The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread Part 3

[Tobylinder]

I see from the faqs that

"Building 1 (Torre de la Tierra) has 7 floors. Even numbered units face the lake.
Building 2 (Torre del Vinto) has 9 floors. Even numbered units face the lake
Building 3 (Torre del Mar) has 9 floors. Even numbered units face the lake.
Building 4 (Torre del Cielo) has 15 floors. Odd numbered units face the lake.
Building 5 (Torre de la Luna) has 15 floors. Odd numbered units face the lake.
Building 6 (Torre del Sol) has 19 floors. Odd numbered units face the lake."

If I am going to try to get a fireworks view (and I understand no requests can be made in advance), do I want a lake view or a parking lot view? Perhaps it's a different answer depending upon which building?

Thanks so much.

 

[JenDett]

We were there last week - first visit. We went to the pools about 8 Friday evening. Both water slides were off. Do they only run to a certain time of day? Kids were really disappointed.

 

[dcibrando]

Does Bonnet Creek give you some sort of guide with directions to each of the theme parks upon check-in? I've noticed some GPS's will not guide you to the parking lot section where you need to go so just curious which ways to turn, etc. when exiting BC to go to the parks

thanks

 

[LoveWD]

Is it easy to be able to walk the resort (pool hop) if you don't get the tower you hoped for? (with a 6 year old in tow)
Also, do they have a shuttle that goes to Universal/Sea World?
Thanks!

 

[jason10mm]

The slide at the pirate ship (the enclosed dark one) stops at 6. There is an employee monitoring it and they will stop folks at that time. I'm sure it is the same at the other slide.

It is VERY easy to pool hop, I saw folks doing it all the time. In fact, we frequently had to run around for towels anyway.

We did get directions to each park in our welcome packet but really, either you grok the Disney traffic flow or you don't IIRC you turn right at the main road (the light) with an almost immediate left on top the overpass for MK, Epcot, and AK; but turn left for HS, then you can follow signs. Getting back can be tricky since WBC signs are smaller and a different style than "official" disney signs, but head for Carribean Beach and you'll get close (alas, they turn off the lights on that big red car at the intersection way too early!). After a few days you'll figure it out.

 

[squirrel4569]

Weird question I know, but curious. Does WBC have decent TP? The value resorts at Disney have Chuck Norris TP and I'm thinking of packing my own next year.

 

[Spanky]

According to my map the AK is west of DHS so why go toward Epcot & MK? You turn left at the light to go to DHS and AK. If you are following Disney direction signs they want you to go left for all 4 parks. DHS is the 3rd light and you turn left. You continue on this same road to go to AK.
Just past boardwalk [which is the same light as DHS but to the right ] you will turn right to merge with a different road. Stay in the right lane for Epcot or merge into the traffic to go to the MK.
After you have been there several days you will find some short cuts but for new tenants it is best to follow the Disney signs to each park. Disney never has you make a left turn for the main entrances of the parks. At DHS you are actually entering from a second entrance - not the main entrance to the park.
The Disney vacation property booths use to have a property map. Stop by one and see if they won't give you one.
You are correct - you can not use GPS because it does not know which roads are open to the public and which are only for staff and buses.

 

[Lady888]

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.

So you paid for a room at universal for 1 night and tickets for your family but paid for a room at WBC for the same night? Idea of this is you get the express pass (which is $60-$80/pp/day) for your family members with their tickets? The cost of the room at Royal Pacific is less than purchasing the express pass for each family member? Would it not be cheaper to switch resorts for the night and not pay for 2 nights? We are going in April and will be staying at Royal Pacific for 2 nights then switching to WBC for the other 5. Reason to stay at Royal is for the onsite convenience and express passes (2 rooms for 6 ppl). Would there be a benefit for my family to have a ghost reservation?

