The we loooooove Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek Part 4

[chekhovgirl]

Has anyone gone to the Luau (Polynesian dances) at the resort? Do you know how long it was and is it worth going to if you're just hanging out at the resort that night?

I know this is a very delayed response, but the Luau is fun, definitely worth going if you're hanging at the resort.

 

[AllieB1776]

I used Mears connect to get to Club Wyndham in April (had to walk over because it dropped off at the grand, which I knew about). I'm going back in August and it looks like it doesn't go there anymore? Any news on this? It seems like the connect choices got less. Any recommendations besides uber? Unless it is a bus I will need to get a car seat. We can use uber/lyft but I just feel like mears connect was easy and a bit cheaper.

 

[Natalie Chapman]

Hey y'all. We've stayed at WBC by renting timeshare 11 times. But with the newer restcitions, we can no longer do so because of our travel dates. Any suggestions that are similar in terms of proximity to Disney Springs/WDW parks, amenities and pricing? Thanks so much!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Hey y'all. We've stayed at WBC by renting timeshare 11 times. But with the newer restcitions, we can no longer do so because of our travel dates. Any suggestions that are similar in terms of proximity to Disney Springs/WDW parks, amenities and pricing? Thanks so much!

Sheraton Vistana Resort.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I used Mears connect to get to Club Wyndham in April (had to walk over because it dropped off at the grand, which I knew about). I'm going back in August and it looks like it doesn't go there anymore? Any news on this? It seems like the connect choices got less. Any recommendations besides uber? Unless it is a bus I will need to get a car seat. We can use uber/lyft but I just feel like mears connect was easy and a bit cheaper.

We like Tiffany Town Car.

 

[dioxide45]

Hey y'all. We've stayed at WBC by renting timeshare 11 times. But with the newer restcitions, we can no longer do so because of our travel dates. Any suggestions that are similar in terms of proximity to Disney Springs/WDW parks, amenities and pricing? Thanks so much!

I agree with the PP, Sheraton Vistana Resort is probably your best option when considering price. The three Marriott properties located at the World Center may be a second option, but they may not be priced as low as you can find SVR.

It seems that you go to WBC a lot? Has it been an annual trip? Another option would be to buy into Club Wyndham on the resale market. You can get points nearly for free and then you just have the annual maintenance fee. It won't be as cheap as you have paid in the past, but you don't need to worry about Owner Priority.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

It won't be as cheap as you have paid in the past, but you don't need to worry about Owner Priority.

Maintenance Fees for Bonnet Creek should be less than the rental costs, especially if you strategically purchase at a low maintenance fee Wyndham Resort. Even if you buy Bonnet Creek Resale (which is basically free on eBay right now), it’s just shy of $8 per thousand points with the program fee. A 2 bedroom for a week in Bonnet Creek is:

1. 224,000 during Prime Season (Christmas, Easter if it’s early April, a lot of the summer);
2. 189,000 during High Season (January - Early February, Late May/early June including Memorial Day, Late August Early September including Labor Day, Most of October including Columbus Day); and
3. 112,000 during Low Season (which is the rest of the year, including prime times like Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, early December, and if Easter is late enough in the year).

That means that if you own at Bonnet Creek, a week in a 2 bedroom in:
1. Prime Season will cost you around $1,792 (that includes Christmas Week);
2. High Season will cost you around $1,512; and
3. Low Season will cost you around $896 ($896 for a week in a 2 bedroom during Thanksgiving!).

That’s if you decide to own at Bonnet Creek. If you are more strategic, you will instead purchase a lower maintenance fee contract on eBay (because home resort priority is NOT needed to book a 2 bedroom unit at Bonnet Creek). You can get contracts like Grand Desert for free as well with maintenance fees plus program fee of around $6.50 per thousand, which knocks your pricing for a 2 bedroom for a week down to:
1. Prime Season: $1,456;
2. High Season: $1,229;
3. Low Season: $728

Or you can get an even lower maintenance fee contract on eBay by paying a little more upfront. Something like Bali Hai, where enough points to do a week can probably be gotten on eBay for around $1,000 right now including closing costs, will get you maintenance fees of about $5.50/k with the program fee. That’ll get you a 2 bedroom for a week in Bonnet Creek for:
1. Prime Season: $1,232;
2. High Season: $1,040;
3. Low Season: $616

I consider purchasing Wyndham points resale to have been one of my best vacation financial decisions.

