Help with hotel question.

[DCat1978]

Hello all,
Not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I need some advice. We will be driving from Ohio to DW in July. We plan on stopping overnight. There are 3 adults and 4 kids(8,5,4,2). Every hotel I try and book at wants to charge us for two rooms, when I know we only need one room with two double beds, as the kids will sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. Especially as it will only be one night each way. Does anyone know of a hotel chain that will let us do this? If not, do I just tell the hotel we do not have as many as we actually do in the room? Thanks.

 

[jdjeffers]

We are a family of 4 and often my daughter wanted to bring a friend. We booked the room for 4 and, yes, let the extra sleep on the floor. But with 4 kids it would depend on them staying quiet and out of the lobby!!! If the hotel/motel discovers them, you'll have to pay for the extra room or leave.

 

[v.t.]

Look at choicehotels.com. They have comfort suites and quality suites that sleep 6, and I doubt they would question the 7th.

 

[DCat1978]

Thanks guys. I am probably going to just say we have the number needed for one room. The price of a suite would be about the same as two rooms anyway. Like I said, we will just be crashing for a few hours and then getting back on the road, so I won't have a problem keeping them out of sight.

 

[fireflymedic]

I bet any hotel that is owned by a person and is not a chain (were the person you talking to has no authority to do anything) would let you stay in the room if they knew that if they said no you were going somewere esle.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You cannot have so many people in one room due to fire codes. Seven people in one regular hotel room is illegal. Room occupancy limits are set for a reason.

If you are caught with too many people in your room, you can be ejected from the hotel.

I bet any hotel that is owned by a person and is not a chain (were the person you talking to has no authority to do anything) would let you stay in the room if they knew that if they said no you were going somewere esle. [sic]

This is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Every hotel I try and book at wants to charge us for two rooms,

I can't help with your specific question, but have a tip to help you save money elsewhere: look for security cameras in gift shops. If you don't see any, just take all the stuff you want and hide it in your bags. I mean, after all, Disney's got some nerve 'wanting to charge you' for the souvenirs. You really should be entitled to the stuff for free, so just go ahead and take it if you want it.

What you are asking is really no different than shoplifting. These hotels have policies for how many people can occupy a room. If you have more than the policy allows, you're expected to pay for the additional space you need. If the place does not have the accommodations you need, go somewhere else that does....don't steal from them.

 

[ThreeBeans]

Putting that many people in a room violates fire code and is both dangerous and illegal. Pay for two rooms

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks guys. I am probably going to just say we have the number needed for one room. The price of a suite would be about the same as two rooms anyway. Like I said, we will just be crashing for a few hours and then getting back on the road, so I won't have a problem keeping them out of sight.

Really? Wow.

No, I don't think you should lie about how many kids you have. Heaven help you if there is a fire, or if a pipe breaks and you have to own up to how many people you really have in your family. If you can't afford 2 rooms, then you can't afford your trip. Cheating and lying is never a good idea.

I'd also love to know how you plan on keeping that many extra kids out of sight.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

I second that it's fire codes, not comfort or possibility to fit people in, that makes them set the occupancy rule.

We have five kids and we've always just took the hit on needing a second room- especially as if you don't, you're dealing with seven people and one bathroom in a morning, take it from me that's one awfully long line to be at the back of when you need to go pee in a morning

 

[Aliceacc]

To add to that excellent advice:

Those kids are going to spend at least 2 days sitting in a car. Get them a good night's sleep.

Book two rooms. See who offers a discount for AAA, and just book what you need. If it means a few less purchases at Disney, it will be well worth it to have a happy group of kids instead of achy tired ones.

 

[smitch425]

You really want to put children on the FLOOR of a hotel??? EWWW!!! As PP mentioned, they will be in a car for two days. They should NOT be made to sleep on a gross floor. Now...I would get two rooms. We have made the drive from Ohio many times and we like to stay in Tifton, Ga. There are lots of hotels and that would leave you with only a 4 hour or so trip the next day. We have managed to drive straight home after the trip to Disney, but we have stayed just south of Nashville, TN once.

