The we loooooove Bonnet Creek thread! (pics and reviews)

[geenerbell]

Anyone know anything about Fairfield Fairshare points with Bonnet Creek being your home resort? It's a biennial plan. Points awarded every other year on the even years.

 

[CC_dad]

Fairfield Fairshare Plus points is the timeshare product's name prior to it being changed to Wyndham. The brand name was changed because of the confusion caused by Marriott's Fairfield Inn hotel chain.

Veteran Wyndham owners think its best to purchase at a resort with the lowest maintenance fees (MFs) per thousand points. Some recommend avoiding Florida altogether because of its separate charge for real property taxes. Others suggest avoiding beach front resorts due to their higher MFs caused by excess wear and tear.

Wyndham points owners can book Bonnet Creek at the ten month window, except for the following holiday weeks:

Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas to New Years Day.

Some schools' Easter vacation is the week ending on Easter weekend, so both weeks book quickly. Next Easter, Bonnet Creek has a 1 bedroom deluxe checking in for a week on Saturday April 23; or a 1 or 2 bedroom deluxe unit checking in on Easter Sunday.

 

[CC_dad]

I got a two bedroom for $225 for 5 nights. That's $45 a night. Amazing!

I wouldn't count on this deal being available frequently, as that's about the MF cost for a Sunday - Thursday 5 night stay during value season (even after a VIP discount).

Someone was likely going to forfeit their points on the reservation for cancelling it too late.

I'm glad you were able to get it!

 

[Belle599]

I'm very excited to be staying at Bonnet Creek for the first time in less than 4 weeks!!!

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread, there is such a wealth of information here!

 

[geenerbell]

Fairfield Fairshare Plus points is the timeshare product's name prior to it being changed to Wyndham. The brand name was changed because of the confusion caused by Marriott's Fairfield Inn hotel chain.

Veteran Wyndham owners think its best to purchase at a resort with the lowest maintenance fees (MFs) per thousand points. Some recommend avoiding Florida altogether because of its separate charge for real property taxes. Others suggest avoiding beach front resorts due to their higher MFs caused by excess wear and tear.

Wyndham points owners can book Bonnet Creek at the ten month window, except for the following holiday weeks:

Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas to New Years Day.

Some schools' Easter vacation is the week ending on Easter weekend, so both weeks book quickly. Next Easter, Bonnet Creek has a 1 bedroom deluxe checking in for a week on Saturday April 23; or a 1 or 2 bedroom deluxe unit checking in on Easter Sunday.

They're quoting the MF @ $44 per month totaling around $1200.

 

[bwo]

Hi,
Wondering what buildings have the 3 bedroom suites?? I was planning on a two bedroom in building 5, but am considering a 3 bedroom now that my aunt is joining us. Are the 3 bedrooms spread out around the resort or contained in one or two building?? And do you gain any room besides the bedroom---is the living room area larger, I can't tell from the floorplans I looked at. Thanks much!

 

[lawgs]

There is a special VIP Presidential Reserve owner's lounge on the 17th floor of tower 6. Nice view of fireworks, but views from tower 4 and 5 are closer. I think they will show it to you if you take the sales tour.

Yes they have this special area that they SHOW you on the sales tour ( at least they did on ours ), BUT, they make it very plain to you even if you are staying on that floor, that you have to have a 'special' key to get in, which I guess is issued to those people who have paid the "outlay" to belong to this exclusive club. It is not a place that just 'anyone' can show up expecting to see the fireworks or view from this "fabulous" lounge.

Perhaps there are ways of "sneaking in" during the fireworks displays, but probably highly unlikely ( akin to the top of the Bay Lake Tower viewing area ), as they more than likely 'monitor' who is there during those 'times'.

 

[got4boys]

Too early to book in April? What? Wyndham owners can book units at 10 months prior to arrival and Bonnet Creek TS owners can book a unit at BC at 13 months prior to arrival.

There is a Wyndham Resorts Forum in which Wyndham Owners offer their timeshare points for rental. Go to: http://forums.atozed.com/
Scroll down to the "Rental Office" section and go into the "I have points to rent" subforum.

Note: That Easter Week is unavailable. I see availability for the others.

