The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread Part 3

[ProudMommyof2]

We had a "ghost reservation" at Royal Pacific @ Universal on our last trip.

We got 2 days of Unlimited Express Pass, only had to pay for 1 day of parking (the hotels charge at midnight) and used the room as a day room so we could take a mid day break and swim. We had a place to change and get some air conditioning. We got the cheapest room they had and it was less than paying for Express Pass. Not to mention when you pay for Express Pass it is only good for 1 time per ride.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I have a reservation via an RCI trade for one week in a 1BR. Is it at all possible to pay for an upgrade to 2BR upon checkin? Has this been done before?

I don't think so. Once you make your trade into RCI, you're pretty much locked into a room, or at least the same type of room.

 

[DCTooTall]

I have a reservation via an RCI trade for one week in a 1BR. Is it at all possible to pay for an upgrade to 2BR upon checkin? Has this been done before?

Not possible. Because it's a time share resort, They don't have any system in place for a onsite cash room or to assign cash values to the rooms to allow for a cash upgrade. (even if you book via a cash rate with Wyndham Directly, Wyndham will basically convert your cash booking into a developer point rental for the reservation).

There's also the simple fact that it would be VERY VERY rare for the resort to have any last minute availability in a 2bdrm which you could upgrade into. The existing VIP Upgrade owner perk will usually be taken advantage of to fill any of the larger empty inventory long before you arrived onsite.

 

[sersee05]

Totally wish I would have thought of the ghost reservation awhile back! Could have had my dining!

 

[eangel12]

Does anyone else find themselves waiting to make off site reservations because of the magic band issue?! We are waiting to see what will happen before making a decision about hotel. Honestly with 2 little ones, fast passes are essential in the heat of August.

 

[Kemorr]

If you're not going until August, I would wait it out a little longer and see what happens with FP plus for off site. I think FP plus is going to increase awareness of FP dramatically, when I was checking into Pop there was a family in front of me who were pretty clueless about everything. When they checked in the desk person gave them their MBs and helped them select FP for all their days right there. He even guided them to the "best" ones for their needs. In the past, this family probably would never have known about or used FP, or barely used it at all. If off site is denied FP, it will be a MAJOR hindrance. Also, I've been looking at people's wrists while in the park and almost everyone has a MB. It is rare to see a bare wrist and actually quite rare to see a grey band. I definitely think being denied the MB and all that goes with it would be a big negative. I have to believe it will be offered to offsite, though, probably just at a cost.

 

[eangel12]

If you're not going until August, I would wait it out a little longer and see what happens with FP plus for off site. I think FP plus is going to increase awareness of FP dramatically, when I was checking into Pop there was a family in front of me who were pretty clueless about everything. When they checked in the desk person gave them their MBs and helped them select FP for all their days right there. He even guided them to the "best" ones for their needs. In the past, this family probably would never have known about or used FP, or barely used it at all. If off site is denied FP, it will be a MAJOR hindrance. Also, I've been looking at people's wrists while in the park and almost everyone has a MB. It is rare to see a bare wrist and actually quite rare to see a grey band. I definitely think being denied the MB and all that goes with it would be a big negative. I have to believe it will be offered to offsite, though, probably just at a cost.

We are also purchasing annual passes which further complicates things! I'm assuming annual pass holders will be offered fast pass+! Wish more info would come out!!

 

[Chelley00]

Does anyone else find themselves waiting to make off site reservations because of the magic band issue?! .

We are going next October and playing the wait and see game. If they don't offer it to offsite guests, we'll have some decisions to make. I don't think we can stay onsite because we could have 4 kids and my mom with us. If that happens we may skip Disney all together and just go to the other Orlando area parks.

 

[eangel12]

We are going next October and playing the wait and see game. If they don't offer it to offsite guests, we'll have some decisions to make. I don't think we can stay onsite because we could have 4 kids and my mom with us. If that happens we may skip Disney all together and just go to the other Orlando area parks.

I'm shocked that a company the size of Disney does not have this figured out yet. Although looking at their IT dept, I shouldn't be that shocked!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

They have to offer magic bands (for free) to annual pass holders.

And I would think they would offer it to offsite guests as well. I think there are a lot more offsite people who go into the parks than onsite.

However, if I have done things differently, I might have extended our vacation a day and spend the first night at a value. Just to get the magic bands. Then move into WBC.

 

[eangel12]

They have to offer magic bands (for free) to annual pass holders. And I would think they would offer it to offsite guests as well. I think there are a lot more offsite people who go into the parks than onsite. However, if I have done things differently, I might have extended our vacation a day and spend the first night at a value. Just to get the magic bands. Then move into WBC.

We have moved our trip to September 2014 and got a fantastic quote for a 3 bedroom. We will have annual passes so feel safe that fast pass + will be offered to us and magic bands will be too at that point. I'm going to put a deposit on the quote and move forward. We are getting the room and 4 annual passes for what a 2 bedroom at AKL would have cost us...and still have $1909.00 left over. For that price I can feed us very well for the week!!

We went at the same time 2 years ago and we followed the touring plan--lines were never more than 15-20 mins. We are thinking it will be fine!

 

[KapBoy77]

We had a "ghost reservation" at Royal Pacific @ Universal on our last trip.

We got 2 days of Unlimited Express Pass, only had to pay for 1 day of parking (the hotels charge at midnight) and used the room as a day room so we could take a mid day break and swim. We had a place to change and get some air conditioning. We got the cheapest room they had and it was less than paying for Express Pass. Not to mention when you pay for Express Pass it is only good for 1 time per ride.

