parking strategies? what are the ins and outs? Bonnet Creek shuttle?

[Kremlar]

Leaving for Disney World and Universal in a few days and instead of staying on-site like our last trip we are staying at a Bonnet Creek condo and renting a car so we can get around Orlando a bit more and do some off-site activities, visit a relative, etc.

3 adults, 1 big kid, 2 small kids, 1 big stroller, and we'd rather not be trapped at Disney waiting a long time for a shuttle. We want freedom whenever possible, but we were pretty happy with the Disney buses last year because they ran so often.

I do have one of those AAA VIP parking passes - we purchased our park tickets through AAA.

We're going to be hitting the parks as soon as they open and probably out of there in the early afternoon. There's a chance we could revisit a park in the evening, but no park hopping.

Looking for any and all tips and suggestions to save money and/or make our trip more enjoyable, but here are some questions I had:


- Does anyone know how often Bonnet Creek runs it's shuttle service? Is it full often? Worth using, or better to pay for parking if you have a car?

- I've heard some suggest parking in Downtown Disney and taking the shuttle into the park. Does this make sense? Feasible to do?

- If we do decide to go back to a park at night, if we've already paid for parking in the AM do we need to pay again?

Any tips or suggestions welcome!!

Thanks

 

[ghtx]

I don't know anything about the BC shuttle, so I can't answer that question.

There is no direct bus from DTD to any of the theme parks, precisely to stop people from doing what you propose. So parking at DTD is a bad idea.

You don't need to pay twice in one day. Just show your receipt. (This would be true even if you park-hopped.)

I don't know anything about the AAA VIP parking passes. Does that give you free parking at theme parks? If so then your problem is solved. If not, then you have to decide whether the $14 per day to park is worth it to avoid being tied to the BC shuttle. Rental cars and parking fees are part of the costs of staying off-site.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

BC is so close relatively speaking to everything. We rent a car every year and take it to every park including the MK. Lots of Diser will take a shuttle to MK because you are dropped off closer to the MK, however, then you don't ride the monorail. For us, well, we like that monorail ride. We have stayed at BC (loved it) but never used the shuttle.

We started with a car when our DD was very young so we could come and go at will and not have to carry her on a bus or wait late at night after fireworks. We have never looked back. Many people love not having to drive, for us we love the control having a car gives us. So I would use your car everywhere you wanted to go and if you leave a park just save your receipt and you won't have to pay again when you return.

 

[Kremlar]

I don't know anything about the AAA VIP parking passes. Does that give you free parking at theme parks? If so then your problem is solved.

Supposedly gives us access to closer parking spots, but never used one before. It's been years since I've gone to Disney and parked so I don't even remember how bad (or good) that was.

If not, then you have to decide whether the $14 per day to park is worth it to avoid being tied to the BC shuttle. Rental cars and parking fees are part of the costs of staying off-site.

Yep, I know - just want to come up with the best plan for us before we get there.

Thanks!

 

[Kremlar]

We started with a car when our DD was very young so we could come and go at will and not have to carry her on a bus or wait late at night after fireworks. We have never looked back. Many people love not having to drive, for us we love the control having a car gives us. So I would use your car everywhere you wanted to go and if you leave a park just save your receipt and you won't have to pay again when you return.

I believe we're going to feel the same as you.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Leaving for Disney World and Universal in a few days and instead of staying on-site like our last trip we are staying at a Bonnet Creek condo and renting a car so we can get around Orlando a bit more and do some off-site activities, visit a relative, etc.

3 adults, 1 big kid, 2 small kids, 1 big stroller, and we'd rather not be trapped at Disney waiting a long time for a shuttle. We want freedom whenever possible, but we were pretty happy with the Disney buses last year because they ran so often.

I do have one of those AAA VIP parking passes - we purchased our park tickets through AAA.

We're going to be hitting the parks as soon as they open and probably out of there in the early afternoon. There's a chance we could revisit a park in the evening, but no park hopping.

Looking for any and all tips and suggestions to save money and/or make our trip more enjoyable, but here are some questions I had:


- Does anyone know how often Bonnet Creek runs it's shuttle service? Is it full often? Worth using, or better to pay for parking if you have a car?

