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

[Upatnoon]

ok I have read about half of these pages, and am so confused. We plan to be at Disney in July, I am interested in staying at Bonnet Creek however, I am confused on the way the pricing works.
If I book now at the $200 a night, am I guarenteed to be changed to the $120 at 60 days out? Can someone please explain to me how this works?

With Bonnet Creek, the best deals are by renting from someone who is a time-share owner. You negotiate the price of the room with them. It could be $20 a night or $2,000 a night.

The 60 days often mentioned is because Wyndham timeshare owners with a certain status can get rooms after that mark for a much-reduced point total -- up to 50 percent off. Those owners can get rooms for less, they will often rent them for less.

 

[Upatnoon]

We are booked to stay at Bonnet Creek the first week in April - first time offsite and after reading this thread, can't wait to stay here!

Can anyone tell me the distance around the resort area? I will be in training for a half-marathon while we are there, and am wondering about somewhere (besides the treadmill) to go running a few times.

I have seen many people running on a path next to the road that Bonnet Creek is on (Chelonia Parkway). It runs from Buena Vista Drive all the way to the Hilton/Waldorf for about 2 miles or so.

You can't run on Buena Vista Drive (no sidewalks, unsafe to walk or run) but a couple of times back and forth should do the trick.

 

[DCTooTall]

Thanks for the advice. It is my 10th time to disney. Cannot hv a car fullstop as DB had a dui 3 years ago and the US say no drivin for 7 years!! Pricing it up with the resturants we want to eat at and my dd classed as an adult there wnt be much difference in the price. Just comes down to benefits of staying on to off etc.

Depending on how many people are in your party, how long your stay is, and how much table-service you were planning on, You may also want to look at the Annual Pass for disney. If 1 person (adult) gets the AP, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card which can be used to get 20% off (+18% gratuity) on most of your table service meals. The 1 card is good for 10 people, and applies not just to the food, but also any alcoholic beverages and allows you to order from the complete menu and not just the limited DDP options. (Meaning, app, deserts, and entrees if you want... or just the parts of the meal you are interested in).

 

[crabbie1]

Depending on how many people are in your party, how long your stay is, and how much table-service you were planning on, You may also want to look at the Annual Pass for disney. If 1 person (adult) gets the AP, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card which can be used to get 20% off (+18% gratuity) on most of your table service meals. The 1 card is good for 10 people, and applies not just to the food, but also any alcoholic beverages and allows you to order from the complete menu and not just the limited DDP options. (Meaning, app, deserts, and entrees if you want... or just the parts of the meal you are interested in).

Wow thanks for tht never thought abt tht. I was thinking of buying an annual pass as we will be going back within 12 months. How do i go about getting the tables in wonderland card and how much is it. As we are doin dvc for 5 nights after our cruise this would work out a lot cheaper i think. Not had an AP before does it get any other discounts ie shopping. Thanks so much for this.

 

[crabbie1]

Depending on how many people are in your party, how long your stay is, and how much table-service you were planning on, You may also want to look at the Annual Pass for disney. If 1 person (adult) gets the AP, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card which can be used to get 20% off (+18% gratuity) on most of your table service meals. The 1 card is good for 10 people, and applies not just to the food, but also any alcoholic beverages and allows you to order from the complete menu and not just the limited DDP options. (Meaning, app, deserts, and entrees if you want... or just the parts of the meal you are interested in).

Wow thanks for tht never thought abt tht. I was thinking of buying an annual pass as we will be going back within 12 months. How do i go about getting the tables in wonderland card and how much is it. As we are doin dvc for 5 nights after our cruise this would work out a lot cheaper i think. Not had an AP before does it get any other discounts ie shopping. Thanks so much for this.

 

[DCTooTall]

Wow thanks for tht never thought abt tht. I was thinking of buying an annual pass as we will be going back within 12 months. How do i go about getting the tables in wonderland card and how much is it. As we are doin dvc for 5 nights after our cruise this would work out a lot cheaper i think. Not had an AP before does it get any other discounts ie shopping. Thanks so much for this.

