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

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I think you have done well for yourself on your budget. You better get used to spending it as you have timeshare there now

We are hoping that owning the timeshare turns out to be a money saver in the long run.....allowing us to vacation in the place we want to be, for an affordable cost, every year. And when we get tired of Orlando (will that ever happen??? ) we can exchange it easily for another location.

I can totally see Steve and I enjoying a resort vacation at SVR in the future, one where we don't even go to any of the parks. Now THAT will be my budget getaway . Cook in the villa, enjoy the resort amenities...low cost, and so relaxing.

Since we were gifted our week at SVR (we only paid fees) and the car came in so low, and I have an AP so free parking and park admittance for ME plus discounts on some food and souvenirs, even with TWO airfares purchased (one from the city I'm living in now, and another for the city I'm moving to) I'm well under $1000.

. That is FABULOUS! You have done awesome on cost! I am envious . Now my budget looks even worse, lol!

You found some great deals in here! Where did you get the entertainment book so cheap? And how did you get 13 nights for $650? Timeshare getaways?

Gina, how do you handle groupon? Do you get them emailed to you daily?

One more question- is the farmers market at SVR open to anyone not staying at the vistana resort? We will épée at sabal palms, and I love farmers markets!

Entertainment books are currently on sale for $6 or 2 for $10. Free shipping, too.

For Groupon, I get one email daily that features the new deals for Orlando . Signing up is free, and you can cancel or change your email preferences at any time. Ebates offers cash back on Groupon purchases too, which makes each deal even a little better.

I am not sure if you would be able to visit the Vistana's farmers market or not. I am guessing the security guards might give you a hard time about getting in (they tend to be pretty thorough). bankr63, would you know for sure if access is restricted to resort guests only?

I just realized I have taken over your trip report Gina...sorry

No worries. I enjoy hear about everyone else's trip plans too! Feel free to chime in wherever you see fit .

And WELL DONE on accommodation costs, my friend . You secured two awesome resorts for the same price as the scary, purple Magic Castle hotel that my boss wanted me to book for him . I'm impressed!

 

[tristyp]

And WELL DONE on accommodation costs, my friend . You secured two awesome resorts for the same price as the scary, purple Magic Castle hotel that my boss wanted me to book for him . I'm impressed!

I was quite happy with the costs. We were also going to drive there originally but when I was able to secure direct flights for 233.00 each for us I snagged them. This way all the kids will make it to Florida in one peice

I saved there by flying out of Flint instead of Detroit which saved me 45 a ticket plus baggage costs as I would have had to fly Delta instead.

I think you did very well on your accommodations as well. You got an unbelievable rate on your timeshare purchase last year and will have that for years to come.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I was quite happy with the costs. We were also going to drive there originally but when I was able to secure direct flights for 233.00 each for us I snagged them. This way all the kids will make it to Florida in one peice

Travelling with kids (road trips or flying) is such an adventure!

I, personally, would rather have an extra day of vacation at our destination than a day on the road. But that's just a personal preference....I know many folks get a kick out of the drive (and that is all part of the fun for them). At that price, you probably wouldn't be saving much (if anything) if you drove anyway. And I hear that flying from Flint and Detroit is super easy.....especially when you are nice and close to the border! (I will admit, though, that I had to look up where Belle River was!).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

August is here! August is here!

It feels soooo good to be able to say

WE GO TO ORLANDO THIS MONTH!

15 days until we are out the door.

9 more work days after today.

One more week and we start cleaning out the fridge of all our perishables (the week of the 11th will be a strange one for meals.....some unusual combinations as we clean up this and that).

I am in the midst of writing out a two-week "to do" list, so nothing gets forgotten. Sunday I can submit my Diamond Lane request. Monday (which is a stat holiday for us Canucks) I am going to place an Eastbay order for the boy and a Walmart order for us, with everything to be delivered to Syracuse.

And it is finally warming up a bit here in the frosty north . We might get a couple of weeks of real summer before we leave!

 

[ZehnJahren]

So soon!

When I was a kid, we drove to Florida every year. You couldn't pay me to drive it now! I understand why some people do it for sure, I just don't want to!

 

[Lynne G]

Yep, my frugal DH and I drove to WDW for our honeymoon. Never will road trip that length again. We did not drive straight through on the way down, but on the way back we left at 6am and pulled into our driveway at midnight.

And no, haven't blinged my bands yet. Hole punch did make them more comfy. My DD has small wrists like me, though her shoe size is already bigger than mine.

And not only is it a Friday, but the first of August! I can't believe we will be traveling soon, and camp is ending soon. Then before you know it, back to school.

It still feels like fall. High today is 82, with storms coming. We've had a rainy summer so far, but that's a typical summer for us. Makes everything nice and green and local produce is in abundance now.

