Bonnet Creek

[Dean]

I think if all you want is a nice bed with a short drive to Disney, Bonnet Creek is great and can be lot cheaper than DVC. But to me, the value in DVC is the resorts themselves - the grounds, staff, activities, recreation, restaurants, etc. We don't spend our whole vacation in the theme parks - we spend most of it enjoying the resort. If all you do is sleep and head to the parks, DVC is a lot less attractive.

There are certainly a number of off property resorts that are a lot more than a place to sleep. In many ways, some are nicer than DVC with better pools and more activities at the property itself. Side by side DVC resorts are very nice but comparing just the property there are at least around 10-12 resort options that are as good or better in many ways. DVC excels in 2 areas, the on property benefits and the theming. However, from a pool and unit standpoint or from an on site activity view, DVC properties aren't at the top for the area though some are better than others esp BCV for the pool. IF you don't want to be immersed in Disney and just hang out at the resort, there are better options off site than the DVC resorts.

 

[culli]

Wyndham resale is probably the best deal around and has many great locations. I have DVC to stay at WDW and don't understand why anyone would pay that kind of cash to stay elsewhere. Wyndham is just one example, this link is an owner site but will show all the places you can use their internal system https://www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com/ffr/index.do you can do a google search to see the point charts. They have a new DC location right where DVC has bought and people seem to be excited about. Wyndham also has Hawaii properties, and many many more. I have not stayed at BC but have stayed at one of the newer Wyndham resorts whose rooms are very similar. The rooms are very nice and will consider BC if I"m tight on points or can't get what I want.

bnoble has summarized Wyndham very well so not much I could add. But think of the cost of DVC for buy in. If you watch the resale market you can get Wyndham pts with decent MF(I say about $5 per 1k MF and you are doing good) for about $500-1000 including closing costs. I have 500k pts (3 contracts) for about $2300 which includes closing costs and resort transfer fees, my MF avg $4.7 per 1k (wish I was at bnoble MFs!). Now figure out what that would cost for an equivalent DVC pts and you will understand why I feel only use the VERY VERY expensive DVC pts for WDW or WDL trips only!!!
I for one love staying on site and although DVC is the most expensive thing in my TS portfollio it is our favorite. If staying on site ever loses its appeal I can sell my DVC pts thanks to ROFR DVC is much more stable, and use my wyndam pts if I want to go to WDW..........I just don't ever see that happening

However, buyer beware as Wyndham does have its issues but for the price they are very minor.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Wow! I was a little apprehensive about starting this thread. However, I must say...this has been a quite productive discussion.

 

[shortbusmom]

Okay from someone who own both DVC and Wyndham-- Wyndham is the hard sell they will constantly bother you the whole time you are staying there especially if the both the husband and wife are together, the facitlites are basically the same as far as points go 300 points vs 300,000 is the same they just use a different term for their points than Disney, now if you want to bank points at Wyndham you must do it through RCI and you pay a fee to bank, a fee to remove points, fees to book more than 2 reservations per year, a fee to have someone else name on the reservation other than yours (for ex: my son who is 22 wanted to use our Wyndham but it was 75 dollars for him to have his name on the reservation-- also they will take a credit card and put a $250 hold on it, until you leave to make sure everything is okay. they always want you to come for updates when you are staying in one of their resorts and some resorts you must pay to park your car and they even call you non stop at home for updates at home-- if you don't want to pay the extra fees you must be at the top level of their points so as not to pay the fees. When staying at Bonnet Creeks which we did last year-you get no extras--transportation is horrible it only runs selected times and when we were there the handicap bus was not running at all, no extra magic hours, no disney dining plan and the activities that Bonnet Creek runs such as ice cream events cost money-- last week at SSR the girls at the pool ran contest for all ages giving out really nice prizes to everyone who participated and their was no fee involved. Bonnet Creek last year put people in rooms where they were doing a great deal of noisy construction and the construction started at 5 am the people were very upset this is their vacation. We have stayed at other Wyndham resorts in Atlantic city and williamsburg and Las Vegas they are definitely not kept up as well as disney units-- the one in williamsburg had counter top coming off, leaking roof, horrible beds, remote controls that didn't work, pillows that unusable, and kitchen supplies that were purchased at the dollar store . The front desk staff are usually rude and not friendly or helpful. You are going to say why do you keep yor wyndham becasue resale on the is terrible and we would lose way to much money and noone wants to buy them, Wyndham unlike Disney will not buy them back unless you upgrade and get more points they only want to sell --

