Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[dianeschlicht]

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.

Well, I can tell you FOR SURE that 12 years ago they stated the existing numbers that are in our documents. We were told 4 in a studio or 1 bedroom max and 8 in a 2 bedroom max.

 

[robinb]

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.

I think that 4 in a studio is pushing it ... then again I think 4 in any regular WDW resort is pushing it. I think 5 in a 1BR is perfectly OK as it has nearly twice as much room as a studio and many families with older kids or kids of both genders utilize an air mattress anyway.

 

[ranthony]

I think 5 in a 1BR is perfectly OK as it has nearly twice as much room as a studio and many families with older kids or kids of both genders utilize an air mattress anyway.

However, we can only count on what is in writing in our documents. While I like the fact that MS will allow my family of 5 to stay in a 1br (and we're doing just that at HHI this Thanksgiving) we were sure to purchase our points at AKV so that we'd always have that option no matter what MS decides to do.

For families of 5 that are thinking about buying, you might want to give AKV serious consideration. Or, wait until other DVC properties are announced, as it looks like they will have the sleeper chairs to accommodate the 5th person.

 

[robinb]

However, we can only count on what is in writing in our documents. While I like the fact that MS will allow my family of 5 to stay in a 1br (and we're doing just that at HHI this Thanksgiving) we were sure to purchase our points at AKV so that we'd always have that option no matter what MS decides to do.

For families of 5 that are thinking about buying, you might want to give AKV serious consideration. Or, wait until other DVC properties are announced, as it looks like they will have the sleeper chairs to accomodate the 5th person.

You were very smart to buy at AKV . You will have the 11-month window just in case DVC changes their mind on the 5th person at the other resorts.

 

[Dean]

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.

A number of them have but not on every tour and likely not every guide, but enough to be a problem for DVC. Some people have specifically asked and been reassured by their guide it was OK because it was important to them. It has been in the product understanding checklist for a long time so every retail purchaser agreed to the limitations and every resale buyer did indirectly.

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!

Diane, at one point they were allowing 5 in a studio, even 6 at times, so the current situation is at least better though not still where it should be.

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.

Timeshares are designed to have some flexibility but the corp focus is on using the beds without using the pullout. Even for 4, it can be quite difficult as the kids age, esp if they are of different genders.

 

[susieh]

Most homes in the UK are smaller than those in the US. Many of us grew up in homes where 5 of us shared 1 bathroom (it is only in more recent times that houses have been built with an en-suite as the norm).

Perhaps that's why my family and friends who have travelled with us have always found the DVC Villas to be plenty big enough for our needs on vacation.

Although it is now DH and myself who are travelling and we book a 1 bed villa when our sons were younger we would vacation with friends and book a 2 bed villa for 8 of us. On one occasion we brought our nephew with us and had 5 in a 1 bed villa and we felt we had plenty of space.

I also think it depends how 'hard' you use the villa that has an impact on it. Young children climbing on and off a sofa with shoes on will potentially put more wear on it than an adult or teen quietly watching the TV. I think it is very hard to generalise based on numbers alone.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Most homes in the UK are smaller than those in the US. Many of us grew up in homes where 5 of us shared 1 bathroom (it is only in more recent times that houses have been built with an en-suite as the norm).

Perhaps that's why my family and friends who have travelled with us have always found the DVC Villas to be plenty big enough for our needs on vacation.

Although it is now DH and myself who are travelling and we book a 1 bed villa when our sons were younger we would vacation with friends and book a 2 bed villa for 8 of us. On one occasion we brought our nephew with us and had 5 in a 1 bed villa and we felt we had plenty of space.

I also think it depends how 'hard' you use the villa that has an impact on it. Young children climbing on and off a sofa with shoes on will potentially put more wear on it than an adult or teen quietly watching the TV. I think it is very hard to generalise based on numbers alone.

Of course it is hard to generalize on numbers alone, but then some people are just harder on things than others. It's the same with their homes. Some instinctively take better care of things than others. The problem is not with one group doing it one time though. The problem comes in when the occupancy is over the stated limit more often than not.

