Fairfield Onsite Sales Center at Bonnet Creek Resort

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's a new press release about the Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek Resort, which was recently discussed in the thread "Bonnet Creek Resort" at http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=550486

The Bonnet Creek Resort is on property that's bordered on three sides by Disney property. The entrance is next to the Caribbean Beach Resort.

<blockquote>Fairfield Resorts Opens Onsite Sales Center at Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort

Over 2,000 Families Already Own At Resort Adjacent to Walt Disney World

Press Release: Fairfield Resorts
April 23, 2004
ORLANDO, FL -- Fairfield Resorts, Inc., the largest vacation ownership company in the world with more than 450,000 owner families, today announced the opening of its new onsite sales and preview center at Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek Resort - a 744-unit timeshare development adjacent to Walt Disney World Resort.

Pre-construction sales for the new resort began last summer. To date, nearly 2,000 families have purchased timeshare at Fairfield's Bonnet Creek Resort. The opening of an onsite sales center is expected to further accelerate Fairfield's sales and marketing activity throughout the Orlando region. At completion, it is anticipated that Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek will draw more than 30,000 vacationing families to Orlando each year.

"Bonnet Creek is an unparalleled setting for our flagship Orlando resort," said Franz Hanning, president and CEO, Fairfield Resorts. "Our owners have come to expect the very best from Fairfield, and we're tremendously pleased to provide world-class accommodations on the doorstep of the world's most famous theme park attraction."

Construction of the project's first phase began in January 2003 and the resort's first guests are expected to arrive later this summer. Fairfield's plans for Bonnet Creek include five Mediterranean-styled towers ranging from seven to thirteen stories in height. The resort's extensive planned list of recreational amenities includes six heated pools with interactive water features, four spas, paddleboats, miniature golf, sand volleyball courts, tennis facilities, children's playground, fitness center, game arcade and a computer library.

Fairfield has exclusive rights to market and sell timeshare interests at the 480-acre master-planned Bonnet Creek Resort, and retains a future purchase option for a second 12-acre parcel that can accommodate an additional 350 units. In addition to Fairfield's presence, current plans for Bonnet Creek include up to four upscale luxury hotels and a championship 170-acre, 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones.

About Fairfield Resorts

Fairfield Resorts, Inc., with more than 450,000 member families, is the largest vacation ownership company in the world. Established in 1966, Fairfield Resorts specializes in the development, marketing and sales of innovative travel and leisure products, including vacation ownership intervals at the company's 70 nationwide resorts. Fairfield Resorts was one of the first U.S. developers to move from traditional fixed-week timeshare ownership to a points-based exchange program with the launch of FairShare Plus in 1991. Fairfield Resorts, headquartered in Orlando, is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), a diversified global provider of business and consumer services primarily within real estate and travel. Other Cendant brands include Cheap Tickets, AVIS, Days Inn, Ramada, Century 21, Coldwell Banker and RCI. http://www.fairfieldresorts.com </blockquote>

 

[SSRex]

What do you think they will get or miss out on from WDW? Will they be like the Swan & Dolphin, or the Hotel BLVD hotels, or just another off-site (but close) resort?

Will they get free parking at the theme parks?

Extra Magic hour (whatever or whenever that ends up being)?

Free Access to WDW transportation (if they don't have a ticket)?

What other on-site resort guest perks am I missing\forgetting?

 

[lovwdwalot]

I'm thinking that they will receive everything that you had just typed.

 

[lenshanem]

You bring up many good questions SSRex. I would love to hear any speculations on this. This could be a nice little competition for SSR, but without the benefits you just listed I wonder how many would choose it over SSR? I wonder what the prise is? I'd imagine this resort will be quite lovely?

 

[spiceycat]

okay this resort is close but it is NOT on-site - it is not on WDW property - I don't know what WDW will give them if anything.

they are being friendlier (in my opinion) to off-site guest with the removal of the security gate between the golf courses and FW -

all WDW resorts now have their own security guards so this gate was not necessary

Of course some off-site and on-site guest will disagree because one of the main things these security guards did was direct guests to their hotels.....

all WDW resort guest could pass without problems with their parking pass - off-site could not.

