Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[dianeschlicht]

I don't mean to stir thing up but we do the best we can with the funds we have and need to remember not to look down on others who don't have the same resources we do.

I just want to provide my family with nice vacations and great memories.

That's fine, but what does that have to do with the discussion at hand? The question is the occupancy of the different sized DVC villas. No one is "looking down" on anyone....Most are merely stating the facts as to what occupancy is allowed via our documents and what MS is currently allowing (that happens to be different from the documents).

 

[Dean]

I don't mean to stir thing up but we do the best we can with the funds we have and need to remember not to look down on others who don't have the same resources we do.

I just want to provide my family with nice vacations and great memories.

We all want that for you but within the rules. All DVC resorts have units that are designed for 5 people, they're called 2 BR units. While the 2 BR units may technically sleep 8, their really designed to sleep 6 comfortably. If cost is the issue, one can easily get a 2 BR off site far cheaper than a 1 BR on site. At the present time a 1 BR at OKW will work for you but I doubt that'll be true as the children age. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

[gk90]

The word has been out for a while now that when AKV are fully up and running, MS will then crack down on occupancy on the other resorts. They are specifically building units there to accommodate 5 therefore, it provides an alternative for families of that size.

Interesting, thanks for the feedback. I wonder whether that means they'll make an official announcement about enforcing occupancy limits next year when all of AKV is fully open? Are they projecting an early summer opening for Kidani?

 

[dianeschlicht]

These occupancy discussions always make me scratch my head a bit. I even hate to have 3 in a 1 bedroom, and will usually switch to a 2 bedroom if we have from 3-6. We once did 11 in a GV, and while it worked out great, 10 would have been better. I wonder how other timeshares regulate this?

 

[Dean]

I wonder how other timeshares regulate this?

Most very closely. I had a friend who stayed at one in HH where they had to sign if they were over the occupancy they would be fined and then leave in 2 hours if still over. I've owned at two different ones that would only allow 3 in a studio without permission from the management for 4. BTW, all you can trade for through II if asking for a 2 BR is for 6 people though if the unit you get will accommodate 8, you can usually take advantage and fill the occupancy. On a side note, all timeshare I know of have a min check in age, 23 seems to be the most common but 25 & 21 are other common requirements. They will not reduce that even for owners in most cases.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Most very closely. I had a friend who stayed at one in HH where they had to sign if they were over the occupancy they would be fined and then leave in 2 hours if still over. I've owned at two different ones that would only allow 3 in a studio without permission from the management for 4. BTW, all you can trade for through II if asking for a 2 BR is for 6 people though if the unit you get will accommodate 8, you can usually take advantage and fill the occupancy. On a side note, all timeshare I know of have a min check in age, 23 seems to be the most common but 25 & 21 are other common requirements. They will not reduce that even for owners in most cases.

Interesting. I thought DVC was a leader in all things timeshare, but I have to say this occupancy thing is definitely an area where they are NOT a leader. I'm beginning to to think housekeeping is another area they might need to look at. Of course, if they enforce one the other might get easier too. Check out times being enforced might help too.

 

[Brian Noble]

if they enforce one the other might get easier too.

A little off topic, but...

The Disney customer service playbook is built around one over-riding principle: saying "yes" to a guest request whenever you can, unless saying yes severely impacts another guests' visit, breaks the law, or puts safety at risk. Even if saying yes to one guest presents minor inconveniences to another, they say yes every time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

A little off topic, but...

The Disney customer service playbook is built around one over-riding principle: saying "yes" to a guest request whenever you can, unless saying yes severely impacts another guests' visit, breaks the law, or puts safety at risk. Even if saying yes to one guest presents minor inconveniences to another, they say yes every time.

Yes, and that is just WRONG in my book. I guess with DVC, rules were made to be broken on their side, so maybe that's why these occupancy rules get broken so much on the customer side.

 

[Dean]

Yes, and that is just WRONG in my book. I guess with DVC, rules were made to be broken on their side, so maybe that's why these occupancy rules get broken so much on the customer side.

Exactly, the guests overall will be much better off if Disney had a backbone.

 

[bpmorley]

I still don't see what the big deal is. I meet & talk to alot of people and it seems like more rooms are underutilized. I hear lots of 2 in a studio, 2 in a 1bdr, 4/5 in a 2bdr. I hear more of that than 5 in a studio, 5 in a 1bdr, 9 in a 2bdr.

 

[Dean]

Interesting. I thought DVC was a leader in all things timeshare, but I have to say this occupancy thing is definitely an area where they are NOT a leader. I'm beginning to to think housekeeping is another area they might need to look at. Of course, if they enforce one the other might get easier too. Check out times being enforced might help too.

