Disneyworld - DVC Versus Wyndham's Bonnet Creek

[OhioDVC]

Recently I had the chance to stay a couple of weeks at OKW/SSR and then 3 weeks at Wyndham's Bonnet Creek.

DVC wins! No contest.

I've owned DVC for 20 years and at times I was upset with the service. By comparison to Wyndham, DVC is 5 Stars all the way.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am an owner of both DVC and Wyndham Bonnet Creek (Club Access points)

Complaints about BCR

1) Check-in is terrible. Very short staffed for the number of units. Plus, after you check in you must get in another line to see the timeshare sales staff to get your parking pass, without it you could get towed. I had to say no 5 times before they took "NO" for an answer to joining them for a presentation. They are VERY UGLY when you refuse to go. BELLIGERENT!

2) Housekeeping sucks! We stayed for 3 weeks and were suppose to get complete cleaning every Monday. The first Monday they only replaced the towels and they never showed up the second Monday. I complained about it on Tuesday and was told that since I was checking out on Thursday, there was no need to provide housekeeping. 10 days without any service.

3) They charge $12 per day per unit if you use the bus service to Disney parks.

4) It is a 5 star facility run like a Motel 6. They try to save a buck at every opportunity. Very, Very cheap.

5) Over 30 minutes to get the front desk on the phone. Under-staffed and under-trained.

6) Not a complaint but just an observation: A lot less families and a LOT more retired couples. Good luck finding a seat in the hot tub.

7) Noisier rooms

What I think is better than DVC at BCR:

1) Closer parking than some of DVC resorts

2) Elevator in every building

3) Luggage carts in every building

4) More centralize to walk to various facilities

5) Except for OKW, slightly bigger rooms

6) If you can get it, 4 bedroom option

7) $2 ice cream sundaes in the afternoon

Overall, I would give Bonnet Creek 3 stars

 

[lilpooh108]

Great review, thanks! I've always wanted to supplement our DVC stays with a Bonnet Creek stay.

 

[JimMIA]

1) Check-in is terrible. Very short staffed for the number of units.

True, although our checkins have always been fairly quick. I've had some fairly long waits checking into DVC as well, though, particularly for our one stay at BCV.

Plus, after you check in you must get in another line to see the timeshare sales staff to get your parking pass, without it you could get towed.

NO you DON'T!
Who told you that...some timeshare salesperson??? The only purpose for the parking pass is to give the body-snatchers a chance to hook you into a timeshare presentation!

The parking pass is never checked, not acceptable to get past the guard gate, and I'd love to hear an actual story of anyone at any Wyndham resort being towed because they didn't have a silly "parking permit!" Just ain't happening.

I had to say no 5 times before they took "NO" for an answer to joining them for a presentation. They are VERY UGLY when you refuse to go. BELLIGERENT!

Yep,agree. But why waste your time?

Part of the reason they were so persistent is they knew they'd gotten you before from your Club Wyndham Access ownership.

3) They charge $12 per day per unit if you use the bus service to Disney parks.

No they don't.

They were talking about starting that, but never implemented it. It has since been reversed. By the way, that brainstorm was the product of YOUR homeowner's association, not Wyndham.

The new plan is supposed to be $5 per person, per round trip, starting March 1. We'll see if that idea gets implemented.

4) It is a 5 star facility run like a Motel 6. They try to save a buck at every opportunity. Very, Very cheap.

I wouldn't phrase it that harshly, but I think that is true in most of the hospitality industry these days. No matter where you stay, you don't have to look far to see corners being cut.

6) Not a complaint but just an observation: A lot less families and a LOT more retired couples.

That's been my observation at timeshares generally, with DVC at WDW being an exception. But that's at WDW, for goodness sake. And I've had problems finding room in hot tubs just about everywhere I've been (except at home!)

What I think is a valid criticism of WBC, in particular, is that it is dangerously close to becoming a "rental resort" where very few of the guests are owners. We see a LOT of people there who look very out of place at an RCI Gold Crown resort.

No denying the clientele is better at DVC resorts and my guess is that's attributable entirely to one factor: cost. DVC is expensive; WBC is cheap.

7) Noisier rooms

Agree, especially the air conditioner.

I'd add a couple of negatives for WBC:

• WBC is a VERY large resort -- +/- 1,200 timeshare units + 300+ hotel rooms. It can be pretty crowded.
• Not everyone likes high-rises. The good thing is you get some spectacular fireworks views sometimes.
• No theming. Not less theming...NO theming, unless you count urban high-rise apartment building as a theme.

