Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[Mtnman44]

I understand the basis of your argument and it is correct. My only point is that it is an impercetible affect the vast majority of the time. In reality, it only "frees" up another room for someone else if the hotel is fully booked such that the someone else wouldn't have been able to book a room otherwise. So, unless the rooms are sold out, the same number of people will be at the resort whether the family of five stuffs into the 1BR or takes the 2BR.

Do you have any way to calculate how much additional wear and tear a particualr 1 BR will have if it is occasionally "stuffed" with 5 people instead of 4? Won't the same amount of wear and tear occur if the family takes a 2BR instead, it will just be in a different unit. Wear and Tear is based on the number of people using stuff and walking around, regardless of what room they are in. So the resort overall will experience the same level of use by the family of 5 regardless of what unit they are in.

Either way, I doubt each unit gets "stuffed" often enough to overall affect the crowd level at the resort or the wear rate of any particular room. I'm not talking about some radical abuse event like 10 people bouncing on a bed every night. I'm talking about a standard situation of two parents and three kids. I'm quite confident that if we were able to conduct a three year study of a control room that always had a strict limit of 4 persons and one that occassionally was "stuffed" with 5 people, no one would be able to tell the difference.

I find this whole debate petty and unnecessary. JMHO of course.

This is not true. If one gets two rooms no one else can get that room. If one rooms stuffs, not only will the wear and tear on that given unit be affected adversely but so will the density of all applicable issues. If you only get one unit and go over, then there will be someone else in the next unit with their cars and numbers added to the mix.

Any resort or hotel assumes that there will be less than maximum usage. So if you have 9 in a 2 BR and the next 2 BR has 6, that does not make up for the room stuffing in any way. The fact that there are other factors that also tend to increase maint costs is not applicable because they tend to be additive. But the point was that how one uses the resort does affect other people, it is not a victimless crime. We can then discuss how much it affects maint, etc and also rank different issues that tend to raise costs. Actually smoking is likely the largest single controllable cost.

 

[Dean]

I understand the basis of your argument and it is correct. My only point is that it is an impercetible affect the vast majority of the time. In reality, it only "frees" up another room for someone else if the hotel is fully booked such that the someone else wouldn't have been able to book a room otherwise. So, unless the rooms are sold out, the same number of people will be at the resort whether the family of five stuffs into the 1BR or takes the 2BR.

I understand your argument but feel it falls down. In theory, all DVC resorts are sold out and should be full enough most of the time that there is little flexibility. Regardless, extra in a unit is extra no matter what the occupancy or density of the resort for that time and will POTENTIALLY change the experience for all guests. And since we're not talking a single unit per se, it is additive for all who do this. We know that some people are going to sneak around and do what they want no matter the rules. However, when it becomes an unofficial policy, the number that are willing to go over increases exponentially.

Do you have any way to calculate how much additional wear and tear a particualr 1 BR will have if it is occasionally "stuffed" with 5 people instead of 4? Won't the same amount of wear and tear occur if the family takes a 2BR instead, it will just be in a different unit. Wear and Tear is based on the number of people using stuff and walking around, regardless of what room they are in. So the resort overall will experience the same level of use by the family of 5 regardless of what unit they are in.

I don't have any way to quantify though I'm sure there is info from with the industry for the insiders. Following is my opinion only. IMO, those willing to stuff the room are far less likely to take care of it. Also, when you reach a certain occupancy, the additional wear and tear is likely to go up FAR MORE than just the numbers would suggest. For example, I would expect the wear and tear for a 1 BR or studio with 5 is more like twice as much rather than simply 20% more compared to 4. But there are other factors of course.

Either way, I doubt each unit gets "stuffed" often enough to overall affect the crowd level at the resort or the wear rate of any particular room. I'm not talking about some radical abuse event like 10 people bouncing on a bed every night. I'm talking about a standard situation of two parents and three kids. I'm quite confident that if we were able to conduct a three year study of a control room that always had a strict limit of 4 persons and one that occassionally was "stuffed" with 5 people, no one would be able to tell the difference.

I would take that bet if we had any way to follow up on it.

[/QUOTE]I find this whole debate petty and unnecessary. JMHO of course. [/QUOTE]Then skip it. I find it petty and selfish to stuff the rooms but as long as MS unofficially allows it that is where any blame lies for the 5 in a 1 BR for example.

The following is a quote of an email from a friend who has managed several Marriott hotels and timeshares. I asked him specifically about wear and tear from owner vs exchanger vs renter and this is what he said when he was GM at Marriott's Grande Ocean.

