DLH room occupancy questions!!!

[Tanner208]

Hello,

I'm sure this has happened to a lot of people with a family of 6 but here is my situation:

I made reservations in September to stay at the DLH through Expedia with only 5 people because (obviously it wont allow it to book with 6 due to fire code) However, after I booked with just 5 people I called the hotel directly over the course of a few weeks and spoke to 3-4 people verifying it was ok since the 6th person is an infant but they just make us aware that the room is designed for no more than 5 people.

We then decided to change our reservation for an earlier time and this time we decided to book it though the hotel's reservation department. I spoke to 2 people in that department and they started to get very pushy and rude about it stating we can't book a premium view room with 6 people (even though the 6th is an infant).

We can sit here and debate about whats wrong and whats right but I shouldn't have to cough up $700 a night for 2 bedroom suite designed for 9-10 people just so my family and I can enjoy the DLH experience everyone raves about.

Has anyone else experienced this dilemma and what approach you took to resolve it? If the DLH front desk doesn't mind but yet the reservation department has a fit, what risks am I taking if I decide to book with 5 people and show up with 6?

Thanks,
Tanner

 

[Malcon10t]

Has anyone else experienced this dilemma and what approach you took to resolve it? If the DLH front desk doesn't mind but yet the reservation department has a fit, what risks am I taking if I decide to book with 5 people and show up with 6?

Thanks,
Tanner

The fire marshal sets the occupancy. The hotel can be fined for allowing more than allowed. They can charge you for a second room, as you exceed the allowance.

Yes, we frequently travel with 6. You don't need to book a 2 bedroom suite, we usually book a 1 bedroom. This will allow 6.

 

[TulipsNZ]

We are a family of 7 so we often have this issue and have to book the bigger room or an extra room. Hotels would take a big risk breaking the fire code, I think there is a big chance if they find you have 6 people that they will end up charging you for the extra room, I would just book a 1bedroom or other option designed for 6. I know it's annoying, 3 of mine are under 3 so we need very little room for them but the code is the code.

 

[larina]

When we went with 6 we did the 1 bedroom suite. We got the 2 bedroom when we brought friends. The limit in a regular room is 5, no matter the age. As has been said, that's fire code. You will not be allowed to stay with a 6 person.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I remember this when you posted before and frankly, I was very surprised that it was okay to have 6 people, even though 1 is an infant.

The Fire Marshall sets the occupancy per room. Disney can get fined and could lose their business license for the hotel. Fire Marshall's mean what they say. Another thing to consider is in a disaster situation. Disney has a head count and they know how many individuals in each room. I know this because I was in Hawaii once when they expected a hurricane coming through. The hotel had an overall account and they had how many in each room. Since I was with family and we had 3 rooms, everyone well within the occupancy limit. The hotel made it clear that if my nephew wanted to stay in his parents room, that we needed to notify the front desk and that no room could exceed the occupancy limit. I am not one to be nervous about the fact that a disaster could happen, but, I am also not going to put myself in a position of pushing the rules and if a disaster or fire did occur to put my family at risk. That is my opinion and my perspective.

 

[Geemo]

Hello,

I'm sure this has happened to a lot of people with a family of 6 but here is my situation:

I made reservations in September to stay at the DLH through Expedia with only 5 people because (obviously it wont allow it to book with 6 due to fire code) However, after I booked with just 5 people I called the hotel directly over the course of a few weeks and spoke to 3-4 people verifying it was ok since the 6th person is an infant but they just make us aware that the room is designed for no more than 5 people.

We then decided to change our reservation for an earlier time and this time we decided to book it though the hotel's reservation department. I spoke to 2 people in that department and they started to get very pushy and rude about it stating we can't book a premium view room with 6 people (even though the 6th is an infant).

We can sit here and debate about whats wrong and whats right but I shouldn't have to cough up $700 a night for 2 bedroom suite designed for 9-10 people just so my family and I can enjoy the DLH experience everyone raves about.

Has anyone else experienced this dilemma and what approach you took to resolve it? If the DLH front desk doesn't mind but yet the reservation department has a fit, what risks am I taking if I decide to book with 5 people and show up with 6?

Thanks,
Tanner

Tanner,
You said it yourself "obviously it wont allow it to book with 6 due to fire code". You are well aware of the Fire Marshall's rules, why do you have a problem following them?

Why do you feel you are entitled to "enjoy the DLH experience everyone raves about" without having to pay for it?

When we have gone and stayed on-site at one of the DLR hotels, we have booked according to the number of occupants in my family group.
Sometimes that means a larger room/suite or two rooms with a connecting doorway.