Have a nice week-end!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

When I was a kid, we drove to Florida every year. You couldn't pay me to drive it now! I understand why some people do it for sure, I just don't want to!

I think everyone needs a family road trip at least once in their lives, just to see if it works for them or not. We gave it a go (Ontario to Wisconsin) 4 summers ago. It was a great experience, and we have lots of fun memories, but honestly....we learned something about ourselves in that two-day process: if its going to take any more than a day to arrive by car, we would rather fly.

It still feels like fall. High today is 82, with storms coming. We've had a rainy summer so far, but that's a typical summer for us. Makes everything nice and green and local produce is in abundance now.

Have a nice week-end!

82 sounds pretty darn good to me! We're not quite that warm here (26 Celcius, which is just under 79F by my calculations) but there's some humidity today that makes the "feels like" temp a little higher. And lots of sun . That makes all the difference!

I love the fresh produce available here in the summer. Had corn on the cob last weekend for the first time this season and it was DIVINE .

 

[greenclan67]

Woohoo Gina. 2 weeks is nothing!! Remember that surprise Xmas trip I mentioned? No place booked to stay yet but I don't know how I lucked out this morning? We could only go the 20th to 27th. No more holiday time to use. This morning I scored flights on those exact dates non stop Southwest for $113 each way. After I bought them went back to check and both those flights are sold out for web saver. So my countdown is on. 140 to go. Then 81 days later a return trip for 13 days. These Platinum passes are paying for themselves. Have fun getting ready.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Gina your countdown is killing me!!!! I started looking at flights to MCO for the first week of September. The youngest kiddo is now in grade 10 and can manage without me for a week. I might do it.....will talk to the hubb's this weekend. Although, I know exactly what he will say.....'do whatever you want'.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Woohoo Gina. 2 weeks is nothing!! Remember that surprise Xmas trip I mentioned? No place booked to stay yet but I don't know how I lucked out this morning? We could only go the 20th to 27th. No more holiday time to use. This morning I scored flights on those exact dates non stop Southwest for $113 each way. After I bought them went back to check and both those flights are sold out for web saver. So my countdown is on. 140 to go. Then 81 days later a return trip for 13 days. These Platinum passes are paying for themselves. Have fun getting ready.

Way to go!!!! That is so AWESOME!!! Let the planning begin! (have you short-listed your accommodation options yet? or not been able to FIND any options?)

Gina your countdown is killing me!!!! I started looking at flights to MCO for the first week of September. The youngest kiddo is now in grade 10 and can manage without me for a week. I might do it.....will talk to the hubb's this weekend. Although, I know exactly what he will say.....'do whatever you want'.

Seize the day, my friend. If hubby is in and the kids can handle themselves, book it and don't look back! Are you sure you don't wanna join us the last week of August, tho? We could still organize that Dismeet!

 

[greenclan67]

We are starting the search. I just got offered Encantada resort 3 bdrm for a reasonable price. Have to do some research. Have not been lucky enough to snag a good deal at SVR yet. I will let you know. Hardest part is not telling my kids.

 

[tristyp]

Hi Gina

Its getting closer...

I have a couple quick questions for you. How long does it take you guys to get to the airport from home

I know I am staying at the Villages and you are at the Resort but I am sure they are run similarly. I was wondering what things you had to pay for there that are not included eg. miniature golf, balls, towels etc.

Thanks
Brad

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are starting the search. I just got offered Encantada resort 3 bdrm for a reasonable price. Have to do some research. Have not been lucky enough to snag a good deal at SVR yet. I will let you know. Hardest part is not telling my kids.

A 3 bedroom would be awesome for space. What are the reviews like for Encantada? How far is it from the parks?

Keeping the secret is going to be sooooo hard! I couldn't do it. No matter how much fun it would be, I couldn't manage to stay silent that long!!

Hi Gina

Its getting closer...

I have a couple quick questions for you. How long does it take you guys to get to the airport from home

I know I am staying at the Villages and you are at the Resort but I am sure they are run similarly. I was wondering what things you had to pay for there that are not included eg. miniature golf, balls, towels etc.

Thanks
Brad

We fly from Syracuse. Its about 2.5 hours without counting any wait at the border.

In comparison, Pearson International is 2 hours from home (assuming no traffic snags), and Buffalo is about 3.5 hours (again, if no traffic woes!) . We have flown from both (in addition to SYR) but Syracuse is definitely our preference.

Mini golf and surrey bikes are both an extra charge, as is the Fishpipe (the water wheel thingie where you climb in and they spin you around like you're in a giant hamster ball).....not sure if the Villages has that or not). Bingo is also pay as you play.

Poolside massages, hair braiding, tie-dye t-shirts, etc. are an additional cost.

