One more time over Westgate Lakes!

[jessaboo]

Let me know the good and the bad that you know about westgate, please!

 

[TotoToo]

Good:

Big units
Fairly well located
Can be inexpensive (rental, trade or special to view for purchase)
Nice decor
Privacy and room

Bad:

Sales pressure (no matter how you get there they will pressure you to buy)
Dark high roses don't fit the area
Sales Pressure
Parking limited near buildings
Sales Pressure

It's a non-descript timeshare run by a developer that only wants to make new sales. It isn't in a great location although it is reasonably close to both Disney World and Universal. You can see everything on International Drive but since I-4 is between you and all that you have to drive to anything you care to do. The grounds are crowded with buildings that are too tall and then theres the sales pressure.

There are a few dozen resorts I'd pick before Westgate Lakes but, if the price is right, it is OK if you can avoid/resist the sales. If you trade or rent just don't attend a sales presentation no matter what they try to say it is - anything you agree to will be a sales thing. If you go on a "preview" package then you must attend so go with plenty of resolve not to buy and know that the weeks can be bought for under $3000 resale while they will pitch $16,000 to $35,000 and somehow make it sound good. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM - EVER!

 

[allie_to_you]

My DH & I were planning on staying at Westgate Lakes in November, however, we have decided to change our dates to February and now we are going with our family and are splitting the cost of a 3 bed, 2 bath condo in Windsor Hills, about 3 miles from Disney. We made our reservations through allstar vacation homes and it was only $139.00 a night (actually about $150/night after taxes, fees, etc.), but still, it was a great bargain since it was divided among 5 people and the place looks beautiful. The home you see pictures of online and choose is the home you get, not one that looks similar or something.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We own at WGL.

Like the poster above me mentioned, the sales pressure is obscene. They will try ANYTHING to get you to attend a meeting. They do it to the owners, too. They'll threaten you, tell you if you don't show up to a "maintenance meeting," anything wrong with your room you will be charged for.

The maintenance meeting is bogus. We fell for it once. Made a HUGE list of everything wrong with our room, cracks in tiles, grout, a stain on a cup or dish, lopsided dishwasher door, EVERYTHING. We took about 30 photos, too.

We showed up to the maintenance meeting (let me remind you, we already own HERE), and they could have cared less about our list of stuff wrong with the room. The saleslady took that paper and immediately went into how we're not referring enough people to WGL and how we need to upgrade.

If you do not show up to the meetings, they will leave very nasty messages on your answering machine. Whatever you do, make sure you unplug the phone as soon as you arrive. If, during the course of your stay, you happen to plug in one of the phones and answer a sales call, expect to have a salesperson shoving their foot in your door within minutes.

The complete "goal" of your stay when staying at WGL needs to be aimed towards avoiding staff at all times. When you check in, they will try to have an escort take you to your room. This person is not there to help you with your bags or show you all the lovely things in your room. That person is in sales and is going to try everything to get you to commit to a high-pressure sales meeting. Ultimately, your goal should be to avoid having this person take you to your room at all. Get a map at check in and stress you know about the "escort," you know where your room is, and you'll call the sales office if you feel like buying here.

I'm assuming with all of this you don't have to take a tour.

Get creative with fending off these sharks.

It's really unfortunately they do this, because the units and location are actually pretty nice. The spa there is nice, too.

This reminds me I need to reserve my week. Funny, I look forward to WDW, USO, SW, all the planning, but I positively dread calling WGL, arriving there, and all the shananigans you have to go through once there just to be able to enjoy a vacation.

 

[Big O]

It's funny because I own a timeshare at Westgate Vacation Villas and I do not find the kind of pressure you speak of prevalent there. Yes, you have to be savvy and make your maintenance meeting for the last day of your stay and be sure to be sightseeing that day as well. But I have never experienced nasty phone messages or threats. I'll remember though to stay away from Westgate Lakes.

Thanks

 

[jessaboo]

We're leaving for WGL today, thanks for the comments and the suggestions guys. It helps my aunt and I out alot.