The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[linnell]

Could someone please send me a link or info for Farrell? Tried to goggle but not sure what I'm looking for.

Thank you!

Search for farrellvacations on eBay.

I have a question about the grills. Are they close to the pools? Like could my DH grill whilemI swim with the kids and we'd be in the same area? Are there grills near all the buildings? Thanks!

 

[gigm99]

Hi

Not sure if this has been asked but hopefully someone can answer:

We will be at the hotel on Sept. 12 the 1st Dolphin game of the season, its a Monday night game. We want to be back at the hotel to watch the game.

How is the pizza place on site? Are there any other options besides pizza?

Thanks so much!
Lori

Hey Lori we are going to be at WBC then too. We are making our first WBC Disney trip with the kids 9/10-9/17. You guys have fun!

Nicole

 

[Tracey123]

Search for farrellvacations on eBay.

I have a question about the grills. Are they close to the pools? Like could my DH grill whilemI swim with the kids and we'd be in the same area? Are there grills near all the buildings? Thanks!

The grills are not very close to the pools. You would have to go and meet him.

 

[hlm2007]

I'm considering renting from Wyndham Bonnet Creek for our next trip. I priced with Ken and Farrell's Vacations. Ken is much higher than Farrell and even Ken said the chance of rebooking as we get closer in is not likely because it's prime season. I haven't heard anything about Farrell's vacations before though. Has anyone heard anything about him/his business or used him before? Thanks for your help and advice.
Edited to add: Another question - it looks like with Farrell, you have to pay the full amount up front. Is that normal? I don't mind doing it as long as this is a standard process...???

 

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

I'm considering renting from Wyndham Bonnet Creek for our next trip. I priced with Ken and Farrell's Vacations. Ken is much higher than Farrell and even Ken said the chance of rebooking as we get closer in is not likely because it's prime season. I haven't heard anything about Farrell's vacations before though. Has anyone heard anything about him/his business or used him before? Thanks for your help and advice.
Edited to add: Another question - it looks like with Farrell, you have to pay the full amount up front. Is that normal? I don't mind doing it as long as this is a standard process...???

We only rented once and it was through Farrell, but I can tell you everything went very smoothly and he was very prompt. I was a little concerned about paying full amount up front with out any refund possible, only exchange, but it worked out ok for us. I don't think you have to pay full amount up front with Ken and I think he has some sort of refund policy. But Farrell did offer us the better price so we took our chances.

 

[two*little*birds]

I'm considering renting from Wyndham Bonnet Creek for our next trip. I priced with Ken and Farrell's Vacations. Ken is much higher than Farrell and even Ken said the chance of rebooking as we get closer in is not likely because it's prime season. I haven't heard anything about Farrell's vacations before though. Has anyone heard anything about him/his business or used him before? Thanks for your help and advice.
Edited to add: Another question - it looks like with Farrell, you have to pay the full amount up front. Is that normal? I don't mind doing it as long as this is a standard process...???

You can also try contacting Paul @ Utopia World Vacations - http://www.utopiaworldvacations.com/home.php

Good luck!

 

[gigm99]

We are checking in for our first stay at WBC on 9/10. We have booked a 4 bedroom presidential. Originally we were going to check out on 9/16, but then we added a day. That extra day is a separate reservation. I called last week and they told me that we might have to move rooms since the 4 bedrooms are assigned at reservation and they didn't currently have one for all 7 days we are there. Then I called today to double check (because last week's person didn't sound too knowledgable) and the lady today told me that if the unit is the same size, we would not have to move. She also told me the rooms are not preassigned (even the 4 br pres) so I requested a fireworks view (last week's lady said my assigned room for 6 days was no fireworks view, but the 1 day had a fireworks view. She said the 4 bedrooms are assigned at reservation and unchangeable). Anyone know which lady is right?

Thanks!
Nicole

(I'm a Wyndham owner so I booked directly, not through Ken or anyone).

 

[blitzkrieg048]

Fer sure. When we're likely to go next time, I can trade into a DVC 2 BR for $200/night. I can get a 2 BR in Bonnet Creek for $90/night. I am not at all convinced that DVC is twice as nifty as Bonnet Creek.

Of course, it depends on what you want. DVC isn't even on my radar for our next trip, because I'd be traveling with 5 kids, and most DVC units (in particular, the DVC units I'm most interested in) don't have DR tables that seat even six. We like to get together and hang out around a table while snacking or fooling around on computers, and that's just not an option with DVC.

Most Orlando 2 BRs that sleep eight will seat at least six around the DR table -- DVCs the only one I've looked into that doesn't -- but the other reason I'm considering Bonnet Creek is the lazy rivers. Bonnet Creek's the one closest to WDW with a proper lazy river (Stormalong Bay may be nifty, but in the lazy river department it's seriously lacking).

