New Room Style and Occupancy Limits

[Dean]

It is ok to dream about oddly configured rooms but unreasonable to expect DVC to produce them. It won't happen, expect the standard room confirgurations. Hopefully the units will be a little larger more like OKW.

 

[eva]

I would have two main concerns with this. If if they made 1-bedrooms with both a King and 2 Queens and if they were the same points they might not be able to guarantee which you get, just like the studio plus at BWV. Also, if they made half of the 1-bedrooms at the next resort with 2 queens then it would make it twice has difficult to get a 1-bedroom with a King. There is no way that I want 2 beds in the master suite. That is why we bought DVC so we could have a great master suite and our two girls would get their own beds in a 2-bedroom. What's next? A 2-bedroom that sleeps 10?

 

[PinMan]

i agree with pam, they will keep it simple, so there will be no changes. inkbounc inkbounc inkbounc

 

[Tigger1]

Well, I will keep the Jacuzzi.

Eva is right about the limited number of rooms and not being able to get exactly what we want . To many choices can be bad too.
The Studio Plus rooms may not be as large as a reg room at OKW. Seems to small to me.

Actually the point difference is not much different for a 2-bedroom than a one bedroom. Stay one less day or buy more points and have extra room. Then when the kids grow up stay in the one-bedroom.


Tigger

 

[timC]

Why does this issue keep coming up? BECAUSE IT'S A PROBLEM! DVC currently does not offer a competative solution for the average family of 5 or 6.

When DVC was introduced 10 years ago, it was a niche product, and as such, I could see why they'd want to keep keep it simple, and focus on a specific customer profile.

But clearly the times are changing... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the only construction that's going on at WDW is DVC. Stop the Pop Century project, tear down the Disney Institute, close up POR. DVC is overtaking the traditional Disney resort and is becoming a mainstream alternative for Disney vacationers.

With that, I think disney should and will expand the variety of DVC offerings, and provide more flexibility, thereby attracting a larger band of customers.

We're a family of 4 and we nicely fit into the DVC square box. I dread the day when one of my DSs asks if they can bring a friend along...

 

[Chuck S]

But what points would you charge for these non-traditional rooms? A two bedroom is already less points than renting a 1 Bdrm and a Studio separately. If they develop a room for 6 people, should renting 2 be more points than a Grand Villa? Personally, since DI looks like it will be a small development, I think it would be a good place to experiment with different bed configurations (bunk beds, daybeds, etc.) but stay with the traditional room limitations to allow easy trading to other DVC resorts for those that purchase there.

Otherwise the discussion will be "Well, I can put 5 or 6 in a 1 bedroom at DI, why can't I do it at OKW?" What if the 6 person rooms were all assigned, should they cram 6 into a 4 person room?

 

[Richyams]

DVC currently does not offer a competative solution for the average family of 5 or 6.

Yes they do, it's called a two bedroom unit.

The one time we went with one of my daughter's friends for a few days, we only had four, but how are you going to sleep four comfortably in a one bedroom or studio? You can't. of course we got the two bedroom.

I really think that it is a case of people being to cheap to secure the proper size unit for their party.

 

[Cinderelli]

We were there in Sept and reserved a two bedroom and a studio for 11 of us. Just our family of 5 stayed the final night in the two bedroom. My children are young. 7, 6 and 4. They were all too scared to stay waaaaay over in the second bedroom by themselves. My entire family (of 5) ended up sleeping in the 2nd bedroom (with the 2 queens) and the master suite went completely empty.

Although it's easy to say we need a two bedroom. The truth is, we just wouldn't use it until the kids are much older.

It felt like such a waste of points to let the master suite go empty. There are many families of 5 in this same situation. I think it would be a great idea for Disney to experiment with some different room configurations at a new resort.

 

[timC]

Rich....I agree that for a party of 5, a 2BR is the only alternative... In fact, that's the point. There ARE not alternatives.

