TUG 2025 Orlando Get Together Wednesday, January 22, at 3pm

[Jan M.]

Let's get the ball rolling!

Wednesday, January 22, at 3pm
Golden Coral
8707 Vineland Avenue
Orlando, FL 32821

 

[silentg]

Sounds good

 

[dioxide45]

I’ll be there!

 

[AwayWeGo]

The Chief Of Staff & I will be there. The annual TUG Golden Corral event is always a highlight of our January Florida getaways.

We will bring the name tags.

After getting nervous from prolonged watching & waiting, we finally got our January 2025 Orlando-Kissimmee timeshare plans together.

Airline tickets & car rental were the easy parts, by contrast with holding out for bargain timeshare reservations. And in fact, only the 1st of our 2 consecutive resort weeks is a bargain. We intended to grit our teeth & hold out 1 more week in search of another RCI bargain. But facing the risk of losing out entirely in case no bargain materialized, we chickened out & sprang for what (to us) is more like the going rate for our 2nd timeshare week.

We will be checking in Jan. 11, 2025, at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort -- 2BR unit for 7,500 RCI points + exchange fee. It's Bonnet Creek 2BR again the following week, but on an RCI Extra Vacation reservation ($865.68 -- tax & platinum discount included). We're OK with that. And when our granddaughters and their friends are with us, we specially like skipping the 6-hour limbo on check in/out day. That's easiest when we're staying in the same unit at the same resort (assuming that's what we'll get when we ask at check-in).

In prior years we have visited people staying at Bonnet Creek & we have taken 2-3 sales tours of the place (for the freebies), but we have not actually checked in & stayed at Bonnet Creek ourselves. The place really wowed us. Actually staying there will be a first for us.

We sent our Florida granddaughters internet links to websites with lots of Bonnet Creek photos. School will be back in session, but they & a few of their friends will be with us at the resort on the weekends. Their previous Orlando-Kissimmee favorite timeshare was Vacation Village At Parkway, but we think they'll really like Bonnet Creek. We'll see.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[pedro47]

Wishing everyone a safe travel and an enjoyable day to the 2025 TUG Fellowship Gathering.

 

[silentg]

The Chief Of Staff & I will be there. The annual TUG Golden Corral event is always a highlight of our January Florida getaways.

We will bring the name tags.

After getting nervous from prolonged watching & waiting, we finally got our January 2025 Orlando-Kissimmee timeshare plans together.

Airline tickets & car rental were the easy parts, by contrast with holding out for bargain timeshare reservations. And in fact, only the 1st of our 2 consecutive resort weeks is a bargain. We intended to grit our teeth & hold out 1 more week in search of another RCI bargain. But facing the risk of losing out entirely in case no bargain materialized, we chickened out & sprang for what (to us) is more like the going rate for our 2nd timeshare week.

We will be checking in Jan. 11, 2025, at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort -- 2BR unit for 7,500 RCI points + exchange fee. It's Bonnet Creek 2BR again the following week, but on an RCI Extra Vacation reservation ($865.68 -- tax & platinum discount included). We're OK with that. And when our granddaughters and their friends are with us, we specially like skipping the 6-hour limbo on check in/out day. That's easiest when we're staying in the same unit at the same resort (assuming that's what we'll get when we ask at check-in).

In prior years we have visited people staying at Bonnet Creek & we have taken 2-3 sales tours of the place (for the freebies), but we have not actually checked in & stayed at Bonnet Creek ourselves. The place really wowed us. Actually staying there will be a first for us.

We sent our Florida granddaughters internet links to websites with lots of Bonnet Creek photos. School will be back in session, but they & a few of their friends will be with us at the resort on the weekends. Their previous Orlando-Kissimmee favorite timeshare was Vacation Village At Parkway, but we think they'll really like Bonnet Creek. We'll see.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

That sounds like a upgrade. I have stayed at VV it’s nice, but Bonnet Creek is beautiful. Let us know at the Get together how staying at Bonnet Creek is.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Unfortunately, we’ll be there the week before - dates set by DD running the WDW Marathon on January 12! Sorry we’ll miss y’all again.

 

[noreenkate]

Thats very exciting- will actually be @ Universal Orlando. Hoping I can sneak over.

 

[northovr]

I am going to miss it won't be in Orlando until the Jan 29th

 

[northovr]

The Chief Of Staff & I will be there. The annual TUG Golden Corral event is always a highlight of our January Florida getaways.

We will bring the name tags.

After getting nervous from prolonged watching & waiting, we finally got our January 2025 Orlando-Kissimmee timeshare plans together.

Airline tickets & car rental were the easy parts, by contrast with holding out for bargain timeshare reservations. And in fact, only the 1st of our 2 consecutive resort weeks is a bargain. We intended to grit our teeth & hold out 1 more week in search of another RCI bargain. But facing the risk of losing out entirely in case no bargain materialized, we chickened out & sprang for what (to us) is more like the going rate for our 2nd timeshare week.

We will be checking in Jan. 11, 2025, at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort -- 2BR unit for 7,500 RCI points + exchange fee. It's Bonnet Creek 2BR again the following week, but on an RCI Extra Vacation reservation ($865.68 -- tax & platinum discount included). We're OK with that. And when our granddaughters and their friends are with us, we specially like skipping the 6-hour limbo on check in/out day. That's easiest when we're staying in the same unit at the same resort (assuming that's what we'll get when we ask at check-in).

