Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[mickeyfan0805]

How strict are they about villa capacities? We are currently a family of 4, but hope to be a family of 5 in the near future. When SSR and others list a villa as sleeping four, is that an enforced capacity of a suggestion based on beds? We are looking at DVC, and have no problem putting kids in a sleeping bag, but don't want to buy in and find problems down the road by being really limited in where we can stay.

 

[chalee94]

scan through the last pages of this thread and you'll get the answers you're looking for...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901569&page=112

 

[mickeyfan0805]

Thanks Chalee - Still haven't gotten the hang of succesful searching on the Dis!

 

[ranthony]

I read on another thread that dedicated studios are a booking category. This started me thinking about the studio plus at BWV that is sometimes discussed on this thread.

It seems that MS has sometimes told memers that the studio plus can be requested but not guaranteed when trying to book 5 into a studio at BWV. Don't all the dedicated studios have the "deacons bench"?

I'm a bit confused because if you are booking a dedicated studio, aren't you actually getting the studio plus?

 

[CarolAnnC]

I read on another thread that dedicated studios are a booking category. This started me thinking about the studio plus at BWV that is sometimes discussed on this thread.

It seems that MS has sometimes told memers that the studio plus can be requested but not guaranteed when trying to book 5 into a studio at BWV. Don't all the dedicated studios have the "deacons bench"?

I'm a bit confused because if you are booking a dedicated studio, aren't you actually getting the studio plus?

You cannot book 5 into a BWV studio unless one is under age 3. The "bench" is more of a luggage rack, just a thin pad on it, and personally I would not let my child sleep on it.

Dedicated Studio is not a booking category, but a request only.

 

[ranthony]

Dedicated Studio is not a booking category, but a request only.

Is a dedicated studio only a request at all resorts? We have friends going to AKV and she showed me their confirmation letter from DVC for an upcoming trip. (I've yet to actually receive one and I was curious). The letter states:

Arrival: xxxxx,2009 Departure: xxxxxx, 2009
Vacation Home Type: Ded Studio Value Jambo Number of guests:4

Points used for this stay: xx


Then way down at bottom of the page was:

Request Vacation Home Near Pool
Request Vacation Home Near Elevator

The dedicated studio part of her reservation was listed at the top of the paper, not way down at the bottom with the requests. I'm pretty sure I'm remembering this correctly.

So does that mean that Lock-offs are only a request too? I was hoping to invite cousins of mine and I'd rather book a l/o 2 br to save on points than book a 1 br and a studio. Is there a chance I wouldn't get a l/o?

Also, from another thread:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1800115

I just called to request the dedicated value studio and they said that it was a booking category!!!

So, are the dedicated studios at BWV not a booking catagory but at other resorts, they are?

 

[robinb]

You cannot book 5 into a BWV studio unless one is under age 3. The "bench" is more of a luggage rack, just a thin pad on it, and personally I would not let my child sleep on it.

Dedicated Studio is not a booking category, but a request only.

Here is a picture of the day bed in the dedicated studio. There were sheets under the cover and a blanket in the closet:

My DD was comfortable on it. I would never put an adult on it though.

 

[ranthony]

Here is a picture of the day bed in the dedicated studio. There were sheets and a fully made bed under the cover:

I appreciate the picture. Obviously everyone has their own opinion on whether or not they would use that bench for sleeping.

What I'm trying to figure out is if all dedicated studios at BWV have that bench and if a dedicated studio is actually a booking category?

BTW-I love the photos in your signature!

 

[robinb]

I appreciate the picture. Obviously everyone has their own opinion on whether or not they would use that bench for sleeping.

What I'm trying to figure out is if all dedicated studios at BWV have that bench and if a dedicated studio is actually a booking category?

BTW-I love the photos in your signature!

I have been in 2 dedicated studios at BWV and both had the day bed. I do not think it is a bookable category, but I just can't remember for sure.

Thanks for the complement on the picture . Those are all paper peace cranes at the Children's Monument in Hiroshima, Japan.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The dedicated studio at BWV (Studio Plus) used to be a guaranteed or reservable location. They changed it to luck of the draw. You can always request a dedicated or lockoff, but they are not guaranteed at all resorts EXCEPT for the BCV dedicated two bedroom villa with two queen beds in the second bedroom.

The studio plus has the deacon's bench where the door would be to connect the studio to a one bedroom IF it could be connected. None of these can be connected (they are all dedicated studios). Not sure if all the dedicated studios at BWV are Studio Plus.

If I was expecting a day bed and got a "day bed" (deacon's bench), I could be very upset. I think they changed this from a guaranteed to luck of the draw after they received complaints about the "day bed".

