tell me about Westgate Resort please !

[Jenleephoto]

Tell me about the Westgate resort ! Thinking of going with my family and meeting another friend and her family down there for vacation in February! Have you stayed ? If so, what did you like /dislike? Anything to keep in mind when booking? (Fyi : We are a military family that would love a kitchen and can't find anything on site for as good of a price /quality)

Thank you!!

 

[spiceycat]

the villa are nice - the sale pitch is probably one of the worst. So if you can avoid the sales people - Westgate should be fine.

 

[Jenleephoto]

the villa are nice - the sale pitch is probably one of the worst. So if you can avoid the sales people - Westgate should be fine.

So You have to go through a sales pitch to stay there? Ahh I didn't realize it is a timeshare

 

[spiceycat]

yea it is a timeshare - but YOU DO NOT have to attend the timeshare - they can only ask (and ask and ask) - you can definitely say NO

you only have to go if the rate you were quoted has attending a timeshare - and you should have been told that when you signed up.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Which Westgate property are you considering? There are several in the Orlando area. We stayed at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa in August 2012.

It is indeed a timeshare. And the sales staff can be relentless in their efforts to get you to take a "resort preview". When you don't buy (after 4 hours of harassing by multiple levels of sales staff....even though they claim its a "90 minute" commitment), then they leave you stranded a mile from where you parked your car.

The resort itself was dated but otherwise fine. Good villa and property amenities (multiple pools, mini golf, paddle boats, etc.). Pretty much everything but use of the pools came at an additional charge. Back in 2012, internet was an additional fee and not included with your villa rental. I don't know if that is still the case.

There are much nicer timeshare properties in Orlando that would give you the kitchen you are seeking. Check out the Sheraton properties (Vistana Resort & Vistana Villages), the Hilton Grand Vacation resorts (one on I-Drive and the other near SeaWorld), the Marriott timeshares (Grande Vista, Harbor Lake, Cypress Harbor, Imperial Palms, etc.), Floridays, Grand Beach Resort, Blue Heron Beach Resort, and more.

Some hotels, like the Residence Inn, will also have kitchens or kitchenettes in certain room configurations.

 

[NinaBella]

My husband, daughter, a female friend and her daughter's have stayed there several times for cheer competitions. So my husband and female friend always got a large unit and stayed with the cheerleaders, sometimes with other adults too. I think they once did have 16 people in a unit. I was in Korea (military) at the time so I didn't stay there. It's easy to say no to the time share. Just say you are not married! LOL. Florida law they have to have husband and wife both present.

In Daytona, I went with another female friend and our 3 girls for a cheer competition. After my friend learned from another cheer family the freebies from the presentation she wanted to do it. So we inquired and they REFUSED to allow us to attend the presentation since we were just two women who were not married. My friend even tried to tell them we were! LOL. They still refused.

So, you can flat out say no, or just say you are not married, that mom/dad couldn't make it so the person with you is your brother/sister. They will leave you alone then.

 

[Jenleephoto]

My husband, daughter, a female friend and her daughter's have stayed there several times for cheer competitions. So my husband and female friend always got a large unit and stayed with the cheerleaders, sometimes with other adults too. I think they once did have 16 people in a unit. I was in Korea (military) at the time so I didn't stay there. It's easy to say no to the time share. Just say you are not married! LOL. Florida law they have to have husband and wife both present.

In Daytona, I went with another female friend and our 3 girls for a cheer competition. After my friend learned from another cheer family the freebies from the presentation she wanted to do it. So we inquired and they REFUSED to allow us to attend the presentation since we were just two women who were not married. My friend even tried to tell them we were! LOL. They still refused.

So, you can flat out say no, or just say you are not married, that mom/dad couldn't make it so the person with you is your brother/sister. They will leave you alone then.

LOL that is hilarious! And good to know thanks!!

 

[floydfamily4]

Isn't there also a minimum income requirement?

 

[spiceycat]

. I was in Korea (military) at the time so I didn't stay there. It's easy to say no to the time share. Just say you are not married! LOL. Florida law they have to have husband and wife both present.

So we inquired and they REFUSED to allow us to attend the presentation since we were just two women who were not married. My friend even tried to tell them we were! LOL. They still refused.

So, you can flat out say no, or just say you are not married, that mom/dad couldn't make it so the person with you is your brother/sister. They will leave you alone then.

Sorry I am single woman and Westgate had no problem selling to me - Now single males they had a with problem - with single women they have always sold too. Have also been to sales pitches at Marriott (they use to give you really nice stuff), Hilton, Wyndham - which was so bad had never done it again. the Marriott and Hilton were almost nice.

to get rid of Westgate had to give it away to a charity - also own at DVC - which I would never give away. Westgate is horrible. and being single will not kept them away from you.

Now if you make less than $50,000 - they really don't want you - since I am retired and definitely make less than $50,000 they now leave me alone.

