The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[PrepandLanding]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek last May. It was so awesome we've booked for this May as well. Pirate pool is zero-entry and completely shaded in the mornings - awesome for the little ones.

Also they have a basket at the front door of each tower so you can donate any extra un-opened non-perishable food items and they are donated to the local food bank. This was great -no matter how hard I try we always buy too many groceries.

 

[verlee]

Hi WBC experts, We stayed there last year end of Feb. We had booked through an owner, in Jan. This year we are going in Aug. Should I be nervous about waiting for the 60 days in order to get the lower rate? It is about a $400 difference which I of course would like to not spend.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am anxiously waiting for a new quote from VS right now. I finally got the OK from DH to book it, and we finally picked our dates. We had to delay it a day due to DD's cheer competition the day I wanted to leave.

DH was on the fence about it not being Disney owned, but I assured him that it would be great. I have been reading about BC for a while now, and we have been back a few times staying at Riverside, but this time I am ready to give it a try. It will be so nice to have all of that room!!

I am so darn excited!!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Have a great time, wdwmom. Please be sure to come back and tell us all about it....

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Have a great time, wdwmom. Please be sure to come back and tell us all about it....

Thank you and believe me I will be sure to give a report. In the mean time I will be here reading all about it.

 

[MK2010]

Hi! I'm hoping to book a 2 bedroom for Sept. 1-13. My problem is, I won't have my money together until the middle to end of June. I was planning on going through Ken Price. By waiting so late will I be able to get a room? I don't care about views or anything. Am I up a creek?

 

[deej696]

Oooh does that blog include your NYE visit. We just booked BC for NYE week! So excited and would love to hear about it!

I wrote about NYE but only briefly mentioned BC. They had activities all around the complex. The Grand had a DJ doing music by the pool, there also seemed to be one by the pirate pool as well. It was a great spot to do NYE because you could see fireworks from Epcot and a little from Hollywood Studios. I'd imagine if you've got the right view you can probably see MK too... We had a great time and I'd suggest it for NYE anytime...

 

[wdwmom0f3]

OK, I heard back from VS and they have all dates open but two, right smack dab in the middle of our trip. She said that they can book now and hold the other five nights, and add the two when and if they come open. WHAT IF THEY DONT? Has this happened to anyone before? We are going the week OF Thanksgiving so my guess is it will be busy.

I booked it, and I guess we will keep watching. She did say that she would give me a full refund if they could not find something. Now my excited has turned into a little worried.

Added: Do you think it would be to much trouble to check out for those two days and then check back in? We could stay at the new hotel there or maybe POR again for those two days. Not ideal, but doable right?

Any other advice from people who normally book there? I am out of my element here.

 

[JessLCH]

Hi! I'm hoping to book a 2 bedroom for Sept. 1-13. My problem is, I won't have my money together until the middle to end of June. I was planning on going through Ken Price. By waiting so late will I be able to get a room? I don't care about views or anything. Am I up a creek?

Have you looked into booking with Vacation Strategy? They only charged us a $150 deposit and the balance is due 30-50 days before check in.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I read somewhere on here about the GPS Co-ordinates for WBC and wrote them down. Now I can't find them...
Does anyone know what they are? We plan on bringing ours and driving a rental from Port Canaveral to WDC.
Thanks!

 

[Brian Noble]

Most GPS units with even vaguely current maps should be able to find it; the easiest waypoint is the intersection of Via Encinas and Chelonia Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=via+e...y,+lake+buena+vista,+fl&radius=15000&t=m&z=16

 

[VickiVM]

I am anxiously waiting for a new quote from VS right now. I finally got the OK from DH to book it, and we finally picked our dates. We had to delay it a day due to DD's cheer competition the day I wanted to leave.

DH was on the fence about it not being Disney owned, but I assured him that it would be great. I have been reading about BC for a while now, and we have been back a few times staying at Riverside, but this time I am ready to give it a try. It will be so nice to have all of that room!!

I am so darn excited!!

We were Riverside lovers (family of 5) and stayed several times, but stayed at BC August of 2010 and would never even consider going back to Disney resorts unless they matched pricing for the space (never gonna happen). You will LOVE all the room!! For our family of 5 for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom @ BC, our TOTAL cost of our vacation - including passes for 5, fuel and hotel stays while driving from San Antonio to Orlando and back - was $2200! We bought groceries and cooked several meals which drastically reduced our food expense.

ETA - And our kids (at the time 12, 14, & 16) loved the resort. Fortunately they're at the age when theming is not as big as it was when they were younger.

 

[VickiVM]

The closest Publix is this one: 2925 International Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34746
It takes about 15 minutes to get there.

The Super Wal-Mart I go to is this one: 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimmee, FL
It also take about 15 minutes.

Publix is certainly faster to get in and out of and nicer, but of course, Walmart has a ton of stuff and is a bit cheaper.

I you never have shopped at Publix, I suggest looking at iheartpublix.com to see what's on sale before you go.

I found the Publix to be expensive. Of course, I could only compare it to grocery prices in San Antonio, but I was still sticker-shocked on a lot of items. We were budgeting our trip in 2010 and I purchased approx $200 worth of groceries that included everything from breakfast foods to shrimp and pasta. We drove, so we packed the car with a lot of snacks from Costco, so I can't really say we bought a lot of convenience and snacking food. Mostly items for sandwiches, some basic dinners, like hamburgers and tacos. I think next time I will try Wal-Mart, even though I don't even like to shop our own Wal-Mart.

 

[VickiVM]

Has anyone vacation Christmas week @ WBC? Were you able to get entry into the parks on Christmas Day (or Christmas Eve Day)?

