Westgate Lakes

[AngieWin]

I just did an exchange for Westgate Lakes (after being on the waiting list for several months for DVC - I know I was dreaming). After booking it I found a bunch of mixed reviews, more negative than positive. Did I make a mistake and should I reconsider before my 24 hours is up? We are going in July 07 and I booked a 3 bedroom.

 

[TotoToo]

No reason to cancel if you don't mind a high rise unit and parking that can be problematic. The units themselves are pedestrian but certainly serviceable and way above any hotel/motel. The only real downside is the sales pressure they will try to con you into. Avoid that - unless you signed up for a discounted stay in trade for a tour you do not have to attend any "presentation" - and the rest of the resort is fine. Not the best location or fanciest resort but not bad. It just can't be stressed enough how obnoxious and tenacious the sales people will be with tales of "maintenance meetings, unit reviews, free gifts", etc. It will start when they want to take you to your unit with a "guide" rather than telling you where it is. The pressure to attend a meeting starts then and won't end until you leave. My suggestion is to jump on the first offer - tell them you are booked full until the last day and schedule it for 10AM or later. That way you can check out and be on the road by the time they start looking for you. It will reduce, but not stop, the pressure during the week which you can truthfully answer with "we are scheduled for XX/XX". If you do plan to tempt fate and attend one then don't take the first offer hold put for a bigger payday but be sure to refuse to buy. You can buy all you want for $.10-.50 on the retail dollar. NEVER buy from a sales weasel at any Westgate unless you enjoy being taken. Also unplug the phones in the units unless you like getting "reminder calls" between 7Am-9AM and after 10:30PM at night. Yes, they will call. You start to see why avoiding the sales weasels is both a requirement and a major chore for the week.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I totally agree with Toto above me.

Ask for a "new" unit, preferably something in the 300 building, up high. These are the upgraded units and beautiful. Also, if you're up high enough, you'll be able to see Illuminations from your balcony. They can't guarantee a new unit, but it doesn't hurt to ask when you check in.

When they try to get you to succumb to an escort taking you to your room, put up a fuss. The buildings are easy to find, and you can do that easily on your own. Tell them you know where the "blank" building is, you don't need an escort, you have an important business call to return as soon as you leave the lobby and the escort would have to wait, anything you can think of (upset stomach and the dire need to have 20 minutes alone in the restroom worked well for me before). Just stress that you don't need the escort, act like you know what the escort is (sales weasel), and suggest the sales -- er, escort call you later in the day.

If you do get cornered -- they wouldn't allow us to do the presentation on our checkout day -- tell them that the adults in your party won't be together at all until your checkout day. They need all adults in your room for the presentation. This got us out of the presentation our first visit after buying. My mom and I showed up, but DH didn't. "Oops, sorry, but he's here on business all week," got us out of the sales room in a matter of minutes.

They did get nasty and told us we'd be assessed all kinds of fees and penalties for anything at all wrong with our room, but I simply handed them my attorney's card and told them to direct that correspondence, if applicable, to my attorney, as we're owners and are up-to-date on our fees and taxes. I had my digital camera in hand -- since we were headed to a park right after this -- and I made it clear that pictures were taken when we first entered the unit, and pictures would be taken on our last day; that any fees or penalties would be disputed with photo evidence of how our room looked when we arrived and how it was when we left.

Since that nasty confrontation, I always bring a tape recorder and fresh batteries. I would have no hesitation whipping that out (you can't hide it) and taping their threats. Luckily, we've been able to dodge the weasels since that trip.

It's a shame WGL guests and owners have to resort to this, but WGL really leaves us no choice.

Once in your room, unplug all phones! We made the mistake of plugging them in for a second and forgetting to unplug one. Phone rang, it was sales, my mom hung up quickly. A minute later, there was a knock at the door because they knew we were in the room. Ugh!!!

Other than the sales pressure, we've thoroughly enjoyed all of our visits to WGL. The spa is heavenly. Pricey, but heavenly. We've never done the pools, but I hear they can be loud. We go in off season, so parking's never been an issue for us.

