The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[mikat]

But even in my room I had that stupid phone ringing. We got 3 calls a day starting at 10am.

I am staying at WBC next month, so I want to make sure I know about this - couldn't you just unplug the phone, or was that not possible?

 

[ez]

In case anyone missed it, regarding the phone calls etc, if you tell them you are married but traveling without your spouse, it makes you ineligible for the presentation and you wont be bothered. I've stayed there 4 or 5 times and works like a charm each time, we were there last week and not one phone call!

 

[LadyBeBop]

My wife and I are going to Bonnet Creek in late October. I read a lot of this thread but don't post much. We are paying about $85.00 a night...

For a one bedroom or two? And what week?

....and it appears you can get rates like that several ways most of the time. I see the forum really reaches the point that it is defonitely far less expensive to rent.

Yeah, I think it is. My points is actually every other year at Wyndham Smokey Mountains. Every other year, I get enough points for a two bedroom condo at WBC during low season, or a one bedroom condo during all but high season. We're looking at using our points for a two bedroom condo during low season. I think it would be about $100/night if we rent through Ken Price or other eBay renters. We pay about $30/mo in condo fees, so we're actually paying a little more in condo fees than what we would pay to rent. Unfortunately, that does not include the initial cost of the condo. And we didn't know better at the time...we paid retail, not resale.

I am in sales. Sales with a consience. I despise high pressure tactics. I was trained over the years to high pressure sales by car dealers, appliance stores etc. I find it horrible that the tactics ployed by Wyndham are over baring and so high pressure. Simply put, I know from expience that the high pressure means a not so good deal.

Wyndham (back then, it was Fairfield) is very high pressure. When we bought 12 years ago, we were not even close to being in the market for another time share. We already owned one week in the Virgin Islands, and the maintenance fees were killing us. So why buy another week every other year.

We did have some good Wyndham vacations, and both condos are fully paid. So right now, no regrets.

So why would anyone want to risk several hours of this tactic to possibly ruin thier vacation?

Usually, it's for the free gift. Most vacations, we do have a few hours in which we aren't doing anything. So we usually go. And now, we know how to say NO!

I understand not going for a Disney vacation, so that's usually a go, go, go vacation. But most other vacations, you do have a spare half day or so. It's worth it for a hundred dollar gift.

 

[carlbarry]

I am staying at WBC next month, so I want to make sure I know about this - couldn't you just unplug the phone, or was that not possible?

Unplugging the phone is one of the methods of avoiding the calls. Yes, it can be done, and is done quite often it seems.

 

[JessB320]

Then maybe you'll know the answer. I'm looking into booking WBC for late October 2013 at the ten month mark. (Day after Christmas to be exact). I'll actually have to buy a few points to make it a full week (I can do this I have enough for about 6 1/2 days, so I'm just buying to make it into a week.

If I reserve at the 10 month mark, can I go back and see if I can upgrade at the 60-day window? Or perhaps lower my point value?

Right now, I'm getting a two bedroom deluxe. There will probably be six of us. That third bedroom sure looks nice. Or possibly upgrading to a two bedroom Presidential.

I am about to try this same thing in two days, we are already booked. I think the only way to do it is to cancel your current booking, then call back to make a "new" reservation as the fine print says the reduced points are only good on new reservations. Anyway I'll let you know how it works out for me in a couple days.

 

[DCTooTall]

Then maybe you'll know the answer. I'm looking into booking WBC for late October 2013 at the ten month mark. (Day after Christmas to be exact). I'll actually have to buy a few points to make it a full week (I can do this I have enough for about 6 1/2 days, so I'm just buying to make it into a week.

If I reserve at the 10 month mark, can I go back and see if I can upgrade at the 60-day window? Or perhaps lower my point value?

Right now, I'm getting a two bedroom deluxe. There will probably be six of us. That third bedroom sure looks nice. Or possibly upgrading to a two bedroom Presidential.

I am about to try this same thing in two days, we are already booked. I think the only way to do it is to cancel your current booking, then call back to make a "new" reservation as the fine print says the reduced points are only good on new reservations. Anyway I'll let you know how it works out for me in a couple days.

