Copper Creek vs AKL

[tzolkin]

Any input on which may be better for our group?-- DH & I plus grandparents (mom using ECV after knee replacement) and three teenagers. We will be staying in a 2BR.

I'm specifically interested in which may be better for transportation. How easy are the boats to MK with a scooter during a busy time (spring break)?

This will be a split stay. We are at the Polynesian for the first half of the trip. Was hoping to find something at an Epcot area resort, but no luck.

 

[disneynutz]

I would book CCV and waitlist BWV garden view and BCV. Keep checking availability at the Epcot resorts, don't rely on the waitlist process.

Bill

 

[tzolkin]

I would book CCV and waitlist BWV garden view and BCV. Keep checking availability at the Epcot resorts, don't rely on the waitlist process.

Bill

Thanks. I didn't realize there was a waitlist option. It's my parents' DVC so they booked the reservations, but have been asking for our input.

BC has availability during our trip, but not for the first day that we needed to transfer from Poly (and Poly also didn't have anything available to extend our stay an extra night).

We had AKL booked, but my mom decided to change it to CCV when she couldn't find anything else. But now we're unsure which of the two is a better fit for us.

 

[Frederic Civish]

I would book Animal Kingdom Lodges. People seem too worried because they are a bit farther out. But they have bus service that is at least as good as anywhere else. I actually think they run extra buses to Animal Kingdom because they want to give service without delays. I have known people who stayed at Kidani Village with scooters and never had any problem.

The bus service to Animal Kingdom lodges is actually better than the bus service to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Swan and Dolphin, Yacht Club & Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Port Orleans Riverside, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and the all star resorts. The buses at those Resorts all make multiple stops. With extra time for loading and unloading at each stop. Also with multiple stops by the time the bus gets to your stop those buses are sometimes full. Sometimes those buses not only make multiple stops but go to multiple different Resorts before they go to the park or whatever their destination is. Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge both avoid this problem. I just don't understand people who think Animal Kingdom Lodges are somehow a transportation concern.

Meanwhile I think that Animal Kingdom lodges is wonderful and unique. It is true I like Wilderness Lodge also (and am somewhat considering buying some DVC points there) however it just seems a bit out of the way to me. And my understanding is that only some of the launches and boats can accommodate ECVs. Not having known anyone who used them there I can't say if this is the truth but it is something that I read.

Your younger ones may enjoy looking out at the Savannah at Animal Kingdom Lodges, or they may enjoy exploring the trails and interesting nature around Wilderness Lodge.

Truthfully, I think you will very much enjoy either place.

 

[CarolynFH]

Keep in mind that AKV Kidani 2-bedroom villas have 3 bathrooms. CCV only has two, and the villas are generally smaller as well. Even with the scooter, I think I'd prefer Kidani to CCV, given the mix of ages in your party.

 

[Best Aunt]

Somebody posted in another thread asking about ECVs on the boat from WL to MK. I'm pretty sure the response was that those boats cannot take ECVs. (There are buses from Wilderness Lodge to MK. The buses run more often and are faster than the boat.)

I have stayed at AKV-Jambo House and at CCV. I much preferred Jambo House. Wilderness Lodge felt isolated without any particular advantage to offset that. Animal Kingdom Lodge may be far from some of the parks but there are a lot of neat things to see and do there, and much more interesting food options.

 

[BillPA]

I stayed at CCV with a scooter in July, a 3 wheel one. The large 4 wheel that some rentals use will not fit on the boat, and the turning radius is so tight I think the bus would be a problem also. Getting on and off the boat was very difficult, you need to work your way around the staircase and it's tight. They use to open the 'back' door which was a straight on/off shot. They also didn't use the medal loading ramp, so they had everyone move to the left/right side so the boat would line up with the dock. Totally not user friendly.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Somebody posted in another thread asking about ECVs on the boat from WL to MK. I'm pretty sure the response was that those boats cannot take ECVs.

They usually use one boat that can take the ECV's and one that is the smaller launches with the step down. Those cannot take the ECV. Years ago they only used the small launches but it's quite awhile since they threw the larger boat into the mix. It can mean waiting for the boat that can take it though. We like the bus as an option to MK though. It's never been crowded and it's a short ride.

 

[katmittens]

Have stayed at WL with an ecv and have used the boat to get to MK. It was a three wheel ecv but it was very difficult to get off and on boat it is narrow. Have stayed at Jambo many times with ecv and have never had a problem with the bus. There is a lot to do at Jambo and it is not as far as everyone thinks.

 

[jbh275]

My vote would be CCV. I think your teenage kids will have a lot more fun being teenagers. AKV, to me, is great for tweens and younger.

 

[drusba]

My vote would be AKV Kidani, dedicated 2BR and request near the Timon elevator. Much larger 2BR than CCV, has a the third bathroom that serves those sleeping in the lving room, and has the twin size pull-out sleeper chair in the living room in addition to the pull-out couch. The dedicated 2BR gives you a second queen in the second bedroom and a single balcony that runs across all three rooms (master bedroom, living room and second bedroom; if you get a lock-off there will be a wall between the studio and 1BR). A request near the Timon elevator, if met, puts you in a room on the south wing that is fairly near the lobby and ideal for the bus stop (down that elevator to second floor and then a short walk to a door that leads directly to the bus stop)

 

[tzolkin]

Thank you all for the replies. It looks like she was able to switch back to AKL, so I'm very happy.

