Bonnet Creek has me questioning my DVC contract

[ToddyLu]

What is Universal?? Sorry had to say it, I am a Disney Purist. Our trips to Orlando are only to Disney World, and I have DVC for that. Dare I say that HP doesn't even interest me....I drank the Koolaid.

 

[JBx3]

[QUOTE)

Just because there is another system out there that also has good features doesn't make discussing them a "downer" about DVC.

Also, keep in mind that these are the DISboards, not a cheerleading society for DVC. One of the most important benefits of these boards is that people can come here and get a wide range of viewpoints, and enjoy full discussions of topics of interest. Certainly comparing another system to DVC is both relevant and valuable to DVC members who choose to read the thread.[/QUOTE]

Sure agree....if it wasn't for these boards, I would not have gain answers and knowledge to critical timeshare decision making....DVC or any other. Their are some terrifically experienced people on these boards and I doubt you could gain the same answers from their wisdom as you would a DVC guide, Marriott guide, Wyndman guide, etc. Thanks to all again.

 

[tammymacb]

This has been a very interesting thread.

I am very interested in options outside WDW. As a matter of fact, I've sold my onsite points and added HHI and plan to keep those. Our WDW trips are rarely over 4 nights and if I'm interested, I'll book something at 7 months.

My DH and I travel to the Caribbean every year. We both scuba dive. Last week we returned from St Lucia, before that Cozumel, before that Grand Cayman and so on and so on. I've considered adding another timeshare option several times and my problem is I have NO idea where to start. I joined TUG and started reading, but as I know no one who owns a timeshare, I still feel like there's a ocean I don't know. Wish I knew how to figure it all out.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

if it wasn't for these boards, I would not have gain answers and knowledge to critical timeshare decision making....DVC or any other. Their are some terrifically experienced people on these boards and I doubt you could gain the same answers from their wisdom as you would a DVC guide, Marriott guide, Wyndman guide, etc. Thanks to all again.

I agree. If it wasn't for these boards, I never would have even bought at DVC. Now I am very grateful to be learning about my other options, too. This is a very valuable message thread.

I had tossed around looking at a cheap Marriott that I could lock-off

What does "lock off" mean? I'm reading that a lot in these posts.

 

[JimC]

...What does "lock off" mean? I'm reading that a lot in these posts.

Marriott's program was a weeks system and most of their resorts were two bedroom lock-off villas. Lock-off is a two bedroom villa that can be split into a one bedroom and a studio. In that program you could buy one week and lock-off to get two weeks of vacation out of that single contract.

 

[Brian Noble]

everyone who has posted about Wyndham here is also a DVC owner.

Not quite everyone...

 

[La2kw]

I'll throw in my .02.

Count me in the boat that says if I am not at Disney, what's the point of being in Orlando. Maybe that's because I grew up in FLA, but I have no desire to either sit on I-Drive or at Bonnet Creek or at Orange Lake or anywhere else in ORL. If I am in Orlando, then I am there for Disney, and if I am at Disney, I want to stay onsite.

I understand your desire to stay onsite, but comparing Bonnet Creek to I-Drive or Orange Lake is not really a fair comparison. The only reason Bonnet Creek is not considered "onsite" is because Disney didn't buy that parcel of land. Bonnet Creek is surrounded by Disney property and is adjacent to both Carribean Beach and Pop Century. You can see the resort from all over that end of the Disney property. I-Drive is not even close to "onsite", and neither is Orange Lake.

I have followed this thread since it's inception, the major posters are all here especially the ones with other timeshare properties, even Tim who puts out the DVC news.

What I really don't quite understand is why a Mod hasn't locked this thread up tight and sent everybody off to another site..Tug maybe?
The name should have killed it right off the bat" Bonnet Creek has me questioning my DVC contract".

This is not a uplifting talk about DVC, rather a kind of downer.

