orange lake vs bonnet creek

[sonomom]

I have been reading about how everybody LOVEs Bonnet Creek, was wondering how it compares with Orange lake River Island? I know its more compact and closer to the parks. For those who have stayed at both which is recommended and why? I will have a 5 y/o and 4 y/o and a rental car. We will be staying 2 weeks only about 5 days at parks then exploring.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I have never stayed at OL but it does look nice from the pictures. I have been to BC. I love the fact that it is very close to Disney. If you have younger children, that may be a plus for you if you are going to be doing the parks. It will make it easier to head back for a rest. OL is really about a 25 minute drive to the Magic Kingdom. Yes, it is "close" to Disney but when you take into account the drive to the MK on Disney's grounds, it really adds time to your drive.. Bonnet Creek is about 5 minutes from EPCOT & MGM. About 10 minutes to MK & AK

 

[heatherbelle]

Orange lake is in front of AK lodge, give or take a mile or two, with nothing inbetween, so OL to Ak is around 15 mins door to door, I would say, its around 25 to the other parks as the previous poster has said, that's the front gate of each park.

Bonnet Creek is more or less opposite Downtown Disney and set back a bit from the main road, looks really nice. Of the two I personally would choose Orange lake purley for its pool. You take the shortcut down Shertbeth road to get to Disney property.

Why don't you have a look at them on Google Earth

 

[TotoToo]

Of the two BC has the far better location as O(LCC is touching another county and is nearby only AK & the infamous Disney treatment plant). All other parks are much closer to BC. Plus BC is new = parts of OLCC are newer but the majority are aging, renovations are done in some areas, pending in others, so what you actually get assigned is a big crap shoot at OLCC.

Support services (restaurants, stores, other things likely to be needed) are closer to BC and are true third party operations that tend to be more price competitive and have far better selections than those around/on site at OLCC.

Everything considered we wold take Bonnet Creek over OLCC anytime we get that choice.

 

[Brian Noble]

Orange lake is in front of AK lodge, give or take a mile or two, with nothing inbetween,

Including a road.

To get from Orange Lake to any destination on Disney property, you have to drive around down to 192 and on to sherberth, or up to Western Way---neither is exactly a direct shot.

Bonnet's subdivision is right on Buena Vista, with easy access to just about anything.

Orange Lake's advantage is that parts of it are a bit more spread out, rather than high-rise, so that's nice. But, River Island itself is a rather dense development.

 

[HeatherC]

We've stayed at both and think they are both great. The one thing that many people aren't aware of at OL is that it is HUGE!!! I mean really, really huge. Depending on where your villa is located, you may have to drive to a pool area.
The pool areas are great though.

Bonnet Creek is all walkable. No matter what building you are in you can walk to the main building and all the pools. It is also next door to the Caribbean Beach Resort so it is very much "onsite" while still being considered "offsite".

I don't think you can go wrong with either.