Free Universal Tickets from Ramada Timeshare?

[ksoehrlein]

I received an e-mail offer regarding 2 free 2-day 1-park Universal tickets from Ramada Plaza Resorts, so I went to their web site and gave my info. They called to sell me a package that included Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Vegas, and a cruise. I told them no; I already own DVC, all my vacation time is already planned for the next 5 years, I just want my free tickets. The guy told me to follow the directions on the web site to get those tickets and hung up. Well, I had crashed before I could print out that page, so I guessed I was SOL.

Luckily (?) Ramada is either so high-pressure that they call everyone twice or my first call and subsequent refusal never got entered into the computer, so I received another call a few weeks later. After talking to the second guy for 1/2 hour and then to his "manager" for another 5 minutes, he told me the info to get my free Universal tickets would be in the mail but that I could go to the Will Call window at Universal if I never received the letter. That last part sounded a little fishy. I could just picture myself standing at the front gate with absolutely no proof that I had tickets there just "waiting" for me. But about 5 weeks later, I did receive an e-mail with directions to go to the Amerihost Resort to pick them up.

Googling this Ramada operation leads me to the conclusion that they are a bunch of scam artists. But maybe they'll make good on this offer to avoid more accusations of fraud. Have any of you had experience with them just "giving" you the tickets without sitting through the timeshare presentation? I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but the cynic in me is VERY doubtful.

I will report back when I return from WDW in March. It's a great deal IF it works!

(Apologies for posting this a second time, but it got lost at the end of another thread and I'm dying to know if anyone has had this experience!)

 

[powellrj]

we had recieved the letter from this company the same year we got one from marriott to do their timeshare tour. Money was very tight that year so we decided to go for it. I did a lot of research on these two companies online and found no complaints about Marriott, but pages and pages on the Ramada deal. Sub par hotels, much more than the orginal costs and very high pressure. I wish I could tell you were I found all this information, but it was several years ago. I do know that there were several websites devoted to what a scam this place was. We took the Marriott deal which was great, low price rooms, free tickets and very low pressure. Good luck...

 

[Mic]

A friend of my sister's fell for the Ramada scam last year. They arrived at the hotel to find they had been "moved" to another location that did not have a kitchenette, even though she had food that needed refrigeration. The tickets to Universal ended up costing a lot more than she was told, and there were other problems. I offered to help her book the trip, but she said what she had through Ramada was a "package" deal, which is typically all-inclusive, so I didn't bother. To make a long story short, they came back home a few days early, and said they would never go back to Orlando! I hate that for her kids.

 

[mad4themouse]

Here's a link to The Ripoff Report regarding Ramada Plaza Resorts and their deceptive practices. It's unbelievable that they are still operating and under the same name! Those people should be in jail!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't know about the timeshares -- but wanted to throw in this info.
DH bought Premium AP's to US yesterday, using the AAA rate. We are now FL residents. I don't know if this came into play on the cost.
Two adults PAP's to US, total cost $255, w/tax.
In comparison to Disney prices, that's pretty darn good! (We also have WDW PAP's, that we paid around $750 for as FL residents.)
I am looking forward to checking US out.

 

[Mari annie]

-

Hi

The last few years we have stayed on property, but this year we were looking into timeshare presentations to get some reduced prices on hotels/tix, etc...
Well, so much time has been spent calling the BBB in Orlando
and FL Tourism Board, to get more info on the places we wanted to do.. Alot of these companies are an umbrella and are listed a few ways....too much to think about!
We don't want the hassels!
TOO much time!;-(

So many people have had bad experiences touring these properties, my DH finally said, forget all this and we are staying on property!
After driving from MA-MCO for our family vacation, we have decided the if's are too much to think about while trying to enjoy a family vacation!

We are staying in PO and leaving in 2 days!
I hope all of you brave people out there who do--
do the timeshares get all they promise and may all your vacations be fun and exciting!!

FL HERE WE COME!!!
and those dove mickey pops!!!
YUMMY!

 

[ksoehrlein]

I DID manage to get 2 free Adult 2-day Universal tickets for absolutely nothing (other than the time spent on the phone with the pushy sales agents)! I'm still in shock about it! It was an entertaining experience. I am normally the type to get pushed around and have to take "no" for an answer, but not this time.

I went to the Orlando Welcome Center at the Amerihost Resort, figuring that it would be pointless but since I had an afternoon to kill (my non-park day), it was worth a shot. When I got to the desk with my two squirmy kids in tow, the woman asked for my photo ID, made a photocopy of it, and then asked "Which presentation time will work for you?" Deep down inside, the cynical part of me screamed, "I knew it!" but I stood my guns. I explained that the person I spoke with on the phone told me no timeshare presentation or tour was required. She said something to the effect that there were no tickets for nothing; I would have to view the presentation.

At that point, I told her my history: I thought it was too good to be true when I got the e-mail offer; I didn't believe the guy on the phone who told me the tickets would be at Universal's Will-Call window; I didn't believe the second guy who told me the tickets would come to me in the mail; and I had been suspicious about the final e-mail telling me to pick up my tickets there at the Amerihost. I went on to explain that my Internet research led me to believe that this Ramada timeshare deal was nothing but a scam.

Well I guess that was the magic word ("scam"). The woman mumbled something about needing to speak with a manager. After waiting a few minutes, a man wordlessly slid 2 tickets over the counter. I still had my doubts and even asked the ticket agent at Universal (when purchasing my daughter's ticket) if the passes I had were "real." They were real, they did work, and my best friend and I actually did get into Universal for free!

So the moral is, the free-ticket offer is bona fide, but you have to jump through hoops and stick to your guns to get it without getting roped into the timeshare presentation. I was entertained by the whole experience and felt the hassle was definitely worth it to save the cost of those tickets, but YMMV. The rush I felt walking away from that counter with $150 worth of Universal tickets was one of the high points of my vacation!

 

[Xendancer]

Ugh, this thread is so depressing. We are scheduled for a trip through Ramada Plaza Resorts in August. I called, and of course they say it's non-refundable. I can't find my credit card statement for their initial charge that I paid, plus since it was 8 months ago, I am pretty sure I am SOL disputing the charge anyway.

After reading the links, it looks like the best thing I can do is just go on the vacation, and file a complaint if it is as bad as some reports say.

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi Xendancer,

I have some friends who have just returned from Orlando on this Ramada package...not sure that it's the exact same one you're going on (and I don't know too many details of their package), but I do know they ended up in Ft. Lauderdale for about 3 days of their week in FL and they would rather have stayed in Orlando! Had they asked me before booking, I would have warned them about the Ramada deal based on what I've read here...but guess what?? They had a great trip and can't wait to go back! I understand that they bought into the timeshare program, but they were told it includes international locations and they are from the Phillipines and can use it there as well so they feel it's a good deal for them.

I hope you have a wonderful trip and don't worry too much about it beforehand. Good Luck!!

 

[Xendancer]

Thanks, Local Girl! It sounds like the same trip we are on, we will also be going to Fort Lauderdale. It works great for us because I've extended the vacation to include Key West and South Beach, so at least I know part of the vacation will be great.

We go to Orlando all the time because my parents have a house there. So I'm not even planning on going to WDW this time, although that might change!