Travel Club Presentation, Orlando, Florida – 1/6/2015

JANUARY 6, 2015 (Tuesday)

Had to get up way early to get to the Voyagers Vacation Club tour. I was looking forward to it because a vacation clubs seem like the way to go, if they are legit. The other one we did (Sky Vacation Club) seemed almost a perfect fit for us – but after we did some research, it had way too many cons.  Glad we didn’t buy it.  I like not having to pay a high maintenance fee every year, just a yearly (smaller) membership.

We met at a Vacation Village Welcome type center near the Kobe Steak House, very close to our unit. We signed in at 9:00 AM and met our salesperson, Jacob. Very nice man originally from New York. He’s in his early 70’s and still working. I asked him why and he said he likes it because it keeps him active, which he was, and also very knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed him.

Our landmark to find the presentation.
Our landmark to find the presentation.
So today's presentation is also Vacation Village, but a travel club, not a timeshare.
So today’s presentation is also Vacation Village, but a travel club, not a timeshare.
The waiting area, but the sales force was ready and got everyone very quickly.
The waiting area, but the sales force was ready and got everyone very quickly.
We made the entrance our brief waiting area.
We made the entrance our brief waiting area.
Check in counters and it turned out, gifting area.
Check in counters and it turned out, gifting area.

We had to laugh because Jacob told us to follow him, that he would be in his car a short ways away. We thought we found him but were confused because Jacob’s twin brother was walking and pointing to Jacob driving away. Too funny. Jacob said his brother sells the timeshare portion and he sells the vacation portion.

Jacob led the way over to the Radisson Hotel, where we had a very nice breakfast buffet. The buffet had different fruits, cereals, breads and muffins, eggs, French toast, potatoes, bacon, gravy, juices, tea and coffee. Was very good.  We enjoyed talking and getting to know Jacob while we ate.  We told him we enjoy the tours and don’t buy, especially for the pressure of the “today only” sales incentives.  

We went to a nearby Radisson for their breakfast buffet.  Jacob, our sales presenter today, hosted us.
We went to a nearby Radisson for their breakfast buffet. Jacob, our sales presenter today, hosted us.
Nice setting by the pool.
Nice setting by the pool.
Sorry for the rushed photo, It was a nice buffet.
Sorry for the rushed photo, It was a nice buffet.
Eggs, potatoes and fruit for me.  Coffee was good too.
Eggs, potatoes and fruit for me. Coffee was good too.

After eating we went back to a sales area above the nearby Parkway Resort. We were told it is a Diamond Resort. Jacob went over the program, brought in another person for another chance, and then took us to the supposed gifting area, where they took another run at us. Bottom line was we could get what we needed (50+ weeks) for around $20,000.00. No way! Finally, when they were done trying to guilt us, we were told to go back to where we started to get our $100.00 gift certificate, which we did.

After breakfast we drove across the street to another resort and walked up a ramp to the second floor.  The walls were covered with a lot of information about the company and  was a part of the formal presentation.
After breakfast we drove across the street to another resort and walked up a ramp to the second floor. The walls were covered with a lot of information about the company and was a part of the formal presentation.
Jacob hitting the mandatory talking points.
Jacob hitting the mandatory talking points.
Explaining the program and how it works.  A $20.000 purchase price would be very hard to recoup through travel savings, even being on the road full time.  Edie beats most of their bargain prices.  The program wasn't close for us.
Explaining the program and how it works. A $20.000 purchase price would be very hard to recoup through travel savings, even being on the road full time. Edie beats most of their bargain prices. The program wasn’t close for us.
When we said no a second person came over and talked more about making a purchase.  When we said no to him we went upstairs to a third offer, but again $4,999 would be very hard to recoup through savings.
When we said no a second person came over and talked more about making a purchase. When we said no to him we went upstairs to a third offer, but again $4,999 would be very hard to recoup through savings.
We were told to go back to the very first place to get our gift.  They had pretty loud music playing during the presentation.
We were told to go back to the very first place to get our gift. They had pretty loud music playing during the presentation.
Nice waterfall at the pool at the resort.
Nice waterfall at the pool at the resort.
Saying goodbye to Jacob.  He told us that lots of times people are told if they don't close the sale, then they will be fired.  We concluded that guilt is a often used tool at Vacation Village.  We suspect guilt is used by management on the sales force and then becomes an extension of the sales technique on the potential customers.
Saying goodbye to Jacob. He told us that lots of times people are told if they don’t close the sale, then they will be fired. We concluded that guilt is a often used tool at Vacation Village. We suspect guilt is used by management on the sales force and then becomes an extension of the sales technique on the potential customers.
Gift line.
Gift line.

