?? for anyone who has stayed at Westgate Vacation Villas

[live4christp1]

Okay, I know some of you from reading other posts here aren't real found of Westgate.....this is our first stay with them. Please don't scare me any more than I already am.

We rented a 3 bedroom unit from an owner who couldn't use his week this year for $500 for the week....so I think we got an excellent deal and hope since he made the reservation for us that we won't have to do the sales pitch thing.

We leave in 9 days and I just need to know what else I need to pack. What is already in the room, etc. Do I need to bring dish detergent for the dishwasher? hairdryer? iron? etc. Anyone who has been there, I would appreciate a run down of what items are in the villa and what I might need to bring.

TIA have a Disney day!

 

[spiceycat]

it will have a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board.

I always bring - detergent (tablets) for the clothes washer, and fabric softenor, PAM (or something similiar) to cook with.

the resort provides a wash/dryer in the room, plus pans, washing machine, and just about everything else you could want.

Westgate will try immediately they say you have to wait for someone to take you to your room - then you use to get a cheap bottle of wine - now I heard it is something else. refuse this if you can! then just don't answer the phone - I kept a cell phone for family emergencies and that is what I give to people.

a 3-bedroom is very,very nice and you got it for a good price! the maintence fees here is $630(including tax) - so you did excellent!

 

[gallaj0]

I stayed there last August, and really liked it. There were "starter" supplies of dish detergent, etc. only good for one load.

And I really don't see the anxiety some people get about the fact that it is a timeshare resort. You rented a week from an owner, they have to treat you as an owner. They can't force you into a meeting, you don't have to listen to any spiel if you don't want to, adn if you do, you can get up and leave any time you want.

There is really no need to avoid the people working there, or not answer the phone, or commando you way to or from you rooms in the places.

 

[DianeV]

I wasnt aware that there are 3BR units in the Villas..I thought the largest unit was the lofts? I thought that the bigger units are in the Town Center?

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Mebbe its a 2 bedroom loft end unit.

Basically you need the same stuff you would need with DVC... I found that tablets were the best way to go for both the washing machine and the dishwasher. They provide enough dish soap. Pots & pans wise they provide some but they aren't of the best quality. Given I would drive the next time I'd stay there I'd bring a frying pan.

Bring coffee filters...the basket kind not the cone kind and coffee...or bring tea if you are tea drinker. Extra sugar & spices (salt pepper etc).

I'd bring beach towels too although I'm sure you can find them cheap enough locally...I can't remember what the towel rule is because it has varied over the 10 years I've owned.

Since you are going as a guest of the owner they can't really make you do anything. Assuming you are married just send one person to the maintenance meeting...no matter what they say they can't make both of you go. Enjoy the owner continental breakfasts...if you know the person from whom you are renting well make sure you borrow his owner card...again that's been variable...sometimes they use a list, sometimes they want to see the card. These breakfasts are a little sugary for my taste.

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks for the answers to my questions.

Doubletroube vb, can you answer this question, since it is an end loft unit, are these all ground level? Just wondering how many floors we will have to lug bags. Also, is there any particular area we should ask if is available at check in. Looking at the layout, and having small kids, I would think being close to the activities center and pools would be good.....but don't want to get stuck in a run down unit. Are they all fairly nice? Most timeshares we have toured are beautiful and by far nicer than your average motel room.

 

[spiceycat]

I think most of Westgate Villa only has 2 stories.

now town center is different.

 

[gallaj0]

We stayed in a "double letter" villa; they are newer than the single letters, but ours was a 2 bedroom, single story. There was a pool right behind us, adn we were out of the way of the main traffic areas.