Wyndham Bonnet Creek- tips & helpful information

[Upatnoon]

We are going in May. How soon should we put in a request? We're staying at the time share and I know we may not get our request but it never hurts to ask.

You can make your request when you check in. They don't take any requests before that.

You might want to check out the-we-loooooove-bonnet-creek-thread-part-4, as this seems to be an old thread that somehow popped to the top and that one is much more active and up-to-date.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Thanks, I saw that and posted the same question! lol!

 

[labdogs42]

Good point about bag check and the shuttle being a pain with having to schedule.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I'm here now. Biggest complaint is the calls about attending the sales pitch. The first 3 times I said no should have been enough. It would have been this crazy thermostat that they have were you always walked into hot room every day but thanks to suggestion I found here on overriding it (hold c/f bottom on left side in until 69(BP) shows up, have to do this once every 24 hours) I have no issues with AC.

Other than above, love this place. Very convenient to everything Disney.

When we checked in I walked over to the sales area and asked not to be contacted. I never received a single phone call.

 

[aleksandr]

Couple of things I've learned from staying at WBC the past 4 years.

1. Skip the "parking pass". It's just a thinly veiled attempt to get your personal information to do a sales pitch. There is zero requirement to have a "parking pass". To get in the security gates, you just flash your room key.

2. Unless you plan on receiving phone calls to your room (who does that in the age of cell phones??) just unplug your room phone. If you take advice #1, they may or may not try to pester you over the phone to attend a sales pitch. The first couple years they tried, but last April they didn't even bother to call (we forgot to unplug the phone that time.)

3. Cell reception and wi-fi internet reception is spotty. Wi-fi was a bit better in 2015 than in previous years, so not sure how it is today. As for cell reception, I carry an ATT and a Sprint phone and I barely get service on either one in tower 5.

4. Keep your valuables locked up. Last year, WBC assigned our suite to another family and gave them keys to it. While I was at the pool with my son, my wife was still in the room and received a major surprise when the door unlocked and another family walked in. WBC apologized and gave us a bunch of food credits to use in the resorts restaurants, but this was still pretty scary to think about considering the number of laptops, etc. that we had with us.

5. Expect to wait a while to check-in and don't expect to be given your room before 4PM (the published check-in time), or even later. It's usually not too bad a wait, but we did have a year where they had no rooms available at check-in. They promised to call us when our room was ready, but that call never came. I finally checked back around 5:30PM and it was ready.

6. Tips to the front-desk clerk go a long way towards securing your desired room assignment (e.g. tower preferences)

7. Parking at night can be rough. Not nearly as bad as Westgate, but expect to utilize the garage between towers 4 and 5 at night.

8. Most check-ins and check-outs occur on the same day, so there tends to be fierce competition for temporary parking at the doors to the tower and for luggage carts. If there are no carts, sometimes it pays to make a sweep of the floors looking for carts that rude people didn't return to the lobby.

Don't let all the of these points deter you. WBC is by far the best resort we've stayed at in the Disney area.

 

[BHartly]

Howdy All! Heading to WBC in early May and wanted to subscribe to this for future posts. Great stuff so far!!

 

[katallo]

These tips are great. One question...do you tip the person who is checking you in at the front desk. I don't mind tipping for a room request, but is it allowed or do you have to be "quiet" about it? What is a decent amount for a room request? TIA

 

[aleksandr]

These tips are great. One question...do you tip the person who is checking you in at the front desk. I don't mind tipping for a room request, but is it allowed or do you have to be "quiet" about it? What is a decent amount for a room request? TIA

I did. I thought the guy did a great job. Very friendly, personable, and engaging. I'm usually a cheapskate. I must have been feeling generous that day, because I gave him $10.