 

[Natalie Chapman]

Thanks for these suggestons! I'm also curious about renting DVC from an owner, but very nervous about the potential for scams. Will look into Vistana and the Marriott resorts!

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm also curious about renting DVC from an owner, but very nervous about the potential for scams.

They are not particularly more likely than a Bonnet Creek scam would be. The vast majority of those transactions go off without a hitch.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

They are not particularly more likely than a Bonnet Creek scam would be. The vast majority of those transactions go off without a hitch.

Renting DVC points (especially if you use a broker) is candidly probably safer than Bonnet Creek, as Disney does not seem to routinely have the overbooking/cancellation problems that BC has, as well as the “cancelling reservations of renters for commercial activity” problems that Disney has. That may change int he future of course.

 

[dioxide45]

Maintenance Fees for Bonnet Creek should be less than the rental costs,

They probably are now, but I was referring to the past when someone would rent from a VIP who could get a 60% discount using their points inside 60 days. Those days are now behind us due to the crack down on rentals by Wyndham.

 

[WDWOswald]

I’m renting BC from a reputable owner through Airbnb for this April. The latest trip advisor reviews of BC are saying people showed up and had their reservations canceled with NO recourse. That sounds like a nightmare from hell. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen to me?

 

[dioxide45]

I’m renting BC from a reputable owner through Airbnb for this April. The latest trip advisor reviews of BC are saying people showed up and had their reservations canceled with NO recourse. That sounds like a nightmare from hell. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen to me?

These seem to mainly be Priceline reservations.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I’m renting BC from a reputable owner through Airbnb for this April. The latest trip advisor reviews of BC are saying people showed up and had their reservations canceled with NO recourse. That sounds like a nightmare from hell. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen to me?

Not much you can do. Chances are you’re probably fine, and I do wonder what the real story is behind those reviews, however on timeshare user group there was at least one owner who posted that Bonnet Creek recently emailed owners looking for “volunteers” to cancel their reservations due to overbooking from construction delays.

When is your rental? If it’s anytime between April 1 and April 13, that’s an “owner priority period” and I’d say your chances of having an issue are greater as it is possible that the owner renting to you is breaking the rules. Do you already have a reservation in your name, or did they tell you that they are going to put it in your name at the last second? If it’s the latter that’s a red flag that they are abusing the rules. If it’s the former than you are probably ok as they likely are using one of their exceptions.

 

[HeatherC]

Maintenance Fees for Bonnet Creek should be less than the rental costs, especially if you strategically purchase at a low maintenance fee Wyndham Resort. Even if you buy Bonnet Creek Resale (which is basically free on eBay right now), it’s just shy of $8 per thousand points with the program fee. A 2 bedroom for a week in Bonnet Creek is:

1. 224,000 during Prime Season (Christmas, Easter if it’s early April, a lot of the summer);
2. 189,000 during High Season (January - Early February, Late May/early June including Memorial Day, Late August Early September including Labor Day, Most of October including Columbus Day); and
3. 112,000 during Low Season (which is the rest of the year, including prime times like Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, early December, and if Easter is late enough in the year).

That means that if you own at Bonnet Creek, a week in a 2 bedroom in:
1. Prime Season will cost you around $1,792 (that includes Christmas Week);
2. High Season will cost you around $1,512; and
3. Low Season will cost you around $896 ($896 for a week in a 2 bedroom during Thanksgiving!).

That’s if you decide to own at Bonnet Creek. If you are more strategic, you will instead purchase a lower maintenance fee contract on eBay (because home resort priority is NOT needed to book a 2 bedroom unit at Bonnet Creek). You can get contracts like Grand Desert for free as well with maintenance fees plus program fee of around $6.50 per thousand, which knocks your pricing for a 2 bedroom for a week down to:
1. Prime Season: $1,456;
2. High Season: $1,229;
3. Low Season: $728

Or you can get an even lower maintenance fee contract on eBay by paying a little more upfront. Something like Bali Hai, where enough points to do a week can probably be gotten on eBay for around $1,000 right now including closing costs, will get you maintenance fees of about $5.50/k with the program fee. That’ll get you a 2 bedroom for a week in Bonnet Creek for:
1. Prime Season: $1,232;
2. High Season: $1,040;
3. Low Season: $616

I consider purchasing Wyndham points resale to have been one of my best vacation financial decisions.

