[conn8757]

We ride up to The Villages quite often and have stayed in hotel up there and a house in Sumter Landing for a weekend, but we have never done the preview. My husband will finally get to golf - we are staying 5 nights. I reserved a golf cart since we know our way around Sumter Landing, but not really Spanish Springs and we have never seen the historical side. This will be our chance to see everything. I am hoping for dry weather. I guess we get a card for dining, movies, and the boat ride. Anyone have any favorites they care to share as far as dining? Are the movie theaters basically the same in both squares? I don't golf. I am recovering from total knee replacement - I am almost at six weeks since implant so I will be using the pool a lot. I have heard good and bad about Katie Belle's on this site, but I think I want to go there to see for myself. We are excited. The realtor comes this Wednesday to list our home. I did a prior topic on that - he is agreeable to listing it through November and then taking it off the market and putting it back on in March, 2009, if it doesn't sell this fall. My November 30th retirement date is fast approaching - yippee - I just want to be there!

[JohnN]

hey , welcome!!

We just did the preview in May. Use all the free dining, that'll take you to a lot of great places including Katie Bells (go upstairs to the Cattle Barons) and judge for yourself but it's great. The theatres are about the same. Enjoy the tour, you can't go wrong.

[graciegirl]

OH Welcome. Please have the time of your life. Don't forget to eat outside at the Lighthouse restaurant on Lake Sumter. Talk to everyone. Eat drink and be merry and have a hole-in-one while you're at it! :bigthumbsup:

[JohnN]

Lighthouse is our personal favorite, not fancy but great food and folks.
If it's hot outside (it gets the west sun) , I'd eat inside.

[Niels]

My wife and I visited TV in late July. Upon check in, each of us received a card which for the following:

$12 Breakfast or Lunch at the Veranda Restaurant
$15 Lunch at the Palmer Legends Country Club
$20 Lunch or Dinner at the Lighthouse Grille
$40 Lunch or Dinner at the Cane Garden Country Club
$50 Lunch or Dinner at either the Cattle Baron Club or Katie Belle’s

2 movie tickets good at Rialto or Old Mill theatre
2 rounds of golf, championship or executive course
2 games of championship tennis
Championship Course: Large Bucket of Balls
20% off total of one purchase at the Market or Banner Mercantile
20% off one service at Tuscany Day Spa & Salon
20% off one service at Salon Fifth Avenue

The food at the Lighthouse Grill was pretty good and the Cattle Baron was pretty good but it was very noisy. As for restaurants that are NOT on the card, TooJays Deli in Lake Sumter Landing was good and we also enjoyed the restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club as well as the Bonefish Grill.

[conn8757]

Niels - thanks for your detail of the package. Since I don't golf, would Joe be able to use the golf outings on my card?

[Niels]

My wife and I don't golf so we didn't use the rounds of golf. Maybe I'll take up golf in retirement. ;D

Since we didn't golf, I can't answer your question. :dontknow: However, since the cards actually have your name printed on them, I would be surprised if they let your husband use your card.

Hope you enjoy your lifestyle preview.

[JohnN]

they were pretty casual about the cards,
as long as they can "check off" the card, and hence get paid,
I think they'd take it and let hubby do extra golf

[fizzbyn]

We don't golf either, so we asked if we could give our free golf to our two friends who were with us on the preview visit and the sales rep said we couldn't. But it doesn't hurt to ask. Also I noticed that they put a a cap on the food prices. That wasn't happening in April. It is still very generous and you can get really good meals for those prices.
We picked a night at Cattle Barrons when Rocky and the Rollers were playing. Great oldies played like the originals, and tons of people out on the floor dancing. I haven't seen a "sock-hop" like that since high school and never thought I would again. People up in Cattle Barrons were singing along. Yes it was noisy, but what a great noise!

[Niels]

The dollar amounts were sufficient for most of the restaurants. We came close to the maximum in a couple of restaurants (Veranda and Lighthouse Grill) and we did go way over at Palmer Legends because my wife and I shared an appetizer and we had dessert.

[Lovetobike]

We are two single ladies, arriving via auto train from northern VA. We are non-golfers, coming for Lifestyle Preview Oct. 22. We are interested in dancing, cycling, good dining and some interesting Happy Hours.
Maybe if we are impressed enough to return, we'd like a rental for sometime this winter.
any suggestions???

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by Lovetobike

We are two single ladies, arriving via auto train from northern VA. We are non-golfers, coming for Lifestyle Preview Oct. 22. We are interested in dancing, cycling, good dining and some interesting Happy Hours.
Maybe if we are impressed enough to return, we'd like a rental for sometime this winter.
any suggestions???

I can't wait to hear how you like the Auto-train.... and TV

[Russ_Boston]

Love to Bike: Rentals this winter would be hard to come by Jan-Mar. Not impossible but difficult. I'm sure that you'll love TV.