HELP - Bonnet Creek or Vistana VILLAGES??

[mtmbyck]

Online they both look great and it appears we can get a 2 bedroom for about the same price. Bonnet Creek looks newer but it doesn't appear to have as much to do? The website tells you very little and shows you very little of the property. I am also nervous that there are SO MANY people trying to unload their Bonnet Creek Timeshare weeks. Why is that?

Any feedback from past guests woudl be much appreciated!

 

[Brian Noble]

Bonnet Creek is closer to the parks; it is right next to CBR, and a shorter drive to many of the parks than OKW or SSR. Vistana Villages may well have a bit more to do onsite, though BC does have a small lazy river and a pretty full activities schedule. Non-owners can look at the current activities schedule, but unfortunately you have to navigate to it yourself---it doesn't work to post a link.

Go to the Wyndham VO home page:
www.wyndhamvacationresorts.com

Click on "Explore Our Resorts"
Click on Florida on the map
Click on "Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort"
Click on "Activities" (on the left hand side).

You can also see some pictures and video of the resort as a non-owner, but not floorplans or point charts. Those are available elsewhere.

I am also nervous that there are SO MANY people trying to unload their Bonnet Creek Timeshare weeks.

These are most likely "mega-renters": owners with significant Wyndham holdings who have a side business renting Wyndham timeshares. Bonnet Creek is a relatively easy resort to rent, because there is a natural demand due to its location. I've rented my points to friends a couple of times for stays there.

Both resorts are wonderful, and you couldn't go wrong with either one.

 

[mousey]

I vote for Bonnet Creek. It is closer to the parks, nicer setup and you can get some good deals thanks to people selling their wyndham points. Also, the views are spectacular. Granted they are still building--but its a beautiful resort. You will see some sales movement at Vistana beause owners are being charged for remodeling. Two of our friends are owners and their monthly maint. bill included an extra $1,200 for the updates. I bet people try to recoup this by renting one of their weeks out.

 

[KEVD]

For some reason I'm having a hard time finding links to ads for timeshares for rent at BC. Can someoen post the link(s) ?

 

[Brian Noble]

You'll find a lot on ebay for near-term rentals. For farther out, www.redweek.com is a good place to look.

 

[steelebug]

I have found them on vacationtimesharerentals.com for BC.

 

[WDWBoundAgain]

Another vote for Bonnet Creek. We stayed there last year with extended family and loved it. We used eBay for a great deal. You will find plenty to do at the resort. One of my favorite things was the pools were open 23hr including the lazy river. They have a putt-putt and play ground, two pools, lazy river, kid splash pool, arcade, recreation center with pool tables, ping pong, television, and computer for use. I only remember having to pay a quarter for the ping pong ball from a dispensing machine. The also have an activity center which actually during later September last year had lots going on. Two night during our stay that hosted movies by the pool. Since one was rained out they brought out a huge wide screen and set it up in the covered atrium area. The activity center had board and card games you could check out night and take back to your room or play there. Many other kid and family activities were planned and posted for the week. We were actually too busy with the parks and missed out on a few things we wanted to do. The smaller pool has a bar area that served a few snacks too. Another great thing we liked was the huge gas grill. It had a prep area and tables to sit at that was covered so if it happened to rain. I must say that the grill stayed cleaned the whole time because each evening my husband and uncle too pride in cleaning the thing. Let me say too that we loved it so much that I canceled my September with free dining package so we can stay there in October. Go with it and I am sure you will not regret it.

 

[spiceycat]

depends - if most of your trip is at WDW - then definitely BC

however if you only plan a few days at WDW - but mostly at Seaworld or us/ioa - then go with SVV

BC is still being developed.

 

[daisylove]

bump. also interested

 

[cinderellamom123]

I haven't visited either, however, I have definately done my research. Bonnet creek's reviews/feedback have been much better the Sheraton Vistana. It is closer to Disney, right next to the CBR, without the Disney price. Two years ago we passed the Bonnett site and we thought it was another disney property. I mean, it is right there as far as proximity. We are renting from an owner. We always rent a car so transportation is not an issue. From what I have read, everyone has been really impressed. The vistanna reviews are usually good, but it depends on if the guest received a refurbrished room. Bonnet creek building started in 2005 so everything is very new. For me it would come down to price, and if you are doing most of your trip at disney I would vote for BC
Good luck!

