Westgate Villas

[mforbach]

I have a chance to buy a 2 bedroom condo at Westgate Villas. Has anyone stayed there before or know where they are located. The owner said they were selling for $15,500.00 but because he knew us would sell it for $5000.00. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

We stayed there three months ago and enjoyed the visit. Our unit was in one of the triple digit complexes and we liked the amenities at the resort.

It is very close to WDW and to restaurants and stores along route 192. Using the Sherberth entrance off route 192, it is 5 minutes to the Animal Kingdom entrance.

That seems like a very good price. Do you know the owner well?
Have you had an attorney look at the transaction papers?

 

[mforbach]

Yes, we have known the owner for several years. We are still just thinking about buying so haven't discussed the actual sale. Thanks.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

What factors are you going to use to make the decision?
What questions about the Villas would you like to have answered.

Again, it is very close to WDW. It is close to stores and restaurants along route 192 and it is in a growing area west of the entrance to WDW.

 

[spiceycat]

go look on
www.redweek.com
before you decide to buy. it will cost you $10...

Or better yet join tug for $15 - unless this is a summer fixed week - that is too much to pay.
www.tug2.net
You can read about Westgate and ask questions without joining tug. Ask on the buying/selling board. then go read about it on the Florida board.

you just can't read the reviews of this resort.

I have issues with Westgate - but other think they are fine.

 

[iluvflorida]

Hi: I have stayed here the last two years and will again this trip. Also have booked friends on four occassions to it. We all think it is fine except for high pressure sales pitch tour which you don't have to take if you don't want to.
However, I must tell you I RENT and it is one of the easiest to rent from a variety of sources and never have paid even close to what they charge for maint/taxes. We go in Feb including president week, others I booked it Christmas. So my question is why buy a timeshare if you want to go to Orlando. It is far cheaper to rent. I am renting 6 weeks this year. Cyress Point, Vistana 2 weeks, Westgate Villas, Orange Lake. Note my trip counter. not back till Mar 10

 

[mforbach]

Thanks for all the info. We probably are not going to buy because as iluvflorida said you can rent cheaper. This was for a fixed week about the 1st of Feb each year. Thanks.

 

[spiceycat]

yes you are much better off - renting - but stay at some of the other places in Orlando - there are so many greats ones that I don't think Westgate (and yes I was stupid and I brought at Westgate) can hold a candle to them.

the Marriotts, Orange Lake, Hilton Grand Vacation Club - even the Sheraton Vistana resort (if you get a good building), not to mention my favorite and I don't regret owning here at ALL - Disney's Old Key West - or any of the DVC resorts - they are worth the money (I rent my points for $10 a points and yes I make money on this or I won't do it).

I am so glad you decided not to buy Westgate - this year they have gotten even worst -they decided that the members needed to have their rooms cleaned and that they are only adding another $100 to the maintence fees to handle it - this is not fair - but Westgate has that attitude....

Even as I member I have been given uncleaned second bathroom - porches where the screens has holes in them - big holes - very dirty floors - when we traded to Westgate Lakes - the second bathroom had a leak in the ceiling - it took them days to fix this problem - it should have been done immediately!!!!

but I hated to say anything to you about my problems because you were buying from a friend.

Glad you decided not to buy!

 

[iluvflorida]

Hi I hope Westgate or your friend doesn't find out who I am for discouraging you.
I agree with prior post in that you should rent different ones and there are lots of them. As you see from my prior post we rent other resorts as well as Westgate.
I have heard of problems on the boards such as prior poster tells but must say that all my visits to Westgate have been fine. Clean, Pleasant staff (except salespeople) and everything works. Once the air conditioner quit and as I have asthma need it. I called at 9.30pm and it was fixed by 11.00pm as he had to get a part. If you plan to go Feb 1 week you definately will not have a problem renting and really cheap. If you PM me I'll send you some info as to sights I use to rent.

 

[mforbach]

Thanks again for your answers. I agree that there are way too many places to stay to be tied down to one. We also love to stay on property as there are just 3 of us. Within the next two years however, we are going with about 15 family members besides us. I think a condo for some family members with small children would be a great idea. We always have a rental car so trans. is no problem. I luv florida, I sent you a email. Thanks.

 

[treesinger]

Here's another vote for NOT buying at Westgate. The unit we stayed in...MM7 or MMM7 I think...was glorious. But their staff was rather uncourteous and they couldn't handle everything that was going on. Communication between departments is nonexistent. We had to come to a sales presentation THREE times before finally seeing someone to meet our obligation. The left hand didn't know what the right was doing. And the resort had this feeling of "hustle" that seemed to hang on everything.

We've stayed at Silver Lake (not as good, but a better staff), Celebration World Resort II (top notch, the best!), Vistana Resort (had problems, but were fixed with haste and fanatic completeness), and Vistana Villages (great rooms, acceptable service), and Cypress Pointe Grand Villas (dirty but well appointed rooms. I guess the main point is that we felt like cattle at Westgate, and guests at all of the other resorts. We did the timeshare presentation at every one of them, Westgate being the worst.

 

[Mr D]

I did a Westgate timeshare presentation yesterday, worst day of my life. It reminded me of my younger days as an undercover reporter going into the Unification Church "Moon Ranch" in N. California where you are steadily brainwashed into believing their views until you are a mindless drone. I was stuck with them for over two hours, three seperate attempts were made to me to BUY NOW!, Its your ONLY chance to buy our timeshare!, first the good guy, then the big shot big bad Italian in his $2,000 Avanti suit, and then the sweet little girl as the last resort pitch offer. I kept saying we would think about it, they finally gave up and sent us out of the glorius glitzy conference room down a dingy dirty stairway to where we recieved or theme park tickets.

I will never ever remotely consider a timeshare and will forever more spread the word that Westgate is bad, very bad place to get involved with, unless you have Sicilian blood in your veins....

 

[mrsstats]

Maybe my views are biased as I own at Westgate Villas. I bought mine resale, a loft unit. I agree that they are high pressure in the sales area. We just avoid going to their "maintenance" meetings now. Any problems I have had while staying there have been taken care of promptly. Check in is a lengthy process. But, all in all, I am satisfied with the resort.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Many people, like Mr. D., have posted that the Westgate time share presentation is a high pressure one. Many visitors, including ourselves, have enjoyed their stay at the Villas. We paid for our stay using Skyauction and did not have to attend a timeshare presentation since we paid more.

The loft units are very nice and can sleep up to 8 people with no problem. We had a couple of minor problems that were resolved without delay.

Based upon other reports I probably would not go to a "maintenance" meeting if I were an owner.