Second thoughts on Bonnet Creek for spring break. Saratoga or OKW?

[Mickey Fliers]

I posted this on Resorts, but thought I would get some DVC opinions.

I am currently booked at Bonnet Creek for Spring Break (28th-2nd) and am having second thoughts. It will be me, DH, DS12, DS10, DS7, DD1 and my husband's cousin 23. We are DVC members, but didn't want to use all our points for spring break when we have 2 more trips planned . Anyway....

It looks like we can get OKW or Saratoga for about $800 more than Bonnet Creek. What do I do? Anyone stayed at Bonnet Creek? We have never tried OKW. I am tempted to get back onsite because I know that the parks will be crazy and it would be great to head back to our resort and use the community hall, tennis, pools, etc. Plus all the Disney Magic . This will our cousin's first trip and I want him to have a great time. We have stayed at Saragtoga and liked it just fine. The rooms were very nice. However, the idea of the larger spaces at OKW is appealing.

Bonnet Creek : Less $, but not Disney. Still close proximity to the parks but have never stayed

OKW: DVC property with all the great ammenties. More $. Never tried before. Has larger rooms

Saratoga: DVC property. New rooms. Great pools. More $.

What to do?

[Dean]

I posted this on Resorts, but thought I would get some DVC opinions.

I am currently booked at Bonnet Creek for Spring Break (28th-2nd) and am having second thoughts. It will be me, DH, DS12, DS10, DS7, DD1 and my husband's cousin 23. We are DVC members, but didn't want to use all our points for spring break when we have 2 more trips planned . Anyway....

It looks like we can get OKW or Saratoga for about $800 more than Bonnet Creek. What do I do? Anyone stayed at Bonnet Creek? We have never tried OKW. I am tempted to get back onsite because I know that the parks will be crazy and it would be great to head back to our resort and use the community hall, tennis, pools, etc. Plus all the Disney Magic . This will our cousin's first trip and I want him to have a great time. We have stayed at Saragtoga and liked it just fine. The rooms were very nice. However, the idea of the larger spaces at OKW is appealing.

Bonnet Creek : Less $, but not Disney. Still close proximity to the parks but have never stayed

OKW: DVC property with all the great ammenties. More $. Never tried before. Has larger rooms

Saratoga: DVC property. New rooms. Great pools. More $.

What to do?
Assuming a 2 BR, I'd stay with BC. Very nice resort, lazy river and overall as close as the resorts you mentioned to the parks and DD. It sounds like your reserved directly for cash. You might want to consider if you can get a rental at BC through a Wyndham member, it might be even cheaper for you.

[Dumbo]

3 months ago I spent 2 weeks at Disney. First week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Second week at Saratoga Springs. I would recommend Bonnet Creek hands down.

[Chuck S]

Bonnet Creek looks like a beautiful resort, but as you know, the onsite amenities are not there. So if you're driving, there is no free theme park parking, unless you have an AP, the bus transportation will not be as frequent and will drop off/pick-up in the offsite bus areas, not as close to the park entrances. There is no resort package delivery from the parks, and the Dining Plan s not available.

So, it really depends upon what you are looking for in a vacation. If you're looking for the entire "Disney Experience" you will not get it. On the other hand, if you're looking for a nice place to stay, and will not miss some of the Disney extra "onsite" perks on this trip, it should be just fine.

[Mickey Fliers]

3 months ago I spent 2 weeks at Disney. First week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Second week at Saratoga Springs. I would recommend Bonnet Creek hands down.

Okay. Why?

Bonnet Creek looks like a beautiful resort, but as you know, the onsite amenities are not there. So if you're driving, there is no free theme park parking, unless you have an AP, the bus transportation will not be as frequent and will drop off/pick-up in the offsite bus areas, not as close to the park entrances. There is no resort package delivery from the parks, and the Dining Plan s not available.

So, it really depends upon what you are looking for in a vacation. If you're looking for the entire "Disney Experience" you will not get it. On the other hand, if you're looking for a nice place to stay, and will not miss some of the Disney extra "onsite" perks on this trip, it should be just fine.

We have AP's so parking isn't an issue. We spend a lot of time at the resorts, especially during a busy week like Spring Break. I want the resort to offer enough activities for the kids. We love the community halls, pools, playgrounds. I like the idea of tennis and surrey bikes at OKW. I also like the transport to DTD that OKW and Saratoga offers.

However, Bonnet looks great and for the money, it can't be beat. I just need the resort to be its own destination. Will I get that at Bonnet?