Basketballs and volleyballs are provided free at the Rec Center, though I am sure they would add it to your bill if you don't bring it back . You just give them your villa number, they give you a ball, then you drop it back off when you are done.

Towels were free and abundant on our last stay, but I hear that SVR has gone the way of SVV and now have towel cards. Trade your card for a towel, then turn your towel in to get your card back. Repeat as needed . I can see WHY they have implemented such a system, but I am sad that we can no longer just go and get towels (as many as we needed, when we needed) like we did last year. I don't like change . We are bringing our own big ol' beach towels this year so we can supplement our towel allotment. I hate being drippy, even in August!

The rec centres had games and DVD's too, not sure if borrowing them came at a cost or not as we never did partake in those services.

If you are interested in doing something like mini golf, they do offer a week long length-of-stay pass so you can golf at a discount. Also, things like playing bingo entitled us to 1/2 off a game of mini golf at the resort before 4 pm, so that brought down to something like $2 a piece.

Let me know if there was anything I missed that you were wondering about!

 

[got4boys]

Towels were free and abundant on our last stay, but I hear that SVR has gone the way of SVV and now have towel cards. Trade your card for a towel, then turn your towel in to get your card back. Repeat as needed . I can see WHY they have implemented such a system, but I am sad that we can no longer just go and get towels (as many as we needed, when we needed) like we did last year. I don't like change . We are bringing our own big ol' beach towels this year so we can supplement our towel allotment. I hate being drippy, even in August!

!

Found it....I thought I still had it from my last trip ----Oops - I did not read the fine print about the $20 fee. (No, guess I was lucky and not charged)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the info, got4boys!

Found it....I thought I still had it from my last trip ----Oops - I did not read the fine print about the $20 fee. (No, guess I was lucky and not charged)

But oh wow....you can't get a towel at the main pools after 6 pm??? And those on the Fountains/Lakes side have to go all the way over to the Main Activities Center if they DO want one? That totally bites. I am really glad we decided to bring our own towels now!!!

Not a good change IMHO.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

On a happier note....



Steve is working midnight shift all weekend, and Jake has a movie date with Sweetie today, so I am going shopping with Mother Bear. She is starting to stockpile supplies for the two weeks I am away (while my big bro will happily take her out shopping while we are gone, truth is....she prefers to go for groceries & to Walmart with me. Mostly because we have the same shopping style...we sale-shop, price match, and coupon like pros . Big brother is more if you need it, get it, and don't look at the price). She also needs a haircut, as she is worried about looking unkempt while we're on vacation (aren't old folks funny?). She keeps mentioning how much she's going to miss us while we're in Florida, so I know she is treasuring our weekends time together even more than she normally does. Perhaps I will go early enough to take her out for lunch at Tim Hortons (her FAVOURITE place for lunch) before we embark on our shopping excursion.

Steve and I decided we are going to take a pass on the all-you-can-golf pass at the Vistana, and instead go for quality & theming over quantity and partake in the courses at our Orlando favourites: Congo River, Pirates Cove, etc. I ordered a 2nd Entertainment Book a couple of days ago, since they were on for $6 and free shipping. This way we will have two buy one, get one free golf coupons for the courses we love (Congo, Pirates, Hawaiian Rumble, Pirates Island, Mighty Jungle, Putting Edge, etc.). We only need to use that 2nd Entertainment Book even once for it to pay for itself and then some. I just hope it arrives in time....or pigletto, my friend, you will have a complimentary Entertainment Book mailed to you in September from your neigbour in the East .

I am lounging in bed as I type this post, thinking to myself.....two weeks from right now, I won't be this relaxed! Something tells me I'll be barking orders to the troops and running around like a mad woman ..... or something like that .

 

[dancin Disney style]

Seize the day, my friend. If hubby is in and the kids can handle themselves, book it and don't look back! Are you sure you don't wanna join us the last week of August, tho? We could still organize that Dismeet!

I'm usually in that seize the day mind set but as I get older I become more and more aware of spending money....or rather trying to not spend. With what I spent going to Punta Cana adding in FL would put me over the top on my annual vacation budget. HOWEVER, I did snoop around for car rentals and ended up booking one, just in case

I'm looking at going south on August 29th or 30th....I would feel a whole lot less guilty for leaving the girls knowing that they can't come because of school but also the airfare is a significantly less expensive.

 

[Lynne G]

17 days for us!

Yep, took the DM to get her and our haircuts. She always expects me to schedule all of our haircuts. I do. Not a big deal, but the kids are not very happy as sometimes she likes to shop afterward.

And, I started the back to school items. Need to get all ready for when we return.

Second set of bands have shipped. DD realized I put our names on them. She is lucky I did not put some other less flattering name on hers. A soon to be a teen, she is not always nice to mom.


