[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Welcome to "Snowbird Season".

This was the first response to your post, and it is correct.

All following posts were just elaborations on this one.

.

[angiefox10]

As so many of the posters have already stated so very nicely... The snowbirds are here. Everything changes. Those of us who live here all year... we adjust. We don't even give it a second thought. As the snowbirds come in, we enjoy the places off campus, places we didn't have time to enjoy when they were away and we were busy doing all the activities. The activities that weren't full.

Today, I went to a very long lunch with a girlfriend and later this evening, my husband and I went to dinner with friends at a lovely restaurant off campus.

I know it gets crowded, but we enjoy our snowbird friends so very much, we just don't care.

Come back in the summer.... You can enjoy everything.. No lines... no waiting. Give The Villages another look. You might see it differently.

[Matzy]

I think it isn't a problem of TV, it is as already said the season, all is tighten up. Some of the posts will give you good ideas what to do in this time of the year. Don't hesitate to ask neighbors what they are doing, and you'll see there is a lot of possibilities, combined with finding new friends or groups of same interests. Don't be disappointed about an experience of the last 10 days, you will see it turns that way you like when you are open to adapt to the situation(s).

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by jms33

We arrived here on January 1, full of anticipation. That anticipation has almost completely evaporated. Most activities listed in the Thursday newspaper are filled up an hour before start time. For the Trivia tonight at Bradenton at 6:30 people arrived at 5-5:20 to be accommodated. Other 6pm arrivals were turned away. Same at yoga. A pickle ball clinic requires you to sign up a week before. all sign ups were filled within the first ten minutes of the date opening up. Bunco, no room at the tables.
We were actually told "we have more tables, just not enough chairs"
Come on, really! Just order some more folding chairs.
Life long learning college course is SOLD OUT.
We haven't even attempted a dinner out yet! Have cooked home every night.

I know I will get flamed royally for this post. I would never buy a house here because of these experiences. For those of you tempted to say "good more room for someone else" I simply say look around at all the construction.
Can the villages really sustain more growth?
Would love some good, honest feedback.

I am here all year round. Love when the snowbirds are here but don't go out as much. Love it here come April, May, June...paradise!

[travelguy]

if you make a reservation for friday night trivia at bradenton you will have no trouble getting a seat. and i was there the night you mention, and there were several empty seats, so i do not know how you could not have stayed and participated.

[patfla06]

Think of it during this time like living in a big city.
Everything is crowded and takes longer.
We were shocked to have our movie sold out last Friday, the 1 pm showing.
Saw the movie in Tampa and were sorry we got in, ha, ha......
( The Wolf of Wall St. - not that great! iMHO....)

[jms33]

Originally Posted by travelguy

if you make a reservation for friday night trivia at bradenton you will have no trouble getting a seat. and i was there the night you mention, and there were several empty seats, so i do not know how you could not have stayed and participated.

Incorrect, you must have a table of 8 to make a reservation. We were there tonight, and no available seats.

Reservations open at 9:30 pm the Friday night prior and are closed out by 9:35 .
We were told this tonight by the activity director. Your experience may have been different, I can only attest to mine.

[kittygilchrist]

I thought I'd come here and just have a great time at activities. Now I'm here and my friends and neighbors are the center of my activities, not rec centers. It is the people who live here who make me happy.
I am sorry your experience has been aggravating...I love being here among wonderful people and spend more time at people's homes than I do at rec centers.
After 9 months in TV...no regrets, all joy.

[wendyquat]

Originally Posted by jms33

We arrived here on January 1, full of anticipation. That anticipation has almost completely evaporated. Most activities listed in the Thursday newspaper are filled up an hour before start time. For the Trivia tonight at Bradenton at 6:30 people arrived at 5-5:20 to be accommodated. Other 6pm arrivals were turned away. Same at yoga. A pickle ball clinic requires you to sign up a week before. all sign ups were filled within the first ten minutes of the date opening up. Bunco, no room at the tables.
We were actually told "we have more tables, just not enough chairs"
Come on, really! Just order some more folding chairs.
Life long learning college course is SOLD OUT.
We haven't even attempted a dinner out yet! Have cooked home every night.