Granted not ever thread here needs to be uplifting but this thing has gone way beyond anything positive for DIS/DVC.

Moe

I didn't realize we were required to be "uplifting" about DVC. I love my DVC, but I see nothing wrong with a discussion of the alternatives.

 

[Alexander]

I'll throw in my .02.

Count me in the boat that says if I am not at Disney, what's the point of being in Orlando. Maybe that's because I grew up in FLA, but I have no desire to either sit on I-Drive or at Bonnet Creek or at Orange Lake or anywhere else in ORL. If I am in Orlando, then I am there for Disney, and if I am at Disney, I want to stay onsite.

To me, this thread is really no different than the timeshare version of the onsite/offsite debates that they have on the resorts boards. If staying onsite is important to you, then DVC is the best way to do that. If not, there are cheaper routes to go for some good properties.

But you are forgetting that Bonnet Creek IS on WDW property, more or less--essentially, it is actually a square of land that is surrounded by Disney owned properties that just isn't owned by Disney. I really don't know of many who consider staying at Bonnet Creek to be off-property.

 

[photobob]

I understand your desire to stay onsite, but comparing Bonnet Creek to I-Drive or Orange Lake is not really a fair comparison. The only reason Bonnet Creek is not considered "onsite" is because Disney didn't buy that parcel of land. Bonnet Creek is surrounded by Disney property and is adjacent to both Carribean Beach and Pop Century. You can see the resort from all over that end of the Disney property. I-Drive is not even close to "onsite", and neither is Orange Lake.

I agree, when I started this thread I really wasn't comparing DVC to offsite accommodations, I know they are dirt cheap places to stay out there. I consider Bonnet Creek to be onsite given its location.

 

[JimMIA]

I really don't know of many who consider staying at Bonnet Creek to be off-property.

Although it is actually closer to several WDW attractions than some Disney resorts, I consider Bonnet Creek offsite for several reasons:

1. It is not owned by Disney
2. Staying there does not give a guest the onsite benefits: DME, free theme park parking, room billing for merchandise and F&B outlets, purchase delivery to your resort, EMH, access to DDP if you want it, full access to Disney transportation, etc.
3. And obviously, the resort does not offer the heavy Disney theming that onsite resorts typically have.

I consider it one of the better, more convenient, offsite resorts and a good choice for anyone who doesn't want to stay onsite for whatever reason.

 

[carlbarry]

I am a relatively new Wyndham owner, and a new DVC owner. Last September, while waiting for my DVC points to come through, I stayed at Bonnet Creek. It is a very, very nice resort, with great pool areas, miniature golf, and I have recently received an email that they now have a room where you can go to watch the fireworks!
That being said, it is NOT Disney. If you want a Disney type resort with Disney theming, this is not it. While there, I visited OKW and AKV. There is quite a difference. I thought Bonnet Creek was top notch, but when I went into AKV, I realized what a difference Disney makes. Obviously, Disney invests more money than Wyndham. Which is not to say that Bonnet Creed wasn't beautiful, because it was. But Disney is just a tad better.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm with Jim. There are three things people could mean when they say "offsite". One: not physically within the boundaries of the "Welcome" arches. Two: not physically on land that is part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Three: not eligible for the full panoply of Disney resort perks.

Bonnet Creek only qualifies as "onsite" by definition one---you never have to drive past the "see you real soon" signs. But it's not within the borders of RCID, and none of the Disney perks apply. And, I think most people really mean definition three when they say "onsite".

It's a surprisingly subtle thing, though. For example, all of the DTD Area resorts *are* within the gates, *and* on RCID land, but except for the Hilton, they offer none of the perks. The Hilton is an odd case, with EMH access, but basically nothing else. Shades of Green likewise has EMH, and maybe parking, but nothing else (no ME, dining plan, and no Disney transportation). The Swolphin are *almost* Disney resorts---they have everything but ME and DDP.

