The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[1mama2three]

Good for YOU! We booked our first trip to Bonnet Creek as well....we will be there shortly before you! We have only stayed offsite..so I really can't compare the onsite/offsite....but when we went last and stayed at Windsor Hills...my son LOVED having his own bedroom...tv..and bathroom! He loved being able to go in his own room and have "quiet time"..watching a movie in his bed..it was his way of resting!

I have been going on YOUTUBE and watching resort tours of onsite/offsite accomodations...looking at the Poly rooms..Contemporary..Beach Club..the values...the....Caribbean Beach..yadda yadda...and haven't been all that impressed with the look of the rooms..Poly looked very dark....the grounds look gorgeous though...but anyone can vist and spend a day on the grounds (not the pools...I know)...but still!

I think the "quiet time" is what's going to be most important for our family. It will also be nice to know that my DH can head back to the parks for a late night with the 2 older ones and not have to worry about disturbing the littler ones when he comes back in. It offers so much more flexilibty for us.

I have to admit that my only reason for staying at the Poly was everything offered outside of the room...silly huh? We thought the same thing...we can always visit any resort we want, and I'm sure we will since we have a lot of dining reservations that we'll still keep.

In the end....nothing sounds better to me than saving $3000 on our lodging.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Does anyone have pictures of the lazy river and zero entry pool near the main building? I'm wondering if it looks as nice as the area over by buildings 5 and 6.

Check out the photos on the Bonnet Creek Photo Thread, you will find them there.

 

[Beemitchcowski]

I think the "quiet time" is what's going to be most important for our family. It will also be nice to know that my DH can head back to the parks for a late night with the 2 older ones and not have to worry about disturbing the littler ones when he comes back in. It offers so much more flexilibty for us.

I have to admit that my only reason for staying at the Poly was everything offered outside of the room...silly huh? We thought the same thing...we can always visit any resort we want, and I'm sure we will since we have a lot of dining reservations that we'll still keep.

In the end....nothing sounds better to me than saving $3000 on our lodging.

Thast 3k can go towards another trip! ...BTW..look into upgrading your tickets to annual passes and you won't have to pay parking!..and you can buy at TIW card (discount TS dining card) for $75 and it will get you 20% off TS Meals!

We ended up upgrading on our very last day ( so we didn't get the free parking last trip)..But we will this trip..lets say you do a "yearly trip" your second trip only has to be like a week before the year is up!

 

[1mama2three]

We're driving too! 24 hours and 4 kids! Oh yay! But 12 days in the World is worth it. Now, where DID I put that vacation money?

We're driving from Central IL with 4 kids...can't say I'm looking forward to THAT portion of our trip. I think the fastest we've ever made it was 20 hours. This year we're packing a LARGE piece of cardboard to put between the two girls in the back seat when they get grouchy. Seriously, once they're "banned" from each other, they magically get along.

 

[VickiVM]

We're driving from Central IL with 4 kids...can't say I'm looking forward to THAT portion of our trip. I think the fastest we've ever made it was 20 hours. This year we're packing a LARGE piece of cardboard to put between the two girls in the back seat when they get grouchy. Seriously, once they're "banned" from each other, they magically get along.

My kids are older than yours, but as a mom who's about to send off her oldest to college this fall, I cherish our family road trips to WDW (4). We've road-tripped it just with my son when he was 3, when the three of them were in pre-school and early grade school, when they were in late grade school and middle school and again in 2010 when they were in middle and high school. There is something magical about anticipating a WDW vacation while seemingly crawling across the states. As much as I dreaded the endless drive, I know we've created memories for the kids to share as adults long after mom and dad are gone

 

[1mama2three]

Thast 3k can go towards another trip! ...BTW..look into upgrading your tickets to annual passes and you won't have to pay parking!..and you can buy at TIW card (discount TS dining card) for $75 and it will get you 20% off TS Meals!

We ended up upgrading on our very last day ( so we didn't get the free parking last trip)..But we will this trip..lets say you do a "yearly trip" your second trip only has to be like a week before the year is up!

I've heard of the TIW card, and will definitely look into it at your suggestion. Thanks! We're already planning to upgrade at least one ticket to an annual pass before our first day in the parks because the cost of what we'd pay for parking is a nice contribution to that upgrade cost. My friends & family already think we're nuts for trying to visit Disney 1 time each year...now they're really going to freak!

