Westgate Vacation Villas

[Tink2000]

I was wondering if anyone has stayed at the Westgate Vaction Villas? I am use to staying on site and am a little scared. We have been offer to stay here through my parents timeshare so it is almost to goode to pass up. Any ifno would be greatly appreciated.

Tink2000

 

[TotoToo]

I was wondering if anyone has stayed at the Westgate Vaction Villas? I am use to staying on site and am a little scared. We have been offer to stay here through my parents timeshare so it is almost to goode to pass up. Any ifno would be greatly appreciated.

Tink2000

It is a very nice, "Old Florida" (2-3 story buildings, no mid rises in that section) type resort with each group of buildings usually surrounding a pool or other shared resort feature. Plenty to do on site and relatively easy access to Disney as it's off 192 and actually connects to Sherbeth Rd if you know that back route.

The downside is a tremendous push to sell you timeshare - owner, guest, renter - they will push sales on you with tricks ("Come to the MANDATORY maintenance meeting" - its not required, "90 Minutes for 2 free tickets " - 4 hours or more and even then they'll try to weasel out of the tickets, threats of charges for damage and more). Unless you are made of steel and can say NO you are best advised to stay away form any sales pitch. Unplug the unit phones or you will be harassed from 6am to after 11PM to attend, when they frce you to take a golf cart to the unit - another way to get you signed up for the pitch - go ahead and sign up (or you may NEVER get rid of that traveling weasel) but make it for yor last day there - be "too busy" prior to that and always for 9 or 10am (checkout). Then be happily on your way out the gate as the whining weasels call your former unit demanding to know where you are. Avoid the sales and the rest of your stay should be fine.

 

[swilshire]

We stayed there a year or so ago. Nice enough resort. They ask me about taking a tour after our 13 hour drive down. I must have sounded like I meant it when I said no, 'cause they never ask again. I actually decided I would like to tour for the premium later in the week, so called and ask them. It was not at all unpleasant, but it probably depends a lot on your salesman.

Sheila

 

[iluvflorida]

It is a nice resort. Many pools and activities. The sales pitch is the worst. Refuse to go. It is not mandatory. A trip I have used is to tell them the only day you are free to go is the last day of your stay (what ever that is). They will book you in for that day and therefore not call you again. Then just don't show up. They can't do anything about it. It may seem mean but trust me it is better than the sales pitch. I have taken it and got good gifts ($150 cash) but stay in area for longer than a week so does not take up valuable vacation time. Plus I have been on many of the tours and know the routine and can forcefully if necessary say NO.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We stayed in 2005 and it was a older place, but it worked great for what we needed. We got it through a friend and were never asked once if we would come to the timeshare meeting. I sure you will enjoy it.

 

[Tink2000]

Thanks for all of the info. I think we will give it a try. How far is it from Disney?

 

[NH Park Commando]

Here's an option we love. Rent a villa directly from the owner. Visit VRBO.com and follow the links to the Orlando area. We stay in Kissimmee at Venetian Bay Villages. There's no sales pitch or pressure from anyone. You can rent a 3 or 4 bedroom townhouse in a gated community for less than the cost of a hotel room. VBV is only 7 miles from Disney.

 

[iluvflorida]

Thanks for all of the info. I think we will give it a try. How far is it from Disney?

It is quick to disney. Come straight back to #192 crossing it and go up Sherbth Road that takes you direct to Disney Animal Kingdom and then go whereever on Disney prop.

 

[Echo queen]

I am glad to hear good reviews of this property. I have booked it for New Years 08

 

[Not so Dumbo]

It's right next to Windsor Hills.
The villa was nice. Don't expect much by the way of housekeeping. Our bath tub blew mold chunk out of the jets which was GROSS.
The PP who said they will threaten you with damage charges if you don't attend the "mandatory maitence meeting" was absolutely right. We booked westgate from the entertainment book and it was supposed to be just like booking a hotel room, well it was far from it. We might as well done the whole timeshare deal, at least then we would have had a free night and disney tickets.

 

[kerry34]

I have stayed here about 4 times over the past 9 years. As far as the resort itself goes, we have never had issues. It was always clean upon arrival and everything was in working order. We have stayed using somebody elses timeshare 3 out of the 4 visits. The first time they called around 3 times. We did the tour the last day of our trip. I went through the whole thing and then at the end just said that I couldnt do it and that was it. Didnt get any real pressure from the girl. The second time we never ended up doing it all. The third time, my aunt did it and the guy she had tried putting the pressure on but she just kept saying no until finally he gave up. On the fourth trip we rented using the entertainment book. When we checked in, the girl told us she would send somebody over with a cart to bring us to the room, but I said I was all set. No golf cart ride for me. We didnt hear from anybody during the whole trip.

 

[Tink2000]

Bumping!!!!