I believe you can either order the Tables in Wonderland card before your trip, or you can also get it at Guest Services. The card costs $75 for AP holders.

As for other discounts, there are sometimes various promo type discounts available. for instance, I believe they ran something around the end of the year where AP holders received 10% off merch. Beyond that, you also get free parking at the parks, some discounts at restaurants (TIW card would give you better discounts at more places), and there are often AP discounts available at onsite hotels. I honestly don't have one currently, so I'm not sure what other benefits the AP has, but you can find a lot of info on disney's website, or in some of the other subboards here.

 

[mm80507]

So excited to stay at BC....booked 6 nights in April through Ebay... requested building 4. Fingers crossed it works out.

We'll have our car. Now trying to decide if we do Seaworld and/or a day at Universal too.

Trish

If you don't mind me asking, what seller did you use on ebay? I'm looking at doing the same thing (farrellvacations), but having not done this before, I am a little leery I guess.

 

[MacFam4]

While we are driving down, I would like to go ahead and stop and buy a few groceries before we get to the condo. But I'm sure it will be close to 11am when we get there, which is way before check in time. If our room isn't ready yet, do you have any idea if they can store refrigerated items for you until it's time to check in? We won't have room in the car for a cooler, so that's not an option.

Now if somebody can just make November hurry up and get here We're ready to roll!!!!

 

[Upatnoon]

While we are driving down, I would like to go ahead and stop and buy a few groceries before we get to the condo. But I'm sure it will be close to 11am when we get there, which is way before check in time. If our room isn't ready yet, do you have any idea if they can store refrigerated items for you until it's time to check in? We won't have room in the car for a cooler, so that's not an option.

Now if somebody can just make November hurry up and get here We're ready to roll!!!!

When we have arrived before 4 p.m., (around 3 p.m. once) we were told we had to wait until after 4 p.m. to check in. We just hung around the lobby and they opened the line to non-VIP members around 3:45 p.m. (VIP members are people who bought from Wyndham.)

I'm not sure what they would do if you arrived at 11 a.m. with groceries. That's a lot different than showing up at 3 p.m. Perhaps someone else knows.

When we go, we arrive just before 4 p.m., check in, unload the car, then I go to the store to buy food. I am usually back in an hour and we eat dinner in the room around 6 p.m.

 

[Upatnoon]

If you don't mind me asking, what seller did you use on ebay? I'm looking at doing the same thing (farrellvacations), but having not done this before, I am a little leery I guess.

The great thing about ebay is you can check the feedback and sales history of the seller.

Remember, one of the reasons Bonnet Creek is so affordable is because staying there isn't as easy as picking up the phone and calling Disney to book your 2 bedroom suite.

 

[tjmj9801]

When we have arrived before 4 p.m., (around 3 p.m. once) we were told we had to wait until after 4 p.m. to check in. We just hung around the lobby and they opened the line to non-VIP members around 3:45 p.m. (VIP members are people who bought from Wyndham.)

I'm not sure what they would do if you arrived at 11 a.m. with groceries. That's a lot different than showing up at 3 p.m. Perhaps someone else knows.

When we go, we arrive just before 4 p.m., check in, unload the car, then I go to the store to buy food. I am usually back in an hour and we eat dinner in the room around 6 p.m.

They don't care if you show up with perishable groceries or not. 4 o'clock means 4 o'clock and they don't budge an inch. This is THE worst resort I've ever been to about letting you check in a few hours early. Even at Disney, we were able to check in at 6 am.

 

[MichaelColey]

I don't think I would ever risk going to a timeshare before check-in with perishable groceries.

There are plenty of places to shop that are close.

 

[MacFam4]

I don't think I would ever risk going to a timeshare before check-in with perishable groceries.

There are plenty of places to shop that are close.

Yep, that's exactly why I was asking first. I know the disney resorts will store your perishables, especially if they're delivered from garden grocer, or similar. We'll just wait until we get there. Never hurts to ask.

