Boulder Ridge vs Copper Creek Villas, What Are the Differences?

[Arielfan98]

I'm new to DVC in general, but I want to rent points for the summer. My boyfriend LOVES Wilderness Lodge, but it seems cheaper/overall better value to rent points for either Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek. Can someone please explain to me the main differences? Pros and cons of each? Which one you liked best and why?
We are two adults, 24 years old and we have access to the parks. Thank you!

 

[DVCKing]

I'm new to DVC in general, but I want to rent points for the summer. My boyfriend LOVES Wilderness Lodge, but it seems cheaper/overall better value to rent points for either Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek. Can someone please explain to me the main differences? Pros and cons of each? Which one you liked best and why?
We are two adults, 24 years old and we have access to the parks. Thank you!

Depending on your travel dates, Wilderness Lodge (the hotel side) of the resort doesn’t have an opening date until June 6 and as we have seen several times this is not set in stone. Wilderness Lodge hotel rooms have all been refurbished and will be brand new. Boulder Ridge is due for a soft goods refurbishment so it is probably showing signs of age. All 3 options share resort amenities so no difference there. I don’t think you will go wrong with any decision.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Be aware that if you rent points, the trasnaction is likely final. No cancel. No date changes. No refunds.

 

[MrsBooch]

Boulder Ridge is older
Copper Creek is pretty new in terms of the interior of the rooms.
If you go with a DVC rental you'd be getting a kitchenette in both (sink, small fridge, microwave, toaster)
I prefer Copper Creek over Boulder Ridge villas because Copper Creek rooms are in the actual resort, you don't have to walk outside (under cover) to another building that has it's own little lobby.

I loved leaving our room and being able to be in the lobby in less than a minute - getting the refillable mug drinks, being able to quickly grab food at Roaring Fork, being able to be at the main pool very quickly, that was very nice. I love being IN the resort building.

I prefer the aesthetic of the Copper Creek rooms but that's personal preference. I recommend looking up the YouTubers Here with the Ears - they have a bunch of awesome room tour videos, it will help you narrow things down.

I don't know that much about Boulder Ridge except that they are off in their own building, attached to the main building - we went into the Boulder Ridge lobby and it is super cozy.

I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[Arielfan98]

Be aware that if you rent points, the trasnaction is likely final. No cancel. No date changes. No refunds.

Is that all the time or just because of Covid?

 

[Arielfan98]

Depending on your travel dates, Wilderness Lodge (the hotel side) of the resort doesn’t have an opening date until June 6 and as we have seen several times this is not set in stone. Wilderness Lodge hotel rooms have all been refurbished and will be brand new. Boulder Ridge is due for a soft goods refurbishment so it is probably showing signs of age. All 3 options share resort amenities so no difference there. I don’t think you will go wrong with any decision.

Yes, I'm aware. I actually spoke with a CM about WL. She said WL itself isn't open, but the DVC resorts are. Regardless, my boyfriend and I are interested in DVC rooms.

 

[Arielfan98]

Boulder Ridge is older
Copper Creek is pretty new in terms of the interior of the rooms.
If you go with a DVC rental you'd be getting a kitchenette in both (sink, small fridge, microwave, toaster)
I prefer Copper Creek over Boulder Ridge villas because Copper Creek rooms are in the actual resort, you don't have to walk outside (under cover) to another building that has it's own little lobby.

I loved leaving our room and being able to be in the lobby in less than a minute - getting the refillable mug drinks, being able to quickly grab food at Roaring Fork, being able to be at the main pool very quickly, that was very nice. I love being IN the resort building.

I prefer the aesthetic of the Copper Creek rooms but that's personal preference. I recommend looking up the YouTubers Here with the Ears - they have a bunch of awesome room tour videos, it will help you narrow things down.

I don't know that much about Boulder Ridge except that they are off in their own building, attached to the main building - we went into the Boulder Ridge lobby and it is super cozy.

I don't think you can go wrong.

Thank you, that was very helpful. I have looked at videos but besides decor/building differences, I don't quite understand the difference. Your critique of being closer to an actual lobby and drink refill station was helpful.

 

[MrsBooch]

Is that all the time or just because of Covid?

It will say for sure wherever you chose to rent but I think it's a safe bet to go in with the assumption that aside from whatever level of travel insurance you purchase - the reservation is final.

 

[Arielfan98]

It will say for sure wherever you chose to rent but I think it's a safe bet to go in with the assumption that aside from whatever level of travel insurance you purchase - the reservation is final.

I appreciate the heads up. I was really looking forward to renting DVC points, but sadly our line of work is military and we cannot help if our orders change last minute. Looks like it's only possible to rent the DVC points late in the game if there is even any availability which sounds unlikely. Oh well.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek are two totally separate resorts located at the same place. BRV opened about 2000, CCV opened about 2018. CCV is IKEA-like. BRV is due for a complete renovation and was last renovated about 2015 and it was a partial renovation.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is that all the time or just because of Covid?

The nature of renting points is that your transaction is with a timeshare owner, not Disney. Because of how the timeshare works, it is generally final. You are trying up their asset in a way that they may not be able to recover if you need to cancel based on the expiration dates of their points, booking windows and availability, and other factors inherent in the timeshare system.

