A New Orlando Perspective

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We cut our timeshare baby teeth in Orlando almost 20 years ago, and owned three Orlando weeks for 14 years.

But I will confess that I have never really seen the Orlando resort picture until this year. That is because we arrived three days ahead of our check-in at Orange Lake, so we got out and saw a little of what's there.

I know this will sound abrasive to some, but most will understand what I am trying to say, and that is that if you own in Orlando and all you have ever done is gone to your own resort, then you most likely don't have a good perspective about what's out there. You probably shouldn't be on the Internet pretending to be an Orlando expert, giving narrow-minded attaboys to your own resort at the expense of the others.

We did not spend those three days intentionally going around looking for resorts to review. I just know where they're at and took note of them during our drives, whipping into a few to check them out. Like Vistana Villages versus the original Vistana, the new Westgate highrise v. the original Westgate Vacation Villas on the same grounds. We drove into Vacation Village at Parkway, for instance, and there's wrong with it.

I could go on and on, but the capper was when we decided to drive around Disney property. In the all the years we had never done that. A little mouse goes a long way with me, so I had never seen Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island, or the DVC propeties. There we were at Saratoga Springs and the LBV clubhouse, watching people get on land and water trolleys, heading to wherever they want in Disney.

Wow!

Then I saw a sign that said Bonnet Creek Resort. My first thought was what in the heck is that doing here, on Disney property. Surely it's not the Fairfield/Wyndham resort everyone is talking about.

But it is.

Wow! Wow!

If you don't know why I'm Wow!ing, go check em out.

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

JLB, we have been to Orlando many times, and each time we like to try new resorts. Even though we have stayed at some fabulous resorts (HGVC, Marriotts), we have also stayed at some lesser ones as well. Each one has a different feel to it, so the experiences are varied, but all have been positive.

I must confess, though, if we could stay at the Houses of Summer Bay each time, we'd definitely do that! ( Have 2 weeks booked for February !)

Dori

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

See, you could on and on. I didn't mention House at Summer Bay, which I am familiar with and I agree with you about.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I own in Orlando and always enjoy my trips there....whether I go to the Parks or not. The weathers nice, I find it easy to get around - and I have started to REALLY like the DVCs - Disney sure knows how to do vacations!

I have to admit I was not as adventurous as you but I have stayed at most of the Marriotts and recently at Westgate (don't know which one!) as well as the DVC.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

My OL Phone Policy

Oops. Meant to start a new thread.

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

Abrasive...you? NEVER.

Orlando is not high up on our revisit list but Houses of Summer Bay might be one we'd go to.

Bonnet Creek is something I keep an eye out for but never see. ever.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It is a project in the works, with another huge highrise going up now.

I still can't believe it is in Disney, or why Disney would allow it, with their own DVC not far away.

Anyone got an answer as to how Fairfield accomplished that?

Bonnet Creek is something I keep an eye out for but never see. ever.

[NativeCracker Member Find all posts View Profile Close NativeCracker]

It is a project in the works, with another huge highrise going up now.

I still can't believe it is in Disney, or why Disney would allow it, with their own DVC not far away.

Anyone got an answer as to how Fairfield accomplished that?

Oh dear! Don't let the DVC fans hear you say that Bonnet Creek is IN Disney. They become absolutely apoplectic! Bonnet Creek is surrounded on three sides by Disney property and is accessible only via the Disney road system, but it is not on Disney property. DVC owners leave no room for debate about that. It's a matter of much seriousness.

A manager at Bonnet Creek told us, when we stayed there a couple of years ago, that Fairfield (or Cendant, or whoever owns all the Bonnet Creek land) granted Disney a much desired monorail easement or something in exchange for road access to Bonnet Creek. Don't know if that's true, but it's the story he told.

Cindy

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

Oh dear! Don't let the DVC fans hear you say that Bonnet Creek is IN Disney. They become absolutely apoplectic! Bonnet Creek is surrounded on three sides by Disney property and is accessible only via the Disney road system, but it is not on Disney property. DVC owners leave no room for debate about that. It's a matter of much seriousness.

A manager at Bonnet Creek told us, when we stayed there a couple of years ago, that Fairfield (or Cendant, or whoever owns all the Bonnet Creek land) granted Disney a much desired monorail easement or something in exchange for road access to Bonnet Creek. Don't know if that's true, but it's the story he told.

