Bonnet Creek - Good, Bad, Ugly

[kmb584]

I have taken 46 Walt Disney World vacations thus far in life and can count on just both hands the number of times that I have stayed at an off-property resort. Our last two trips [October 2011 and last week] account for two of those times and our upcoming October trip will add another notch to the proverbial bedpost.

As soon as my family saw how excited DD got at just the mention of WDW she and I found ourselves with extra traveling companions, most notably my 78-year-old Grandmother who has more energy when we're there than I do! I strongly believe in the more the merrier but what's even merrier is more space at a not-break-the-bank rate! I love my family but don't want to sleep on top of them.

A 2 bedroom unit at Sheraton Vistana was our room of choice on our last two vacations and both stays were truly enjoyable. The units are spacious, clean, well kept and just all around beautiful.. BUT after reading numerous threads on Bonnet Creek my interest was piqued. We arrived home last Tuesday, Wednesday afternoon I was on the phone with Ken Price of Vacation Upgrades, and my signed contract hit the mail box yesterday. We'll be in a 2 bedroom at BC from 10-23 to 10-31 and nothing can beat the $120/night price tag!

Almost every review I've come across has been favorable but I do have to ask: what's the bad? the ugly? I saw that their timeshare presentations can be forceful and the salesmen often rude or insulting, however I don't plan on attending a presentation. I read that they'll often call the room and leave messages upwards of 5 times each day urging that person to attend a presentation - can I request no phone calls?

What are the rooms like, in general? Some reviews are glowing, others mention furniture so worn down that it's stained, ripped, torn. We're paying extra for every other day housekeeping but I've come across reviews where previous guests said their rooms weren't cleaned despite paying for housekeeping. Has this ever happened to anyone here? I also read THREE reviews where, upon check-in, guests found blood on their sheets.

I know I'm sounding like Negative Nelly here and that our stay will most likely be just fine but I do like to go into new situations prepared with all of the hard info, and those "blood on the sheets" reviews have me a bit horrified! So, let me have it - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

 

[Chelley00]

We are staying at Bonnet Creek for the first time in October. I'm reading as many bad as good reviews like you, however let me just say that we stayed at the Poly last trip and when went to our first room there was wallpeper peeling and a broken bathroom door and in our second room we had blood on one set of sheets (pillow and sheet both) AND what looked like Cheetos cheese all over the sheets on the other bed. You aren't really immune from bad service anywhere

 

[Disneyforus]

We stayed at BC last year and the timeshare pitch when you pick up your parking pass wasn't that bad...just keep saying no..not interested. We never got phone calls in our room...we didn't even check for messages...anyone who would have needed us will call our cellphones.

We loved the resort enough that we are heading back in 1 week!
Don't have anything "ugly" to say, other than some of the furnishings were slightly worn...but not so it bothered us.

Can't beat the location..we timed it one night and from the actual exit of Epcot to get to our car, and drive back to the resort, and walk to our room was less than 10 min!

 

[Upatnoon]

I have taken 46 Walt Disney World vacations thus far in life and can count on just both hands the number of times that I have stayed at an off-property resort. Our last two trips [October 2011 and last week] account for two of those times and our upcoming October trip will add another notch to the proverbial bedpost.

As soon as my family saw how excited DD got at just the mention of WDW she and I found ourselves with extra traveling companions, most notably my 78-year-old Grandmother who has more energy when we're there than I do! I strongly believe in the more the merrier but what's even merrier is more space at a not-break-the-bank rate! I love my family but don't want to sleep on top of them.

A 2 bedroom unit at Sheraton Vistana was our room of choice on our last two vacations and both stays were truly enjoyable. The units are spacious, clean, well kept and just all around beautiful.. BUT after reading numerous threads on Bonnet Creek my interest was piqued. We arrived home last Tuesday, Wednesday afternoon I was on the phone with Ken Price of Vacation Upgrades, and my signed contract hit the mail box yesterday. We'll be in a 2 bedroom at BC from 10-23 to 10-31 and nothing can beat the $120/night price tag!

