Westgate Resort Help

[ccgirl]

I really think we'll like it too. I'm the more outspoken one, and DH tends to be the more relaxed one, so we've already decided he will be the one doing the checking in & out, and dealing with any issues. Thanks for the recommendations, we'll definately be trying out the swan boats, and my DD will LOVE the train! We'll just pay for the stuff we want to go to, nothing they could possibly have there would be worth giving up several hours of our vacation in a sales meeting!

I think you can purchase an activities card as well. I believe it is around $30 and will allow you all of the activities for a week. Not positive on that though.

As to the poster asking if the Villas or Town Center are better. They both have their advantages/disadvantages. The Villas are older. But, they are more like townhouses than the Town Center. The Town Center is set up more like a hotel. With the villas, most villas are arranged around a pool. Ask for one with a pool if you can. With the Town Center, it is a high rise. However, most activities are located closer to the Town Center than the Villas. My family and I prefer a 1st floor unit in the Villas where we have no stairs and can walk right out the back of our screened in lanai to the pool. The Town Center is really an easy walk from the units we stay in.

 

[gfolchick]

Thanks for all of the feedback! I guess we are using the timeshare as owners since the timeshare is owned by my company. We are excited about going and since we are only paying the transfer fee, it's a wonderful deal. We would have loved to stay on property but cannot pass up this price. Our only decision now is the Town Center or the Lakes.

I've been an owner there since 1991. The biggest frustration for me is the high pressure sales/check in. I try to insist on just giving me the key, I've been an owner long enough to know where my room is I don't need a ride. I have my original resort card and last year our guy at check in offered to get me a new one...if I went to the sales breakfast. No thanks. They even wanted a credit card deposit to attend a free breakfast. We ended up making the appointment for the day after we checked out (we left a day early). It was the only way to peacefully get them to give me the key and leave me alone.

As for Town Center or Lakes, Lakes is over by Universal, directly looking over I-4. I love the location of the Villas and stayed at Town Center once (but missed my two story Villa). I believe Lakes are 3 story. Villas/Town Center are great for Disney and off property restaurants, grocery stores and Target!

 

[live4christp1]

We are just back from a 13 night stay in the Villa's - a 2 bedroom unit that accomodates 8.

We have stayed at Westgate for the last 7 years. We have stayed in the Villa's, the Town Center & the Towers. We have been happy with them all. Had heard not great reviews about the Towers as they were formly a hotel converted into units. It was all we could get last year for the dates we needed for the price I was willing to pay. The rooms were fine there as well and we even had a view of the WDW fireworks from our balcony.

The staff has always been very friendly and helpful with anything we have needed.

Our only complaint this year - we had 3 seperate reservations to get the dates we needed (DH's R&R) - 1 through RCI and 2 directly through Westgate - they linked them all in the system. When we checked in the clerk made sure they were all linked so we wouldn't have to check out, back in as one ended and other began, we could just stay in the same villa. Our last day before leaving the next morning we had spent at Animal Kingdom and got back to our room about 7:00 - the door was standing wide open. Called the desk and since nothing was missing they weren't concerned (all our valuables were locked in the safe). DH called and talked to a manager as did I - the manager I spoke with said that it appeared our 3rd ressie didn't link and housekeeping had reported that there were personal items in the unit but the couldn't figure out whom they belonged to (that ressie would have changed on Sunday - this was Wednesday) our keys still worked, etc. DH had complained earlier in our stay that someone was coming in the unit and watching TV as every day we would come back and the channel was changed. We would check it periodically to see if it automatically reset but even being off overnight and turning back on the next morning it was on the same channel we had last watched. They weren't coming in to clean as nothing was ever touched. Manager just apologized - not really concerned.

Otherwise our stay was fine.

They are nice accomodations. Just make sure anything you are leaving in the room that is of value (including medication - as last year my dad was with us and had his meds in the drawer in the 2nd bedroom and someone stole his blood pressure meds as they were in a bottle he had removed the label from as he had not brought his full prescription, just enough for the trip) is locked in the safe and if you don't want people snooping in your room or just coming to watch TV then put the Do Not Disturb sign on your door.

 

[TamaraQT]

I am also an owner and Westgate Lakes and I have NEVER had a bad experience. I have also stayed at Town Center and enjoyed that too. As ToTo said, the sales people is what gives Westgate most of its bad reputation. Accomodations are pretty good as far as me and my family are concerned. My teenagers really love the resorts. Going in August this year. I recall before I purchased, I did pay $30 for an activities card for my family and it was well worth it. After I purchased, the activities program was included. However, I also purchased on the resale market for PENNIES. Literally PENNIES!!! However, I understand how some people feel more comfortable with a developer purchaser and that is fine. In the end, you should have an enjoyable relaxing vacation. Good times, good fun and GREAT memories. And when it comes down to it, you can't put a price tag on GREAT memories. I hope you have a Wonderful time!!

