Westgate -- Gatlinburg

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm posting this mainly because I couldn't find any information on it before I went. I traded a Westgate studio in Orlando for a one bedroom in Gatlinburg. This was through II but it is interesting that sometimes WG will figure out what was traded for the room and give you something similar without out and out making it the same. Probably only Westgate owners get "victimized" this way. Other resorts I've gotten disproportianate (good) exchanges. Anyway it was a nice little one bedroom but a bit dark with apartment sized appliances. Orlando Westgates have full sized appliances. My guess is that this one had the 3/4 machines because it was an attic unit. Odds are downstairs has the regulation stuff.

Anyway I would hold off on trading into this resort until such time as they've actually completed the year round play pool area. This looks like it'll be pretty good but for now the pools are inadequate for the resort and not warm enough. An additional plus is that there is a tram stop so you could walk down and get a ride. I think these either go into Gatlinburg for free or into Pigeon Forge for 75 cents. The difference because they are separate systems. I didn't try riding the tram so I can't say how convenient this is...it certainly looked convenient. I also didn't do anything of interest other than ride around (was scouting the area for a possible family trip). And there is a really nice ice cream store/realty /fudge shop with in walking distance of the little marketplace store. This is actually off property but all the architecture blends so it took me a bit before I realized it wasn't part of Westgate.

Let me add that what I mean by hold off on trading I mean I wouldn't be too happy if I traded DVC for it. Once the lazy river is in place it might be okay but you will most likely be driving to your destinations...and paying to park if its in Gatlinburg. One hint...if you cross the parkway you can park in the Welcome Center for free and catch a tram. This weekend it was running until midnight...not bad...lets the driver drink a bit because they'll have time to walk it off. They also looked like they had interesting shows go on and there is a riding stable and hiking trails at the top of the resort.

 

[littlestar]

My mom and dad own at Westgate Smoky Mountains and love the resort. The 1 bedroom pictures I've seen have full size appliances, jacuzzi tub, and a fireplace - very nice. The studios have apartment size appliances from what my mom told me. Here's the official website with the floor plans:

http://www.wgsmokymountains.com/room_details.html#2

So I take it they are coming along on the lazy river/new pool area?

 

[Dean]

This emphasizes one of the many risks with exchanging. There are many definitions of a 1 BR and II does not differentiate between them. Just another reason to research the resort ahead of time. TUG has quite a bit of info on this resort in the reviews listed.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Well looking at the pictures and the layout I'm pretty sure I was in one bedroom and not a studio. Doesn't look like studios have stoves however my unit was an L-shape in the attic not like the layout in their website. I did notice that there were a variety of cabin configurations. The new construction looks like consistency may be king in that section but the area I was in (not particularly old, btw, just older) the cabins seemed to have all sorts of architectural variations.

And yes the building with the lazy river is coming along. It's huge! I'll definitely go back just to see how it came out in the end.

And fwiw if I thought they'd put me in a studio I'd definitely complain to Interval because that isn't what I traded for. I did go back to see the exact trade and it was a one bedroom that sleeps six...what they gave me was a one bedroom that sleeps 4. Fair enough but annoying given that CFI is the parent company of my other timeshare.

PS. I read some other postings and it looks like the Gatlinburg tram is 50 cents. If you have enough people in the car that would probably make it worthwhile to park at Ripley's Aquarium...1.75 for the first 2hours, 1.00 an hour thereafter. There are also places where its $5 all day but that would only make sense if you are there for more than four hours. Or in my case I didn't feel like waiting for the tram and $2.75 was more than satisfactory for parking (grew up in New York metro...that's basically 90% off.)

 

[littlestar]

Thanks for the info on the one bedrooms on trades. I didn't realize they had one bedrooms with different configurations, sleeps 4 or 6. Mom and dad are owners so maybe that's why they always get the bigger one bedrooms.

Good to know they are making progress on the lazy river/water park feature.

 

[Dean]

Well looking at the pictures and the layout I'm pretty sure I was in one bedroom and not a studio. Doesn't look like studios have stoves however my unit was an L-shape in the attic not like the layout in their website. I did notice that there were a variety of cabin configurations. The new construction looks like consistency may be king in that section but the area I was in (not particularly old, btw, just older) the cabins seemed to have all sorts of architectural variations.

And yes the building with the lazy river is coming along. It's huge! I'll definitely go back just to see how it came out in the end.

And fwiw if I thought they'd put me in a studio I'd definitely complain to Interval because that isn't what I traded for. I did go back to see the exact trade and it was a one bedroom that sleeps six...what they gave me was a one bedroom that sleeps 4. Fair enough but annoying given that CFI is the parent company of my other timeshare.

PS. I read some other postings and it looks like the Gatlinburg tram is 50 cents. If you have enough people in the car that would probably make it worthwhile to park at Ripley's Aquarium...1.75 for the first 2hours, 1.00 an hour thereafter. There are also places where its $5 all day but that would only make sense if you are there for more than four hours. Or in my case I didn't feel like waiting for the tram and $2.75 was more than satisfactory for parking (grew up in New York metro...that's basically 90% off.)

It looks like they have standard and deluxe 1 BR units. Someone else in the TUG reviews mentioned having mini appliances in a 1 BR though it sounded like a lockoff that was embellished into a 1 BR. Something that has seemingly become more common with lockoff's lately where you get two 1 BR units technically but one is much better than the other. Something II does not get involved with and the resort can put you in any unit that meets the criteria for a 1 BR. Sometimes you can tell by the exchange info and sometimes you can't. Personally I'd assume I was going to get the lessor unit then decide whether to even list that particular resort for an exchange accordingly.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I agree.

Now that I think about it I probably should put in a comment/question to Westgate just to see what they say.