WBC vs OKW vs SSR

[Monorail Bob's dd]

I am posting this here and on the resort board.

I am not sure what to do. We are currently booked at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 bedroom for 4 nights in July. With Disney's new 30% off special, we could get a 2 bedroom at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs for a few hundred dollars more. My dh is fine with whichever I pick.

Advantages WBC - better pools, couple of hundred dollars in savings, trying something different since we have to have a rental car this trip anyway

Advantages SSR and OKW - I am a Disney nut and love staying onsite. I like the idea of daily housekeeping and not having to fend off the timeshare people pushing presentations on us. We could park for free and use Disey transportation if we choose to. We'd have the dining plan which I do like using.

I am really not sure. My girls have been super excited to stay at Bonnet Creek after they saw the pics and I do not know how they would feel about switching. It would cost more to switch and while my dh okayed that, I still feel a little guilty aboout it. Thoughts? Also, between OKW and SSR, which would you recomend?

 

[littlestar]

If it's only a few hundred more dollars, I would switch since you are going during the busy summer season. I would pick SSR. The new themed Paddocks pool should be opening this summer and it looks wonderful. So come summer, SSR will have three really nicely themed swimming pools (two with slides). And you can walk to Downtown Disney from SSR.

I do really like Wyndham Bonnet Creek (we own Wyndham points), but it's a denser resort feel than OKW or SSR. But if the price difference were only a few hundred dollars, I'd go with Disney.

 

[ez]

We were dvc members for 10 years and stayed at all the properties onsite. That being said, bonnet creek is the only resort my husband has come home from and said he cannot wait to go back to. We got back a couple weeks ago and he was already talking about the summer and thanksgiving. The spaciousness and huge balconies and abundance of pools spoil you very quickly. Did you book direct thru wyndam? On ebay we got a 3 bedroom there for 120 a night...the price is just amazing for all you get, that is what I would have paid for a value resort on property, with a florida resident discount, at the time we went.
That being said, I would choose OKW if it were a choice between that and saratoga springs...good luck!

 

[Brian Noble]

We've stayed at both BC and OKW, in 2BRs. We like OKW a little better, but it is a close thing. I'm not sure if $50 a night would be "too much" to switch or not.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I like the idea of daily housekeeping and not having to fend off the timeshare people pushing presentations on us.

I admit I haven't stayed at WBC yet (come on December hurry up!) but all the reports I've read here is that they will ask you when you pick up your parking pass to attend a presentation and if you decline they pretty much leave you alone. Maybe they call your room once or twice (I have no need to answer the phone when I'm there). So if that's a concern, you can put it out of your head.

I stayed at OKW when I was a DVC owner, The 2BR there is larger than at the other DVC resorts, and has a full size washer and dryer. Maybe not so important for the length of time you're there. Also a larger balcony. If I were picking between those two, I would pick OKW over SSR. But I would drive rather than taking buses. We didn't get a car that trip and regretted it. Felt like I wasted so much time waiting for buses.

But WBC vs. spending a few hundred dollars more to stay at OKW or SSR? I would save my money.

 

[dtwilkin]

I'm just surprised the 2 bdrm at SSR or OKW is only a couple of hundred more than WBC. On the Disney website, it shows 4 nights at a 2 bdrm in June is about $3K. If you got the 30% discount, it would be around $2100. We just rented a 3 bdrm from Ken at www.vacationupgrades.com for 7 nights for $1050! The difference in prices between WBC and Disney villas is quite a bit.

 

[utahkennedys]

I would also switch. When we stay offsite, no matter how nice the resort is, it is missing that "something" Disney resorts have. It is easier on site even when we have a car. We LOVE OKW so we are a bit biased, but I'd choose SSR or OKW over any off-site option. Last October we stayed at Marriott Grande Vista since we got a week in a 2BR for $400 and I decided to save my DVC points. It was our 2nd trip there and although it's a lovely resort...it was missing the magic for me. DH agreed. Now we stay where we really, really want to be. You can't take a boat to DTD from any Marriotts or WBC and we really missed that plus the other on-site benefits.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

Well, we decided to go a completely different way and booked a deluxe club level room at the Boardwalk. The room is extra large and sleeps up to 6 with views of the Boardwalk and club level lounge access. With the 30% off, I came in just under the budget dh set for the trip, plus I got to add park tickets and the dining plan. I am super excited. I just couldn't get that worked up about Bonnet Creek even though it looked lovely. I think I am a Disney resort girl at heart.

 

[DCTooTall]

I see you already made your decision, and ultimately, you can't go wrong either way.


