Mountainside vs. Summit Watch vs. Westgate (The Canyons) - a review

[ondeadlin]

Had the good fortune to stay in 2BR units at Westgate, Summit Watch and Mountainside in Park City this ski season. Secured two of the three through trades with II, the third through a getaway. A quick analysis, with emphasis on a skier's point of view:

Mountainside: Terrific ski-in/ski-out location and pool/hot tub complex. Friendly and helpful ski valet staff. Very small room, perhaps 2/3rds the size of the other two. Serious upkeep issues in the room (2 burners on stove broken, many supplies missing, bedding had holes in it, general need for paint and cleaning). Poor design of kitchen meant some drawers only opened partially. Parking garage was tight and always seemed over capacity. Activities were plentiful, especially for kids. Two minute bus ride from Main Street and restaurants, shopping, etc.

Summit Watch: One of the biggest timeshare 2BR units I've ever been in. Window seats could easily serve as beds for small children. Sparkling clean, fully stocked and very well maintained. In-town location and nearly ski-in/ski-out with town lift located a short walk away. Garage was big, spots no problem. Indoor/outdoor pool a plus, but fewer hot tubs than Mountainside and pool was a good walk (outdoors in many cases) from many of the buildings. Security was a concern - our building was open the public 24/7 because the card-reader was broken, so the main door was always open.

Westgate The Canyons: Very large room, pristine in upkeep, small maintainence issue with running sink was quickly fixed. Essentially ski-in/ski-out, but long walk to the gondola. Room design featured a door between the studio living area and bedroom, which is a nice touch if one person wants to sleep while the other stays up. Very nice deck/porch area. A handful of dining options within walking distance at Canyons base area. Indoor/outdoor pool very nice, with good steamroom and sauna setup. Fewer outdoor hot tubs compared to the other two (an inadequate amount IMO during busy ski season). Location is very isolating unless you're truly ONLY there to ski the Canyons -- really too far from Park City, Deer Valley or Main Street to regularly take the bus. Staff was indifferent at best and almost surly at times.

Some random thoughts before a summation:

--- I haven't read anything here about an accessment and refurbishment at Mountainside, but there's gotta be one coming. The rooms were dated and in poor shape, the shabbiest I've ever seen in an MVC property (well below, for instance, my post renovation Streamside Birch unit or even a pre-renovation Cypress Harbour unit I stayed in in December).

--- On the flip side, it's interesting to see Summit Watch is about to have its own renovation because the room we stayed in was in such great shape (far, far, far ahead of Mountainside). Summit Watch management should be commended for their approach on upkeep. Frankly, I think think they could go a few more years without putting in granite countertops, but the property should be even better afterward.

--- Never stayed at a Westgate property before and it's hysterical to see all the pictures of the slimy owner with celebrities. It screams looooooser.

Overall? Westgate probably has the best combination of unit and size, but it's almost like you're not in Park City. You're so far from town and the other resorts that you have to be committed to being in your own little world most of the time. Mountainside is clearly the best ski location - feet from the main lift - but you're really paying for that in terms of room size and sub-par amenities.

To me, Summit Watch seemed like the best option. Huge room, top-notch upkeep, great location from both ski and social aspects. The Mountainside pool/hot tub complex is better, but not that much better to make you overlook the other negatives.

Current ranking of ski timeshares/fractionals I've visited: 1. Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch (by a mile, as it should be, given the price); 2. Grand Timberlodge (Breckenridge); 3. Summit Watch; 4. Mountainside; 5. Westgate The Canyons; 6. Streamside Birch Vail; 7. Marriott Mountain Lodge, Breckenridge.

 

[hipslo]

Had the good fortune to stay in 2BR units at Westgate, Summit Watch and Mountainside in Park City this ski season. Secured two of the three through trades with II, the third through a getaway. A quick analysis, with emphasis on a skier's point of view:

Mountainside: Terrific ski-in/ski-out location and pool/hot tub complex. Friendly and helpful ski valet staff. Very small room, perhaps 2/3rds the size of the other two. Serious upkeep issues in the room (2 burners on stove broken, many supplies missing, bedding had holes in it, general need for paint and cleaning). Poor design of kitchen meant some drawers only opened partially. Parking garage was tight and always seemed over capacity. Activities were plentiful, especially for kids. Two minute bus ride from Main Street and restaurants, shopping, etc.