 

[NinaBella]

Sorry I am single woman and Westgate had no problem selling to me - Now single males they had a with problem - with single women they have always sold too. Have also been to sales pitches at Marriott (they use to give you really nice stuff), Hilton, Wyndham - which was so bad had never done it again. the Marriott and Hilton were almost nice.

to get rid of Westgate had to give it away to a charity - also own at DVC - which I would never give away. Westgate is horrible. and being single will not kept them away from you.

Now if you make less than $50,000 - they really don't want you - since I am retired and definitely make less than $50,000 they now leave me alone.

Of course they can sell to single people! To clarify, if you are married then BOTH must be present to sell to you. That was my point, sorry it wasn't clear. "Not married to the other person staying in the same room/unit with you."

My husband and the other lady = both married but not to each other.
Me and my friend = both married but not to each other.


This is also why BOTH have to attend. One person of the married couple can't go to the park with the kids or stay in the room with the kids while the other attends. It is mandatory that both be present for the presentation. I have heard 1) it's a law in some states for both to be present to sign for the sale of a timeshare and 2) it makes the sales pitch faster/harder so you can't say you need to speak to your spouse. I have googled a few items, and see benefits for both being present.

I did find this on a presentation website:
Marital Status: Only married couples and cohabiting couples attending a sales presentation at a Bluegreen resort location (and who provide proof of co-habitation through government issued identifications showing an identical home address) may combine their income, and, if married or cohabiting, the couple is required to visit and tour together, except where prohibited by law.


On the flip side, if you want the discounted room rate and do not attend they do not have to honor the discount. We never had that problem because we booked under either the military rate or Florida resident rate, not a discount presentation rate.

 

[NinaBella]

Westgate Lakes Terms & Conditions: http://www.timeshareorlando.com/resorts/westgate-lakes-resort.html

QUALIFICATIONS

• Attendance to a 90 minute sales presentation at a Westgate Resorts' sales center is required.
• This reservation does not include attraction tickets.
• A valid, active MAJOR CREDIT CARD will be requiered to check in at this resort. NO pre-paid cards are accepted
• THESE PACKAGES ARE PREPAID AND YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL BE CHARGED IN FULL WITHIN 24 HOURS OF MAKING THE RESERVATION REQUEST.
• Both husband and wife must be between 28 and 68 years of age (Head of household must be 28 +, other can be 25 +).
• Married, or a cohabiting couples must have a combined Gross Annual Income of at least $60,000. Combined Annual Gross Income is defined as the combined annual earned income on W-2 forms. Income does not include Child Support or Alimony or Social Security, Commissions or Investments.
• Must be gainfully employed. If both in the couple are normally employed and one is out of work, it will be considered not qualified.
• Single Women between the ages of 30 and 68 years of age with a Gross Annual Income of at least $60,000. No Florida or Georgia singles to a Florida property.
• If married, engaged or co-habiting, both persons must attend the sales presentation together.
• Have not participated in a Westgate Resorts's sales presentation within the past 12 months or twice in a lifetime.
• Bring, as proof of ID, one picture ID verifying residence at the same address, and one major credit card (American Express/MasterCard/Visa/Discover).
• Debit or pre-paid cards are not accepted.
• Both parties attending the sales presentation must understand, read and speak fluent English, Spanish or Portuguese without the benefit of an interpreter.
• If you and your spouse or cohabiting partner (if applicable) are eligible for the incentive, then both of you must attend and complete the entire presentation on vacation ownership.
• Our presentation is designed to last for approximately 90 to 120 minutes; however, under certain circumstances it could last longer.
• This vacation package is non-refundable.
• Failure to meet these requirements or complete our presentation will result in your credit card being charged $350.00 and the retail amount of any other incentive(s) you may have received.
• United States residents are qualified to tour except residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Washington, and Puerto Rico. In the State of Florida, residents of Dade, Duval, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties OR within a 60 mile radius of Orlando, are not eligible for the promotion.
• Westgate Resorts's owners are not eligible for the promotion.
• No groups and no more than one family. Two or more families or friends travelling together with the same promotion each, are not eligible.

 

[spiceycat]

Single Women between the ages of 30 and 68 years of age with a Gross Annual Income of at least $60,000. No Florida or Georgia singles to a Florida property.

thank you NinaBella - did not know that one - so now that I will be a Florida resident - can no longer attend the sales pitch = plus of course no longer make enough money

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

We love westgate. My dad owns and now DH and I stay there a lot. We prefer town center. Just be wary of the "special packages" they are timeshare selling events and they are LONG and ruthless. Book at normal rates (they have military pricing!) And they will not bother you and you can enjoy the wonderful resort.

 

[lisajl]

We will be staying here in May, thanks to my brother in law. He is an owner of this timeshare. We will not be attending any timeshare presentation. He just told us to take the phone off the hook and keep moving!

 

[ustasmom]

I just stayed at Summer Bay and Bonnet Creek. It was me and three kids. At check in they asked if I was married, which I said yes. They asked if my husband was meeting us, which I said no. Nobody ever said a word about attending a timeshare presentation.