 

[HPS3]

Can anyone tell me if you rent a condo on vrbo, isn't that usually a private owner? I'm asking because I keep reading about requesting certain rooms, and I'm confused because I thought there would not be any option. Never stayed off site before, or rented a condo anywhere for that matter, so I'm clueless.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Can anyone tell me if you rent a condo on vrbo, isn't that usually a private owner? I'm asking because I keep reading about requesting certain rooms, and I'm confused because I thought there would not be any option. Never stayed off site before, or rented a condo anywhere for that matter, so I'm clueless.

I'm not sure how Bonnet Creek works, but it's also a time share, so you could be renting from a timeshare owner. Probably in that case, you should be able to request as most timeshare owners don't have fixed rooms any more. Perhaps someone with a little more knowledge of Bonnet Creek can answer, but that would be my guess.
I called the day before check in because we were going to be late and I requested a view of the pools and Epcot. Got it. The views are better higher up. We were actually able to see the fireworks at Epcot, then Star Wars, and Wishes.

 

[HPS3]

Does anyone know if they have bedrails, either complimentary or for rent?

 

[BigredNole]

Here are a few tips that I recommend after staying there only 1 time...

1. You will get flyers under the door for pizza places. DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!! These people are not permitted on WBC property and they steal your credit card information. Be prepared for $1000s in charges from eastern Europe. If you want pizza or something from those flyers, get it from WBC's places or contact the front desk on places that are permitted to deliver it to your room directly.

2. Utilize the facilities and activities on site. Instead of going to a restaurant to drop $100 on dinner, slap those thick juicy steaks on the grill, sit back have a drink while they are cooking, and enjoy a meal for $25 vs $100, plus the drinks are cheaper if you bring them yourself.

 

[WoodyD-18]

Here are a few tips that I recommend after staying there only 1 time...

1. You will get flyers under the door for pizza places. DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!! These people are not permitted on WBC property and they steal your credit card information. Be prepared for $1000s in charges from eastern Europe. If you want pizza or something from those flyers, get it from WBC's places or contact the front desk on places that are permitted to deliver it to your room directly.

2. Utilize the facilities and activities on site. Instead of going to a restaurant to drop $100 on dinner, slap those thick juicy steaks on the grill, sit back have a drink while they are cooking, and enjoy a meal for $25 vs $100, plus the drinks are cheaper if you bring them yourself.

Thanks for the tips. I know this is an old thread but we are planning on staying there for 10 days in January and any suggestions would be great. The shuttle is now $8 per person per day which is $32 a day for us and the schedule is limited. Has anyone used LYFT or UBER? Also, we are going through VRBO so is it for a particular unit or will we be assigned another unit when we check in? Thanks

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I mde a request for a water view. You can see fireworks from your balcony plus the view is great. I called a few days before we arrived (I was told not to request too far out), then mentioned it when we checked in. They told us they were really crowded but they would try. While waiting, a family came down and blasted the receptionist because they had a parking lot view. After we had waited over an hour we asked if we could leave our luggage and have it delivered if we went to Disney and got in late. They were very accommodating, and we were polite and never mentioned a water view - which we got.
We met a family who had a time share there and they told us they took Lyft at around $6.00 - $8.00 each way plus tip. That's still less expensive than parking on property (at the park) They are also pretty punctual and they let you out at the front of the park, except MK. Eliminates a lot of walking.
Love every thing about this resort. Our only regret is that we don't often have time to enjoy all the amenities. This last trip the kids did get to swim more. They love it. I will stay there every time if possible! This time we are onsite for the SWGE perks, but we will definitely miss the spacious rooms and the beautiful grounds!

 

[StarShine3]

Thanks for the tips. I know this is an old thread but we are planning on staying there for 10 days in January and any suggestions would be great. The shuttle is now $8 per person per day which is $32 a day for us and the schedule is limited. Has anyone used LYFT or UBER? Also, we are going through VRBO so is it for a particular unit or will we be assigned another unit when we check in? Thanks

We've stayed at WBC twice this year and have two more trips reserved. After staying here a few times we decided to buy into the timeshare. My perspective is from someone in their mid-forties with kids that are college-age, I don't have much advice for kids activities (I'm guessing it will be a while before we hit the stage of grandkids).