I think the new Golden Oak development is going to be the most interesting example: it was de-annexed from RCID, (you can't have non-employees living in the District, else Disney could lose control of its private "government"), but I'm guessing that those properties will have access to most if not all of the Disney perk portfolio, funded by the HOA dues.

 

[Brian Noble]

Speaking of funding the perks...

Disney runs each of its businesses as an independent entity; each theme park, resort, store, and restaurant has to be profitable on its own. Presumably, there is some internal accounting magic by which the resorts "pay" the theme parks for Extra Magic Hours. After all, they are incredibly costly, but other than Foods and Merch sales during that time, there's no additional revenue to the parks. Does anyone know if that arrangement exists in some way for the DVC resorts---especially the standalone ones?

 

[tidefan]

It's a surprisingly subtle thing, though. For example, all of the DTD Area resorts *are* within the gates, *and* on RCID land, but except for the Hilton, they offer none of the perks. The Hilton is an odd case, with EMH access, but basically nothing else.

Thanks Brian. This is exactly what I was trying to say. Trust me, I know exactly where Bonnet Creek is. That being said, I still do not consider it to be onsite. I think Brian's analogy to the DTD hotels is a perfect one. Does anyone consider the Best Western DTD onsite? I don't. Likewise, I don't consider Bonnet Creek to be onsite either.

Again, this is very similar to the onsite/offsite debate on the resorts board. It is personal preference. If I am vacationing at WDW (i.e. - more than 5 days), then I prefer to stay at DVC. YMMV. No right or wrong, but personal preference. Now, for short stays of 1-3 days, to me, renting offsite is probably the way to go if you are not going to heavy duty the parks. But, if that is the case, then something over by Orange Lake or beyond (Bahama Bay/Caribe Cove/Regal Palms) is perfectly fine to me for a short getaway. You can get 3 Bdrms there for under $100/night...

 

[Sammie]

Speaking of funding the perks...

Disney runs each of its businesses as an independent entity; each theme park, resort, store, and restaurant has to be profitable on its own. Presumably, there is some internal accounting magic by which the resorts "pay" the theme parks for Extra Magic Hours. After all, they are incredibly costly, but other than Foods and Merch sales during that time, there's no additional revenue to the parks. Does anyone know if that arrangement exists in some way for the DVC resorts---especially the standalone ones?

Yes it does. Just like all resorts pay for Transportation. Even SSR and OKW are not truly stand alone, because you are always going to have that percentage that Disney owns.

 

[photobob]

Regardless of your definition of on-site, I am surprised at Bonnet Creeks rental prices given its location.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yes it does. Just like all resorts pay for Transportation. Even SSR and OKW are not truly stand alone, because you are always going to have that percentage that Disney owns.

So, then, presumably there should be a line-item somewhere in the resort budgets that lists costs per point for EMH, right? Anyone have a ballpark number?

 

[tay72699]

Regardless of your definition of on-site, I am surprised at Bonnet Creeks rental prices given its location.

Our friends (BC owners) feel the same way...they were surprised what a week in a 2 bedroom went for compared to renting DVC. But you are not getting the Disney perks when staying at Bonnet Creek. There's No EMH, no DDP, no DME and that makes a big difference to some people. If you had no intention of using DME, DDP or EMH then BC would be an affordable option.

 

[JimMIA]

Regardless of your definition of on-site, I am surprised at Bonnet Creeks rental prices given its location.

I am too, but I guess that's the difference between real world and Disney World.

As inexpensive as BC rentals are, I don't think they are out of line with the prices Brian posted for other options. I think we all tend to forget that Orlando is one of the most overbuilt vacation destinations there is, and the supply far exceeds the demand most of the time. Hence the low prices.

 

[tjkraz]

If you had no intention of using DME, DDP or EMH then BC would be an affordable option.

Given the rates cited here, Bonnet Creek is still an affordable option even if you pay for your own airport transportation and forgo the meager savings of the DDP.