 

[bpmorley]

Of course it is hard to generalize on numbers alone, but then some people are just harder on things than others. It's the same with their homes. Some instinctively take better care of things than others. The problem is not with one group doing it one time though. The problem comes in when the occupancy is over the stated limit more often than not.

That's what I don't get. I don't think this is that big of problem.

 

[Dean]

I also think it depends how 'hard' you use the villa that has an impact on it. Young children climbing on and off a sofa with shoes on will potentially put more wear on it than an adult or teen quietly watching the TV. I think it is very hard to generalise based on numbers alone.

There's no doubt that there are other factors including that some take better care of things than others. The trouble is they are additive and anything that increases wear and tear, also increases costs. Over time it all adds up.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Timeshares are designed to have some flexibility but the corp focus is on using the beds without using the pullout. Even for 4, it can be quite difficult as the kids age, esp if they are of different genders.

Dean, I'm not sure if I follow your assertion that the "focus is on using the beds without the pullout"? Our guide emphasized the fact that there was a pull out bed and the sleeper chair at AKV. In fact, with the addition of the sleeper chairs, it seems like there is an even greater emphasis on pull out sleeping accommodations. I don't have experience with other timeshare units but DVC seems to push the idea of pull outs as a way to put more people in the rooms. If they didn't want us to use the pull out then why did they provide them to use in studios, 1brs, 2brs, and GV?

Now, I do agree with you that as our kids get older the pull out won't be satisfactory and we will likely have to consider a 2br unit. But, for now using the pull out seems to work for us and I don't feel like we are doing anything wrong by using the pull out nor do I feel like we are overloading the rooms with "extra" people that are providing above normal wear and tear.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Rob, I'm sure they do expect folks to use the pullouts in the studios. I'm quite sure that 4 people would be VERY comfortable in an OKW 1 bedroom, but I know for sure I would not be comfortable in any studio (even OKW) with 4 people, no matter how small they were. In fact, I would like it even less with little ones, since there is nowhere to get away from them once they are put to bed. You either go to bed at the same time or sit out on the balcony. I just don't think the units are really designed to hold 8. That is especially true of the resorts other than OKW. Just not enough room.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I'm not sure if I follow your assertion that the "focus is on using the beds without the pullout"? Our guide emphasized the fact that there was a pull out bed and the sleeper chair at AKV. In fact, with the addition of the sleeper chairs, it seems like there is an even greater emphasis on pull out sleeping accommodations. I don't have experience with other timeshare units but DVC seems to push the idea of pull outs as a way to put more people in the rooms. If they didn't want us to use the pull out then why did they provide them to use in studios, 1brs, 2brs, and GV?

Now, I do agree with you that as our kids get older the pull out won't be satisfactory and we will likely have to consider a 2br unit. But, for now using the pull out seems to work for us and I don't feel like we are doing anything wrong by using the pull out nor do I feel like we are overloading the rooms with "extra" people that are providing above normal wear and tear.

Rob, my response was more for timeshares in general but including DVC. It's not that one can't use the pullouts, but that in general the assumption of the system is that most won't other than for younger kids. Thus it's assumed that the AVERAGE occupancy of a 2 BR unit with a king in the master and 2 queens in the second will be more in the 4-5 range and not the 6-7 range. Only DVD can tell you what their assumptions are/were and only DVC can tell you what their actual experience is but they will not share this information at the present time.

I will say emphatically that what a guide says or emphasizes has no real meaning. They don't make policy and even what might have been policy when they said something could change to your detriment. So if something happens outside what is to your benefit, like enforcing the occupancy more strongly, saying "but the guide said" has NO meaning or bearing on any discussion no more than saying that anyone on the board said something, including myself.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think also what Dean may be referring to is that many timeshare on exchanges will list their occupancy as less than it actually is. For example, a unit like a DVC 2 bedroom that has 3 real beds and a sofa sleeper might actually be listed as occupancy of 6 rather than 8.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I think also what Dean may be referring to is that many timeshare on exchanges will list their occupancy as less than it actually is. For example, a unit like a DVC 2 bedroom that has 3 real beds and a sofa sleeper might actually be listed as occupancy of 6 rather than 8.