 

[CarolAnnC]

You are right Deb&Bill, there were many complaints. I know myself, having stayed a couple of times in the studio with "daybed", I would put nothing on it except my suitcase. Don't want chiropractor bills for my kids down the road, LOL!

As I said before, it is not a booking category, but a request only, no guarantee.

 

[Dean]

What I'm trying to figure out is if all dedicated studios at BWV have that bench and if a dedicated studio is actually a booking category?

As Deb noted, it is no longer a booking category but was in the past changing a few years ago. You can still request it but the occupancy is not any different than any other 1 BR.

 

[gk90]

I've been trying to find the answer to my question, whether 9 are allowed in a 2 BR, earlier in this thread but I can't find it...We will be 4 adults and 5 kids (ages 16, 11, 10, 9 and 8) travelling together and I know that some of the AKV 2BRs officially accommodate 9--good for us since we plan to spend a few nights there. But how about other resorts? If MS is currently allowing 5 in a 1 BR, does it follow that they would allow 9 in a 2 BR, since a 2BR is a 1BR + a studio? Or would that violate occupancy limits and fire codes?

 

[robinb]

I know myself, having stayed a couple of times in the studio with "daybed", I would put nothing on it except my suitcase. Don't want chiropractor bills for my kids down the road, LOL!

It's better than sticking a kid on the floor in a sleeping bag .

 

[CarolAnnC]

It's better than sticking a kid on the floor in a sleeping bag .

LOL! I might opt for the sleeping bag first!

We are a family of four and when my girls were younger and would not want to share the sleeper in the one bedroom, we would bring along an Aero Bed. They are not too bad, and the girls would alternate so it was fair.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I've been trying to find the answer to my question, whether 9 are allowed in a 2 BR, earlier in this thread but I can't find it...We will be 4 adults and 5 kids (ages 16, 11, 10, 9 and 8) travelling together and I know that some of the AKV 2BRs officially accommodate 9--good for us since we plan to spend a few nights there. But how about other resorts? If MS is currently allowing 5 in a 1 BR, does it follow that they would allow 9 in a 2 BR, since a 2BR is a 1BR + a studio? Or would that violate occupancy limits and fire codes?

The answer is you will not be allowed to book nine with the ages you are talking about at the other resorts. You could book a GV at the other resorts with 9, but for a 2 bedroom, one child would have to be under age 3.

 

[Dean]

The answer is you will not be allowed to book nine with the ages you are talking about at the other resorts. You could book a GV at the other resorts with 9, but for a 2 bedroom, one child would have to be under age 3.

Diane, I wish it were true. Unfortunately they will allow 9 in any 2 BR regardless of the ages.

 

[FLYNZ4]

We just stayed in a BWV studio Friday night and there were 6 bath towels, and at least 4 hand towels and I think 6 washcloths. Definitely 6 bath towels tho. We were also in a BWV studio Tuesday night, but I don't recall quantities.

We just spent nine nights in a SSR studio. Because we were using cash (it was a biz trip) we had daily housekeeping services and the number of bath towels varied between four and six. One day we would have one dishtowel... and the next day we would have three.

Maybe it was a function of how much we tipped

/Jim

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, I wish it were true. Unfortunately they will allow 9 in any 2 BR regardless of the ages.

I had no idea. I wouldn't want to do it, that's for sure! I would never want to do even 8 in a 2 bedroom. We have done 7 once, and it's too many.

 

[Dean]

I had no idea. I wouldn't want to do it, that's for sure! I would never want to do even 8 in a 2 bedroom. We have done 7 once, and it's too many.

Back a few years ago they made a conscious decision to allow 5 in a 1 BR and by extension, 9 in a 2 BR. While I disagree with the decisions and feel it's outside their rights to do so, it's not that big a deal. At the same time they cracked down on other excesses such as 5 in studio, 6 in a 1 BR and 10 in a 2 BR so I suppose one could look at it as a "compromise".

The problems I see with it are in many areas including the likelihood of extra strain on the infrastructure (pool, parking, restaurants) as well as the inevitable increased wear and tear on a given unit. There will always be low life's that will knowingly and purposefully go over what ever DVC (or any other system) will allow, no way to prevent this activity with rules alone. They are also likely to break many other rules and be dishonest in other areas as well. Rules will not affect their actions unless they are enforced and they are at risk themselves. Most of us will follow the rules and when DVC condones going over the occupancy, it does have negative consequences IMO. I don't think that's an arguable point, the only thing arguable is HOW MUCH it affects the system and that's a fair discussion from both sides. One of my contentions is that if the occupancy is 8 but DVC allows you to have 9, then it's easy to see how one could think 10 is OK as well then where do you draw the line.