We don't have any scientific measures of this data but do have a general "feel" for what we experience. More accurately if I were to generalize, I would breakdown the usage and wear and tear based on the demographics rather than by ownership lines. Families with kids are harder on the villas than couples without. Within those groups we don't really experience a discernable variance in how much wear and tear each group causes. We will have the occasional weekend renters who use their villa as a party headquarters but so too do we experience situations where owners give their young adult kids a villa for a week and the same thing occurs. Because the "price of admission" is pretty high regardless of how you are staying on property, the general case is that people staying at MGO are responsible patrons who are out to enjoy a great vacation and only place normal wear and tear on the resort. The exceptions are there- but are not predominantly any one of owners, renters, or exchange guests etc...

I am confident saying that owners are more likely to call and report a problem and share their feedback which, ultimately, affords the site team a better opportunity to address the issue before it impacts another guest.

 

[Mtnman44]

Dean,

Could we at least agree that if Disney kept non-guests off the property, at least at things like the pool and such, that this would provide a drastically larger benefit in terms of crowds, than the occasional 5 member family staying in a one bedroom unit?


For the reasons I've tried to list, I guess I'm just not too concerned about the family of five staying in a one bedroom. Most of these they just need a crib for a toddler anyway. I don't feel they are selfish or criminal or dishonest. I guess there are about 500 other things I could list that make a bigger negative impact to my vacations and the crowds. I'll focus my energy on those first.

Just my opinion. Have a great day...

 

[Dean]

Dean,

Could we at least agree that if Disney kept non-guests off the property, at least at things like the pool and such, that this would provide a drastically larger benefit in terms of crowds, than the occasional 5 member family staying in a one bedroom unit?

No, I would not be willing to concede that pool or resort crashing is a big problem and room stuffing a small one, they are both important and additive IMO. And I feel that rooms stuffing is a far more important issue overall and likely has a larger effect on the resorts amenities, esp at BCV, SSR and OKW. The reason I single these out is due to location for the last 2 and the aggressiveness of enforcement at BCV.

For the reasons I've tried to list, I guess I'm just not too concerned about the family of five staying in a one bedroom. Most of these they just need a crib for a toddler anyway. I don't feel they are selfish or criminal or dishonest. I guess there are about 500 other things I could list that make a bigger negative impact to my vacations and the crowds. I'll focus my energy on those first.

Just my opinion. Have a great day...

And I would agree if this were all it was. But it's 4 plus an infant in this studio, 5 plus an infant in this 1 BR, 6 in this 1 BR and 9 or 10 in that 2 BR, etc. Then it comes down to honestly which is only an issue if one purposefully misleads. If one tells MS they have X in a unit, MS lists that number and the confirmation says that number, one is not dishonest but MS is inappropriate. But as I noted, all of these issues are additive whether it be for the trip itself or maint of the resort.

 

[Boston5602]

Now I have not been a member long enough to know , but through threads on these boards have learned about.........past DVC furnishings and perks that if thought about in the aspect or putting more people in the room then we are suppose to and think of it terms of such , as in weren't there DVC coasters in the rooms and higher quality towels and other items discontinued because this member or that member said " its ok to take just 1 , what difference is just 1 going to make " but we find out it does make a difference even if we can't see it.

I think Dean is right in that more guests in a room than that is supposed to be contributes to a greater factor than we can either see or feel but the addition of it adds to higher degree of wear and tear and ease ( comfort ?) of use that we may or may not see directly . This all contributes to our personal enjoyment and quality of our vacations and the cost of our dues .

 

[Dean]

Now I have not been a member long enough to know , but through threads on these boards have learned about.........past DVC furnishings and perks that if thought about in the aspect or putting more people in the room then we are suppose to and think of it terms of such , as in weren't there DVC coasters in the rooms and higher quality towels and other items discontinued because this member or that member said " its ok to take just 1 , what difference is just 1 going to make " but we find out it does make a difference even if we can't see it.

For OKW there are a number of room items that are no longer available though I don't know they'd be directly related to the item of discussion at present though they do related to the integrity of a subset of the guests over time. Things I am recalling are cloth napkins and holders, many decorative items that are now either gone or glued down, a really attractive decorative shower curtain and the like.

 

[dumbo71]

I agree fire codes determines the number of occupants allowed to sleep in a one bedroom at Disney.

CRO will not book 5 persons in a one bedroom DVC if all occupants are over the age of 3.

A little "birdie" told me the MS CM's are going to be informed they will not be allowed to book 5 over age of 3 in a one bedroom in the near future.

Please concider my info as a "friendly heads up" notice.

This might be the best single news I've heard in a while. I really hope you aren't pulling our chains.

Now if they did away with the DDP and free dining........ I might consider purchasing more points in the future.

