The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread part2

[cinderellamom123]

see, for me it is cheaper to rent and I love the people I rent from. However, some day they will want to use their points and I will either have to find another renter I trust or buy in. Have also stayed at other properties owned by wyndham and always very happy

 

[HayGan]

We have decided to stay 3 nights in a 1BR in October. We have received a number of different quotes and are in the process of deciding on which one to go with. Most are within a few dollars of each other but some were $100 more than the others

There is so much info here to read & we are really looking forward to staying at WBC! I do have one quick question - if I want a view of fireworks and to be relatively close to the lazy river what should I request? Thanks!

 

[minniemom003]

We are staying at WBC for the first time in March I was wondering if anyone had a picture of a 3 bedroom deluxe. Thank you

 

[geko29]

Geko29 I pm'd you. Once you have enough posts you will be able to reply..

And this post should bring me to that point.

 

[carlbarry]

so for people who bought resale the first time from ebay etc. what was your best source of information detailing how wyndham works? I have no intention buying from the builder, however, I am not really sure where else to get information. For example, we usually stay 10-12 days in a 2 bedroom. We used to stay in January but now the kids are older we are trying the summer so not to pull them out of school so long. Not sure how many points that would be, how much the maintenance is etc. Nobody seems to have those point charts available to view. That is the info I am looking for.

FOr those that did the presentation, how did you conclude the appointment/meeting? I will probably have my twin 10 year olds so knowing them they will set their touch for a 90 minute timer and let me know.

My experience is at Bonnet Creek telling them you have no interest in buying will not shorten the torture. (Why on earth would they think that I, who spent $100 at resale, would pay them $18K???) I believe that they have to "clock" a certain amount of time with each victim. The only thing that worked for me was at the 90 minute mark saying, "OK, I was told 90 minutes. I didn't come on vacation for this, let's wrap it up." HOWEVER, at that point, I was passed on to ANOTHER sales weasel who wanted to sell me points I could use for a vacation at $200 per night. I said no way, and he kept jumping up out of his seat and yelling at me, "You're just not thinking right!" LOL After that, I got passed on to yet another sales weasel, who was openly disgusted with me when I turned down his offer. So even though I "ended it" at 90 minutes, I was still stuck for another 40 minutes, I believe it was.

 

[Bellamouse]

Can't you just get up and walk out? I mean, it's not prison. They cannot legally hold you there against your will.... I don't understand how it's possible that after 90 minutes, you can't just get up and leave, no matter how much they jump up and down or yell.....

 

[DCTooTall]

Can't you just get up and walk out? I mean, it's not prison. They cannot legally hold you there against your will.... I don't understand how it's possible that after 90 minutes, you can't just get up and leave, no matter how much they jump up and down or yell.....

I'm pretty sure you could just up and leave....


...The problem is that you would've get your "gift" for attending. They wait until the last sales weasle in the 3-prong attack to fill out the paperwork you need to turn into the redemption desk.

 

[Bellamouse]

Oh yeah, I didn't think about that. That makes sense. I suppose if you go for the "gift", and you'd already invested that much time, you'd want to finish it up.

I would never go just for the gift I don't think. If I went, it would have to be because I'm really interested in hearing about how it all works (whether I actually end up buying or not).

I have no intention of ever buying, so I think I'll just steer clear of the whole deal

 

[DCTooTall]

Oh yeah, I didn't think about that. That makes sense. I suppose if you go for the "gift", and you'd already invested that much time, you'd want to finish it up.

I would never go just for the gift I don't think. If I went, it would have to be because I'm really interested in hearing about how it all works (whether I actually end up buying or not).

I have no intention of ever buying, so I think I'll just steer clear of the whole deal

I usually tend to swing by for an owner's update while I'm there. The $100 I've gotten my last couple trips has been nice, and I'm not a rope drop kind of person anyways, so the time spent doesn't really take away much useful time from my trip. (And during F&W, that $100 can easily come in handy. )

 

[carlbarry]

Oh yeah, I didn't think about that. That makes sense. I suppose if you go for the "gift", and you'd already invested that much time, you'd want to finish it up.

I would never go just for the gift I don't think. If I went, it would have to be because I'm really interested in hearing about how it all works (whether I actually end up buying or not).

I have no intention of ever buying, so I think I'll just steer clear of the whole deal

If you want to know "how it works," I would NOT depend on a sales weasel. For example, they will tell you that you can book a weekend here, a 3 day stay there, etc. What they don't tell you that for each stay, you will be charged one week of housekeeping points. Go for a few short stays, and you will quickly run out of housekeeping points, and will have to PAY Wyndham extra.
They won't tell you there is a transaction fee for every booking or change of a booking. Make a bunch of bookings, and you will run out of your "free" transactions. They will tell you that you can use unused points to pay your maintenance fee. They won't tell you that they give you back pennies on the dollar for that. They will not tell you the huge fee, nor that your chances of getting certain destinations are near zero. The salesperson's job is to SELL SELL SELL. They will NOT inform you of any drawbacks in the system. And believe me, Wyndham has plenty of drawbacks. They will tell you that you can go anywhere in the world by trading to RCI.