Almost every review I've come across has been favorable but I do have to ask: what's the bad? the ugly? I saw that their timeshare presentations can be forceful and the salesmen often rude or insulting, however I don't plan on attending a presentation. I read that they'll often call the room and leave messages upwards of 5 times each day urging that person to attend a presentation - can I request no phone calls?

What are the rooms like, in general? Some reviews are glowing, others mention furniture so worn down that it's stained, ripped, torn. We're paying extra for every other day housekeeping but I've come across reviews where previous guests said their rooms weren't cleaned despite paying for housekeeping. Has this ever happened to anyone here? I also read THREE reviews where, upon check-in, guests found blood on their sheets.

I know I'm sounding like Negative Nelly here and that our stay will most likely be just fine but I do like to go into new situations prepared with all of the hard info, and those "blood on the sheets" reviews have me a bit horrified! So, let me have it - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

We just stayed in the Fountains II section of Vistana and have stayed at Bonnet Creek more than a dozen times. Both resorts are excellent. Not problems checking in or with service at all.

Here is my take on the resorts:

I liked the room layout and decor of Vistana a bit more. The Vistana room was nicely updated. I liked the screened-in porch and table. Nice granite in the kitchen. They are about equal to the updated rooms at BC or in tower 6.

I liked that you park right next to your room at Vistana. No elevator in our area, though.

I liked that right outside the gates of Vistana is a Walgreens, Chick-Fil-A and Wendys.

The grounds at Vistana are more green and lush.

The food prices at Vistana seemed a bit more affordable, although we never ate on the property.

The pools at Vistana are well-kept, but dated. Bonnet Creek has 2 lazy rivers and has more theming at the pools. You can also walk to more pools at Bonnet Creek.

Bonnet Creek is much more compact. You can easily walk everywhere. At Vistana, you have to drive to mini golf and some of the restaurants.

Bonnet Creek is within the gates of Disney and a breeze to get to the parks. Vistana is in a much more congested area. We had to sit in traffic a few times.

Bonnet Creek has free shuttles to the parks. Not free for us at Vistana.

Mini golf is free at Bonnet Creek, and not free at Vistana.

The bottom line for me is if the bulk of my vacation is spent going to Disney theme parks, I will pick BC first. If I was going to Sea World/Universal, or just doing a resort trip, I might pick Vistana. I would not be unhappy at either place.


Have fun!

 

[princesskayla]

We loved Bonnet Creek so much we bought a timeshare from Wyndham. I have never once had a bad experience at the resort. We have even stayed in the 4-bedroom villa and loved it! The rooms have always been clean and in good repair. We look forward to going again.

 

[Portugal1000]

We are spending 3 weeks at BC in August, this will be our 4th trip there and our 9th to Orlando in 7 years. We have only stayed at BC in december before and usually stay at SSR in August (great deal for UK, free dining and 42% off) However prices now increasing so more economical to stay at BC. I love both resorts but in my opinion you get a far superor room at BC. We have always stayed in main building as we like to be low down. Fantastic vie of fireworks and the room were newly refurbished when we there last December. My husband is not easily impressed but he always say "I just can't understand why you would pay to stay at the Poly when you can stay here for a thrid of the price" or "I don't understand why everyone doesn't stay here".
I am not a big fan of high rise hotels but I love the feel of BC. I love that there are lots of different pools and lots going on. We love main building because it still has that hotel feel. Never have a problem parking right outside. We love that every time we go back there is something new there.
Will be interesting to see if we feel differently after stauing during a busy time. We have friends coming with us for first time so fingers crossed they love it as much as we do as we of course recommended to them.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We stayed at BC last year and the timeshare pitch when you pick up your parking pass wasn't that bad...just keep saying no..not interested. We never got phone calls in our room...we didn't even check for messages...anyone who would have needed us will call our cellphones.