 

[shaynes0411]

Quick question, I'm looking into becoming a DVC member before the Jan. 20th deadline. My question is I currently have a family of five (me , my wife, & 3 boys ages 10, 8, 1) will I be able to book just a studio or 1 bedroom, or will I always have to reserve the 2 bedroom. I hate to use all those extra points when I know we would have no problem making due with the smaller accomodations. Let me know thanks!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Five are allowed in a one bedroom but no extra linens are provided. With an air mattress it is doable. Five in a studio would not be allowed and it would be a very tight squeeze.

 

[greenban]

Hi and welcome to the DISboards! Hope to welcome you home to DVC Ownership as well.

You can use the studios currently with 4 adults and 1 child under age 3. There should be a pck 'n play (with linens) in the closet, if not, the DVC will provide one free of charge. You can also request highchairs and bedrails as needed.

Currently 5 of any age are allowed in 1 Bedrooms. This may change back to studio rules at anytime.

Problems. Once you experience a 1 Bedroom, it is very hard to go back to a studio, trust me here.

The same is more true for a 2 bedroom. We are also a family of five, and have stayed as 5 in all room types (following the rules).

-Tony

 

[MommaX03]

Hi!

Welcome to considering DVC. This is the place to do your research.

Just so you know, there is sticky for the occupancy thread on this issue. It is worth a read. Check out the last couple of days worth of info. There is a rumor out there that 5 in a one-bedroom will no longer be allowed by Member Services in the near future.

I have a family of 5, which includes three little tykes. We were fully intending to do a one-bedroom for our first DVC trip, but we opted for a two-bedroom instead. We reasoned it is our vacation, and we do not want to lug an aerobed, linens and a pillow with us with all the other stuff. After many pre-DVC trips to the All-Star resorts, I value my space too much to do a DVC vacation cramped. Also, those three kids will not want to do the aerobed when they tower over me in the future. They will want a bed too! Buy the extra points now before the buy-in rate (point price) increases.

 

[3DisneyKids]

You are "legal" to be in a studio, since your little guy is under 3. You are also legal in a 1-BR. Once your little one is 3, then the rules say that you need a 2 BR. However, as others have stated, right now MS is allowing 5 in a 1 BR. That may or may not change in the future--but it is certainly not guaranteed as it is against the POS.

I have 3 kids as well--younger than yours--and we do well in a 1 BR. I think all of you in a studio would not be much fun at all. You will love the 1 BR though. But yes as others have said--you'll never go back! That is one reason we still haven't done a 2 BR--we know it will be the end of us!

 

[castleri]

We just stayed in a studio at SSR with just 3 adults and I would never do 5 in any configuration of ages in that size unit. Guess 8 1/2 years of DVC has really spoiled me.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree, that teh 1 bedroom will be fine while your little one is still in the Pac N Play,l but with the ages of your children, you are definitely going to want a two bedroom in the very near future. That extra bathroom is a real PLUS! Also, as your children get older, they will want a real bed instead of a pull out sofa.

 

[starbox]

There is a pretty substatial rumor that the Animal Kingdom DVC will acommodate larger families. Information should hopefully be forthcoming sometime this spring.

 

[dianeschlicht]

There is a pretty substatial rumor that the Animal Kingdom DVC will acommodate larger families. Information should hopefully be forthcoming sometime this spring.

And that is exactly why I think they will no longer allow 5 in a 1 bedroom at the other DVC resorts afte AKV opens.

 

[Doctor P]

Just to give full information, the occupancy of studios and 1BR villas is officially 4. Member Services has relaxed this to allow an additional child under 3 in a studio, and an additional person of any age in a 1BR (without any additional linens). There is no guarantee of either of these policies continuing in the future. Many people are under the misconception that the additional child under three is an official rule. It is not. It is simply a policy relaxation that may be withdrawn at any time (though I think that is unlikely).

 

[lisareniff]

Regardless of the occupancy of the room, with young children the kitchen and washer/dryer are wonderful things!!

 

[missymagic]

I love the one bedroom also...depending on the time of the year you go and for the length of time you stay should reflect in your paoints also. Something else to consider...do you go every year or do you go everyother year and have extra points you can borrow and use....many things to factor in. As my girls are getting older I like the extra space of a one bedroom...doing homework..making a nice breakfast instead of running out to a restaurant and then rushing to park opening..noone is on top of eachother if one is being crabby you can give them there cool down time away from the others...read the boards ask questions.....and decide what is best for your family

 

[Scraper]

I know that others may need more room. But my family is very comfy in a one bedroom. The two boys sleep in the living room. My husband and I sleep in the big room as well as my step daughter on her blowup. The room seems very large to us and hubby and I get plenty of privacy at home so sharing with our daughter is nice and she enjoys it. She is 12. I hope they stay lax on the rule because when we bought in our seller was very lax on this point and said there would be no problem.