There can be owners with greater flexibility, but they will be hard to find and may charge a premium price or cancellation fees.

 

[Thumper99]

I appreciate the heads up. I was really looking forward to renting DVC points, but sadly our line of work is military and we cannot help if our orders change last minute. Looks like it's only possible to rent the DVC points late in the game if there is even any availability which sounds unlikely. Oh well.

You don’t have to write it off completely!! If you understand how DVC works you could get a flexible owner whose use year is in the summer. So let’s say you want to go in July. An owner that has a June use year and would be using their 2021 points to book your reservation will most likely be flexible. Right now DVC is being flexible and letting owners cancel up to 1 day and their points would go back into their account with no holding penalties. But that can change any time. Some owners rent outside the “ rental agency” and have their own rules. The rental agency has to have a no cancel rule because they deal with all different owners renting different points with different scenarios(their points are expiring. They are using holding points, or they’ll be unable to bank into next year if you cancel on them). After the pandemic caused lots of owners and renters to be unhappy it makes good sense to have a no nonsense rule about this. Just letting you know there are other owners that rent points not through those agencies. BUT you should always ask for references and of course it’s all up to how comfortable you feel.
Booking with Disney with a Room only ressie sounds like your best bet because they have a short cancel policy and it sounds like you don’t need a package because you should have access to the military tickets! The advantage of a package is being able to add a dining plan which we don’t expect to return any time soon!! Happy planning!!! I hope you do go and it’s possible Disney will open WL in June!

 

[Arielfan98]

You don’t have to write it off completely!! If you understand how DVC works you could get a flexible owner whose use year is in the summer. So let’s say you want to go in July. An owner that has a June use year and would be using their 2021 points to book your reservation will most likely be flexible. Right now DVC is being flexible and letting owners cancel up to 1 day and their points would go back into their account with no holding penalties. But that can change any time. Some owners rent outside the “ rental agency” and have their own rules. The rental agency has to have a no cancel rule because they deal with all different owners renting different points with different scenarios(their points are expiring. They are using holding points, or they’ll be unable to bank into next year if you cancel on them). After the pandemic caused lots of owners and renters to be unhappy it makes good sense to have a no nonsense rule about this. Just letting you know there are other owners that rent points not through those agencies. BUT you should always ask for references and of course it’s all up to how comfortable you feel.
Booking with Disney with a Room only ressie sounds like your best bet because they have a short cancel policy and it sounds like you don’t need a package because you should have access to the military tickets! The advantage of a package is being able to add a dining plan which we don’t expect to return any time soon!! Happy planning!!! I hope you do go and it’s possible Disney will open WL in June!

Thanks for the info. What are the odds I could find something a week prior for this summer? Sounds crazy I know, but again with my line of work and given my boyfriend lives in California and I'll be in NY, we can only plan things last minute.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What are the odds I could find something a week prior for this summer?

Via DVC rental? Near zero.

 

[DVCKing]

Sounds like your best bet might be to go direct with Disney for a Copper Creek room. That way you get the DVC type room you want with the protection of a liberal cancellation policy. It might cost a little more but it might relieve some stress of planning and worrying about canceling.

 

[sethschroeder]

Via DVC rental? Near zero.

Eh if someone found an owner to rent directly from you might be able to grab something.

I see random things coming up all the time. Heck I think you could even get the week between Christmas and NYE the week prior.

Its a weird year so while normally no for 2021 I suspect lots of random cancellations still. Way to many people think things will be normal by summer and when that doesn't happen will cancel or need to find someone to take their reservation last min.

 

[Thumper99]

Thanks for the info. What are the odds I could find something a week prior for this summer? Sounds crazy I know, but again with my line of work and given my boyfriend lives in California and I'll be in NY, we can only plan things last minute.

I have no idea what summer looks like but I can tell you that DVC is pretty open right now. Granted it’s winter but I wouldn’t hesitate to look/ask. For instance I can get a studio in almost every resort for next week fir at least a five night stay. Including beach club which is normally booked solid always!! So Normally it would be hard to book a week before but this is a whole other situation!! But I agree that your best bet just may be a room only reservation.

 

[Arielfan98]

Thank you everyone for your help. We may just do a standard WL room then to my dismay. I really enjoy a jet tub.

 

[Cheburashka]

Copper Creek studios are located within the main Wilderness Lodge resort, which has an awesome lobby. The studios themselves are very pleasant- we stayed in one last month.

 

[Cheburashka]

Thanks for the info. What are the odds I could find something a week prior for this summer? Sounds crazy I know, but again with my line of work and given my boyfriend lives in California and I'll be in NY, we can only plan things last minute.

I just checked and Copper Creek does have availability at that time via DVC Rental Store's confirmed reservations. These are reservations already booked by someone else who cancelled, so they're just waiting to be transferred to another customer. I love these as there is no suspense about availability. You just have to pay (in full up front, with no refund, of course). Each major DVC rental broker has a list of confirmed reservations on their website.

So many people have cancelled trips due to Covid lately that confirmed reservations in general (via DVC Rental Store, David's, etc.) are currently a great way to book trips. I've gotten other "impossible" reservations that way, such as a Hilton Head studio for this July.