Not meant to start a debate...What am I hearing about 5 in a 1 BR?

[rbuzzotta]

I just read another post about family of 5 buying into DVC and noticed that another poster mentioned that they were allowing 5 in a 1 Br!! Is this true and will we, as members, be getting clarification on this?

Remember this is not a debate about 5 in a 1 BR as we have been there and done that (many times). I just want to know if I missed something!!

Thanks

[KNWVIKING]

DITTO.

[chris1gill]

You know, I think it just matters who you talk to when you make your reservation. Apparently, unofficially they do allow 5 in a 1 bedroom... I have two children, but if I had three, I would still stay in the 1 bedroom if they were all young (under 10 let's say), I think it I had three teens that would be an entirely different scenario, I think I would want a 2 bedroom... I know our kids are 7 & 4, and they will NOT sleep in another bedroom, we tried it once, what a waste! So, anyways, that would be my own solution, under 10 I'd stick with the 1 bedroom, over 10 I'd definitely think about a 2 bedroom!!!

[Horace Horsecollar]

In the thread, Is DVC really a value for a family of 5 ?? (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=214094&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)...
Originally posted by invalid_char
DVC has recently obtained clearance to allow five people in a 1BR (and I believe a studio as well). I was honest with the person at MS when booking a 1BR and said that although we are a family of 4, we would likely bring a babysitter with us. She said 5 to a room is no longer a problem. Of course the 1BRs and the studios still only sleep 4, so you may need to bring a sleeping bag or blow up mattress.

Anyway, I thought I'd pass this along because this seems to be an attractive option for a family of 5!
I haven't seen anything published.

I wonder if this is just a continuation of "usually looking the other way" when families bring in a third child and their sleeping bag and inflatable mattress -- or if there's really now an official permission with specific rules (age limits, rules about the permissible bedding, etc.) that all DVC CMs will apply equally, and on which familes of 5 can depend.

[PamOKW]

I have not seen anything in writing either. However, there have been e-mails from MS indicating that people could have 5 in a studio or one-bedroom with the caveat that no additional bedding or towels would be supplied.

I'm not sure how a babysitter could be included in a one-bedroom under this arrangement, unless she/he was a family member.

[ColoradoDisneyFan]

It's interesting that during a tour of the models in March our guide told me that bringing your sleeping bag or air mattress was okay when I asked him what if we wanted to bring "grandma" with us and stay in a one bedroom (we are a family of 4). I had asked him if there were rollaways available. I had no idea at the time that the one bedrom was limited to 4 people. I learned that "rule" when I got back and checked the DIS boards!!

[jmminarik]

Don't forget, some of the studios at BWV, maybe elsewhere, have a daybed. We had no problem with our studio ressies for 5. They did ask how many 'children', which we had one. He's only 12 but taller than my sister and my wife, but he's still a kid.

Of course, my definition of child is anyone under 18...Disney's is a little different. ;)

-Joe

[DebbieB]

DVC has recently obtained clearance to allow five people in a 1BR (and I believe a studio as well).

Clearance from who?

The problem is DVC has told many families of 5 in presentations for years that they can do it, if they decided to start enforcing it, they would be facing deceptive sales practices suits.

[Dean]

Originally posted by DebbieB


Clearance from who?

The problem is DVC has told many families of 5 in presentations for years that they can do it, if they decided to start enforcing it, they would be facing deceptive sales practices suits. Actually, they have enforced it at times, not at others. What the sales staff said or MS for that matter will not alter the rules and legalities. I personally could care less if DVC allows 5 in a studio or a 1 BR or any similar scenario as long as other guests are not bothered and there is not malicious damage. A family of 5 with 3 children is different than 5 teenagers on spring break though.

The point being that what the sales staff or MS said means absolutely nothing and there's not a thing any of us could do about it. That's not to say that proving a verbal contract is impossible, but it's pretty close. The idea that members could or would bring Disney to court over this issue is amusing. The idea that anyone would win over Disney if it happened is powerball lottery odds. I'm told that this type of thing has been tried in court with other timeshare sales tactics with far more blatant lies than this gray area and the result is always the same.

