No Deed? And Bonnet Creek?

[Rence]

I like reading folks opinions regarding FairField. We own DVC but are considering Fairfield in addition to our DVC. Of course we'd never stay at Bonnet Creek, but would use it for its other locations around the country.

 

[Caskbill]

I marked up this satellite photo below several months ago, but it's worth showing again. The area shown is the most Southeast section of WDW. (All the MK areas, AK areas, Campground, etc are not shown in the photo, being more North and West of the area pictured.

Bonnet Creek Resorts is at the SouthEast section of the WDW property roughly where the red-X is located. The blue line is the approximate drive connecting the resort to Buena Vista Drive which is the main WDW road. Note the photo is much older, taken before any of BC was built. It was actually taken while PC (Pop Century) was still under construction.

As you can see, the property is surrounded by Disney on 3 sides, and by I-4 to it's Southeast.

You can clearly see the creek itself (Bonnet Creek) as the blue waterway which runs through the property.

 

[donmil723]

One reason this land was not developed until recently, or so I've been told, is because Disney's roads were privately owned until a few years ago. At that time, they wanted to improve and enlarge their road system and the roads became a public entity so that bonds could be issued to help pay for the construction. Once the roads became publicly owned, they had to grant access to them. At that time, it then became feasible for another company to develop the Bonnet Creek land that, like others have said, was never owned by Disney.

Donna

 

[Lisa P.]

I like reading folks opinions regarding FairField.

Rence, you may be interested in joining a Yahoo Group for Fairfield Owners (and those interested), called "Fairfield_Timeshare". There are currently ~2,760+ members, aproximately 2/3 of whom are owners, like myself. FWIW, Fairfield's sales practices have a bad reputation. They are NOT the worst out there but at times, they're bad. We've only had good experiences with sales ourselves. They take a beating on these DIS boards for various reasons. But if you learn about the FF system first (preferably from other owners, not from sales), then decide it could work for your family and then purchase a fairly priced resale at a home resort that suits you, you may really enjoy it! We love ours!!!

So far, we've vacationed in FF resorts in:

• Flagstaff, AZ (visiting the Grand Canyon & Sedona)
• Orlando/Kissimmee, FL
• Lake Lure, NC
• Sapphire Valley, NC
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• FF Glade, TN
• Nashville, TN
• Sevierville, TN (Smoky Mtns/near Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge)
• Alexandria, VA (visiting Wash., D.C.)
• Williamsburg, VA

We've traded it through RCI to the Manhattan Club (NY) and Marco Island (FL), among other places. Soon, we'll add to our list with stays/trades to Daytona & Pompano Beach (FL), Kitty Hawk/Outer Banks (NC), Branson (MO) and some return stays at favorites. We have not had a single bad trip among these! It's been affordable, nice, family-friendly, with locations where our family wants to vacation. Just really depends on how your family plans to use it. Don't get hung up on what happens in sales if you don't plan to buy from the developer. We live in the southeast, where there are many FF resorts within a day's drive of home (which we like). But don't get caught up in what works for me or anyone else... just what would work for you! HTH!

 

[Rence]

Lisa,

Thanks for the great info.

I had just stumbled on the Yahoo group and joined a few days ago. Lots of good information, going to take me a while to digest it all.

Fairfield is clearly no DVC, but it seems to me that it would be better value to purchase something like Fairfield to supplement DVC for the non-WDW vactions. Trading out of DVC with DVC points on a regular basis just doesn't make financial sense.

Thanks again for the great information.

Rence

 

[CherCrazy]

Caskbill,

Thanks for the satellite image.

What I don't understand, is if Disney had to give access to Fairfield, why did it have to be in such a prominent location? The location of the entrance has to be one of the most prominently travelled roads...ok ... the most heavily travelled road. Couldn't they have given access at that road that lies to the south of the property?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You ARE able to pass along your lease interest to heirs.
. . . it is not deeded timeshare
. . . it is an interest in a timed lease
. . . it has an expiration date depending on resort

2) From a certain viewpoint, Bonnet Creek is inside WDW
. . . it is within the general confines of Disney World
. . . it is not within an actual park (eg Epcot, MK)

3) Transportation is kind of a 2-part deal
. . . Bonnet Creek has its own transportation to Disney
. . . you can use Bonnet Creek exclusively
. . . or, inside Disney, you can use WDW transportation
. . . all you need is a multi-day ticket or annual pass

 

[Chuck S]

Caskbill,

Thanks for the satellite image.

What I don't understand, is if Disney had to give access to Fairfield, why did it have to be in such a prominent location? The location of the entrance has to be one of the most prominently travelled roads...ok ... the most heavily travelled road. Couldn't they have given access at that road that lies to the south of the property?

It looks like there is probably some access issues to the road on the South side (is that Osceola pkwy?). It make have something to do with existing entrance/exit ramps or what looks to be flood control gates. I'm sure they were pretty limited as far as suitable locations for the road.

 

[Granny]

Fairfield is clearly no DVC, but it seems to me that it would be better value to purchase something like Fairfield to supplement DVC for the non-WDW vactions. Trading out of DVC with DVC points on a regular basis just doesn't make financial sense.

Rence...I think that most people on this board would agree 100% with that assessment.

 

[Man_Of_Leisure]

We tried the Fairfield one-year trial membership back in 2000 and enjoyed it. We LOVE Disney; however, we do enjoy traveling to other venues. We also live in the Southeast and there are many FF resorts from a couple of hours to a days driving distance. We seriously considered FF because of the unlimited time deeded ownership, in 2000 all of the DVC properties ownership was 40 years. The primary reason we didn't purchase at that time was because we were saving for a new home.

Five years later, a new home purchase and several trips to WDW, on and off properties, we decided to buy at SSR. Makes financial sense for us because we travel to WDW at least twice a year. I purchased 300 points but I would like to puchase an add-on in the future. Currently, I am looking into a FF resale to compliment our other vacation needs. Their point system would allow us the same flexability we enjoy with DVD on non-DVC trips.

I am sure that Bonnett Creek Resort is a nice resort, as are all of the Fairfield resorts I have visited, but it is not Disney. While we are in Orlando we prefer to stay on properties.

Man Of Leisure

 

[married@wdw]

I could be wrong about this -- and maybe someone can clarify better -- but I think Disney gets money from the county or state for road upkeep. I think that government entity told Disney they had two choices -- go back to private roads thereby forfeiting that government money OR allow Fairfield to use their roads for access.

Can anybody confirm this? I think I remember reading it ages ago but I can't remember where or I'd try to find it!

 

[Chuck S]

Whether Disney had private roads or not...you can not legally land lock someone elses property if their only means of access is through your property. Disney would have had to allow Bonnet Creek access one way or another.