Questions for Wyndham Resorts owners - HELP!!!

[horseshowmom]

DD and her DFi will be getting married on June 6, 2009 (a Saturday). They will be staying at a luxury hotel the first night and then leaving for a Sunday to Sunday stay somewhere.

Today, his aunt and uncle very generously offered them a week at a Wyndham Resort for their honeymoon (they are owners). They told them to pick wherever they wanted (including Hawaii), but the kids don't want to be greedy (they said the Hawaii property was about double the points that Orlando was), so they were looking at Orlando.

Can somebody share some recommendations for the Wyndham properties are in Orlando/Kissimme? DD said the options were Bonnet Creek, Star Island, Cypress Palms, and Orlando International Resort Club.

They want to stay somewhere very nice without taking advantage of the uncle and aunt's generosity (although I think they really want the kids to pick what they want, DD and DFi want to be reasonable in their selection). They probably will be doing US/IOA instead of Disney, but right now, Bonnet Creek is their top choice (mainly because that's the only one we know anything about).

They would love some advice from someone with personal knowledge. Thanks!

 

[swilphil]

I've stayed at Bonnet Creek, and it is very nice, especially the Presidential Suite. That would be way more room than they need. I wonder if they have something similar in a 1 bedroom? I'm not sure if Bonnet Creek has some of the luxury amenities that would appeal to honeymooners like Cypress Palms might have. Bonnet Creek is basically in the middle of Disney World, so they could go to many adult/romantic restaurants at the Disney resorts. We did a spa treatment at Grand Floridian while we were at Bonnet Creek, and Swan/Dolphin also has a great spa and is very close.

 

[TotoToo]

Bonnet Creek is the newest and most "resort like" Wyndham in Orlando. It has easy access to all the Parks even though it sits within Disney roads (takes a map and a couple trips to figure out the best routes but it can be done). If they can get it BC is the nicest Wyndham resort in that area.

 

[horseshowmom]

I've stayed at Bonnet Creek, and it is very nice, especially the Presidential Suite. That would be way more room than they need. I wonder if they have something similar in a 1 bedroom? I'm not sure if Bonnet Creek has some of the luxury amenities that would appeal to honeymooners like Cypress Palms might have. Bonnet Creek is basically in the middle of Disney World, so they could go to many adult/romantic restaurants at the Disney resorts. We did a spa treatment at Grand Floridian while we were at Bonnet Creek, and Swan/Dolphin also has a great spa and is very close.

I looked at it online and the 1BR units looked very nice. It looked like all of the units have a balcony. The spa treatments sound like an excellent idea, and I wouldn't have even thought about that.

We've seen the property, and if they were going to Disney, the location would be wonderful! Even though they are going to US/IOA and Sea World instead, I still think it will be a pretty easy drive. They can take the "back way" over by Cypress Pointe and not even have to deal with I-4 (I know it can have pretty heavy traffic from time to time and this other way is very quick and almost no traffic).

Bonnet Creek is the newest and most "resort like" Wyndham in Orlando. It has easy access to all the Parks even though it sits within Disney roads (takes a map and a couple trips to figure out the best routes but it can be done). If they can get it BC is the nicest Wyndham resort in that area.

Thanks, that's one of the things they wanted to know!

 

[horseshowmom]

I think they're going to settle on Bonnet Creek.

Will the owner put the reservation in DFi's name? Do any requests need to be made at the time the reservation is made, or can DFi do it afterwards?

Also, to see the fireworks, can anybody make any suggestions on what to request for the best views?

Thanks!

 

[froggygrrrl]

I think they're going to settle on Bonnet Creek.

Will the owner put the reservation in DFi's name? Do any requests need to be made at the time the reservation is made, or can DFi do it afterwards?

Also, to see the fireworks, can anybody make any suggestions on what to request for the best views?

Thanks!

Yes, the reservation will be put in DFi's name. I'm not sure about requests. You could definitely ask to put it in when the reservation is made. Otherwise, maybe try calling BC directly, although I don't know how much access the front desk at the resort has to the reservation end of it.

