Waldorf, Hilton Bonnet Creek or Hilton Lake Buena Vista?

[kly]

Hi. I'm looking for advice.
I currently have a 10 day reservation at Yacht Club for late June. I was hoping that fast passes, magic hours and parades/fireworks would be back by then, but that seems unlikely. I've been checking wait times and I really don't want to spend 10 days waiting in lines.
I'm considering canceling Yacht Club and doing 5 days at Disney and 5 days at Universal (kids haven' been). If you stay at one of Universal premium resorts they include an unlimited no-wait ride pass.
To try to save some $, I'm thinking about using points to stay at one of the Hilton hotels on Disney property (I still like the convenience of park transportation). Between the Waldorf, the Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Hilton Lake Buena Vista...which one would you recommend for a family of 5 (13, 13, 8) that like pools, but will also go to parks everyday. Thanks.

 

[ScotScroogeMcDuck]

Personally I would still stay at the Yacht. The ability to walk to Epcot and Studios, plus the pool, make it the best.

We've stayed at both the Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Hilton LBV. The pool at Bonnet Creek (Waldorf can use Hilton pool as the hotels are joined but Hilton guests can't use the Waldorf pool) is amazing. This pool, for me, beats Yacht Club. It's a large lazy river, very quiet whenever we've been and great food. The pool at Hilton LBV was more traditional and nothing special.

The downside of all of these is the transport. The Hilton Bonnet Creek use a coach with set times (I think they were every 45mins pickup/drop off) and for us this had two negatives. First we were much more aware of time than using traditional Disney transport when we'd just rock-up whenever we fancied. The second was Magic Kingdom. We took for granted so much getting the Disney Transport to the front door. Being dropped off at the transport ticket centre was not great, but when we were returning we basically had to plan 75mins out (45mins to the next bus and 30mins to get there from anywhere in the park).

Overall, for me, if it's serious $$$ saving I'd choose Hilton Bonnet Creek as the hotel is lovely and the pool does make it special. But the convenience of the Yacht Club beats that.

 

[kly]

Personally I would still stay at the Yacht. The ability to walk to Epcot and Studios, plus the pool, make it the best.

We've stayed at both the Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Hilton LBV. The pool at Bonnet Creek (Waldorf can use Hilton pool as the hotels are joined but Hilton guests can't use the Waldorf pool) is amazing. This pool, for me, beats Yacht Club. It's a large lazy river, very quiet whenever we've been and great food. The pool at Hilton LBV was more traditional and nothing special.

The downside of all of these is the transport. The Hilton Bonnet Creek use a coach with set times (I think they were every 45mins pickup/drop off) and for us this had two negatives. First we were much more aware of time than using traditional Disney transport when we'd just rock-up whenever we fancied. The second was Magic Kingdom. We took for granted so much getting the Disney Transport to the front door. Being dropped off at the transport ticket centre was not great, but when we were returning we basically had to plan 75mins out (45mins to the next bus and 30mins to get there from anywhere in the park).

Overall, for me, if it's serious $$$ saving I'd choose Hilton Bonnet Creek as the hotel is lovely and the pool does make it special. But the convenience of the Yacht Club beats that.

Thanks for the feedback. I also like the Yacht Club, but read on a different post that they have long lines to use the pool. If I go to Hilton Bonnet, I will use points.
Can I go to Disney Springs from Hilton using their shuttle?

 

[ScotScroogeMcDuck]

We just got an Uber from Hilton Bonnet Creek, it was $5 plus a tip. Obviously, it's just a walk from Hilton LBV.

The reason we didn't stay at the Waldorf (we were/are Hilton Diamond members and used points too) was that it was a little too formal for us. We have small kids (8/5) and the Waldorf just didn't have the same relaxed vibe.

 

[Nabas]

I currently have a 10 day reservation at Yacht Club for late June. I was hoping that fast passes, magic hours and parades/fireworks would be back by then, but that seems unlikely. I've been checking wait times and I really don't want to spend 10 days waiting in lines.

Fast Passes never saved much time; it was (mostly) smoke and mirrors.

Let's use a simple example. Since you were going to stay at the Yacht Club, let's look at the nearby Epcot. Because of rider capacity limits, FP+ was broken up into 2 tiers, and you could only get 1 Tier 1 FP+. Let's say that you managed to get a FP+ for Frozen Ever After. Because of these capacity limitations, FP+ would cause you to wait in even longer lines at Soarin' and Test Track.

