Vacation Village at Parkway, Kissimmee, Florida 12/04/2013

DECEMBER 4, 2013 (Wednesday)

Getting up earlier here than our normal. Must be the sunny skies and relatively warm weather. Was around 85 today. Lovely.

We started off by going to the timeshare presentation. It was at Summer Bay Resort (also known as Crown Club, I believe). Summer Bay is the place that one of their big units dropped into a sinkhole a few months ago. Luckily no one was hurt and the security guard did a great job of getting everyone out. The people in that particular building lost everything though – clothes, personal items, computers, phones, etc. Patrick said they were compensated well.

We signed in and were greeted by Patrick. What a nice young man, very knowledgeable and just a real neat guy. We talked for awhile, he showed us how their system worked, and then we went on a tour. The tour was really interesting. We took a boat over to the other side of the resort and then took a shuttle to their vacation homes. My oh my they were lovely. They even had their own swimming pool and hot tub per home. Very high end and gorgeous. The shower itself was big enough to hold a party. After the home, we toured one of their regular units. Also very lovely (but I’d rather the home – duhhhh). Right across the road was another pool. Patrick said they always had something going on at that particular pool and while we were there they were showing off a alligator. Fun.

To get to the models, we had to boat across this lake.

Our presenter, Patrick, with Edie and Lex going onto the boat. Patrick was an extremely likable guy,

Nice ride on the poontune boat. — Nice ride on the boat.

Nice big pool at the resort property, one of several. Deepest point was only 5 feet though.

Nice commercial area around the pool with a snack bar and hotel lobby.

We took a shuttle to a pool house. A vacation house with a private pool off the master. The appointments were all first class. High end everything. If w stayed here, lights would be out and we'd be skinny dipping! — We took a shuttle to a pool house. A vacation house with a private pool off the master. The appointments were all first class. High end everything. If we stayed here, lights would be out and we’d be skinny dipping!

Huge tub and the shower was big enough for a party.

We left the pool houses and went to the condos, which they call villa's. More modest but still nice. Not quite as high end, but not bad at all. — We left the pool houses and went to the condos, which they call villas. More modest but still nice. Not quite as high end, but not bad at all.

At one of the pools, this fellow was presenting a knowledgeable presentation about alligators. — At one of the pools, this fellow was giving a knowledgeable presentation about alligators.

The sandy area is where the building stood that fell into the sink hole last August. Patrick told us that they plan to put an activity center on this site and that there have been complete geological studies of the rest of the property. I stomped on the ground several times. It felt like ground. — The sandy area is where the building stood that fell into the sink hole last August. Patrick told us that they plan to put an activity center on this site. He said there have been complete geological studies of the rest of the property. I stomped on the ground several times. It felt like ground.

Once back at the presentation area, Patrick went over the numbers, brought in another man with more numbers, and then brought in a woman for the closing and gifting. Everyone was very polite, professional, and no pressure. It looks like a really good system but at this point what we’re doing is working and we can’t justify spending so much money for a few extra perks they offer. Their bottom, bottom line was around $7,000 for every other year 40,000 RCI points, $239.00 club fee and $378.00 maintenance fee annually. Their Crown Market Club fascinated us and we were tempted. It looks really good but you pay for it yearly, like RCI. We didn’t buy, but really wanted too just because we liked Patrick so much.

We went to gifting and got our three 2 day tickets to Disney World. We paid $314.00 for our part. A normal one day ticket to Disney World is around $100.00 per person – so basically we got our tickets half off (or around $300.00 off).

We really liked the no pressure, the salesman, and the tour. We like to look at other resorts. Patrick was also very interested in our take on the resort. We told him what we do, how we do it, and how many resorts we’ve been in. They do have a higher end place.

When we left we headed for the Millenia Mall in Orlando. We only got a little ways before we wanted lunch. Michael wanted to wait to get to the mall and have lunch there, Lexi was hungry now. I had a coupon for Cici’s lunch buffet (a pizza and pasta place). There was one really close so we just went there. They have a little pasta and lots of pizza. They also had several desserts available and a small salad bar. It was filling and good but very high calorie.

Thought it was a miniature golf place at first with the fake rocks and big waterfalls.

Lunch at a buffet. Pizza, pasta, salads and dessert..

About 15 different kinds of pizza, lots of breads, just a few pasta choices

We drove to the mall, around 20 miles away. What a beautiful place and it’s all decked out for Christmas. Never seen a mall like this. Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Coach, etc. We needed to go to the Apple store to try to get Lexi’s phone fixed or exchanged. They tried a couple things and we’re hoping the phone is okay now. We’ll see or we’ll have to get to another Apple store down in Weston. Was nice seeing the mall, and they have a Cheesecake Factory there. I was surprised that I was able to control myself and not go in and get something. Still full from lunch.

We went to the apple store to try to get Lex's iphone fixed. The Millenia Mall is very nice, high end. Edie asked me to buy her a $2,000 dress. I declined her request. — We went to the Apple store to try to get Lex’s iphone fixed. The Millenia Mall is very nice, high end. Edie asked me to buy her a $2,000 dress. I declined her request.

One of Edie's favorite restaurants. We had just been at the buffet. Wish we had known. — One of Edie’s favorite restaurants. We had just been at the buffet. Wish we had known.

The mall is huge, many blocks. Where we entered there was beautiful glass and water features.

Pretty woman with the girl, walking past fountains and glass elevators.

The inside roof of the elevators change color as it climbs and falls.

A picture of Santa. He is a good selection, They had so many barricades up that if you wanted a picture of your kids with Santa, you had to pay for theirs. — A picture of Santa. They had so many barricades up that if you wanted a picture of your kids with Santa, you had to pay for their picture.

Apple store. Nice people but not much progress.

Great decorations on the second floor of Neiman Marcus. White lace butterflies with little round mirrors all gently swaying in the wind,

Glass walls and water features set a nice mood.

A grand pair of horses outside P>F> Changs. — A grand pair of horses outside P F Chang.

We left the mall and went home. We’re tired and walked a lot today, training for Disney World tomorrow. That was our day. Hope yours was great!