The WALDORF ASTORIA ORLANDO and HILTON BONNET CREEK Information Thread

[alliecat523]

I'm also seeing a $20/night resort fee. But that aside parking at HBC (16) and disney(14?) + car(20) that's $50/day for a car, or $300 for 6 days. These little hidden costs add up.

The resort fee is actually $25 per day. Theme park parking is $20 per day.

When we look to book, we compare the rates with the resort fee and car service to/from the airport to Disney resort prices. Sometimes HBC wins, sometimes they don't. But we think the park shuttle is great and very reliable. They have a schedule and I like knowing when the bus is going to arrive. Not just hoping that that I didn't miss one and may be another 20-30 minutes before the next one arrives. Especially at the end of a long day!

 

[Rags123]

Thanks for the response about the shuttle, alliecat523! I do like that the shuttle has a schedule. How long would you say it takes to get back to HBC from the parks (in particular MK and Epcot)? I'm almost certain that we'll drive to HS.

 

[alliecat523]

It depends where you're starting from. The buses do share parks so it's 2 parks per bus route. MK is usually the first drop off and pick up. So going to the park is a piece of cake and you're there within 20 minutes. Coming back, you will stop at another park before returning to HBC so it takes longer - maybe 40 min. I think (if I remember correctly), it's MK and EP that share a bus and DHS and AK that share a bus. MK and DHS are first drop off/pick up.

Also, the bus stops at the Waldorf for pick up after HBC but that is about a 2 minute drive and maybe a 5 minute stop. Super quick. HBC is first drop off on the return. And the bus is a very nice charter bus. Much more comfortable than the regular city buses of Disney transport.

 

[Rags123]

Thanks so much, alliecat523! That's what I needed to know. It sounds like the shuttles are a good option unless you're trying to get the parks really early. We stayed at a Disney resort on our last trip and still drove when we had pre-park opening ADRs

 

[indyumd]

Just remember to add the resort parking fee plus the Disney parking fee into your considerations of everything.

 

[Enjoying Life]

Has anyone who booked this resort (Hilton BC) on Hilton Honors points stayed recently?
I was reading through the thread and a while ago it seemed as if you booked on points, there was no resort fee. Now, it's saying there is a resort fee still if using points. Have they changed that?

Hilton Honors members are not charged a resort fee when using Honors points to pay for a room. The best deal is when they offer a part cash and part points option. The last time we stayed at HBC we booked a room for 12000 points plus $50 a night. 4 nights for $200 and 48000 points. The best part is that the resort fees are waived, even on these type of partial points bookings.

 

[Michele Christian]

Does anyone know what the cab fare is going from HBC to Disney Springs or MK?

Not sure about cab, but Uber took us all over Disney property on our last trip, and we never paid over $10 for a ride.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Not sure about cab, but Uber took us all over Disney property on our last trip, and we never paid over $10 for a ride.

Was that UberX, BlackCar, SUV or some other level of service? How many passengers? Thanks

 

[Michele Christian]

Was that UberX, BlackCar, SUV or some other level of service? How many passengers? Thanks

it was UberX. just 4 passengers. we took it at least 4 times on the last trip, and every driver was prompt and courteous. I was relieved at how cheap it was!

 

[OKW Lover]

My wife and I just spend one night at the Waldorf to celebrate our 19th Anniversary. The stay was delightful and we got some special touches from the resort to help us celebrate. Arrival at about 4:00 pm was very smooth, with immediate help from the valet/bell staff when we drove up. No line at all at checkin. Our details were quickly confirmed and they verified the note on our reservation that it was our anniversary.

Then came the real surprise, a free upgrade to a suite! Had a lovely, huge room on the 9th floor overlooking the golf course. This suite included a living room, wet bar, mini fridge with wine rack, wine glasses, TV in the living room, 2nd TV in the King bedroom, and a huge bathroom with both tub and shower. We were blown away at it all. Then a short time later our doorbell rings (yes, a doorbell) and its a waiter with complimentary champagne and chocolate covered strawberries along with a nice card wishing us a happy anniversary.

We lounged around the room for a while drinking the champagne before heading down to Bull & Bear for dinner. Before dinner however, we stopped in the Peacock Lounge for a couple of glasses of wine (2 each, 1 was complimentary with our room rate, the 2nd because we are HHonors Gold members) in very nice surroundings. Our dinner reservation was for a party of 7 (we had invited several friends to celebrate with us, including one who's birthday just happens to fall on the same day as our anniversary). When the rest of our party arrived we went to the B&B and were escorted to a private room for our meal.

Being local, we eat at Bull & Bear very regularly. Probably once a month, often with some of the same friends joining us that night. So we are well known to the wait staff there and always get treated nicely. That night was no exception and we all had a wonderful meal. My wife and I had the Chateaubriand for two. While others had either the filet, or the sea bass. Side dishes were pave potatoes, mac n cheese, creamed corn and something else that slips my mind at the moment. For desert we ordered the beignets even though we were really full. The restaurant also brought out a special desert for our anniversary (the chocolate bar) and for our friend's birthday a creme brûlée. Each was on a plate that had Happy Birthday/Anniversary written on it in chocolate. Yum!!!

Overall a very memorable evening.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Just booked the Waldorf for five nights in a two queens suite using Hilton points for October 23-28 for my wife, me, and our daughters 8 and 5. I might have been upgraded anyway (I'll be HHonors diamond when we travel), but I didn't want to risk it. I wanted to guarantee the extra space. The suite was the same amount of points as booking a regular room at the NYC Waldorf (which is highly overrated without an upgrade). Have to book another room for my mother-in-law when I have the points at the end of next month.