I see what you are saying here, Diane. Rather than saying that a 2br sleeps 8 (or 9!) it would be better if a 2br was listed as sleeping 6 with pull out accommodations for 2 more. That would be a more accurate description for sure.

 

[Dean]

I think also what Dean may be referring to is that many timeshare on exchanges will list their occupancy as less than it actually is. For example, a unit like a DVC 2 bedroom that has 3 real beds and a sofa sleeper might actually be listed as occupancy of 6 rather than 8.

Maybe, but not for that reason. My assertion is that timeshare are sold assuming that the pullouts will generally not be used. And while the sleeping capacity will be usually 6 or 8 for a 2 BR, most will have 4-5 ON AVERAGE. The 2/6/8 for a 2 BR is a separate matter and is actually based on privacy issues, not pullouts per se. It assume 2 people per bed per private BR access. With DVC most units are 2/6/8 but about half of the OKW units are technically 2/4/8 because there is no private access to the master bath, you must go through the BR to get there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Maybe, but not for that reason. My assertion is that timeshare are sold assuming that the pullouts will generally not be used. And while the sleeping capacity will be usually 6 or 8 for a 2 BR, most will have 4-5 ON AVERAGE. The 2/6/8 for a 2 BR is a separate matter and is actually based on privacy issues, not pullouts per se. It assume 2 people per bed per private BR access. With DVC most units are 2/6/8 but about half of the OKW units are technically 2/4/8 because there is no private access to the master bath, you must go through the BR to get there.

Okay, so that explaines why I see most 2 bedroom exchanges for many other timeshares listed as occupancy of 6.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I will say emphatically that what a guide says or emphasizes has no real meaning. They don't make policy and even what might have been policy when they said something could change to your detriment. So if something happens outside what is to your benefit, like enforcing the occupancy more strongly, saying "but the guide said" has NO meaning or bearing on any discussion no more than saying that anyone on the board said something, including myself.

Just to be clear, while I'm sure that (some) guides may say more than they should in order to close a sale, I don't believe that my guide said anything wrong to me. He just stated that they were adding the new sleeper chairs and there were pullout beds too. Now, he did emphasize the fact that because we have a boy and girl, as they get older we could likely get by with a 1br unit longer because the girl could be in the sleeper chair and the boy on the pull out sofa.

 

[Deb & Bill]

As long as your guide told you that was only in the AKV and not the other DVC resorts. Then, no problem.

I think in the early days of DVC, when it really was Disney's best kept secret, the guides were not so eager to sell it to everyone they talked to. Less competition for sales and they could let people know exactly what was what.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

As long as your guide told you that was only in the AKV and not the other DVC resorts. Then, no problem.

We only discussed buying at AKV and he did make a point of saying that the sleeper chair was something new for DVC and AKV would be the first to have it. He never once tried to gauge our interest in any other resort and we knew so little about DVC when we took the tour that it never crossed my mind to ask! I think he already knew we were hooked on the idea of buying at AKV.

 

[Dean]

Okay, so that explaines why I see most 2 bedroom exchanges for many other timeshares listed as occupancy of 6.

Technically all 2 BR units only trade for 6 so that is more likely the reason. You can investigate the destination resort to see what units types they have.

Just to be clear, while I'm sure that (some) guides may say more than they should in order to close a sale, I don't believe that my guide said anything wrong to me. He just stated that they were adding the new sleeper chairs and there were pullout beds too. Now, he did emphasize the fact that because we have a boy and girl, as they get older we could likely get by with a 1br unit longer because the girl could be in the sleeper chair and the boy on the pull out sofa.

A studio and 1 BR will technically sleep 4 and 4 are allowed. The question is how comfortable one will be and as they age, will even a 1 BR with a sleeper be enough. IMO, the answer is no and I have 2 being of different genders. Only AKV will have both the sleeper sofa and chair as it currently stands, even then not all units will but most will. They could add them later if they chose but it's likely only OKW, HH and VB would have the room to do so in the 1 BR units. And many teens balk at sleeping on a pullout as well.