After leaving there (around 10:45 AM), we headed to the outlet mall in search of the Crocs Store. Michael drove around to the back area and chose a parking spot. When we walked into the mall, we were very close to the Crocs Store. Could not believe our luck. After we made our purchase (they were having a sale of buy one and get two half off), we walked around looking for a hat for Michael. His old one is breaking out his head and we’re looking for a wide brim hat that is washable.

After cussing the post Christmas traffic at the Premium Outlets, we are now shopping here.
After cussing the post Christmas traffic at the Premium Outlets, we are now shopping here.
Went around the back side of the complex and found a parking spot.
Went around the back side of the complex and found a parking spot.
Just around the corner we found the croc store.  I got a pair and Edie got two.
Just around the corner we found the croc store. I got a pair and Edie got two.
Pretty woman's new croc's.
Pretty woman’s new croc’s.
We popped into a luggage store,  Didn't see anything we had to have.
We popped into a luggage store, Didn’t see anything we had to have.
I've been working out.  Sent a picture to my son.  He accused me of abusing HGH.
I’ve been working out. Sent a picture to my son. He accused me of abusing HGH.

Michael got tired quickly of shopping so we left and headed for Costco. We returned the Skeetchers tennis shoes that didn’t fit right, and the aspirin (we got the Bayer brand, not Kirkland brand, and cost much more). We ended up getting some cheese, tomatoes, and bananas. We also had lunch there. Michael got his beloved turkey provolone sandwich, with yogurt, and I got a slice of pepperoni pizza, diet coke, and a berry smoothie. Yummy.

We went to Costco to return the ill fitting shoes and some low dose aspirin.  We bought brand name instead of Kirkland and found a full bottle to boot.  We picked up a few things inside and had lunch.
We went to Costco to return the ill fitting shoes and some low dose aspirin. We bought brand name instead of Kirkland.  We later found a full bottle of the Kirkland . We picked up a few things inside and had lunch.
I had the turkey sandwich with a yogurt.  Edie had a slice of pizza with a berry smoothie.
I had the turkey sandwich with a yogurt. Edie had a slice of pizza with a berry smoothie.

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We left Costco and headed for a nearby Dollar Tree. I wanted to pick up a few more things for Valentine’s Day for the kids, and some wrapping paper for the packages. Was able to accomplish it all at the Dollar Tree. (We had stopped at the Big Lots store near Costco but they didn’t have anything I wanted.)

Wasted trip.
Wasted trip.
We would go see it, but "Blackfish" by CNN has put us off.
We would go see it, but “Blackfish” by CNN has put us off.

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Edie found all she wanted here.
Edie found all she wanted here.

Once we got back to the resort, we stopped into the Vacation Village Check-In Center to ask if we could be upgraded to the A side (with a stove). We talked to Angelica, who went to talk to her supervisor. We told her we had called RCI (which we were told to do when we checked in and asked for an upgrade to an A side), and RCI said they didn’t have anything. We know RCI was just saying that and there is availability here, especially now that the kids are back in school.  Anyway, Angelica said her supervisor was going to check into it and get back to us with an upgrade. Yahoo. Hope it works out. The B side is okay but we really like having a stove to cook on, not a portable cook stove where only one burner works. Makes it very difficult. We hope to have friends over for dinner while we are here and are hesitant to cook up a dinner on a hot plate and electric skillet.

On the way home we stopped to see the black and white ducks.  We think ducks.
On the way home we stopped to see the black and white ducks. We think ducks.
A flock of Ibis being feed by some workers.
A flock of Ibis being feed by some workers.

We are now back in our room, tired and ready for a nap. Planning to have tacos for dinner. That was our day. Hope yours was great!