 

[Lady888]

We will be vacationing for 5 nights in April at WBC. I have searched and searched and got an amazing quote from Laru Resorts (or LaRu Resorts) who are Larry and Ruth Walburg. I did receive a quote from VS and VU and VRBO
and every other place I could find. My quote is so good ($200 less than VS and $400 less than VU) that I am ready to book with Laru Resorts but I wonder if anyone has used them before? I have only been able to find 1 other thread mentioning them. Is this too good to be true? I don't get the impression that they are out to make millions on this, seems to me that they're just selling time they're not using. As with booking from any owner rather than the hotel itself are there any red flags I need to be wary of or anything I should know? Thanks!

 

[Lady888]

Has anyone worked with Laru Resorts? He has a two bedroom deluxe(1 king and 2 queens) that looks pretty nice.. and it is way cheaper than the $2000 my ta quoted me for 5 days and 2 bedrooms at Bonnet Creek.

Any word on working with Laru Resorts? I am also very close to booking with them, they beat everyone's quote for my 5 nights in April but they're not mentioned often so I am curious on your experience with them. they seem very nice so far.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Five more days until we check in. Can't wait.

Few questions.

1) Is there still the Disney runned kiosk to buy tickets? I still have to buy tickets for my DD and her husband (they won't arrive until Wednesday).

2) I'm assuming no, but do they have to be staying at the resort? (While we're at WBC, they're staying at DTD Hilton).

3) Does the kiosk take Disney gift cards?

 

[Chelley00]

So you paid for a room at universal for 1 night and tickets for your family but paid for a room at WBC for the same night? Idea of this is you get the express pass (which is $60-$80/pp/day) for your family members with their tickets? The cost of the room at Royal Pacific is less than purchasing the express pass for each family member?

We did the same thing. We paid for one night at Royal Pacific even though were staying 2 weeks at WBC. When we added it all up, we got the room at RPH with a AAA discount and it cheaper to get the room than buying express pass for 4 of us.

With onsite, you get UNLIMITED express pass and if you buy one it's limited. Plus we got the one hour early entry to WWOHP. We paid $17 to park at RPH the first day and left to sleep at WBC (extra bathrooms and bedrooms so much nicer than one room!!!!) and when we came back the next morning, we parked at RPH for free and took the water taxi over. Staying offsite we would have had to pay for parking at the parks both days.

 

[ibob52]

Five more days until we check in. Can't wait.

Few questions.

1) Is there still the Disney runned kiosk to buy tickets? I still have to buy tickets for my DD and her husband (they won't arrive until Wednesday).

2) I'm assuming no, but do they have to be staying at the resort? (While we're at WBC, they're staying at DTD Hilton).

3) Does the kiosk take Disney gift cards?

We buy our tickets at Downtown Disney the night before we hit the parks.

Just a suggestion ... call WBC and ask for Concierge or WBC Disney Tickets Kiosk / Desk.

for the answer about WBC Disney Ticket Sales / Gift Cards / etc

Have a Great trip.

 

[Upatnoon]

Does Bonnet Creek give you some sort of guide with directions to each of the theme parks upon check-in? I've noticed some GPS's will not guide you to the parking lot section where you need to go so just curious which ways to turn, etc. when exiting BC to go to the parks

thanks

I suggest people turn off their GPS on disney property and follow the signs. Many GPS units seem to have trouble around the resort, and I've seen a few people nearly get in accidents because they were looking at the GPS and not the signs and traffic.

 

[aubriee]

Is it easy to be able to walk the resort (pool hop) if you don't get the tower you hoped for? (with a 6 year old in tow)
Also, do they have a shuttle that goes to Universal/Sea World?
Thanks!

The towers are really close together so pool hopping should not be a problem even with a 6 y/o. There is not a free shuttle to Universal, but when you check in they can give you a transportation schedule and on it I believe there is a number to call if you want to go to Universal. It's probably a Mears shared shuttle though. If so it will be $19.00 per person round trip and may make a stop or two at some WDW resorts. The Mears number is 407-423-5566. We've used them and they are fine. The last time I was the first pick up at BC, then it made a stop at AKL, then on the way to Universal stopped at Sea World to drop off a couple, before dropping the rest of us off at Universal. We were still there well before opening.

Weird question I know, but curious. Does WBC have decent TP? The value resorts at Disney have Chuck Norris TP and I'm thinking of packing my own next year.