Summit Watch: One of the biggest timeshare 2BR units I've ever been in. Window seats could easily serve as beds for small children. Sparkling clean, fully stocked and very well maintained. In-town location and nearly ski-in/ski-out with town lift located a short walk away. Garage was big, spots no problem. Indoor/outdoor pool a plus, but fewer hot tubs than Mountainside and pool was a good walk (outdoors in many cases) from many of the buildings. Security was a concern - our building was open the public 24/7 because the card-reader was broken, so the main door was always open.

Westgate The Canyons: Very large room, pristine in upkeep, small maintainence issue with running sink was quickly fixed. Essentially ski-in/ski-out, but long walk to the gondola. Room design featured a door between the studio living area and bedroom, which is a nice touch if one person wants to sleep while the other stays up. Very nice deck/porch area. A handful of dining options within walking distance at Canyons base area. Indoor/outdoor pool very nice, with good steamroom and sauna setup. Fewer outdoor hot tubs compared to the other two (an inadequate amount IMO during busy ski season). Location is very isolating unless you're truly ONLY there to ski the Canyons -- really too far from Park City, Deer Valley or Main Street to regularly take the bus. Staff was indifferent at best and almost surly at times.

Some random thoughts before a summation:

--- I haven't read anything here about an accessment and refurbishment at Mountainside, but there's gotta be one coming. The rooms were dated and in poor shape, the shabbiest I've ever seen in an MVC property (well below, for instance, my post renovation Streamside Birch unit or even a pre-renovation Cypress Harbour unit I stayed in in December).

--- On the flip side, it's interesting to see Summit Watch is about to have its own renovation because the room we stayed in was in such great shape (far, far, far ahead of Mountainside). Summit Watch management should be commended for their approach on upkeep. Frankly, I think think they could go a few more years without putting in granite countertops, but the property should be even better afterward.

--- Never stayed at a Westgate property before and it's hysterical to see all the pictures of the slimy owner with celebrities. It screams looooooser.

Overall? Westgate probably has the best combination of unit and size, but it's almost like you're not in Park City. You're so far from town and the other resorts that you have to be committed to being in your own little world most of the time. Mountainside is clearly the best ski location - feet from the main lift - but you're really paying for that in terms of room size and sub-par amenities.

To me, Summit Watch seemed like the best option. Huge room, top-notch upkeep, great location from both ski and social aspects. The Mountainside pool/hot tub complex is better, but not that much better to make you overlook the other negatives.

Current ranking of ski timeshares/fractionals I've visited: 1. Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch (by a mile, as it should be, given the price); 2. Grand Timberlodge (Breckenridge); 3. Summit Watch; 4. Mountainside; 5. Westgate The Canyons; 6. Streamside Birch Vail; 7. Marriott Mountain Lodge, Breckenridge.

Great reviews, thanks. A few thoughts on MS:

I have stayed at MS the past two ski seasons (I am an owner there). I have experienced no issue with upkeep, etc in the units, and have been very satisfied in that regard. It is possible that the units may be in varying states of repair, as both of the past two years I have been in a top floor unit with slope view and high ceilings, and these are considered the most desireable units. On the parking situation, I have heard this from others as well. We always just take the shuttle from the airport, so have never experienced it personally, though.

There ARE planned renovations coming at MS - flat panel tv's this year and, over the next year or two, new countertops (granite) in kitchens and baths, and new stainless steel appliances. It is my understanding that this has all been budgeted and is expected to be covered by the existing reserve balance, with no need for any special assesment. This will be the first major renovation cycle for this resort (there have been some minor items done in the past, but nothing too major), which is now about 8-9 years old. The units are somewhat smaller than the others - roughly 1200 sf. We were perfectly comfortable in a unit that size with 5 people. Any more, I could see how it might be a bit tight. (By the way, the MS mf is a good bit lower than either SW or WG).

Summit Watch is also a great property, and I intend to check it out over the next few years, once my youngest is a more competent skier. (Have toured it but have never stayed there). The only drawback I see is that the kids' ski school begins at 9 am, and the Town Lift doesnt open until 9, so there would be no way to ski to the ski school and arrive on time for lessons, thus negating the "nearly" ski in ski out location. For us, that is a pretty significant drawback. If it werent for that issue, I would actually prefer the Summit Watch location to MS, although I think the MS pool/ hot tub complex is hard to beat and one of the key reasons we enjoy MS so much.

Bottom line, hard to go wrong at any of them and a lot of it seems to come down to personal preference.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

My main comment would be that the walk from Westgate to the gondola is not long as you describe.

Mountainside is closer (in theory), but it is quite a hike to walk down the resort, up the walkway, and around the LONG lift lines to where you actually put your skis on...I actuall found this to be a small hassle as compared to Westgate gondola.

