5 in our family ?

[dbail2]

We are a family of 5. How many does a one bedroom sleep our kids are 8, 13 and 16 so a crib is out. If we bought into the BC would that mean we could or couldn't stay at the BW in July this year. The points are still confusing me. How many points do you need for 9 nights lets say at the BW July 20th till 28th? For a 2 bedroom or a one bedroom if we can fit????

 

[zurgswife]

A one bedroom sleeps 4. One King and one pull out Queen..

More than 4 you'll need a two bedroom..

For a nine night stay in July for a 2 bdrm you would need 430 points. Did you consider not staying 3 weekend nights as they are 75 points for each night. Usually we try just to stay one weekend night, we also get a 2 bedroom.
.......

 

[newt1912]

Originally posted by dbail2
We are a family of 5. How many does a one bedroom sleep our kids are 8, 13 and 16 so a crib is out.

I am sure this has been debated in the past but I am a new DVC member and new to these boards in the past month.

Why, when a 1BR has almost 2 times the amount of sq footage as a studio which sleeps 4 can you not sleep 5 in a 1BR?? Why, when a 1BR has almost 2 times the sq footage as any deluxe resort room on WDW property (which do allow 5) can you not sleep 5 in a 1BR? I really don't understand. I realize that there are only 2 beds but a child or a teenager thinks nothing of sleeping in the floor in a sleeping blanket or whatever. I know they say it has something to do with fire escape regulations but I thought fire regulations which govern how many people can be in a certain sq footage area had to do with overcrowding. For instance, a hall can only hold 250 people because of fire regulations - it would unsafe to hold more because of it being too crowded and difficult to escape. Since a 1BR has a lot of sq footage compared to a studio or deluxe resort room, where is the fire hazard in having 5 people in 700+ sq footage. No one can claim that the area is too crowded.

Perhaps I don't understand why 5 cannot book a 1BR. Help me understand. It seems that if you are allowed a 5th, when that 5th will be in a crib, doesn't make sense since a crib takes up more room than a sleeping bag which would be rolled up after being slept in.

Help me understand.

Thanks.

 

[Werner Weiss]

A 1BR unit has a king bed in the bedroom (sleeps 2) and a pull-out sofa in the living room (also sleeps 2, though not as comfortably as the king). Thus, the maximum occupancy is 4, though I personally think it's really better for just 3. There are no rollaways or portable cots available.

There have been numerous threads on this board over the years describing how people bring in an air mattress so that a fifth person can sleep on the floor. The subject usually leads to debate. Bottom line: Although it's officially in violation of the occupancy rules, people get away with an extra child in the room, and DVC doesn't send the Mouse Police if someone notices a family of 5 in a 1BR.

When the four of us go to OKW (self, wife, 2 pre-teens), we always get a 2BR. The second bedroom means two additional beds (queen size), two more closets, another TV, and another bathroom. Now that's a vacation! It's great to have 2 bathrooms, real beds for everyone, and nobody sleeping in the living room. You can use the living room and kitchen, even while others are sleeping. That's especially nice if family members go to bed or get up at different times.

(Edited to fix spelling errors.)

 

[Windjammer]

Newt:

This is a touchy subject.

I am not sure there is any real understanding of the reason. I think it is an artificial limit meant to increase Disney's revenue. As you stated, it cannot be based on square footage. Disney has its economic reasons I suppose.

My own opinion is that based upon the square footage in a one bedroom up to 6 should be allowed. If the room occupants don't mind being crowded, and/or sleeping on the floor why should anyone else care?

That being said, 6 would result in more wear and tear and use of hot water etc. so I could see an extra daily charge, such as the $10 charged in a normal resort room for each extra adult over 2.

A few weeks back I raised the issue of whether DVC should develop some one bedroom units with two full or queen beds in the bedroom so it could sleep 6. While some were in favor of the concept of providing a more affordable alternative for families of 5 or 6, others were against it. The thread ended up being locked. As I said, it is a touchy subject.