Not a weird question at all. In fact, we noticed the rough toilet paper at BC. Yeah, it's single ply and Chuck Norris TP.

So you paid for a room at universal for 1 night and tickets for your family but paid for a room at WBC for the same night? Idea of this is you get the express pass (which is $60-$80/pp/day) for your family members with their tickets? The cost of the room at Royal Pacific is less than purchasing the express pass for each family member? Would it not be cheaper to switch resorts for the night and not pay for 2 nights? We are going in April and will be staying at Royal Pacific for 2 nights then switching to WBC for the other 5. Reason to stay at Royal is for the onsite convenience and express passes (2 rooms for 6 ppl). Would there be a benefit for my family to have a ghost reservation?

We've done the exact same thing the last two trips. We prefer going to Universal midweek, instead of the beginning or end of a trip. We prefer midweek when it's not so crowded, but don't want to check in, then out, then back in at BC, having to move our stuff. Instead, we just keep the room at BC, pack just enough for a night or two at Universal, and leave the rest of our stuff at BC. We don't have to change rooms and our stuff is still unpacked and waiting for us at BC. With the AP discount a room at Universal is not really that much and we like having the room available to go back to rest, swim, or change clothes during the day, not having to drive back and forth to Universal, getting early entry, and unlimited front of the line passes. If my elderly mom is with us, she can go back to the room to rest, while we continue touring. We like being able to go back to the parks or City Walk at night and having the convenience of just walking or boating back to our resort, without dreading the long drive back over to WDW, plus Universal hotel rooms are cheaper Sun-Thur nights, so we avoid the higher weekend rates.

 

[eangel12]

I suggest people turn off their GPS on disney property and follow the signs. Many GPS units seem to have trouble around the resort, and I've seen a few people nearly get in accidents because they were looking at the GPS and not the signs and traffic.

I agree!! We just followed the signs the last time we were there and had no trouble at all! Disney has everything very well marked!!

 

[Mom2six]

We have only stayed at Disney resorts, but I am seriously considering staying at Bonnet Creek next year. I love the atmosphere of the Disney resorts and the convenience of the food courts. Yet, the cost of a two bedroom unit with kitchen and living room is a fraction of the cost of a DVC two bedroom. The pools are really important to my family as well, especially a good children's area.

Are the pools at WBC more crowded than at Disney DVC resorts? Are there any good, convenient restaurants at WBC? Are they all mostly table service types or do they have something similar to a food court area?

I have read that some of the rooms have a nice fireworks view. We don't do the higher floors. (Can you request ground floor at WBC?). My son has autism and the first floor is so much easier for us because sometime he likes to jump. However, is there anyway to see the fireworks from the resort if you don't have an upper floor room?

Thanks!

 

[usmcdevildog]

I made a reservation on VRBO and I'm wondering about confirming my reservations. The day after I made my reservation the owner emailed me a "Confirmation Letter" that appeared to be from Wyndham. It had my name, address, and a 4 digit number at the top of the page. On the right side of the page it had the owner's name, reservation dates, and unit info. Then, the body of the letter was addressed to me and had a bunch of info about the resort.
It looks legit, but things are so easy to fake these days. Nowhere on the letter does it say that I'm a guest.

Has anyone else received a letter similar to mine?

What's the farthest out that I can call Wyndham and/or Bonnet Creek to verify my reservations?

 

[Spanky]

MOM2six - in the past you could request at the main check in desk to see the fire works. In the past they have used the 4 bedroom, 4 bath condo in building one as a model unit to show potential customers. They would open this unit up for you to go up and see the fireworks from the large porch. When we were there we had several families come to see the fireworks. I do not know if they are still offering this option. Just check at the desk when you are checking into the property.

 

[Mom2six]

MOM2six - in the past you could request at the main check in desk to see the fire works. In the past they have used the 4 bedroom, 4 bath condo in building one as a model unit to show potential customers. They would open this unit up for you to go up and see the fireworks from the large porch. When we were there we had several families come to see the fireworks. I do not know if they are still offering this option. Just check at the desk when you are checking into the property.

Thank you! I will sure ask about that - it sounds like a nice way to view them (if they still allow it).