Not Happy with Seabreeze Fitness Center
 

My husband just got back from the fitness center at Seabreeze, which we both use. The list to use an elliptical was so long he just left when he finished with the other equipment.

The staff is excellent at Seabreeze. They have been put in a tough position;
there are simply not enough ellipticals at Seabreeze to meet the demand, even with the 20-minute limit that is imposed when others are waiting.

I emailed John Rohan last week about the problem and offered a constructive suggestion. I have not had a response to date.

We have been here seven years. The crowds to use the fitness center in the winter and the golf courses year round are starting to get overwhelming. We are now telling friends who want to buy here to think twice about buying here to be sure they can deal with the crowded faciilities.

Gas is cheap.
 

Lots of people are coming to Florida this high season. It is the same all over I would think.


Really is crowded now. Restaurants, roads, even churches.




The traffic is denser
The long lines are tenser
The northern birdies are back

The wait is much longer
The accents are stronger
The northern birdies are back

The squares are more dancey
Tee times are more chancey
The northern birdies are back.

Old friends are returning
The night oil is burning
The northern birdies are back.

There's more entertaining
And much more complaining
The northern birdies are back.

Not much room at the market
And no where to park it
The northern birdies are back

Rookies on the roadways
Folks driving in strange ways
The northern birdies are back.

New ones and old ones
younger ones and older ones
The northern birdies are back.

Welcome HOME! We missed you.

__________________

Now you know why a thousand or more villagers pay $60 a month to go to MVP Health Club at Brownwood. I'll be going this morning in about 30 minutes for my Group Power class, while my wife will be taking zumba.

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I get really tired hearing about the people who are not full time here in the villages are to blame for everything negative, long lines, traffic, accidents etc. Just remember, while we are gone during the summer, we are still paying the same $145.00 per month that you full timers are paying, yet YOU full timers are reaping the benefits from our pay, never do we get a "thank you" for that. I bet if we didn't have to pay while we were gone, the full timers wouldn't have as many things available to use, as there would be a lot less money funding all those things you enjoy during the summer months. So while we continue to pay our amenities fees all year long just like full timers, stop complaining and enjoy all those things that we too are paying for and you benefit from.

Not many of us made the decision to move here based on whether a retail, store, restaurant or service were busy/crowded.

We also learned as did many others that things like t times, restaurants, etc are all a function of timing and want. Those same venues are available over many hours, yet opinions of business are formed based on one's specific time choosing.

I have listened for years about how difficult it is getting a t time in the "busy season". Tweleve years experience demonstrates if one puts in several choices of courses and some flexibility of time of play....you will get a t time. We have yet to ever not get a t time for any day we wanted to play golf.

Ditto on restaurants.

Traffic? Anyplace worth going to will have it. When you think it is bad here take a drive around Atlanta then come back and enjoy TV.

To each his own and their outlook(s).

Actually, there have been many, many, many posts in numerous threads stating exactly this point (bold). And thanks for your property taxes, and utility hookup fees, and trash pickup fees....

Atlanta? Just drive over to Tampa or Orlando. When you come back, you will feel lonely on Buena Vista.

It has been over three years that a twice weekly, foursome request for a tee time was denied. Not overwhelming....................

I had the same experience. I changed to MVP two years ago and could not be happier.

Nearly all threads that end up with a post of someone bashing snowbirds, another poster comes along says just the opposite.
Don't just read the few who do the bitching, cause they do that about everything.

My wife was very happy taking several exercise classes @ the rec centers-she would have to be there @ 7:45 for a 9 o'clock class--this is way too much

She is no going to MVP and becoming an associate member on my membership

You get what you pay for

Another big + for MVP--is trained staff who really know how to handle a medical emergency.

I think many understand that but it is your choice. You do that because you make money by renting or have a place to go to when it gets too cold, buy a property to sell when it's time to come here full time or have a place for family to use. Not because you are committed to The Villages. While not taking away from your contribution, the long lines, traffic, some accidents are a result of increased population and increased population is a result of those that aren't here full time....it's just a fact. So Thank You for paying your amenity fees but please climb down from your pedestal. You do it because you choose to use The Villages.

Just had friends visit for the weekend and told them we LOVE the snowbirds!

Love how vibrant TV gets, the smiles on their faces, and yes for renters.... the desire (for some) to be full timers.

Thanks to all of you who pay all year round, but are just here for a short time.

We are very thankful!

I'll give you a thank you. And most of the people I know would also. I really don't believe that most full timers complain about our seasonal residents. Like anything else the complainers are a vocal minority.

Just a reminder to all. Snowbirds, wannabe snowbirds, snowflakes, fruitflies and frogs.


Most of us have been Snowbirds. Many of us are now frogs. It is crowded everywhere on this peninsula this time of the year.


It isn't just about ME and it isn't just about YOU, it is about everyone. Sometimes we have to be a little bit more patient. We do not live alone.