Were the pools heated enough to swim during winter?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We were Riverside lovers (family of 5) and stayed several times, but stayed at BC August of 2010 and would never even consider going back to Disney resorts unless they matched pricing for the space (never gonna happen). You will LOVE all the room!! For our family of 5 for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom @ BC, our TOTAL cost of our vacation - including passes for 5, fuel and hotel stays while driving from San Antonio to Orlando and back - was $2200! We bought groceries and cooked several meals which drastically reduced our food expense.

ETA - And our kids (at the time 12, 14, & 16) loved the resort. Fortunately they're at the age when theming is not as big as it was when they were younger.

I'm so glad to hear this. I am really excited about it. The resort looks perfect! My kids are excited too and DH is thrilled. He is so over being crowded in a small room so this will be great for him too! I still cant believe the price of it. It's so much cheaper than even a value.

Still kind of nervous that they had all but two days in the middle of our trip, which means unless something opens up we will have to move for two nights. Total bummer, but I am trying to stay positive. I am not sure what to do yet. I think I will wait until the last minute to book anything Disney in hopes that something opens up. I think I am also going to look into the new Hotel at BC because that would be an easier move for us. It's just the added expense that's killing me. It's hard to beat the rate I got.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that everything works out.

 

[VickiVM]

I'm so glad to hear this. I am really excited about it. The resort looks perfect! My kids are excited too and DH is thrilled. He is so over being crowded in a small room so this will be great for him too! I still cant believe the price of it. It's so much cheaper than even a value.

Still kind of nervous that they had all but two days in the middle of our trip, which means unless something opens up we will have to move for two nights. Total bummer, but I am trying to stay positive. I am not sure what to do yet. I think I will wait until the last minute to book anything Disney in hopes that something opens up. I think I am also going to look into the new Hotel at BC because that would be an easier move for us. It's just the added expense that's killing me. It's hard to beat the rate I got.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that everything works out.

How many in your family? If you can, why not just get a room at the Values for the two nights.

Your family will thank you over and over again once they arrive and realize they have so much space! My daughters took over the 2nd bedroom like it was their own personal apt. In fact my 14 year old enjoyed hanging out in the room so much she passed on joining me, my son and my 12 year old daughter spending the evening at MK and hung out with my husband while he cooked for us. My poor son (the 16 year old) had the pull out bed...story of his life. But he said it wasn't too bad.

The extra space really helps de-stressing a high-octane vacation that WDW tends to be. I've always thought of myself as a WDW resort snob...7 visits @ Yacht Club, Dolphin, Villas @ Beach Club (rented points), Villas @ Boardwalk (also rented points), Carribean Resort and 3 times @ Riverside - but never again unless I have money to burn.

 

[HaleyB]

This resort came up on Sinaque(sp?) Away for a 4 day sale yesterday. Discount travel site, looks like 'invitation only' on splash page but there was an 'invite me' link. Signed up ages ago though.

I've never researched rates.
Late May 2 bedroom was $139 & $169 for weekend nights, early June was $169 & $189 I think (10 nights averaged to $183/nt)

That looked good until someone on tripadvisor claimed under $100 a night...

It is not refundable so I'm hesitant to book it.

 

[mousegear]

This resort came up on Sinaque(sp?) Away for a 4 day sale yesterday. Discount travel site, looks like 'invitation only' on splash page but there was an 'invite me' link. Signed up ages ago though.

I've never researched rates.
Late May 2 bedroom was $139 & $169 for weekend nights, early June was $169 & $189 I think (10 nights averaged to $183/nt)

That looked good until someone on tripadvisor claimed under $100 a night...

It is not refundable so I'm hesitant to book it.

180/nt is high to me. I think if you book it with reputable owners who rent it out it should be around $100~120/night at most. I know there are some who rented much cheaper by going on ebay and others but recently, I've been seeing mostly around $100 or little more at most for 2 bedroom deluxe.

 

[sherabby]

180/nt is high to me. I think if you book it with reputable owners who rent it out it should be around $100~120/night at most. I know there are some who rented much cheaper by going on ebay and others but recently, I've been seeing mostly around $100 or little more at most for 2 bedroom deluxe.

I just booked mid August 2 bedroom for $145 a night. I don't want to wait too close to our trip to hope for a cheaper rate.

 

[::danielle::]

Just about every question has been answered but the one I need to know. What kind of coffee filters do the machines take? I KNOW there are mesh filters, but I hate those. They let too much sediment and oils through which makes for harsh coffee IMO. I like to use paper filters. So do they take the flat bottom filters or the cone filters?

Also, doesn't anyone have pictures of a regular old 2BR deluxe? Everything I see here is about 3 and 4BR Presidential. I want to know what a regular suite looks like so badly.
]

I apologize if this has been answered. I'm here now and the coffee machine uses the cone shaped filters. They include a few paper ones along with the metal one but only 3 or 4.

I am in a 2BR deluxe with a fireworks view in Building 4. I will try to take photos and upload them sometime during our stay. The unit we have is not updated. Overall it's a nice unit. As someone mentioned earlier, the couch is looking worn. It's a faux leather and on the front of the arms the the color is wearing off revealing the white fabric below. It doesn't look great but it's not a deal breaker for me.

I don't recall seeing this anywhere but I was surprised at all the children's activities they have scheduled around the resort. Granted, we're here at a busy time (March). When we arrived there was an amazing balloon artist in the lobby to entertain the kids while we checked in. They have scheduled face painting, treasure hunts, bounce house, movies on the lawn, hip hop dance lessons for teens, the list goes on and on.

I'll try to update again once we've been longer. So far it's been great!