The "Upgrade" is one of the perks of the VIP program, which means you would've needed to buy a large number of points at Retail. (If you recently bought points at Retail, the Bonus points they give you will sometimes give you a temporary VIP level status).

The Discount is available after a certain time, for unbooked units. This means that if you currently have a reservation, you must make a new one which would qualify for the discount. If you are quick about it, you can often cancel your existing reservation to free up the room and your points, and then immediately rebook under the discount if you don't have enough points to have 2 bookings at one time. Keep in mind however that this transaction would use another Reservation transaction point. [all reservation transactions done in a single day online will utilize a single point...via the phone reps, 2 points]. if you don't have any extra reservation transactions available with your current membership, you may be charged a fee.


As for the "renting" of points, I haven't really done it, but it can get quite expensive quite quickly. You'll also probably need to call in your reservation during the regular reservation period (10mo-3mo) to do it. Another option that might be more cost effective and give you more flexibility would be to pool your points. Depending upon your use year, you might be able to pool the following use year points ($39 one-time charge), which will give you immediate access to those point and allow you to use them during a 3yr period instead of just the 1 year. This would be one way to leverage your points for a longer stay or in a bigger/nicer unit.

 

[JessB320]

The "Upgrade" is one of the perks of the VIP program, which means you would've needed to buy a large number of points at Retail. (If you recently bought points at Retail, the Bonus points they give you will sometimes give you a temporary VIP level status).

The Discount is available after a certain time, for unbooked units. This means that if you currently have a reservation, you must make a new one which would qualify for the discount. If you are quick about it, you can often cancel your existing reservation to free up the room and your points, and then immediately rebook under the discount if you don't have enough points to have 2 bookings at one time. Keep in mind however that this transaction would use another Reservation transaction point. [all reservation transactions done in a single day online will utilize a single point...via the phone reps, 2 points]. if you don't have any extra reservation transactions available with your current membership, you may be charged a fee.

As for the "renting" of points, I haven't really done it, but it can get quite expensive quite quickly. You'll also probably need to call in your reservation during the regular reservation period (10mo-3mo) to do it. Another option that might be more cost effective and give you more flexibility would be to pool your points. Depending upon your use year, you might be able to pool the following use year points ($39 one-time charge), which will give you immediate access to those point and allow you to use them during a 3yr period instead of just the 1 year. This would be one way to leverage your points for a longer stay or in a bigger/nicer unit.

Thanks for the info!! We have been owners for several years ( a purchase DH actually made a few years before we met) and I'm just starting to take the time to learn how to utilize our points in the best way!

 

[OnlyDisney]

We have family that is thinking of joining us on our Disney trip so now I'm looking into staying in a 3 or 4 bedroom presidential. Are 4 bedrooms hard to get reservations for? We're looking at going the week after Thanksgiving/first week of December or end of January/first of February.

What size of beds are in the bedrooms?

I've read conflicting answers to this, can you get bedrails?

 

[LadyBeBop]

As for the "renting" of points, I haven't really done it, but it can get quite expensive quite quickly. You'll also probably need to call in your reservation during the regular reservation period (10mo-3mo) to do it. Another option that might be more cost effective and give you more flexibility would be to pool your points. Depending upon your use year, you might be able to pool the following use year points ($39 one-time charge), which will give you immediate access to those point and allow you to use them during a 3yr period instead of just the 1 year. This would be one way to leverage your points for a longer stay or in a bigger/nicer unit.

Thanks for the response. My points are actually for even number years, so I already paid $39 for the right to use 2012 points in 2013. Would I be able to use my 2014 points early to upgrade to a presidential or a three bedroom? I didn't think I could. And if I could, when would be the earliest I could make my reservation? I was going to make my reservation at the 10 month mark which would be the last week of December. But I'll gladly wait a week, until 2013, if I could move 2014 points over to 2013. Trip will be last week of October 2013.

 

[Disfan15]

Hello,

Here's a tip:

If your interested in buying a timeshare from Wyndham just say no. The reason is they want like $40,000 for you to buy the timeshare. You can go online and get it cheaper! Also you can get more points than what Wyndham offers you. Alot of them are under $10,000 for a Wyndham timeshare!