If they want to see part of Illuminations, the upper levels of Tower 4 facing the parking lot is good. I believe the upper levels of Tower 2 facing the water may have the same view. Not sure if the main building is tall enough to see anything. Tower 5 will be open by then, too, but I'm not sure about the view (I'll know in September when we go back).

We are owners at BC and so far have stayed in the 1 and 2 bedrooms. We will be in the 3-bedroom and Presidential Suite during our September trip. So far all of the rooms have been very nice and spacious. A 1-bedroom is plenty of room for a honeymooning couple!

 

[horseshowmom]

Yes, the reservation will be put in DFi's name. I'm not sure about requests. You could definitely ask to put it in when the reservation is made. Otherwise, maybe try calling BC directly, although I don't know how much access the front desk at the resort has to the reservation end of it.

If they want to see part of Illuminations, the upper levels of Tower 4 facing the parking lot is good. I believe the upper levels of Tower 2 facing the water may have the same view. Not sure if the main building is tall enough to see anything. Tower 5 will be open by then, too, but I'm not sure about the view (I'll know in September when we go back).

We are owners at BC and so far have stayed in the 1 and 2 bedrooms. We will be in the 3-bedroom and Presidential Suite during our September trip. So far all of the rooms have been very nice and spacious. A 1-bedroom is plenty of room for a honeymooning couple!

Thanks so much! I'll share that with them. The property looks beautiful, and I had looked forward to staying there at some point. I think they will really enjoy it.

 

[amw]

I think they're going to settle on Bonnet Creek.

Will the owner put the reservation in DFi's name? Do any requests need to be made at the time the reservation is made, or can DFi do it afterwards?

Also, to see the fireworks, can anybody make any suggestions on what to request for the best views?

Thanks!

I don't know if you can request a specific room, but we were in Room 626, and could see the fireworks over Epcot AND Magic Kingdom every night from our balcony.

According to this map, we were in Building 1 facing the lake:
http://bonnetcreek.com/bcgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=125

 

[spiceycat]

definitely go with Bonnett Creek if she can get it.

the others can be had fairly easily.

 

[horseshowmom]

I don't know if you can request a specific room, but we were in Room 626, and could see the fireworks over Epcot AND Magic Kingdom every night from our balcony.

According to this map, we were in Building 1 facing the lake:
http://bonnetcreek.com/bcgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=125

Was 626 a one bedroom unit? If it was, I'll tell them to request it specifically (you never know, they might get lucky and get it if they tell them that it's their honeymoon).

definitely go with Bonnett Creek if she can get it.
the others can be had fairly easily.

Thanks! It looks beautiful. Apparently, the aunt and uncle have a lot of points (I have very little knowledge of how this works) and travel a lot (I know the uncle just got back from a trip to Africa). I'm hoping that since he's going to make their reservation so far out that they will be able to get it (I'm not sure, but it sounded like the uncle had looked at it).

 

[amw]

Was 626 a one bedroom unit? If it was, I'll tell them to request it specifically (you never know, they might get lucky and get it if they tell them that it's their honeymoon).

It was a 2-bedroom unit. Views are better higher up - it doesn't hurt to ask

 

[Brian Noble]

Bonnet Creek no question. OIRC is the closest to Universal, but not nearly in the same league. BC costs a bit more in points, but it is not exceptionally expensive.

 

[swilshire]

What are the ages of the happy couple? Many resorts don't allow young people to check in. Be sure to have the aunt and uncle check on that. There may be a minimum age, possibly 25.

DD stayed at one of our home resorts when she was about 20 or 21, but we got permission ahead of time. She said they put her in a unit directly across from the office and watched them like hawks. It was a bit uncomfortable.

If one of the couple is older, be sure and put the reservation in that name.

I was going to do this for my own nephew and his wife-to-be, but at age 21, I thought it would be too hard to find a resort they wanted that would take them at that age.

