DVC Occupancy Thread Part 2

[kamik86]

The only thing you can do for less then a 2 bedroom is to get two studios. But then you lose the kitchen and laundry.

 

[wendow]

Yerp....The limits are set and enforced if found out.

I don't recommend skirting the rules.

We would never skirt the rules. I just wasn't sure if it was a suggestion...as in "this is how many we provide beds for" kind of thing. Especially with someone so young. That is why I asked. I appreciate the responses!

 

[wendow]

The only thing you can do for less then a 2 bedroom is to get two studios. But then you lose the kitchen and laundry.

But they would not be connecting, right?

 

[Chuck S]

But they would not be connecting, right?

Correct. No DVC Resort has any studios that connect to another studio. It is possible that they'd be adjacent, but more than likely they'd be "nearby" which, depending upon the reosrt, could even mean on different floors or in a "nearby" building. You'd need at least one occupant of each studio to be 18 years old or older, no children only rooms, since they don't connect.

 

[wendow]

Correct. No DVC Resort has any studios that connect to another studio. It is possible that they'd be adjacent, but more than likely they'd be "nearby" which, depending upon the reosrt, could even mean on different floors or in a "nearby" building. You'd need at least one occupant of each studio to be 18 years old or older, no children only rooms, since they don't connect.

That is what I was thinking. Definitely would not want our family split like that. We clearly need a 2bd. I just need to figure out if it makes sense for us to buy into DVC or rent points again. Hard decision

 

[ethanash1]

HI, I am planning an Aulani visit in June, and had a question. I see that the 1 BD sleeps 5, but my mom is thinking of coming. That would make 6. I don't want to get a 2 BD for one more person, so I was wondering if i could keep my 1 BD and sleep 6. Two of my kids are little ones, so they don't need a room key or charging priviledges.
We own a VGC and more than once, we have arrived for a studio, and then my Mom or older daughter shows up, and stays. That makes for a total of 5. I have also checked in at VGC with 5, and told them that someone is joining us at the last minute, and they have never told me that we can't stay. Is this the case at all DVC resorts?? I was just wondering because I don't want to do anything wrong, but I don't want to fly all the way to Hawaii to be told, NO, you need to book a second room. It's not like in CA where I can just send my mom home if it's a problem....

Also, are the sleeping numbers based on comfort and actual beds? Or is it Fire code? Again, I dont' want to do anything wrong.... Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Pakey]

I'm not even going to address skirting the occupancy rules but you will each need a room key to use the pool, including the "little ones". They are serious about the pool security there.

 

[ethanash1]

I wouldn't call it "skirting the rules" when my guide is the one that told me that the occupancy listed can be exceeded. They are the experts, after all. So if they're telling me "you can sleep 2 on the floor as long as they know they're not getting a bed" then the issue becomes more of misinformation, NOT rule breaking. Like I said in OP, I don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to, which is why I'm asking if all resorts are the same. Thanks for the heads up about the pool, but I can assure you, I'm not a rule breaker if I'm told NOT to do something.

 

[tjkraz]

I wouldn't call it "skirting the rules" when my guide is the one that told me that the occupancy listed can be exceeded. They are the experts, after all.

DVC occupancy guidelines are clear as mud and your Guide--a timeshare salesperson paid to make you spend tens-of-thousands of dollars--provided a very general answer on a complex topic. Sleeping accommodations vary from one resort to the next and the degree to which DVC allows guests to exceed the posted limitations also varies.

Specific to Aulani, you can only put 6 people in a One Bedroom if one of them is under the age of 3. If you make a reservation and try to list 6 names of individuals aged 3+, Member Services should not allow it.

 

[ethanash1]

DVC occupancy guidelines are clear as mud and your Guide--a timeshare salesperson paid to make you spend tens-of-thousands of dollars--provided a very general answer on a complex topic. Sleeping accommodations vary from one resort to the next and the degree to which DVC allows guests to exceed the posted limitations also varies.

Specific to Aulani, you can only put 6 people in a One Bedroom if one of them is under the age of 3. If you make a reservation and try to list 6 names of individuals aged 3+, Member Services should not allow it.

Thanks for the input. I wish there were "crystal clear" rules across the board. It just makes it hard, but i'll err on the side of caution and go with a 2 BD or 2 studios. Thanks again....

 

[tjkraz]

Thanks for the input. I wish there were "crystal clear" rules across the board.