I see DVC as a lightweight when it comes to timeshares whether it be management or sales.

 

[Dean]

I still don't see what the big deal is. I meet & talk to alot of people and it seems like more rooms are underutilized. I hear lots of 2 in a studio, 2 in a 1bdr, 4/5 in a 2bdr. I hear more of that than 5 in a studio, 5 in a 1bdr, 9 in a 2bdr.

Any hotel or resort is built on the idea that some will be under, some will be at occupancy and a few will sneak over. The difference with DVC is that sales and MS have encouraged people to go over and it's going to be difficult to get the cat back in the bag even if they wanted. Having 2 in a studio, 2 in a 1 BR or 4 in a 2 BR is not a compensation for others going over, it is by design.

 

[bpmorley]

Any hotel or resort is built on the idea that some will be under, some will be at occupancy and a few will sneak over. The difference with DVC is that sales and MS have encouraged people to go over and it's going to be difficult to get the cat back in the bag even if they wanted. Having 2 in a studio, 2 in a 1 BR or 4 in a 2 BR is not a compensation for others going over, it is by design.

DVC encourages? Not so sure about that. I just think they try to be accomodating. We had 5 in a studio once, but that was due to a booking error and of course there was nothing more available @ BCV on that trip. But that is the only time. All of our other trip have been 2 in a studio and once we had 5 in a 2bdr. And I still think that these resorts operate under their occupancy.

 

[Dean]

DVC encourages? Not so sure about that. I just think they try to be accomodating. We had 5 in a studio once, but that was due to a booking error and of course there was nothing more available @ BCV on that trip. But that is the only time. All of our other trip have been 2 in a studio and once we had 5 in a 2bdr. And I still think that these resorts operate under their occupancy.

When the sales and MS guides say it's OK, I think that's plenty of encouragement. IMO, they are being "accommodating" with someone else's money. Can you see the thread if/when they did crack down on this. All the people that post they had 5 before and they bought understanding 5 was OK because the guide said so.

 

[bpmorley]

When the sales and MS guides say it's OK, I think that's plenty of encouragement. IMO, they are being "accommodating" with someone else's money. Can you see the thread if/when they did crack down on this. All the people that post they had 5 before and they bought understanding 5 was OK because the guide said so.

Maybe that's the part I'm seeing. My guide never said anything about having extra people in a room. I'm pretty sure all he said was 4/studio, 4/1bdr etc... That's where I don't see the encouragement.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree, Dean. It is MS and DVC allowing people to book 5 in a 1 bedroom that has started all of this. Sure, there will always be people who will try to sneak an extra in, but it isn't nearly as easy if they aren't being encouraged to do so by the governing body!

Oh, and 2 in a studio or 1 bedroom is what I think the DVC accommodations are desinged for. Anything beyond 2 is for the 2 bedrooms and anything beyond 6 is for the GVs. I sure wish Richyams was in on this discussion!

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Oh, and 2 in a studio or 1 bedroom is what I think the DVC accommodations are desinged for. Anything beyond 2 is for the 2 bedrooms and anything beyond 6 is for the GVs. I sure wish Richyams was in on this discussion!

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, Diane but I'm sure that I speak for others when I say that a family of four can fit quite comfortably in a 1br. Yes, a 2br would give us more room, but we are quite satisfied with a 1br for the 4 of us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, Diane but I'm sure that I speak for others when I say that a family of four can fit quite comfortably in a 1br. Yes, a 2br would give us more room, but we are quite satisfied with a 1br for the 4 of us.

Oh, no doubt, and that is especially true at OKW. I have no problem with a family of 4 staying in a studio or 1 bedroom. I'm just not sure I agree with 5 or 6 being allowed in those size units.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Oh, no doubt, and that is especially true at OKW. I have no problem with a family of 4 staying in a studio or 1 bedroom. I'm just not sure I agree with 5 or 6 being allowed in those size units.

You are right about the 1br units at OKW. They are very spacious. We loved our stay there last summer. When we were at AKV, the studios were a bit cramped for the 4 of us. When we moved to the 1br at AKV after 2 nights, we just loved all the additional space. And my daughter loved the sleeper chair! Yes, 5 can fit in the 1br at AKV (definitely not 6) but I wouldn't want to ask any adult to stay on the sleeper chair or the pull out sofa.

 

[Brian Noble]

DVC encourages? Not so sure about that.

I'm guessing that if you asked families of five, almost all of them heard their Guide mentioned fitting in a 1BR to make the sale. A couple or family of four would rarely get that part of the pitch.