If you book the hotel for 5 and show up with 6, knowing the rules, don't be surprised when Disney tell you you need a larger room or even two rooms to accommodate 6.

If you and your family want to "enjoy the DLH experience everyone raves about" than you need to be prepared to pay for it just like the everyone else.

If the extra cost isn't in your budget, I suggest you look for a place off-site for your trip. That's exactly what everyone else does.

Geemo

 

[ImSoExcited]

We all choose our own family size. This world is largely set up for a family of four or five and when you exceed that, you need to deal with the consequences of your choices. Larger families mean larger vehicles, larger food bills, and sometimes, additional hotel accommodations. You need to "cough up" the cost for additional lodging because you made the choice to expand your family beyond the maximum people for a single hotel room. If you wish to keep the finances the same, you will need to move off-site. Sometimes you get to be on the receiving end of benefits for having a larger family and sometimes you will pay for more. The people who pay for concierge service in a room are going to benefit more by having five people in that room than my tiny family, but prices are all the same. None of us are entitled to anything more or less due to family size choices. Suites are not designed for 9-10 people. They are designed for families of six or more, for which your family meets the terms.

 

[riftguy]

I'm in the same situation.. family is too big for a standard room at the DLH and I just can't justify spending the extra on a suite. You could try to sneak in the 6th, but you are taking a risk that you will be charged more if anyone notices and objects.

Personally what I've done is just book a suite at the Camelot for $189 a night that will fit us comfortably and don't have the stress of being caught bending/breaking the rules. And then we'll start returning to the DLH when we either get a great discount or when one of the kids is old enough to buy their own room.

 

[ddwlms]

It has been a while since I've had an infant, but I know that in the past, on multiple occasions, I was told that the infant did not count in the fire marshal's room limit. -I remember thinking that the age for not counting seemed to differ between hotels, and I wondered if what they were saying was legitimate, but I know I was told that. There were several years where we always had at least one below the age of two, and multiple locations explicitly told me the littlest did not count.

I get the impression that DLH told OP (or implied to OP) that the infant did not count, when OP was discussing the room before OP tried to extend their stay.

????

 

[GatorChris]

Let's face it. America is built for a family of 4. Whether it's a sedan, a restaurant booth, a hotel room, cruise ships.... the list goes on and on. With a family of 5, we often get blocked by hotel websites. So I tell them 4, and the now 3yo sleeps in some make shift pallet. As the kids get older, I realize that this will become a problem. But for now, we stay a little cramped and enjoy some extra time on a vacation because of it.

That said, 6 is definitely pushing it. That's probably why most families of 6 that I know buy a boat or a camper and their vacation/getaways are days at the lake or a trip to the mountains.

 

[Geemo]

I'm in the same situation.. family is too big for a standard room at the DLH and I just can't justify spending the extra on a suite. You could try to sneak in the 6th, but you are taking a risk that you will be charged more if anyone notices and objects.

Personally what I've done is just book a suite at the Camelot for $189 a night that will fit us comfortably and don't have the stress of being caught bending/breaking the rules. And then we'll start returning to the DLH when we either get a great discount or when one of the kids is old enough to buy their own room.

I do not recommend trying to 'Sneak" anyone in.

Disney security is an extremely sharp bunch! They're every where and you don't even notice them.

Disney's security team is why my husband and son's don't mind me taking the grandkids and going to DLR for a few days by myself. They know we'll be safe. Thank you Disney.

Geemo

edit to add link
This new thread asking for "hotel room for 6" information might help you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52119707#post52119707


**

 

[ClaraOswald]

As everyone else said, the code is there for a reason. You should obey it. Yeah, it sucks to have to pay more. But you chose to have a large family...so that's life. Staying at an on-site hotel is not some basic human right. Things don't always cost what we want them to cost (actually, they rarely do.) If you don't want to pay it, then don't stay there.

 

[bellazachmom]

We are a family of 6, all 4 kiddos under the age of 10 with the youngest having just turned 2. Anytime we want to go anywhere we have to book two rooms, hopefully connected, or a 1 or 2 bedroom suite.

We joined DVC years ago, mainly for the kitchen and laundry in rooms while staying on Disney property. Once our family started growing we found that having a bedroom door to close while little ones slept and let us do our thing until our bedtime was an extra benefit. I now have a hard time staying in a regular room ~ DVC has definitely spoiled us!!

Have you looked at booking a DVC villa, or renting points from a member to book at villa at about the same price as a standard disney room?

 

[Tanner208]

I was able to bring additional family members so we are able to afford a bedroom suite. I wouldn't want all the people here to fear for our lives or anything because I know infants can be such a nuisance on the fire code ;D It's all taken care of. I appreciate all the "respectful" responses I received. ;D

 

[Sherry E]

Tanner208 --

I, too, remember when you first posted about this in a few different threads and I thought it was all taken care of, but apparently not!