 

[Kay7979]

I own there and will be going in November. I keep up on the latest improvements via the resort's newsletter. Westgate Villas and Westgate Town Center are separate resorts that share the overall grounds and facilities. There is a new building that has a couple shops and a deli, and a movie theatre that shows Disney movies. There are a couple small "lakes" with paddle boats. You can also rent bikes, including the surry-style bikes like they have at some of the Disney resorts. There is no one large "signature pool," but there are lots of pools scattered throughout the resort. Some are simple rectangular pools, some are free form. There are a couple bar/snack bar facilities. They have planned activities like crafts, and a "kids club." As we don't have kids (gown and gone) I can't say what the kids club consists of. The resort has tennis courts, sand volleyball, miniature golf etc.

I have seen or stayed at a LOT of the Disney area resorts. There are some that are more glamorous, but there are many that are not as nice and have far less to offer. With the exception of the over-agressive salespeople, I don't see how anyone could find much to complain about. The units are well-maintained and nicely furnished. They just finished repainting all the exteriors in a terra cotta and beige color scheme which looks very nice. I am looking forward to our stay in November.

 

[jpryorx2]

We stayed here 2/07 the grounds were nice, pools eveywhere and lots for the kids to do , we never had time to do them so not sure how they are. As for our condo when we got there the heat would not turn on, once matiance came and got the pilot lit he left the furnace room open once we all started getting sinus headache and such we went looking it was moldy and nasty in there. to the point FIL ended up in the hospital as soon as we got home. the matiance crew don't speak english, we had a cabnit door fall off on DD (1 1/2) foot and when we called they said they would be right back to fix it and we never saw anyone again about it and the door was never fixed and we made sure on check out we were not going to be charged for it.
The sales pitch wasn't the worst but we were in the mind set because we went from one to the next for our disney tickets and MIL had to do it for the room.
If you have a condo in the newer section they seemed very nice and clean. we were in the older part. but the rooms seemed clean other then the moldy furnace room. If you have small childern I would sugest taking plastic bowls plates and cups. as all the stuff the supply are glass and the floors are tiled, DD droped a cup within our first 20 mins being in the roomand it shattered. we made a trip to the dollar store for plates and cups and bowls first thing the next morning.

 

[memorykeeper]

I've stayed at almost every WestGate in the Orlando area and I would not do it again. The sales pitch is too aggressive and the units are often not clean. (mold, stray hairs, dirty showers) If the deal is too good to be true and it enables you to experience Disney without going broke than go for it because at the end of the day you're not going to sit in your hotel room anyway. Have a great trip.

 

[iluvflorida]

If you do not like aggresive sales pitchs don't GO to them. They are not required despite what the salespeople tell you UNLESS you have booked a promotional rate that requires it. You would know this at time of booking. We have stayed many many times at Westgate and never had a dirty room. If I did I would call them to clean it or get another unit. One time the AC quit at about 7.30 in the evening. I called repair and had a man there in 15 minutes. It turned out to be a part that he did not have. He asked if we could wait till morning or he could direct wire it so it would run constantly. As I have asthma and it was hot I asked him to direct wire which he did. He then had housekeeping bring extra blankets in case it got to cold in the night. I would stay again in a minute. Nothing but good service and clean units. Only down side is the tour which as I say is optional.

I forgot to meantion they came by 10 am the next morning with the part and fixed the A/C properly.

 

[Kay7979]

I agree that the units have always been clean and well furnished. If the other poster had bad experiences at Westgate, I don't understand why they stayed at every Westgate resort in the area, (as there are a lot.) If I had a bad experience more than once, that would be it. I wouldn't keep staying at the same resort chain.

 

[jenseib]

Is this the same as Westgate Lakes? I took a tour years ago ,and really liked it. My BF and I bought a package to come back the next year, but broke up before we went. So don't know what he did with it. But I see on Expedia the yare offereing these rooms at reasonable rates. And though it's been about 8 years since I toured it, I think it would be a nice place to stay. Don't want to be bothered though by a sales pitch.
So I guess my question is..Is this the same place you are talking about? We most likely won't be around much anyways. Just looking for a place with a pool and to sleep.

 

[memorykeeper]

Why is it that some people cannot post their opinion without attacking others. The OP is looking for honest thoughts about Westgate which means that some people will love it and others will not. I did not like Westgate but I stayed there many times because it enabled my family to experience Disney and the other things that Orlando has to offer. I am not an owner so the tour was never optional. Now that I can afford to stay elsewhere that is what I choose to do for all the reasons listed in my previous post.

 

[iluvflorida]

Memorykeeper: The tours are always optional even if you are not an owner, UNLESS you book a promotional price stay with the condition that you attend a tour. They sometimes will try to tell you that the "maintenance" meeting is mandatory. It is not. Just a ruthless way to suck people in to a tour. If you felt attacked by me it wasn't meant to be, I also was just giving my opinion and experience. Sorry your experience was not good.

Jenseil: This thread is talking mostly about Westgate Villas. Westgate Lake is up off I-4 owned by same people. I have never stayed at it but read it is nice except for the sales pitch. Westgate has a bad reputation for high pressure. Again you do not have to go on them if you stay unless as stated before.