What I think is better than DVC at BCR:

1) Closer parking than some of DVC resorts

2) Elevator in every building

3) Luggage carts in every building

4) More centralize to walk to various facilities

5) Except for OKW, slightly bigger rooms

6) If you can get it, 4 bedroom option

7) $2 ice cream sundaes in the afternoon

Agree with all of those, and I'd add a couple.

• In many cases, WBC is actually closer to the theme parks than some of the Disney resorts. It's closer than any of the values, and located in the same neighborhood at OKW/SSR. I can be parked in any theme park from WBC in 15 minutes.
• The amenities are clearly better at WBC -- SIX pools and two REAL lazy rivers that make SAB look like an afterthought, free enormous high-quality gas BBQ grills and nice picnic tables, cabanas available, free minigolf...the list goes on and on.
• The big difference is price. A couple of years ago, when we first bought Wyndham (resale, of course) I priced out my cost for stays at OKW on my OKW points and WBC on my Wyndham Great Smokys points. Same week, all weekdays, a one-bedroom at OKW priced out at $189 per night, and the 1 BR at WBC priced out at $40 per night.
  
  For acquisition costs, I purchased 501K Wydham points (roughly equivalent to 600-700 DVC points in what it will buy) on eBay for less than $2,000 including all costs. The annual MFs are $2,200. Buying an equivalent number of DVC points would cost me at least $30,000-$35,000 resale, and the "dues" would be at least $3,000 - $4,000.

Overall, I would give Bonnet Creek 3 stars

With the exception of my favorite DVC resort (OKW) I would rate Bonnet Creek comparable. For me, the extra space and relaxing atmosphere at OKW outweighs the amenities and other things I like about WBC.

 

[MapleGirl]

I have my first contract into Disney for ROFR. There is a reason why we chose the DVC or the Wyndham.

Last April DH and I stayed at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek on some points I bought online. I thought the resort was lovely, albeit not themed. What completely turned me off was the condition of our room. There were large tears in the couch, grime on the walls, threadbare carpet and broken lamps. I went to complain at the front desk and they did not care at all. I spoke to a manager who shrugged and told me that some rooms had been updated recently and others had not. He told me some one would come up later in the week to clean the walls and replace the furniture. No one ever came. Don't get me wrong, it was a great vacation and we loved the location. We were just very disappointed with the room condition and their response.

When we started looking into the DVC I thought we should give Wyndham another try and see what they have to say since it is so much cheaper. Well, I called about 6 times (I tried calling both the main Wyndham vacation resorts line and the hotel directly) without getting through to sales. The main line was an endless loop of machines. The hotel itself answered but then put me on hold indefinitely when I asked to speak with sales. Once I was sent to the wrong department, then back to the main desk, put on hold, some one picked up and called me by the wrong name (they were looking for some one else on hold), put back on hold, then the phone disconnected. I also tried emailing their sales/information department but never heard back.

So, that was it. I gave up on Wyndham and have gone with Disney. I am confident I made the right choice.

 

[Cruelladeville]

You get what you pay for, and you have shown that it's not a dollar to dollar breakdown. DVC and Marriott-I'm a member at both-- are great resorts, and comparable in many ways, especially at customer service. When you call about a problem, you get serviced. I may not like their way of servicing, but at least I get a response. But one thing that Disney does better than anyone is theming. I love my DVC points!

 

[OhioDVC]

Plus, after you check in you must get in another line to see the timeshare sales staff to get your parking pass, without it you could get towed.
NO you DON'T!
Who told you that...some timeshare salesperson??? The only purpose for the parking pass is to give the body-snatchers a chance to hook you into a timeshare presentation!

The BCR Manger told me that when I complained

The parking pass is never checked, not acceptable to get past the guard gate, and I'd love to hear an actual story of anyone at any Wyndham resort being towed because they didn't have a silly "parking permit!" Just ain't happening.
Quote:
I had to say no 5 times before they took "NO" for an answer to joining them for a presentation. They are VERY UGLY when you refuse to go. BELLIGERENT!
Yep,agree. But why waste your time?

Part of the reason they were so persistent is they knew they'd gotten you before from your Club Wyndham Access ownership.

