[paulandjean]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Gracie's glass is half full

Wonder what was in that first half that see drank?

[janmcn]

All of Florida is crowded folks. It's the beginning of the high-season. If you think it's crowded in TV, just take a trip to either coast.

[OldDave]

We'll see for ourselves in March, but i'm wondering. Do the same rules that apply most places apply here? Can you go eat at 4pm or 7pm and get in better? Can you go to the grocery store at 9am on a weekday and find it less busy?

[Suzi]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Gracie's glass is half full

Gracie's my kind of person !

[eweissenbach]

I for one, think the snowbird season "overcrowdedness" is highly overstated. Last year we came for Feb. and March, after having come in April the two prior years, and we expected, from having read posts on TOTV, to be inconvenienced in everything we did. We found it to be relatively easy to do everything we wanted to do. We usually ate around 6 to 7 and had to wait for a seat no more than a few times. Had to wait for an hour at Lopez on a Monday for the lobster special, but we expected that. Lighthouse, Codys, Redsauce, and City Fire were often a wait, but no big deal, maybe 20 minutes. Never waited at Mallory, Cane, Havana, Palmer. Tee times were denied three times out of forty tries, and we still got times out of our prefered zone three days out. The traffic was heavier than in April, but NOTHING like rush hour in any metro area any weekday. Almost always found open pickleball courts when we wanted, and the pools were well used, but not overly crowded. I think the overcrowding perception arises from people who live here year round and it seems so much worse than summer and fall to them. I have never been here in summer, but I would imagine it is very laid back with about a third or half as many people as in the winter using the same number of amenities, resturaunts, roads etc. Perception is everything and if you are used to 40,000 people and jump to 100,000 people you probably feel inconvenienced. If, you are used to living in or near an urban core and come to TV you will likely feel that you are in wide open spaces. Either way, it is a GREAT place to spend the winter, or I am sure, any time of year.

[Mudder]

I agree with Gracie's glass !

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Mimivillager

My group of 4 did not get a T-Time for Friday this week executive. We had an average of 2 pts for the group(3,3,2, 0) I put in 3 hr time span and 10 courses. I am disappointed.
Went to the Lighthouse last night for dinner at 5 and were seated immediately. They have a new owner and their happy hour is now extended to 6 PM. Dinner was delish and we will add them back on our list of restaurants to frequent.

Add 5 more courses and 2 more hours..........................

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by OldDave

We'll see for ourselves in March, but i'm wondering. Do the same rules that apply most places apply here? Can you go eat at 4pm or 7pm and get in better? Can you go to the grocery store at 9am on a weekday and find it less busy?

Yep.
Yep.
Yep.

[rubicon]

People always complaining. Did they really expect that they would play golf anytime they wanted just because the Villages marketing people said "Play golf free for the rëst of your lives"? Did they expect that just because they paid a heavy premium for the "Village Lifestyle" that meant some sort of priority on all things The Villages? Did they expect that this Ädult DisneyWorld" wouldn't be a victim of its own success?" Did they expect that living the life of a millionaire on their limited pension wouldn't translate into a price competitiveness that would limit their limited pensions? As the Zen Buddhist believe Äll is sorrow". ""Sorrow is derived from desire." "Eliminate desire and you eliminate sorrow". So eliminate desire villagers and you will eliminate all those expectations. Just my attempt of making light of a situation that can annoy many.

[gomoho]

NO - say it ain't so!!!

[Villages Kahuna]

Originally Posted by anarick

I heard that it takes an hour to get a seat at restaurants for dinner, difficult to get a tee time set up and traffic is ridiculous.
Is it really that crowded in TV now ??

Of course it's more crowded in all the places you mentioned in January thru March (the "high season"). But no more crowded than anyplace else in Florida or Arizona at this time of year. And certainly less crowded with less traffic than the big northern cities at anytime!