 

[ntsammy5]

We got here last night and I just had a chance to wander arouind. We have stayed at every resort on WDW except for DVC. This place beats them all!!!!!

 

[QuiverofArrows]

Those directions are great if you are coming from those directions. Our friend's Iphone had no problem with the address but our new GPS and everybody else who had a GPS and tried to find it had to put in Orlando as the city. I think the tip for looking for the red bus with Goofy driving was a great tip for us.

Directions:

Wyndham Bonnet Creek
9560 Via Encinas
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: 407-238-3500

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting There

Mileage between Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort and...
Daytona Beach, FL: 55 miles
Fort Lauderdale, FL: 204 miles
Edisto Beach, SC: 405 miles

Nearest Airport
Orlando International Airport: 21 miles

Driving Directions
From Orlando International Airport: Take State Rd 417 south to Exit #6 (RT536). Continue straight on to RT536. Pass through the Walt Disney World gateway sign. Take the first exit on your right towards Downtown Disney. At the traffic light , make a left on to Buena Vista Dr. At next light take a left on to Chelonia Pkwy. Resort will be ½ mile on the left.

Alternate Directions from Orlando International Airport: Take 528 West (Beachline) to the end. Merge on to I-4 West. Take exit 67 (SR536). Pass through the Walt Disney World gateway sign. Take the first exit on your right towards Downtown Disney. At the traffic light , make a left on to Buena Vista Dr. At next light take a left on to Chelonia Pkwy. Resort will be ½ mile on the left.

 

[QuiverofArrows]

We only stayed at BC a couple weeks ago and in a 3br but in searching EBay over the past several months, I have seen the 1br rent for $40/night with no extra fees.

what's the best deal anyone has ever gotten for a one bedroom at BC for a full week? And where's the best place to find such a rental since most of the ones I see are two bedroom?

 

[QuiverofArrows]

I just want to once again thank everyone for all the tips. We have never wanted to be a part of a timeshare until now. We aren't there yet and will do plenty of research first but let me just say that we never want to stay anywhere else again when going to Orlando. It happened that our family reunion got cancelled just two weeks before Thanksgiving and we already had our room and Disney tickets. It's rescheduled for next year so we'll be looking for our rooms again!! This time the children asked if we could just stay at the resort and do things there, maybe go to one dinner show (Medieval Feast was great) and go to the VMCP one night. That's it. They want to hang out more at BC! It was unanimous.

We stayed in Tower 6 in 6721 and LOVED our room. The view was perfect. We didn't see fireworks but were only there one night that we would have been able to see them and everyone was playing and forgot to look so for us it was no big deal. We didn't take the presentation but did go up to the 15th? floor to see the models that are always open. They were nice but I definitely don't think the 4br presidential was worth twice the money as the 3br deluxe. Frig was nice. My son noticed the sound system was nice. I would have liked two more bathrooms but all in all, we are pleased with the 3br.

Waterslides - there have been some questions about these. There are two and one is at the pirate pool at Tower 6. That drops you off into a little area and does not require you to go under water. The other one does however require someone to be a decent swimmer. (That is what one of the workers told me.) You have to be 48" to use either no matter how good you swim. My children had check-ups just a few weeks before we left and they were measured at the doc office. Either the doc office or BC has messed up measuring because my son was 50" at his check-up and was just barely able to squeak by on the BC measuring chart. I very, very politely told the worker there that they might want to double-check the accuracy at Tower 6 water slide and he was pretty rude about it. I wasn't arguing with him but just letting him know that my child had just been to the doctor for a check-up and was 50". I didn't feel the need to argue or pull out a measuring tape. And they could be right but I thought I would mention that in case someone has a child who would be REALLY upset about this. You might want to bring a tape if it's close. Who knows?

The only thing that really irked me was when we went to the pool and there was feces on the pool deck. It looked like it was from a dog (or small child). I had a child step in it and we had to get cleaned up. I told a worker who did nothing and then told the front desk. It took over 30 minutes (or longer) to get someone out to clean it up. I told four families about it so they wouldn't step in it. By the time they got out to clean it up, it had been on who knows how many people's feet and was smeared everywhere. Also, I happened to look down while the children were on the waterslide and see a DS game. I asked the boys if they brought one down to the pool and the worker quickly told me he found it before we arrived so I only asked one child. Well, sure enough it was ours. It wasn't turned in to lost and found and I had to call several places to track it down. I was just irritated that he would have made a point to tell me it was before we got there.