Last time we stayed on site, but the girls were only 5 and 2, so we thought we needed to be closer. This time we're looking for more space and to save money.

The reviews of both the Waldorf and Hilton sound like the rooms, restaurants, pools, and bus system are great. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[elmoandzoey]

It depends where you're starting from. The buses do share parks so it's 2 parks per bus route. MK is usually the first drop off and pick up. So going to the park is a piece of cake and you're there within 20 minutes. Coming back, you will stop at another park before returning to HBC so it takes longer - maybe 40 min. I think (if I remember correctly), it's MK and EP that share a bus and DHS and AK that share a bus. MK and DHS are first drop off/pick up.

Also, the bus stops at the Waldorf for pick up after HBC but that is about a 2 minute drive and maybe a 5 minute stop. Super quick. HBC is first drop off on the return. And the bus is a very nice charter bus. Much more comfortable than the regular city buses of Disney transport.

Alliecat, do you remember how late after park closing the buses usually ran? We'll be staying at the Hilton for a few days but not going to the parks. We'd like to hit up the Boardwalk a couple nights to watch Illuminations from outside on one night and SW fireworks on another. Just trying to figure out if we could get a quick drink in a bluezoo after that or not...

 

[alliecat523]

I believe they run on the same timelines as the Disney buses so an hour after closing. When you get on the bus, they announce when the last pick up will be. There is also a website you can check for times. It only posts for the current week though. Bonnetshuttle.com. You can get there via the hotel website as well.

 

[SarahWeasley]

Planning to stay at the Hilton Bonnet Creek for a weekend in May. Can anyone confirm whether there is poolside cocktail and food service? Are there servers who walk around the pool area, or do you have to go up to the bar and order and wait? Thanks so much if anyone can help.

 

[SarahWeasley]

Planning to stay at the Hilton Bonnet Creek for a weekend in May. Can anyone confirm whether there is poolside cocktail and food service? Are there servers who walk around the pool area, or do you have to go up to the bar and order and wait? Thanks so much if anyone can help.

In case anyone else is ever wondering, the answer is yes, at least today. BF and I just enjoyed some burgers and cocktails delivered straight to our loungers. Having a very nice pool afternoon.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

If you stay using Hilton Points and/or if you are Hilton Honors Diamond status, do they waive your valet parking fee at the Waldorf? Thinking about renting a car for the week, but if it's going to cost me a few hundred dollars to park, I'd rather just shuttle.

 

[shoppgirl]

Just booked the Waldorf for five nights in a two queens suite using Hilton points for October 23-28 for my wife, me, and our daughters 8 and 5. I might have been upgraded anyway (I'll be HHonors diamond when we travel), but I didn't want to risk it. I wanted to guarantee the extra space. The suite was the same amount of points as booking a regular room at the NYC Waldorf (which is highly overrated without an upgrade). Have to book another room for my mother-in-law when I have the points at the end of next month.

Last time we stayed on site, but the girls were only 5 and 2, so we thought we needed to be closer. This time we're looking for more space and to save money.

The reviews of both the Waldorf and Hilton sound like the rooms, restaurants, pools, and bus system are great. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm sure you will enjoy it! We stayed in a King suite when our girls were 8 and 6. We had always shared a room and bed with the girls, but we were pleasantly upgraded to a king suite. I was nervous about having the girls stay in the living room by themselves but it turned out to be a blessing!!! The girls loved having their own room and shared the pull out queen sofa bed. It was very comfortable and they enjoyed sharing the bed together in their own space. I loved having a king bed while on vacation!! We had up to this point always squeezed into a queen or double bed on vacation!

My girls are now 12 and 14 and are looking forward to having their own space again on the queen sofa bed (you can also request a cot which is actually a full twin bed for free) in a corner luxury king suite on our next visit!

 

[chattadisser]

My husband and I just returned from 2 nights at the Waldorf. It was wonderful and we may never stay on property again. This was a quick, no kids, trip for us. We stayed on a combination of Hilton points and cash so we were not charged the resort fee but we did pay for parking. The Waldorf is truly a deluxe property in comparison to Disney deluxe. Its the customer service that you expect at a deluxe hotel. We were upgraded to a king one bedroom suite and it would be perfect for our family of four as the sofa pulls out to a bed. The room was also a Disney view which meant we could see the fireworks at EP, MK and HS although without the music it wasn't the same.

We also took the bus service over to the MK while there and it was quite nice. We will definitely include both the Hilton and the Waldorf when we plan our next trip to Orlando. I do think that because of the parking fee and the resort fee you need to see how it compares to a room at Disney at the same time. I'm sure there are times during the year when Disney may be cheaper due to the resort and parking fee. Now, if Disney implements these as is the rumor, then I think the Hilton and the Waldorf become even stronger contenders.

 

[MTW]

DH and I are headed down in a couple of weeks for our anniversary and have booked the Hilton at Downtown Disney for two nights (on points - we're Hilton Diamond members). This morning I did another hotel search "just to see" and booked the Waldorf on a points + cash reservation. Can anyone provide us with a comparison? Traveling without the kids and we've never stayed at a Waldorf. We're looking at 80K points for the Hilton and $200+48K points total for the Waldorf. Two nights, plan to hit the parks but we have annual passes so may just come and go. Plan to do F&W at Epcot but we will have a car (probably only use bus transport to Epcot so no one has to drive home
Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

We've stayed at the Waldorf a couple of times in the past year. We live locally, but stay overnight on special occasions. Haven't stayed at the Hilton DTD (probably renamed Disney Springs by now) in several years but from memory, the Waldorf is far and away better.