We're planning on doing all the parks that trip as well -- if you average the distances, Bonnet Creek is only one minute further than the Epcot resorts from the parks, and a couple of minutes closer than BLT. But if I were planning to just hit one of the parks, then various DVC resorts would have the clear advantage on that front.

I can see situations where I'd rather stay DVC, even at twice the price, but I'm not sold on the idea that DVC is better overall. For larger families, anyhow, I think Bonnet Creek is the one with the clear advantage.

I'm curious why you still own DVC, sounds like your WBC person. Why would DVC have a clear advantage if ur just hitting one park. It would have a clear advantage if you were hitting more parks with their better transportation than WBC. I could see your point if u said it the other way around. And if u stay at a DVC during free meal plans that would more than make up the cost and u wouldnt need a rental car

 

[JimMIA]

Why would DVC have a clear advantage if ur just hitting one park.

I'm sure they were talking about the ability to walk to several of the parks from a DVC resort -- to Epcot from BCV or BWV, to MK from BLT.

It would have a clear advantage if you were hitting more parks with their better transportation than WBC.

Depends on what you're talking about -- multiple parks during the same trip, or multiple parks in the same day.

For multiple parks in the same vacation, DVC probably has an advantage...but maybe not, depending on where you stay. OKW and BLT transportation may be better than WBC. Haven't stayed at AKV, so I don't know. The Epcot resort transportation is probably worse than WBC -- it's shared with other properties and we hear frequent complaints about it on the DVC boards. SSR is probably a tossup, but if you're in the Treehouses, you have to take a bus to catch the real bus, so that's obviously less convenient than WBC's scheduled service.

If you talk about trying to do multiple parks in one day without a car, that's a nightmare no matter what system you use, except for the monorail between MK and Epcot, or the boats between Epcot and DHS. There are no Disney buses that go from one theme park to another. Also, once they get to a WDW theme park or DTD, WBC guests have full access to Disney transportation...so that's a tossup.

And if u stay at a DVC during free meal plans that would more than make up the cost and u wouldnt need a rental car

Nope. People staying at DVC on points (whether their own or renting), or on timeshare exchanges through RCI, are not eligible for "FREE" DDP.

The only way you could stay at DVC and get free dining would be to go through Disney CRO and pay rack rates for your room, plus park tickets, etc. And that would enormously increase the cost of your stay.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm curious why you still own DVC, sounds like your WBC person.

I'm not sure they own DVC. It sounds to me like they're talking about a timeshare exchange into DVC via RCI. If that's the case, their nightly cost would depend on the MFs on the timeshare they were trading in and the trading power it had.

For our May trip, I initially made a split reservation between OKW and WBC, using DVC points at OKW and Wyndham points at WBC. Both stays were 1 BRs for weeknights (S-M at OKW, T-W-Th at WBC), so low points at both. Also, for people who don't know, OKW has the lowest points-per-night costs; other DVC resorts would ordinarily be much higher than the numbers below.

I owned at OKW, having bought at a pretty low price, so my points cost was about $7 per point. My Wyndham points cost is lower ($4.48/K) because I got it basically for nothing and the MFs are lower.

The OKW nights (27 points per night X $7) priced out at $189 per night.

The WBC nights normally would have been about $67 per night (15K X $4.48), but we caught a flukey break and got it for $40 per night because it was only 9K points per night.

We have a car anyway, so the transportation was a non-issue for us. We ended up canceling the OKW stay and spent the whole stay at WBC...which we enjoyed very much.

 

[shalom]

DVC units come with horrible cable selections. My favorite station when staying at a DVC resort is the weather channel. Not that we go to watch TV, but it's great for a rainy day or in the evening to relax.

Disney daughter really wanted to stay in a DVC unit, even after touring one and seeing that it was small, but then she found out about the TV situation... My kids love watching TV on vacation because the only live broadcast TV we do at home is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while hubby bastes the turkey. Everything else we get on disc or download (we'll download broadcast stuff). But while they like the Disney channel, it's Discovery, History and the Food channels that are the crucial ones.

And some of us are Weather channel fans, too.

I'm curious why you still own DVC, sounds like your WBC person.

Don't own Disney or Wyndham; my numbers were for trading in through RCI (for Disney) and another method I've got access to as a TS owner (for Wyndham).

Why would DVC have a clear advantage if ur just hitting one park.

JimMIA pegged it; because you can walk to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. I hate using buses while on vacation, so we'd be driving wherever we stayed, meaning Disney transportation isn't a big appeal. We're more of the "drift out way behind the crowds" type, and like riding the monorail or a boat, so probably wouldn't even use Disney buses for the MK at closing. The one advantage Disney has in terms of transportation is that my eldest son could use the buses onsite, since we'll only have the one vehicle and he won't be able to drive himself. Which is not a huge advantage, because he would rather be in an offsite resort where he can take the LYNX buses where ever he cares to go.