My kids are older than yours, but as a mom who's about to send off her oldest to college this fall, I cherish our family road trips to WDW (4). We've road-tripped it just with my son when he was 3, when the three of them were in pre-school and early grade school, when they were in late grade school and middle school and again in 2010 when they were in middle and high school. There is something magical about anticipating a WDW vacation while seemingly crawling across the states. As much as I dreaded the endless drive, I know we've created memories for the kids to share as adults long after mom and dad are gone

It is funny that you mention this because my DH and I both say that some of our favorite memories of our childhood vacations were the cramped traveling accomodations...they had a family of 9 in a station wagon...my family once traveled to Minnesota as a family of 6 in a Toyota Celica Hatchback. The pictures make us laugh now.

The anticipation of the trip makes the long drive worthwhile, and a lot of the "rough" moments are things that I'm sure we'll look back on and laugh about later on.

 

[DCTooTall]

Does anyone have pictures of the lazy river and zero entry pool near the main building? I'm wondering if it looks as nice as the area over by buildings 5 and 6.

The simple answer. No.

The main building pool was the first built, and it was done before they started really any themeing at the resort. Both the pools at the main building, and between towers 2 and 3, are pretty "plain" in their design.

i think I remember the Hotel pool was also pretty spartan in any extra theming, but it also has a much more relaxed "adult" vibe than any of the resort pools.

Here's a dirty subject.....

Smoking.

Are there any designated areas at BC?

Asking for a "friend".

You can smoke on the balcony of your room. There are also several designated smoking areas around the resort. Personally, in my travels there I've never noticed any issues with smoking around the resort as long as common courtesy is practiced. (Step off the to side. Don't litter. Ask others around you if they mind your lighting up if you are someplace you can't get away from others easily.)

 

[VickiVM]

It is funny that you mention this because my DH and I both say that some of our favorite memories of our childhood vacations were the cramped traveling accomodations...they had a family of 9 in a station wagon...my family once traveled to Minnesota as a family of 6 in a Toyota Celica Hatchback. The pictures make us laugh now.

LOL!! In 2010 we drove my husband's Honda CRV with the 5 of us because it was much more economical than my van, plus my van had quite a few miles already. My kids were teens...we all alternated sitting in the middle of the backseat - including me. Seriously cramped, but it was truly the most enjoyable for all of us...my kids were troopers. They lost their teenage attitudes and were "little" kids again for a brief period of time.

 

[JenCintron78]

Our confirmation came in the mail today Will be staying at WBC from 3/31-4/7. We are SO excited, it's the first time our kids (6 year old son 4 year old daughter) have been to Disney. Does anyone know approximately how far of a ride it is from Orlando Airport to WBC and if there are any grocery stores in between? We will be stopping on the way in to pick up a few things.

Thanks!

Jen

 

[carlbarry]

You'll get more specific responses, but in the meantime:
The ride is about 40 minutes, depending on time of day of course.
There are Wal-Marts and Publix that can be accessed along the way, or with minor detours. I always stop at the ones on Vineland Road.

 

[skateshome]

You can smoke on the balcony of your room. There are also several designated smoking areas around the resort. Personally, in my travels there I've never noticed any issues with smoking around the resort as long as common courtesy is practiced. (Step off the to side. Don't litter. Ask others around you if they mind your lighting up if you are someplace you can't get away from others easily.)

Thank you so much Too Tall!!!

 

[nancy155]

The simple answer. No.

The main building pool was the first built, and it was done before they started really any themeing at the resort. Both the pools at the main building, and between towers 2 and 3, are pretty "plain" in their design.

i think I remember the Hotel pool was also pretty spartan in any extra theming, but it also has a much more relaxed "adult" vibe than any of the resort pools.




You can smoke on the balcony of your room. There are also several designated smoking areas around the resort. Personally, in my travels there I've never noticed any issues with smoking around the resort as long as common courtesy is practiced. (Step off the to side. Don't litter. Ask others around you if they mind your lighting up if you are someplace you can't get away from others easily.)

On their main website it states this is a non-smoking resort, which usually means no smoking on balconies and only smoking in designated areas. But I could be wrong. ???

 

[megalu]

Has anyone ever been at Bonnet Creek on Halloween? Do they do anything special? We stayed there last year right before Halloween and loved it and are thinking about going for Halloween this year. Our kids will be 6 and 7 so if they had a party or trick or treating it would be great. I have considered the HAlloween party at Magic Kingdom but would rather do something at the resort if possible.
Thanks - my first post so sorry if I did something wrong!!!

 

[skateshome]

Park Tickets......
I was thinking about waiting til I get there and buying our park tickets at
the Disney desk in the lobby instead of traveling with them....etc.....

Will probably be buying 7 day magic your way tickets.

