Timeshare Sharks Inside Universal = Bad

[robvia]

Sorry to post a negative thread, but for my October visit, the wife and I were walking thru USF, and in front of T2 we saw some people talking to park guests. We didn't have time to talk, so we walked past them and kept going. Now I read a post in RRC which I'll quote here.

"The Scenario:
My fiance and I are walking pas Dueling Dragons at IOA shortly after the
park opened and are approached by a gentleman who asks us how we are
doing and where we are from. Don't know if my guard was down because of
how early it was or because I thought they were a typical Universal
employee, but I talked to the person for the second.

After a few lines, I discovered that the persons motivation was to sell
me some timeshare property. I politely said that I was not interested
and began to walk away. At this point, the reporesentative followed us
and became more aggressive. It took 2 or 3 more "I am not interested"
statements before the person finally left us alone. By this time, I had
probably walked more than a dozen step away from them.

Over the course of our visit inside the 2 neighboring parks, I was
approached two more times by representatives from the same outfit, plus
another employee conducting a survey (which doesn't really bother me). "

-----------------------------

Please stop them. Park guests already get bombarded with ads from the moment the leave their car.
Atrium - There's either a survey or a MasterCard promotion going on.
Front of each park - Picture sharks
And now this? The problem that I have is these people are IN the park. This takes away from being in a fantasy world. If I want a timeshare like DVC, then I'll go find it.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

What makes it worse is that the timeshare company in the parks is Westgate which is notorius for being very high pressure.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I dont like these guys one bit, but in all fairness, disney has their timeshare people up and running as well. They dont come out to get you, but if you are fool enough to get too close you better gnaw your arm off and leave it. Timeshare people are trying to do a job, I understand, but dang....not in my theme parks! The only ones I had a good experience with was Marriott, we stayed at the Horizons as a regular hotel stay and they invited us to come down and take the tour for credit off our room. I was expecting very high pressure after they brought us a HUGE breakfast and everything, but we took the tour got down to a contract that they brought out, we said no, they said ok, thanks for taking the time anyway. Now that makes me want to look at buying one.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

We were also approached at least 6 times(we did each park twice) on our visit a few weeks ago. How annoying. They were like "You can get a free dinner or tickets to the waterpark" Ohhhhh, well now that makes it all worthwhile. I thought it was just going to be a huge waste of my precious vacation time, but now that I now I can get a free dinner....I'll do it. Please, after spending about $8,000 on a vacation...do they really think a free dinner is going to lure me away from it?

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

We were in the the park for 5 days last week. I walked passed dozens of them, and was never once approached. Guess I didn't look wealthy enough.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

We were in the the park for 5 days last week. I walked passed dozens of them, and was never once approached. Guess I didn't look wealthy enough.

It depends, it probably wasn't if you look wealthy enough, but do you look old enough? All timeshares have requirements to go to the presentations, like you have to be at least 26 and married. Only one that I know of takes single males, but the age requirement is a must. So, if you "look" young, you probably won't be approached. It doesn't matter if you look rich. Tour Hooks get paid by the tour so the more they send the better for them.

 

[robsmom]

We were approached but they did seem to take not intested for an answer and didn't follow us. The one guy did give us the "your not interested in free stuff" and we just said "nope" and kept walking.

 

[Foladar]

We must not look good enough for it either, thankfully as they didn't bother us either late October.

 

[phamton]

How do you know it was timeshare people unless you stopped? There are some surveys also that pay you $$ to do taste tests, etc. on food. They pay anywhere from $5-25 Universal bucks for 10-20 minutes of your time.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I know the Westgate sharks have Westgate on their shirts, Phamton.

 

[keishashadow]

Evidently Universal's getting well compensated or they wouldn't invite them in, Westgate is on their web site for promos too.

Wonder why Univ never got their own TS up & running ala DVC on a much smaller scale...think there'd be a lot of takers just for the fotl privledges?

That said, just say no...sharks got to feed too
I'm sure they'd like to think they're performing a service that someone is interested in

 

[AlexandNessa]

How do you know it was timeshare people unless you stopped? There are some surveys also that pay you $$ to do taste tests, etc. on food. They pay anywhere from $5-25 Universal bucks for 10-20 minutes of your time.

Survey people: politely take "no" for an answer. Always pleasant.

Timeshare people: are more sharks than people and have never politely taken "no" for an answer (at least from us).

Seriously, the timeshare sharks are our **only** gripe about the parks. I wish they were not allowed to speak to guests unless approached. For whatever reason, Mike and I are very attractive to these people, and we make a game of trying to dodge them, but we'd much rather be left alone to enjoy our vacation and not listen to a high pressure timeshare spiel. Mike has more than once gotten angry as we've been followed, firmly saying "LEAVE US ALONE!" I think I will make a point of complaining to guest services the next time they bother us. And, if the timeshare people bother others, I hope those bothered will do the same. Perhaps if enough of us complain, they will place some restrictions around them.

 

[phamton]

My question was directed toward Robvia because he said:

the wife and I were walking thru USF, and in front of T2 we saw some people talking to park guests. We didn't have time to talk, so we walked past them and kept going.

He may have seen survey people. At USF, the Westgate people are between Fear Factor and MIB.

 

[Amity 3]

My question was directed toward Robvia because he said:


He may have seen survey people. At USF, the Westgate people are between Fear Factor and MIB.

they used to be outside Monster's Cafe' near Shrek and Donkey, did they boot them from that location?

 

[AlexandNessa]

My question was directed toward Robvia because he said:


He may have seen survey people. At USF, the Westgate people are between Fear Factor and MIB.

I know, I'm sorry, I should stop trying to portray humor in writing. Believe me, we are intimately aware of where the sharks are at both parks. I just wish they were a lot less obtrusive.

 

[phamton]

they used to be outside Monster's Cafe' near Shrek and Donkey, did they boot them from that location?

The only people I have seen by Monster Cafe are the survey people. The survey guys are usually there and by Earthquake. I've only seen Westgate people by Fear Factor.

 

[phamton]

I know, I'm sorry, I should stop trying to portray humor in writing. Believe me, we are intimately aware of where the sharks are at both parks. I just wish they were a lot less obtrusive.

You must look rich. Or maybe just gullible.

 

[Amity 3]

The only people I have seen by Monster Cafe are the survey people. The survey guys are usually there and by Earthquake. I've only seen Westgate people by Fear Factor.

there used to be a podium right by the side entrance to Monster's Cafe', we've learned to avoid it. our stock answer of 'we live here' has never swayed them.

survey guys have been outside of Mel's off and on lately, but I like them.

 

[phamton]

survey guys have been outside of Mel's off and on lately, but I like them.

Yeah, an easy way to buy lunch. My sons and their freinds used to hit the surveys for extra spending money.

I haven't seen the Westgate people near Monster Cafe at least since we've lived here. They have a stand set up by Fear Factor with fruit and fruit juice. They never bother me because I'm usually alone. They also have a couple of places in IoA.

I'm always accosted by the Mastercard people.

 

[ChrisK]

I'm always accosted by the Mastercard people.

They are in training for the time share jobs. I've never been hit by either (Mastercard or timeshare) but I know they are there and I just keep walking. Outside of the parking structure, I don't recall seeing the MC elsewhere. Cheap bags too.