We loved the resort enough that we are heading back in 1 week!
Don't have anything "ugly" to say, other than some of the furnishings were slightly worn...but not so it bothered us.

Can't beat the location..we timed it one night and from the actual exit of Epcot to get to our car, and drive back to the resort, and walk to our room was less than 10 min!

We are staying here for the first time in Nov and I have read a lot about it in the past few years. I have been wanting to stay there but I always chicken out and stay at a Disney resort until now. I too was looking for the good, bad & ugly and the statement above is the only negative thing I have seen that people have complained about. Everything else has been positive.

We are going to take our chances and see how it goes, but I am expecting it to be wonderful! You just can't beat the price and location of BC. We were just at Disney in June and I remember driving by and saying to the kids that we would be staying there next time. I can't wait!

By the way, we are also booked with Ken Price.

 

[Brian Noble]

Comparing to Vistana:

Bonnet cons: The standard rooms at Bonnet are a small notch below e.g. the renovated Fountains rooms in terms of fit, finish, and furnishings overall. But, not incomparably so. Bonnet is also much higher density than even the newest sections of Vistana. The resort store at Vistana is a little more serviceable than the resort store at Bonnet for those last-minute items you forgot to grab on your grocery run.

Bonnet pros: IMO Bonnet has a better location, better pools and other common amenities. Now that the hotel is open, Bonnet's restaurant situation is a notch above as well.

All things being equal, I'd rather stay at Bonnet. But, I'd be happy at either one.

 

[deelovesdis]

I have stayed at both Vistana and Bonnet Creek several times. I love both resorts.

THe one drawback for me with Vistana is that a ground floor villa isnt guaranteed. I was on the second floor, and I use a cane and had to carry up my luggage one bag at a time. Why? No elevators. At BC the luggage guy brought up my luggage and I gave him $40 . It was worth every penny to me. We had alot of luggage as we stayed 3 weeks and drove down.

However, Vistana is beautiful, the room is huge, I love the screened in patio room. I was able to sit in the patio room and watch my DD in the pool. THe pool was nice but cold. Believe me, I dont like to swim in a hot pool, after a hot day you like a refreshing dip, but the pool was so cold we were shivering each night in that pool.

THe pools at BC at heated and plentiful- Lazy river, pirate pool, regular pool.

Both have internet in the rooms. Beautiful rooms, full kitchens. BBQ grills outside..

so its preference.

I kept getting lost going to the BC after the theme parks . Never got lost going to the Vistana. It is on a main road.


hope this helps!

 

[amorevacations]

I LOVE Vistana, (I've been an owner since '97). But I must say if you're trip is going to be Disney-centric, I would recommend WBC. It's in the heart of all of the Disney happenings, DTD, Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT. The shuttle service was great!
...but IMO units @ Vistana are more luxurious, and the grounds are nicer. However, you really can't beat WBC for a Disney vacation.
Don't get me wrong, the WBC property was very nice as well as the furnishings in the units but I just find Vistana nicer. Either way, I don't believe you will be disappointed at WBC. (I will definitely go back)

 

[palmettostatemom]

We're going to BC this October for the 1st time - we decided to go down for a short week. We've stayed at Vistana twice and love it - that was what I was going to choose on my timeshare exchange, but I saw BC was available, so I snagged that this time as we have been wanting to go there.
We have also stayed at other Wyndham TS resorts in FL (& others areas) and I must say they are the hardest sell timeshare resorts I've ever been to. In fact, it was so bad at the last FL resort we stayed at, I emailed Wyndham about it. My normal spiel to the TS parking person (we own a TS - no way you can beat our price, etc., etc.) just wasn't working - I just had to walk off from the guy, his mouth still running. Just be very firm & say NOT INTERESTED AT ALL or just do like some others on the other thread have done & circle the lowest income on the questionnaire, lol. We always unplug our phone in the unit so we won't be bothered also.