The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[Grumpy Grandma]

Has anyone done Bonnet Creek without a car? How did it work out? I'm seriously considering the notion of BC instead of POFQ for Nov, but renting a car is my hang-up at the moment. With 6 of us we'd need a minivan and it seems no matter where I look or what codes I use we're looking at about $800 after fees & taxes, which erases any savings from the cheaper accommodations.

We don't take midday breaks and other than Studios we're okay with getting there early-ish but not necessarily for rope drop. For the most part we do the parks open to close or nearly so, we plan our dinners in/near our park for the day to minimize travel time, and we don't head back to our resort until we're done with the day. Am I totally off base in thinking the shuttle might be perfectly fine for our purposes?

Also, how often is the "no strollers" rule enforced on the buses? Ours folds essentially like an umbrella stroller so it isn't a massive thing, and most reports I've read say that they don't routinely enforce the stroller ban that is in the fine print, but I'm still a little concerned about the fact that it is there and could be enforced. With a toddler the shuttle becomes absolutely useless to us if we can't take our stroller!

I'll be there in Jan for a week and I plan to just use their shuttle .... I figure even if I have to take a taxi a couple of times I'll still be way ahead of the game. As for the stroller if they won't let you take it on the shuttle could you look into renting one at the park?

 

[snowangel72]

Has anyone done Bonnet Creek without a car? How did it work out? I'm seriously considering the notion of BC instead of POFQ for Nov, but renting a car is my hang-up at the moment. With 6 of us we'd need a minivan and it seems no matter where I look or what codes I use we're looking at about $800 after fees & taxes, which erases any savings from the cheaper accommodations.

We don't take midday breaks and other than Studios we're okay with getting there early-ish but not necessarily for rope drop. For the most part we do the parks open to close or nearly so, we plan our dinners in/near our park for the day to minimize travel time, and we don't head back to our resort until we're done with the day. Am I totally off base in thinking the shuttle might be perfectly fine for our purposes?

Also, how often is the "no strollers" rule enforced on the buses? Ours folds essentially like an umbrella stroller so it isn't a massive thing, and most reports I've read say that they don't routinely enforce the stroller ban that is in the fine print, but I'm still a little concerned about the fact that it is there and could be enforced. With a toddler the shuttle becomes absolutely useless to us if we can't take our stroller!

Do a search on this board. I found a code for a minivan through Budget and it is $350 including everything for 9 days.

I was wondering why someone left their stroller at the buss pick up gazebo! Now I know why!

 

[snowangel72]

Has anyone done Bonnet Creek without a car? How did it work out? I'm seriously considering the notion of BC instead of POFQ for Nov, but renting a car is my hang-up at the moment. With 6 of us we'd need a minivan and it seems no matter where I look or what codes I use we're looking at about $800 after fees & taxes, which erases any savings from the cheaper accommodations.

We don't take midday breaks and other than Studios we're okay with getting there early-ish but not necessarily for rope drop. For the most part we do the parks open to close or nearly so, we plan our dinners in/near our park for the day to minimize travel time, and we don't head back to our resort until we're done with the day. Am I totally off base in thinking the shuttle might be perfectly fine for our purposes?

Also, how often is the "no strollers" rule enforced on the buses? Ours folds essentially like an umbrella stroller so it isn't a massive thing, and most reports I've read say that they don't routinely enforce the stroller ban that is in the fine print, but I'm still a little concerned about the fact that it is there and could be enforced. With a toddler the shuttle becomes absolutely useless to us if we can't take our stroller!

You will be totally fine using the shuttle. It comes and goes often.

I know nothing about the stroller rule but I did see a deserted stroller left at the gazebo bus stop. Another family on the bus DID have a little ride on toy, in lieu of a stroller and no one said anything about that.

 

[Brian Noble]

you look into renting [a stroller] at the park?

That will eat any savings from not paying for theme park parking pretty quickly.

 

[littlele]

We were just there for 10 days and never had a problem bringing a stroller on the bus. If you are just using it in the morning and evening, then it should work. It does get busy/packed though, so even though it is free, you may find yourself using a cab, etc. just for a break.

I am not sure that BC would work too well without a car. Like pp have said, you can get one for a much better price and then have the freedom to go to the grocery store, etc. when necesssary. You can make it work, but I personally wouldn't do without a car here.

