Timeshare Presentation - Sheraton Vistana

[DisneyMomx7]

Hi,

I just received an "invitation" for Sheraton Vistana for $38 per night, for 5 nights and $100. We would be required to do a 90 minutes timeshare presentation. Now we are on-site people so I doubt we would end up buying into the timeshare (of course you never know, we do have friends that have a timeshare there). How hard sell, hard pressure is their presentation?

Would we be done in 90 minutes, or is this one of the ones that ends up being hours long?

This invitation is good for 12 months so I was thinking we could add on to our January marathon trip if this is a good deal. Thanks.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi DisneyMomx7,
Someone just posed a similar question in regards to Vistana's sales presentations a few days ago. I'll repeat what I told them.

I've been to 3 tours/owners breakfasts at Vistana.......the last was VERY hard sell and made me swear we'd never do it again. The other two were semi hardsell but nowhere near as bad as the last one. The salesman was rude and would not release us after the promised 90 min when we mentioned we'd like some time to "think about". The agreement for the presentation was $40. My dh and I were honestly interested in purchasing some more time. But after over 2 hours with this guy, we bought into DVC. Now this was in 2000 I believe. Not sure if they are still this hardsell or not. Maybe someone will have a more recent account.
I don't know if we just got a particularily bad salesman or what. But after our experience, we are not willing to chance it again. I refuse to go through that sort of treatment ever again.

 

[Sherri]

My BIL went on one this morning and they were treated well. I was very worried about them as I know what some of my own experiences have been like. They said it was fine and it was not a bad experience at all.
But I think it all depends on the guide.

 

[mbstew]

Read the fine print, we went in May 2005 and were not required to sit through the presentation. We declined and still got $100.00. Good Luck!

 

[grgich]

I also got this offer, and I actually decided to reserve it in August. I'm curious about the $100 - was it Disney dollars, or cash or some kind of coupon that had to be used at the Sheraton Vistana Resort? Our "presentation" is set for the last full-day before we checkout, and I'm wondering if I should try to change that to closer to checkin, so that I can actually use the $100 gift.

 

[Robinrs]

I went 2 years ago and it was very low key and professional. I think it always depends on the salesperson and how you handle it.

 

[Princess89]

We are on site people as well. We did buy and absolutely love it. We plan 2 weeks one at the time share and another on disney property. The presentation lasts longer than 90 minutes, much longer so be prepared and the money is cash! We used ours toward the down payment because we bought in. I have friends that own at Sheraton and are very happy with it, we happen to own at Hilton.

 

[mbstew]

We got the $100.00 in cash and never had to sit through a presentation at all. Our offer had come from Starwood. Good Luck!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

It depends on which sales person you get on how hard the sell is. I actually book tours for Sheraton Vistana Villages and I have never had a guest come back and tell me that they had a hard time there or felt like they were pushed too hard. The only complaint I have ever got from guests was that it took longer than 90 minutes which is what I explained to them might happen if they ask alot of questions. How long you stay there depends on your level of interest in the resort. Alot of places around town like to promote themselves as "vacation ownership" now, but they are all still timeshare. I would feel uneasy if any sales person you talk to is unwilling to admit that. Some of the timeshare tours are easier than others, and you shouldn't have a big hassle with Sheraton because it does actually have a good name in the hotel business unlike some of the others. If you do decide to go, be prepared to spend anywhere between 90 minutes to 2 hours though, but they do tours as early as around 7:00am, so you can be done by the time the parks open.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I also got this offer, and I actually decided to reserve it in August. I'm curious about the $100 - was it Disney dollars, or cash or some kind of coupon that had to be used at the Sheraton Vistana Resort? Our "presentation" is set for the last full-day before we checkout, and I'm wondering if I should try to change that to closer to checkin, so that I can actually use the $100 gift.

It should state on your invitation whether it is Cash or Disney Dollars. Those are the two most popular choices. If it is cash, then after the presentation you will get actual cash, if it is Disney Dollars then you will get a gift card.

 

[keishashadow]

I've always tossed the offers we received in the mail up until the last one...

Four nights in 1 BR @ Sheraton Vistana for $149 (with $100 to be refunded in cash the day after we arrive) and room tax of $14/per night with NO timeshare presentation required. When I called the agent indicated that they just wanted us to enjoy the facilities and have a good time...of course, they will ASK us to attend a presentation but, there is no obligation. Plan on unplugging the phone & barricading the door.

I verified terms w/Sheraton Vistana resort & they "checked-out". Surprised that 2 different verifiers called back to review terms with me to make sure that we understood the cancellation terms, etc.

We arrive 6/17 & are only staying 3 nights since we already had DVC points booked...still a bargin IMO @ $100/3 nights.

I will post upon our return, hope all is as was promised (we do have it in writing & put it on CC) - or DH will never let me live it down.LOL

 

[grgich]

This is what it says on the invitation:
"a gift of $100"
"use this gift on Resort Amenities OR towards area attractions, such as Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks, SeaWorld Adventure Park and Universal Orlando Theme Parks".

It kind of sounds like cash at first, then it sounds like a gift certificate to the resort, then it sounds like some kind of voucher for one of the theme parks..... has anyone else gotten this "language" in their offer, and if so, what did you actually get as the $100 gift?

My offer definitely says I have to attend a 90 minute presentation, and "complete the preview" or I will be charged full rack rate, and I will not get the cash gift offer.

So, the reference to "cash gift offer" makes it sound like the $100 is in cash.....

It's not that big of a deal I guess, I was just trying to determine if I should move the "presentation" date earlier (if the offer was some kind of gift card that could only be used while in Orlando). I think I'll probably stick with the 7:30am time slot they gave me - hopefully we'll be out of there by 10am at the latest.

 

[Princess89]

If that is what the invitation says, then you do have to attend the presentation. Both you and your husband/wife unless you are not married. If you are cohabitating with a bf/gf you still must both attend. Otherwise they do charge you the full rack rate. I had to look on one of the invites that I have. They send them to us to mail out to friends or family, I never do but they are still in with all my stuff. The money is cash, they call it a gift etc. You can use it however you like. Like I said I used it toward a down payment.

If you don't mind being up early to do it, then I do suggest you do it first thing in the morning. I did it at 10 and didn't get to the sit down heres what the financial part is until almost 1. It completely killed the day. Since we didn't stay at that particular resort we didn't get back to our hotel until 4.

Also our particular salesman was very low key, but I did observe others that were very pushy etc. That's when a couple asked to speak with someone else. They talked with another person and ended up in the long run buying in. I spoke with them later, and they said the person they had totally turned them off right from the start, nasty as anything, and had no desire to even deal with him. So they are out there, it all depends on who you get.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

This is what it says on the invitation:
"a gift of $100"
"use this gift on Resort Amenities OR towards area attractions, such as Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks, SeaWorld Adventure Park and Universal Orlando Theme Parks".

It kind of sounds like cash at first, then it sounds like a gift certificate to the resort, then it sounds like some kind of voucher for one of the theme parks..... has anyone else gotten this "language" in their offer, and if so, what did you actually get as the $100 gift?

My offer definitely says I have to attend a 90 minute presentation, and "complete the preview" or I will be charged full rack rate, and I will not get the cash gift offer.

So, the reference to "cash gift offer" makes it sound like the $100 is in cash.....

It's not that big of a deal I guess, I was just trying to determine if I should move the "presentation" date earlier (if the offer was some kind of gift card that could only be used while in Orlando). I think I'll probably stick with the 7:30am time slot they gave me - hopefully we'll be out of there by 10am at the latest.

It sounds like cash.