We just reserved @ Bonnet Creek for May 2007!

[luvdisney14]

How did you get to tour the resort? We would love to stay there someday. Did they offer you a deal to stay there sometime and try the place out? We are going to orlando in 2 weeks and would like to visit there.

 

[mom22boys]

When we toured there last month, the sales rep told us that they had shuttles that would bring us anywhere on Disney property that we wanted. She mentioned this when I asked about the lack of dining at the resort, they currently only have a snack bar, no real restaurants.

Upon pressing a little harder for an answer, we found that they have 3 scheduled shuttles per day, and they usually needed to be reserved the evening before. Also, their idea of getting anywhere on Disney property is different than mine. It turned out that if you scheduled a shuttle, it would bring you to a park. From that park you could use Disney transportation to get to the various resorts for the various dining options.

Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice place. Just be careful if anyone tells you they have transportation to "anywhere" on Disney property. To eat at Whispering Canyon you would have to take the shuttle to one of the parks, take the Disney transportation to Wilderness Lodge, eat, take Disney transportation back to the park, and then time your shuttle ride to bring you back to Bonnet Creek.

Thanks for the heads up. Did they happen to mention what times the three scheduled shuttles are running? I think we will have to drive our rental to the parks everyday, so that we can take our afternoon breaks.

 

[FigmentsBiggestFan]

How did you get to tour the resort? We would love to stay there someday. Did they offer you a deal to stay there sometime and try the place out? We are going to orlando in 2 weeks and would like to visit there.

I would call them and see. They offered my Mom, who is already a Fairfield member (and how we are staying in December), a deal to stay there for two nights and take the tour. It was $99 for both nights.

I'd bet they'd be more than happy to give you the "tour," complete with a sales presentation.

 

[Lewisc]

Didn't someone post that the shuttles just go the TTC? A guest can go anywhere on Disney property, using Disney transportation, from the TTC.

I'd plan on using a rental car or taxi.

When we toured there last month, the sales rep told us that they had shuttles that would bring us anywhere on Disney property that we wanted. She mentioned this when I asked about the lack of dining at the resort, they currently only have a snack bar, no real restaurants.

Upon pressing a little harder for an answer, we found that they have 3 scheduled shuttles per day, and they usually needed to be reserved the evening before. Also, their idea of getting anywhere on Disney property is different than mine. It turned out that if you scheduled a shuttle, it would bring you to a park. From that park you could use Disney transportation to get to the various resorts for the various dining options.

Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice place. Just be careful if anyone tells you they have transportation to "anywhere" on Disney property. To eat at Whispering Canyon you would have to take the shuttle to one of the parks, take the Disney transportation to Wilderness Lodge, eat, take Disney transportation back to the park, and then time your shuttle ride to bring you back to Bonnet Creek.

 

[dtauer]

How did you get to tour the resort? We would love to stay there someday. Did they offer you a deal to stay there sometime and try the place out? We are going to orlando in 2 weeks and would like to visit there.

We received the tour by clicking on a link from Orbitz. We had to pay a $25 reservation fee, to guarantee our spot.

When we toured we received our $25 back, plus $150 cash. If you are interested, you may want to search through the other Bonnet Creek resort posts. In one of them I detailed our experience on the tour.

All in all, we'd do it again. Nice place, definately worth $150 for spending the time with them.

 

[luvdisney14]

Thank you for the heads up, you did not stay on property, just toured the place? I will have to look up orbiz tonight when I have more time to surf the web. I think we might be interested in doing that for 150.00.

 

[dtauer]

Thank you for the heads up, you did not stay on property, just toured the place? I will have to look up orbiz tonight when I have more time to surf the web. I think we might be interested in doing that for 150.00.

Correct, we only did the tour, we stayed at Saratoga Springs. The link was on the webpage you connect to when reviewing your travel arrangements when booking through Orbitz. Not sure if the link is generally available, or if you need to purchase airfare through Orbitz to get the option.

It's a nice place and VERY convenient to Disney. In fact the sign showing the entrance is even similar to the Disney informational signs but in different colors. You can easily find the resort by looking for the huge Disney Vacation Club sign they put right across the street from Bonnet Creek.

 

[Lisa P.]

To eat at Whispering Canyon you would have to take the shuttle to one of the parks, take the Disney transportation to Wilderness Lodge, eat, take Disney transportation back to the park, and then time your shuttle ride to bring you back to Bonnet Creek.

