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Bonnet Creek - the good , the bad and the ugly

bhodgson

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First of all - the good - thanks to those you gave us the inside scoop as to which building to request and which floor to be on to see the fireworks. We watched the Disney fireworks every night form our balcony - it was awesome. We also loved Bonnet Creek - the poll set up and lazy river was great. All of the people at the resort were very helpful and the three bedroom unit was perfect for our group. The only issue we had was with the washer and dryer which they worked on most of the time we were there and finally got the dryer so that it would dry. Other than that things were great. The bad and the ugly - we went to an update and were told some very interesting things- PIC will soon be gone, VIP levels are changing - soon will be 900,000 for VIP 1.5 million for VIP gold and some unbelievable number for Platinum and for kickers Atlantic City is in big trouble and since all of the owners are fleeing - Wyndham is dividing up the maint. fees among the owners who are left and oh yes there is a 1500.00 additional fee to help get rid of the mold problem and the only way we can avoid all of this is to buy enough point in one of the resorts in the Ft Lauderdale area where the Maint fees are more reasonable ( can't think of the name is is not too far from Sea gardens ) They would take our Atlantic City property have us buy an additional 105,000 points and don't laugh the magic number ( we had a bet as to what it would be - and I missed by 5.00 - I said she would offer at 10,600 and she offered at 10,595.
Now we have been doing time sharing forever and I am beiginning to think we may be a bit strange but if we have the time - we do the update just to see what they latest ploy may be.
Now Karen was very friendly until we said no and then she got kind of nasty - have not had that happen ina long time.

When we go to the next stage - it got interesting - they asked how we felt about our visit and I indicated that I was mad disgusted and could not wait to get back to the boards to report the latest line of B coming from Bonnet Creek and also indicated that I was ready to sue about some of the things she threatened us with - we are then introduced to the an other group - customer relations, VP of Bonnet Creek operations and Karen' supervisor. We had an interesting talk in which we admitted that nothing she had said was true and they did some powerful rescinding during our little visit.

Like I said - this was a new twist for me. I gave them until today to respond to me as to what was done with Karen - am going to email customer relations today and since she promised to keep me updating on what happened to Karen for her lying. Anybody else ever have this happen?
Oh yeah - the day we checked in - there was a group of people picketing the property telling people that they were cheated - they could have stayed at Disney for less if they had rented - I thought that was strange - somehow I would not be spending my vacation time carrying a sign- how about you? If they were not happy - they could have cancelled their deal within the guidelines.

Back to the good - we all really liked Bonnet Creek - location - property amenities - pretty much so all of it. Thanks again to all of you for the help!
 

rickandcindy23

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Wyndham Platinum/Founder. Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge,Shadow Ridge,Grand Chateau;Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few; Grand Palms (selling). WKORV-OF (2),Westin Desert Willow.
So are they changing Platinum to a higher level, or was that just a salesperson's lie?
 

Caius

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So are they changing Platinum to a higher level, or was that just a salesperson's lie?

I'm expecting it was a sales lie, and a rather poor one at that.

Had it been true, we'd have gotten a letter from Deanne announcing the change in a single sentence completely out of context from the rest of the letter, and stating they've received requests from thousands of owners to increase the VIP point requirement levels.
 

timeos2

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Beautiful resort denigrated by Weasels

Isn't it a shame that most timeshares, it isn't just Wyndham and lately has definitely included Marriott, practically ruin the resort experience with a high pressure "presentation" of lies and distortions? It makes the small, usually older,far less grandiose little independents that allow you to simply come in and enjoy a week like it was your own vacation home almost seem to be a better choice.

Of course you can simply avoid the trap but even doing that often become a battle and spoils at least the arrival process. Another reason to hope this current downturn really does force changes in the timeshare industry.
 

AwayWeGo

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[triennial - points]
Hope & Change.

Another reason to hope this current downturn really does force changes in the timeshare industry.
Looks like so far it's motivating the timeshare companies to change in the direction of more aggressive & less forthright high-pressure sellership rather than in the direction that's truly needed -- i.e., something patterned after Wal*Mart for new sales by timeshare companies & patterned after CarMax for resales.