Absent the increased wear and tear, etc., which I agree could warrent an extra charge, it has not be rationally explained to me, why a family can't have 5 or 6 in a one bedroom unit, except, of course, the reason that it is against the rules. I guess what I mean to say is that absent Disney's interest in selling more points, I am not sure of the reason behind the rule. (other than increased wear and tear, etc., which I think could be countered with an extra charge)



Steve

 

[robinb]

I'm disappointed that your sales person didn't tell you what the maximum occupancy of the various room types. It really helps in determining the proper number of points needed. It wouldn't be the first, or I gather, the last time. My guess is that they are just darn glad they have a sale and let you figure it out later .

Personally, I really don't care what you do . You should just be aware of what the rules are.

 

[Richyams]

I think it is an artificial limit meant to increase Disney's revenue.

No, Disney is selling a luxury resort experience. That experience can not be had if the resort is overcrowded. The facilities were built, the activities created, the sleeping arrangements decided upon based on a certain number of guests. If only 10% of OKW rooms have an extra kid, you have some 50-70 extra kids competing for a spot at the Un-Happy Birthday party.

There are tenements in the Bronx that allow extra kids to sleep on the floor, why do we need them at DVC?

I agree with Werner completely. I bought DVC to have comfortable vacations. A GV sleeps 12, I usually have six or eight....I am on vacation to relax. Letting kids have their own room is the only way to vacation.

There are plenty of off-site timeshares that will let people bring in all the people they want. DVC saves you money if you go anyway and stay, while folowing occupancy rules, in a moderate or deluxe. It is not a cheap way to do Disney, if one is looking to overcrowd rooms to try and do a Disney vacation for less than the party size really needs, DVC is not a good way to go.

While they have been know to look the other way, that may not always happen. I would only recomend buying if one plans to use the proper size unit for their party and buy the needed number of points.

 

[newt1912]

Originally posted by robinb
I'm disappointed that your sales person didn't tell you what the maximum occupancy of the various room types. It really helps in determining the proper number of points needed. It wouldn't be the first, or I gather, the last time. My guess is that they are just darn glad they have a sale and let you figure it out later .

Personally, I really don't care what you do . You should just be aware of what the rules are.

Robinb - if you were addressing the above to me, I just want to make it clear to all that I am very aware of what the maximum occupancy is of the various room types. I only asked the question because, even though I know the rule, I do not understand the reason for the rule. Occupancy rates are usually based on sq footage and a 1BR has a lot more sq footage than a studio; thus you would think that more than 4 persons - at least 5 - would be permitted. I have been in a 1BR and, believe me, it would be room enough for 5 in my opinion, especially when the 5 include young children as the initial poster to the thread has.

I first looked into DVC ownership back in 1998 when I was still traveling to WDW with my 3 kids. We always stayed in a deluxe room to accommodate 5. DVC was not for me back then because of traveling as a family of 5. I now have 2 kids in college and 1 in high school and my husband and I are free to travel on our own now and we are loving it. Thus, our decision to buy into DVC for at least a once a year winter getaway from the snow/cold of PA. If/when we travel with our 3 grown children, of course we would get a 2BR for privacy issues and 2 bathrooms. I just don't think that a family with 3 young children should have to use the points required for a 2BR.

Just my opinion.

 

[Richyams]

I just don't think that a family with 3 young children should have to use the points required for a 2BR.

And they don't have to, DVC is not right for everyone.

 

[robinb]

Newt1912,

{{blush}} Yet another example of me reading too fast! I thought that the original poster dbail2 said that s/he had already bought at BCV. *sigh* I understood the nature of your post .

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Many DVCers have reported being very, very, comfortable in a 1BR with five. I guess if occupancy rates make for a more luxurious stay, the low season may be the the best time to visit your favorite DVC resort. Over crowding is much more of a problem when non-DVC guests use the facilities.

 

[Richyams]

And many more are comfortable living responsibly and actually follow the rules that they agreed to.

I just always winder about how the parent justifies cheating the room limits to their children.