 

[karapp75]

I haven't stayed at either but my mom has raved about how great Bonnet Creek is. She owns several time shares so I think she has a good idea.

 

[5boyz]

I have never stayed at SV but just got back last week from BC. It is very nice. Lots of room in the condo. Close to the parks, the bus shedule not so great, but we lived. Never once used the lazy river in 2 weeks, kids did all the time. They had movies almost every night right at the end of our bldg. Kids played some games on days we were there. You have to get the mini clubs foryour kids and sign, they have to be back within 2 hrs...there is a $25. fee if not returned. I got rented mine thru myresortnetwork.com.

 

[Brian Noble]

Bonnet creek's reviews/feedback have been much better the Sheraton Vistana.

I believe the OP was asking about Vistana Villages, not Vistana. Vistana Resort does get mixed reviews, but Villages is pretty well-regarded.

 

[Tissa]

I have a friend that is at BC right now and they are loving it. They were playing one of the Indiana Jones movies on a blow up screen by the pool yesterday. I'm thinking of renting points there instead of DVC.

 

[MickeyMickey]

I have stayed at both - Vistana Villages once about 4 years ago (it is bigger now) and Bonnet Creek last year and two years ago

Vistana Villages - Pros
Nicer pool (although no slide)
Slightly nicer rooms and furnishings - we loved the screened in porch
almost new

Bonnet Creek - Pros
Closer to Disney
mini golf
we have found it to be significantly cheaper when renting from an owner within 60 days
almost new

They are both very nice and you can't go wrong, if the price was the same I would have trouble choosing but with Wyndham point system you can get very good deals within 60 days at Wyndham. Keep in mind that Vistana Villages and Vistana are two very different resorts. Most of the complaints are about Vistana due to its age

I can never figure out why people buy timeshares when you can rent from an owner for less than the maintenance fees.

 

[ntsammy5]

Bonnet Creek. Nuff said!

 

[Janet Hill]

I can never figure out why people buy timeshares when you can rent from an owner for less than the maintenance fees.

At BC if you're renting within the 60 day window this is not the case as most renters tend to be VIP owners and they get a significant point discount within this time frame. I rented a 2br to a coworker that I reserved for 1/2 the points required for a 1BR and upgraded for free to a 2BR. They thought they were getting quite the deal and I had my mf covered at twice the amount.

Renting for less than the maintenance fees is generally a true statement if you travel to overbuilt areas (like Orlando), but for those who travel to other places this is not generally true.

Heck I've traded into a 2BR at Disney Wilderness lodge (7nights) for equivilent of ~$650 in August (including mf, exchange fee and resort fee). Try renting that over on the DVC boards.

 

[Brian Noble]

It also depends on when, even in over-supplied areas. If you are restricted to visiting during prime time, it sometimes makes sense to own even in Orlando. I have a 2BR reservation for Bonnet Creek for Easter Week '09---the resort is fully booked for that week, so there won't be much in the way of 60-day availability. My MFs on the points I needed to book are well well under any rental price you'll see for it.

Because I bought resale, I have very little capital tied up in the purchase as well---even using 8% of capital as my opportunity cost, I'm still well under what renting from another owner would cost.

And, that's even before getting exchanges like the one Janet is talking about. That really provides leverage.

 

[lawgs]

At BC if you're renting within the 60 day window this is not the case as most renters tend to be VIP owners and they get a significant point discount within this time frame. I rented a 2br to a coworker that I reserved for 1/2 the points required for a 1BR and upgraded for free to a 2BR. They thought they were getting quite the deal and I had my mf covered at twice the amount.

Renting for less than the maintenance fees is generally a true statement if you travel to overbuilt areas (like Orlando), but for those who travel to other places this is not generally true.

Heck I've traded into a 2BR at Disney Wilderness lodge (7nights) for equivilent of ~$650 in August (including mf, exchange fee and resort fee). Try renting that over on the DVC boards.

does Bonnet Creek trade with DVC?

or are you saying you traded an II resort into DVC?

 

[Janet Hill]

Bonnet Creek is a RCI resort, but my Wyndham points trade through II. Your trading company is set based on the affiliation of the first resort purchased. Very few Wyndham resorts trade through II.