Quote:
3) They charge $12 per day per unit if you use the bus service to Disney parks.
No they don't.

They were talking about starting that, but never implemented it. It has since been reversed. By the way, that brainstorm was the product of YOUR homeowner's association, not Wyndham.

The new plan is supposed to be $5 per person, per round trip, starting March 1. We'll see if that idea gets implemented.

Here is the latest from BCR
Dear Owner:

As a result of recent feedback, the Bonnet Creek Home Owners Association has reversed the recently communicated $12 per unit / per day transportation fee for guests staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. Beginning March 1, 2013, transportation fees will only be applied to individuals who use the Walt Disney World® Resort shuttles at the resort.

We remain committed to delivering exceptional Count On Me! service and creating vacation memories for you and your family and friends.

Thank you for your continued feedback and ongoing support. We look forward to helping you get on your next vacation.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx, Resort Manager
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Bonnet Creek Resort Vacation Condominium Association, Inc.

 

[JimMIA]

The BCR Manger told me that when I complained

Must have been a SALES manager!

You'll get much more information over on the TUG Wyndham board, where the "Parking Pass" ruse is a constant source of amusement.

Anyone who bases their knowledge of Wyndham on what the Wyndham timeshare sales people tell them is going to get taken to the cleaners. Wyndham is a very nice system, now with about 90 nice resorts -- but their SALES organization is among the sleeziest in a sleezy industry.

3) They charge $12 per day per unit if you use the bus service to Disney parks.

No they don't.

They were talking about starting that, but never implemented it. It has since been reversed. By the way, that brainstorm was the product of YOUR homeowner's association, not Wyndham.

The new plan is supposed to be $5 per person, per round trip, starting March 1. We'll see if that idea gets implemented.

Here is the latest from BCR
Dear Owner:

As a result of recent feedback, the Bonnet Creek Home Owners Association has reversed the recently communicated $12 per unit / per day transportation fee for guests staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. Beginning March 1, 2013, transportation fees will only be applied to individuals who use the Walt Disney World® Resort shuttles at the resort.

We remain committed to delivering exceptional Count On Me! service and creating vacation memories for you and your family and friends.

Thank you for your continued feedback and ongoing support. We look forward to helping you get on your next vacation.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx, Resort Manager
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Bonnet Creek Resort Vacation Condominium Association, Inc.

That's actually the next-to-latest news (which, incidentally confirms what I said about them NOT doing what you complained about -- they never did actually charge that $12 fee).

What I posted above that ($5 per person, per round trip) is the brainstorm that replaced this poor idea. I think they are going to get a lot of pushback on that plan too, and I would not be surprised to see it abandoned as well.

 

[JimMIA]

When we started looking into the DVC I thought we should give Wyndham another try and see what they have to say since it is so much cheaper. Well, I called about 6 times (I tried calling both the main Wyndham vacation resorts line and the hotel directly) without getting through to sales. The main line was an endless loop of machines. The hotel itself answered but then put me on hold indefinitely when I asked to speak with sales. Once I was sent to the wrong department, then back to the main desk, put on hold, some one picked up and called me by the wrong name (they were looking for some one else on hold), put back on hold, then the phone disconnected. I also tried emailing their sales/information department but never heard back.

You were lucky.

If you had made contact, you would have been told an enormous pack of lies and might have bought something that turned out to be far from what you thought you were buying. Wyndham's sales organization has a "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau, and they work hard to live up to that sleezy reputation. Wyndham is a fine company and a very nice timeshare system, but their sales operation is awful by any standard.

If you ever become interested in Wyndham again (or ANY timeshare, for that matter), go to TUG...and go to school. There, you will find very knowledgeable people who know what they are talking about and aren't trying to sell you anything. Great resource -- on the order of what the DIS is for Disney World.

 

[Dean]

Recently I had the chance to stay a couple of weeks at OKW/SSR and then 3 weeks at Wyndham's Bonnet Creek.

DVC wins! No contest.

I've owned DVC for 20 years and at times I was upset with the service. By comparison to Wyndham, DVC is 5 Stars all the way.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am an owner of both DVC and Wyndham Bonnet Creek (Club Access points)

Complaints about BCR

1) Check-in is terrible. Very short staffed for the number of units. Plus, after you check in you must get in another line to see the timeshare sales staff to get your parking pass, without it you could get towed. I had to say no 5 times before they took "NO" for an answer to joining them for a presentation. They are VERY UGLY when you refuse to go. BELLIGERENT!