 

[Caskbill]

Many posters seem to think that square footage should determine the number of occupants. That's wrong, square footage has nothing to do with it.

I could have a 1500 sq ft house with 3 bedrooms, or a 3500 sq ft house with 3 bedrooms. The bedrooms determine the sleeping capacity, not the size of the house. Putting people on the floor does not increase designed capacity.

The resort was designed so people could sleep in a bed, not on the floor. All that extra room is for a kitchen, laundry room, larger bathroom, and a great living room. The extra square footage is for extra <b>living</b> space, not for extra sleeping space. That's what makes a DVC resort deluxe instead of just another hotel room.

That's why the 'rules' state the number of occupants.

I suppose DVC could tear out all the kitchens, take out the living room furniture, and fill all that space with beds. What would you have then? An oversized hotel room that sleeps 8?. Not exactly the home away from home I purchased!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Many also have reported a more luxurious and relaxing vacation when they aren't spending their time counting the number of persons on the elevator, in the hot tub, on the tram, in the dining room, on the lobby sofa, on the bus, etc. Parents have an awful lot of justifying to do during a WDW trip.

 

[brittsmum1998]

LOL Johnny!! I don't suggest tearing out the laundry room, kitchen etc. Maybe they could just put 2 beds in the HUGE bedroom. I know this has been debated before. I only have 3 total in my family and I would appreciate the 2nd bed in the bedroom. Right now DD who is almost 4 sleeps with us in king bed. We will be purchasing an air mattress very soon and I'm not over the capacity. We get the one bdrm so that noone has to sleep in the living room. A family of 3 forever and I can't justify buying more pts. Its unfortunate that being a one family income...hubby doesn't make more $$ I would hate to think that a family of 5 would not be able to afford the luxury of DVC and the wonderful memories it creates due to one additional person in that villa. I sometimes resent (maybe a little too strong of a word) that we pay almost double the pts for the same occupancy as a studio. Me thinks some people need to relax a bit WE;re all one big happy family. And please I would hate to see reference made to "occupancy overload creating more dues" We have no idea when our dues is used for overloaded villas let alone what cash people are doing. And yes...I will teach my daughter to follow the rules but that doesn't mean I need to agree w/ them. I'll leave that to the liberals

 

[normr]

OK, next we'll have DVC barracks, just like in the service, or what next bunk beds

 

[Deb & Bill]

Good one, normr. Maybe they can build the DVC Pods for people who like to crowd together in a unit. Kind of like those "hotels" I've read about in Japan where you only get an enclosed berth.

Me thinks that people who can't afford DVC should buy into one of the other timeshares outside of Disney.

And I have a more relaxing vacation when I don't have to put up with a zoo next door or overhead.

 

[newt1912]

I'd like to thank everyone who is posting to this thread. I am loving this DVC Forum and I am learning so much about the DVC. My original questioning of why not 5 has resulted in very good posts explaining the rationale for the rule. I actually had never given thought to the wear and tear issue; overcrowding at the resort's facilities based on expected number of guests vs true number of guests if each 1BR had 5 instead of 4 persons; the DVC deluxe experience, etc. All reasons given for the occupancy limit of 4 in a 1BR do actually make sense to me now that I have heard other's opinions.

Thanks again.

 

[Regina]

Newt1912, it's refreshing to see how open to other's opinions you are. Usually this topic leads to heated debate, and I commend you for viewing this issue through other's eyes.

One of the main reasons that we made the decision to join was due to their being 5 of us.

Before DVC, we only had the option of staying at the Deluxe Resorts. They're beautiful, but it still came down to 5 of us in one room. That meant 1 bathroom, and two daughters sharing a bed (complete with the daily arguments about who touched who).

I welcomed the occupancy requirement. In the long haul, our trips were much more economical than when we stayed in the Deluxes, and much more enjoyable.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I will make sure my future ressies are NEVER underneath a two bedroom...I would hate to be underneath that "zoo" of people occupying a 2 bedroom who all choose to be in the livingroom / kitchen area at once!