Depending on whether the timeshare companies offer anything attractive in the way of freebies, we may well be subjecting ourselves to another dose of the treatment next month at timeshares in Orlando FL & Sandestin FL.

We'll see -- & if so I may have something to say about the experience after we get home.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

vacationhopeful

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I love the tales as to who is selling what points EXCLUSIVELY. Atlantic City last week was pushing National Harbor, Old Town Alexander was saying only they are allowed to sell National Harbor, but they had just gotten traded back 3,000,000 points from Old Town now available for resale (sold that person Palm Aire in Ft Lauderdale - the one located nearer to the gators than the beach).

As I am now in Pompano Beach, the poolside chatter this AM was to traded in Old Town Alexander for a resort in south Florida.
 
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lprstn

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I am not surprised...those sales people get even more desperate as the time goes on. I wouldn't put it past some of them to jump you for a sale.

Hence, why me and DH haven't gone on a tour in ohhhhhh....4 months and have vowed not to do so again...ever with Wyndham, it cheapens a product that we actually love.

Oh, and don't get me started on my tour with the Sheraton Vistana...ugh...
 

bhodgson

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The update - in the meeting with the VP of sales etc - they rescinded everything that she said shaking their heads and assuring us that they did not know where she got the info and that she would be disciplined on this because there are guidelines.

We did an update with Spinnaker in Hilton Head this week and were very pleasantly surprised. He asked if we would be interested in moving to a sister property, or turning in another share for one of theirs or moving to float. We said no and we spent the rest of the time talking about how to best use shares, places to go in different spots ie good restaurants etc and then he said - what time is it? I gave him the time and he said - enjoy your week - we are done. Go downstairs and pick up your gifts - no pressure - no games just what they said - an update. We were dumbfounded- his response - I don't beat my head against the wall - if you are interested then we see what we can do to help you but if there is nothing you want why should I waste your time, my time and make you leave with negative feelings. that is not productive. Then he says let me know if there is anything we can do for you to make your stay more pleasant. We walked out - feeling good with 5 rounds of golf at the Golden bear golf course, $40 dinner gift certificate and a week pass for the Players Club private health facility for our unit for the week. We were impressed - hope some of the Wyndham folks catch on
 

Sandy VDH

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Just avoid the come on. I do every time now.

Even with the parking permit folks. I just insist they give me the parking tag, they will.
 

timeos2

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Yet another sales office fib, I'd imagine. The only guideline is "produce."

The only likely discipline was "why didn't you close a deal?" not any type of reprimand for the normal lies, half-truths and misrepresentations as the OP might have expected.
 

AwayWeGo

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[triennial - points]
Vistana Orlando Timeshare Tour (2003).

Oh, and don't get me started on my tour with the Sheraton Vistana.
Our 1st timeshare exchange (2003) was into Vistana Orlando. Naturally they signed us rookies up for the timeshare tour, which was actually selling Vistana Villages rather than regular Vistana.

As it happened, we had been "pre-gifted" so they couldn't hold over our head the implied threat of withholding the freebies if we bolted after 90 minutes.

Plus, when we mentioned TUG to our timeshare seller & told her that we had exchanged in using our $750 2BR timeshare that's in a far-off distant land overseas, she shut her notebook & said she could tell there's no way we would buy so there was no sense in going over all the details. (Smart lady.)

Then she asked us for contact information about how to get those $750 overseas timeshares & asked for the TUG web address, so we wrote those down for her & we were on our way pretty much unscathed.

Plus we were Wowed !, bigtime, at the super niceness of Vistana Villages, so much so that when we got a chance to snag a January 2006 Instant Exchange reservation there, we grabbed it.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 

joestein

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I'm expecting it was a sales lie, and a rather poor one at that.

Had it been true, we'd have gotten a letter from Deanne announcing the change in a single sentence completely out of context from the rest of the letter, and stating they've received requests from thousands of owners to increase the VIP point requirement levels.

You gave me a good laugh!
 
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