 

[carlbarry]

As to the above:
You CAN bank Wyndham points. However, you must bank them BEFORE they are issued-LOL. In other words, if your poins are issued Jan. 1, you must bank them BEFORE Jan. 1! Fairly useless, but Wyndham is not very owner friendly.
As far as "renting" out your points, Wyndham put a stop to that this year. If you have points left over, they are lost.
As to being bothered by phone calls at home, I have owned a small TS (49,000 at Star Island) for a year and a half now, and as far as I know, have never been called by Wyndham.
The bottom line with Wyndham is, you can get in at rock bottom prices. Just be aware that Wyndham trading power is low, and if you're not careful, you will be nickled and dimed. However, if you work it right, you will come out ahead.
My only goal was to be able to stay at Star Island 5 nights a year for my $300 MF. So far, I have stayed at a 2 BR at Orange Lake for a week, will stay at Bonnet Creek for 4 nights in September, have banked a week with RCI, and am considering staying at Massanutten for a week through RCI for $200. So even with Wyndham's limitations, I feel I am doing OK.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have found banking (called "pooling" in Wyndham-speak) to be very useful, but it does require you to plan ahead a little bit more than you would with DVC, because you have to decide before your use-year starts. But, the "any resort" window is 10 months rather than 7, so it's not as much of an advance notice as it seems.

After pooling, credits are good from the date you pool them to three years from that date. So, effectively, you can bank forward up to two years. Unlike DVC, pooled points can still be used in their original use year even after they've been placed in the pool. So, some people pool their points every year, out of habit. The cost ($39 at the moment) is a small price to pay for the extra flexibility, even if you end up using all of your points during the use year.

The nuisance fees, likewise, can mostly be avoided with a bit of planning. I think I've only paid a total of about $90 in such fees over the past three years. Again, in the grand scheme of things, this is a modest increase that still leaves me at a very attractive total cost of ownership. My perspective is that it doesn't matter what I do and don't pay for. What matters is that total cost number.

But, as shortbusmom points out, Bonnet Creek is Not Disney. The transportation is not nearly as convenient, there are no onsite perks, etc. If those are important to you, it may be worth paying the extra money that DVC ownership or rental requires. If you're the sort of person for whom only Disney-owned resorts will do, DVC is a smart move. But, if you can imagine the idea of an offiste stay, you could do a lot worse than WBC.

 

[culli]

