Big Group - Occupancy limits and other questions??????

[BDJazz]

Hey fellow Disers,

We are planning on taking some of our family on a trip to WDW next year using our points at AKV. Including us, the party will include 7 adults (maybe 8) and 5 children for a total of 12-13 people. I understand that Grand Villas hold up to 12 but does DVC limit the number of persons to 12? If not, does anyone have experience with large parties and a grand villa? If 1 more bed is needed would they provide a rollaway?

Also - instead of renting a Grand Villa we can also book a 2 bedroom and a studio at the same time...not sure if splitting everyone up would make things more difficult but it sure would save on the point count.

One more question...Since there are going to be 4 separate families on this trip will member services allow 4 separate room charge accounts so that everyone can charge their own meals to their room keys and have it come out of their account, not mine?

 

[erionm]

In a GV they will only allow 12 plus one child under the age of 3. They will not provide a rollaway.

Yes, you can book multiple rooms for the same dates. The only restriction is that the same person can't be listed as the primary person on all of the reservations.

 

[eva]

You might look at booking a 2-bedroom and 2 studios. Not only does it give you more sleeping space, but it gives everyone a little more breathing room. And believe me, you will probably need it! No, they do not offer rollaways or any other type of bedding. They will not even give you more sheets and blankets. Extra sets of towels will cost you too. This thread will probably be closed soon because room occupancy threads are limited to one of the sticky threads at the top of the forum. But I hope you have a great time!

 

[BDJazz]

Oops - guess I should read the stickies! Thanks for the responses!

 

[eva]

Oops - guess I should read the stickies! Thanks for the responses!

Oh, no problem. I have missed a lot of them too. This has just been a hot topic in the past. No reflection on you at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

When we checked into a 2 bedroom in December, we were told that the new systems could handle assigning different credit cards to different room keys. The CM knew we were a family with three sub-groups in it when he offered.

We didn't take him up on it, and someone (who has been there more than me, but I don't know if they have been there since the new system went into place) has said that they still can't do it...but it's what was offered to us in December.

So they might be able to take care of you in that way...if not, just don't allow charging at all and have everyone just use their credit/debit cards.

 

[Pakey]

We've done many large group DVC vacations with our adult children/their families. We have found that it's just as easy to book us all into studios. The last time we went we were 10 adults and 2 children. I booked 5 studios and linked them. We were on the same floor of the resort.

This worked perfectly for us. We don't cook and we enjoyed the privacy. We had the same preset meeting time each morning in the lobby.

We have done the larger villas but we have found everyone really prefers their own space--half the group are night owls; the other half go to bed early, etc. Plus all of the adult couples prefer to have their private sleeping space which you don't get in a Grand Villa or even a 2 bedroom if some adults are having to sleep in the living area or share the 2nd bedroom. Of course I never tell them that they are saving me having to use a ton of points so it turns out to be a win-win.

 

[iloveokw]

We've done BIG group trips with Grand Villas and 2 2bedrooms.....I vote for the 2 2 bedrooms.....everyone has different ideas of bedtimes/get up times...eating. Need the washers and dryers. No charging on room charge.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you do an OKW GV, you will have the ability to house 13 people because it also has the pull out sleeper chair in addition to the queen sofa bed in the living room. That would be 6 beds of 2 people each and 1 single bed.

 

[DisneyKobi]

We've traveled with large groups and have booked a Grand Villa. Another time we booked two separate 2-bedroom villas and had plenty of room! One benefit of two separate units is if there are "discussions" on the appropriate temperature. We have more satisfied groups if the hotties stay in the hot unit and the cool ones chill in the frigid unit!

 

[Dean]

I'd do a 2 BR and 1 or 2 studios. Cheaper with just one studio and more room if you get 2 for around the same points as just the GV. It also allows some to get the DDP if they want or different plan types. IF some cancel on you, it gives you more cancelation flexibility. I do believe they'll allow 13 currently no matter the age but that could change.

 

[CarolMN]

Since the OP appears to have his answers, I'm going to close this thread. Anyone interested in discussing occupancy issues may do so in this thread:

Occupancy Thread