I really wouldn't chance trying to break the rules at the DLH. I'm not sure what you want to be told here, but everyone seems to be suggesting that you either get a 1-bedroom suite or stay offsite where you can get a suite for a cheaper price without worrying about the fire code.

The only other option is to once again call the hotel directly (not going through Reservations) and explain the latest development in your situation, give the names of the people with whom you spoke previously (the ones who told you that 6 people would be fine in a 5-person room) so that you can prove that you did talk to someone who works there, and see what they say.


Edited to add: It looks like you got it all figured out (as I can see from your above post), so that's great!

 

[Malcon10t]

I was able to bring additional family members so we are able to afford a bedroom suite. I wouldn't want all the people here to fear for our lives or anything because I know infants can be such a nuisance on the fire code ;D It's all taken care of. I appreciate all the "respectful" responses I received. ;D

I'm sorry if you took our posts that way. Your infant wouldn't be a nuisance, but would be an issue with regards to the fire marshal. I think everyone has explained nicely. If the fire marshal found out (and they tend to fine things out) the hotel would be significantly fined for allowing it to happen. Especially since it has been posted the front desk told you the only issue would be bedding. Thus the hotel is stating they would look the other way.

As far as the bedroom suite, they are really nice. 1 bedrooms sleep 6, two bedrooms tend to sleep up to 10, and 3 bedrooms tend to sleep up to 12. We've used all 3. I enjoy the set up. Makes it much easier for a large family.

 

[larina]

...I get the impression that DLH told OP (or implied to OP) that the infant did not count, when OP was discussing the room before OP tried to extend their stay.

????

This is why so many of us are confused. If you have ever called or stayed onsite you know how clear they are about fire code. There are NOT exceptions for infants and it's been reported many times on this site. Not sure what CM gave the OP such bad information, but unless there's been a HUGE policy change or a change to the fire code, it just doesn't make sense.

I was able to bring additional family members so we are able to afford a bedroom suite. I wouldn't want all the people here to fear for our lives or anything because I know infants can be such a nuisance on the fire code ;D It's all taken care of. I appreciate all the "respectful" responses I received. ;D

I'm sorry but it always gets me when a poster accuses folks of not being respectful because they don't get the answer they want. Nobody said your infant was a nuisance (just that that would put you over capacity for the room you were asking about). In fact the only one making such an implication is you. Your original post was off putting with all your entitled talk about what you deserve to experience, but I thought those who responded were quite respectful considering how the post was worded. I'm sorry you can't have more than 5 in a room, but that's just how it works.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I'm sorry but it always gets me when a poster accuses folks of not being respectful because they don't get the answer they want. Nobody said your infant was a nuisance (just that that would put you over capacity for the room you were asking about). In fact the only one making such an implication is you. Your original post was off putting with all your entitled talk about what you deserve to experience, but I thought those who responded were quite respectful considering how the post was worded. I'm sorry you can't have more than 5 in a room, but that's just how it works.

Nicely worded.

I am sorry the OP didn't get the answers he was looking for. In his previous post many questioned it then. I have often called Disney and have received 2 different answers to the same question. It is hard and it can get confusing.

I hope the OP has a nice trip.

 

[Tanner208]

Normally, I don't get baited by these type of community forums but I feel like I need to clear this up.

According to a number of CMs and a manager I spoke with at the DLH front desk who were very understanding, made it very clear that they would allow us a standard room (premium view) since they can accommodate us with 2-queens, a day-bed, and a pack-n-play which would then make it legitimately a room for 5 + infant. The only reason I brought this concern to this community is because I wanted to see if anyone else experienced this situation and maybe show a little empathy since the reservations dept. was very adamant about the fire code yet the DLH front desk was completely the opposite. Which obviously is very misleading since these two depts. work together and use the same network to do business.

Just so we're clear... I do not think I am entitled to a standard room. It seems like some of the responses like to jump to that conclusion, but rest assured, I do not feel that way and I appreciate some of your "genuine" attempts to assist me.

None-the-less, I was able to bring more friends/family with us to afford a suite so there would be no risks involved. Like-I-said, I wouldn't want anyone here to lose sleep at night. ;D This matter is closed. Thank you.

 

[DharmaLou]

It was more your wording and reaction. It's very hard to interpret tone on the internet. Sort of like your comment about not wanting us to lose sleep tonight makes me think you're just trying to get in one last jab and be rude to people trying to help you, when maybe you were just genuinely concerned about people invested in your situation.