How are we full timers raping the benifits? We paid the same and you probably rent property out which we full timers have to put up with the good and the bad.
I guy I know rents his house out during the snowbird season so he don't have to put up with it. Now he's raping the benefits, renting out in place for 4 times the rent? Bottom line is we're all in the same boat, lets not sink it.

Thank you Gracie it's good to be back. I'll stay away from the
fitness centers.

I love the snowbirds! The Villages wouldn't be the same without them! It was built for part time retirees! I live here year round, but still I love the snowbirds.

Seriously? Wow..... Should have warned them 7 years ago; might not be as crowded now with like minded privileged/entitled ..... The people from the north are a viable asset to TV; the money they spend while here benefits us full time residents.

as many have already pointed out we do appreciate the contribution to our 'ecosystem' that snowbirds make. I grew up in the bronx so this hasn't even started to get crowded (what traffic?). I would, however, like to thank you for not misspelling a word or mistaking its use.
:beer3:

As in reap vs rape?🙃

We are seasonal residents. We don't rent out our home.
We don't "use" The Villages whatever that means.
We are just as committed to The Villages as you are!

Are you sure you didn't mean to say you NEED to be committed?:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

We will miss you when you leave to find your own private gym and golf. Good luck.

I do not rent my home down here. This happens to be my primary home. I am actually a Fl native and I pay rent all year for the place I go to during the summer. I enjoy living in both locations, and just like full timers, have to adjust to classes filling up before I sign up, etc etc, but, I know that is part of the deal when you are in a great place that attracts so many people. I don't live in a 55+ community up north, so I can't just hop in a golf cart and go to zumba, or line dancing, or one of three town centers to listen to free entertainment, but I still pay for this here and wait in those lines just like full timers do here, when I am back HOME! (Florida). There are probably a lot of people here that don't rent out their home down here either, so, are paying out quite a bit of money all year, and they are also waiting in long lines.

I never could understand grown adults in their retirement years being willing to stand in line for the better part of an hour or more just to play whatever. I know, you're retired, what's the hurry. I didn't retire to wait in lines. But I guess the people from the big cities are used to it, so they don't mind.

That's some interesting logic...if the snowbirds were here full time, the population would be permanently "increased". So, to blame snowbirds for the increase in population is akin to saying if the frogs would go somewhere else for the winter it wouldn't be so crowded. It's crowded because TV keeps expanding by building 1000s of more homes on postage stamp lots. And as long as there is property available for development and there are more people wanting to buy them, this will continue. I just hope that the developer provides equivalent amenities capacity with the increasing population.

Any Time Fitness is another option...if you qualify, you can go for free with the Silver Sneakers. In checking them out, they never seem truly full, though they are busy. Up North...the gym I belonged to had it's very busy times as well so I'd go when I knew the busiest times weren't happening.

I recently had a conversation with a woman (not sure if she is full-time or seasonal) who was just plain grumpy because she had to stand in line for her RX. I tried to respond with a "cup half full" comment but she'd have nothing of it. Complained about not being able to get on a golf course to play the game "she JUST loves". I commented that my S.O. plays golf and never has a problem....that is, because when making a tee-time the group goes 1st thing in the morning. She scoffed at me saying "I'll NEVER go that early!" Well there you have it!!!

There are options here that can accommodate everyone "IF" they can be flexible (that is THE key word). We live in a gorgeous place that was planned very well. To complain once we're here is counter-productive. Someone on this thread said they never hear a "thank you!" for being seasonal...so I'll do it and say "Thank You!!" We all came here without anyone twisting our arms to do so. There are options for that as well.

They are keeping up so far........


And small lots are attractive to many of us who don't want the responsibility or the cost of maintaining a large outside area. They built Harmeswood with big lots and didn't do it again, so I guess it wasn't as good an idea...........

I'm with you. I would never wait in line over an hour to take a fitness class. From what other posters have said, MVP sounds like it has more equipment and classes to meet the needs of the members, rather than the Seabreeze fitness center. That would be my first choice.

I had written MVP off because it is double the price of the TV fitness centers for a single. But I might look into it again, based on what I have read here.

They definitely didn't do it again. But the business model obviously, to me anyway, shows more profits from higher density housing. That's why developers frequently try to rezone for higher density. Unless, of course, larger lots could demand $100K+ premiums. Not to mention the increased cost of maintaining a larger lot.

Well said!
 

Well said! I absolutely agree. We pay the monthly amenity fee and only use the facilities during the winter months as we are Canadians and unable to stay more than 180 days per year. We think we get great amenities for our monthly fee. We do get discouraged with the line-ups at popular activities like pickleball. However, it's always crowded when we are here in The Villages during Jan., Feb., and March. We have come to expect the crowds. Year round residents should enjoy having the amenities to themselves during the off season and appreciate that Snowbird $$ pay for those facilities too.

I think most of us appreciate our snowbird friends, and realize they do pay amenity fees all year round. But like you we get discouraged with the long lines for activities, lack of tee times, and so on. I'm not sure the infrastructure has caught up with the increase in population, which compounds the problem.