1BR occupancy info from MS today-"New policy"??

[Squidrific]

I just got off the phone with MS because I was trying to find a 2BR availability since there were 5 people in the party. According to member services CM "Myrtle" - DVC is now allowing "officially" 5 people to stay in 1BRs, but will not provide any linen or bedding. This is for 5 adults not 4 + an infant.

I mentioned that this is completely different from my understanding of the occupancy allowance and she said it is a brand new policy. I told her that we are looking for 5 adults and she said that is allowed in the new policy. Has anyone else received this info?

I called back and spoke with CM "Ralph" and he said that he understood this to be an "official" occupancy allowance now as well - 5 people in a 1BR no matter the ages, but linens not provided.

I have edited this because I am not saying what is right or wrong - just that I am hearing that this is a "recent policy change". So this would be a change to the official wording in our documents about occupancy for a 1BR. I hope this is being communicated across the board to all CM's as well.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I think its great!! EVen though we only have 4 in our family, it will be great for families that have 5 in them(especially if 3 of them are children/teens). Just bring an air mattress.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Many people were doing this before they changed the policy. You can put an air mattress in the master and or the living room! I've heard and seen it done many times.

 

[Squidrific]

I think its great!! EVen though we only have 4 in our family, it will be great for families that have 5 in them(especially if 3 of them are children/teens). Just bring an air mattress.

I agree that it is GREAT for families of 5 with 3 of them being children/teens, but I think 5 adults is going to be pretty crowded. Honestly, I don't really care how many people stay in the room, it doesn't affect me.

It just sounds like another change has been made without communication to members. If in fact, this is a policy change. It would be nice if they could communicate this via the member website at least.

 

[Squidrific]

Many people were doing this before they changed the policy. You can put an air mattress in the master and or the living room! I've heard and seen it done many times.

Yes, it was being done, but not "legally". If this is a case of it was being done and MS is realizing it and allowing it - fine. I'm just bugged by the lack of communication. I have a 2 BR booked for 2 adults and 3 kids in January and would have much rather booked the 1BR and saved myself some points. Of course, now if I try to change it, BCV is completely booked.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Quite frankly I never book studios, other then OKW, a small room w/ 1 bed and a couch for 4 adults seems way too crowded, but then no more crowded than a 1bedroom w/ 5 adults. I don't travel this way but many do, try and call MS, maybe you can change you accomodations.

 

[jarestel]

I just got off the phone with MS because I was trying to find a 2BR availability since there were 5 people in the party. According to member services CM "Myrtle" - DVC is now allowing 5 people to stay in 1BRs, but will not provide any linen or bedding. This is for 5 adults not 4 + an infant.

Due to member feedback, MS has been allowing families to legally book 5 in a 1-BR for some time now. I don't recall ever seeing any official announcement.

Now whether or not someone wishes to do this for reasons of comfort, space, or privacy is a whole other matter but the option is there for those who are interested.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would not ever expect to see this in writing---once it is in writing, it would be even harder to go back to a limit of 4.

However, I have heard first-hand reports of Guides pitching this "feature" on tours.

 

[SFLTIGGER]

Oh Great! There goes availability for 1BR's for our family of 3.
Come on and build some more DVC locations.

 

[Squidrific]

Quite frankly I never book studios, other then OKW, a small room w/ 1 bed and a couch for 4 adults seems way too crowded, but then no more crowded than a 1bedroom w/ 5 adults. I don't travel this way but many do, try and call MS, maybe you can change you accomodations.

As I tried to express in my above posting - When I booked just 1 month ago they weren't allowing it. I have a 2BR booked for 2 adults a 13 year old and 2 4 year olds for my January trip. This was just last month that I booked it. I tried to add a day on today a different reservation and found out about this "new" policy. BCV is now NOT available for my dates in a 1BR. I don't know when they made this change, but as usual it wasn't communicated across the base if they have been allowing this for a while because they didn't allow it when I booked in June. I don't book studios either - thus booking the 2 BR for 2 adults and 3 kids.