Westgate is about 300 yards to the gondola (flat and paved) and they have a free service that carts your skis and poles the gondola for you.

The skier services at Westgate are way better than the other two resorts.

Yes, the Westgate needs a few more hot tubs and with the new construction, those should be ready for the 2008-2009 ski season.

I 100% agree that there are too many photos of David Siegal on the walls and it is obnoxious, but contained on a few hallways near the sales center.

I also found the free coverd parking garage at the Westgate to be superior to either Marriott.

The Canyons is about a 10 minute drive to Park City and it is isolated (especially compared to MS). I do not consider this to be a bad thing as we love the HUGE skiable terrain at the Canyons.

One observation, staying at The Canyons and using their free skier services to go to Deer valley and Park City via shuttle van was a breeze.

 

[hipslo]

Mountainside is closer (in theory), but it is quite a hike to walk down the resort, up the walkway, and around the LONG lift lines to where you actually put your skis on...I actuall found this to be a small hassle as compared to Westgate gondola.

This is not how it actually works at MS (though this is how we did it the first day or two we stayed ther before figuring out how the access REALLY works). What you do is take the elevator down to the 2nd floor, walk outside, walk past the hot tubs and up a couple of steps to the property gate, where those in the know leave their skis, just INSIDE the gate (rather than at the ski valet - leave them at the gate and there is no reason to carry them anywhere). Open the gate, walk about 10 feet, put your skis on, and ski DOWN to the payday lift (or any other lift at the base area). The Westage resort is very nice, but there is no way the access compares to MS. I have NEVER experienced better ski in/ ski out access than at MS, anywhere - though it takes a while to figure out the best way to do this, as stated above.

If you are skiing for 5 days, you get a FREE Fast Tracks past, which lets you go to the front of any lift line. It can be purchased for an additional amount if you are skiing for less than 5 days. In any event, its well worth it, we skied all week and didnt wait on a single lift line all week, during very busy spring break week 11. (Not to mention that the resort is installing a brand new detachable quad lift, boarding right next to payday, that will go to where the current ski team lift goes now - this will be an awesome addition for 2008-2009, and will provde access to around half of the resort's terrain by riding a single chairlift - much more than what one can ski after riding the gondola at the Canyons, which as I understand it is just a very few runs).

 

[Steamboat Bill]

What you do is take the elevator down to the 2nd floor, walk outside, walk past the hot tubs and up a couple of steps to the property gate, where those in the know leave their skis, just INSIDE the gate (rather than at the ski valet - leave them at the gate and there is no reason to carry them anywhere).

Obviously I was not a member of "those in the know"...but I am now. thanks for the tip.

Now the only problem to overcome is beating out the thousands of other Marriott owners for the coveted February-March ski week you really want (need).

 

[seatrout]

Actually, we usually leave the ski and boot - out side of the gate when we come back for lunch.

If there is someone in the room, we call and have them throw our shoe outside of the window to the snow. that way- we won't have to walk with our boot more than 2 yard. My kids are lazy

As to rehab-- the complete rehab should be completed in 2010 ski season and all at once.
When we were there last- the microwave died- we call and maintenance came up 30 minutes later - switching out a new microwave.
there are howevere some more "weathered" unit on the lower floor which trader get somethime.

 

[hipslo]

Now the only problem to overcome is beating out the thousands of other Marriott owners for the coveted February-March ski week you really want (need).

that's true, that can be a challenge. it seems that for some reason feb/ march ski weeks at ms and sw continue to be in much greater demand by owners than are wg ski weeks during the same time period. I still havent been able to figure out why wg owners arent as enthusiastic about using their weeks as are marriott owners, but its certainly a nice aspect of wg for those of you who are.

 

[hipslo]

Actually, we usually leave the ski and boot - out side of the gate when we come back for lunch.

If there is someone in the room, we call and have them throw our shoe outside of the window to the snow. that way- we won't have to walk with our boot more than 2 yard. My kids are lazy

That's hilarious - though in truth there arent too many rooms that you could actually do that from....

 

[ondeadlin]

Bill,

Obviously tolerance for the walk to the gondola from Westgate is going to vary. To me, it's just far enough that - if it were any longer - I think it would be a stretch to call it ski-in/ski-out. My wife is even harsher, saying anyone who's stayed regularly in a true ski-in/ski-out property would not consider Westgate to meet that definition. It's just fine with you, which I understand, and I should add that my overall opinion of the property was very high.

And, yes, we never did the long walk at Mountainside that you described -- right out the pool area and skied down to the lift. Very convenient.