Ive been to all 7 VOIs. Looking forward to #8 as well. Its my vacation, not a working trip. I just stayed there last weekend as a dry-run... a 36 hour trip to get 2 cars in position! (Thanks S.W. and GaryD, and KeithL)
Tried to vist CLARK but he had some bogus "Acapulco Sailboat Thru the Canal" story to avoid buying me a beer........
Here are some 'tidbits' as a Public Service Announcement!
The Gaylord is just 12 minutes from DFW airport. Too new for GPS plotting and GPS maps. This is a "mini" resort compared to the monstor at VOI-7 Nashville.
This one has a NICE garage, a kitty-corner, tolerable indoor air-conditioned walk to the rooms. The layout is ROOMS / CONVENTION CTR / GARAGE.
Garage spaces are above-average width, but will require "Careful Neighbors"
If you plan to drive up to the LOBBY to check in, I suspect NOT likley. The drive is 160-degrees and too short and narrow (4 lanes?)to accomodate a crush of Vipers. The hotel was 50% empty last weekend. Knowing this, Id go to the garage first, and THEN check in; come back and get the baggage.
The NAMES of the restaurants, bars, walks, are the SAME as Nashville. Deja Vu.
Just on a 1/3 scale. Im an ALASKAN at heart, and the heat was oppressive to me, in the high 80s and the humidity was breathable, like a steam vaporizer.
DRIVERS: BE SURE YOUR OLD RADIATOR HOSES ARE REPLACED IF 6-7+ YEARS OLD. We lost a few on our last Cruise in 80-degree TAME Oregon heat. At least carry a generic spare, 24" from NAPA. Flush and BURP old coolant.
My VCA owner-companion is a water-fancier, not a water snob. She says "the tap water tastes and smells like DIRT. Chlorinated DIRT." Even in the shower the water smelled 'funny'. The hotel had small DASANI bottles...for $3 EACH!
You need a LOT of water in this heat....buy some nearby. {maybe our Pac-NW water is just GREAT} Or just drink BEER!
GASOLINE: Premium is 93 octane! a TREAT. We live on 91 on the NW. There was only one station near the hotel, a large SHELL/Liquor/Sundry. Try to buy gas BEFORE you get to the hotel so you are not cruising for fuel to meet organized trip deadlines.
1 nearby gas station WILL run out of premium. Id stash 1 bottle of OCTANE BOOSTER in case you have to buy low-grade on a convoy trip. I did see other Chevron, Mobil, etc, but not right near the hotel. "Likely" stations could run low on Premium. Maybe I missed seeing them, we did NOT go "down" hiway 26.
Best local fast food: STEAK n SHAKE, 2 minutes away. Rare in TX. Midwest Chain
In any case: Most vendors to Viperdom will be CLOSED for VOI. 15,000 Owners are NOT going to VOI, and I suggest they order stuff NOW. It'll be difficult to buy Viper Stuff from 9/8 to 9/14.
I hope "they" have a moment of remembrance at VOI on Sept 11. We are all changed.
Lastly: Please dont nick the twin yellow '01-'02 RT/10s with Oregon plates parked in the garage. And the '02 is for SALE for $49995.
C.U. In 9 days.. JonB
Tried to vist CLARK but he had some bogus "Acapulco Sailboat Thru the Canal" story to avoid buying me a beer........
Here are some 'tidbits' as a Public Service Announcement!
The Gaylord is just 12 minutes from DFW airport. Too new for GPS plotting and GPS maps. This is a "mini" resort compared to the monstor at VOI-7 Nashville.
This one has a NICE garage, a kitty-corner, tolerable indoor air-conditioned walk to the rooms. The layout is ROOMS / CONVENTION CTR / GARAGE.
Garage spaces are above-average width, but will require "Careful Neighbors"
If you plan to drive up to the LOBBY to check in, I suspect NOT likley. The drive is 160-degrees and too short and narrow (4 lanes?)to accomodate a crush of Vipers. The hotel was 50% empty last weekend. Knowing this, Id go to the garage first, and THEN check in; come back and get the baggage.
The NAMES of the restaurants, bars, walks, are the SAME as Nashville. Deja Vu.
Just on a 1/3 scale. Im an ALASKAN at heart, and the heat was oppressive to me, in the high 80s and the humidity was breathable, like a steam vaporizer.
DRIVERS: BE SURE YOUR OLD RADIATOR HOSES ARE REPLACED IF 6-7+ YEARS OLD. We lost a few on our last Cruise in 80-degree TAME Oregon heat. At least carry a generic spare, 24" from NAPA. Flush and BURP old coolant.
My VCA owner-companion is a water-fancier, not a water snob. She says "the tap water tastes and smells like DIRT. Chlorinated DIRT." Even in the shower the water smelled 'funny'. The hotel had small DASANI bottles...for $3 EACH!
You need a LOT of water in this heat....buy some nearby. {maybe our Pac-NW water is just GREAT} Or just drink BEER!
GASOLINE: Premium is 93 octane! a TREAT. We live on 91 on the NW. There was only one station near the hotel, a large SHELL/Liquor/Sundry. Try to buy gas BEFORE you get to the hotel so you are not cruising for fuel to meet organized trip deadlines.
1 nearby gas station WILL run out of premium. Id stash 1 bottle of OCTANE BOOSTER in case you have to buy low-grade on a convoy trip. I did see other Chevron, Mobil, etc, but not right near the hotel. "Likely" stations could run low on Premium. Maybe I missed seeing them, we did NOT go "down" hiway 26.
Best local fast food: STEAK n SHAKE, 2 minutes away. Rare in TX. Midwest Chain
In any case: Most vendors to Viperdom will be CLOSED for VOI. 15,000 Owners are NOT going to VOI, and I suggest they order stuff NOW. It'll be difficult to buy Viper Stuff from 9/8 to 9/14.
I hope "they" have a moment of remembrance at VOI on Sept 11. We are all changed.
Lastly: Please dont nick the twin yellow '01-'02 RT/10s with Oregon plates parked in the garage. And the '02 is for SALE for $49995.
C.U. In 9 days.. JonB
