Got a deal from Travelzoo (like half price and included hayride/ barbecue and rodeo) and it still didn't meet any expectations. Musty room. (I complained and they sent someone over and it was fine for about half a day, would like to know what they sprayed?) Broken faucet that dripped all night. Really bad, like raw and cold, food at hayride/barbecue. Trailride OK. Hayride OK, rodeo OK. Would NOT let you into the saloon without a wrist band and we were the only people there. Wierd! Had we paid full price, would have made a stink, and would have felt totally ripped off. Didn't do the breakfast but had lunch at the grill and it was good.

Didn't have time to read the reviews wish I had but we had been here years before new management took over. Was told the only room available were the hotels and it was a busy weekend. We booked it while I was looking at the website and they didn't look too bad..was given a price which wasn't on the website..asked if there where any specials (Florida resident, aaa) and was told no..when I told them I'd call back all of a sudden there was a special. Anyway, this place is really great for kids and to relax. I would give it a 5 star even with the totally outdated rooms but the customer service if you can call it that is pathetic. First impression on Friday night front desk is the worst I've ever seen. The girl helping me was actually rolling her eyes! The other two were busy doing nothing. We got to our room and I thought wow, I'm paying $150.00 a night for this? Decided to go with the flow because I knew there was a nothing I could do about it. Previously we did stay in the time share's but they weren't called that back then. First night I though a big mac truck was parked outside in the parking lot...seriously, but it was only the heating...and all weekend a noise would go off just for a few seconds...then again and again. The good news was the petting area...it was great for our 3 and 5 year old and even my 20 year old daughter. We did the airboat ride and it was beautiful and something we'll all remember. The hayride was fun and the singer very good but oh boy the food was bad...couldn't eat anything but the baked beans and I fixed them up. Thought breakfast was pretty good and the little ones loved watching out the the boats being launched. I also agree with the previous tips on booking early for anything you want to do. We had the 'deal" that two adults had breakfast free and the hayride/barbecue if you can call it that...it does say you have to book by 4:00 and we had my daughter and 2 little kids, so when my husband went down at 3:00 they told him there was no more room??? So what do we do and which kid couldn't go? Really annoying...called again, and front desk couldn't be less helpful..it is such a nice place that it's a shame how incompetent the staff is...finally it was fixed. We had planned ahead and bought tickets for the rodeo...since I didn't eat the barbecue I sent everyone off and planned on calling hubby in a little bit...we could go get a drink and kids could stay with my daughter..he had the tickets, the room key and the golf cart. Tried to explain there was no signal on my phone and could I just run it and get my husband..answer no you have to buy 'another ticket" which is another $20.00..really couldn't believe it. There were two adult men standing right there doing seriously nothing. I tried several times no signal and she watched..I could have gone up to get another key, and back to the room to wait it out and back to the rodeo so we could get a drink..I thought they had some food but from other's I've read that is a no...but of course since you get barely the minimum information from staff etc, etc. This girl watched me for an hour and a half wait and finally said if I wanted to pay half price she'd let me in..I was beside myself and said to her "do you know how much I spent here today' could have said a lot worst...so we ended up not going for drinks and Westgate you have to clean up the staff...I also didn't even know there was room service..all I got were some extra pillows in plastic dropped off by the door...cleaned it up myself. It's a great place for kids and would recommend it because they don't care but for the price the stress of very lazy, slovenly, grim help is bad..in fact I think you need to be really all those things to work here, except for the marina guy's..they were wonderful...Would never stay in the hotel rooms again...get a better place and bring some food, ice in a cooler..enjoy the petting area and whatever else and don't go during the week. Since I wasn't allowed in the 'rodeo' talked to lots if folks going in an out..they all only work weekends.

Due to a limited amount of travel time for the holiday, we decided to spend our New Years Eve Weekend at the Westgate River Ranch. Everyone in our party of seven is glad that we did. We booked four Inn Rooms and traveled with three dogs. We weren't expecting much from the rooms after reading the many reviews posted. But all of our rooms were clean and comfortable. We stayed busy with golf carts, horse back riding, swamp buggy riding, the petting zoo, skeet shooting, archery and of course the Saturday night Rodeo, which was really enjoyable and well run. We found the food at the Smokehouse to be good, better than expected. The General Store was well stocked and provided breakfast items, sandwiches, pizza and ice cream. Some of our group bought reasonably priced items in the Western Store too. The grounds are well kept, and the animals are well cared for. Every person on staff there, that we encountered, was really personable and many seemed to have more than one job. Granted, it is not a Ritz Carlton, but if you go knowing that you are going to experience a ranch type atmosphere, you should not be disappointed. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and would gladly go back for another weekend.

We also left the resort on November 27th. Agree the rooms at the inn are dated but we had hot water and we weren't in them for long other than to shower/sleep.

Our kids are too young for the trail ride, we did the petting farm and walked down to the playground which is always a big hit.

Hayride was fantastic and the rodeo was awesome. My son is only 2 1/2 and he sat through both of these activities with facination.

Just a couple tips- If you are a coffee snob (don't care for diner quality coffee) than be sure to bring some Starbuck's via and the stuff you need to make it how you like! Outside of the little general store, the nearest store is a bit of a drive.

Reserve a golf cart! I didn't know about this and they were all booked by the time we got there. We don't mind walking to everything but the ranch is huge and it would be a great way to see everything.