 

[Colleen27]

I'll be there in Jan for a week and I plan to just use their shuttle .... I figure even if I have to take a taxi a couple of times I'll still be way ahead of the game. As for the stroller if they won't let you take it on the shuttle could you look into renting one at the park?

I could but I'd rather not. Ours is fairly nice and DD2 is very used to it - it has a sun canopy that will close completely, all the way to the lap bar, and she's in the habit of pulling it shut to block out the world when she wants to nap/unwind. I think a rented stroller would be much harder for her to rest in, and the cost or the rentals is a bit on the ridiculous side besides.

Do a search on this board. I found a code for a minivan through Budget and it is $350 including everything for 9 days.

If I can find a rate like that I'll rent for sure! So far I'm not finding anything, but most of the codes expire well before our travel dates so maybe it is just a matter of time. Even the standard, ongoing Costco 25% off isn't working for Nov yet.

That will eat any savings from not paying for theme park parking pretty quickly.

Parking actually isn't an issue because we're going to have two trips within a year's time so I'm getting an AP. It is just the rental itself that is ridiculous at this point, $800+ to get it at the airport or $500+ but with the added cost and hassle of one-way airport transportation if we pick it up at the Dolphin or Car Care Center and just keep it for the BC part of the trip (we're also spending two days at the Beach Club, no parks, just for the pool, so we'll have ME one way).

We were just there for 10 days and never had a problem bringing a stroller on the bus. If you are just using it in the morning and evening, then it should work. It does get busy/packed though, so even though it is free, you may find yourself using a cab, etc. just for a break.

I am not sure that BC would work too well without a car. Like pp have said, you can get one for a much better price and then have the freedom to go to the grocery store, etc. when necesssary. You can make it work, but I personally wouldn't do without a car here.

Good to know. I'm not adverse to using a cab here and there for convenience, so long as the shuttle works out for most of the daily back and forth.

I won't be cooking in the villa at all so I'm not worried about groceries, and we don't plan to go offsite for meals either. We'll have our usual WeGoShop delivery at the start of the trip to stock up on beer, soda, diapers, sunscreen, and some snack foods. Just because the villa has a kitchen doesn't mean I'll use it; with a teen, a tween, and a toddler plus my mother joining us on this trip the whole reason the villa appeals to me is the spacious sleeping arrangements.

 

[ski_mom]

Do a search on this board. I found a code for a minivan through Budget and it is $350 including everything for 9 days.

Do you know what the code you are using is? I've rented a minivan for 11 days and the best I could find was right at $550 (which was a lot better than anything else I'd found), but it sounds like your code is a better deal yet.

 

[Upatnoon]

Has anyone done Bonnet Creek without a car? How did it work out? I'm seriously considering the notion of BC instead of POFQ for Nov, but renting a car is my hang-up at the moment. With 6 of us we'd need a minivan and it seems no matter where I look or what codes I use we're looking at about $800 after fees & taxes, which erases any savings from the cheaper accommodations.

We don't take midday breaks and other than Studios we're okay with getting there early-ish but not necessarily for rope drop. For the most part we do the parks open to close or nearly so, we plan our dinners in/near our park for the day to minimize travel time, and we don't head back to our resort until we're done with the day. Am I totally off base in thinking the shuttle might be perfectly fine for our purposes?

Also, how often is the "no strollers" rule enforced on the buses? Ours folds essentially like an umbrella stroller so it isn't a massive thing, and most reports I've read say that they don't routinely enforce the stroller ban that is in the fine print, but I'm still a little concerned about the fact that it is there and could be enforced. With a toddler the shuttle becomes absolutely useless to us if we can't take our stroller!

The "no strollers" rule is the same rule they have on the Disney busses. Kids can't ride in a stroller on the bus.

 

[Brian Noble]

It is just the rental itself that is ridiculous at this point, $800+ to get it at the airport or $500+ but with the added cost and hassle of one-way airport transportation if we pick it up at the Dolphin or Car Care Center and just keep it for the BC part of the trip (we're also spending two days at the Beach Club, no parks, just for the pool, so we'll have ME one way).

I'm pretty sure that if you keep checking back, you'll be able to do quite a bit better than this.

 

[Tracey123]

Do you know what the code you are using is? I've rented a minivan for 11 days and the best I could find was right at $550 (which was a lot better than anything else I'd found), but it sounds like your code is a better deal yet.