I knew they allowed this at AKV due to the addition of the single chair bed, but now for all properties I didn't know and obviously not all of the CMS know this either.

 

[crisi]

As long as I've been on this board (six years) MS has been allowing five guests in a one bedroom. I think the occupancy thread goes back several years for confirmation. The CM you got a month ago was an outlier.

 

[bwvBound]

Oh Great! There goes availability for 1BR's for our family of 3.

Oh, wow -- the 1BR unit is our favorite unit type also (2 adults, no children). Hmmmm.

 

[Squidrific]

As long as I've been on this board (six years) MS has been allowing five guests in a one bedroom. I think the occupancy thread goes back several years for confirmation. The CM you got a month ago was an outlier.

Crisi, I've been on this board for 6 years as well - years on this board has nothing to do with the flipflopping of DVC. Actually, the legal documents state a maximum of FOUR occupants in a One Bedroom villa. Years ago DVC unofficially expanded that to 4 + 1 under age three. The 5 people of any age "Policy" is new. I know that they have been allowing it if people felt comfortable trying to "get away" with it. My point is that if 2 CMs are saying that 5 people in a 1BR is now "policy" then it needs to be amended in the legal documents. If room occupancy for a 1BR has changed to 5 people as policy and not just "we will look the other way" it needs to be stated - then we don't have the problem of 1 CM allowing it to be booked that way and another CM mandating you book a 2 BR instead such as was the problem in my case.

 

[Caskbill]

They have been allowing 5 in a 1-B/R for some time now, as stated, but not furnishing linen.

They have not allowed 5 in a STUDIO. For a studio the rule has always been 4 plus an infant under 3.

This thread is about MS finally saying it's official, where it has been mostly unofficial in the past, but allowed.

If you have any comments about what occupancy SHOULD BE, please post in the occupancy thread.

If you wish to comment about MS finally making this official, or how they should communicate this information, feel free to comment in this thread.

If this thread turns into an occupancy discussion thread, then it will have to be closed.

Thanks....

 

[crisi]

I'm not sure that I would take the word of a single CM that it is a change in policy. If MS communicates this information out, then its a formalization of a policy that has always been in place.

 

[Squidrific]

Actually it wasn't 1 CM it was more than one. I have also received PM's from people who have talked to CMs today including a supervisor who are stating this is a recent "change". I posted this thread to say only that member services is stating this is a "change". If this is true - then as usual, the communication is not going out to the members. It was just supposed to be an FYI not a fight about what is right, wrong, or who knows more.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yes, I just called and was told this is allowed at any 1 bedroom villa, 5 adults. Four adults and 8-under child in a studio with a daybed. Now this clearly is not what is in our docs.

 

[dis-happy]

I've been booking my family of 5 (all over age 3) in a 1 b/r for several years now. Never a problem. I give the names and MS just re-iterates the line about "no extra bedding or linens provided". Not sure how this is considered a new policy.....

 

[zulaya]

Can someone tell me WHY MS has such poor communication skills?

I know for years they've been letting 5 people slide in the 1BR. But if they are going to "officially" allow it...as in go on the record...then why is it so hard for them to communicate with us?

They have the database of emails from members. They can send a message with the new policy. Or for crying out loud, update them member website with this "new policy" information.

This habit of members finding stuff out when they call is really just plain unprofessional. Why can't their communications department get their act together?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I've been booking my family of 5 (all over age 3) in a 1 b/r for several years now. Never a problem. I give the names and MS just re-iterates the line about "no extra bedding or linens provided". Not sure how this is considered a new policy.....

Because in our planners, on the points chart, under each type of accomodation, it says (sleeps up to 4), or (sleeps up to 8) or (sleeps up to 12). It doesn't say sleeps up to 4 1/2, sleeps up to 5. Sleeps up to 9, or 13. These new numbers that MS is booking for are not in print. This does have bearing on those that book more expensive accomodations based on the printed number of occupants, where if members really knew how many were allowed, they would be doing this to save points. (For those that like this policy exception). To make an exception for a child is one thing, now they're allowing adults and preteens. I do feel this allowance will degrade the quality of accomodations.