The washing machine and dryer worked great. We had no problems with them and were pleasantly surprised at how much clothes they held.

Remember to turn on the icemaker if you need ice.

It was just WONDERFUL!!

 

[TotoToo]

I just want to once again thank everyone for all the tips. We have never wanted to be a part of a timeshare until now.
We stayed in Tower 6 in 6721 and LOVED our room. The view was perfect. We didn't see fireworks but were only there one night that we would have been able to see them and everyone was playing and forgot to look so for us it was no big deal. We didn't take the presentation but did go up to the 15th? floor to see the models that are always open. They were nice but I definitely don't think the 4br presidential was worth twice the money as the 3br deluxe. Frig was nice. My son noticed the sound system was nice. I would have liked two more bathrooms but all in all, we are pleased with the 3br.

It was just WONDERFUL!!

So glad you have found what is easily the best resort within the Disney gates.

Just remember that if you plan to become a Wyndham/BC owner NEVER buy from them. You can get all the points you want/need for little or nothing in purchase price at resale. Those inexpensive points get you BC or the Presidential units or whatever just like the high priced retail do but you save - maybe tens of thousands of dollars! The annual fees are the same for both retail & resale points so don't waste money buying retail. Save & have money to pay many years of annual fees by obtaining your points resale.

 

[QuiverofArrows]

Yes, I know. Thank you for posting it though. Thanks to y'all, I was able to inform hubby how little we could get points and he was floored. As a matter of fact, we did pass one couple who were clearly getting ready to buy and I wanted to stop and shake them and tell them, "Don't do it!" so they could no about resale. Alas, I didn't but was thankful we knew.

So glad you have found what is easily the best resort within the Disney gates.

Just remember that if you plan to become a Wyndham/BC owner NEVER buy from them. You can get all the points you want/need for little or nothing in purchase price at resale. Those inexpensive points get you BC or the Presidential units or whatever just like the high priced retail do but you save - maybe tens of thousands of dollars! The annual fees are the same for both retail & resale points so don't waste money buying retail. Save & have money to pay many years of annual fees by obtaining your points resale.

 

[DIXON.CARRY]

Orlando and most chaotic but alot of people get off, maybe they don't know Kissimmee's 20 minutes down the line and maybe 10-15 people get off there.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Yes, I know. Thank you for posting it though. Thanks to y'all, I was able to inform hubby how little we could get points and he was floored. As a matter of fact, we did pass one couple who were clearly getting ready to buy and I wanted to stop and shake them and tell them, "Don't do it!" so they could no about resale. Alas, I didn't but was thankful we knew.

When I see those couples I have the same feeling, and then it's immediately followed by the feeling of "thank goodness for buyers like them or else I'd never have my ultra-cheap resale Wyndham points" We have 203K points and we paid $700 for them on Ebay...best timeshare purchase EVER. We get 4 nights at Thanksgiving in a 2BDR at BC and then 2 3-day weekends in a 2 BDR at BC every year for those points. I wish that we'd bought a bigger contract because we still end up renting nights here and there at BC from other Wyndham owners/Ebay. Our home resort is somewhere in VA (my criteria was low MFs and a recently completed special assessment). DH would like a resale at Bonnet Creek for the 13 month booking window, so I may start looking for one of those on Ebay again soon.

 

[bwo]

Hi,
From all the great reviews and the need for more space, I'm planning on staying at the BC, June 27--July 5. For all those that have rented and traveled during holiday periods, should I book now and hope that maybe the price will come down during rebooking(although some thinks it may be very difficult due to the holiday) or wait until 60 days prior and see what I can do. At the current rate, I'd still be saving well over 1000.00 compared to staying at a Disney Deluxe,(which makes me think, just book it for crying out loud) but I'm seeing many posts on here getting rooms for much less than what I'm getting now. Anyone having traveled during 4th of July at BC have any suggetions?? And also wondering what buildings the 3 bedroom deluxes are located in?? Thanks!