Cindy

I have heard the monorail easement story from a couple of other sources also for the reason for FF Bonnet Creek's excellent location.
But, as stated it is not really on Disney property. It is surrounded on 3 sides by Disney and is about as close as you can get and not be on Disney property. Have not been there but from what I understand it is pretty nice.

[gjw007 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gjw007]

I still can't believe it is in Disney, or why Disney would allow it, with their own DVC not far away.

Anyone got an answer as to how Fairfield accomplished that?

Jim;

My understandiing that the property that Bonnet Creek is on is a piece of property that Disney had attempted to purchase for many years but the original owner refused to sell it to Disney. It had never been Disney property. Eventually it was sold (but not to Disney) and Bonnet Creek developed on the property. Disney was required by law to provide access to the roads but of course, dragged this into court from what I understand which ordered Disney to provide access. Technologically, Bonnet Creek is not in Disney property but is surrounded on three sides by Disney and I-4 on the fourth side. But since the access roads go through Disney, it is for all practical purpose, hard to differentiate it from Disney property.

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

I heard that Disney wasn't too happy about having to grant road access for Bonnet Creek and Disney did NOT have to grant utility access. So the developers had to drill under the interstate to bring utilities to the Bonnet Creek site.

Bonnet Creek is as close as you can get to WDW without staying at a Disney Resort. However, there are no sidewalks that take you to Disney transportation, and the Bonnet Creek shuttle (which has to be reserved in advance) is usually full. Besides free, convenient transportation, guests at DVC properties get a few other benefits that aren't available at non-Disney resorts. DVC does cost more, though.

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

There is no monorail agreement, Disney was forced to give Fairfield access to the property. The property is landlocked by the interstate. You know it bothers Disney, they put a big DVC sign directly across from the entrance of the resort.

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

When we stayed at Wyndham Palms/Mystic Dunes we couldn't believe how close it was to Epcot. We could get to Disney's Boardwalk resort in about 5 minutes. Bonnet Creek is definitely close to Boardwalk/Epcot. I think there are supposed to be more hotels and timeshares going in on that Bonnet Creek property. It is funny seeing that DVC sign to the right of Bonnet Creek's entrance.

I heard the original owner of the Bonnet Creek land got wind of Disney buying up land in Orlando and wanted more money for it than what Disney would pay. Wouldn't you have loved to own that land? Really, if you think about it, Bonnet Creek is probably as close to permanently owning something that close to Disney grounds as anybody could ever get. We own DVC and it's just a lease.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I can see I struck a responsive cord with the Bonnet Creek being on Disney property observation.

To the uninitiated, I do not draw the same distinction as a true blue DVC owner. Bonnet Creek is only accessible by roads on Disney property and the signage to it is consistent with the signage to Disney resorts and venues.

Thus my surprise in stumbling onto it while going to see Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/DVC/LBV Clubhouse, etc.

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck . . .

But, still, Wow!

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Its in the gates and it's dirt

I can see I struck a responsive cord with the Bonnet Creek Being on Disney property observation.

To the uninitiated, I do not draw the same distinction as a true blue DVC owner. Bonnet Creek is only accessible by roads on Disney property and the signage to it is consisistent with the signage to Disney resorts and venues.

Thus my surprise in stumbling onto it while going to see Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/DVC/LBV Clubhouse, etc.

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck . . .

But, still, Wow!

It is hilarious to hear the DVC'ers wail when the truth is spoken. There is NO difference between the land on either side of that magic line and BC is actually closer to many things Disney than some of the DVC resorts are. But they so want to believe that it is somehow special to be a renter at DVC rather than an owner at BC. The only thing you can say that is worse is there are rules broken at Disney. Holy cow - like the condo people on Seinfeld they will be all over you. They live to be sure the bogus rules that are supposed to make them special for paying more are strictly enforced against the interlopers. There will be no pool time at a DVC resort if you aren't a paying the freight! No transportation (soup?) for you! Carry those overpriced trinkets with you all day peon! Too bad it isn't so and 95% of what they get as pricey renters can be had by anyone that works a little at it but lets keep that quiet so they'll be happy. Let them continue to think the hallowed and expensive perks belong only to the special folk. Do you believe in magic?