Bonnet Creek through RCI

[MinnieForMe]

Is it possible or do the owners rent out their weeks instead? I don't want to waste time and pass up another good timeshare waiting for a Bonnet Creek reservation that will never come.

 

[skmommy]

Last time I spoke with the RCI people I was told that they "virtually never" get Bonnet Creek, but they do get others in the area. Don't really know how true this really is though.

 

[Lisa P.]

We've been trading through RCI for over 10 years, using Wyndham (aka Fairfield) points which have the internal trading priority when seeking Wyn Bonnet Creek in RCI, as well as using some very strong non-Wyn timeshare weeks. I also read several online forums, one of which has thousands of Wyn owners who like to trade through RCI.

Bonnet Creek deposits showed up in RCI by the handful when the resort first opened. Sightings at RCI have been very scarce since. Some owners think there may be some limited availability in the quietest seasons (Jan/May/Sept) once the resort is fully built out and very large. But so far, it hasn't been noticed.

Rent from an owner if you'd really like to stay there. We have a Thanksgiving 1BR and we plan to book an Easter 1BR or 2BR. A lot of owners do the same. HTH!

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thank you. As we are looking for a 3 bedroom I think we'll stick to Grand Beach, Silver Lake or Orange Lake. Anyone else have another (3 bedroom unit) resort they like?

 

[Brian Noble]

Lisa P. is right on the money. The reason is not that BC owners never deposit---they do. Rather, Wyndham controlls all deposits from its point-based resorts. So, if a BC owner requests an exchange through RCI, Wyndham, not the owner, picks the week, and it can be from *any* Wyndham resort. Over the past 1.5 years (as long as I've been watching), Wyndham typically does not deposit their newest resorts, preferring to deposit older ones.

What's more, Wyndham never deposits anything larger than a 2BR at any resort as far as I can tell. If you need a 3BR, you've got a better chance of being struck by lightning than getting an RCI exchange into BC.

 

[Lisa P.]

HGVC at Sea World is a bit further away (similar distance from WDW to Orange Lake, opposite direction). This a a VERY nice resort w/good amenities and lovely, spacious 3BRs.

Houses at Summer Bay has individual 3BR vacation homes but they share all the nice resort amenities with Summer Bay. Spacious, private, and many (though not all) have a private pool or hot tub on the back lanai.

Cypress Pointe (both Phase 1 and Phase 2/Grandvillas) - pretty nice 3BRs, if you don't mind the teeny, tiny 3rd BR, just for a kid or two. But this resort is very conveniently located - 2 lights from Crossings and Hotel Plaza Blvd. It offers all the essentials in the way of amenities, both in the rooms and at the resort.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thank you all!

We have stayed at Summer Bay before and may try there again. We stayed in the 3 bedroom at Cypress Point many year's ago. My boys would go crazy in that little 3rd room so I'm skipping that one on my list.

I'm seriously considering Orange Lake but am afraid of the distance to the pool. I'm handicap and my parents are older.

 

[Brian Noble]

Every time I think I have Wyndham figured out, they throw me another curveball. Look at what I found on RCI this morning...

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort (#6369)
9560 Via Encinas
Lake Buena Vista , FL , 32830 USA
407/238-3500
www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com


2 Bedrooms 8 / 6 Full 02/06/2009 02/13/2009
1 Bedroom 4 / 2 Full 02/06/2009 02/13/2009
1 Bedroom 4 / 2 Full 02/13/2009 02/20/2009
2 Bedrooms 8 / 6 Full 02/20/2009 02/27/2009

The one in bold is for President's Week. It's not a large unit, but it does blow my "never in prime time" theory out of the water!

 

[Lisa P.]

Brian, after seeing your post on another forum, I searched online at RCI for anything at Bonnet Creek from now through 2009. The 2BRs you posted seem to be gone but I'm surprised to still see the two 1BRs available! Nothing else is currently showing in any other time frame.

Years back, I asked an RCI supervisor how many deposits RCI required from Wyndham Old Town Alexandria (Wash., D.C.) in order to include them in their book. At that time, she said 6 per year. If she was right and if that rule still applies, perhaps these were 4 of them.

It'll be interesting to see if any more turn up.