Does this sound legit (Vistana Village)?

[Praise2Him]

We received an "invitation" in the mail yesterday to stay at the Vistana Village for 4 nights in a 1 bedroom villa for only $169 (total) , plus $100 cash when we check in.

It sounds too good to be true to me, so it probably is! Has anyone else received this? I know this is a timeshare resort, so you probably have to sit through their presentation, right?

Thanks for any insight!
Lisa

 

[spiceycat]

yes - you will have to listen to their timeshare presentation.

the price is right - you are being paid for your time.

a common practice (except Westgate).

 

[26555]

It's worth your time, as long as you remember not to buy a condo through them.

 

[Praise2Him]

DH just called and they said that if you pre-pay you don't have to attend a presentation, that this is just a marketing tool to get you to stay there! ? !

We had planned to go for a few days in December and stay at a cheap place offsite for a couple of nights and WL for 2 nights. We just might try this instead - the price is definitely right, but sure will miss the ambience of the WL!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

You absolutely do NOT have to sit for a presentation. We did it last year and they ended up giving us the 2 bedroom rather than the one. You are one of the lucky ones. When you arrive you will be asked if you want to attend and they will comp you another 100.00!! Your stay should you choose to do that will be only 69.oo for 4 nights. We did not feel it was worth it since we were doing two other presentations last year (it was the only way to get 2 weeks at great places for a great price). It is totally legit so I say jump on it as fast as you can or send it to me I will take it in a heart beat!! Last year it was only 129 so the 100 back was not as attractive.

 

[spiceycat]

don't believe it for that price - believe me you will have to attend and listen to their sales pitch - or paid the full price - I think it is $254 a night.

if you don't go to their sales pitch - when you return home you will be billed for the full price.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Spicey Cat I speak from the point of experience. YOU DO NOT have to attend a presentation. I DID it last year and DID NOT attened anything. In fact when they asked me if I would like to do it when I checked in I said,"no" and that was that.
All that the op needs to do is call them and they will tell her that. We got our 100 back no muss no fuss last year. It is the same deal and it would be a shame if Praise2Him misses out. IF you want extra money back then they will ask you to attend the presentation but that is not mentioned in the original invitation. It is sent in the form of an invitation which says that you will get a refund of 100 upon check in and they are totally true to their word.

I could have gotten the extra 100 so it would have cost me only 29.00 but did not want to waste the extra time.

ANd we were NOT billed anything when we returned home. It is a no strings attached deal. Praise2HIm just call them and check it out. Do not miss out on this.

 

[csmommy]

We just did this in April & at check-in were told that if we did not attend, we would be charged rack rate.

It's not that big a deal to attend the presentation. We asked for ours to be changed to 7:30 am, they fed our kids & we were done by 9. We were not rude, but very honest that we really only like to stay on Disney Property when in Orlando!

The resort & rooms are very nice & convenient to all. I would jump on it if I were you.

 

[spiceycat]

Bella the Ball - sorry - but I think you got lucky.

the marketing department sends these things out - the reason to try and sell you a timeshare - otherwise they are losing one heck alot of money and besides do you really think the people who own there would sit around and let them basically give away their timeshares for almost free????

Bella the ball - I don't want to start an argument - but read what is one the postcard very carefully. I would hate Praise2Him to get a big bill after she got back.

 

[26555]

DH just called and they said that if you pre-pay you don't have to attend a presentation, that this is just a marketing tool to get you to stay there! ? !

Sounds good to me! Do you have any idea how you got on their mailing list for that promotion? I wouldn't mind getting that invite!

 

[Praise2Him]

I'm not sure how we got on the mailing list, except that it's owned by Starwood and I joined Starwood about 3 years ago when I stayed at the Swan - either that, or the fact that we've been to WDW about 18 times in the past 5 years and always stayed onsite (except once at HIFS)? Maybe someone else has other ideas how to get it.