[JulieWent]

To ColoradoDisneyFan -- In know what Grandma would say if I tried to put her in a sleeping bag on the floor! ;)

Having just stayed in a studio with a daybed, I felt that this room was still pretty tight for even four. I guess if you don't mind being cramped, but even my 6-year-old DS would have been packed tightly into that daybed.

Julie

[trishy]

We're a family of 5 and have never had any problems reserving rooms at VWL, BWV and OKW (haven't tried the others). The issue of being 5 in a room has never been brought up by MS. One time they had us in a 1 br (*ressie*) until a 2 br opened up (we got it in time) - another time we had a studio for 2 nights (*ressie*) until a 2 br opened up (again, got it in time). The only time we have heard about not allowing 5 per studio/1 br is here on the boards. They haven't even mentioned a problem with towels or anything.

[normr]

The counter till your cruise says over 11 thousand days, that over 32 years.

You can't bank points that long ;-)

[manning]

By law in all states, there are no verbal contracts in real estate. It has to all be in writing. Verbal promises mean nothing.

[invalid_char]

It perplexes me that people who already own DVC need to see this new policy in writing. If the woman who made my reservation says, and she did, that they have "recently obtained clearance to allow 5 in a 1 BR" and I get a written confirmation, as I did, that 5 will be staying in the 1 BR, what further proof do I need? Perhaps if I hadn't already bought DVC I might want proof that this is a concrete policy, but otherwise who cares? It did not seem appropriate or necessary to question or grill her ( about from whom they obtained clearance, where this was in writing, etc...).

Personally, I'd be surprised if she dreamt up that they had recently obtained official clearance. And it would also seem odd to me if they allowed me to do this, officially, once but not in the future. I would not consider it "turning a blind eye", I'd consider it inconsistent, especially, again, since I have confirmation of 5 in writing. However, for those families of 5 who may be considering DVC, I will see if I can find out if there are any plans to put this in writing.

And, btw, for those who can't see how we can bring a babysitter who is not a relative along, try this: the parents sleep in the master bed, the babysitter sleeps in the pull-out in the living room and the kids sleep on the floor (in blow up mattresses, sleeping bags, tents, blankets... whatever they consider fun. ) Is there something wrong with this scenario or am I also missing something here? Yes, a 2BR might provide a more gracious arrangement, but that is not how we wish to use our points for this particular trip, and both the kids and the babysitter are very excited to go under any circumstances.

As a new DVC member, I thought, perhaps naively, that people would in general be happy with the fact that we apparently have another option, especially for those of us who do not wish to spend the points on a 2 BR just to accomodate one extra person.

Next time I'll think twice before posting good news, unless of course I have my lawyer check the content first. I was honestly trying to be helpful in sharing this information, not start a nit-picking controversy.

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think I'm not the only one for whom the line, "DVC has recently obtained clearance to allow five people in a 1BR (and I believe a studio as well)," raised more questions than it answered.

From what or from whom did DVC obtain such clearance? From the Department of Real Estate? From the Health Department? From Al Weiss? From Michael Eisner? From a fire saftey authority?

Is this new policy published? It is temporary or permanent? Are there rules regarding what kind of bedding can brought in? Are there rules about the age of the fifth person?

Please, invalid_char, don't take this as a personal criticism. Please don't stop posting, and please realize that the whole purpose of these boards is to discuss information, raise questions, share personal experiences, and see the viewpoints of others.

[mle]

invalid_char, I don't think anyone is challenging you in the fact that MS has allowed you five occupants in a one bedroom when the stated max is four. As we all know, each time you call Disney you get a different answer to any question! However, I think the main item of concern here is that we all seem to play by the rules, so if the rules change we would all like to be aware AND certain of those changes. For DVD to now increase the maximum occupancy in their rooms would mean a change in Florida Fire Prevention Code or housing codes or what ever ordinance applies.

But I think the real answer here lies in the fact that, if I recall correctly, one of your occupants is/will be an infant. If this is true, it would fully explain the allowance of five on the reservation. The maximum occupancy in both the studio and one bedroom is four ADULTS (the reasons for the same max. occupancy in both the studio and 1BDRM, despite their square footage difference, has something to do with the fact of the kitchen in the 1BDRM and its calculation on the whole fire safety issue). I imagine there is some chart of an acceptable mix of adults, infants, children and juniors (as my 11yo DD is classified, being a child over the age of either nine or ten) that allow occupancy over ther posted adult number.