And if u stay at a DVC during free meal plans that would more than make up the cost and u wouldnt need a rental car

Don't like the Disney dining plans -- the reason Disney daughter voted for SeaWorld over WDW last time was that she loves SeaWorld's dining plan and hates Disney's -- and we drive to Orlando so don't get a rental car. And, as JimMIA points out, if you're staying on points or through RCI, you can't get the free dining anyhow.

Also, for people who don't know, OKW has the lowest points-per-night costs; other DVC resorts would ordinarily be much higher than the numbers below.

That's true of DVC points; trading in through our system, most of the Orlando resorts cost the same number of my points, meaning a standard DVC 2 BR at any of the resorts costs the exact same as a standard Wyndham 2 BR (and makes them all roughly equal to the Orlando resort in our system closest to Disney ). For DVC, that's the best deal I have access to, but there are cheaper Wyndham options elsewhere.

 

[DCTooTall]

We are checking in for our first stay at WBC on 9/10. We have booked a 4 bedroom presidential. Originally we were going to check out on 9/16, but then we added a day. That extra day is a separate reservation. I called last week and they told me that we might have to move rooms since the 4 bedrooms are assigned at reservation and they didn't currently have one for all 7 days we are there. Then I called today to double check (because last week's person didn't sound too knowledgable) and the lady today told me that if the unit is the same size, we would not have to move. She also told me the rooms are not preassigned (even the 4 br pres) so I requested a fireworks view (last week's lady said my assigned room for 6 days was no fireworks view, but the 1 day had a fireworks view. She said the 4 bedrooms are assigned at reservation and unchangeable). Anyone know which lady is right?

Thanks!
Nicole

(I'm a Wyndham owner so I booked directly, not through Ken or anyone).

I've heard both ways.

In theory, Presidential Reserve units and units for VIP members are assigned at the time of the reservation.

In reality, i've heard that WBC often doesn't assign the rooms until a week or 2 before checkin.

My recommendation for you would be to call the resort directly and ask them. They would have a better idea how their particular resort is run in your situation than someone at the primary Wyndham call center.

If you talk about trying to do multiple parks in one day without a car, that's a nightmare no matter what system you use, except for the monorail between MK and Epcot, or the boats between Epcot and DHS. There are no Disney buses that go from one theme park to another. Also, once they get to a WDW theme park or DTD, WBC guests have full access to Disney transportation...so that's a tossup. Nope. People staying at DVC on points (whether their own or renting), or on timeshare exchanges through RCI, are not eligible for "FREE" DDP.

The only way you could stay at DVC and get free dining would be to go through Disney CRO and pay rack rates for your room, plus park tickets, etc. And that would enormously increase the cost of your stay.

I thought You could catch a bus from park to park. The only possible exceptions being (obviously) MK to EPCOT because of the monorail, and all other MK to park busses being located at the TTC instead of the main bus depot at the park entrance. I think I've also seen EPCOT to MGM buses, but those may not be as prevalent because of the Friendship to the International Gateway.

Something else to consider and factor in for people trading into DVC is the "resort fee" i've heard DVC charges exchange guests.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've heard both ways.

In theory, Presidential Reserve units and units for VIP members are assigned at the time of the reservation.

In reality, i've heard that WBC often doesn't assign the rooms until a week or 2 before checkin.

Following up on this...Bonnet works hard to not move you if they can avoid it. And, as far as I have heard, they are usually successful. Essentially, Bonnet has *never* operated as a week-by-week resort, even though the inventory in the computer reservation system is managed that way. It's pure UDI/points.

That said, VIP owners (gold and above) *are* supposed to be able to reserve specific units at the time of booking. In years past, VIPs have complained (loudly) that Bonnet has not observed the "do not move" flags that identify such bookings. VIP owners are important enough to the sales arm of the company that someone might have leaned on Bonnet's local management to get them to "shape up". Combine that with the fact that the 4BPs are relatively rare, and it is possible that they don't have the flexibility to keep you in the same room.

My recommendation for you would be to call the resort directly and ask them.

This is right on the money. The front desk should be able to give you more insight. When I called the resort's direct line to make my location request it was reasonably clear to me that the woman I spoke with had access to room assignments.

Something else to consider and factor in for people trading into DVC is the "resort fee" i've heard DVC charges exchange guests.

