Interview with Vacationeer Kayla Mahaffey: Timeshare Vacation to Disney World

Tell us about your trip.

This was by far the most memorable and magical vacation of my lifetime, and hopefully my son’s, too! Let me explain. Since I started this amazing job, my vacations have been more for learning experiences, attending weddings, or adult relaxation with friends (the kind with no screaming kids). But each time I was away, I missed my son and wished he were with me!

So this time, for my son’s 10th and Golden Birthday, his father and I planned a surprise vacation to Disney World in Orlando. We had to keep it a secret for over 8 months. That was torture, but it was well worth it! The look on his little face when we told him why we were at the airport was invaluable! I grew up very poor, so was was never able to experience anything of the sort when I was a child. I really had never imagined being able to do something like this for my son, either, and it was a very emotional moment!

We stayed at an amazing resort. I could not believe the number of various amenities they offered. You’d never have to leave the resort if you didn’t want to, because they had it all–lazy rivers, lap pools, water parks, Jet Skiing, fishing, a movie theater, different types of golf courses, tennis, and assorted activities for the kids, including an arts and crafts room! There were even huge arcades were you could win prizes.

What is this amazing Orlando timeshare resort, you ask? None other than the famous Orange Lake Resort & Country Club! I did visit other resorts while I was there and also really liked Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Hilton Sea World. However, Orange Lake was my personal favorite. We had our own villa with our own driveway, a gorgeous view of the golf course, and the condo was almost as big as the condo I myself live in!

How did you find out about it, and how would someone make this kind of an exchange?

I found out about Orange Lake Country Club both from clients and from my Sales Manager here at Holiday. It was a highly recommended resort and now I know why!

Exchanging is easy if you are flexible and have time to plan. You exchange timeshares “like for like.” In other words, high time for high time, rating for rating, season, location, and so on. Orange lake is an RCI Gold Crown resort, so in order to exchange into this resort, you will need to deposit a Gold Crown. Do your deposit early, and if they don’t have anything right then have them put you on the “on-going search” list. Wait as long as you feel comfortable, and if possible be a bit flexible on the dates. If anyone needs more explanation on any of this, please feel free to contact me (contact information below).

What are some of the fun things and “don’t miss” things people could do if they stayed at Orange Lake Country Club, or at another timeshare in the Orlando area?

Disney World! What is there not to do? We didn’t sit still the entire week. It really is magical! There is so much to see and do for all ages. Don’t miss the lights on the castle at night, I felt like a little girl in a dream. The rides are so detailed, some a bit scary for this old lady, but the details on everything really were amazing. I ran into people a few times looking around, oops sorry! What an amazing experience, I can see now why it’s called The Happiest Place on Earth. Also, don’t miss the live shows at Gatorland and the Arabian Nights dinner show in Kissimmee. Those were two of the most amazing experiences!

Any tips that might make the trip more enjoyable? What did you learn to make this trip smoother, whether relating to timeshare specifically, or travel to Orlando in general?

Travel light if you can. This helps speed things through the airport. Orange Lake Country Club includes washers and dryers in the rooms and this can be very helpful. Of course, you’ll also want some extra packing room to bring home souvenirs.

Rent a car! This is a must. You can drive to what they call Downtown Disney and park for free. From there they have buses that will take you to all the parks. That way you are saving hundreds of dollars by not having to pay for parking at each park. You will have to drive to and pay for parking at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but those are the only two.

I do suggest bringing your own golf clubs if you are a golfer. Also, have good walking shoes, because you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Plan the week out as much as you can beforehand without making your schedule too full. There are maps and guides at the resort to help you get the most out of your stay.

Anything else that you think of that someone new to timeshare might want to know or do? Best time to go? Reservation details?

If you are new to timeshare, the best advice is to learn as much as you can before you go. The more you know, the more confident you’ll be and the more time and money you’ll save. But whether you’re new to timeshare or not, this is an incredible experience for anyone. I have to say I never felt more carefree and enamored of a place than Disney World. It makes you forget that there is a real World out there, and that for at least a brief time, we can be children again in our own magical universe.

Check with your RCI agent for details on how to exchange your Timeshare or get Bonus, Last Call, or Getaways weeks for Orlando. No matter where you stay, your experience at Disney World will never leave your heart and thoughts!

If you don’t have a timeshare or just need more information, give me a call and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge as a Holiday Vacationeer. I hope this helps. Thank you for reading, and HAPPY VACATIONING!

Warmest Regards,

Kayla Mahaffey
1-888-777-7590 ext. 1260

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