Westgate resorts question

[dtsaos]

I am looking at staying off property for half of september trip. I have been looking at the Vistana LBV but am also looking at one of the westgate resorts. Am interested in opinions on how the two compare and which westgate is better(newer, better for families, better pools and closer to Disney etc.). It will be myself, DW, DS5, DD3, DD9 months and we will have our own van as we are driving this time. I would prefer to stay on property and will be staying at BWV for 1st 5 days but am thinking we may need a little more room for the 2nd half. Thanks

 

[spiceycat]

I would go the other way - stay off property first - then on property.

Westgate is not my favorite (depsite owning there).

there sales people are SHARKS!

anyway the Westgate Town Center is probably one of the newest and is very close to WDW - AK anyway.

they have a newer one but it is not close to WDW.

 

[dtsaos]

that would be our preference unfortunately BWV is not available the second half and I cant change the dates of our vacation as my parents(we own a family run business) will be in Italy the 2 weeks before we go.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I can give you a little info. Westgate Vacation Villas and Westlake Towncenter are very close to Disney. We have never had a problem getting there. Sure, there is lots of traffic on 192, but they have put a light in and that helps. I would say it takes us an average of 10-15 minutes tops from the condo to DW. The Villas have tons of pools and I think the Towncenter has plenty also. We prefer Villas b/c they are only 2 stories, you can generally get a place right outside your unit and you don't have to worry about waiting for an elevator. The Towncenter is newer, though. Stay away from the sales people and it should be fine.

 

[dtsaos]

also your comment about their salespeople being sharks. Does that mean that you think I would be hounded constantly to do a presentation? That would ruin my stay for sure. You responded positively to an earlier post about the Vistana would you suggest that over Westgate based on the two properties or just the salesperson angle. And thank you for your input it is very helpful.

 

[spiceycat]

over the all salespeople.

I own at Westgate - every morning I had a phone call at 7:00am to try to get me to attend a maintence meeting - I say No and don't call again this is MY vacation -every morning this jerk called.

My mother though I should get the phone.....

anyway I have retrained her and I just don't answer their phone. Any family problems will come on my cell phone anyway....

the sales people at Westgate will actually lie to get you to go these things - I got told I would not be allowed to check out - BIG LIE!!!

the Sheraton VIstana is not that bad....they try -but they aren't constant calling you and waking you UP to go to their meeting.

of course I have heard that once the sale people get you they are almost as bad as Westgate - but they at least are avoidable.

I now know through tug - if Westgate hassle me this time - just call the police - what they do is against law and they KNOW it is....

boy are nice places to stay at.

there is an easy short cut to WDW from Westgate - just go down the road (entry point) - and go straight across US 192 - it is now Sherberth - the short cut to WDW - after around a mile (really a little less) - you will come to a traffic light - turn left you are at AKL - turn right and follow the signs to where in WDW you want to go.

I like Sheraton Vistana better - because they were constant calling me.

 

[Badger Brent]

If the search is working on the DIS site, try it. For every good review you will find at least 4 bad ones about the westgate resorts and there practices. I had my problems with them, and I would say stay away to anyone.

 

[fac]

Just came back from Westgate, in fact from a timeshare presentation.
The presentation wasn't bad though, in fact, I thought it was fun. It finished in exactly 90 minutes without me reminding them. I will give a report when I get the time.
I wasn't bothered by the sales person during our stay, I noticed there were messages on the phone, but I assumed anyone called us would call my cell, hence I never checked the voice messages.

However, for some reasons, I was not impressed with the facilities probably because I did not spend too much time in the resort. This is my first time stay off-site, when we stayed in WDW property, we usually went to the pool and my kids like the slides in WDW's property and we also rent a boat, but there is no slide in the Westgate pool and we also do not like the paddle boat in Westgate.

I can't compare it with Sheraton Vistana as I have never been to Vistana.

 

[kerry34]

I just returned from Westgate Villas this past weekend. Overall I had no complaints about the place on this visit or past trips. It was very clean and I like that it is so close to Disney. I booked my room off my entertainment card so I was not there on any time share special price or anything. I believe we paid 129.00 a night plus tax with the entertainment card. Nobody called us to try and get us to do any presentations at all. When we checked in they were going to get someone to show us to our room and I declined. I had a map and I have been there before so how hard can it be? I wonder if they try getting you that way? Anyhow I have stayed at worse places and it was nice to have the room for everyone.

 

[spiceycat]

oh I hope you are right - I am staying there in Nov (food/wine festavial) - since I have to paid so much in maintence fees - if the resort is still in need of care - boy I will be so mad!!!