[Starr W.]

We stayed at BC over MLK weekend. It's a nice resort, we stayed in a 3br Deluxe in Bldg 5. Very nice decor, staff is very nice and helpful. A lot of activities at the resort, I think more scheduled activites than DVC imho. Kids liked the lazy river. They even have fitted bottom sheets on the beds!

We had a car and AP's so we didn't use their buses.

I actually bought our Wyndham points for other than Bonnet Creek, but we were itching to book something with our points and MLK weekend at the time was still opened on our books.

[Starr W.]

Okay. Why?



We have AP's so parking isn't an issue. We spend a lot of time at the resorts, especially during a busy week like Spring Break. I want the resort to offer enough activities for the kids. We love the community halls, pools, playgrounds. I like the idea of tennis and surrey bikes at OKW. I also like the transport to DTD that OKW and Saratoga offers.

However, Bonnet looks great and for the money, it can't be beat. I just need the resort to be its own destination. Will I get that at Bonnet?

Here's a link(hope it works) for the activities at BC

https://www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com/ffrweb/pdfs/Bonnet_Creek_Activity_Guide.pdf

[Mickey Fliers]

We stayed at BC over MLK weekend. It's a nice resort, we stayed in a 3br Deluxe in Bldg 5. Very nice decor, staff is very nice and helpful. A lot of activities at the resort, I think more scheduled activites than DVC imho. Kids liked the lazy river. They even have fitted bottom sheets on the beds!

We had a car and AP's so we didn't use their buses.

I actually bought our Wyndham points for other than Bonnet Creek, but we were itching to book something with our points and MLK weekend at the time was still opened on our books.

Have heard there is massive construction going on. Did you have any issues?

[Starr W.]

Have heard there is massive construction going on. Did you have any issues?

No and being in Bldg 5, it's right there. I didn't hear any noise on Friday or Monday. The one buidling is done from the outside and the other one is farther down and it's not as far along as the other building.

[Brian Noble]

Here's a quick comparison between OKW and Wyndham BC:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34552380&postcount=4

The $160 a night difference can buy you a lot of Mickeybars. And, as Dean mentioned, you can probably do even better renting from a Wyndham owner who has already booked that time.

[zorro77]

We've been staying at OKW since 92 and have stayed at many other along the way but always go back to OKW because of size of rooms and conveniences the resort has. Been their over 40 times and can't get enough. We too have payed out of pocket to stay their vs other places when we were out of points and could have stayed cheaper some place else. We have 755 pts which still does not get us through the year with our traveling. Good luck:rotfl2::cool1::banana: I guess with are like to be comfortable when away from our other home and like the relaxed atmosphere OKW brings.

[Mickey Fliers]

Thanks for the replies. I think we are going to stay with BC. The $800 is just a lot of money and will pay for our meals.

[itsreally4mommy]

I'm a little confused are there 2 Bonnet Creeks? A Wyndham and Hilton?

[Starr W.]

I'm a little confused are there 2 Bonnet Creeks? A Wyndham and Hilton?

The Bonnet Creek area includes the Wyndham timeshare, Bonnet Creek and the new Hilton and Waldorf Astoria hotels.

[Dean]

I'm a little confused are there 2 Bonnet Creeks? A Wyndham and Hilton?No, the Bonnet Creek Timeshares is Wyndham. Wyndham is also building a hotel component and there are 2 other hotels going in back there last I heard.

[Starr W.]

No, the Bonnet Creek Timeshares is Wyndham. Wyndham is also building a hotel component and there are 2 other hotels going in back there last I heard.

Both the Hilton and Waldorf-Astoria are now open. I believe Wyndham has halted construction on the hotel component. I was in Bldg 5 at BC and it didn't look like any work was being done on the hotel site.

The new Bldg. for the timeshare, is done on the outside, but they still have the fence up(interior work still going on).

[itsreally4mommy]

So which one is the OP and review link referring the Wyndham or Hilton?

I've looked at the Wyndham online and it looked nice and tempting but transportation/proximity was a deterrent. But I saw perhaps in another forum the schedule of buses and honestly w/a MK on every 1/2hr might be better than Disney, LOL. But since it's referred to as BC I'm not always sure which one it means.

[Dean]

So which one is the OP and review link referring the Wyndham or Hilton?

I've looked at the Wyndham online and it looked nice and tempting but transportation/proximity was a deterrent. But I saw perhaps in another forum the schedule of buses and honestly w/a MK on every 1/2hr might be better than Disney, LOL. But since it's referred to as BC I'm not always sure which one it means.
Wyndham Bonnet Creek Timeshare.

