Would you rather....

[photobob]

take two studio trips and stay at DVC resorts or take two trips and stay in a 1 BDR at Bonnet Creek one trip and a 1 BDR DVC trip?

My in-laws have a good many Wyndham points and currently aren't able to travel enough to use them all so they have been asking us to use some of their points! We are going to stay for four nights the week after Thnaksgiving at Bonnet Creek so that experience will help us decide as well but just wanted some input from DVC vets. The one bedrooms sound much better than the studios but two DVC stays sounds better for all the other reasons.

 

[tjkraz]

Bonnet Creek and the larger rooms.

Haven't stayed there yet but have only heard good things about Bonnet Creek. Would not hesitate to stay there.

 

[BeesKnees]

I would never dream of staying in a studio on vacation.

 

[Brian Noble]

Bonnet Creek and the larger rooms.

Ditto. We enjoyed our stay at Bonnet, and I did not get into timeshare so that I could stay in hotel rooms. To me, hotel rooms are not vacation.

Edited to add: in the interests of Full Disclosure, I am not the sort of person for whom Only Disney Will Do. If you are, then you might come to a different conclusion.

 

[MiaSRN62]

If your trips are no longer than 3-5 nights, I'd take the two studio DVC stays. But if your stays are longer than 5 days, I find a bigger room a must.
You have to ask yourself are the perks of staying inside WDW (themeing/EMH's/package delivery to your resort/DDP) important to you ? If not, give Bonnet Creek a go. You might end up liking it more---you never know. For us....DVC is 50% of the vacation experience.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Edited to add: in the interests of Full Disclosure, I am not the sort of person for whom Only Disney Will Do. If you are, then you might come to a different conclusion.

Agreed Brian...I'm pretty much a very happy/satisfied DVC member, so I will usually lean in that direction. I did however mention in my post that for stays over 5 days, I think a larger room is in order.

 

[Starr W.]

We've stayed at Bonnet Creek January 2010, we actually bought Wyndham for their other locations, but we'll stay at BC or the Reunion resort if we run short of DVC points and need a mouse fix.

We stayed in a 3br Deluxe, much better layout than the DVC 2br's, real size dining table and big coffee mugs. Staff that I encountered was as nice and helpful as the gang over at SSR.

I've been happy at all of my Wyndham stays(Great Smokey Lodge, Waikiki Beach Walk, Kona Hawaiian and BC).

We are off to Old Town Alexandria(one of my home resorts) for Cherry Blossom Festival next year. The urban locations were one of the reasons we bought Wyndham.

 

[photobob]

Bonnet Creek and the larger rooms.

Haven't stayed there yet but have only heard good things about Bonnet Creek. Would not hesitate to stay there.

That's what we are thinking currently. I really don't mind the studio just for DW and me, but if we can stay in the larger accommodations that sounds pretty good too! We do get to test it out in November so we'll see.

 

[photobob]

Agreed Brian...I'm pretty much a very happy/satisfied DVC member, so I will usually lean in that direction. I did however mention in my post that for stays over 5 days, I think a larger room is in order.

We have always stayed at Disney resorts so we'll see how much we like BC after Thanksgiving! Sounds to me the main difference between staying at say SSR, AKV or OKW vs. BC is the Disney transportation which we have always used, we have our car but prefer to take the bus.

 

[Brian Noble]

That might matter enough to you to push you to DVC. Unless I'm on a tight budget, I always get a car, and we prefer it to the bus trips.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Sounds to me the main difference between staying at say SSR, AKV or OKW vs. BC is the Disney transportation which we have always used, we have our car but prefer to take the bus.

Good point, true. EMH/DDP/package delivery can be nice perks as well for many (but by no means would everyone value these things). Sounds like you're going during a less hectic time at WDW which is nice. But we have to go during summer due to school schedules and having EMH is a HUGE perk for us in both beating heat and crowds. So you have to really look at your individual needs and wants and choose accordingly. Some don't spend much time in their room so a studio is fine for 4 nights. Others prefer taking in relaxing downtime days at their resort---so bigger accomodations with more room amenities is a must. Sounds like you have the best of both worlds planned for your upcoming trips

 

[PoohsFan1]

It sounds like the Bonnet Creek portion of your trip will be a freebie trip for you and your family, unless you are paying your ILs for the points that are being used. If it is free, then I say go with it, who doesn't like a free trip to anywhere . And if it isn't a freebie, I'd still say go with Bonnet Creek because like another PP mentioned, there are lots of rave reviews about it. This sort of thing is happening to us in January. My ILs are treating our family to a cruise (non Disney) and then we are staying 3 nights at BCV where we are getting 2 studios. This vacation sounds like an awesome deal for you and your family, and is hard to pass up....Have a great time

 

[photobob]

Good point, true. EMH/DDP/package delivery can be nice perks as well for many (but by no means would everyone value these things). Sounds like you're going during a less hectic time at WDW which is nice. But we have to go during summer due to school schedules and having EMH is a HUGE perk for us in both beating heat and crowds. So you have to really look at your individual needs and wants and choose accordingly. Some don't spend much time in their room so a studio is fine for 4 nights. Others prefer taking in relaxing downtime days at their resort---so bigger accomodations with more room amenities is a must. Sounds like you have the best of both worlds planned for your upcoming trips

We rarely do EMH and never do DDP. Package delivery we do use occasionally. Maria, we will be empty-nesters in August so we can start going at different times of the year! The more we go the more time we spend at the resorts so the lounging space at the 1 BDR is inviting to say the least! Here is our plan for the next year or so:

May 31-June5 2011- 2 BDR stay at BCV-it was a good trip!
Nov 28-Dec 2 2011-1 BDR-BC
May 13-20 2012-Either studio/or 1BDR at BWV or 1 BDR at BC
Oct.? 2012 for F&W-Either studio/or 1BDR at SSR or 1 BDR at BC

Vero Beach is calling my name as well!!!!!

