Need Preview Visit Details
 

I have been hovering around on this site for quite some time. I have gotten a lot of great information. My wife and I are now at a point that we need to start doing some serious planning for the next chapter in our lives after retirement.

We have made a few unofficial day trips up to TV over the years while in Florida on vacation. I am fairly confident the TV is the place we need to call home and escape the Wisconsin winters. My wife is a lot harder sell and change doesn’t come easy for either of us.

We have made a reservation for an official Preview Visit for 6 nights in October. If my wife is ever going to accept the idea of moving there, this visit in October better be a “Home Run”. I really need to prepare for this trip. I happy to read the summary versions of successful Preview Visits and I understand what is available during a visit. I have nightmares about the classic “Deer in the Headlights” scenario that we will get there and look at each other and say “Now what”.

This may be asking a lot, but I would like to hear a detail trip report from someone that has recently gone to a Preview Visit. I would like to hear everything from the check-in through check-out. What they did every day. What they liked. What they didn’t like. What they would do over if they could.

Thanks

schrdr -

Welcome to TOTV!!! :pepper2:

Here are a few earlier threads that might give you some ideas of things to do:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ad.php?t=39552

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ad.php?t=39180

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ad.php?t=35981

A couple of suggestions:

- Make up a list/schedule ahead of your arrival noting the things you feel you want to do. Prioritize them - what are the "must do" things for you.

- Talk with a lot of people - everybody's willing to offer their thoughts and insights. Two easy ways to meet people: 1.) Go to the squares in the evenings and strike up conversations, 2.) Hang out at some of the pools, and 3.) Stop your golf cart anywhere, pull out a map, and it's a virtual lock that somebody will stop to see if you're lost or need any help.

- Don't feel bad if you DO indeed have the "deer in the headlights" feeling, even after you're 3 or 4 days into your stay. It takes quite a while to get your head around everything there is that's TV. It took us probably 2-4 trips down to TV to really start feeling a bit more comfortable with what things are located where, etc.

- Above all..................................bring your checkbook! You're just liable to find something to buy, like...oh, say....a house or something, while you're in TV!!! You certainly wouldn't be the first ones!!! :thumbup:

Enjoy!

Bill :)

On our second trip we were not looking to buy but when Bobby Gullati showed us this villa in the price we wanted to spend.. we bought..not only bring your check book ,two years of taxes and either retire statments or paychecks..we would have saved ten days of emailing from disney if we would have had everything with us. Its when you don't expect to believe, that you find your dream. Enjoy your trip

First decide what it is you want to do. Do you and the wife play golf, swim, dance, run? Then put that on the agenda at least 3 or 4 times. Do you want to look at homes? If so do a search on here and identify an agent and spend some time with them. Do lots or riding around in the golf cart, use it as much as possible. Take the trolly tour, eat out, visit a couple small towns outside the bubble, ie Mt Dora. Talk to everyone you can. Visit a couple different rec centers. Read the paper every day to get ideas of whats going on. One thing I did was subscribe to The Villages Daily Sun for 3 months before I went there. They will mail it to you in Wisconsin. Cost is low and a wealth on information to help you know what is going on. Take a look at some rental properties and plan to come back for a month or two if you like what you see. Again a low cost investment before you make that life changing move. Look, learn, ask questions, experience, do everything you can to understand TV. Being bored with not knowing what to do will not happen with just a little advance planning.

You might want to participate in some of the clubs and activities. I suggest that in advance of going that you go to http://www.thevillages.com/Recreatio...Activities.asp then select the link for Recreation News & Activities on the left side. This will open a pdf of the current rec news that lists many of the activities and their locations. You definitely want to spend at least one evening at Katie Bells in Spanish Springs, especially if you like dancing. A visit to the town squares is also a "must", particularly for the dancing and line dancing.

Taking the free trolley tour is a great way to get a big picture view of the community. Every morning you will receive a newspaper where you can also find a list of open houses for the day. Of course, you can also arrange a day for your realtor to show you around.

Whatever you do, be sure to plan some time to just sit and relax and "smell the roses". Have fun and welcome to The Villages!:BigApplause:

I noticed this is your first post welcome! You've come to the right place for info .People like Bill have a wealth of info so I'd recommend following his advice. One thing I think a lot of people are nervous about is getting lost in the golf cart that comes with the preview and don't adventure far from their home base.To me it was the most fun just driving along and stopping for directions when we got lost.We even had people turn around to have us follow them to our destination.Play golf,go to the pools in a neighborhood so you can talk to the locals.Get the rec news at any rec center to see if there's something you'd like to check out.There are over 1500 activities a month to choose from.Have fun & if you need company while you're here send me a private message on this site and my wife & I would be glad to meet you .

find out when the octoberfest celebration is and see if you can schedule your preview visit while you are there; and give the daily sun newspaper a call and see if they will send you a villages map & mailing fee if you pay for it with a credit card with credit card - althought there a villages maps on line; and visit this website: http://www.virginiatrace.com/ for even more info after you visit https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...play.php?f=139 to read the 'moving to the villages' stickies at the top of the posts.

hope this helps!