 

[skylizard]

When I see those couples I have the same feeling, and then it's immediately followed by the feeling of "thank goodness for buyers like them or else I'd never have my ultra-cheap resale Wyndham points" We have 203K points and we paid $700 for them on Ebay...best timeshare purchase EVER. We get 4 nights at Thanksgiving in a 2BDR at BC and then 2 3-day weekends in a 2 BDR at BC every year for those points. I wish that we'd bought a bigger contract because we still end up renting nights here and there at BC from other Wyndham owners/Ebay. Our home resort is somewhere in VA (my criteria was low MFs and a recently completed special assessment). DH would like a resale at Bonnet Creek for the 13 month booking window, so I may start looking for one of those on Ebay again soon.

We did the same thing. Went thru the presentation and walked away saying no, since we knew to never buy from the developer. We just bought 205k points for $280 at Bonnet Creek

 

[TinkOhio]

I just want to once again thank everyone for all the tips. We have never wanted to be a part of a timeshare until now. We aren't there yet and will do plenty of research first but let me just say that we never want to stay anywhere else again when going to Orlando. It happened that our family reunion got cancelled just two weeks before Thanksgiving and we already had our room and Disney tickets. It's rescheduled for next year so we'll be looking for our rooms again!! This time the children asked if we could just stay at the resort and do things there, maybe go to one dinner show (Medieval Feast was great) and go to the VMCP one night. That's it. They want to hang out more at BC! It was unanimous.

We stayed in Tower 6 in 6721 and LOVED our room. The view was perfect. We didn't see fireworks but were only there one night that we would have been able to see them and everyone was playing and forgot to look so for us it was no big deal. We didn't take the presentation but did go up to the 15th? floor to see the models that are always open. They were nice but I definitely don't think the 4br presidential was worth twice the money as the 3br deluxe. Frig was nice. My son noticed the sound system was nice. I would have liked two more bathrooms but all in all, we are pleased with the 3br.

Waterslides - there have been some questions about these. There are two and one is at the pirate pool at Tower 6. That drops you off into a little area and does not require you to go under water. The other one does however require someone to be a decent swimmer. (That is what one of the workers told me.) You have to be 48" to use either no matter how good you swim. My children had check-ups just a few weeks before we left and they were measured at the doc office. Either the doc office or BC has messed up measuring because my son was 50" at his check-up and was just barely able to squeak by on the BC measuring chart. I very, very politely told the worker there that they might want to double-check the accuracy at Tower 6 water slide and he was pretty rude about it. I wasn't arguing with him but just letting him know that my child had just been to the doctor for a check-up and was 50". I didn't feel the need to argue or pull out a measuring tape. And they could be right but I thought I would mention that in case someone has a child who would be REALLY upset about this. You might want to bring a tape if it's close. Who knows?

The only thing that really irked me was when we went to the pool and there was feces on the pool deck. It looked like it was from a dog (or small child). I had a child step in it and we had to get cleaned up. I told a worker who did nothing and then told the front desk. It took over 30 minutes (or longer) to get someone out to clean it up. I told four families about it so they wouldn't step in it. By the time they got out to clean it up, it had been on who knows how many people's feet and was smeared everywhere. Also, I happened to look down while the children were on the waterslide and see a DS game. I asked the boys if they brought one down to the pool and the worker quickly told me he found it before we arrived so I only asked one child. Well, sure enough it was ours. It wasn't turned in to lost and found and I had to call several places to track it down. I was just irritated that he would have made a point to tell me it was before we got there.

The washing machine and dryer worked great. We had no problems with them and were pleasantly surprised at how much clothes they held.

Remember to turn on the icemaker if you need ice.

It was just WONDERFUL!!

How were the pool water temps? It's supposed to be highs in the low 70's when we're there next week. Also, are there any activities that you would recommend for teenagers?

Thanks!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

We did the same thing. Went thru the presentation and walked away saying no, since we knew to never buy from the developer. We just bought 205k points for $280 at Bonnet Creek

Wow! Great deal! Is it an annual contract or EOY? I'm guessing EOY for that price, but if it's annual than you got an insane deal! Where did you buy it? Ebay?