 

[Disneyforus]

Ok, I didn't realize that the possibility of early check in was "nill to none". So, we may go ahead and split up our drive into two days instead of driving 18 hours straight thru.

Is there a line up of people waiting to check in at 4pm, should we try and arrive at 3:00 so we are checked in sooner once they let non-Wyndham owners start checking in?

Thanks for any advice from you Bonett Experts!

 

[Cdn Gal]

They don't care if you show up with perishable groceries or not. 4 o'clock means 4 o'clock and they don't budge an inch. This is THE worst resort I've ever been to about letting you check in a few hours early. Even at Disney, we were able to check in at 6 am.

We were there for 9 days this past Aug and got in at 10:30am.

 

[Cdn Gal]

While we are driving down, I would like to go ahead and stop and buy a few groceries before we get to the condo. But I'm sure it will be close to 11am when we get there, which is way before check in time. If our room isn't ready yet, do you have any idea if they can store refrigerated items for you until it's time to check in? We won't have room in the car for a cooler, so that's not an option.

Now if somebody can just make November hurry up and get here We're ready to roll!!!!

There is an air-conditioned room for you to store your things in. We called before hand in Aug and asked. (but we didn't need it) Other people on this thread have posted that they have used it, went to the parks and then came back later to check in and pick everything up with no problems.

 

[Upatnoon]

Ok, I didn't realize that the possibility of early check in was "nill to none". So, we may go ahead and split up our drive into two days instead of driving 18 hours straight thru.

Is there a line up of people waiting to check in at 4pm, should we try and arrive at 3:00 so we are checked in sooner once they let non-Wyndham owners start checking in?

Thanks for any advice from you Bonett Experts!

At 3 p.m. when we attempted to check in, there were several people milling around the lobby and there were a few Wyndham owners checking in, so I'm sure at that time they definitely want to stick by the rules to give the VIP owners priority.

At 10:30 a.m., hardly anyone would be checking in, so they may bend the rules. Of course, there may be no rooms available then because they all need to be cleaned.

In any event, they are very clear that check-in is at 4 p.m., so I wouldn't expect to be let in early.

If you arrive at Disney early, there is plenty to do nearby. You can go to Downtown Disney, The Boardwalk or visit a Disney resort or two.

 

[2ofUs]

We always arrive early in the morning - once as early as 7:00am to 'pre-check' in. It is always quiet and, though we know there is no way our room will be ready, it gives us a few minutes to get to know the person(s) on duty. (This helped us on one occassion to get a much better room than the one they were planning to assign.) They ALWAYS have allowed us to leave our luggage, just be prepared to tip well when brought to your room.

On 2 occassions we successfully requested that they place cold items into a fridge for us. We put everything in ONE bag (as small as possible) making sure it is labeled with our NAME, CELL number and ARRIVAL date. We also use a BRIGHT COLORED cooler bag (ours is a vivid blue soft sided) to make it easier to describe. These items were brought to our room along with our luggage once our room was ready.

I cannot guarantee this will work for everyone, but as others have said, it really isn't that far to a grocery - and they should have a list and map for you to use. DON'T go to the closest grocer - can't remember the name but everything is more costly and the place is rather depressing (darkly lit, not well stocked). There is one further north that is much nicer.

 

[tjmj9801]

We were there for 9 days this past Aug and got in at 10:30am.

Ok...*I've* never been to ANY resort before that *wouldn't* let you check in early, except for WBC. I'm glad you didn't have a wasted vacation day, but it sounds like me and many others have the same experience at WBC. And with a 9 day stay, I'm guessing you didn't check in on the weekend? That's when they do major housekeeping and it apparently takes them much longer than any other resort to get this accomplished since so many of us have been at different times and had the same problem. If you checked in on a weekday, your room was already ready.

 

[katallo]

We usually check in on Saturday and on three occasions they have taken our phone number and called by 1:30 to tell us our unit was ready. We were at lunch, so we really didn't check in until 3:00. Another trip, we waited until 4:00.