However I really love the kennels at FW so this is a big plus where I am concerned - now I stay off-site and Spicey can still stay in this kennel!!!!

so as far as early entry or E-nights or free parkings - I am pretty sure unless Fairfield is willing to pay - FORGET IT.

the DD resorts are on WDW property and the Hilton is the only one with early entry and E-nights - I don't think they get free parking.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm thinking they will probably have none of the official "on-site" perks since, as Spicey pointed out, they are not on property owned by Disney. Although, it possibly could be negotiated for the right price...assuming their owners want to pay for it in their dues. But wouldn't one of their "selling points" be lower dues?

Another "on-site" perk is resort delivery of theme park purchases.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar


Fairfield's plans for Bonnet Creek include five Mediterranean-styled towers ranging from seven to thirteen stories in height.

*ick* 13 story hotel style buildings? I'd rather stay at the farthest handicap room with the longest hallway with a view blocked by shrubberies and dumpsters in a DVC resort than be stuck riding elevators up and down in these towers. I might consider riding them if the DVC room included the BCV ants.

The perks FF owners will have is a vast network of other resorts to choose from while being 'minutes' away from WDW resorts at what will probably be a significant difference in price...especially on the resale market.

Don't forget...no legal pool hopping for FF folx!
-Joe

 

[CarolMN]

All the non-Disney owned on-site resorts pay for their guests to have access to perks such as EMH (and that includes the Shades of Green and the Swan/Dolphin resorts). That's why the Hilton is the only DD Hotel that currently offers EMH.

Guests of the DD Disney hotels do not get free parking at the theme parks.

I doubt very much whether Disney will allow Fairfield guests to have EMH priviledges even if Fairfield is willing to pay. How would they then deny EMH to any off-site hotel willing to pay?? At some point, EMH would cease to be a perk for staying at a Disney resort - might just as well open the parks earlier to all!

As far as access to Disney transportation - I would expect Fairfield guests to have same access to Disney transportation as do guests of the DD hotels. Fairfield will no doubt provide bus service for their guests to and from the parks and DD. Any type of hopper pass allows a guest to use Disney's park to park transportation. Technically, no off site guest should be using Disney's park/DD to resort transportation, but I've never seen any attempts to enforce that. Doubt the addition of Fairfield will change current practice.

To me, staying at the Fairfield would be just like staying at a DD Hotel - but without the added attraction of being able to walk to DD. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[floridafam]

We drove by the construction of the FF resort on our last 2 trips to Disney.

I have to say that the location is ideal! I'm surprised Disney didn't find some way to hold on to this land for a Disney Resort.

I'm surprised of the mention of hotel style buildings. Who would build that type of resort in Florida. I expected buildings similar to SSR/Vero Beach, etc.

I, personally, think this particular resort will be very popular, even if it doesn't offer a lot of the Disney benefits.

 

[JimC]

The land was a parcel that Disney could never get under contract. I do not believe they are part of RCID, so "governmental" services will probably come from the county.

The entrance into the parcel is at best interesting (and I am being generous to its ugliness).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Did everyone catch this line in the press release?<blockquote>"In addition to Fairfield's presence, current plans for Bonnet Creek include up to four upscale luxury hotels and a championship 170-acre, 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones."</blockquote>
Can you imagine a Four Seasons resort, a Fairmont resort, a Luxury Collection resort, and a Mandarin Oriental resort within the Bonnet Creek Resort complex, in addition to the Fairfield timeshare resort?

The problem is that the developer has been unable to land single deluxe hotel, much less four of them. But is the developer is eventually successful, we DVC members could have some great new dining opportunities nearby.

 

[laceemouse]

Thanks to everyone for the info. We own another TS which we trade through RCI and would LOVE to be able to trade into this place at some point just to get another Disney trip in. But would we BUY into this place versus DVC.......NO WAY!!!!! No self-respecting Disney fanatic would every do such a thing!!!! I have heard it is going to be very pricey too, more than anything else Fairfield owns, and those guys are always HARD SELL!!!!! Still, I'll bet they sell pretty quickly.

 

[CarolA]

Disney wanted this land, but not at the price the owner wanted to Disney to pay! Based on what I heard (and I don't recall the price) Fairfield is going to be hard pressed to make a LOT of money on this, but I suspect they are willing to give a little profit for prestige and location.

That said, they are NOT a Disney hotel or affiated with Disney and as of right now I don't think they get any of the perks. (A friend of mine owns at Fairfield and called about this resort this week and got no "perK' infomation. ) My friend indicated they were really stingy with the swap in info. Her family owns at Gatlinburg and Fairfield kept saying "you need to buy here if you really want to stay here!" She said it was a hard sale effort which she thought was entertaining. (She bought Gatlingburg on resale for about 1/4 of the price from Fairfield!) She did say the resort will have tarnsport to the parks including Universal, but did not indicate if it was free or not.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I wonder if the timeshare will be a better option than DVC, with the advantages of being onsite, but much better trading opportunities to other fairfield locations.