This is our plan on our upcoming trip!

 

[Kemorr]

They have to offer magic bands (for free) to annual pass holders.

And I would think they would offer it to offsite guests as well. I think there are a lot more offsite people who go into the parks than onsite.

However, if I have done things differently, I might have extended our vacation a day and spend the first night at a value. Just to get the magic bands. Then move into WBC.

I would have thought your comment about there being more off site than on site to be true, until this trip. I have been looking at people's wrists, out of curiosity, and there seems to be very few without a band. And as of now, there are still some resorts that don't have them. My very unscientific test would seem to indicate that there are far more on site than off site guests. And if that is true, I can definitely see how Disney would limit MBs to on site guests, but I still think they'll have to offer FP in some form or another to off site people.

 

[eangel12]

I would have thought your comment about there being more off site than on site to be true, until this trip. I have been looking at people's wrists, out of curiosity, and there seems to be very few without a band. And as of now, there are still some resorts that don't have them. My very unscientific test would seem to indicate that there are far more on site than off site guests. And if that is true, I can definitely see how Disney would limit MBs to on site guests, but I still think they'll have to offer FP in some form or another to off site people.

Honestly it makes sense that they offer fast pass+ to only hotel guests and annual pass holders. It seems that hotel stay=big bucks for Disney. I'm surprised they haven't done it sooner. I'll be happy with my annual pass at this point. For our 2015 stay we will stay on property because we will only need 1 room...unless we find we love the space too much to give it up. We will see!!

How are you liking Bonnet Creek?

 

[lynn46356]

Can you purchase tickets for the Halloween party at WBC or do they have to be purchased at the Magic Kingdom? Thanks!!!!!

 

[eangel12]

Can you purchase tickets for the Halloween party at WBC or do they have to be purchased at the Magic Kingdom? Thanks!!!!!

You can purchase them in advance from the Disney website or within Disney at their guest service locations. I don't think WBC would have them! Pretty sure special event tickets are not sold everywhere!!

 

[WINTER]

anyone have the current shuttle schedule for Bonnet Creek?

 

[Kemorr]

Honestly it makes sense that they offer fast pass+ to only hotel guests and annual pass holders. It seems that hotel stay=big bucks for Disney. I'm surprised they haven't done it sooner. I'll be happy with my annual pass at this point. For our 2015 stay we will stay on property because we will only need 1 room...unless we find we love the space too much to give it up. We will see!!

How are you liking Bonnet Creek?

Well, I'm loving the space. Having the kids in their own rooms is priceless and something that will be hard to give up while they're young. The kids love the pirate pool, which is where we are right now. Parking hS not been an issue, but we're usually back here by 6, so we'll see what it is like after our MNSSHP night. Having a washer/dryer is also priceless, but that would have been in BLT, too. I think the location is good. Ok, you can't beat the BLT location but for $18 a day (valet us tip), I've been able to walk in and out of MK and avoided the hassle of the tram/monorail. We rode the monorail into MK from Contemporary today and it took forever! Much quicker to walk. I actually like not having housekeeping. I don't feel bad leaving the room a mess in the morning and tidying up after the kids are in bed at night. No wasted time in the morning! We have a pool/lake view in tower 6, level 14, and it IS noisy at night. It hasn't kept my kids awake yet, though. So, all in all, I really like BC, but I don't think I'd do it without a ghost ressie. The FP+ and MB are just too cool.

 

[Mouse13]

Can someone that's stayed at WBC recently give us an update on the wireless? When I first started researching the property, folks were saying to bring your own router. Has the situation improved? Is service better in some towers than others? I'll be packing this weekend and want to leave all unnecessary items at home. Also, I doubt it, but I'm wondering if there's a crockpot included in the kitchen items. Thanks!

 

[eangel12]

So, I need a quick opinion. I requested a price quote from Vacation Strategy. I called to receive the quote because I had sent them one earlier with the wrong dates. The girl on the phone gave me a price quote of $1163.00 for a 3 bedroom for 10 nights in September. I spoke to the girl on the phone, was driving so didn't have pen and paper to write down the quote so asked her to send me an email with the quote. Arrived home to find the email from the company with the quote. I talked to the hubby and we made the deposit last night. (Just an FYI, I didn't hear the exact amount via phone...but was pleasantly surprised to see the quote via email when I arrived home. Talked to the hubby and we booked and gave a deposit.)

Fast forward to today...got a sheepish call and message from one of their reps telling me that the price quote was incorrect and that they would send me the new quote which is $500.00 more now. The girl kept saying, "human error". Then she began to tell me that I should have KNOWN that this was NOT correct because of the first quote I received which was higher than this one. When I said I didn't even look at the quote because the dates were correct, she then went back into the same thing, basically acting as if I should have taken ownership of THEIR MISTAKE. She then told me a THIRD TIME that I should have KNOWN that this was NOT the right quote because the quote they gave me for the other was higher. I guess she could tell I was annoyed because she said, "what would you like me to do". Am I wrong to be upset that this person is trying to insinuate that THEIR error should have been caught be me?? Am I wrong to be annoyed by this girl even having the audacity to act as if this were my fault in some way?! I am upset that she went down that road.

Any thoughts?? I have the email with the quote that is "guaranteed". Should I make an issue of this? I was given a quote of $160.00 a night for "peak season" for a 3 bedroom so I figured "off season" would be considerably less and that $114 for off peak per night was reasonable. I'm annoyed now to say the least!!