[DenLo]

Our 34 year old nephew, his DW; DD 5; and DD 3 stayed at the Wyndam Bonnet Creek in 2009. They loved it. Said the rooms were fabulous, nice pool and really easy to get to the various WDW parks as well as downtown Disney. Sometimes saving $800 is more important. Just keep reminding yourself how you are saving points for another trip.

I agree with Dean $800 is a lot of snacks or souvenirs or money to be saved for your next WDW trip. ;)

[littlestar]

I agree with Dean $800 is a lot of snacks or souvenirs or money to be saved for your next WDW trip. ;)

No kidding. $800 would be enough for another week's vacation trip for me and the hubby - $300 for 2 flights, $150 for car rental, and the remaining for lodging in a one bedroom through II or RCI via trade or Getaway.

[Dean]

I agree with Dean $800 is a lot of snacks or souvenirs or money to be saved for your next WDW trip. ;)And that's for 5 nights, not a full week if I'm understanding correctly. There are definitely DVC weeks worth that much more IMO, but only for the top end options. As I questioned earlier, this sounds like a direct cash deal. It's very likely one could get this rental for a full week by other means for far less than the direct cost, the real difference could well end up being $1200-1500 instead of $800.

[DonnaL]

I know there have been a lot of good things said about Bonnet Creek and it may very well be a very nice resort...........but, we stayed there for two nights earlier this month before our DVC check-in at BLT and didn't care for the place at all. Staff wasn't very friendly at all......except for the people at the Timeshare sales desk.......they were all over everyone. It just seemed to me that everyone had a bit of an attitude. Could have had something to do with fact that we arrived on New Year's Day.....probably after a very busy week at the resort....don't know. I just got the feeling from most of the staff that they didn't really want to be there and made it very obvious. We were in the main lobby building which is older and while our 2 bdroom was very nice, it definitely was showing wear and tear......lots of scuff marks on the walls, several stains on rugs, etc. I got a really good deal at about $200 per night for a 2bdrm from the Wyndham website......I know that's not a great deal and if staying a week could have done better renting from an owner, but, since we were only staying two nights it was more cost effective than getting two rooms onsite.........and it gave us the opportunity to try Bonnet Creek.........but, we won't be staying there again.

[Dean]

I know there have been a lot of good things said about Bonnet Creek and it may very well be a very nice resort...........but, we stayed there for two nights earlier this month before our DVC check-in at BLT and didn't care for the place at all. Staff wasn't very friendly at all......except for the people at the Timeshare sales desk.......they were all over everyone. It just seemed to me that everyone had a bit of an attitude. Could have had something to do with fact that we arrived on New Year's Day.....probably after a very busy week at the resort....don't know. I just got the feeling from most of the staff that they didn't really want to be there and made it very obvious. We were in the main lobby building which is older and while our 2 bdroom was very nice, it definitely was showing wear and tear......lots of scuff marks on the walls, several stains on rugs, etc. I got a really good deal at about $200 per night for a 2bdrm from the Wyndham website......I know that's not a great deal and if staying a week could have done better renting from an owner, but, since we were only staying two nights it was more cost effective than getting two rooms onsite.........and it gave us the opportunity to try Bonnet Creek.........but, we won't be staying there again.I've had the same experiences at DVC as well. However, my response to the OP was based on the cost differential for 5 nights and the overall situation. IMO, the 2 BR or smaller units at BC are close to DVC but not quite as nice due mostly to the countertops and the lack of theme. The 4 BR units are far superior IMO, I haven't seen the 3 BR to compare. The location is is similar to OKW/SSR but you do lose out on a few niceities which one must weigh as to value. They do have a shuttle but I'm not sure how convenient it is compared to the Disney system.

[kdzgon]

Okay. Why?



We have AP's so parking isn't an issue. We spend a lot of time at the resorts, especially during a busy week like Spring Break. I want the resort to offer enough activities for the kids. We love the community halls, pools, playgrounds. I like the idea of tennis and surrey bikes at OKW. I also like the transport to DTD that OKW and Saratoga offers.

However, Bonnet looks great and for the money, it can't be beat. I just need the resort to be its own destination. Will I get that at Bonnet?

You can use all those facilities at the DVCs except certain pools (and all pools at certain times) anyway (assuming you are willing to drive there to do so), and OKW and SSR are both pretty close to Bonnet Creek.