Any issues or experience purchasing tickets on site?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Park Tickets......
I was thinking about waiting til I get there and buying our park tickets at
the Disney desk in the lobby instead of traveling with them....etc.....

Will probably be buying 7 day magic your way tickets.

Any issues or experience purchasing tickets on site?

We stayed off site once before a few years ago and I bought my tickets at the hotel thinking I would save time. Unfortunately, they just gave me a voucher to pick them up at the ticket booth at TTC. So I really wasted my time buying them at the hotel. Not sure how WBC is though. We are buying our tickets when we get there too, and I was just planning to go to DTD to get them or wait until the morning we head to the park.

We normally stay onsite so this is kind of new to me too, but it shouldnt be a big deal at all.

 

[lzmom_of_twins]

I just heard from the owner that we booked through... 4 nights (Sat-Wed) 2 bedroom deluxe condo =$450 total... so $112.50/night. Good deal?? Seems great to me, but this is our 1st time doing it this way

 

[VickiVM]

We stayed off site once before a few years ago and I bought my tickets at the hotel thinking I would save time. Unfortunately, they just gave me a voucher to pick them up at the ticket booth at TTC. So I really wasted my time buying them at the hotel. Not sure how WBC is though. We are buying our tickets when we get there too, and I was just planning to go to DTD to get them or wait until the morning we head to the park.

We normally stay onsite so this is kind of new to me too, but it shouldnt be a big deal at all.

Go to Mary Waring's website mousesavers.com and search for Undercover Tourist and get on her e-mailing list if you haven't already. Around the 15th of every month she sends out a newsletter with a link to UT with a slight cut in cost of a variety of WDW tickets (hoppers, non-expiring, etc). I've purchased mine with UT several times and have received them promptly in the mail and they were ready to use once we hit the parks. They are not vouchers, but actual passes. I believe one year I may even had them sent directly to the resort because I ordered late and was afraid we wouldn't receive them in the mail in time. They were waiting for me at Riverside when we checked in!

 

[DCTooTall]

On their main website it states this is a non-smoking resort, which usually means no smoking on balconies and only smoking in designated areas. But I could be wrong. ???

You are definitely allowed to smoke on the Balcony as Ashtrays are even provided.

The rooms and inside the buildings however are all strictly non-smoking.

Park Tickets......
I was thinking about waiting til I get there and buying our park tickets at
the Disney desk in the lobby instead of traveling with them....etc.....

Will probably be buying 7 day magic your way tickets.

Any issues or experience purchasing tickets on site?

The desk in the main lobby is staffed by actual Disney employees. You pay regular gate pricing (non-discounted tickets) and the tickets they print are on the traditional tyvek ticket stock and usable to get into the parks.

Cost wise, you won't save any money buying your Disney tickets at Wyndham vs. at the park itself. You may however save some time since you wouldn't have to stand in line at the park ticket booth.

(I bought a couple tickets there back in...um....November 2009... and again in March 2011.)

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Go to Mary Waring's website mousesavers.com and search for Undercover Tourist and get on her e-mailing list if you haven't already. Around the 15th of every month she sends out a newsletter with a link to UT with a slight cut in cost of a variety of WDW tickets (hoppers, non-expiring, etc). I've purchased mine with UT several times and have received them promptly in the mail and they were ready to use once we hit the parks. They are not vouchers, but actual passes. I believe one year I may even had them sent directly to the resort because I ordered late and was afraid we wouldn't receive them in the mail in time. They were waiting for me at Riverside when we checked in!

Thank you! I didn't think about that.

I am still waiting for another bid through another co. for our trip to avoid having to check out & check back in for the two days that they were full. I did go ahead and book the Grand for those two nights.

It still stinks to have to pay $360.00 for two nights there, but it will be close by and after looking at other options I feel like it will be worth it. I dont want to stay at a dump on Thanksgiving eve & day after staying at BC all week! Dh didn't seem to mind when I told him about it so it's all good.

 

[skateshome]

You are definitely allowed to smoke on the Balcony as Ashtrays are even provided.

The rooms and inside the buildings however are all strictly non-smoking.




The desk in the main lobby is staffed by actual Disney employees. You pay regular gate pricing (non-discounted tickets) and the tickets they print are on the traditional tyvek ticket stock and usable to get into the parks.

Cost wise, you won't save any money buying your Disney tickets at Wyndham vs. at the park itself. You may however save some time since you wouldn't have to stand in line at the park ticket booth.

(I bought a couple tickets there back in...um....November 2009... and again in March 2011.)

Thanks again!
I'll have Disney Gift cards so I will probably have to pay full price as I doubt Undercover Tourist takes Disney dollars.