 

[TotoToo]

Thanks for the review of Orange Lakes. I appreciate it. We were thinking of trading in there at some point so I appreciate your input.

I agree with the direct vs. wholsale. In hindsight, I wish I purchased resale as well. However, I ended up getting a fantastic deal on one direct. I'm sure it still could have been cheaper wholesale.

If you don't mind, I would like to hear the negative moves. I hate to say it, but I don't really follow along with that. I pay my maintenance and read thru some of the documents but that's about it.

Sorry it has taken so long to reply - been busy it seems.

Starting out with an extremely happy new owner of a resale week I feel was a great buy in 1995. About 1/3 of the developer cost and we got our pool side unit, 52 weeks a year of reservation potential with a fixed, deeded week of ownership. The next 8-10 years went by relatively quietly except for the lack of turn over to the owners, as has occurred at my other resorts as planned in the documents, and a rather heavy hand from management. Such as a change from RCI to II with no owner input.

Then about 2003 the real issues started. First up was a $100 (!) sudden fee increase. Why? "Because it helps sales to have daily maid service, so we are doing it - it costs money!" What? No input from owners (who overwhelmingly did NOT want it) and a massive, for that time, increase in fees to pay for it? Later the daily maid service ended bit, no surprise, the fee never went back down.

Then in 2007-8 the worst change occurred. Ever since my first presentation there, and for all the years since, our week was able to trade for any week of the yea at another Westgate (or ours) for a very reasonable fee. Suddenly we were grouped into "value, prime, etc" groups for trading! Why? Because it costs money (for who?) - so fees for exchange suddenly were at the level of the fees just a few years ago! $500 to exchange internally? Insane!

Then there were the ongoing irritations of the never ending sales pitches, the required ride to the unit (hey - we've owned for 15 years we KNOW where it is!) and much more that basically said you'll do it their way. Period. The claims of ROFR when in fact they had none. Mixing the fees from the new development and the old - using the money to repair builders mistakes in the new towers using the Villas money to do it! Ignoring the needed, and aid for, upgrades to the Villas. All illegal but who has the money / time to challenge them?

Then the one that absolutely cemented our decision to get out. Suddenly your fixed deeded week was no longer given to II for exchange! "They" got to pick what week they gave up (and II went along) - which invariably was some low value time they wanted to unload thus a poor trader rather than the fixed, deeded week/unit we OWNED! Why/how can hey do that? At least RCI still demanded they deposit the fixed week but why is it even a question? For everything else they did they treated the fixed deeded week as all important but when it was to the owners benefit they took it away!

We managed to get a buyer in late 2010 and now, thankfully, no longer own there. We can easily rent for a fraction of our annual fees as there is way too much inventory and the just keep adding more.

This is THE worst developer / management in all of timeshare. Period. Use or own at your own risk.

 

[ccgirl]

Sorry it has taken so long to reply - been busy it seems.

Starting out with an extremely happy new owner of a resale week I feel was a great buy in 1995. About 1/3 of the developer cost and we got our pool side unit, 52 weeks a year of reservation potential with a fixed, deeded week of ownership. The next 8-10 years went by relatively quietly except for the lack of turn over to the owners, as has occurred at my other resorts as planned in the documents, and a rather heavy hand from management. Such as a change from RCI to II with no owner input.

Then about 2003 the real issues started. First up was a $100 (!) sudden fee increase. Why? "Because it helps sales to have daily maid service, so we are doing it - it costs money!" What? No input from owners (who overwhelmingly did NOT want it) and a massive, for that time, increase in fees to pay for it? Later the daily maid service ended bit, no surprise, the fee never went back down.

Then in 2007-8 the worst change occurred. Ever since my first presentation there, and for all the years since, our week was able to trade for any week of the yea at another Westgate (or ours) for a very reasonable fee. Suddenly we were grouped into "value, prime, etc" groups for trading! Why? Because it costs money (for who?) - so fees for exchange suddenly were at the level of the fees just a few years ago! $500 to exchange internally? Insane!

Then there were the ongoing irritations of the never ending sales pitches, the required ride to the unit (hey - we've owned for 15 years we KNOW where it is!) and much more that basically said you'll do it their way. Period. The claims of ROFR when in fact they had none. Mixing the fees from the new development and the old - using the money to repair builders mistakes in the new towers using the Villas money to do it! Ignoring the needed, and aid for, upgrades to the Villas. All illegal but who has the money / time to challenge them?