If you think you'll be able to walk into most of the restaurants and get a table with no wait like you can later in the spring, summer or fall...forget it. Can you get a tee time when you want it, on the course you want? No way...but with a little advanced planning and flexibility, you'll be able to play as much as you'd like. Are the lines of cars longer at the more popular gates? For sure. Are we occasionally frustrated by drivers who obviously are lost, don't know how to navigate thru a traffic circle, or figure out how to keep their rented golf carts off the roads? Absolutely.

The influx of visitors from colder weather climates during a few winter months does cause some inconvenience. But it also results in retailers and restaurants we love getting enough business to keep them afloat during the slower summer months. And the taxes paid by our snowbird visitors keep our taxes low for the whole year, long after they've gone back up north. Did you ever wonder how much of Florida's extremely high hotel and rental taxes result in no state income tax for Florida residents?

The influx of visitors during the coldest winter months causes "problems" that Floridians have complained about for years. It's no worse in The Villages than elsewhwere with warm weather and beaches. People need to remember that Florida wouldn't be anywhere as near attractive a place to visit and live without our cold weather visitors. For me, I'll take the inconveniences a few months a year in exchange for the benefits the rest of the year. C'mon down!

[bonrich]

[QUOTE=Villages Kahuna;609382
The influx of visitors from colder weather climates during a few winter months does cause some inconvenience. But it also results in retailers and restaurants we love getting enough business to keep them afloat during the slower summer months. And the taxes paid by our snowbird visitors keep our taxes low for the whole year, long after they've gone back up north. Did you ever wonder how much of Florida's extremely high hotel and rental taxes result in no state income tax for Florida residents?


THANK YOU!
We snowbirds really try to contribute to the economy of TV and help to keep the "lights on".

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Of course it's more crowded in all the places you mentioned in January thru March (the "high season"). But no more crowded than anyplace else in Florida or Arizona at this time of year. And certainly less crowded with less traffic than the big northern cities at anytime!

If you think you'll be able to walk into most of the restaurants and get a table with no wait like you can later in the spring, summer or fall...forget it. Can you get a tee time when you want it, on the course you want? No way...but with a little advanced planning and flexibility, you'll be able to play as much as you'd like. Are the lines of cars longer at the more popular gates? For sure. Are we occasionally frustrated by drivers who obviously are lost, don't know how to navigate thru a traffic circle, or figure out how to keep their rented golf carts off the roads? Absolutely.

The influx of visitors from colder weather climates during a few winter months does cause some inconvenience. But it also results in retailers and restaurants we love getting enough business to keep them afloat during the slower summer months. And the taxes paid by our snowbird visitors keep our taxes low for the whole year, long after they've gone back up north. Did you ever wonder how much of Florida's extremely high hotel and rental taxes result in no state income tax for Florida residents?

The influx of visitors during the coldest winter months causes "problems" that Floridians have complained about for years. It's no worse in The Villages than elsewhwere with warm weather and beaches. People need to remember that Florida wouldn't be anywhere as near attractive a place to visit and live without our cold weather visitors. For me, I'll take the inconveniences a few months a year in exchange for the benefits the rest of the year. C'mon down!

A well balanced point of view.

[rubicon]

Several posters have attempted to make a logical comparison between large cities and The Villages as to overcrowding etc. I am not so certain that this is a valid comparison unless you include some event(s) that would cause a great influx of people.

I am impressed with the business people in this area as they seem in many respects to manage the influx well; especially when most business operate on a "just in time inventory model".

Another difference has to do with adjustments. When living in a big city you become accustom to the rythmn of the city and you plan ahead, plan alternate routes are familar with restaurants routines so you use the optimum times to your advantage.

In contrast fulltime residents here have become accustom to less traffic regarding highways, cartpaths, restaurants, golf courses and then suddenly

I opine you decide

[Shimpy]

Worst traffic I've seen and the gym is more crowded than ever. This is of course due to many new residents moving in south of 466A into those new homes. Also, the Publix in Colony is like Thanksgiving everyday.