My advice would've been to take a look at what you are paying for WBC, and then add in the cost of parking each day ($14), and maybe even how much you'd pay for your meals OOP. Then compare that to the cost of staying onsite w/ the dining plan.

Then you might have a better comparison of your actual costs with which to make a decision.

The other big thing to consider is the rest of your group and if you planned on staying together the entire trip. If you were going to be together the entire trip, then having the car and driving to the parks/DTD would be the same for either resort. If however you expect to split up at some point....either for mid-day breaks, or maybe someone going to a park or DTD early while others chill at the resort or check out another park, then the Disney transportation options from staying onsite really start to have an advantage because you will have a bit more freedom.


Heh.... and if anybody plans on drinking, say around the World showcase, or at DTD or the Boardwalk.. then the Disney Transportation options can also be advantageous due to the fact you always have a Designated Driver available.

 

[Upatnoon]

Well, we decided to go a completely different way and booked a deluxe club level room at the Boardwalk. The room is extra large and sleeps up to 6 with views of the Boardwalk and club level lounge access. With the 30% off, I came in just under the budget dh set for the trip, plus I got to add park tickets and the dining plan. I am super excited. I just couldn't get that worked up about Bonnet Creek even though it looked lovely. I think I am a Disney resort girl at heart.

There's a switch! You didn't tell us you had a budget that high!

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

There's a switch! You didn't tell us you had a budget that high!

Well, the BWI deluxe CL room ended up costing about $120 more than the 2 bedroom villa at OKW or SSR. We definitely needed a room or villa that could hold at least 6 because my MIL is joining us for a night. My dh had initially set a budget for this 5 day/4 night trip for $4000 - this needed to include hotel, park tickets times 5, and our dining. Yes, we probably would have come in at more like $3200 for WBC plus tickets and dining. I was trying to convince myself that I would be happy off property but I stayed at my mom's Marriott timeshare at Marriott Grand Vista a few years ago and while it was huge and really pretty, I missed being onsite - can't help it. When the 30% room discount code was announced the other day, I started crunching numbers and realized we could stay onsite now in a big place and be under the $4000 budget - with the deluxe club level room at Boardwalk, I am exactly $4 under budget.

 

[ttfn3]

We have stayed at several timeshare resorts near Disney - and WBC, SSR, and BWV (we visited OKW - does that count?). If money wasn't an issue & I was there to visit the parks every day (or almost every day), I would definitely chose BWV. The location is fabulous. I really enjoyed walking to Epcot and around the Boardwalk/BC/YC area. Enjoy your trip!! I'm jealous

 

[Upatnoon]

Well, the BWI deluxe CL room ended up costing about $120 more than the 2 bedroom villa at OKW or SSR. We definitely needed a room or villa that could hold at least 6 because my MIL is joining us for a night. My dh had initially set a budget for this 5 day/4 night trip for $4000 - this needed to include hotel, park tickets times 5, and our dining. Yes, we probably would have come in at more like $3200 for WBC plus tickets and dining. I was trying to convince myself that I would be happy off property but I stayed at my mom's Marriott timeshare at Marriott Grand Vista a few years ago and while it was huge and really pretty, I missed being onsite - can't help it. When the 30% room discount code was announced the other day, I started crunching numbers and realized we could stay onsite now in a big place and be under the $4000 budget - with the deluxe club level room at Boardwalk, I am exactly $4 under budget.

How much were you quoted for Bonnet Creek? Four nights at WBC in a 2 bedroom should cost around $400 - $480.

Five adult 6-day MYW disney tickets with park hopping is $1,500. That's $2,000, so if you eat $1,000 in food you will still be ahead by $1,000.

That said, if you budget is $4,000, by all means stay where you want to stay! I'd do the same, but I'd probably go for a 2 BR villa so you have 2 bathrooms.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

How much were you quoted for Bonnet Creek? Four nights at WBC in a 2 bedroom should cost around $400 - $480.

Five adult 6-day MYW disney tickets with park hopping is $1,500. That's $2,000, so if you eat $1,000 in food you will still be ahead by $1,000.

That said, if you budget is $4,000, by all means stay where you want to stay! I'd do the same, but I'd probably go for a 2 BR villa so you have 2 bathrooms.

I think our total for WBC was supposed to be $945 for 4 nights - we booked through Wynbdham, so not a great rate. Park tickets would have run another $1200 or so and then maybe about $1000 for food for the 5 of us. Obviously, this would have been the cheaper route, but since dh made the mistake of saying I had up to $4000 to spend on this trip, I made a point of spending every last penny.