 

[PamOKW]

Most, if not all, of the off-site resorts that have privileges are on land that Disney still owns. Even the Crossroads Shopping Center is on Disney owned land. It's almost unbelievable that Disney never got control of this land. I don't think they'll be looking to help out the development unless they are somehow cut into the deal.

I wonder what the pricing is on this resort? It is a very convenient location but it "ain't no DVC".

 

[CarolA]

My impresssion is that this is going to be a very expensive "points" resort for Fairfield. So... I don't think it will be dramatatically cheaper then DVC expcept for the fact that you can get Fairfield much cheaper at resale.

Plus the only onsight location it has right now is the location, none of the "Disney only" benefits.

 

[PamOKW]

It mentions that 2,000 people have already purchased. I can't find any mention of the resort on the Fairfield site. Does anyone know of someplace on-line that has photos and/or plans for the resort?

 

[lenshanem]

So who is going to call and get the sales pitch for us so we know how much this sucker is selling for? Anyone?

So from the sounds of it, we'll be able to check out the area very soon, huh?

This really puts the pressure on DVC to make SSR look fabulous! Think this competition will effect the price per point at SSR or any DVC resales for the matter?

 

[sneakers]

Originally posted by PamOKW
It mentions that 2,000 people have already purchased. I can't find any mention of the resort on the Fairfield site. Does anyone know of someplace on-line that has photos and/or plans for the resort?

<a href="http://www.rci.com/CDA/Resort_Directory/tmpResortSearch/1,5622,,00.html?i_resort_id=6369&i_search=5">Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek</a>

 

[Lisa P.]

If I knew how to uploak a bitmap or jpeg image from my own pc (not from an internet page), then I could post the points chart in a better format. If a moderator is able to change the format here, please feel free. I also have access to the floorplans, which are all of dedicated units, no lockoffs (again, I don't know how to upload a picture).

Here's the best I can do right now, until the resort opens and Fairfield puts the info on their website. These figures are in thousands of points:

Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek - 1BR/2BR/3BR/4BR

1BR - Prime weeks 7-14, 23-33, 51, 52
Fri-Sat nts = 33
Sun-Thu nts = 20
Full week = 166

1BR - High weeks 1-6, 20-22, 34, 35, 40-42
Fri-Sat nts = 25.5
Sun-Thu nts = 15
Full week = 126

1BR - Value weeks 15-19, 36-39, 43-50
Fri-Sat nts = 19.5
Sun-Thu nts = 9
Full week = 84

2BR - Prime weeks 7-14, 23-33, 51, 52
Fri-Sat nts = 44.5
Sun-Thu nts = 27
Full week = 224

2BR - High weeks 1-6, 20-22, 34, 35, 40-42
Fri-Sat nts = 38
Sun-Thu nts = 22.6
Full week = 189

2BR - Value weeks 15-19, 36-39, 43-50
Fri-Sat nts = 23.5
Sun-Thu nts = 13
Full week = 112

3BR - Prime weeks 7-14, 23-33, 51, 52
Fri-Sat nts = 66
Sun-Thu nts = 36
Full week = 308

3BR - High weeks 1-6, 20-22, 34, 35, 40-42
Fri-Sat nts = 44.5
Sun-Thu nts = 28
Full week = 231

3BR - Value weeks 15-19, 36-39, 43-50
Fri-Sat nts = 35
Sun-Thu nts = 21
Full week = 175

4BR - Prime weeks 7-14, 23-33, 51, 52
Fri-Sat nts = 87
Sun-Thu nts = 50
Full week = 424

4BR - High weeks 1-6, 20-22, 34, 35, 40-42
Fri-Sat nts = 71
Sun-Thu nts = 41
Full week = 347

4BR - Value weeks 15-19, 36-39, 43-50
Fri-Sat nts = 45.5
Sun-Thu nts = 28
Full week = 231

Multiply the above points by $110-$140 to see the developer cost (this is, again, per thousand points, depending on negotiations). Maint fees will be $2.92/thousand plus property taxes. Resales are generally about $30 per thousand, though they won't exist for quite a while yet at this home resort. HTH.