 

[mbstew]

We just returned and had the same deal. We opted not to sit through the presentation and did get our $100. When we checked in at the Village, they put us up at the Resort. We were in Cascades and had a great time! Can't beat the price!!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

THanks MBstew. There are many of us who have done this and it is not a matter of luck. The invitation is sent out to people who join Starwood Points or whatever it is called.

Spicey Cat I am not starting an augument but unless you have done it, then I do not see how you can tell Praise2HIm what is what. Obviously others have gotten the same deal. It is merely a simple matter of calling Starwood and having them confirm (which is what we did) that no presentation is necessary.

 

[jessiesue]

I received the same invitation. I read it over twice(even the fine print) and it does not state anywhere that you have to sit through a timeshare presentation. It doesn't seem like they can make you if it is not stated. I am probably going to use it and I will double check when I make the reservations.

 

[pirateparrot]

It may be by the state you live in. In Maryland, it is illegal to solicit for timeshares that require you to sit through a presentation to get a prize. Maybe everyone here is right, but they live in different juristictions that have different laws. Just like DVC cannot solicit in certain states but can sell to people in different states if the come to Florida.

 

[disney 4me2]

I own at Vistana Village and I love it! if you have a chance to go there, you really should! Even their presentations are not bad, they do not put alot of pressure on you to buy from them, at least with us they did not. We bought from them because after researching decided that they were the best . Their properties are all spectacular.They are very reputable and a good company to do business with, when we bought from them we received many perks for buying also!

 

[JeanneBab]

PraiseHim2:
We just got back 2 days ago. We booked 4 nights at Vistana Villages over a year ago. $299 for 2BR, 2BA villa, 4 nights...$100 refund for attending the presentation.

But my neice's husband found he had to be in Tampa on business the week before, so we wanted to extend our stay to 5 nights. After some difficulty making arrangements, they offered the extra night for $180, which were happy to get since we wouldn't have to change hotels in Orlando. In the end, they gave us the extra night free for attending a presentation (in addition to the $100 refund!).

In the end we stayed 5 nights for $199, or $40 a night. The presentation was no problem for us since I stayed with the 2 children while my niece and her husband attended. It was at 7:30 and lasted 1-1/2 hrs...we were at Disney by 9:30.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

I also received this offer last year. The invitation specifically stated that the cost of a one bedroom would be $199 for three nights and there was no requirement to sit through the presentation. We would also receive $100 at check-in. When I called to reserve it, I asked again if we would have to do the time-share presentation and was told no.
On our last day there, I got a call from one of the representatives asking if we would like to go to the presentation for an additional $75. We refused and there was no problem. It was a very good deal except that we did'nt like the resort at all.

 

[rowmac2000]

don't believe it for that price - believe me you will have to attend and listen to their sales pitch - or paid the full price - I think it is $254 a night.

if you don't go to their sales pitch - when you return home you will be billed for the full price.

SpiceyCat, Did you really get billed when you got home? I am worried now because I got my package through Expedia and I got a great deal for the roundtrip airfare and 5 days at the village for only $330 per person. I am worried that now this is sounding too good to be true. I don't mind attending it by my DH will not do it - he's on vacation.....

 

[kaylarachelpooh]

I too just received the special offer to stay at the Sheraton Vistana Villages. My offer (I live in Maine) states that it is for 4 nights/5 days for $189.00. I can reserve the package now and pay $80 without booking any dates for 1 year. When I book the date, I pay the remaining $89.00. It also states that a we will receive a "gift" of $100.00. The invitation does NOT say anything whatsoever (I've read it like 4 times) about attending a timeshare presentation. My only concerns are the words "not included in this offer" are transportation, meals, tickets, taxes, tips, telephone charges, housekeeping, resort fees or other items of a personal nature". I would expect that the transportation, etc. wouldn't be included, however, how much are "resort fees, taxes, and housekeeping"? I've seen deals before that say tax isn't included and then they charge you an outrageous amount for "taxes and fees".

I have always been of the mindset of "if its too good to be true, there is something shady about it". Has anyone stayed recently enough to tell me what the taxes, housekeeping, and resort fees are?

Thanks!