Ack, can't decide! AKL 3br vs. Copper Creek cabin vs...?

[ElizabethCB]

I am going a little crazy here.

I am within one week of the 7 month window opening, and getting WORRIED! Here's the dilemma. Thank you all for indulging me and sharing advice. If anyone understands this, it's all of you!

Our group: 4 adults, 4 kids (4, 6, 6, 12) -- my family and my sister's family.

This is our first DVC trip (but 3rd to WDW) and my sister's first WDW trip -- we want it to be GREAT.

We bought a resale at Boulder Ridge. Decided that we want a 3br for this trip so everyone has a place to sleep...but...that may be falling apart.

The Copper Creek 3br villa is already booked 2 nights into our trip window. I think I will waitlist it no matter what, since this is our first choice. But in the meantime...what to book??

Right now I have a 3br at Kidani that I will walk. So I am pretty confident that we will be covered, and it is in a 3br villa, which is my preference, BUT...I really, really wanted to stay at Wilderness Lodge. It's our home resort, we LOVE IT, much prefer the location and the size. Also prefer the restaurants and access to Hoop Dee Doo, California Grill, etc.

So now I have started thinking about the cabins. We could do one with each couple in a bedroom, the 4 year old on the pull down bed, the 12 year old on the sleeper chair, and the 6 year olds on the couch. I love everything about the cabin EXCEPT the 3 kids sleeping in the living room...would much rather have the LR open for the adults to hang out a bit after bedtime. But if we were in a cabin, we could possibly do that outside, maybe even in the hot tub.

The cabins are available now -- I could swap my 3br Kidani reservation for a cabin. Thoughts??

I don't want to book 2 sets of rooms -- like a 2br plus studio -- because I really want us all to be together. The ages of the little kids means we could not hang out as adults after bedtime and leave the kids alone in another room.

We plan to go to MK 2 days, and one day in AK, Epcot, and HWS. Also planning to do Hoop Dee Doo Review (none of us have ever been).

Thoughts??

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

GV's are pretty amazing and it's less points than the cabin. It gives rooms and proper beds for everyone which for me is key. No, it may not have you at your home resort area but you are going to have other years to stay there. And again, the GV is less points than the cabin and the layout is better for your group.

Have you stayed at AKV and just don't like it? I think it has great kids areas, great pools, great restaurants, great theming. It's not next to some of the things you want to do but it's otherwise neutral for at least half of your planned activities of AK, Epcot and DHS.

 

[erionm]

The Cascade Cabins at Copper Creek have only 2-bedrooms.

 

[DenLo]

With 8 guests I would go with a GV so show off all that space.

 

[ElizabethCB]

GV's are pretty amazing and it's less points than the cabin. It gives rooms and proper beds for everyone which for me is key. No, it may not have you at your home resort area but you are going to have other years to stay there. And again, the GV is less points than the cabin and the layout is better for your group.

Thanks so much, Kat! You're right -- beds are totally key. Nothing worse than grumpy kids.

Still struggling with the location of AKL...but your points are good ones!

 

[ElizabethCB]

The Cascade Cabins at Copper Creek have only 2-bedrooms.

Yes, I know...3 of the kids would have to sleep in the living room. This is the big downside.

 

[ElizabethCB]

With 8 guests I would go with a GV so show off all that space.

The space is SO appealing. But so is the location of Wilderness Lodge...not to mention the hot tub...and the location right on the lake! Aaaaaaahhh!

 

[Spartan86]

We have only stayed at AKL once. 3 Night SV studio in Jambo, fairly close to the lobby. But... we have been to Jiko a few times for dinner, then there to DS or a park etc. We even went to Cali Grill during our AKV stay. I think the perceived "distance" from AKL/AKV is over emphasized. We were there late April and I can't say the transportation time really seemed of note and we have stayed at SSR, OKW, BLT (Okay. Yeah, that walk is better ) and PVB. Plus we have bused to most of the resorts from parks and/or restaurants. I'm with the GV crowd on this one. We stayed GV at OKW and 2BR dedicated at BLT with a toddler and the common space was "priceless". Have a blast.

 

[ElizabethCB]

Thanks so much for all the feedback! We ended up getting the 3br at Copper Creek for the last 3 nights of our stay, and are in a cabin for the first 2 nights. We are waitlisted for the 3br villa for the first two nights, but...I have to say, I'd be okay with it if we didn't get it, because of the hot tub and the location!

CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[PatMcDuck]

Wow, perfect solution. You did good.