Okay from someone who own both DVC and Wyndham-- Wyndham is the hard sell they will constantly bother you the whole time you are staying there especially if the both the husband and wife are together, the facitlites are basically the same as far as points go 300 points vs 300,000 is the same they just use a different term for their points than Disney, now if you want to bank points at Wyndham you must do it through RCI and you pay a fee to bank, a fee to remove points, fees to book more than 2 reservations per year, a fee to have someone else name on the reservation other than yours (for ex: my son who is 22 wanted to use our Wyndham but it was 75 dollars for him to have his name on the reservation-- also they will take a credit card and put a $250 hold on it, until you leave to make sure everything is okay. they always want you to come for updates when you are staying in one of their resorts and some resorts you must pay to park your car and they even call you non stop at home for updates at home-- if you don't want to pay the extra fees you must be at the top level of their points so as not to pay the fees. When staying at Bonnet Creeks which we did last year-you get no extras--transportation is horrible it only runs selected times and when we were there the handicap bus was not running at all, no extra magic hours, no disney dining plan and the activities that Bonnet Creek runs such as ice cream events cost money-- last week at SSR the girls at the pool ran contest for all ages giving out really nice prizes to everyone who participated and their was no fee involved. Bonnet Creek last year put people in rooms where they were doing a great deal of noisy construction and the construction started at 5 am the people were very upset this is their vacation. We have stayed at other Wyndham resorts in Atlantic city and williamsburg and Las Vegas they are definitely not kept up as well as disney units-- the one in williamsburg had counter top coming off, leaking roof, horrible beds, remote controls that didn't work, pillows that unusable, and kitchen supplies that were purchased at the dollar store . The front desk staff are usually rude and not friendly or helpful. You are going to say why do you keep yor wyndham because resale on the is terrible and we would lose way to much money and none wants to buy them, Wyndham unlike Disney will not buy them back unless you upgrade and get more points they only want to sell -- If you are interested in Bonnet's Creek or Wyndham contact me I have points to sell or to rent also -- I would love to sell Bonnet Creek and buy more Disney with the money.

It appears you paid developer costs for Wyndham? If so then yes I agree that the little things would piss me off too. However, my comparison is on the resale market where you can get pts for next to nothing. Like Brian explains if used wisely it is one of the best and flexible plans around. If I paid 45-55k for my points from the developer vs the $2300 I paid they yeah I probably wouldn't be happy especially when I saw what they worth after the deal was done. If you want to give me your pts I will pay for the closing costs and resort transfer fees if the MF per 1k is reasonable.

With timeshares you really have to do your research and get the right thing for the right purpose. There are great TS units to own to trade, great ones for using at the home resort, and great one for overall ease and flexibility. If you search you can find good deals on each category, just like anything it is hard to find one that that does everything outstanding. If you do take the time and build a nice portfollio for you needs I'm a firm beliver that timeshares are one of the best ways to go to vacation at a great price.

 

[littlestar]

The main advantage DVC has over other brands in Orlando is being on Disney property/convenience to the parks with onsite transportation, etc., and the great theming (story telling) of their resorts. When you stay in a Disney resort you feel immersed in something outside of the real world. That's why we keep some DVC points - for that escape experience.

Now, saying the above, I do own other timeshares and enjoy trading into the other top brand resorts in Orlando for our additional trips to Orlando. Some of those other great brands in Orlando give me a tropical, palm-tree-filled vacation and get me out of Indiana's cold winters while offering great bedding, full cable TV, and beautiful top of the line furnishings.

I think a person has to decide how important Disney themed resorts are to them and if the Disney themed resorts are where they want to be for the most part. They are branching out to Hawaii, California, and you've got Hilton Head and Vero, too. If I were wanting to go to a lot of different places on the east coast, I would definitely take a hard look at Wyndham - resale only, though.

 

[spiceycat]

going in Sept to stay at BC - so will say if liked it when return.

have a feeling will like it.

Offsite has some nice resorts as Brian, Dean and Lisa have say.

go over to the orlando hotels & attractions board if you want more information

 

[Lisa P.]

Shortbusmom, since it appears that you've purchased retail and you would lose a big chunk of change by trying to resell, I'd encourage you to seriously learn more about how to make the most of your Wyndham ownership. As others have said, there's usually no need for you to pay added nuisance fees if you learn the ins and outs. We've learned how not to pay them. And if you'd like to learn more, visit this unofficial WyndhamOwners.org website.

We have pooled our Wyndham points in some years and really appreciated the three full years of usage and the ability to combine points from several use years for reservations. It wonderful if you want to plan a big family gathering or reunion.

