Marriott Lakeshore Reserve vs. Westgate Town Center

[dwheaton]

Hi. We're traveling to WDW in late January/early February. My wife's parents are letting us do an exchange of their timeshare week. Their home resort is the Westgate Town Center. We stayed there in 2008 and the room was nice, but the employees were rude and pushy, especially during the long check-in.

I'm hoping to exchange for another Orlando resort instead, but our options seem really limited for our time period. One possible alternative is the Marriott Lakeshore Reserve, which looks really nice. However, I believe it's a lot further away than the Town Center, which is on 192 and only five minutes from WDW.

Can anyone compare these resorts? Is it worth staying further away for the better service and attractive resort? My wife and I will be taking our toddler, so it would be nice to be fairly close. But I'm not thrilled to deal with the Westgate people again.

Thanks!

 

[LaurenT]

We own at westgate and I agree about the staff, but I'm not there to socialize with them. I make it clear that I don't wMt the "free" breakfast and that our time is limited. I let them give me their number, and then I din't bother with them again. The rooms really are very comfortable, and the distance to wdw is a huge plus. Once you're checked in you don't have to deal with the staff at all, so I'd just stay put (I must add that we also own at kidani, akl and LOVE the staff there! We just don't have enough points to stay every trip)

 

[Danibelle]

According to the Interval Directory, some members may be restricted into exchanging into resorts located within the same geographical area as the home resort accomodations that are being deposited or relinquished. Kissimmee/Orlando is one of the restricted areas. You may want to check with Interval whether you can exchange at all in the Orlando area or have to stay with a Westgate resort. There are quite a few areas that have this restriction.

 

[spiceycat]

go with the marriott.

westgate does not understand 'NO'


marrriott won't even ask.

 

[Detailor]

Lakeshore Reserve is the newest (opened June 2010) of the Orlando Marriott timeshare resorts, is a bit upscale compared with other Orlando Marriotts and is located roughly 12 to 16 miles from the various Disney theme parks. Westgate Town Center is closer (3 to 8 miles depending on which park you go to).

So, for me, the trade off would be distance (Westgate) versus resort quality (Lakeshore Reserve) and lower sales staff hassle factor (Lakeshore). I'd pick Lakeshore Reserve as I'm partial to Marriott and don't mind driving the extra 10 minutes.

Dick Taylor

 

[dwheaton]

Thanks for the information. Personally, I wouldn't mind the 10-mile difference between the resorts. The tricky part is that we'll be traveling with a toddler and will be taking breaks to have naps. Without the gap in distances, the Marriott would be a no-brainer choice, but it's trickier due to the more frequent journeys.

Also, Interval does block certain resorts, including most of the other Marriotts, since my wife's parents own in Orlando. This also used to affect the DVC resorts when those were connected to Interval. This also means there are fewer options near the parks besides all the Westgate locations. They do have the Cypress Point Grande villas available, but in limited supply.

 

[alleghator]

We've stayed twice at Westgate and had no problem. They'll try to get you to confirm for the sales breakfast (or owners barbecue). Simply tell them that you haven't settled on your schedule for the week yet and that you don't want to take time out of the parks. They will likely leave you phone messages which you don't have to return. If they want you to "simply sign some paperwork," ask them to drop it off at the room and you'll return it when you get back from the park for the day. They'll drop it. No one will force you to go to a meeting.

The rooms are verrrry comfortable and the location cannot be beat. If I had a potentially cranky nap-needing toddler, I wouldn't want to waste any minutes getting that child down to bed.