I would honestly get two rooms and save the trouble of hauling sleeping bags and pillows into the hotel--which, by the way, how could you possibly sneak all of that into the hotel anyway??? It is a SERIOUS safety issue AND a comfort issue. If you don't have enough money to spring for two rooms then odds are you shouldn't be shelling out the money to go to Disney in the first place. Also, consider driving straight through on the way home from Disney and then you would not really be out any unbudgeted money. Do the right thing...the safe thing...the legal thing, but most importantly, have a fantastic trip!

 

[DCat1978]

Well, Thanks for all the "friendly" advice here folks. As an update, I found a Days inn in Savannah, GA that has a 7 person room for much cheaper than most of the 4-5 person rooms I was looking at. And for the record, my children are not that large that we would be "crammed into a room," and I have no problem paying for the trip, but just because I can, doesn't mean I want to spend more than I have to. Most rooms I was looking at were two double beds, with the option of a roll away cot, meaning 5 FULLY GROWN ADULTS could sleep in the room. With that much bed space, three adults and the oldest would be in the beds, the 5 yr old in the cot, leaving a 4 and 2 year old, who both usually end up in mom and dad's bed anyway. We live in a house with one bathroom, so working around that isn't a problem.

And thanks for the idea of looking for security cameras in the shops. I missed that tip in all the planning books I read!

 

[smitch425]

when you openly admit that you are willing to lie, cheat, break the law and put your children at risk of potential harm, you can't realistically expect the rest of us to just say "go for it". That being said, I am superglad that you found a reasonable and responsible solution to your situation. I wish you and your group a magical trip! I wish someone could find a way to teleport to FL from OH in an instant. LOL! At least in FL you know it is going to be hot everyday. Not sure how it's been up north where you are, but we've been having wackadoodle weather down here in Dayton. We are flying to WDW for the first time in Oct. Just can't take the drive anymore. Bbbboooorrriiinnnggg...zzzzzzz

 

[DCat1978]

I work in law enforcement, so I guess it has made my views on what is "safe" for my kids a little different. I feel safer having my family all in one room where I have more control over the one exit to the room. I also find it ironic that the poster who lists "firefighter/paramedic" as his occupation mentions nothing about the fire code or occupancy, yet everyone else jumps on it. Anyway, thanks for your concern, and yes, the weather up here is as always, changing from minute to minute.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

As an update, I found a Days inn in Savannah, GA that has a 7 person room for much cheaper than most of the 4-5 person rooms I was looking at.

Would you mind sharing the name/address of this place? I'm sure other big families would appreciate knowing this option.

 

[SaraJayne]

Isn't Savannah way out of your way from Ohio? Why would you drive that far east if you don't have to?

 

[DCat1978]

It's the Days Inn and Suites off Rt 95 in Savannah. The room is called a double queen w/ sleeper sofa. The website says it sleeps 7 in the room. If you pay in advance, the total with tax is $66.

Days Inn and Suites Savannah Gateway/I-95 And 204
6 Gateway Boulevard East
Savannah, GA 31419 US
Phone: 1-912-9256666


I came up with Savannah by Mapquesting the route from my home to WDW. I know from when we used to go down with my parents that Georgia was about 12 hours, with 4-5 hours left, so I started looking for hotels along the route given.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I work in law enforcement, so I guess it has made my views on what is "safe" for my kids a little different. I feel safer having my family all in one room where I have more control over the one exit to the room. I also find it ironic that the poster who lists "firefighter/paramedic" as his occupation mentions nothing about the fire code or occupancy, yet everyone else jumps on it. Anyway, thanks for your concern, and yes, the weather up here is as always, changing from minute to minute.

I had no idea working in law enforcement (mall cop? secretary in a police station?) means that your children are magically protected from fire. EXCELLENT! I mean, my husband is an actual FIREFIGHTER and we don't get that as a benefit

Here's a clue....lying and cheating and stealing is illegal. Of course since you, uh, 'work' in 'law enforcement', you know that, right?

 

[DCat1978]

I had no idea working in law enforcement (mall cop? secretary in a police station?) means that your children are magically protected from fire. EXCELLENT! I mean, my husband is an actual FIREFIGHTER and we don't get that as a benefit

Here's a clue....lying and cheating and stealing is illegal. Of course since you, uh, 'work' in 'law enforcement', you know that, right?

Does putting them in fire resistant pajamas count? There's a store in my mall that has them on sale right now, and they don't have cameras, so I'm good all the way around!