is pretty excited about the Starbucks of all things, so it would be nice to walk over and get a drink in the mornings. But I'd also like to be close to the pool movies. One of my favourite vacation memories ever was swimming for a few hours with ds and watching Rio at the Royal Pacific one summer. It wasn't even a good movie. Just a novelty to swim around with my boy and watch a movie.
I'm sure there will be pluses to anywhere we end up. I get more excited every day.
Are the upper Fountains units the ones with the little loft as well?

 

[ZehnJahren]

How do you make a request? I guess I should go check out the SVR thread for that one!! First I should check the "room" on our reservation and see if it's someplace we'd already be happy!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Are the upper Fountains units the ones with the little loft as well?

I think you are thinking of the Courts....the upper units have a very unique configuration (and I believe that's the type of unit that bankr63 owns...so hopefully he will chime in with his input as well!). Those units would be in short walking distance to the Marketplace, where your DD's Starbucks is served (but perhaps they also offer Starbucks coffee at the food court on the Fountains side? I will have to look into that for you!) .

Fountains I have about 1260 feet of living space, with the jacuzzi tub in the master bath. Fountains II are similar size but have the jacuzzi tub in the bedroom (and their 2nd bath has a shower in the enclosed tub...while the Fountains I have no tub in the 2nd bath, just a stand-up shower....which is actually what the boy prefers).

I am not completely sure if the Fountains II uppers have skylights, though, and our purchased units are both Fountains I .... so that's where I am expecting to be assigned.

How do you make a request? I guess I should go check out the SVR thread for that one!! First I should check the "room" on our reservation and see if it's someplace we'd already be happy!

To make a room request, you fill out a "Diamond Lane" form online about 2 weeks before your visit. It can be found here:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/services/diamond.jsp?propertyId=01

Check your reservation confirmation and see if your room occupancy is listed as 6/6 or 6/8 ... that will at least rule out (or narrow it down to, as the case may be) Falls and Courts.

 

[ZehnJahren]

To make a room request, you fill out a "Diamond Lane" form online about 2 weeks before your visit. It can be found here:

https://www.mystarcentral.com/services/diamond.jsp?propertyId=01

Check your reservation confirmation and see if your room occupancy is listed as 6/6 or 6/8 ... that will at least rule out (or narrow it down to, as the case may be) Falls and Courts.

Thanks for the info!!

I checked out our certificate and it says that our occupancy is 6/8 - does that rule out Falls and Courts, or does it narrow it down to Falls and Courts? Now that the trip is getting closer, I really need to go reread that SVR thread carefully; I'm sure I'm missing information from just skimming through it, though I've been following it the last month!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the info!!

I checked out our certificate and it says that our occupancy is 6/8 - does that rule out Falls and Courts, or does it narrow it down to Falls and Courts? Now that the trip is getting closer, I really need to go reread that SVR thread carefully; I'm sure I'm missing information from just skimming through it, though I've been following it the last month!

Good morning, my friend!

The 6/8 occupany should rule out Falls and Courts (which are normally listed as 6/6 occupancy, as the 2nd bedroom in those sections have twin beds vs. the doubles throughout the remainder of the resort).

The SVR thread is such a good resource . bankr63 has done a great job keeping it all organized and up-to-date. He's got a great overview of the various sections that will help you decide where you might like to request.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Good morning, my friend!

The 6/8 occupany should rule out Falls and Courts (which are normally listed as 6/6 occupancy, as the 2nd bedroom in those sections have twin beds vs. the doubles throughout the remainder of the resort).

The SVR thread is such a good resource . bankr63 has done a great job keeping it all organized and up-to-date. He's got a great overview of the various sections that will help you decide where you might like to request.

Thanks for the information! I am definitely going to spend some more time going more carefully through that very helpful thread. Even this morning I saw that someone else besides you had recommended the Turkey Lake Wal Mart over the one right by SVR; looks like we may be following that recommendation of yours, though we really need to get the lay of the land. We are going to be cutting it CLOSE to get to MK on our arrival day since there's a MNSSHP that night.

You are SO CLOSE to your trip. I'm still jealous of your Discovery Cove day! I always wanted to go there, ever since they opened. I just had to nix it this trip; my mom is not a very strong swimmer and I just didn't want her to go along just for me to enjoy it.

 

[sympatico]

Hi Gina, just getting caught up. After going to Florida in September there's no way that I would go again during the summer, kudos to you. End of Oct. - Apr. is more my speed.
We usually try eating somewhere different each time also. Last year it was Texas Roadhouse and we really liked it. We tried Millers Ale House the year before and liked that also. We're going with our son's family in Oct/Nov and have put the Wood Grill Buffet on my list to try.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

You are SO CLOSE to your trip. I'm still jealous of your Discovery Cove day! I always wanted to go there, ever since they opened. I just had to nix it this trip; my mom is not a very strong swimmer and I just didn't want her to go along just for me to enjoy it.

Even if your mom isn't a strong swimmer, you should still try to visit DC some day. It really is awesome , and there are still so many things she could enjoy. Relaxing in the FreshWater Oasis (those sunken loungers are da bomb!), sunning herself on the sandy beach, feeding birds in the aviary, petting the stingrays in the Grand Reef....and she could even do the dolphin encounter in the shallow water. And unlimited adult beverages too .