Actually, this is true, for the most part, for onsite guests at Disney resorts too. They take a bus or other Disney transport to a park, change to another to reach the other resort for a meal. Reverse the process to return. Exceptions are deluxe monorail resorts reaching one another or walking around Crescent Lake behind Epcot's deluxe resorts. There's no direct transportation between Wilderness Lodge and other resorts (except perhaps FW Campground???).

We always prefer to have/use our car, even when we stay onsite. No matter how you look at it, WDW is huge and spread out. Getting around takes some time and planning.

 

[dtauer]

Actually, this is true, for the most part, for onsite guests at Disney resorts too. They take a bus or other Disney transport to a park, change to another to reach the other resort for a meal. Reverse the process to return. Exceptions are deluxe monorail resorts reaching one another or walking around Crescent Lake behind Epcot's deluxe resorts. There's no direct transportation between Wilderness Lodge and other resorts (except perhaps FW Campground???).

I agree, the number of trips on a bus is probably the same - onsite or offsite. The big difference being that the buses leave Downtown Disney or the parks every 15-20 minutes for each resort. I guess my point was more that up until closing time at the parks you don't need to coordinate return trips. Even though Bonnet Creek gets you to the Disney transportation, you still need to time your return trip or be stranded and calling a cab.

Based on what I've learned through researching Bonnet Creek, a car is necessary, the shuttles just aren't often enough. Especially since they currently have very limited onsite dining. I feel the statement "we can get you anywhere on Disney property" is probably true, but in most cases not very practical if you need to coordinate with the limited shuttles.

 

[Lisa P.]

Based on what I've learned through researching Bonnet Creek, a car is necessary, the shuttles just aren't often enough. Especially since they currently have very limited onsite dining. I feel the statement "we can get you anywhere on Disney property" is probably true, but in most cases not very practical if you need to coordinate with the limited shuttles.

I absolutely agree! The shuttles are a great option if one has NO way to access a car or if they plan well ahead to split up and one group uses the car while another uses a shuttle ride for part of the way. But they are very limited and limiting, if one depends on them.

The dining issue will be relieved when Wyndham opens their new luxury hotel on the Fairfield at Bonnet Creek Resort property, as it will have several restaurants (along with a full service spa and shops). When the new luxury Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria also open within the Bonnet Creek development, they will be within easy walking distance, offering more dining options. These are all slated to open within a year of each other, several years from now. Bonnet Creek has lighted sidewalks already installed along the length of the development's roads. This is not helpful for those planning a trip through 2008 but after that...

I would also hope that this cluster of fine resorts will eventually coordinate for better transportation shuttles.

 

[stlsports4ever]

Hi everybody! Congrats on the booking, we too will be going to Bonnet Creek. This is going to be my very first visit to Disney, Orlando, or Bonnet Creek in March of 2007. We are going to be there March 11-March 18. All of you have given some great advise on the resort. I think that Disney property would be great and I do now know that I will need to rent a car because of this thread. But, I am a Fairfield Owner and must say that Fairfield prides itself on excellent service and excellent rooms. I dont know what Disney offers but for the price, I think Fairfield offers a lot. Think how much one saves with a full kitchen vs hotel room. We went to Branson, MO at Fairfield Mount Vista and I only spent $400 the whole trip. Now I know that Branson and Orlando is lightyears away from costs (Disney tickets, airline, rental cars, food, etc.) But buying food and fixing up dinner vs spending hundreds just makes more sense to me. What do you all think? Thanks again for all your input.

Mr. Mike

 

[becca011906]

I do love the idea that there is a full kitchen yet when you are at disney time is $$$ and a lot of it usally, we found it much more cost effective to eat breakfast in our room with our nice kitchen then dine at the park till we came home that night had a good snack foods but i think only eat dinner in the room 1 night out of our 7 night trip...

 

[mom22boys]

We will definitely have our kitchen stocked with good breakfast food, lunch food (we will take an afternoon swim/nap break), and snack food, but I wasn't planning on "cooking" too many dinners. I want to be on vacation too!

 

[stlsports4ever]

I hear what you all are saying and agree with you about max time but can I bring a cooler to the car and get my hand stamped and eat out at the car and then come back? Or is Bonnet Creek close enough to actually go back to the resort, eat, and then come back? How much different would it be to do that then say, go to McDonalds?