The Smokehouse restaurant has a wonderful breakfast buffet. We're generally not buffet people, but the omlet station is lovely.

There's a Publix and Walgreen's within five minutes. Universal and CityWalk is five minutes away, literally two stoplights away on the same road WGL is on. Disney is about 10-20 minutes away depending on what park, but it's a straight, easy shot from the hotel on I-4. One of the reasons we bought at WGL is their location and easy, easy proximity to SW, WDW and USO.

The units are huge. Our first order of business is heading over to DTD to hit the Basin bath shop and get some fizzy balls for the hot tub in the master bedroom. These are soooo therapeutic after a long day at the parks. Basin even has a few specifically for sore feet

The only issue we've ever had in one of the units was tiny ants in one of the bathrooms. They made a little trail on the floor by the baseboards. Keep in mind that any call you make to the front desk could end up with a sales person at your front door. Of course, if there's something major wrong with your unit, take care to call the appropriate department, but, as they say, "pick your battles." Microscopic ants in the bathroom we could handle and didn't call about; cockroaches in our bed would have been another story

Hope you enjoy your stay (weasel-free), and feel free to ask any other questions! Once you understand how awful and harrassing the sales people get and know how to get around it, it's not a bad place to sleep and call home for a week.

Sorry for the book, but you need to be prepared

 

[mom-mom2three]

I agree, the accomodations are nice, leather sofa, big screen tv, and a huge bath tub, but the sales people are determined to have you buy. The staff is not very helpful and the general feel of the place is not friendly. We had to attend a time share presentation that was supposed to last only 90 minutes but because we insisted we were not intrested in buying the sales pitch lasted over three hours

 

[AngieWin]

Thanks guys! I feel a little better now. I'll write down everyone's suggestions and use them as best as I can.

Dh and my older kids want to do IOA and Universal so it will be nice to be in the middle of everything. I thought it was closer to Disney when I booked, but it cant be worse than the traffic we went through for Disneyland a fwe years back.

There are possibly 7 adults going (4 kids), so getting all of us together would be close to impossible anyway. Does it make any difference that I traded through Interval International? I would hope that would at least make it not "required" that I attend a presentation.

 

[TotoToo]

Does it make any difference that I traded through Interval International? I would hope that would at least make it not "required" that I attend a presentation.

Yes, that helps. No matter what they may say (see second post above for a true life horror story) you have no obligation - zero, zilch, nada - to talk to a sales person under any guise. You have your exchange and they have no claim on your time. Again it may be easier to accept a quick appointment to end the immediate harassment but then simply blow it off. You owe them nothing.

Quick tip for Disney access. The same road that runs by the main entrance to WGL and goes to IOA also goes to Disney while avoiding I4. Turn right instead of left and don't get on I4. Just go straight until you hit 535 (the Palm Parkway area - when you see Pizza Hut & Olive garden) you should turn left. Next right is Hotel Row and roads to everything Disney. Saves a lot of time right now (someday the road will be all developed and more folks will know about it and we'll have to find another alternate route) but for now it's great.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[5mins2disney]

I can't understand why people would want to stay at a place like this! At some point...isn't the pressure and the negativity of being plagued like this by scumbag timeshare salespeople going to deter people from even coming there?

Are you all saying that even though you already own there, they STILL made you sit through additional presentations?

 

[Brian Noble]

No, they still *want* you to. They can't *make* you unless you agree to it!

I haven't ever stayed at a Westgate, but from what I hear, they all pretty much act this way. If I ever am forced to exchange into one out of necessity, my plan is to simply repeat "I only buy weeks resale on ebay to avoid the ridiculous prices developers charge. I don't know why more people don't buy their timeshares that way!" in a loud enough voice to be heard by other guests each time I am asked about anything that sounds like a sales call.

I would imagine that gets you left alone very quickly.

 

[5mins2disney]

I would imagine that gets you left alone very quickly.

