Sheraton Vistiana Villages, timeshare presentation... NEVER AGAIN!!!! Long

[roliepolieoliefan]

Just returned and spent 4 of our nights at the Caribe Royale as part of a Timeshare presentation deal through the Vistiana Villages. In 2 words, never again! The Caribe Royale room was not very nice to put it mildly. We had bugs in our room and a moldy shower curtain. I asked to be moved and was given a song about the resort being full. I was adament, so she said I'll call you back. 10 min. later the phone rings, its the operator saying engineering is at our door but a Do Not Disturb sign was on. I asked what are they there for? She said to spray your room. I told her, we had a baby, there is no way to ventilate that room and there is no way they are spraying while we were there. I want a new room. Oh, she said, thats the 1st I heard you wanted a new room. I informed her, I called the front desk, told her about the bugs, and even actually told the front desk person, I didn't want the room sprayed, I wanted a new room. 30 min later, they found a new room. The timeshare presentation was pushy and long. Ask the presentor 1 question and she told her life history..don't care! I was upset that we were put up at the Caribe and was trying to be sold the Villages. I asked why? My answer well our accomodations are for owners. I told them that was incorrect because I know many people from a message board who stay there all the time, and aren't owners. No answer to that. We were then offered a week stay and a rental car for 1395.00 at the Villages. We were considering it until we checked out at the Caribe, I was told I had to pay taxes on my room rate. I said what room rate , I had a package. No, I had to pay taxes not on the package price but the rack room rate at that time. I even talked to the manager of marketing at the Villages, sho told me it was stated in my letter. I said, yes, taxes but not on a room rate that I can be charged anything they desire. He was no help and very rude. I told him, I was going to report to the BBB and he said, Go ahead. It was only 48.00 in taxes but its the principle. Never again. I wouldn't ever go through that again!

 

[poohbear2]

WOW..With all the competition with timeshares in the Orlando area, you'd think they would be a little more accomodating. Sorry about your miserable experience.

 

[CarolA]

I won't take the timeshare tours from anyone but Disney and Marriott. Having done them both I know they are fairly low key. I have considered a few Marriott "Free" stay offers, but so far the time/payoff has not really been worth it for me. (I own DVC)

 

[Cass]

Hi there. why did you even go in the first place? It sounds just horrible to waste time with people trying to make money off you

 

[Disney 4me]

What a terrible e xperience that must have been! Now I am worried. : Last April while in Myrtle Beach we looked at A Timeshare, and ended up buying a package for 1500 dollars for Vistanna Villages. We are using our week this April. Is there a chance that we will not even be at The Vistanna Villages? We could have stayed at Vistanna esort, but we decided on the Villages, a 2 bedroom lock-off. They made it sound like a good deal, paying "only" 1500 for the week, but since I have been reading these boards I am realizing it was not such a bargain. As long as we are there and not someplace run down and dirty, I will be happy. Did you think that you were going to stay at Vistanna Village right up until the time you got there? Thanks for any help! :

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm sorry you were put through that Rolieoliepoliefan.....but I agree Vistana can be a hard sell. We're even owners there and we agreed to go to an "owner's presentation" to "learn about new things that have developed with the resort" for $50. They kept us there for 2 hours----we attempted several times to get out and collect but they found devious ways of making us wait. I said "never again" to my dh. The experience made us so angry that later that year we purchased with DVC. What a breath of fresh air that presentation was. Also sorry about your Caribe experience and how Vistana responded to it. So wrong.

 

[Lorix2]

Rolie - that's horrible, I can only imagine how angered you must have been (still are). I had heard over the past 2 years that the Caribe was going downhill fast.

Now the Vistana Villages on the other hand, when we stayed in 2002, was immaculate clean inside and the landscaping lush and well maintained.

I think they purposely put guests who are there for timeshare presentations, in a less desired place to make the place they are selling look that much better to the prospective buyer.

So sorry for you're experience there. Keep reading the boards for reviews and such, you'll have a much better vacation next time, I hope.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thanks guys for all your kind comments. We did the timeshare presentation because we never stayed off site before. I got an offer from the Sheraton and Marriott, combined them both and thought we would be able to stay 8 nights for 429.00. But the Sheraton deal ended up to be horrible. Like I said before, between the Caribe, the taxes and the presentation, never again. The Marriott was a class act. Put us up at the Grand Vista in a 1 bedroom. No pressure. DISNEY 4 ME: I'm sure you will be at the place you booked. We knew we would be at the Caribe, but from pics it looked like a nice place. Don't worry, and have fun!

 

[jdm]

Just wanted to comment on that beautiful picture!!

Jenn

 

[cherylcheryl]

I love the picture too!! When I saw it, it made me smile.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Wow that's so awful to have gone through that....go do the DVC instead if you want a timeshare and enjoy the classy presentation and magical feeling!

 

[spiceycat]

I am so sorry!!!

timeshares presentation can be very hard....

sorry your was.

the Marriott and DVC are both fairly mild.

if you don't want it to began - I don't know why the salespeople think they can talk you into it.

I got taken by Westgate - never again.

I generally make a point to tell the salespeople that I buy resale only.

some may not like to admit it - but resales are big bargin with timeshares.

So sorry!!!

I hope this does not put you off staying at timeshares. Most are excellent - so sorry yours was not.

with all the vacancy that Sheraton Vistana is having - you would think they would place you in the Village or the Resort - not a place they knew was bad.

I love your pictures!!!

the Celebration World Resort will allow pets in the villa - $50 per pet for the week - but in my case well worth it.

 

[zalansky]

We had a smiliar experience back in November. We stayed 3 nights in a 1 bedroom. We did get to stay at the Villages though. Our 1st room was next door to a room full of college party animals and that just won't do on my vacation with our 2 year old. They moved us to another room, which was filled with cigarette smoke. Nope. We moved again and finally got a good room. Mind you, they would not grant us early check in at 2pm because they were "sold out". Doubtful, since we were able to be moved 3 times with no problem.
Then, the presentation. An experience of high pressure selling that we vowed we would NEVER do again. What was supposed to last 90 minutes lasted 2.5 hours....and they convinced us to come back the next day to give our "final answer." We still said no, then they offered us that $1400 package that would lock in our timeshare price if we changed our minds. I told them NO WAY. For $1400 I can stay onsite at Disney for a week, which I'd much rather do even if its in a hotel room and not a condo!!! They didn't like that too much.
I will never do this ever again, not for free tickets, not for discounted rates, nothing.

 

[Badger Brent]

First time we did a timeshare was with Marriot 4 years ago. It was a bad experience. Rep got angry with us on the departure in the elevator. She told me if we could offord to come to wdw every year, we could afford their timeshare. Her tone was nasty and I complained to no avail.

Second time was Westgate villas. Nice place, bad experience with the room and never did do presentation. They new we were not happy campers.

I would like to try DVC sometime. I'm a little gunshy about timeshare for now.

I know how you feel Rolliepollieollie......