My family is more into the theming for AK, we're more adventurous eaters, and we enjoy that park so I think it will be convenient to have the short bus ride there for that portion of the trip.

Honestly, I was really disappointed that she changed it and was worried that there wouldn't be anything available to switch back so we were going to be stuck (and then also mad at myself that I felt that way about a Disney trip that would probably be wonderful either way). I was kind of hoping that you would convince me that Copper Creek was going to be so fantastic and convenient that I would be looking forward to the change, but I will admit I'm glad

I would book Animal Kingdom Lodges. People seem too worried because they are a bit farther out. But they have bus service that is at least as good as anywhere else. I actually think they run extra buses to Animal Kingdom because they want to give service without delays. I have known people who stayed at Kidani Village with scooters and never had any problem.

The bus service to Animal Kingdom lodges is actually better than the bus service to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Swan and Dolphin, Yacht Club & Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Port Orleans Riverside, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and the all star resorts. The buses at those Resorts all make multiple stops. With extra time for loading and unloading at each stop. Also with multiple stops by the time the bus gets to your stop those buses are sometimes full. Sometimes those buses not only make multiple stops but go to multiple different Resorts before they go to the park or whatever their destination is. Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge both avoid this problem. I just don't understand people who think Animal Kingdom Lodges are somehow a transportation concern.

Meanwhile I think that Animal Kingdom lodges is wonderful and unique. It is true I like Wilderness Lodge also (and am somewhat considering buying some DVC points there) however it just seems a bit out of the way to me. And my understanding is that only some of the launches and boats can accommodate ECVs. Not having known anyone who used them there I can't say if this is the truth but it is something that I read.

Your younger ones may enjoy looking out at the Savannah at Animal Kingdom Lodges, or they may enjoy exploring the trails and interesting nature around Wilderness Lodge.

Truthfully, I think you will very much enjoy either place.

Thanks for the input. My thoughts were exactly what you posted (that AKL transportation is good and WL boats may be inconvenient with the ECV) so it was helpful that you confirmed. I think the CM convinced her to switch to there because it was closer and had the boat to MK, but I didn't really think that would be a plus for this trip. (And also, we're staying at Poly the first half so we will have already had the experience of being close to MK and having the boat and monorail to use)

I stayed at CCV with a scooter in July, a 3 wheel one. The large 4 wheel that some rentals use will not fit on the boat, and the turning radius is so tight I think the bus would be a problem also. Getting on and off the boat was very difficult, you need to work your way around the staircase and it's tight. They use to open the 'back' door which was a straight on/off shot. They also didn't use the medal loading ramp, so they had everyone move to the left/right side so the boat would line up with the dock. Totally not user friendly.

Thanks-- she has a smaller one that she purchased and has used during a few other trips to Disney over the past year since they bought DVC, but I don't think she has used it on any of the boats. I have never been with a scooter, so I'm trying to consider how it will be using the transportation and navigating through crowds. The last time my parents came to Disney with us was in 2010 and my mom was running so fast she was hard to keep up with.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Glad it worked out!

 

[tzolkin]

Glad it worked out!

Me too! We were originally planning a trip for this fall but there was nothing available at 7months out so I was really worried we would be stuck since this trip is during a busy spring break time.

 

[rg35]

The last time my parents came to Disney with us was in 2010 and my mom was running so fast she was hard to keep up with.

Some ECV users plow full speed ahead recklessly through the crowds, so it might be the same as keeping up with your mom on foot!

(I'm not implying your mom will be reckless with her ECV, just making a joke. But there are many careless ECV users at WDW.)

 

[disneynutz]

Some ECV users plow full speed ahead recklessly through the crowds, so it might be the same as keeping up with your mom on foot!

(I'm not implying your mom will be reckless with her ECV, just making a joke. But there are many careless ECV users at WDW.)

And there are many guests who ignore ECV users and walk into or right in front of the moving ECV.

Bill

 

[tzolkin]

Some ECV users plow full speed ahead recklessly through the crowds, so it might be the same as keeping up with your mom on foot!

I'll have to ask my siblings how she drives the thing. They have all gone on trips with them since her health problems, but I have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing "mom w/ECV at Disney".

Fortunately, she's young (mid-50s) and pretty aware of her surroundings. There's no way I would trust my grandparents with a scooter at Disney. When we brought my grandfather it was worth it to push him around in a wheelchair rather than worry about him running someone over.

 

[Matty B13]

And there are many guests who ignore ECV users and walk into or right in front of the moving ECV.

Bill

Seen this happen my times with my father, thankfully he drives it pretty slow, but at 75 years old he doesn't quite have the reflexes to avoid every "situation".

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And there are many guests who ignore ECV users and walk into or right in front of the moving ECV.

Bill

It's like the old skier vs snowboarder on the same hill arguments.

ECV's and people walking just have different movements and speeds and it's sometimes difficult to judge what the other is going to do.

 

[Frederic Civish]

People in wheelchairs have the same problem. No respect or concern from others. Just ignore them and walk or stop in front of them. If they have problems dealing with the crowds, well, it is their fault, isn't it?