Won week at Westgate Lakes now Scared!

[Anjiebaby]

Looking for help from friendly Diser's. At a charity Auction on the weekend we bid on a week at a Westgate Lakes in a 2 Bedroom condo. Certainly didn't expect the bidding to stop with us but we won it.
Please be gentle especially you SpiceyCat. I know there are some very bad reviews of this place especially the high pressure sales and I guess I am looking for someone to tell us it will be alright.
Honestly though it is sort of a blessing DH was not at all convinced that we needed to go back to Disney in 2006. He kept saying "but we just went there" he is sadly not a Diser. DS6 however will be ecstatic and DD2 will have an even better time than last year, she now loves Winnie the Pooh.
Wow from not expecting to go until at least 2007 to trying to plan a whole trip in less than 3 months. Oh my I better confirm my dates and make my (what are they called now?) ADR's. So much to do! Can you help with some questions:
How far is Westgate Lakes from Disney as in how long does it take by rental car?
Are there any other transportation options like a shuttle?
Does anyone have a link to a map that shows where it is in relation to Disney?
How are the facilities? Pools? Kids areas?
Is there a best building recomendation?
What is the weather like around Jan 22-29? Will we be swimming at all?
Thanks for the help? When I get done with these questions I'll have to haunt some other threads for all my park and character dining questions.

 

[spiceycat]

weather in Jan is hard to predict. like Dec - it can be warm or cold. but typically Jan is cooler than Dec - but this is not an average year.

Westgate is a beautiful property. You probably won the bid from an owner. So when you arrive at the resort demand a map and instructions. If you get taken over and given something by this person - you are already in the sales pitch....Don't answer the phone at Westgate!!!

Westgate Lakes is closer to SW than WDW or US/IOA. It is between US/IOA and WDW. So around 7 miles to WDW. It is very, very close to I4.

try to not get a pool view. They play music at the pool view and it is LOUD. Now if you have teenagers great!!! but with kids your age then go with a non-pool view.

they were during construction - but I think that has ended.

Westgate is a lovely resort. Just avoid the sales people and you will love it.
they do give you discount to eat and play there. I haven't tried their spa. but the few people that I have talked to that have used it - loved it.

 

[djkeenan]

I agree, it's a very nice resort. The accomodations are outstanding. Does your prize require that you attend a sales presentation? If so, be very negative from the start and let them know you are not the least bit interested, now or later. If it's not a requirement, don't get sucked into one.

The location is nice, the pool and spa very nice... so have fun, just stay away from the sales presentation.

 

[caa1000]

To the Canadian friend that won the Westgate Lakes bid. The place is not bad. I have been there as a resident. I was living on the property, but on the smaller cottage type of apartments. Those are the closest to the restaurant Smoke House Grill. I did worked for a short time at their sales department and I attended a presentation of the resort and the larger buildings. The place is kind of isolated, from a major road and the bus service from LYNX is some how bad, because the waiting period is 1 hour on route #43 and some 30 minutes on Route 50 (The Disney Shuttle). It would be better that you rent a car, but if you can't, the resort can make accomodations to the attractions. The advantage, is that is steps from the main hospital and the Post Office. The resort has an onsite marketplace and ticket reservation office for the theme parks. It is close to Sea Word (Less than 3 miles), about 6 miles from Universal Orlando and 5 miles from Downtown Disney (Short cut the Turkey Lake and Palm Parkway to SR 535 which is paralel to I-4!).

Carol Alfonso
Citrus Parade in Orlando
http://citrusparadeorlando.tripod.com/

 

[tweetylori]

We just stayed there after getting it from Hotwire. (one bedroom for us though). The location is very good, but you'll definitely need a rental car. I agree with the others, unless you are required to do the sales pitch, just say NO when you check in. (they will keep offering things, it's up to you if it's worth it to you, time-wise). Just remember, if you accept any of their offers of breakfast, or discount tickets, or spa money, than you've said yes to the sales pitch. The accomodations are quite nice. Did you get a good deal?

 

[mbb]

. ......I know there are some very bad reviews of this place especially the high pressure sales and I guess I am looking for someone to tell us it will be alright........
:

It'll be alright...

The resort is lovely, really Rooms are amazing...they have HUGE TV's!!

And we did the sales pitch and survived

...we like swimming with the sharks!! LOL

Wasn't "that" bad - very high pressure, but we knew we were saying no..and kept saying it..kids had fun in the playroom - we were only hijacked in the golfcart for 20 minutes, and when we left, we had to make our own way out.

$90...kids had some fun time...we saw a nice resort...and we went out for a lovely supper


HTH!