Doubt it...if they're as slimy as the prior posts indicate (numerous phone calls to your room a day...come on!)... a little thing like objections isn't going to stop them in the least!!

I went on vacation to Mexico once and my girlfriend agreed to do one for free tour tickets...big mistake...hours later she was in tears, literally. They wouldn't let her leave the presentation.

I just don't feel it's worth it while you're on vacation to waste time on stuff like this... and what a horrible experience! Who would want to buy in a place like this? And that they even plague you after you've already bought!?

yuck... (Of course I'm not a big timeshare fan, I would never buy one...)

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I can't understand why people would want to stay at a place like this! At some point...isn't the pressure and the negativity of being plagued like this by scumbag timeshare salespeople going to deter people from even coming there?

Are you all saying that even though you already own there, they STILL made you sit through additional presentations?

Actually, as owners, they don't call it presentations. They call it "maintenence meetings" or "owners' meetings." We got suckered in to the lie about the maintenence meeting after being threatened with extra fees and penalties if we didn't show up two short months after we bought -- yep, our first visit back as owners. We found our "escort" at the agreed-upon time, and there was no maintenence discussed. It was just more pressure to upgrade, that is until she realized one of the adults was missing from our room .

Then they have the audacity to give us the booklet coupons to take home and give our friends, colleagues and family members for an opportunity to stay WGL and endure the sales presentation. What's laughable is we get credit if one of our booklets leads to a sale!!! Thanks, but no thanks.

Why do we stay there? Because we made the unfortunate mistake of buything there without researching our first TS sale <sigh>. I work with attorneys, a few real estate/eminent domain ones, and one of them told me -- after shrieking, "I can't believe you bought from Siegel!!!" (owner of WG) -- just to use the heck out of it, get your money's worth, trade it every chance you can and learn your lesson about researching TS properties before you buy another.

So I guess that's it. We just paid $685 in taxes and fees, plus around $200 is due to II (the exchange company). When it comes time for a vacation, we basically get two weeks of a 1BR or one week of a 2BR, and it's paid for. As much as I hate all the lying and sneaking around, at this point, I just want *some* money's worth, you know?

 

[Brian Noble]

a little thing like objections isn't going to stop them in the least!!

Ah, but it's not a mere "objection". You are effectively telling all the other "guests" that---even if they wanted to buy at this property, which they don't---they should only buy it resale, where they can buy it for dimes (or even pennies) on the dollar. Of course, if they buy resale, the sales weasel gets no commission. So, the weasel is motivated to get you out of there before you poison the rest of the crowd.

For what it's worth, I don't bother with tours/updates/whatever either. My time is worth more than that.

 

[5mins2disney]

The ones I've seen take each of the guests to individual little breakout room where they have you all alone 1 on 1 for exactly that reason! Hehe...here in Chicago I put in the computer systems for a company that sold these..they had build a real live replica of an airplane cabin in their office! First they showed the marks.. err....excuse me..the "guests"...a movie of the place inside the "airplane"...then took you to a breakout room for a 1 on 1 presentation. Trust me..if you ever get a slip in the mail saying you've won a free trip, free TV...or free car..don't go!! I was so scared the whole time there that they would try and sell me something! They didn't...they were actually ok and explained how sales jumped 70% when they put in the airplane...lol.

 

[sticker231]

We have two weeks (3 bedroom and 2 bedroom)at Westgate Lakes that we bought through resale. We never go to the meetings as a group because of the kids. We tell them we bought resale and they leave us alone. The location is convenient for us-short drive to Disney and close to International Drive for dinner. For the price we paid we can't complain. The kids love the big room and the huge jacuzzi tub is awesome. It is relaxing to hang out on the screened porch with a cold one and watch the fireworks. Request a lake view and you will be able to watch the fireworks if you don't stay for them. We go in April and October so parking has never been a problem.

 

[noodleknitter]

We checked in late evening the time we went. No problems. No one bothered us either. Maybe because we had paid $68 a night for a 4 bedroom. They must have figured we were to poor to buy! Loved it, btw. Nothing like space...even if there is a mirror everywhere you look!