I think most people feel that way. However if it were the case, I suspect occupancy would be enforced at lower levels.

The exceptions apply to the older resorts which only have sleeping accommodations for 4 people in a One Bedroom and 8 in a Two Bedroom. Those resorts include Hilton Head, BoardWalk, Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs.

In those locations, DVC will allow 5 occupants of any age although there is only room to sleep 4 (king bed plus queen sofabed.) No additional bedding, cots, rollaways, etc. are provided.

Newer resorts like Aulani--and some of the renovated properties like Old Key West and Vero--already sleep 5 due to the presence of sleeper chairs or Murphy Beds. No exceptions there.

 

[Dean]

I wouldn't call it "skirting the rules" when my guide is the one that told me that the occupancy listed can be exceeded. They are the experts, after all. So if they're telling me "you can sleep 2 on the floor as long as they know they're not getting a bed" then the issue becomes more of misinformation, NOT rule breaking. Like I said in OP, I don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to, which is why I'm asking if all resorts are the same. Thanks for the heads up about the pool, but I can assure you, I'm not a rule breaker if I'm told NOT to do something.

IMO it's breaking the rules, not just skirting them. DVC has gotten relatively strict for the occupancy for a studio of 4 plus one under 3. Just try making the reservation for 5 people. Guides are not experts, their job is to sell. They have no power after that and if they bend the truth to get you to buy, that doesn't alleviate you from what those rules are. I don't think the occupancy rules are at all unclear and the enforcement has gotten better in recent years though we have a ways to go for even better consistency.

 

[k3chantal]

HI, I am planning an Aulani visit in June, and had a question. I see that the 1 BD sleeps 5, but my mom is thinking of coming. That would make 6. I don't want to get a 2 BD for one more person, so I was wondering if i could keep my 1 BD and sleep 6. Two of my kids are little ones, so they don't need a room key or charging priviledges.
We own a VGC and more than once, we have arrived for a studio, and then my Mom or older daughter shows up, and stays. That makes for a total of 5. I have also checked in at VGC with 5, and told them that someone is joining us at the last minute, and they have never told me that we can't stay. Is this the case at all DVC resorts?? I was just wondering because I don't want to do anything wrong, but I don't want to fly all the way to Hawaii to be told, NO, you need to book a second room. It's not like in CA where I can just send my mom home if it's a problem....

Also, are the sleeping numbers based on comfort and actual beds? Or is it Fire code? Again, I dont' want to do anything wrong.... Thanks in advance for any help.

For your own comfort, I would follow the rules and book a 2 bedroom. When we stayed at GCV, we were 5 with one under 1 so we were able to book a studio. But, it was really tight. So even though we were 'following the rules' it was not as comfortable as we would have liked.

Six in a one bedroom is going to be spaced challenged. This is your Hawaiian vacation. Do you really want to be smushed?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wouldn't call it "skirting the rules" when my guide is the one that told me that the occupancy listed can be exceeded. They are the experts, after all. So if they're telling me "you can sleep 2 on the floor as long as they know they're not getting a bed" then the issue becomes more of misinformation, NOT rule breaking. Like I said in OP, I don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to, which is why I'm asking if all resorts are the same. Thanks for the heads up about the pool, but I can assure you, I'm not a rule breaker if I'm told NOT to do something.

Oh my goodness. Did you get any of that in writing? Of course not, no saleesperson is going to put that in writing. And when you call them on that, they are going to say surely you misunderstood.

And I am really surprised that they allowed you the extra person at VGC that exceeded occupancy. Those are fire laws they are breaking.

 

[ethanash1]

For your own comfort, I would follow the rules and book a 2 bedroom. When we stayed at GCV, we were 5 with one under 1 so we were able to book a studio. But, it was really tight. So even though we were 'following the rules' it was not as comfortable as we would have liked.

Six in a one bedroom is going to be spaced challenged. This is your Hawaiian vacation. Do you really want to be smushed?

Thanks for all the good points. We have ONLY stayed at our home resort VGC and I had NO idea that occupancy was such a heated topic at times. This thread has been informative. I have decided to book 2 studios, and split us down the middle.... 3 in each. Then we'll have plenty of room......

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all the good points. We have ONLY stayed at our home resort VGC and I had NO idea that occupancy was such a heated topic at times. This thread has been informative. I have decided to book 2 studios, and split us down the middle.... 3 in each. Then we'll have plenty of room......