But then again, I'm just making an educated guess right now, so if I'm totally off course on this I'll just blame it on my lack of sleep!

[Dean]

As I stated previously, it doesn't bother me if they are allowing 5 in the smaller units, I was never questioning you, just MS. The reason to question the information about a specific change is two. First, I don't doubt for a second she was told this. Second, I don't think for a second that it is accurate.

The official occupancy has always been 4/4/8/12 but that has always been somewhat officially strethced to 4 plus ONE CHILD UNDER 3. Last summer or fall it was a supervisor promising they were going to be more strict under these rules and there were those that were told they had to book a larger unit for 5.

I guess my main points are don't believe everything you hear, no matter who you hear it from or how many times it's repeated. The other is to not bank on this "change" as in 6-12 months, they might be more stringent than ever in this area. Anyone want to bet we'll never see it in writing?

[Richyams]

As a new DVC member, I thought, perhaps naively, that people would in general be happy with the fact that we apparently have another option, especially for those of us who do not wish to spend the points on a 2 BR just to accomodate one extra person.

If true, its an awful decision. How could people be happy about having their resorts over crowded, having their costs go up, having DVC look like a tenament?

I think its awful.

I don't think its true either. I think that its simply more of the same wishy washy, don't get people mad, we have to cover our buts because of all the lies and deceptive sales practices used by our salesman kind of thing.

If it is actually official, and since I haven't gotten anything to superscede my "product understanding checklist" or a new, edited, public offering statement, I have to agree with Dean. It aint in writing and you aren't going to see it in writing either.

People have been getting confirmations with '5' on them forever, that is certainly not an indication of any official change. I think an official change like that would be a major reckoning, maybe even requiring votes of the members.

[PamOKW]

Your plan for the babysitter sounds fine, as I said, if they are a member of your family (or feel like one). Most au pairs/nannies that you would hire from an agency would require at least some small amount of privacy, which you can't get sleeping in the open living room with the children and sharing a bath with your employer.

Thanks for sharing the information you received. I think the frustration is still that different people are told different things at different times. Some people who want to bring 5 are told it's okay. Some people who ask whether the policy has changed are told absolutely not. Others are told 5 is not okay. With no written announcement provided I think it is still being done on a case by case basis. Some people, like yourself, are upfront enough to ask MS. Others just bring the folks along and put them in the room with no regard to rules....often times bringing more than 1 over the limit and that's where problems start to develop.

As Rich stated, not everyone is always happy to hear the rules change. I am not as concerned about bringing an extra small child as I am about the 8 Spring Breakers in a studio. It's an easy step to keep adding more and more into the units if it becomes apparent there is no enforcement.

Uh oh.....didn't the subject say "not to start a debate"? Sorry, I'll take further comment over to the long running Debate Board thread.

[rbuzzotta]

inval_char,

Please don't take this personally!! I posted this new thread only because we are a family of 5 and I was told I had to book a 2 BR because I now longer have a child under 3!!! Yes, we would comfortably fit in a 1 Br especially now that I must take a feather bed for my 6 year old due to recently diagnosed back problems! My baby still loves to sleep in the pack n play at OKW because it is fun (although she has a full bed at home!)!

I simply asked because if it were true, I would save myself around 80 points this summer and could stretch my vacation!!

As another poster replied, this board is for sharing information. I have learned alot here and still use this board all the time for my info.

Please continue to post and have a great trip "home".

Bottom line is: It all depends on who answers the phone at MS when you call.....

[gmboy95]

Sometimes I think we tend to overstate things just a bit.....I dont necessarily think any DVC resort would look like a "tenament" if 5 people are allowed to stay in a room.

It would seem reasonable to me that a family of five could easily stay in a 1 bedroom, in fact with the way many family units are structured in DVC, I would say it is almost an economic neccesity.

I think we should look at how truly small an issue this is, and put it in the proper perspective...I think it would make anyones vacation difficult to enjoy if something like this occupied their mind.:jester: :jester:

[Deb & Bill]

Renters don't care about dues. Owners do. So if our dues go up because of more wear and tear on the units because of over-occupancy in the units, I get mad. If the owners have to pay for extra linen inventory because of freebies to those in excess of the room-occupancy, it also gets me angry. It's my money (and all the other DVC owners) that is spent for the few who wish to exceed the occupancy rules.