 

[noahynav]

We've stayed there 3 times, with our last visit being in 2004.

Never again.

The sales pitch was unbearable, and when you refuse they are downright rude. The whole time they were talking I just kept thinking in my head "how dumb do you think we are?"

The bigger problem for me the last visit was the upkeep of the room. The previous 2 visits were in beautiful rooms and for the most part clean. We also had a problem with ants but they moved us right away so I can't complain. But this last time......well it was just dirty. In the spare bedroom, there is 2 twin beds. My son dropped something between the matress and the wall so I had to pull the mattress out. Big mistake. HUGE dust bunny/hair balls, candy wrappers, popcorn, food crumbs. It obviously had not been cleaned in a long time. Also, you could not walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without your socks turning black.

 

[Metallicat]

We own at Westgate and are trying to get rid of it. they just will not leave us alone and will not take no for an answer and have actually threatened me with charging my credit card for any scratch they might find in the unit if I didn't attend their maintenance meeting.

at this point I am ready to just give it back to them and lose the $7,000 we paid for our unit. I can't see paying maintenance fees for something we won't use or hate to use.

I would honest to goodness rather stay in my CAR than to stay with those sharks again and I am serious. Maria who is one of the managers is a nut case. I thought she was going to slap me or have a heart attack when I refused to answer questions regarding what I thought about the place. I thanked her for ruining my Birthday by forcing me in there and she screamed at me "You ruined your own birthday Lady!"

I believe they try and make owners who have it paid for, miserable so that they will force us out so they can resale it again. fact is, you can't sale these things. I have been trying for 2 years. even tried donating it to charity for a tax write off and they won't take it.

 

[BigKahuna]

We stay at Westgate Lakes when we go to Orlando. Our family has stayed there 6 out of our 8 trips to Orlando.

For us here are the PRO's:
Great Location-We know how to get anywhere from there.
Huge Rooms-Much better value IMO than a hotel room.
Washer/Dryer in room-We can pack much less and just wash our own lcothes
Kitchen-My wife loves to cook, and we save LOTS of money by eating at least once each day in our room.
Big Screen TV-
Jacuzzi Tub
Safe in room

The Only CON's:
Sales force- You have read it all here. We put off the "tour" if posssible(Exchange weeks from RCI, we did not have to go), or go late in our trip, or on a day when it's due to rain or be chilly (december). They will show you how wonderful the resort is, run the numbers of how much a vacation a year will cost your family and give you a HUGE price for one week, You tell them NO Thanks, they will go talk to their 'manager' and come back with a lower number, " becasue somebody just let their week go. wink, wink. We tell them No thanks, and they will go awayand come back with another lower number, we again tell them no thanks and they come back with a final price that you can use every other week. I really hate this part of the trip, but I tolerate it because our family loves to stay at Westgate lakes.

Mention that you can buy it much cheaper than the price they are showing online or from a broker and they will tell you that they buy back all weeks from owners, hmm, why are there so many for sale then? LOL

Only once did we have a hard time checking in.

If they promise you anything, make sure you get it in writing before you agree to anything. If you don't have it in writing they will tell you 'we have no record of that'

And Once they charged my CC for not taking the tour, we found out after we got home. It was a little hassle but the charge was removed.

I think I will take a tape recorder to my 'Tour' this year, just to see how they react

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In conclusion, enjoy your stay at Westgate Lakes, we have never had a problem with the resort that was not taken care of quickly. It is a wonderful location with easy access to many attractions.

Just be prepared for the 'tour', work up your excuses now, terminal illness, Bankruptcy looming, Kids in college, Kids getting married soon, Stock market crash, expanding your business, loss of job...etc

Sorry for the book, but I have lots of experience with Westgate Lakes, and have a friend who bought online a week at Westgate Villas and transfers to WL when they go to Orlando.

Need any more info, just ask or PM me.