This isn't a huge burden---$95 per exchange. It's just about equal to the cost of theme park parking for seven days.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

Disney daughter really wanted to stay in a DVC unit, even after touring one and seeing that it was small, but then she found out about the TV situation... My kids love watching TV on vacation because the only live broadcast TV we do at home is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while hubby bastes the turkey. Everything else we get on disc or download (we'll download broadcast stuff). But while they like the Disney channel, it's Discovery, History and the Food channels that are the crucial ones.

And some of us are Weather channel fans, too.



Don't own Disney or Wyndham; my numbers were for trading in through RCI (for Disney) and another method I've got access to as a TS owner (for Wyndham).



JimMIA pegged it; because you can walk to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. I hate using buses while on vacation, so we'd be driving wherever we stayed, meaning Disney transportation isn't a big appeal. We're more of the "drift out way behind the crowds" type, and like riding the monorail or a boat, so probably wouldn't even use Disney buses for the MK at closing. The one advantage Disney has in terms of transportation is that my eldest son could use the buses onsite, since we'll only have the one vehicle and he won't be able to drive himself. Which is not a huge advantage, because he would rather be in an offsite resort where he can take the LYNX buses where ever he cares to go.



Don't like the Disney dining plans -- the reason Disney daughter voted for SeaWorld over WDW last time was that she loves SeaWorld's dining plan and hates Disney's -- and we drive to Orlando so don't get a rental car. And, as JimMIA points out, if you're staying on points or through RCI, you can't get the free dining anyhow.

That's true of DVC points; trading in through our system, most of the Orlando resorts cost the same number of my points, meaning a standard DVC 2 BR at any of the resorts costs the exact same as a standard Wyndham 2 BR (and makes them all roughly equal to the Orlando resort in our system closest to Disney ). For DVC, that's the best deal I have access to, but there are cheaper Wyndham options elsewhere.

the way you were talking it sounded like you were paying to stay at DVC resorts thats why i mentioned the free meal plans. And again dont know how jimmia nailed when like u said u can walk to epcot from boardwalk and BCV or take the boat to epcot or hollwood studios...also u could take a monrail to epcot or to magic kingdom from BLT. The buses at WBC run fewer times to the parx than disney transpot and if u rent a car what difference does it make anyway?

 

[JimMIA]

I thought You could catch a bus from park to park.

Nope -- zero park to park buses. The buses go only between the theme parks and Disney resorts or DTD.

To go park to park, you have to take a bus to a resort or DTD, then catch a bus from there to the other park. Of course, you could walk from Epcot to BWV or BCV and catch a bus there to another park. Or walk to the Contemporary from MK. But no direct park-to-park buses.

Also no direct buses for resort to resort. If you're staying at OKW, for example, but dining at AKL, you'd have to take an OKW bus to a park, then catch a bus from there to AKL.

 

[JimMIA]

the way you were talking it sounded like you were paying to stay at DVC resorts thats why i mentioned the free meal plans. And again dont know how jimmia nailed when like u said u can walk to epcot from boardwalk and BCV or take the boat to epcot or hollwood studios...also u could take a monrail to epcot or to magic kingdom from BLT. The buses at WBC run fewer times to the parx than disney transpot and if u rent a car what difference does it make anyway?

No offense, but you seem to be responding to posts without reading them.

 

[shalom]

No offense, but you seem to be responding to posts without reading them.

That was my thought as well. Although heaven knows he's not the first one whose eyes glaze over a bit when reading one of my epics.

 

[DCTooTall]

Nope -- zero park to park buses. The buses go only between the theme parks and Disney resorts or DTD.

To go park to park, you have to take a bus to a resort or DTD, then catch a bus from there to the other park. Of course, you could walk from Epcot to BWV or BCV and catch a bus there to another park. Or walk to the Contemporary from MK. But no direct park-to-park buses.

Also no direct buses for resort to resort. If you're staying at OKW, for example, but dining at AKL, you'd have to take an OKW bus to a park, then catch a bus from there to AKL.

Hmmmm.... Interesting. Never do the buses anymore (I like the freedom of a car), so I'm just going off stuff I've seen in other threads around teh DIS.

I do know however that there are no Park-to-DTD buses. That's pretty much been confirmed in every "Can I park at DTD to avoid paying for parking?!" thread.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

That was my thought as well. Although heaven knows he's not the first one whose eyes glaze over a bit when reading one of my epics.

lol

 

[blitzkrieg048]

No offense, but you seem to be responding to posts without reading them.

nope no offense taking and i actually like ur responses to be honest...i re-read ur post about multiple parx and staying at DVC and I still don't know how WBC transports beats disney's...and shalom mentioned she rents a car and likes her eldsets son can take disney transport...but then he likes to take a lynx bus to go where he wants so she sounded like she wasnt sure what she liked. And i did mis the part about her trading into DVC but the rest I read just fine..thanx again hope to hear back from ya.