 

[photobob]

It sounds like the Bonnet Creek portion of your trip will be a freebie trip for you and your family, unless you are paying your ILs for the points that are being used. If it is free, then I say go with it, who doesn't like a free trip to anywhere . And if it isn't a freebie, I'd still say go with Bonnet Creek because like another PP mentioned, there are lots of rave reviews about it. This sort of thing is happening to us in January. My ILs are treating our family to a cruise (non Disney) and then we are staying 3 nights at BCV where we are getting 2 studios. This vacation sounds like an awesome deal for you and your family, and is hard to pass up....Have a great time

It will mostly be a freebie, we will offer some money to them to cover some of their maintenance fees. My in-laws have always been quite generous with us and I'm very thankful to have them as in-laws. I've read up on BC some and it seems like a viable alternative. I do like that it is within the gates of WDW and I call that on-property regardless of other opinions to the contrary!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maria, we will be empty-nesters in August so we can start going at different times of the year! The more we go the more time we spend at the resorts so the lounging space at the 1 BDR is inviting to say the least! Here is our plan for the next year or so:

Wow....so nice to be able to open up the vacation boundaries ! My youngest just graduated high school last week, but I now have 3 in college and all still love to go to WDW with us ! So we're tied to the college schedules which are almost the same as the high school schedules ! I guess I can't complain.....I raised them right if they're ages 18-24 and still want to go to WDW with us ! You would love Vero Bob ! Lots of photo opportunities there too
And for the record, I pass BC all the time and it sure feels like it's on wdw property to me. Have fun with your planning

 

[photobob]

Wow....so nice to be able to open up the vacation boundaries ! My youngest just graduated high school last week, but I now have 3 in college and all still love to go to WDW with us ! So we're tied to the college schedules which are almost the same as the high school schedules ! I guess I can't complain.....I raised them right if they're ages 18-24 and still want to go to WDW with us ! You would love Vero Bob ! Lots of photo opportunities there too
And for the record, I pass BC all the time and it sure feels like it's on wdw property to me. Have fun with your planning

Oh I've been to Vero a couple of times that is why it is calling my name! I was a part of the chair/umbrella swap in 2009! You did such a good job of picking out chairs and umbrellas that I bought some just like the ones we used!

Mine are 18 and 24. The 24 yo DS is married and finished grad school and the 18 yo DD is getting ready to start college, she'll probably join us on a trip or two and DS and DDIL probably will too. Having access to the Wyndham points should make for more trips with and without them!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Oh I've been to Vero a couple of times that is why it is calling my name! I was a part of the chair/umbrella swap in 2009! You did such a good job of picking out chairs and umbrellas that I bought some just like the ones we used!

Mine are 18 and 24. The 24 yo DS is married and finished grad school and the 18 yo DD is getting ready to start college, she'll probably join us on a trip or two and DS and DDIL probably will too. Having access to the Wyndham points should make for more trips with and without them!

Ha ha...the mind is the first to go Bob ! Yes....I do remember the swap and thank you---glad u liked my choice. They really did hold up as we had quite a large swap list !

My 18 and 24 yo are still living at home. My 20 yo lives in FL 10 months out of the year (student at FSU). But I won't consider myself an empty nester until they are no longer dependent on me and moved out on their own.... Hoping that doesn't involve the age 30 ! Terrific your 24 yo is finished grad school ! Congrats !

 

[Sammie]

Bonnet Creek and larger rooms.

 

[spiceycat]

We rarely do EMH and never do DDP. Package delivery we do use occasionally. Maria, we will be empty-nesters in August so we can start going at different times of the year! The more we go the more time we spend at the resorts so the lounging space at the 1 BDR is inviting to say the least! Here is our plan for the next year or so:

May 31-June5 2011- 2 BDR stay at BCV-it was a good trip!
Nov 28-Dec 2 2011-1 BDR-BC
May 13-20 2012-Either studio/or 1BDR at BWV or 1 BDR at BC
Oct.? 2012 for F&W-Either studio/or 1BDR at SSR or 1 BDR at BC

Vero Beach is calling my name as well!!!!!

would go with WBC for May, and Oct either BC or BWV.

would definitely go with WBC - now I did not really like it - after hearding how it was so wonderfully and put DVC to shame. Really expected the best of the best - it was not even close.

they use cheaper stuff than Disney does. It shows in some places and in others it does not.

those lights (the light switches were very hard to find) drove me crazy. In the kitchen - the lights were over to the side almost behind the kitchen. Not when you walk in and not in a place were you could find them easily.

my other problem - it was advertised as a whirlpool tub in the bathroom - mind was NOT. it was one of those tubs that has tiny holes all over and none are strong enough to get your back and feet a good massage.

plus every time you use this tub - it takes around 30 minutes for it to turn off once you leave it. So be sure to close the bedroom door - while this is going. Never use this tub if you are tired and want to sleep afterwards in the master bedroom.

definitely ask for a villa that you can see the fireworks from.

mind was in building 2 low floors - you don't want this one.

 

[twinklebug]

Although the idea of having 2 1br units is very enticing, I'm so in love with the DVC resorts I think I'd be sad to stay off-site no matter how nice. My answer is: DVC studios both stays for me.

In time maybe I'll outgrown "the magic", but I hope not.