We vacation onsite at WDW multi times a year and have been to WDW several times since it reopened. The current "no FP+" system is a vast improvement over the old FP+ system. It's really nice to be in a line that moves regularly and that doesn't have hundreds of FP+ people walking past you. Also, the posted wait times tend to be 10-20 minutes greatly than the actual wait times.

However, there are rumors that Disney will be bringing some form of pay-to-play FP+ system in the near future. (I think they have to wait until COVID restrictions are lifted.)

I'm considering canceling Yacht Club and doing 5 days at Disney and 5 days at Universal (kids haven' been). If you stay at one of Universal premium resorts they include an unlimited no-wait ride pass.

Universal's unlimited Express Pass for onsite Deluxe Resort guests is great, but it's not "no wait". The last time we stayed onsite (pre-COVID), we waited up to 30 minutes for some attractions. Still, it was much faster than waiting in the Standby line.

If you want to maximize fun, then maybe change your trip to 6 or 7 nights at WDW and 3 or 4 nights at Universal. With Express Pass, you easily can do Universal's 2 theme parks in 2 days. 3 days should be plenty. (We get bored by the third day.) 6 or 7 nights at WDW allows you to spend more time at Disney's 4 theme parks.

Of the 3 Deluxe Universal Resorts, kids the age of your children tend to like the Hard Rock Hotel the most. This also happens to be the one that is closest to Universal's 2 theme parks.

To try to save some $, I'm thinking about using points to stay at one of the Hilton hotels on Disney property (I still like the convenience of park transportation). Between the Waldorf, the Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Hilton Lake Buena Vista...which one would you recommend for a family of 5 (13, 13, 8) that like pools, but will also go to parks everyday. Thanks.

Maybe consider the Hilton Orlando-Bonnet Creek Resort or, if you want a lot of space and want to really save, consider looking for rentals Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC) on eBay. You'll be able to find relatively inexpensive 2-bedroom condos for much less than any WDW hotel.

Wyndham has an extensive multi-pool system, with many pools having unique themes or features.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Listings on eBay

Since you're going to be there 10 days, you might really appreciate having 2 or 3 bedrooms for most of that trip.

 

[kly]

Fast Passes never saved much time; it was (mostly) smoke and mirrors.

Let's use a simple example. Since you were going to stay at the Yacht Club, let's look at the nearby Epcot. Because of rider capacity limits, FP+ was broken up into 2 tiers, and you could only get 1 Tier 1 FP+. Let's say that you managed to get a FP+ for Frozen Ever After. Because of these capacity limitations, FP+ would cause you to wait in even longer lines at Soarin' and Test Track.

We vacation onsite at WDW multi times a year and have been to WDW several times since it reopened. The current "no FP+" system is a vast improvement over the old FP+ system. It's really nice to be in a line that moves regularly and that doesn't have hundreds of FP+ people walking past you. Also, the posted wait times tend to be 10-20 minutes greatly than the actual wait times.

However, there are rumors that Disney will be bringing some form of pay-to-play FP+ system in the near future. (I think they have to wait until COVID restrictions are lifted.)

Universal's unlimited Express Pass for onsite Deluxe Resort guests is great, but it's not "no wait". The last time we stayed onsite (pre-COVID), we waited up to 30 minutes for some attractions. Still, it was much faster than waiting in the Standby line.

If you want to maximize fun, then maybe change your trip to 6 or 7 nights at WDW and 3 or 4 nights at Universal. With Express Pass, you easily can do Universal's 2 theme parks in 2 days. 3 days should be plenty. (We get bored by the third day.) 6 or 7 nights at WDW allows you to spend more time at Disney's 4 theme parks.

Of the 3 Deluxe Universal Resorts, kids the age of your children tend to like the Hard Rock Hotel the most. This also happens to be the one that is closest to Universal's 2 theme parks.

Maybe consider the Hilton Orlando-Bonnet Creek Resort or, if you want a lot of space and want to really save, consider looking for rentals Wyndham Bonnet Creek (WBC) on eBay. You'll be able to find relatively inexpensive 2-bedroom condos for much less than any WDW hotel.

Wyndham has an extensive multi-pool system, with many pools having unique themes or features.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Listings on eBay

Since you're going to be there 10 days, you might really appreciate having 2 or 3 bedrooms for most of that trip.

Thanks. I was wondering which Deluxe hotel to select...I think I'll go with the Hard Rock...and maybe just 4 days instead of 5.