Ultimately I have no problem with the member if they cal MS and want to put 10 people in a studio. However trying to sneak people in under the radar is simply dishonest. There are real costs to room stuffing both to enjoyment of other guests and financial by way of dues.

 

[mickeysix]

Yes, the fire code and Disney's occupancy rules are 2 different things. OKW has enough square footage in the one-bedroom villa to allow 6 people as per fire code. They just don't offer the sleeping arrangement to allow that. The Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites & Spring Hill Suite for example,,all room that have 2 beds in master plus a pull out sofa to accommodate a party of 6. Disney CAN do that too, they just don't.

And for everyone just says oh well just book a two bedroom, I wish it were just that easy,, the extra cost is huge,, the difference between a one bedroom or a two bedroom is the difference in whether or not we are able to go to Disney at all;(

There is always going to be someone with one more than it allows, but in my humble experience of being a family of six, there are many hotels & resorts that can accommodate us,, sadly just not DVC without spending a fortune.

Sorry to sound bitter. I love Disney so much and it is getting so hard for us to go now. I am disheartened.

 

[Chuck S]

The Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites & Spring Hill Suite for example, all room that have 2 beds in master plus a pull out sofa to accommodate a party of 6. Disney CAN do that too, they just don't.

And for everyone just says oh well just book a two bedroom, I wish it were just that easy,, the extra cost is huge,, the difference between a one bedroom or a two bedroom is the difference in whether or not we are able to go to Disney at all;(

Sorry to sound bitter. I love Disney so much and it is getting so hard for us to go now. I am disheartened.

But DVC Does NOT have 2 beds in the Master, they have a King. And I think the majority of members want it that way. As a home away from home resort, I don't know of too many families that have 4 people sleeping in their master bedroom at home. Plus can you imagine the booking nightmares during a busy season..."But I booked two beds in the master, not a king." I really think it is much better, given the occupancy levels at DVC, to have all 1 bedroom units at a given to have the same configuration. Look at the problems the "2 queens, vs 1 queen and sofa" dedicated 2 bedrooms at the one resort with your choice of that configuration has caused, and they still both sleep the same number of guests. Throwing a different guest count into the mix would really be a monkey-wrench.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Yes, the fire code and Disney's occupancy rules are 2 different things. OKW has enough square footage in the one-bedroom villa to allow 6 people as per fire code. They just don't offer the sleeping arrangement to allow that. The Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites & Spring Hill Suite for example,,all room that have 2 beds in master plus a pull out sofa to accommodate a party of 6. Disney CAN do that too, they just don't.

And for everyone just says oh well just book a two bedroom, I wish it were just that easy,, the extra cost is huge,, the difference between a one bedroom or a two bedroom is the difference in whether or not we are able to go to Disney at all;(

There is always going to be someone with one more than it allows, but in my humble experience of being a family of six, there are many hotels & resorts that can accommodate us,, sadly just not DVC without spending a fortune.

Sorry to sound bitter. I love Disney so much and it is getting so hard for us to go now. I am disheartened.

You do not mention if you own DVC, and if so at what resort, but it sounds like you do not own.

That being said, WDW has many options now for larger families. For example the Art of Animation has family suites as do several other value and/or moderate resorts. You may want to check those out...

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, the fire code and Disney's occupancy rules are 2 different things. OKW has enough square footage in the one-bedroom villa to allow 6 people as per fire code. They just don't offer the sleeping arrangement to allow that. The Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites & Spring Hill Suite for example,,all room that have 2 beds in master plus a pull out sofa to accommodate a party of 6. Disney CAN do that too, they just don't.

And for everyone just says oh well just book a two bedroom, I wish it were just that easy,, the extra cost is huge,, the difference between a one bedroom or a two bedroom is the difference in whether or not we are able to go to Disney at all;(

There is always going to be someone with one more than it allows, but in my humble experience of being a family of six, there are many hotels & resorts that can accommodate us,, sadly just not DVC without spending a fortune.

Sorry to sound bitter. I love Disney so much and it is getting so hard for us to go now. I am disheartened.

Since you obviously are not an owner, you don't "get it" about the master bedroom versus a hotel room. NO WAY would I pay DVC or any other timeshare's prices for membership if it meant I might get a unit without a king bed in the master. If you want the most value by stuffing lots of people in a room, then you need to book at one of the cheaper "suites" hotels and not a timeshare. Timeshares are home away from home type accommodations, and I for one do NOT want a whole family sleeping in my bedroom either at home OR away.