I came down in April on the Lifestyle Preview. Prior to that, I spent a lot of time on TOTV and played TV DVD a few times. After the last winter in Ohio I was ready, if TV was half what it was cracked up to be. Made it easier because my daughter and her kids are in Orlando. My sales guy (Lynn Peterson) let me set the schedule. I played golf a few times, but mostly just tooled around in the golf cart getting lost. It's true, you stop and pull out a map someone will stop to help. I was here for 6 days, so we scheduled a lot of property appointments, both models and pre-owned. Before I left, Lynn and I put together a plan to build, but I deferred on signing a contract until I got home and had a chance to "evaluate". Needless to say, I've been in TV for over a month now. A word to the wise: if you are planning on using outside financing, make sure you have enough time to get all the paperwork completed prior to closing. If you have to delay closing, The Villages will charge you a change order fee, even if it's only a few days.

Do a few fun things and a few different things.

The entertainment is great, so are the sports.
Restaurants too! Talk to the folks here, everyone is pretty friendly.

There's nowhere like TV, it's a home run, it'll sell itself.

It's safe, clean, affordable, and every day feels like you're living in a resort.
best wishes

Hi schrdr,
Welcome to TOTV! The advanced-planning list is a great idea, but it might be best to not schedule every minute. Don't be surprised if you strike up a conversation with someone at one of the squares or pools and they invite you to join them for dinner or another activity. People here are so friendly and outgoing. Or someone might just suggest something you hadn't considered that sounds interesting to you and you'll want to check it out.

l2ride's suggestion to get the Daily Sun three months in advance is also a wonderful idea. You'll get ideas of things to do and a better feel for the lifestyle.

Since you're pretty sold and you're trying to convince your wife, be sure your list has things she loves to do. If she loves to shop, check out the various shopping areas in and around TV. There are movie theaters and bowling alleys at each of the town squares if she likes either of those activities. Does she play bridge or mahjong? Join a group and play. If she likes quiet time to read and relax, October is a great time of year to enjoy the lanai or sit by the pool.

Have a wonderful trip! Please let us know how it goes. In the meantime, keep posting. TOTV is a great place to be too.

Pturner

We have friends who just completed a Preview visit. They asked the office if they could have a pickleball lesson, a line dance lesson and tickets to any show that was going on while they were here. The Villages arranged all that for them and others who were on same visit. So they got to talk to others who are deciding about moving here and of course we did many things with them. Almost any club or music group will let you sit in on a meeting, etc....I went with them to several banjo, guitar, fiddle groups - it was a blast ! If you want to play tennis call Glenview Country Club and they'll arrange a tennis match for you. If you go to Katie Belles on a Weds. for lunch you will hear two wonderful singers and see some of the wonderful dancers who live in TV.
Whatever you do, you have a good experience I'm sure !

If you are here on October 18, Herman Hermit's Starring Peter Noone will be at the Savannah Center for two shows. Ask your sales agent to score you a couple of tickets to this fantastic show. It is a favorite of The Villages, so that should close the deal.
Well, as someone said, this place sells itself. Don't sweat it.

My advice is to go with the flow and don't plan anything other than the trip. This place sells itself if its your cup of tea. If the wife likes it its good. Happy wife, happy life. Don't try to force it on her.

Being a bit spontaneous, my strategy is to plan very little in advance and take things as they come. The thing you will find is there is so much activity available that you will have no trouble keeping busy and entertained. Some of my favorites, as a wanabee are:

Breakfast at TooJays (also lunch) and I favor the one at Sumter, though the one as SS is good as well. Katie Belles Sunday brunch buffet is a favorite and Golden Corral is stellar as well. Cracker Barrell is always a good breakfast choice as well.

All of the country clubs have excellent food; I feel that Lopez, Glenview, and Palmer are slightly more upscale, while Mallory and Cane Garden are slightly more relaxed and informal. Mallory has great lunch and dinner specials imho.

Bonefish Grill, The Lighthouse, and Red Lobster are all good for seafood, with Bonefish holding the lead for us.

Redsauce for Italian, Ay Jalisco (sp?) for Mexican.

Instead of taking my word for any of this read the gourmet club reviews. http://home.comcast.net/~thevillages...lub/page1.html

The town squares are a must if you like live music, dancing, people watching, and cheap drinks. Eat early and go, or do like I do and enjoy happy hour with several drinks, then chose a nearby eatery later.

Visit several of the big Rec Centers, Lake Miona, Seabreeze, and Laurel Manor are my favs -- all are beautifully decorated and appointed.

Karaoke at McCalls at SS is fun and the restaurant has decent bar food. You won't beleive how many really good singers are in the Villages!

If you want to take a few practice swings, the driving range behind (north of) Wal Mart off 466 is very nice. I think it is Buffalo Ridge.

I would recommend playing two of the Championship courses if they offer two rounds with the LSP, as they did when I took it. If you use the two round on executive courses you are shorting yourself, unless you simply want to play quick, short courses. I played Palmer and Cane.

Go to market night at least once at each square, and check for other special events such as Cruise In ( old cars ) or Yesteryear club (tricked up golf carts).

As has been mentioned, take the trolley tour as soon as you arrive in order to get your bearings.

There are dozens of open houses every day - we like to go to four or five a day to get familiar with different styles, floorplans, neighborhoods, etc.

As has been stated, go to the neighborhood pools and talk to people there and at the squares to get the skinny on what folks think about the lifestyle. If you get less than 95% enthusiastic positive feedback, you will be the first!

TV is a Golf Cart friendly community, take advantage of the complimentary cart and explore, explore, explore.

Have a ball, I know you will!!!!!!:crap2:

and make sure you have this link: http://thevillagesgourmetclub.home.c...esgourmetclub/

It's a great place to start, and when in doubt, go online and make a reservation at the local Bonefish Restaurant! Always great.

Lee and Richard in Tampa, and frequent visitors to the Villages, for now.