In prior years we have visited people staying at Bonnet Creek & we have taken 2-3 sales tours of the place (for the freebies), but we have not actually checked in & stayed at Bonnet Creek ourselves. The place really wowed us. Actually staying there will be a first for us.

We sent our Florida granddaughters internet links to websites with lots of Bonnet Creek photos. School will be back in session, but they & a few of their friends will be with us at the resort on the weekends. Their previous Orlando-Kissimmee favorite timeshare was Vacation Village At Parkway, but we think they'll really like Bonnet Creek. We'll see.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

I had a trade in II with 35000 Club Wyndham points into Marriot Cyprus Harbour it was awesome too.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

I would love the opportunity to meet all of you in person, but I will be much further south on the island of St. Martin at that time, as I usually am. Maybe in some future year! I hope everyone has a good time!!

 

[Jan M.]

It seems like the date works so I guess we'll stick with it. Although I won't be offended if someone wants to organize one for the week before or a week, even a couple weeks, after. This is one of the times more is better.

I've realized that a lot of TUG members don't pay attention to the Florida forum if they aren't thinking about coming to Florida. I'm hoping no one objects if I post about the get together on each of the main timeshare forums. It would be really nice to have more people. It's a great way meet other owners, ask questions, and learn about or share what you know about resorts and places. Maybe some who come will meet and get to know people who will become timeshare travel buddies.

From going to the get togethers and meeting other people at the resort socials, my husband has actually learned a little more about what we own. But more importantly to me is that he comes away with having learned more about different areas we could go to, or even have already been to and now he'd really like to go back to again. Also things other people told him about that he now wants to do on our upcoming stays we already have planned. We're in Williamsburg until after the first of the year. Not our first time here. Yesterday he was telling me about his list of things he wants to do if the weather cooperates. A list, he has a list! Who are you and what have you done with my husband?

Last year when we'd all been at the restaurant for awhile, I heard a few of them joking about sitting at a table and talking with the other husbands/wives who aren't "the timeshare person" in their family. It looked like they enjoyed talking to each other. Leaving those of us who are "the timeshare person" to talk about the intricacies of our timeshares. Exchanging tips and information about them.

It's all good and there's something for every level of interest.

 

[dioxide45]

I've realized that a lot of TUG members don't pay attention to the Florida forum if they aren't thinking about coming to Florida. I'm hoping no one objects if I post about the get together on each of the main timeshare forums. It would be really nice to have more people.

Perhaps also include the date in the thread title. I think the later scheduling this year might make for a lighter turn out, but we'll never know. Consistently keeping it the same "week" should help for future years. Perhaps @TUGBrian could mention this thread in a future TUG Newsletter?

 

[TUGBrian]

yep, ill get it in the newsletter! (didnt see the 2025 announcement until after sat)

updated title

 

[dioxide45]

Did @ronandjoan also have an email list to notify people? Perhaps for this year we should have a log sheet for people to provide their name, TUG name and email address so we can be sure they are notified in future years?

 

[TheHolleys87]

I'm hoping no one objects if I post about the get together on each of the main timeshare forums.

I think that's a great idea, and I don't think it would be out of place in the TUG Lounge, either, to reach the maximum number of TUGgers.

 

[jp10558]

Personally - I'm here in FL for December this year, but if I knew for the 2026 season it was going to be roughly the 3 week or so I could plan for that - but I can't come back in January this year sadly. I'd suggest if possible trying to nail it down earlier (hard I know, but come on this is TIMESHARING - we plan 2 years ahead right?)...

 

[TUGBrian]

ill include it in the newsletter on sat, no need to post a duplicate on all the forums. i can create a banner notice at the top too.

 

[dioxide45]

Personally - I'm here in FL for December this year, but if I knew for the 2026 season it was going to be roughly the 3 week or so I could plan for that - but I can't come back in January this year sadly. I'd suggest if possible trying to nail it down earlier (hard I know, but come on this is TIMESHARING - we plan 2 years ahead right?)...

It has always been mid January. Last year the week after MLK and I recall it also being the week prior to MLK. I think consistently keeping the Wednesday of MLK week every year is best. So plan on that. The 2024 date was announced in June or July 2023 but this year RonandJoan aren't planning it, so it didn't get announced till now.

 

[TheHolleys87]

It has always been mid January. Last year the week after MLK and I recall it also being the week prior to MLK. I think consistently keeping the Wednesday of MLK week ever year is best. So plan on that. The 2024 date was announced in June or July 2023 but this year RonandJoan aren't planning it, so it didn't get announced till now.

LOL, I like the Wednesday of MLK week, because January is in the second least expensive DVC points season (hot, humid, hurricane-season September is the cheapest), and we could plan to check in in Tuesday when most of the MLK weekend visitors will be gone or leaving!

 

[TolmiePeak]

Why do you have this at Golden Corral? I think you should get Marriott to host this at the sales pavilion at Lake shore Reserve. You could all schedule owners updates at the same time.

 

[TUGBrian]

You could all schedule owners updates at the same time.

they likely want more people to attend, not less!

 

[TolmiePeak]

they likely want more people to attend, not less!

I would just love to have Jeremy make a video of all of the attendees wearing TUG shirts there.