I have entertainment books too. With a 5 dollar price, even if I only use a few coupons, worth it. I usually leave for the cleaning people. Otherwise, last year I left it for my Niece, as she had met with us during our last year summer CA trip.

Overcast and very humid. High only 72 today. Just a good temp for the soccer tournament tomorrow.

Off to do laundry.

 

[ZehnJahren]

On a happier note....
Steve is working midnight shift all weekend, and Jake has a movie date with Sweetie today, so I am going shopping with Mother Bear. She is starting to stockpile supplies for the two weeks I am away (while my big bro will happily take her out shopping while we are gone, truth is....she prefers to go for groceries & to Walmart with me. Mostly because we have the same shopping style...we sale-shop, price match, and coupon like pros . Big brother is more if you need it, get it, and don't look at the price). She also needs a haircut, as she is worried about looking unkempt while we're on vacation (aren't old folks funny?). She keeps mentioning how much she's going to miss us while we're in Florida, so I know she is treasuring our weekends time together even more than she normally does. Perhaps I will go early enough to take her out for lunch at Tim Hortons (her FAVOURITE place for lunch) before we embark on our shopping excursion.

Steve and I decided we are going to take a pass on the all-you-can-golf pass at the Vistana, and instead go for quality & theming over quantity and partake in the courses at our Orlando favourites: Congo River, Pirates Cove, etc. I ordered a 2nd Entertainment Book a couple of days ago, since they were on for $6 and free shipping. This way we will have two buy one, get one free golf coupons for the courses we love (Congo, Pirates, Hawaiian Rumble, Pirates Island, Mighty Jungle, Putting Edge, etc.). We only need to use that 2nd Entertainment Book even once for it to pay for itself and then some. I just hope it arrives in time....or pigletto, my friend, you will have a complimentary Entertainment Book mailed to you in September from your neigbour in the East .

I am lounging in bed as I type this post, thinking to myself.....two weeks from right now, I won't be this relaxed! Something tells me I'll be barking orders to the troops and running around like a mad woman ..... or something like that .

My Mom and I prefer to go shopping together ourselves. We window shop, we grab things (and usually end up putting them back), we coupon, we make snarky comments - such a better companion than some BOY.

I think you made the right choice on the mini golf - at least, you made the same choice I would have made, thereby making it the right choice.

Where do you get the Entertainment Book from? Do they tell you what kind of coupons are in there before you buy?

Two weeks!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I'm usually in that seize the day mind set but as I get older I become more and more aware of spending money....or rather trying to not spend.

I hear ya!! You will have to keep me posted, though, if you do decide to pull the trigger. If you pick late August for an arrival, we could still arrange for that Ghirardelli's meet at DTD .

I know you have mentioned airfare and a car rental, but have you narowed down a possible place to stay?

Second set of bands have shipped. DD realized I put our names on them. She is lucky I did not put some other less flattering name on hers. A soon to be a teen, she is not always nice to mom.

That just made my morning!!

I have entertainment books too. With a 5 dollar price, even if I only use a few coupons, worth it. I usually leave for the cleaning people. Otherwise, last year I left it for my Niece, as she had met with us during our last year summer CA trip.

We have left them for the housekeepers on past trips as well. The darn things are HEAVY, and when we try to get all of our shopping purchases home and keep within the airline weight allotments, they are the first thing to be removed from the suitcases. I always hope that they don't just toss them in the trash.

We will use one of the $25 car rental coupons, Sonic, Friendly's, Giordano's, multiple mini golf...so they will be a good savings. I didn't find some of the offers to be as awesome as last year's edition, but still well worth buying the books.

My Mom and I prefer to go shopping together ourselves. We window shop, we grab things (and usually end up putting them back), we coupon, we make snarky comments - such a better companion than some BOY.

I think you made the right choice on the mini golf - at least, you made the same choice I would have made, thereby making it the right choice.

Where do you get the Entertainment Book from? Do they tell you what kind of coupons are in there before you buy?

Two weeks!!

My mom and I are like two peas in a pod. After my dad died in 2010, I stepped up and really tried to become the kind of daughter I new she needed in this new season of her life. Its been rewarding for both of us . And while it was borne originally out of necessity, we have grown to look very forward to our weekend pilgrimages to the grocery stores and Walmart. We share a lot of laughs and thoroughly enjoy our time together. She's an awesome lady, my Momma .

We buy our Entertainment Books here:

https://www.entertainment.com/coupon/

If you have Ebates, order through there to get a percentage back .

They usually ship really, really fast.....my previous books have been here in about a week (that's what I am counting on for this too.....fingers crossed!).

I am glad you agree on our mini golf approach . I am ashamed to say that THAT much thought has gone into such an inane vacation decision. I guess when the big things are covered, its easy to over-analyze the small stuff. My boss calls it "analysis by paralysis". Yep, that sums me up these days!