We've found that both DVC and Wyndham have higher fees for some activities that are lower or free at the other. Wyndham has some amenities not currently offered at DVC, such as computers that guests may use for free and indoor pools at most resorts. DVC's transportation and themes are unmatched. But please don't think that you don't pay for things like ice cream socials at DVC - the costs are simply rolled into the annual dues and you pay for these things whether you use them or not. These two are distinctly different systems and you may have found that DVC is simply a better fit for you, perfectly legitimate. We sold our DVC (too expensive for what we got and too limited in resort destinations for us) and Wyndham has been a better fit for us. Bottom line is, they're designed to sell to and appeal to different markets and are best used for different purposes. And btw, if you learn of any points-based mini-system with as many destinations as Wyndham, which has all themed resorts at the DVC-quality level, please let me know!!!

In over 10 years of staying at Wyndham resorts, we've never had a $250 hold put on our credit card. Come to think of it, we have had this done ($500, I think) at Disney resort hotels, though, assuming we were going to charge things to our room when we hadn't planned to. Anyway, was this done at Bonnet Creek because the guest checking in was younger than the 23 year old minimum age required at most Wyndhams? Where did this happen to you?

It's easy to keep sales from contacting you while on vacation at a Wyndham. When you get the parking pass, inform them firmly that you are not going to attend the owner update and you are not to be contacted again about it. Has always worked for us. Anyone calling you at home is not from Wyndham. Your deeded ownership is public record, accessible to any scam artist claiming this. DVCers have received these calls too, usually from "RCI" but they don't even have an individual RCI account so would never really be called by RCI.

As for noisy construction, that can happen at any resort in the world, in development. Construction at Bonnet Creek generally goes on between 8am-5pm. The folks who complained to you may have been exaggerating out of frustration. I've been awakened at a Disney resort too (and other places), where grounds crews were mowing or weed-whacking right outside my BR window in the morning and it's a hard way to start the day on vacation.

I hope you reported the maintenance issues that you've experienced at other Wyndhams to management at the time. We've been pleased with their responses when we have had issues, just as we were when we owned with DVC. We've also had mostly excellent, friendly, efficient and helpful staff at Wyndham resorts - on par with DVC, to be honest.

It's a shame you've had bad experiences. It seems most reports on the timeshare forums are that the only consistently problematic staff are the sales sharks aka Member Services at the selling resorts - to be avoided. It's possible to find a curmudgeon anywhere, Wyndham, DVC or elsewhere. Again, I hope you'll look into how you can get the best from your Wyn points at TUG or TS4Ms or WyndhamOwners.org. Researching a program or resort thoroughly before you buy (and preferably resale) is the better way but what's done is done. Hope you can make the most of it.

 

[shortbusmom]

Okay to answer the many points that were made --of course i reported the problems at the resort, and of course management answer was that they were aware of the problems but were unable to do anything about them at the time since the property was going to be update in the coming months-- that answer didn't make our stay any nicer-- we just left a day earlier. As far as the construction it wasn't just basic yard work it was several back hoes working to make the new pool area and water are bigger at Bonnetts Creek and it did start at 5 am because I myself heard the noise and the constant beeping of the the back hoes. And yes my son did have his credit card charged the $250 amount (or rather a hold put on it ) and yes he is under 23 and I did call about the situation and was told it is policy and they only do that for people who are under age and not deeded members. We only have enough points that we only book now for long weekends at resorts that have 2 bedrooms units. And yes disney is a better fit and a much nicer and for us a cheaper option. I would sell my Wyndham in a heartbeat if I could so if you know of anyone who would like Wyndham points at OceanSide CA have them contact me. That way i can get more Disney and I already own plenty of Disney at this time -- and since Dinsey trades with RCI now I have just as many options.

 

[Brian Noble]

As long as you recognize that you won't get anywhere near what you paid for it, selling the Oceanside deed should not be that hard. If you are unwilling or unable to take such a price for it, you may well be better off renting time at the resort to others.

 

[shortbusmom]

at this time my husband use it for a guys teip to vegas each year and to atlantic city, I try never to go and someday I will sell it we only have 189,00 points not like the amount we have at Disney which is over 800.