Hi Gina, just getting caught up. After going to Florida in September there's no way that I would go again during the summer, kudos to you. End of Oct. - Apr. is more my speed.
We usually try eating somewhere different each time also. Last year it was Texas Roadhouse and we really liked it. We tried Millers Ale House the year before and liked that also. We're going with our son's family in Oct/Nov and have put the Wood Grill Buffet on my list to try.

Summer certainly isn't our ideal time to visit, but it was the sweet spot again this year for vacation purposes.....those last two weeks of August didn't conflict with any of our schedules (work, school, or otherwise), by some small stroke of wonder! With Jake in college starting this September, we are no longer slaves to the school calendar, so our options really open up. We are aiming for the first week of May in 2015...by the time we return from this trip, it will be time to start watching for Jetblue's next release of flights .

 

[bankr63]

Are the upper Fountains units the ones with the little loft as well?

Just to chime in with some particular details. Gina nailed this one. The lofts are in the Courts uppers, and the loft is actually quite large. The second level of the uppers has a full bath, the second bedroom, and a sitting area with second sofa and TV that serves very handily as a 3rd bedroom.

We're still dying to see our own unit for the first time post renovation this coming March. Not as excited as some of you, but you're all getting me ramped up slowly.

How do you make a request? I guess I should go check out the SVR thread for that one!! First I should check the "room" on our reservation and see if it's someplace we'd already be happy!

Don't give too much weight to what is on your reservation. RCI stopped showing units completely a few years back to prevent confusion, and II really should do the same. Most reservations are assigned "run of resort" a couple of weeks before arrival. Although they may show you a unit number on your confirmation, you are not guaranteed that unit, or even that section on an exchange. Owners of deeded weeks (like us) are guaranteed their OWN unit every time. Owners in floating sections like Gina will get their own section. All others are assigned after the owners are placed in their reservations.

The 6/8 occupany should rule out Falls and Courts (which are normally listed as 6/6 occupancy, as the 2nd bedroom in those sections have twin beds vs. the doubles throughout the remainder of the resort).

Well it rules out a LOWER in Courts. The UPPERS do sleep 8 as well (King in MBR, 2 singles in BR2, and 2 sofa beds.) I wouldn't be disappointed with a Courts upper; it is the biggest unit in the resort with lots of room to spread out, and it has pretty good access to the amenities. Note that Courts is Saturday occupancy so you CAN rule it out if arriving Friday or Sunday.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are now in the teens....19 days to go!

The push is now on at work, making for some insanely busy days. Since one of my bosses is also travelling to Orlando the same time we are, our office is closed for those last two weeks of August (the other advisor whom I work for doesn't feel comfortable sailing the ship on his own, so they made the decision to close for vacation.....a first in my 16+ years at the company). It basically means I have to cram an entire month's appointments, tasks and scheduling into the first 15 days ... and the first week of the month is already a shortened week due to the Civic Holiday. I think that is what is making time pass so quickly.....both personally and professionally, there is so much to do.

Still no resolution on the DC parking pass. Again today, a phone rep told me the original pass is invalid, and yet another Guest Relations rep responded by email saying the original pass is fine . I have asked that a manager give me a ring so we can finally close this off. Hopefully I can put this one to bed by the end of tomorrow. They have spent too much time trying to figure it all out, and frankly.....so have I !

I got Jake a new swimsuit today (we enjoyed a little mom and son shopping date after dinner tonight) , and the new swimwear that I ordered Steve is supposed to be delivered tomorrow (fingers crossed that it fits well). Two down, just me to go!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We're still dying to see our own unit for the first time post renovation this coming March. Not as excited as some of you, but you're all getting me ramped up slowly.

Well, we must kick it up a notch then, my friend. You cannot be laid back and relaxed while the rest of us are all a-twitter with excitement.

Well it rules out a LOWER in Courts. The UPPERS do sleep 8 as well (King in MBR, 2 singles in BR2, and 2 sofa beds.) I wouldn't be disappointed with a Courts upper; it is the biggest unit in the resort with lots of room to spread out, and it has pretty good access to the amenities. Note that Courts is Saturday occupancy so you CAN rule it out if arriving Friday or Sunday.

Ah, right! I keep forgetting that those uppers are larger than the bottoms.....it is just such a unique section, and so different from the rest of the buildings within the resort.

All that knowledge of yours is why you will always remain our go-to guy on all things Vistana . Thanks for setting us straight!

 

[Lynne G]

Sending you bathing suit wishes. I was not going to buy a new one, and I was at Macy's the other day, and low and behold, I saw a suit. Marked 84 dollars, down to 22. Fit nicely, so I have hope for you. Almost all the stores here have all beach stuff on clearance.


So close and getting excited.

 

[VacaPlanner0425]

I truly dislike swimsuit shopping... I am looking tonight. I found a couple that I will order and give a try. Good thing at DC I will have at least the vest on!

 

[momof2n2]

Can you get Lands End in Canada? Best swimwear ever. So much to mix & match for every body style.

 

[pigletto]

Can you get Lands End in Canada? Best swimwear ever. So much to mix & match for every body style.

I order from Lands End and have it shipped here often. It's usually for ds so I've never looked at the swimsuits for me. I will now. I'm another that would almost rather go to the dentist than shop for swimsuits.