Wyndham Bonnet Creek Compared to DVC

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

Hi Guys,

I've always wanted to stay at Bonnet Creek because of the location within the Disney arches. I found a cash week Extra Vacation via RCI for the 2nd week of May 2010 for around $500 with tax for a 2 bedroom. I thought that was a good price. Could I have done better renting from an owner or not? $500 was about what I would have paid for an Interval Marriott cash Getaway for that time of year.

For those that have stayed at both DVC and Bonnet Creek, how do they compare to each other? I own some DVC points at Disney's SSR and usually stay at SSR once a year.

I've heard that Bonnet Creek has a lazy river and free mini golf. Are there computers where you can check your e-mail for free - I've heard that Wyndham has computers available? Can you tell me more about the pools - I heard there's a new pirate themed pool. Is it open yet?

I'm excited to get to stay at this flagship Wyndham resort.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Seems like a real good price to me. I haven't seen this resort come up on the last call stuff yet.

I bought a Wyndham points account to do this too because it was cheaper than buying more DVC points.
I also own SSR points. You and I are like minded.

Haven't used my Wyndham points yet so unfortunately can't give you too many details except that I did do a little tour of the resort and it looks real nice. A lot bigger feel to it than the more cozy DVC resorts but I hear the view from the balconies of the fireworks is nice.

Enjoy.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Hi Guys,

I've always wanted to stay at Bonnet Creek because of the location within the Disney arches. I found a cash week Extra Vacation via RCI for the 2nd week of May 2010 for around $500 with tax for a 2 bedroom. I thought that was a good price. Could I have done better renting from an owner or not? $500 was about what I would have paid for an Interval Marriott cash Getaway for that time of year.

For those that have stayed at both DVC and Bonnet Creek, how do they compare to each other? I own some DVC points at Disney's SSR and usually stay at SSR once a year.

I've heard that Bonnet Creek has a lazy river and free mini golf. Are there computers where you can check your e-mail for free - I've heard that Wyndham has computers available? Can you tell me more about the pools - I heard there's a new pirate themed pool. Is it open yet?

I'm excited to get to stay at this flagship Wyndham resort.

take it from me that is an EXCELLENT price. an owner could not give you that price.

[carl2591 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close carl2591]

we toured Bonnet Creek this July 4th week and the place is very nice.. There is a bit of construction ongoing but did not seem to be much of a distraction.

the lazy river was working and for the most part and all pool were open. The place seems to have a lot of activities on site and I do remember seeing computers for use.. not sure if cost or not..

best to call the resort during the week to ask questions.

also check out http://www.wyndhamowners.org/index.aspx

and on Timeshare Users Group - The first and largest online community of timeshare owners providing timeshare resort reviews, timeshare ratings, FREE timeshare advice and FREE Timeshare Classified ads! and look on the points board, Wyndham.. I know of a couple people that were just at the resort.

PS if you take a tour you can get $100 dollars in disney bucks.. thats like 150 real dollars..

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

Chriskre, I opted out of Fairshare points on a Fairways of the Mountains contract I bought last year (I found out later the original owners converted their fixed week to points). Hopefully I didn't make a mistake doing that. It was a fixed week 32 summer week that had been converted. But it trades really well in II so I can't complain.

Thanks, Lawren2. I though the price sounded good. It was $458.99 before tax and I was surprised to see a couple of those sitting in Extra Vacations for that price. So I grabbed it.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Haven't used my Wyndham points yet but hopefully I didn't make a mistake either. I don't think I did but we'll see. I hope to go to BC in December and break-in my new points contract. Hopefully I'll get lucky like you and get a last minute gig.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

My comparison point is OKW. The bonnet creek units are a bit more upscale in furnishings, hard and soft goods. The living area isn't quite as spacious, but the dining area is moreso. Kitchens are similarly equipped. Unlike some of the DVC resorts, these units are designed with the idea that you'll be spending some time in them, and not just sleeping between theme park visits.

WBC is a fairly dense high-rise development. It has two lazy rivers both smallish. The mini-golf is free, as is in-room wired ethernet. There are a few public computers, and I think they are free, but do not know for sure. The minigolf course is in decent repair, I vaguely recall leaving an ID to check out equipment.

The new pool area is open, and it's better themed than I would have expected. Nice bar & grill area there as well.

Bonnet Creek's big negative is no full-service restaurant. That will presumably be fixed when the Wyndham hotel in the complex opens, and the Hilton/Waldorf-Astoria property with its many restaurants may be close enough to walk to as well.

Some buildings have views that rival anything DVC might provide except BLT's MK view. I had a 10th floor Epcot-side view in building 5, and could see the tops of a dozen different EP pavilions, across both Future World and World Showcase---Spaceship Earth was smack outside my sliding glass door from my kitchen. Excellent view of the Illuminations pyro, and a nice view of the Wishes pyro in the distance.