- I've heard some suggest parking in Downtown Disney and taking the shuttle into the park. Does this make sense? Feasible to do?

- If we do decide to go back to a park at night, if we've already paid for parking in the AM do we need to pay again?

Any tips or suggestions welcome!!

Thanks

I don't know anything about the BC shuttle, so I can't answer that question.

There is no direct bus from DTD to any of the theme parks, precisely to stop people from doing what you propose. So parking at DTD is a bad idea.

You don't need to pay twice in one day. Just show your receipt. (This would be true even if you park-hopped.)

I don't know anything about the AAA VIP parking passes. Does that give you free parking at theme parks? If so then your problem is solved. If not, then you have to decide whether the $14 per day to park is worth it to avoid being tied to the BC shuttle. Rental cars and parking fees are part of the costs of staying off-site.

If one of the adults has an annual pass, you can park for free. The AAA parking pass does not give you free parking. It just lets you park up closer t the front as long as that area is not full.

 

[chartle]

Leaving for Disney World and Universal in a few days and instead of staying on-site like our last trip we are staying at a Bonnet Creek condo and renting a car so we can get around Orlando a bit more and do some off-site activities, visit a relative, etc.

3 adults, 1 big kid, 2 small kids, 1 big stroller, and we'd rather not be trapped at Disney waiting a long time for a shuttle. We want freedom whenever possible, but we were pretty happy with the Disney buses last year because they ran so often.

I do have one of those AAA VIP parking passes - we purchased our park tickets through AAA.

We're going to be hitting the parks as soon as they open and probably out of there in the early afternoon. There's a chance we could revisit a park in the evening, but no park hopping.

Looking for any and all tips and suggestions to save money and/or make our trip more enjoyable, but here are some questions I had:


1. Does anyone know how often Bonnet Creek runs it's shuttle service? Is it full often? Worth using, or better to pay for parking if you have a car?

2. I've heard some suggest parking in Downtown Disney and taking the shuttle into the park. Does this make sense? Feasible to do?

3. If we do decide to go back to a park at night, if we've already paid for parking in the AM do we need to pay again?

Any tips or suggestions welcome!!

Thanks

1. I have read here that BC has very good bus service. You may get a better response if you asked over on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum. One big issue is that for the MK you will be dropped off at the TTC.

2. Terrible idea since it requires two buses and is kind of frowned upon here.

3. No

Also your AAA does get you closer but you still have to pay.

 

[DSLRuser]

never pay to park. there are plenty of places to park for free if you are ok with a little walking.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Bonnett Creek is awesome!! Just sayin'. We had our own car (and have for every single trip ever) and would not DREAM of doing without one. Disney transportation is the pits.

 

[bookgirl]

Had relatives stay offsite Christmas of 2011. I'm pretty sure it was BC but they did not like the shuttle.

I believe he said that the shuttle schedule was always at park opening but not before so they couldn't get there early to get in line. They also did not like the inability to go back and forth except on the scheduled shuttle times. They would have prefered a little more flexability. They've decided that they will stay onsite next time so that they can drive with free parking or take the bus/boat systems.

 

[Annie78]

The giant "We love Bonnet Creek" thread in the Orlando Resorts forum should contain information on the shuttle frequencies - usually someone will post a picture of the current schedule. When we went in September 2012 it ran more or less every half hour starting an hour before opening BUT there is a lengthy gap in service during the middle of the day. I think buses were shared between two parks.

 

[lindsey]

We have use BC shuttles in the past trips with no problems, as long as you keep a schedule available. This year we drove to all four parks just for convenience since we were a larger group. I've only used AAA pass in previous years, and the parking is closer.

 

[Kremlar]

Just a followup, we ended up paying for parking (no shuttle). Got there early and used our AAA VIP pass for closer spots. Worked out great for us!

 

[ampc3]

never pay to park. there are plenty of places to park for free if you are ok with a little walking.

Just a followup, we ended up paying for parking (no shuttle). Got there early and used our AAA VIP pass for closer spots. Worked out great for us!

DSLRuser... where is you can park for free and walk?? do tell...