 

[DCTooTall]

If you want to know "how it works," I would NOT depend on a sales weasel. For example, they will tell you that you can book a weekend here, a 3 day stay there, etc. What they don't tell you that for each stay, you will be charged one week of housekeeping points. Go for a few short stays, and you will quickly run out of housekeeping points, and will have to PAY Wyndham extra.
They won't tell you there is a transaction fee for every booking or change of a booking. Make a bunch of bookings, and you will run out of your "free" transactions. They will tell you that you can use unused points to pay your maintenance fee. They won't tell you that they give you back pennies on the dollar for that. They will not tell you the huge fee, nor that your chances of getting certain destinations are near zero. The salesperson's job is to SELL SELL SELL. They will NOT inform you of any drawbacks in the system. And believe me, Wyndham has plenty of drawbacks. They will tell you that you can go anywhere in the world by trading to RCI.

And the biggest lie they tell you....

"You can consider this an investment because you can always sell you ownership in the future and make your money back because this is such a in-demand location right next to Disney"

Which if you look at the resale prices, is quite easy to disprove.

 

[lindaprvs]

Tower 3 room 852= awesome!! Lake AND fireworks view!!!!

 

[nancy155]

Tower 3 room 852= awesome!! Lake AND fireworks view!!!!

Awesome! I hope I am as fortunate. I called and requested tower 2 or 3 with a high level floor. I tried not to be too specific in hopes they would honor my request. My fingers are crossed that I get a great view like yours! If not well I am happy we are on vacation at DisneyWorld! but it sure would be a nice added perk!

 

[carlbarry]

And the biggest lie they tell you....

"You can consider this an investment because you can always sell you ownership in the future and make your money back because this is such a in-demand location right next to Disney"

Which if you look at the resale prices, is quite easy to disprove.

I once bought a "discount vacation package" and had to attend a presentation for Vacation Village in Weston, Florida. The sales weasel told me it was better to buy there than in Orlando because, 1. Orlando is overbuilt and there are fewer resort rooms in Weston, so the demand is higher, and 2. there are no golf courses in Orlando, they have one in Weston, so people who want to golf all want to go to Weston.
When I later went to Orlando, and had to go to another presentation via the same package, I told the sales weasel that his Weston counterpart said buying in Orlando is a very bad idea. He was a little surprised.
So in summary: asking to speak to a sales weasel for information is a bad idea.
Oh, and the points they wanted to sell me in Weston, after reducing and reducing to $12,000--when I looked on ebay, people were trying to sell them for $1. I said "trying," because they couldn't sell them for $1.

 

[LadyBeBop]

One other thing about buying an Orlando timeshare (doesn't matter if it's resale or not; doesn't matter if it's WBC, Orange Lake, Cypress Pointe, etc). Most of them will allow you to trade into RCI. However, if you ever get the chance to trade into DVC...well you can't trade into DVC using an Orlando timeshare.

Assuming you don't want to go during Christmas, if you want to buy a Wyndham contract for WBC, buy a resale contract at another Wyndham resort. Preferably not by the ocean...maintenance fees are higher at ocean resorts. I own at Wyndham Smokey Mountain, and there's a few on here that also own there. Maintenance fees are reasonable, and I don't know anyone who doesn't get their first choice at the ten month mark (when non-owners can start making reservations). With the possible exception of Christmas.

Does anyone know if Ken Price and the others who rent WBC condos...do they own WBC points, or are their points from other Wyndham resorts?

 

[geko29]

Does anyone know if Ken Price and the others who rent WBC condos...do they own WBC points, or are their points from other Wyndham resorts?

I'm sure they're from a wide mix, since the only advantage to owning at a particular resort is the ability to book at 13 months instead of 10. Since most of them seem to try to use the VIP upgrades in the 60-day window to reduce their point costs, the ARP (Advanced Reservation Priority) feature is of basically no value. Just like for most owners: points is points.

 

[SYLVESTER7577]

SO, we have been throwing back and forth the idea of buying. I understand that it is much cheaper and more worthwhile to buy resale. However, we are debating on doing the time share presentation. I have called several times and they have told me it is only 90 minutes. (we would go in the afternoon so no breakfast add on etc) Has anyone done one recently? We would not commit to a date but just pick a rainy afternoon. We just have a lot of questions in general. Also, if you have done one, was there an incentive?

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

 

[carlbarry]

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

The first time I went on one of those "presentations" at Bonnet Creek, I knew nothing about timeshare. But alarms went off for me when they said that I must buy NOW because the offer won't be there later. And my suspicions were confirmed when I asked one of the salesweasels for a phone number to call in case I changed my mind later and decided to buy. He wrote the number down on a form that he knew I had to hand in later on. As you implied, honest people selling a good product don't need to use these tactics.

 

[tripplanner2]

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

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. The sales staff is all over the resort selling to potential buyers. The stuff that comes out of their mouths was more than annoying. We were less than thrilled with the experience at the hotel. I will say that the grounds and buildings are beautiful and breathtaking but constant sales pressure, even without going to a presentation, distracted from our trip. Add in that there are no lifeguards at the pools (which control the chaos) and I had no desire to spend any time at the resort other than being inside of my room. But even in my room I had that stupid phone ringing. We got 3 calls a day starting at 10am. I would not go back to the resort for these reasons. We were already planning on an extended family vacation over Christmas next year but I would rather go anyplace else than stay there again.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm sure they're from a wide mix, since the only advantage to owning at a particular resort is the ability to book at 13 months instead of 10. Since most of them seem to try to use the VIP upgrades in the 60-day window to reduce their point costs, the ARP (Advanced Reservation Priority) feature is of basically no value. Just like for most owners: points is points.

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.