Why should someone have to pay to double their room capacity, from 4 to 8, simply to add 1 person. I'm not cheap, and infact have had to do exactly that on occasion. But I believe I'm buying more capacity than I need.

It's clear to me that Disney is changing their resort strategy at WDW, to focus more on their DVC business. This is very exciting. And because of this expansion, I think the composition of the member base has evolved to become more mainstream...a middle tier who is more cost conscious. At the very least, there will be a lot more family's of 5 than ever before, for Disney to cater to.

 

[Chuck S]

But goodness, I usually 'pay' for double my needed capacity when just Mom & I go, shouldn't we get the studio or 1 bdrm (boy, I hate that sofa bed) for half-price? After all, we're only two in a 4 person room. And a couple of times I've had 1 person in a studio...that means I paid for 4 times the capacity I needed, I should have gotten a 75% discount, huh? When you're kids are older you can get two studios, depending on their personal responsibily of course.

I know it is rare, but I agree with Rich.

 

[Shadeaux]

Originally posted by Cinderelli
Just our family of 5 stayed the final night in the two bedroom. My children are young. 7, 6 and 4. They were all too scared to stay waaaaay over in the second bedroom by themselves. My entire family (of 5) ended up sleeping in the 2nd bedroom (with the 2 queens) and the master suite went completely empty.

Where were you staying? I don't recall any of the DVC second bedrooms being "waaaaay over" from the rest of the unit. I'm confused. Do your three children sleep in your room at home?

 

[Richyams]

Welcome to the dark side......

 

[Terry S]

Shadeaux.... That was not a very kind statement you made. Do you have any childeren? I agree with Cinderlli! The whole point is you are NOT at home. When a young child wakes up in the middle of the night in a strange place I am sure that the 2nd bedroom is waaaaaay over there from the master bedroom as far as they are concerned.

 

[Shadeaux]

Terry, yes I do have one 13 yr. old daughter. Her room is at the opposite end of the house from ours. She's slept alone since she was 2 weeks old. When we travel, we plan ahead & bring nightlights; when she was younger, a baby monitor.

I've stayed in a 2br at OKW, & I still don't understand the waaaaaay over comment. I guess my idea of distance is different from everyone else's. I wasn't trying to be unkind, just stating my opinion which on the DIS, doesn't seem to be allowed unless it goes with the majority. As you can see, I've been a member for quite sometime, but don't post very often for that very reason.

 

[Terry S]

Shadeaux.... I guess I didn't see the question "Do your three children sleep in your room at home?" as an opinion. My 2 childern ages 4 and 5 also sleep in their own rooms on the other side of the house from us, but I can see where in a strange place it would be different. I will keep the night light idea in mind though!

 

[Werner Weiss]

We always get a 2BR for the four of us. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms -- how comfortable and convenient! With nobody skeeping on the sofa, the living room is really a living room.

Th 2BR layout is also excellent for a family of five or six. I can't imagine a family of five or six wanting to share a single bathroom. (How long would it take for everyone to shower and take care other things one does in a bathroom each morning?)

Bottom line, a 2BR is DVC's solution for a family of 4, 5, or 6 -- and it will sleep up to 8, but that wouldn't be vey pleasant.

 

[timC]

When you're kids are older you can get two studios

There's another example of a poor solution for a family of 5, looking for a decent DVC room configuration at a reasonable rate.

The room capacity issue is one of the most argued questions on these boards? It's obviously a problem, and as the member base expands, the noise will get louder.

The WDW resort strategy is changing folks, and DVC is in the cross-hairs. They are going to have to offer a broader range of alternatives... room rates, room sizes, etc, to address the much expanded base of members.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The Webmasters of the DIS have made the decision previously to not allow occupancy issues to be debated and/or argued on this board. Since this thread has become one, I shall direct those of you who wish to continue this conversation over to our Debate Board where there is an ongoing debate on the issue.

click here for Debate on Occupancy