That is WAY WAY more than we have ever paid to stay there. We just left there this morning after an 8 night stay and paid $150 a night (in a 2 bedroom deluxe) including taxes. This is considered Prime season as well. We have always found it far cheaper to rent than but into a timeshare. Literally, no matter where we have stayed we have paid less than ow era pay in yearly maintenance fees.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

That is WAY WAY more than we have ever paid to stay there. We just left there this morning after an 8 night stay and paid $150 a night (in a 2 bedroom deluxe) including taxes. This is considered Prime season as well. We have always found it far cheaper to rent than but into a timeshare. Literally, no matter where we have stayed we have paid less than ow era pay in yearly maintenance fees.

If you can still get $150 a night during prime season for a 2 bedroom from someone who is likely abusing VIP privileges and running afoul of Wyndham’s rules on commercial renting to be able to charge that low, then you should absolutely do that instead of owning. I suspect you’re going to get burned at some point though, possibly by showing up to a cancelled reservation.

 

[WDWOswald]

Not much you can do. Chances are you’re probably fine, and I do wonder what the real story is behind those reviews, however on timeshare user group there was at least one owner who posted that Bonnet Creek recently emailed owners looking for “volunteers” to cancel their reservations due to overbooking from construction delays.

When is your rental? If it’s anytime between April 1 and April 13, that’s an “owner priority period” and I’d say your chances of having an issue are greater as it is possible that the owner renting to you is breaking the rules. Do you already have a reservation in your name, or did they tell you that they are going to put it in your name at the last second? If it’s the latter that’s a red flag that they are abusing the rules. If it’s the former than you are probably ok as they likely are using one of their exceptions.

My dates are April 15-22nd. I checked on the Wyndham confirmation today and it was listed for the 25-30th- I can’t believe I didn’t see their mistake earlier. Apparently the people I rented from (ResortShare2) on airbnb screwed up and gave me the wrong dates. They did fix it though and gave me 30% off for my trouble. So I’m paying a total of $571 for seven nights- which is just an insane deal. It is a “mobility access room” though, I’m hoping not to get ground floor.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

My dates are April 15-22nd. I checked on the Wyndham confirmation today and it was listed for the 25-30th- I can’t believe I didn’t see their mistake earlier. Apparently the people I rented from (ResortShare2) on airbnb screwed up and gave me the wrong dates. They did fix it though and gave me 30% off for my trouble. So I’m paying a total of $571 for seven nights- which is just an insane deal. It is a “mobility access room” though, I’m hoping not to get ground floor.

I just checked the availability calendar and there is no availability in Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek for April 15 —April 22nd:



Now it’s possible that there was availability this morning when they made the switch for you, and you got the very last room at the resort or they just happened to have an already confirmed reservation for April 15-22nd, however I’d be a little nervous…. Do you have a confirmation email?

 

[WDWOswald]

I just checked the availability calendar and there is no availability in Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek for April 15 —April 22nd:

View attachment 837066

Now it’s possible that there was availability this morning when they made the switch for you, and you got the very last room at the resort or they just happened to have an already confirmed reservation for April 15-22nd, however I’d be a little nervous…. Do you have a confirmation email?

Yes I have the confirmation e-mail from Wyndham with the correct information now. I think what happened was they booked my reservation under someone else’s name and gave me their reservation instead. Therefore they were able to switch the reservations over to the correct people. I was pretty upset at first because I knew WBC was not going to have availability for new bookings during that week. Had I not take a closer look at my Wyndham confirmation today, it would have been a huge mess for us and the other party whose reservation we were assigned.

 

[luvdisney14]

Are any of the buildings being renovated now? Last year we stayed at building 3 and loved the location.