Happy Summer!

 

[carlbarry]

Hello,

Here's a tip:

If your interested in buying a timeshare from Wyndham just say no. The reason is they want like $40,000 for you to buy the timeshare. You can go online and get it cheaper! Also you can get more points than what Wyndham offers you. Alot of them are under $10,000!

Happy Summer!

A lot of them are ONE dollar.

 

[Disfan15]

A lot of them are ONE dollar.

Hello,

Where did you find the one dollar timeshares? That is really cheap! Are they on ebay?

Happy Summer!

 

[carlbarry]

Hello,

Where did you find the one dollar timeshares? That is really cheap! Are they on ebay?

Happy Summer!

Yes, ebay. Sometimes the seller will even pay all closing costs.
There are several coming up in the next few days that are currently at $1.00.
Recent "Completed" auctions that sold Wyndham points include 55.5K at Smoky Mountains for $1, 124K at Patriot's Place for $2, 154K at Myrtle Beach for $1.25, 105K at Palm Aire for $1, 168K at Branson for $1, 308K at Bali Hai offered for $1 but had no bids, and on and on. And this was only during the last week!

 

[Disfan15]

Hello,

Yes, ebay. Sometimes the seller will even pay all closing costs.
There are several coming up in the next few days that are currently at $1.00.
Recent "Completed" auctions that sold Wyndham points include 55.5K at Smoky Mountains for $1, 124K at Patriot's Place for $2, 154K at Myrtle Beach for $1.25, 105K at Palm Aire for $1, 168K at Branson for $1, 308K at Bali Hai offered for $1 but had no bids, and on and on. And this was only during the last week!

Thank you!

How do you book a presidential room? Is it for Wyndham timeshare members only? Also are all presidential on the top floors on buildings 1-5? In tower 6 are they after the 9th floor? The presidentials don't have the ripped couches right?


Here's a tip:

Try to request a floor on 5 or up. You don't have the trees blocking your view. The 5th floor is right above the trees.

Happy Summer!

 

[havingadisneyday]

We just got back and have to agree with the high pressure. We did not go to a presentation but we were approached by sales staff in the lobby and in the elevators. Not sure why or how they knew we did not do the presentation but the calls to the room were annoying and then getting approached on the way to our car or pool was just nauseating.

Wow. This is the first time I've heard of these guys actually being out and about... has this happened to anyone else, or did these poor people just get there on a "slow" day??? I intend to stay there and have a great time, but honestly if I'm approached anywhere other than the main check-in spot (got the phone unplugged part covered! ) they better be prepared for some sign language. I meant I'd use a little foreign language on them. You know, confuse them. Have a little fun. Don't get mad, HAVE FUN!!!! Haha.... can't wait. Now i kinda WANT them to follow me to the pool

 

[eeyorepixie]

I will have no problem, telling them fat chance...I agree why let it get to you. I can make sure in less than 60 seconds that they will not ask again.

I can not wait we are getting so close!

 

[eeyoresnr]

We have family that is thinking of joining us on our Disney trip so now I'm looking into staying in a 3 or 4 bedroom presidential. Are 4 bedrooms hard to get reservations for? We're looking at going the week after Thanksgiving/first week of December or end of January/first of February.

What size of beds are in the bedrooms?

I've read conflicting answers to this, can you get bedrails?

I can't answer for the 4 bedrooms, but in the 3 bedrooms beds are as follows.....master has king size bed....one bedroom has another king size bed, and the 3rd bedroom has 2 full (maybe queen) size beds

master

bedroom 2

bedroom 3

 

[havingadisneyday]

Yay for more pictures! Anyone else who has just come back care to share some brand new shots?? We'd LOVE to see some more!

 

[Cdn Gal]

I will post new photos when we come back on the photo thread. Can anybody tell me what night karaoke is? Also what are the prizes if you win? thanks!

 

[Disfan15]

Hello,

Does anyone have any photos of a 4 bedroom presidential lake view from older buildings(1,2,3)? Is there a great view of Disney from older buildings(1,2,3) lake view? I saw some from tower 6.

Happy Summer!