Anyone stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek AND any DVC properties?

[JessLCH]

If so can you compare room and resort quality? We are booked in a 2 bedroom presidential ( got a super cheap rate and looks significantly more updated than the standard rooms) for next Thanksgiving. previously we have stayed only at DVC properties (Wilderness Lodge Villas 2x, Grand Californian Villas 1x and Saratoga Springs 1) renting points from an owner. We loved all our DVC stays with the exception of Saratoga where we had bad room luck. rooms were musty and mildewy smelling. And we even moved rooms once because the first was so bad. because of this we are giving WBC at try. just wondering how they compare overall to DVC. I am fine with missing out on the dining plan and EMH since we don't use those anyway.

 

[snappy]

I have stayed 3 times in a BW view in a 2 bedroom, once in a std room studio, and 6-7 times at WBC, 3-4 times in a 2 bedroom, once in ac 3 bedroom and twice in a presidential 1 bedroom.

Also have stated in both a 2 bedroom and studio 3 times at OKW.

I like the lazy rivers at WBC very much. The presidentials are wonderful. For the price, wonderful. Although I am really not into the Mediterrian colors at WBC, the furnishings were very nice. The square footage is better at WBC.

I do so love the Boardwalk though, walking to EPCOT, the entertainers on the boardwalk at night, and just the general vibe.

My solution is to combine a stay between the two which I have tried now 3 times. It is the best of both worlds.

Saratoga is the one resort I personally would avoid, much rather the whole time at WBC.

Good luck with whatever your choice may be!

 

["Ginger"]

Going to be staying at Wyndham BC in 2 weeks, it'll be our first stay there, we are owners. I have reserved a 4 bedroom presidential and a 2 bedroom. We are also DVC owners and I will be comparing.

We have stayed in a 2 bedroom at Saratogo and it was very nice but not as nice as Old Key West. I love Old Key West, stayed in a Grandvilla once, fell in love with it but we rarely need that much room.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

We've stayed at Saratoga Springs and at Wyndham Bonnet Creek.

Both rooms were nice, the living room/kitchen area was a lot bigger in WBC but then again we had a 4-bdrm there as opposed to a 2 bdrm in Saratoga Springs.

WBC had more to offer in the way of pools (2 lazy rivers, plus regular pools) but they were more strict on the waterslide (no flotation devices allowed, and parents not allowed to catch kid at bottom of slide, so my son who wasn't fully independently swimming couldn't go on waterside at WBC but he could go on the one at Saratoga Springs).

Bus service was better at Saratoga Springs, since they ran more frequently than the ones at WBC.

 

[swilshire]

Nobody beats Disney for resort activities and friendly staff, but if I compare the room quality in a standard 2br Bonnet Creek unit to a 2br at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Bonnet Creek was nicer. More comfortable sofa and much bigger kitchen. The hallways and exterior spaces are not as nice at Bonnet Creek, but the rooms are more comfy.

Our teen liked the DVC property because he could go off on his own on the Disney buses.

Sheila

 

[JessLCH]

Thanks everyone. We do love the Disney properties, especially Wilderness Lodge. But the deal we got at WBC Presidential is 4-5x cheaper than renting DVC points and I was really put off by the room quality at Saratoga Springs this past visit. The presidential suites at WBC LOOK a lot nicer (room quality) than DVC from the photos/videos I have seen. And the pools look great as well. I will miss the Disney transportation but we got a great car rental deal so we should be fine with that. We will still dine at Disney for most dinners. I was mostly wondering how the actual rooms compare. Sounds like we will be happy.

 

[snappy]

I do not think you will be disappointed, especially with the presidential level. There is a wonderful spa at the new Wyndham Grand hotel that is next to building 6 WBC.. You should check tout-I toured it with friends in October. It has a very extensive menu of services and some truly beautiful and relaxing treatment rooms, but is pricey, not as pricey as the spa at the Waldorf.

Having a car gives you a lot of flexibility. We always rent. I like to pick up stuff at Target. I don't cook much but it is nice to have fruit, water, drinks, beer, and other stuff. The WBC has lots of tubes for the lazy river but I usually pick up a noodle to use for my stay at Target because I do better with a noodle than a tube. The lazy river by the building at WBC where you check in seems to be less crowded and more serene, and is a short walk from all of the buildings.

The bedding and linens seem a notch better at the DVC than WBC, but it is not much of a difference, and certainly not as nice as those at the Waldorf.

I think you are smart to check out WBC, especially if your differential with DVC is 4 to 5 times. You can always go back to DVC later.

The location of Bonnet Creek is ideal. It is next door to the Caribbean beach resort as you head towards Downtown Disney.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've been at OKW, VWL, and BWV, plus a standard 2BR at Bonnet.

The Bonnet units are more functional and more comfortable than the DVC units, with the arguable exception of OKW. The pools at Bonnet are better than most Disney pools, excepting possibly Stormalong Bay (which I've tried by virtue of the BWV feature pool being closed during a stay). It has a location that is arguably better than either OKW or SSR in terms of park commutes---we would often pass by the Bonnet entrance going to/from OKW.

If I were renting from owners, I'd stay at Bonnet and never look back. The cost differential is not worth it to me. My DVC stays are strictly as exchanges, where the cost is much more comparable. Even using exchange, I'd rather stay at Bonnet than SSR, and Bonnet vs. OKW is a toss-up.

 

[JessLCH]

Yikes to whomever said the bedding at DVC is a notch better than WBC! I hope not better than the presidential which looks like nice duvets. I have always found the DVC bedding akin to that of a cheap motel.

 

[spiceycat]

exception - love DVC - joined it

now from all these wonderfully reviews was excepting a wonderfully resort.

did not get that.

it is nice - but there are several nicer timeshares out there including (in my opinion) DVC.

the tub was not a whirlpool tub - it was the same silly thing used at Bryan's Spanish.

the pools were very crowded. a little much rough housing for me.

the lighting for me was a problem - you had to hunt for it. the beds were not that comfortable to me.

would say more but have to leave

 

[JessLCH]

exception - love DVC - joined it

now from all these wonderfully reviews was excepting a wonderfully resort.

did not get that.

it is nice - but there are several nicer timeshares out there including (in my opinion) DVC.

the tub was not a whirlpool tub - it was the same silly thing used at Bryan's Spanish.

the pools were very crowded. a little much rough housing for me.

the lighting for me was a problem - you had to hunt for it. the beds were not that comfortable to me.

would say more but have to leave

I don't care at all about a bathtub- whirlpool or otherwise. Did you stay in a regular or presidential unit?

 

[marko]

We just returned from a week-long stay at Bonnet Creek from Christmas through New Years. I am also a DVC owner and have stayed at most resorts. This was my first stay at Bonnet Creek and I was very satisfied. I had originally wanted a presidential unit but it didn't work out that way, and I was very worried that I would not be happy with our unit. It was spacious, clean, the decor was fine, and we enjoyed the facilities. The beds were OK. We spent our last night in a 1bedroom at BWV (boardwalk view) and I was glad that I didn't use ALL of those points needed if I stayed there during Christmas week. I think my ideal strategy would be my first 2 nights at DVC with the dining plan, followed by a week-long stay in a 3 or 4 bedroom at Bonnet Creek. (We always rent a car, so transportation is not a big factor).