Also try when renting a car to put in 1 extra hour. Pick up at 10:00 am and drop off at 11:00 am. I find that the price actually is cheaper in most cases. What about renting two cars instead of a minivan? We rented a car for $135 for the week. It would be worth it if you had two drivers and really don't plan on using the car that often. Good luck!!!

 

[samandryanmom]

We'll be at Bonnet Creek August 14th through August 21st in a one bedroom rented from Ken. I've been searching for a rental car and the cheapest I've found is 185 from Hotwire. It's just me and my daughter so I'm looking at the smallest available but this seems high to me. We're arriving into Sanford but flying back out of Orlando. Would that make a difference to make the rates higher?
Thanks, Kerri

 

[Lou Holtz]

Why aren't you just using Priceline?

 

[Stinky_Pete]

We're arriving into Sanford but flying back out of Orlando. Would that make a difference to make the rates higher?
Thanks, Kerri

That can very well make the rate higher than it would be if you were renting and returning to the same location. Not always, but sometimes...

 

[dizneechic]

I figured I would post this since I just came across it and several have inquired about the 3BR presidentials. Here is a youtube video of a WBC 3BR Presidential, tower 6, and looks to be lake view. I posted in the comments to his vid asking what room number it was to help some of us out but its a great vid and peek inside one of those units.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go7Da6nKr-Q

 

[AndyFL]

Egads!!, what a thread...and I started with the first one that has been closed

Looks like we are going in late Aug, early Sept. I wasn't planning on a trip at this time of the year but for $300 for 7 nts I'd be crazy not to. One thing I hadn't noticed being mentioned was how crowded the shuttle buses were. We could always drive since we are AP holders but I tend to like the idea of not putting the keys in the ignition until we are going home

 

[littlele]

Egads!!, what a thread...and I started with the first one that has been closed

Looks like we are going in late Aug, early Sept. I wasn't planning on a trip at this time of the year but for $300 for 7 nts I'd be crazy not to. One thing I hadn't noticed being mentioned was how crowded the shuttle buses were. We could always drive since we are AP holders but I tend to like the idea of not putting the keys in the ignition until we are going home

Oh believe me...they are crowded! Then again, we were there end of June-early July. Your timing should be much better!

 

[Ackpack]

Oh believe me...they are crowded! Then again, we were there end of June-early July. Your timing should be much better!

Has anyone been in early November...and where the shuttle buses crowded then as well or no because it's a slower time of year down there? We're not going to have a car and will be relying on the shuttles and taxis for the week.

 

[Brian Noble]

We're not going to have a car and will be relying on the shuttles and taxis for the week.

How are you getting to the resort? A rental car might only be a few dollars more, and would be worth having for peace of mind in case the shuttles don't work out as well as you'd planned. A car is also helpful for the occasional "We need a few things from the store" run.

You could still plan on using shuttles if you prefer, but this way you have a backup plan, just in case.

 

[Ackpack]

How are you getting to the resort? A rental car might only be a few dollars more, and would be worth having for peace of mind in case the shuttles don't work out as well as you'd planned. A car is also helpful for the occasional "We need a few things from the store" run.

You could still plan on using shuttles if you prefer, but this way you have a backup plan, just in case.

There will be 6 of us (4 adults and two 1 year olds) and the cheapest I've found for a rental van is $500 and unfortunately that's just not in our budget. Between the airport shuttle and occational taxis if need be it will still stay well below the cost of a rental van, rental car seats (I can't imagine trying to lug ours for gate check along with all our luggage and stroller) and what parking at the parks would be for the week. So though I would love to have a car...it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for us.

 

[DCTooTall]

There will be 6 of us (4 adults and two 1 year olds) and the cheapest I've found for a rental van is $500 and unfortunately that's just not in our budget. Between the airport shuttle and occational taxis if need be it will still stay well below the cost of a rental van, rental car seats (I can't imagine trying to lug ours for gate check along with all our luggage and stroller) and what parking at the parks would be for the week. So though I would love to have a car...it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for us.

You may want to check on the pricing for at least a single regular car. Even if you plan on taking the shuttle most days, having a vehicle may make it easier to transport your bags (and strollers/etc) from the airport to the resort then trying to pile everyone into a taxi. It would also still give you the freedom for a store run if needed, and maybe even an "adults night out" if some of the adults want to get away from the kids for a bit.