I know I will get flamed royally for this post. I would never buy a house here because of these experiences. For those of you tempted to say "good more room for someone else" I simply say look around at all the construction.
Can the villages really sustain more growth?
Would love some good, honest feedback.

Don't make the decision not to buy based on Jan, Feb, and March! Come back one of the other 9 months and it is a much different story. We moved here permanently in May and, like you, were astonished come January. As frogs we view the crowds as a necessary inconvenience to fund the businesses year round. While mid summer is definitely hot and humid spring and fall months make it all worthwhile!

[Happinow]

Unfortunately, your timing wasn't good. The winters here are chaotic at best and we who live here full time learn how to live differently 4 months out of the year. It's a small price to pay for 8 other glorious months. We don't go out to dinner much in the winter, we can't play golf as much as we want, we don't shop much, and we tend to stay off the roads more. However, when spring arrives the tables turn and we get the place to ourselves again. Life returns to normal. The snowbirds pump a lot of money into our economy so we need them. They are people too!! Don't let this detour you from purchasing a home. There is so much to do and love. I used to live 7 miles from a place that depended on tourist to survive in the summer. I knew that in the summer I would not go near there due to the congestion, bumper to bumper traffic and long waits at restaurants. However, the other 9 months put of the year were beautiful. Come and visit the villages in June!!! See what you think of it then

[graciegirl]

I guess the reason that I didn't feel that way when we first moved here, is that we had so many things to get done, feathering our nest, and even without enough coffee cups I put an invitation on the doors of several of our neighbors asking them to come for coffee and bring their cup. I bought three nice sweet rolls at publix and everyone stood around, no chairs. The neighbors were WONDERFUL and got right in the spirit of things, bringing lawn chairs and we had a wonderful get together. They are still our friends even though we live in another village now.

I was so in awe of all of the wonderful sights and so many nice people and of course we weren't trying to go to the rec centers at that point. We were hanging out at lot at Lowes and Home Depot.

[wendyquat]

Originally Posted by jms33

Incorrect, you must have a table of 8 to make a reservation. We were there tonight, and no available seats.

Reservations open at 9:30 pm the Friday night prior and are closed out by 9:35 .
We were told this tonight by the activity director. Your experience may have been different, I can only attest to mine.

You are correct about the trivia at Bradenton. They allot one 8 seat table to walk-ins. Last Friday that table filled up very early and there were still 20 or so walk-ins waiting for a seat. They then fill seats vacant on established teams. This time of year our team does not always manage to get "in" even when our request is made at exactly 9:30.

Are you aware that there are also trivia nights at Canal Rec Center on Sunday nights and Fishhawk Rec Center on Wed nights? Look in the Recreation Weekly and contact Bonnie or Joyce about coming as walk-ins.

BTW, talk with the people doing the trivia and not the activities director. It's Sue or Craig at Bradenton and Bonnie or Joyce at the other two.

I wish you the best of luck!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by jms33

.... I would never buy a house here because of these experiences. For those of you tempted to say "good more room for someone else" I simply say look around at all the construction. Can the villages really sustain more growth?
Would love some good, honest feedback.

This is Snowbird season. All Florida is stuffed to capacity. We are seasonal residents, contributing to the lineups, traffic congestion, and wait times. Having said that, in the last ten days we've golfed twice, eaten out numerous times, and hung out a lot with good friends.

Once you live here permanently, I bet you'll be encouraged by neighbors to participate in local events. You'll make more friends and have more fun than you have ever imagined. I hope you give TV another look because where you decide to spend your golden years is critical to your good health and emotional well being.

I'm so sorry that you feel disappointed. But based on my experience, ten days is not enough time to make new friends and establish new relationships. I hear from my Froggie friends that during the summer months, there will be lots of opportunities to have ready access to restaurants, golf and recreation activities. By April or May, most Snowbirds will have flown north and The Bubble will be reclaimed by Frogs.

Until Fall when the chill winds start blowing.

[Cisco Kid]

Look on the bright side ,,,,,,,

Your were not mugged .

[willie72]

We are also very disappointed. We signed up to bring guests golfing on Tuesday and our request was denied. We have not golfed yet as the first time we signed up the courses were closed due to inclement weather. We have lived here less than two months and have paid our trail fees but have not been able to golf.