Kremlar... Did you like WBC? so what is the AAA vip parking pass? a closer parking spot? does every park have that parking and did you ever leave and come back to the same or different park later in the day and still park close?? TIA

 

[Kremlar]

Kremlar... Did you like WBC? so what is the AAA vip parking pass? a closer parking spot? does every park have that parking and did you ever leave and come back to the same or different park later in the day and still park close?? TIA

I did like Bonnet Creek.. I wish we had more time to spend on the resort, but we did use the pools & hot tubs a few times and they were nice - kids loved them. Everyone was friendly, no timeshare pressure.

We got the AAA VIP pass from AAA when we bought tickets there. Seemed to let us park closer, I think it was the same as handicapped parking - parking attendants had us follow the blue/green lines on the roads to the proper lot.

No, never returned later in the day.

 

[blessedby3]

We stayed at BC this past October. We had our own van and had no plans to use the shuttle. I had to use it one morning as DH and DD14 went to a YES class. DD5 and I jumped on the shuttle to meet up with them after the class.
I did not care for the shuttle (or the driver...rude and impatient). They have a bus that goes to AK and DHS and the other one goes to MK and Epcot. You may have to drive to AK first (for example) if you are heading to DHS, which will take you longer. BC is closest to DHS, but for some reason the day I used it we headed to AK which is farther and then back to DHS. Time consuming.
They also recently added a $12 per day fee to use the shuttles at BC. I would just pay to park at the parks and forget the BC shuttle. I wont ever use it again

 

[Deb & Bill]

....They also recently added a $12 per day fee to use the shuttles at BC. I would just pay to park at the parks and forget the BC shuttle. I wont ever use it again

I think the fee is automatically added to your bill at BC. You can't decide to use the shuttle or not and not pay.

 

[blessedby3]

I think the fee is automatically added to your bill at BC. You can't decide to use the shuttle or not and not pay.

That is what had been reported, but on the thread on Orlando Attractions, they said that BC recounted that and now it will be for those actually using the shuttle...although people are now reporting on that thread that it may actually be $5 per person round trip (which could be even more...for large families). Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3053538

 

[thornton0511]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek two years ago and drove our rental most of the week but we did take the shuttle bus a few times. It was okay but they only do drop off and pick ups at certain times and a few times we had to leave the park early because it was the only pick up time and we were not ready to leave yet. Also a few of the drivers we encountered really tried to hit up everyone on the bus for a tip and it was in an uncomfortable way. There also is a chance that the pickup bus will be full if it's the last one for the day and you have to wait for BC to contact another shuttle and that can take forever. If you have a car take it.

 

[aubriee]

I think the fee is automatically added to your bill at BC. You can't decide to use the shuttle or not and not pay.

That is what had been reported, but on the thread on Orlando Attractions, they said that BC recounted that and now it will be for those actually using the shuttle...although people are now reporting on that thread that it may actually be $5 per person round trip (which could be even more...for large families). Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3053538

I'm staying at BC in May and booked through Vacation Strategies. A couple of weeks ago I got an email from them saying we would have to pay the $12.00/day fee (whether we used the shuttles or not) and it was a $12.00 fee per unit. Then last week we got an email saying the home owners association had backed off that and the fee would now only apply to those who used the shuttles. The latest thing on the TUG site is that instead of $12.00 per unit for those using the shuttles, is that each person will be charged $5.00 per trip. Here is a copy of the email I got from VS about it, last week (prior to the $5.00 per person rumer on TUGS):



Dear Guest:


Here is an update on the shuttle service fee sent by Richard Scinta, Resort Manager






Dear Guest:

As a result of recent feedback, the Bonnet Creek Home Owners Association has reversed the recently communicated $12 per unit / per day transportation fee at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. Beginning March 1, 2013, transportation fees will only be applied to individuals who use the Walt Disney World
®
Resort shuttles at the resort.

We remain committed to delivering exceptional Count On
Me! service
and creating vacation memories for you and your family and friends.

Thank you for your continued feedback and ongoing support. We look forward to your stay at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort.

Sincerely,
Richard
Scinta
, Resort Manager