Mr. Mike

 

[evedoe]

The resort is very close and is accessible on all Disney roads (very little traffic). When we stayed there we went back in the middle of the day for lunch and for the kids and grandparents to rest a bit.

 

[mom22boys]

I hear what you all are saying and agree with you about max time but can I bring a cooler to the car and get my hand stamped and eat out at the car and then come back? Or is Bonnet Creek close enough to actually go back to the resort, eat, and then come back? How much different would it be to do that then say, go to McDonalds?

Mr. Mike

Bonnet Creek is extremely close to all of the Disney parks. I would highly recommend leaving the parks mid-day for lunch and a break. You will find many DISers and guide books make this suggestion. You really have to pace yourself at WDW. Make sure you take time out each day to rest and relax, if not you will burned out by the third day of your vacation.

When you take your break, keep in mind you do not have to repay for parking when you go back to the parks. Once you pay for parking at one park, it is good all day long at all of the different parks. Also, if another DISer could verify this I would appreciate it, but I don't think you need a hand stamp to get back into the park. I think all you need is your ticket.

Happy planning! It sounds like you are pretty new to WDW. Keep reading and keep planning! You will really appreciate the fruits of your effort when you arrive at WDW!

Hope everyone has a good day!

 

[Muushka]

I am a DVC owner, and this statement does not go over well on those boards!!

We loved Bonnet Creek. We rented a couple of nights from an owner (2 BR) last May.
I have to say, I was more than impressed. We stayed at BC prior to checking in to BWV (also 2 BR). Our friends (who had never stayed on property) were very impressed with BC, and not so impressed with BWV (just like me!) While the location at BWV cannot be beat, the BC resort rooms had BWV beat hands down. We loved the large rooms, the style, the furnishings, the resort itself, the lazy river........ I could go on and on.

The few drawbacks have already been mentioned (well, a couple anyway):

The transportation.

Yes, they have a shuttle, but as mentioned, you need to reserve it the day before. If you arrive the evening before, you cannot call to reserve because they are closed (at 8 I think). So I guess if you want to go the the parks on your first full day, you need to call from home if you arrive after 8 to reserve. Also, I don't know about you, but we are very spontaneous at WDW. I never know where I am going till I get up in the AM!

Also, one night we did not want to go pick up our friends at the parks, figured they could use the transportation. Well at MGM the last bus left the park before Fantasmic was over. How silly is that? Bottom line: you need a car at Bonnet Creek

The View

We followed our BWV with another night at BC. This time we did not get the 'Deluxe villa'. I can assume that these are the villas that face the parking lot. Yuck. The first night we had the water view. Beautiful. I am someone who appreciates the view. That second stay was such a let down. At Disney resorts, they somewhat mask the parking lots. So that when you look out (we had a standard view at BWV) you see some nice things and a portion of the parking lot. Not at BC. The views are either wonderful or terrible. Looking out on a hot parking lot is not good planning IMHO. What in the world were they thinking?

All in all, we will stay there again. For the price, it cannot be beat. But I really want to secure the Deluxe villa next time!

 

[Scottneon]

I just posted another thread when if I read some of the posts my questions would be answered. Sorry all. I am going to Bonnet Creek 5/6/07 for 10 nights. My friends are owners and can't use it so they gave me 10 nights for $500.00 I stayed in French Quarter this past March and would have liked to stay in a Disney resort this time but I couldn't pass this up. Its my daughters last shabang before she starts school on Sep. 07 so I wanted to really see everything and take my time. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to answer all the questions. Scott

 

[mom22boys]

and they have added a lot more shuttle times to their schedule!!! Shuttles going to MK and EP run at 8:20, 9:20, 10:20, and 11:20 a.m. They also run to MK and EP at 4:20, 6:20, and 7:20 p.m. They return from MK and EP in the afternoon and evening. There are four different times. I am sorry, but I didn't get those written down (I didn't want to bug the nice lady too much). Shuttles also run to AK and MGM at 8:50, 9:50, 10:50, and 11:50 a.m. and again in the afternoon (again, didn't get the times written down fast enough). On the return, shuttles come back from AK and MGM at 2:45, 4:00, 6:00, and 8:30 p.m.

I am sorry that there are holes in my information, but the bottom line seems to be that there are more shuttles running now that the resort has gotten bigger. I just read a review on tripadvisor.com and the woman commented that one of her favorite things about the resort was the direct transportation to the four theme parks!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[bonzarella]

Just posted on Budget Board-Bonnett Creek thread. Here now!