2) Housekeeping sucks! We stayed for 3 weeks and were suppose to get complete cleaning every Monday. The first Monday they only replaced the towels and they never showed up the second Monday. I complained about it on Tuesday and was told that since I was checking out on Thursday, there was no need to provide housekeeping. 10 days without any service.

3) They charge $12 per day per unit if you use the bus service to Disney parks.

4) It is a 5 star facility run like a Motel 6. They try to save a buck at every opportunity. Very, Very cheap.

5) Over 30 minutes to get the front desk on the phone. Under-staffed and under-trained.

6) Not a complaint but just an observation: A lot less families and a LOT more retired couples. Good luck finding a seat in the hot tub.

7) Noisier rooms

What I think is better than DVC at BCR:

1) Closer parking than some of DVC resorts

2) Elevator in every building

3) Luggage carts in every building

4) More centralize to walk to various facilities

5) Except for OKW, slightly bigger rooms

6) If you can get it, 4 bedroom option

7) $2 ice cream sundaes in the afternoon

Overall, I would give Bonnet Creek 3 stars

While I haven't stayed at BC, I have stayed at other Wyndham resorts and seen BC on 3 occasions including several units. I'm usually at 4-6 different resorts a year including DVC, Marriott, Bluegreen and Wyndham mostly. I've been at 12 in the last 1.5 years hitting all 4 of those companies and I've been on property and seen units at maybe 50 resort in that 1.5 year period. My experience in timeshares is different than yours. I find ALL to be more accommodating than DVC including Wyndham and BG. I do think Marriott, Starwood and Hilton (less experience) are above the other 2. I can't speak much for others. I find the units at BC to be comparable to DVC other than they went cheap on the counters in the lower cat units.

As I said before, one has to be able to separate out the sales process from the rest of timesharing, something I think Jim was trying to say in a different way.

 

[littlestar]

I think Wyndham Bonnet Creek has caught on to people bypassing the parking pass tango. When I was there a few weeks ago the front desk person "walked" me over to the parking pass guy. So I ended up spending another 15 minutes or so telling them no to a tour . . . after standing in line for 20 minutes to just check-in. It really is a ROYAL pain in the butt to check in.

Having said that, I do get really good value out of my Wyndham resale points. Even though the Wyndham sales force makes me work for my value at check-in (laughter). I had exchanged into Marriott Cypress Harbour through Interval International and needed 3 more days after checking out of Marriott Cypress Harbour and was able to book 3 nights in a three bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet for reduced points (also booked a 2 bedroom unit for additional family members that needed 3 more nights after checking out of Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve resort). The 3 bedroom was in Tower 6 and it was beautiful. For a standard unit, it had the granite countertops. So I think the newer towers and probably the upgraded buildings are getting the granite countertops. Our standard 2 bedroom unit in Tower 6 even had the touch-screen HP computer on the wall when you walk in - so I was surprised to see that in a standard unit.

I still like staying at DVC the best. But, Wyndham Bonnet Creek (especially using resale points) is such a good value for me that it is still worth the sales force hassle because of the value I get for my money. The resort is beautiful, too, and the location is excellent. But I agree with the original poster that the sales force really is a pain

Another thing, Wyndham Bonnet Creek really needs a button on their phone to call for maintenance to report issues. Our 3 bedroom unit was missing a remote and there was a door that needed a pin put in it. I tried to call the front desk to report it, but the phone just rang, and rang, and rang. I finally caught a maintenance person in the elevator and had him make note of it. He had a clipboard and noted it. In comparison, at Marriott Cypress Harbour, we had a light switch that wasn't working over the second bathroom sink and it was easy to report it over the phone and an older gentleman came and fixed it promptly. Last year at DVC we had a refrigerator that was not working properly and it was a quick call to remedy that. So Wyndham Bonnet could definitely improve when it comes to reporting unit issues.

 

[Brian Noble]

Having the button doesn't always help. At BCV this past October, the dishwasher died. It took all day to get someone to look at it, and two more days before it was replaced.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

When we use DVC points for RCI stays we find it easier to agree to the presentation but never go and NEVER answer the in our room if it rings. Chances are it the timeshare folks so best to the it go to voicemail

 

[OhioDVC]

I also forgot to mention the cockroaches I found.

Two in the bathroom and one in the kitchen