 

[HopperFan]

Between the Waldorf, the Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Hilton Lake Buena Vista...which one would you recommend for a family of 5 (13, 13, 8) that like pools, but will also go to parks everyday. Thanks.

Hilton Lake Buena Vista is literally two rectangle pools. I was not impressed with hotel or staff after a few stays so other than across from DS, nothing to draw me back there.

I would go with Hilton Bonnet Creek, the pools are great and include lazy river. Also some other amenities there fun for a family. They have coach bus shuttle and only share with Waldorf. BUT be sure to check if they are operating for your trip, some hotels stopped providing shuttles.

 

[Aimeedyan]

(We have not stayed at either since COVID so I'm going off previous experiences)

I will always choose Waldorf if given a choice of just about any Orlando area hotel because I think it's steps above almost all others. The rooms are very large, pool is amazing, service is AMAZING, wonderful spa and amenities, and we love the location. Perk of being able to use the Hilton pool is icing on the top.

We also really love the Hilton, and have stayed there even more often when we've found a great deal. I love the lazy river and their pool IMO is nicer than Yacht/Beach.

The poolside (well, chairside) service at both is very good (great menu, great drinks, great service).

We have not stayed at Hilton Lake Buena Vista.

 

[Aimeedyan]

double post

 

[kly]

Thank you all for the feedback. I booked the Hilton Bonnet with points. It was 60k points per night and got the 5th night free. Because we are a family of 5, I had to book 2 rooms....so the total was 480k points. I will have to call to get adjoining rooms (I'm Diamond so hopefully they will help with that request). Anybody know if I can get a rollaway bed at this location, so that I can cancel the 2nd room? Thanks again.

 

[starry_solo]

Thank you all for the feedback. I booked the Hilton Bonnet with points. It was 60k points per night and got the 5th night free. Because we are a family of 5, I had to book 2 rooms....so the total was 480k points. I will have to call to get adjoining rooms (I'm Diamond so hopefully they will help with that request). Anybody know if I can get a rollaway bed at this location, so that I can cancel the 2nd room? Thanks again.

Make sure you tell them connecting, rather than adjoining.

 

[DL1WDW2]

The Hilton in Southlake Texas has rollaways still. Hope they offer them at Bonnet Creek but I have never seen them .
I am seeing these are available at BC when I just did online search...
also added fee.

 

[finedice]

Fast Passes never saved much time; it was (mostly) smoke and mirrors.

I definitely don't agree that FP didn't save time. If you strategized correctly between rope drop, single rider lines and FP+, you could easily enjoy most noteworthy attractions multiple times per trip with very little wait time, along with long mid-day breaks, plenty of meal time, and ample time for smaller attractions as well. It certainly took some practice, but once you learned how to best use the system to your advantage, it was great.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I definitely don't agree that FP didn't save time. If you strategized correctly between rope drop, single rider lines and FP+, you could easily enjoy most noteworthy attractions multiple times per trip with very little wait time, along with long mid-day breaks, plenty of meal time, and ample time for smaller attractions as well. It certainly took some practice, but once you learned how to best use the system to your advantage, it was great.

Sometimes Yes sometimes maybe not .
I think it depends on size of group and age range , etc.
I personally think the current system works for the best .
Disney needs to use the FP line for different reasons currently.

And sometimes it would be kinder to think of families that just want a chance to ride it once for the very first time.

 

[akk]

I have not been to the Hilton Lake Buena Vista I have been to Waldorf and Hilton Bonnet Creek. The Hilton Lake Buena Vista is 50,000 points per night, Bonnet Creek 57,000 and Waldorf 80.000. You have to stay 5 nights to get the fifth night free. So that would be 200,000 points for BV, 228,000 for BC and 400,000 for Waldorf. A good value for Hilton Points is .7 cents and an average value is .5 cents per point. So at a good rate you are paying a low of $1400 for the lowest BV and $2800 for the Waldorf for five nights. They can go on sale for less than that sometimes plus you get points when you pay for the nights. So make sure you are getting a good deal. If you are staying only four nights then the price using points is much worse. The Waldorf is nicer and quieter and you can use the HBC pool. the Hilton BC has more kids, noisier and you cannot use the Waldorf Pool

 

[iloveokw]

We have stayed at the Universal hotels for the perks in the past. You can get a lot of park time in with just a two night stay. Check in very early the morning of your stay and head for the parks. Also the park access is good on your check out day until the parks close. The last time we were there we stayed Club Level at the Royal Pacific and really enjoyed it. Your kids will really enjoy Volcano Bay also.