The first 2 weeks of May (and last two of April) are Value season at WBC, and $500 is in the lower end of the ballpark of MFs for Value. It's hard to generalize, because the per-point cost is all over the map. My deed would run about $425 for Value, but I have a pretty low one. I think you got a very fair price. If you are getting closer to the end of May, you got a very good price.

All things being equal, I'd rather stay at Bonnet Creek than SSR for my family of four. WBC has a much better location, SSR is notorious for poor bus service so I'd drive everywhere anyway, and SSR's theming does nothing for me at all. Between WBC and OKW, I'd prefer the latter by a nose, because it is more lush and relaxing, though the pools at WBC are better. Most of the other DVCs come out even a bit further ahead either for the theme, the location, or some combination, though AKV is pretty far out of the way unless you've got a Savannah View unit to make up for it.

And, in the interests of full disclosure, we're not the sort of people for whom Only Disney Will Do, so your impressions may well be completely different.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

Wow, Brian, thanks for the great review of Bonnet Creek. I am going to print this thread and file it in my keeper folder. Sounds like Bonnet Creek has some views that DVC would like to have - laughter.

I went over to Tug and found a link for the Wyndham directory and it looks like the week I snagged (May 8th check-in) would fall in value season. I take it that where you own you are paying under $4.00 a point for maintenance fees?

Chriskre, where did you buy and how many points?

My brother-in-law did a Wyndham tour on vacation (surprised me - as I've only known him to buy apartments, houses and condo's) and he came home raving about all the locations that Wyndham had in their resort directory. He didn't buy, but he was really impressed with the resort directory and amount of locations available through Wyndham points.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

A little bit less than $4/K, actually. It's not the lowest in the system, but it is close.

[MargeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MargeS]

Don't forget to add your FL property taxes to that MF....

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I didn't. In fact, the assessed value went down significantly a couple years ago---and that happened for several Wyndham properties. My $/K are actually lower this year then they were when I bought the week 3-4 years ago.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Chriskre, where did you buy and how many points?
.

I bought a biennial 168K package from Las Cascadas in San Antonio.

I had alot of help from everyone here on choosing the best one for me. After watching alot of ebay auctions and checking out resale sites I decided that since I love San Antonio and the maintenance fees were very low and the resort is new that it worked well for me. The maintenance fees are about $35a month.

I ended up buying on ebay, where I've bought most of my timeshares so far. I was thinking of buying in Bonnet Creek but after talking to everyone here it seems that it doesn't really matter where you own in Wyndham as points are points so I bought with lower MF's in mind and a newer resort so hopefully I won't have an assessment for a while.

Can't wait to use my points.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

I bought a biennial 168K package from Las Cascadas in San Antonio.

I had alot of help from everyone here on choosing the best one for me. After watching alot of ebay auctions and checking out resale sites I decided that since I love San Antonio and the maintenance fees were very low and the resort is new that it worked well for me. The maintenance fees are about $35a month.

I ended up buying on ebay, where I've bought most of my timeshares so far. I was thinking of buying in Bonnet Creek but after talking to everyone here it seems that it doesn't really matter where you own in Wyndham as points are points so I bought with lower MF's in mind and a newer resort so hopefully I won't have an assessment for a while.

Can't wait to use my points.

I really like San Antonio, too. I was actually looking at that resort when I pulled up the Wyndham directory. That's great that you found a resale that fast for a new resort.

[cyseitz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cyseitz]

We spent December 27- January 2 at Bonnet Creek last year and will be doing the same this year. I loved it. This was our first TS vacation EVER and my 14 year daughter was very impressed. She said "WE OWN THIS?!" as we entered into the resort and immediatly called her best friend to tell her about it. She is not easily impressed either. They did use the pool and the miniature golf while we were there. There is a place with a BBQ pit too if you want to do that. If I got it correct, you can go into the gameroom and there are computers in there. I do beleive they were free. I loved being able to park my car there in the parking lot and not having to get into it for the whole week. The little bus that takes you to the park and back was great! The place is great and although I have not been in a DVC resort, I don't feel like I am missing out because Bonnet Creek is REALLY nice!

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

We spent December 27- January 2 at Bonnet Creek last year and will be doing the same this year. I loved it. This was our first TS vacation EVER and my 14 year daughter was very impressed. She said "WE OWN THIS?!" as we entered into the resort and immediatly called her best friend to tell her about it. She is not easily impressed either. They did use the pool and the miniature golf while we were there. There is a place with a BBQ pit too if you want to do that. If I got it correct, you can go into the gameroom and there are computers in there. I do beleive they were free. I loved being able to park my car there in the parking lot and not having to get into it for the whole week. The little bus that takes you to the park and back was great! The place is great and although I have not been in a DVC resort, I don't feel like I am missing out because Bonnet Creek is REALLY nice!

Thanks for the info. Timesharing definitely spoils a person, doesn't it?

We used to own DVC points at Disney's Boardwalk and Beach Club resorts and Bonnet Creek is super close to both those properties. We're really excited to get to stay at Bonnet Creek.