Bonnet Creek v. Buena Vista Suites

[Blurrysmom]

Hi everyone,

I need some advice!! We have a last-minute trip booked for next weekend. We've reserved a room at Buena Vista Suites, but just learned we can get something at Bonnet Creek for the same price (without the free breakfast). I am tempted to switch to BC because people on here rave about it so much, but I've read several recent negative reviews on tripadvisor about BC customer service, cleanliness, and construction/noise. What should we do? My priorities are: 1) ease of access, meaning proximity to the parks, but also not walking for 10 min. to get from room to parking lot; 2) a quiet place to relax after a strenuous day; and 3) the ability to show a DVD on a working TV to our 3-year-old. We have to make a fast decision if we want to change hotels, so I appreciate your speedy inuput!!! Thanks!
Jen

 

[JimMIA]

I am tempted to switch to BC because people on here rave about it so much, but I've read several recent negative reviews on tripadvisor about BC customer service, cleanliness, and construction/noise.

I don't know anything about Buena Vista Suites, but we just returned from five nights at Bonnet Creek. I also think there is a strong tendency for people to post negative things on any Internet trip report forum -- generally, most folks don't post if everything is okay.

On our trip to WBC, every aspect of customer service, cleanliness, and noise were perfect -- and I don't mean good, I mean PERFECT. The only exception was the little twit at the body-snatcher desk (parking permit) who was phony-nice and annoying, but that was only for the few seconds it took to tell her no a couple of times.

With regard to noise, I don't think you'll have any. The noise reported some time ago was coming from the construction of the hotel. The exterior of the hotel is now completed and all work is inside. We didn't hear any noise, even when we were outside at the Pirate Pool right next door (and that was during the day, when the construction workers were working).

My priorities are: 1) ease of access, meaning proximity to the parks, but also not walking for 10 min. to get from room to parking lot;

At Bonnet Creek, the parking is right behind your tower or beside your tower. The longest walk we had was less than 50 yards, which is nothing. Driving, I can get anywhere in WDW in less than 15 minutes from Bonnet Creek. We didn'f use the BC busses (free), but they go to all four theme parks and Downtown Disney. And they run on a schedule, so there are no mysteries about when the next bus will arrive.

2) a quiet place to relax after a strenuous day;

BC has 5 pools (Towers 2, 4, & 6, plus Tower 5 and the main pool, both of which have lazy rivers). We had a lake view and also enjoyed sitting on our balcony.

and 3) the ability to show a DVD on a working TV to our 3-year-old.

The TVs in our room were new flat-screen and in perfect working order (with 99 channels of cable, with all the kids channels). I don't recall if there was a DVD player or not.

 

[saysay]

I have never stayed at Buena Vista Suites...but have stayed at WBC 2 times.

Parking is right outside your building. We went in May last year and this year, so not peak season, but never had a problem finding a parking spot. We parked both in deck and in lot.

We used the DVD player to watch movies in the living room area, worked fine.

We never heard any construction noise, last year they were finishing up the new tower, this year the hotel. We were in Tower 5 which is next to the newest tower. We never heard anyone next to us or above us either.

We never found any employees of the hotel to be rude, we have always had good service. I will say when we called the front desk it did take a while for someone to pick up, but you know its a timeshare, NOT a hotel. Whatever requests we called for were handled quickly and in a very friendly manner...wanted more laundry detergent or dishwasher soap.

We checked in at 4:30 on a Saturday and the wait was not bad, only 1 person in front of us for the main check in and 2 for the "parking desk".

We are not owners, we rent from someone and love really enjoys our stay here. I have a trip planned for July and can't wait to go back. We have both used the buses and driven and actually prefer having our own car at the parks...despite the pain of the TTC.

You could always check it out for yourself, or if you like Buena Vista Suites and know it will work stay there.

 

[Blurrysmom]

Thanks for the feedback. We just committed to BC. Have to try it for ourselves. With the size of the room and the balcony, plus the nice pool areas and playground, we think it will be great. Owner we're renting from also told us the construction is now interior and landscaping, so that was comforting to know. We can't wait for our trip! Fortunately, it's next week, so we don't have to to!

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks for the feedback. We just committed to BC. Have to try it for ourselves. With the size of the room and the balcony, plus the nice pool areas and playground, we think it will be great. Owner we're renting from also told us the construction is now interior and landscaping, so that was comforting to know. We can't wait for our trip! Fortunately, it's next week, so we don't have to to!

Have fun, but be wary when you go to pick up your "parking pass."

No matter what they offer you, do NOT agree to attend an "Owner's Update," Resort Orientation, or to "fill out a survey." Those words are nothing but weasle-speak for timeshare sales presentations and the Wyndham sales weasles are as shady as any in the industry.

Great resorts -- sleezy salesforce.

If you ever become interested in purchasing a Wyndham (or any other) timeshare, go to TUG and go to school. You'll soon learn that you can buy Wyndham timeshares on eBay any day of the week for $1 plus closing costs (and sometimes even with closing included).

The Wyndham resorts are even nicer when you only paid $500 to own...and you didn't even have to tussle with the sales weasles!

 

[Blurrysmom]

I appreciate the fair warning, Jim. But fear not, we are from Massachusetts and have no problem being rude when need be. By the way, can we just byspass the "parking" woman in the first place? Would we be towed without the requisite parking pass? There's no charge for parking, so a parking pass seems sort of silly. Just wondering.

 

[JimMIA]

I appreciate the fair warning, Jim. But fear not, we are from Massachusetts and have no problem being rude when need be. By the way, can we just byspass the "parking" woman in the first place? Would we be towed without the requisite parking pass? There's no charge for parking, so a parking pass seems sort of silly. Just wondering.

I don't know if they do any kind of enforcement. I saw numerous cars without parking passes, and it's not used to get in the gate -- you use your room key for that.

The people at the "parking pass" desk are not oppressive or anything, but they try everything they can think of to get you to agree to attend a sales presentation...including trying to drag the conversation out. I just told the young lady I was not interested. I had to tell her several times, but I didn't quite get to the point of asking her what part of "no" she didn't understand.