Sheila

 

[garmich]

I don't know if you can request a specific room, but we were in Room 626, and could see the fireworks over Epcot AND Magic Kingdom every night from our balcony.

According to this map, we were in Building 1 facing the lake:
http://bonnetcreek.com/bcgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=125

AMW,

I'm glad to hear that! We will be in Room 626, Bldg. #1, during our stay at Bonnet Creek in August. When I reserved, I had requested a "room with a view" of the fireworks. Now it sounds like we'll have an excellent view.

Since you stayed in the same room that we'll be staying in, do you have any pictures of the room or the view from the balcony? Were the beds comfy? Was the the whirlpool bath large or small? I've heard that the baths vary in size between the units. Dis the kitchen have everything that you needed? Also, do the televisions have parental controls that can block the R-rated programming?

Thanks,

 

[Brian Noble]

Bonnet Creek's minimum age is 21 (I just checked one of my open confirmations.)

 

[horseshowmom]

What are the ages of the happy couple? Many resorts don't allow young people to check in. Be sure to have the aunt and uncle check on that. There may be a minimum age, possibly 25.

DD stayed at one of our home resorts when she was about 20 or 21, but we got permission ahead of time. She said they put her in a unit directly across from the office and watched them like hawks. It was a bit uncomfortable.

If one of the couple is older, be sure and put the reservation in that name.

I was going to do this for my own nephew and his wife-to-be, but at age 21, I thought it would be too hard to find a resort they wanted that would take them at that age.

Sheila

Bonnet Creek's minimum age is 21 (I just checked one of my open confirmations.)

Thanks for the comments!

In this case, he'll be 26, and she'll be 22, so they're covered on both fronts. They talked some more last night and are very excited about BC. He's supposed to tell his uncle so they can get the reservation made.

Can anybody tell me how far out they can make the reservation? I know that they are actually Wyndham owners (I think I read somewhere that they had a longer window for reservations than others). DD said that he mentioned that "they" (whomever that might be - I was assuming the Wyndham organization) had been trying to sell them (the aunt and uncle) points to BC.

 

[garmich]

Thanks for the comments!

In this case, he'll be 26, and she'll be 22, so they're covered on both fronts. They talked some more last night and are very excited about BC. He's supposed to tell his uncle so they can get the reservation made.

Can anybody tell me how far out they can make the reservation? I know that they are actually Wyndham owners (I think I read somewhere that they had a longer window for reservations than others). DD said that he mentioned that "they" (whomever that might be - I was assuming the Wyndham organization) had been trying to sell them (the aunt and uncle) points to BC.

If they are owners at Bonnet Creek, the reservations can be made 13 months in advance. If they are owners at another Wyndham resort, they can reserve 10 months in advance.

 

[horseshowmom]

If they are owners at Bonnet Creek, the reservations can be made 13 months in advance. If they are owners at another Wyndham resort, they can reserve 10 months in advance.

Thanks! I'm pretty sure that they're owners somewhere else (although I don't know that for sure), so that would mean that they can't make the reservation until August.

Has anybody had any experience with making reservations at Bonnet Creek at 10 months out (June 6th check-in date, in this case). I guess what I'm asking is can anybody say whether it's likely that they'll be able to get this property (if not, they may need to check into some back-ups).

 

[TotoToo]

Thanks! I'm pretty sure that they're owners somewhere else (although I don't know that for sure), so that would mean that they can't make the reservation until August.

Has anybody had any experience with making reservations at Bonnet Creek at 10 months out (June 6th check-in date, in this case). I guess what I'm asking is can anybody say whether it's likely that they'll be able to get this property (if not, they may need to check into some back-ups).

Almost any Wyndham resort is available at the 10 month mark as owners don't grab up the available slots unless they plan to use them. As it takes points to reserve most try to claim only exactly what they need and wait as long as possible to get it at the lowest cost in points. At 8-10 months its usually easy to get a resort / unit you desire.

 

[Janet Hill]

The only reservation they would have trouble making at the 10 month window would be for the 4BR Presidential. Other than that, no problem.