We live about 10 hours away. Sometimes we drive, sometimes we fly. When we fly, we use Lyft. It is about $35 to and from the airport and about $10-12 to and from the parks. If you have 2-4 people that don't need car seats this is the way to go. Compared to the shuttle it is less expensive, more direct and works exactly on your schedule. Magic Kindom is the only park that is a pain because you are dropped off at the ticket and transportation center (the shuttle will also drop you here). If you don't mind a little walking, I'd request a Lyft from WBC to the Contemporary. You can walk over to Magic Kindom from there. In all honesty, I prefer to drive our own car. I prefer it to shuttles, Disney transportation (when I use to stay onsite) and rideshare. But, it helps that we are annual passholders and get free parking at the theme parks. At $25/day parking could add up pretty quickly. We did see peope using the Minnie Van service at WBC, but the additional cost was not worth it to us.

I don't have any advice about what unit you will be assigned. Only certain membership levels can request specific rooms (we will never be at that membership level). When we show up for check-in we typically request a pool or nature view room. We've been happy with our rooms but realize that sometimes we may end up with a parking lot view. Someone has to stay in those rooms.

When we fly, we place a grocery order at Publix via Instacart. That way they bring the food to us and I don't have to Lyft to get it.

We have struggled with the air conditioning not keeping the bedrooms cool enough in the night. It helps to keep the master bedroom door open, but sometimes that defeats the purpose of having a master bedroom . I will be saving the instructions from earlier in this thread and try it on our trip in September.

I usually bring a ziploc bag with a few Tide pods and half a dozen Bounce dryer sheets. I rarely run out of kitchen soaps and detergent but sometimes I need more laundry detergent than they provide.

We haven't joined in any resort activities, but I do enjoy floating the lazy rivers and using the hot tubs.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

We've stayed at WBC twice this year and have two more trips reserved. After staying here a few times we decided to buy into the timeshare. My perspective is from someone in their mid-forties with kids that are college-age, I don't have much advice for kids activities (I'm guessing it will be a while before we hit the stage of grandkids).

We live about 10 hours away. Sometimes we drive, sometimes we fly. When we fly, we use Lyft. It is about $35 to and from the airport and about $10-12 to and from the parks. If you have 2-4 people that don't need car seats this is the way to go. Compared to the shuttle it is less expensive, more direct and works exactly on your schedule. Magic Kindom is the only park that is a pain because you are dropped off at the ticket and transportation center (the shuttle will also drop you here). If you don't mind a little walking, I'd request a Lyft from WBC to the Contemporary. You can walk over to Magic Kindom from there. In all honesty, I prefer to drive our own car. I prefer it to shuttles, Disney transportation (when I use to stay onsite) and rideshare. But, it helps that we are annual passholders and get free parking at the theme parks. At $25/day parking could add up pretty quickly. We did see peope using the Minnie Van service at WBC, but the additional cost was not worth it to us.

I don't have any advice about what unit you will be assigned. Only certain membership levels can request specific rooms (we will never be at that membership level). When we show up for check-in we typically request a pool or nature view room. We've been happy with our rooms but realize that sometimes we may end up with a parking lot view. Someone has to stay in those rooms.

When we fly, we place a grocery order at Publix via Instacart. That way they bring the food to us and I don't have to Lyft to get it.

We have struggled with the air conditioning not keeping the bedrooms cool enough in the night. It helps to keep the master bedroom door open, but sometimes that defeats the purpose of having a master bedroom . I will be saving the instructions from earlier in this thread and try it on our trip in September.

I usually bring a ziploc bag with a few Tide pods and half a dozen Bounce dryer sheets. I rarely run out of kitchen soaps and detergent but sometimes I need more laundry detergent than they provide.

We haven't joined in any resort activities, but I do enjoy floating the lazy rivers and using the hot tubs.

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you for so much info! We are booked for our first stay here in May, and your tips will be so helpful.