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I just wanted to share what something that I perceived to be an elaborate sales tactic I experienced last week at Westgate Lakes Orlando Resort. Maybe others have had the same or will find this if they try to do some Google research before they sign.
We already own a "half share" of Westgate, meaning we can use a whole unit in odd years or split up the halves of the lockout if we prefer.
It went like this: We arrived to use the resort for the first time and were told that we needed to meet with our rep for a "nice breakfast" just to sign some things. She told us that we had an "Open" status on something but she needed to find out what it was about. In the meantime she wanted to tell us all about their newer 4 BR units that are being developed and gave us a tour of the model unit. When we got back to the sales room she said she'd found that there was a form that had been mailed for us to sign that had not been returned. The form was to give up our option for the second half of our share. Further she found that they had our wrong address on file so that would explain why we had not received it. She was required to have the accounting manager to explain it to us so someone else joined us at the table to persuade us to please sign this form saying that we don't want the second half of our share (as required by Florida law she says). Meanwhile our rep was trying to interrupt to protect our right to get that 2nd half at a bargain price because Westgate would be forced to sell the new and improved unit at the 2006 price if only we would refuse to sign! It was funny to see them bickering in front of us (what I perceived to be an act), the accountant trying to hush up our rep who was trying so hard to stick up for us so we could snatch up this bargain for only 9 thousand!
It seemed too convenient yet cleverly acted out and so we suggested we would take no action until we talked about it overnight. They had various reasons we needed to take sign right now. In the end we walked away without committing either way.
I was just dying to post this so maybe somebody else would find this routine familiar at Westgate.
Our stay was overall not bad aside from that little waste of time.
ALSO - saw a man holding a sign over his head at the entrance saying "WESTGATE DECEIVED ME". Wondered what his story is.
We already own a "half share" of Westgate, meaning we can use a whole unit in odd years or split up the halves of the lockout if we prefer.
It went like this: We arrived to use the resort for the first time and were told that we needed to meet with our rep for a "nice breakfast" just to sign some things. She told us that we had an "Open" status on something but she needed to find out what it was about. In the meantime she wanted to tell us all about their newer 4 BR units that are being developed and gave us a tour of the model unit. When we got back to the sales room she said she'd found that there was a form that had been mailed for us to sign that had not been returned. The form was to give up our option for the second half of our share. Further she found that they had our wrong address on file so that would explain why we had not received it. She was required to have the accounting manager to explain it to us so someone else joined us at the table to persuade us to please sign this form saying that we don't want the second half of our share (as required by Florida law she says). Meanwhile our rep was trying to interrupt to protect our right to get that 2nd half at a bargain price because Westgate would be forced to sell the new and improved unit at the 2006 price if only we would refuse to sign! It was funny to see them bickering in front of us (what I perceived to be an act), the accountant trying to hush up our rep who was trying so hard to stick up for us so we could snatch up this bargain for only 9 thousand!
It seemed too convenient yet cleverly acted out and so we suggested we would take no action until we talked about it overnight. They had various reasons we needed to take sign right now. In the end we walked away without committing either way.
I was just dying to post this so maybe somebody else would find this routine familiar at Westgate.
Our stay was overall not bad aside from that little waste of time.
ALSO - saw a man holding a sign over his head at the entrance saying "WESTGATE DECEIVED ME". Wondered what his story is.
Last year, I wanted to see the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando (which I did). One can see Universal Studios from the Westgate Palace, (and the Water park is across the street). You all know the rest... Disney, Seaworld, etc... However, the Palace was completely booked so they upgraded us to a larger unit at the Westgate Lakes Resort, a large 2 bedroom, 2 bath (sleeps 8) (that place has to be at least 1300 square feet!), with a private screened in patio, grilling by the lake, paddle boating for free, a mini golf "Pirate's Cove" golf course for free, a private master whirlpool, and a pool right outside our patio. They have SEVERAL pools there! Come on! Can't beat that! I also like the fact that we WILL pass the vacation timeshare to our adult children for them to use, which is in the contract. I just have to "educate" them about not taking extra weeks (unless they want or need to). Westgate calls us frequently while we are on vacation while we stay at their facility and "invite" us to another "breakfast". 
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