And don't even get me started on those renters who want to change out the king-sized bed with two queens.

[Dean]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
Renters don't care about dues. Owners do. So if our dues go up because of more wear and tear on the units because of over-occupancy in the units, I get mad. I haven't seen any evidence that renters, or those that stay cash in general, abuse the facilities more than anyone else. My general impression is actually that they may do less. The few I've rented to over the years seemed so appreciative and caught up that I suspected they would be walking on egg shells trying too make sure everything stayed perfect. Remember they guy that beat up the other guy in the laundry was apparently a member too. Of course it's different renting to a family as compared to 8 teenagers or young adults at spring break but you could have this scenario with members too, and we have. To think that members in general are any different than any other group is unreasonable. I know many people that trash their things because they are comfortable with the situation.

[crisi]

Wear and tear....

by the wear and tear arguement we should only look for DVC members who are single type A people without children or grandchildren who are park commandos and need a cookbook to boil water. They put the least amount of wear and tear on a room.

People with little kids - aaaagh! Wear and tear.... People with teenagers ..... aaaagh! Guys who use DVC as a golf and drink resort ......aaaagh! People who go to Disney so often they don't even go to the parks and spend all their time "wearing and tearing" the rooms and pool areas....aaaaagh! And don't even get me started on what honeymooners (particularly the carrying a few extra pounds type) do to the mattresses!

(In case anyone missed it, this is sarcasm)

[KNWVIKING]

DW and I only use half our alloted "wear & tear" when we stay in a studio meant for four. Can we get a refund ? I've read this response several times & still can't figure out whats wearing out faster due to one extra person.I guess the toilet is only good for X number of flushes. I don't buy this argument or the one about it looking like a tenament. How often is every room in every building used to capacity ?

[WebmasterDoc]

As usual, this topic has drifted from the original question posed.

The original topic for this thread is "I just read another post about family of 5 buying into DVC and noticed that another poster mentioned that they were allowing 5 in a 1 Br!! Is this true and will we, as members, be getting clarification on this? "

If you have comment or information about any clarification from DVC about this, please feel free to post here.

If you have comments about occupancy in general, they may be added to any of the "Occupancy" debate threads on the Debate Board, but won't be allowed in this thread and will be removed.

Thanks!

[FreeTime]

Could it be that Disney is encouraging 5 to a 1 bedroom so that they can make more money on tickets? I ask this because in May I checked in at OKW and had a 2 br reserved for dh, dfil, and 2 ds and myself. The cast member asked me if I wanted to downgrade to a 1 bedroom! I personally could not have imagined the 5 of us in a 1 br!

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by rbuzzotta
I just read another post about family of 5 buying into DVC and noticed that another poster mentioned that they were allowing 5 in a 1 Br!! Is this true and will we, as members, be getting clarification on this?

Remember this is not a debate about 5 in a 1 BR as we have been there and done that (many times). I just want to know if I missed something!!

Thanks

I don't think you missed anything, and I do not look for any "clarification" coming to members. If DVC was OFFICIALLY increasing the maximum occupancy, it seems to me that they would also have to increase the the number of beds/offer a rollaway to accomodate the extra person. No one has said that they are planning to do that.

Since MS is stating that the party of 5 would have to bring an air mattress or sleeping bag to accomodate the 5th person, it appears to be just their way of saying they won't give anyone a hard time if they choose to reserve a 1 bedroom and have 5 people. Apparently, they don't think enforcing the "4 +1 under 3" rule is a battle worth fighting.

[DRUMZ2B]

Dont worry ,be happy.
We all get to go to disney.everyone has a different comfort zone .
If MS says 5 is cool then cool, if not then adjust accordingly.
either way we get to enjoy the magic of the vacation experiance.
Go with the flow and enjoy your time off from work.
One way or another it will all work out.

Making memories.....

[rbuzzotta]

DRUMZ2B, I like what you said. Enjoy the magic.

80 more points will allow me to enjoy the magic just a little longer..........LOL (meant to be cute to a topic that I didn't want to get heated!!)

CarolMN, I like your logic and the way you put it. It is the truth!