Then the one that absolutely cemented our decision to get out. Suddenly your fixed deeded week was no longer given to II for exchange! "They" got to pick what week they gave up (and II went along) - which invariably was some low value time they wanted to unload thus a poor trader rather than the fixed, deeded week/unit we OWNED! Why/how can hey do that? At least RCI still demanded they deposit the fixed week but why is it even a question? For everything else they did they treated the fixed deeded week as all important but when it was to the owners benefit they took it away!

We managed to get a buyer in late 2010 and now, thankfully, no longer own there. We can easily rent for a fraction of our annual fees as there is way too much inventory and the just keep adding more.

This is THE worst developer / management in all of timeshare. Period. Use or own at your own risk.

Thanks for replying. I didn't even notice the $100 in 2003 but I can't remember exactly when I bought in. Sometime around then, I think. I know I have never had daily maid service though.

Do they not have an annual meeting for the owners where they vote on things? I know my other timeshare does but I never go.

I never paid more than $100 to trade to any other week internally. When did you have to pay $500? That would definitely make me mad but I have never had to pay that. I would agree the never ending sales pitch is quite annoying. That is another reason I upgraded from the Villas to Gatlinburg two years ago. No sales pitches yet - unless you ask. I just stopped doing the golf cart thing and took my key and drove myself.

I can definitely see with your experiences why you were so frustrated. Luckily, other than the attempted sales pitches I have not experienced any.

 

[darrius1st]

I know what he means when I purchase I purchase a float weed for anytime of the year, then they introduce the value, prime and I think is premier weeks. Now I have to pay a fee to stay on holiday weeks and if you are, a value owner that fee can be up to $500.

 

[TotoToo]

I know what he means when I purchase I purchase a float weed for anytime of the year, then they introduce the value, prime and I think is premier weeks. Now I have to pay a fee to stay on holiday weeks and if you are, a value owner that fee can be up to $500.

Yup - exactly.


As for the owners meetings they do hold them and I have attended the last three. But they are a sham - held merely to meet the law requirements with ZERO owner input actually allowed. They also claim that the reason why the Board(s) are still all made up of Westgate employees rather than owners is that "no one asked to be Board members". Huh? When did they send out the request for applications as every other resort I own does? What happened to my request filed in 2009 after they originally made that claim - I didn't see my name on any ballot or even a ballot for that matter! These guys are little less than crooks and have been convicted in Court. They always push the rules to the extreme & may be breaking many but they feel, and it seems to be true, they are too big and it's too costly for a mere owner to fight them.

I once loved being an owner now I'm extremely happy that I no longer have to deal with them. If I stay there - and I may as we do like the actual resort - it will be for a cheap rental. Far better than being an owner now sorry to say.

 

[ccgirl]

I know what he means when I purchase I purchase a float weed for anytime of the year, then they introduce the value, prime and I think is premier weeks. Now I have to pay a fee to stay on holiday weeks and if you are, a value owner that fee can be up to $500.

Gotcha. I think I am premier that is probably why.

Yup - exactly.


As for the owners meetings they do hold them and I have attended the last three. But they are a sham - held merely to meet the law requirements with ZERO owner input actually allowed. They also claim that the reason why the Board(s) are still all made up of Westgate employees rather than owners is that "no one asked to be Board members". Huh? When did they send out the request for applications as every other resort I own does? What happened to my request filed in 2009 after they originally made that claim - I didn't see my name on any ballot or even a ballot for that matter! These guys are little less than crooks and have been convicted in Court. They always push the rules to the extreme & may be breaking many but they feel, and it seems to be true, they are too big and it's too costly for a mere owner to fight them.

I once loved being an owner now I'm extremely happy that I no longer have to deal with them. If I stay there - and I may as we do like the actual resort - it will be for a cheap rental. Far better than being an owner now sorry to say.

Very intersting. I am going to Galinburg July 10th so I may just need to inquire. I hate to admit it but I never really looked a who was on the board. My maintenance/taxes are around $600, I don't think I could rent for much less than than plus I get owner perks like free water park (Gatlinburg) so I will stay for now.

I guess I can understand why they would make a "value" owner pay a premium for a "prime" week. Otherwise, everyone would save some money and just buy "value" weeks. I can see how that is unfair to those that purchsed their weeks prior to this classification. I guess it is like DVC changing their points requirements??

 

[darrius1st]

How is the fishing at the Lakes. I know you get poles free, but is it on a boat or off the pier.