Westgate Lakes is now pet friendly.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I just spoke with the front desk at Westgate Lakes regarding a rental reservation and was told that the resort is now pet friendly.

They are allowing one cat or dog of certain breeds and size with a charge of $155 required at check-in, of which $75 will be returned if there is no damage. The other $80. is kept as a special cleaning fee.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

I just spoke with the front desk at Westgate Lakes regarding a rental reservation and was told that the resort is now pet friendly.

They are allowing one cat or dog of certain breeds and size with a charge of $155 required at check-in, of which $75 will be returned if there is no damage. The other $80. is kept as a special cleaning fee.

This seems like a reasonable cost to me. Although I do not have pets to travel with, if I did they would likely come with me when possible. Still much less than putting them up in a kennel. As long as you are driving, the extra cost in flying probably would not make it worthwhile though.

[Lisa P Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lisa P]

Is this the only Westgate property that will be permitting pets?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Are they going to let exchangers bring their pooches or only owners?

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

Interesting that they are allowing pets.

Allowing pets can be a catch 22. You want to make the unit owners happy, but you can also turn off the renters and exchangers.

We were at a resort last summer and left early due to the Pit Bull in the unit next to ours. The unit owner was using his week and he brought his Pit Bull with him. I was terrified whenever I exited the unit due to the dog and being afraid he would be coming or going at the same time. I was attacked by a large dog of similar breed several years ago and prefer to not be in their company.

Joy

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Sorry I can't answer any of these questions.. I'm swamped today and don't have time to call. If anyone else has time to find out- it would be appreciated.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

The pink concrete jungle is going to the dogs. Maybe they can bite the sharks. I wonder what a lawsuit from a dog bite might do to the pet friendliness.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Is this the only Westgate property that will be permitting pets?

Westgate Vacation Villas / Town Center also made this change over two years ago (very quietly).

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

Lovely, I have an exchange to Villa this April. Had I known about the pet rule I'd have not confirmed. The pet friendly is not in the RCI info.

Joy

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Is this the only Westgate property that will be permitting pets?

They have always allowed sharks and weasels onsite.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

And now they are on auction(no pet mention): SkyAuction.com - 2011 is the year of the Auction!

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

As already posted, Westgate Vacation Villas allows pets. My sister owns there and will be bring her 2 small dogs this year, for the first time. She actually checks in tomorrow. She said she has to pay a refundable pet deposit of like $75. No mention of a special cleaning fee but that may pop up at the end of her stay! Dogs had to be under 20 pounds.

I have no issue with pets per say. And I can certainly understand both the emotional and financial reasons one would want to take them along on vacation. But I don't want to stay where they've been. I have no faith in either the owners or the houskeeeping staff. I have already had one flea infestation issue at a Westgate timeshare stay - this was at the River Ranch location - so obviously they allow pets too! The dog in the adjacent unit barked for hours, while the owners were away. Apparently they went out to dinner. We stayed in and got the 'seranade' for diinner music .

I am kinda stuck staying at the River Ranch location as it's the only game in town, but in Orlando or other locations, my choices are many and I would choose to stay at a non-pet facility if at all possible.

RCI and Westgate better think to update their websites. Not only for phobias and bites, but some people are very allergic to the dander and if someone were to have a medical emergency due to a pet in the unit and to not have been told it's a pet unit... that could be big trouble.

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

And now they are on auction(no pet mention): SkyAuction.com - 2011 is the year of the Auction!

Not to turn this into a SkyAuction thread, but they aren't always aware of what the resort does. My experience is very limited but I have used SkyAuction to get better pricing at Westgate River Ranch. Not only did it not say it was pet friendly (which I knew by then) but the resort also charges an activity fee per day that is not disclosed on the auction. I emailed SkyAuction regarding this surprise fee and they responded that they'd look into it. Of course it's weeks later now and not one word back.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

They have always allowed sharks and weasels onsite.

You sir are correct! It is a giant improvement to invite the far more agreeable Pit Bull or two to stay in or around your Wastegate Unit than any of these well known pests & bullies.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Lovely, I have an exchange to Villa this April. Had I known about the pet rule I'd have not confirmed. The pet friendly is not in the RCI info.

Joy

It was my impression that the pet friendly units are limited to specific building(s) so it shouldn't be an issue to ask NOT to placed in one of those if you don't have a pet. It only makes sense as they have far too many buildings and allowing all of them to have he occasional pet visit creates a nightmare. Limit it to a building or two - maybe even set them up specifically for pets as they have done at Celebration World (all tile floors, no small items on the low tables, etc - basically pet proofing the units for 4 legged occupants).

Overall I see it as a positive (from Wastegate! A first!) as owners/ travelers do want to take pets and if done correctly can be a benefit to all.