Occupancy Thread

[jarestel]

Mike,
We took our 3 grandchildren ( 10, 8, 5 ) to BCV last week and stayed in a 1-BR. When I made the reservation, MS had no problems with the 5 people in the 1-BR ( towels only provided for 4, but this is no problem with the in-room washer-dryer ) and we received 5 keys from the front desk. We have enough points for a 2-BR, but with 3 small children the 2-BR seems like overkill. As others have stated, when they get older, the 2-BR will definitely come in handy.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Five people. One bathroom. No, thanks.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
Five people. One bathroom. No, thanks.

I guess you haven't seen the 1-BR bathroom layouts. There is a sink and tub in one room, and a sink and shower in another room. No problem-o!

 

[wilderness01]

I agree that when the kids are little the 1 bedroom is just fine. With the sink/tub and then sink/shower/toilet in the other room it worked out just fine. Good luck in your decision. Don't buy more points than you are comfortable with or you might regret your decision. Buy what is within your means right now so you can truly enjoy your purchase. Good luck.

 

[kweaver]

Debbie - our reservation said 4. I made it before people here posted that MS allowed reservations for 5 without a problem. I planned to change it before we left...but I never got around to it. There were no problems at check in.

RweTHEREyet - we used a twin aerobed. There's no space for a queen in a 1BR at SSR (or BCV, WLV or BWV).

With the bathroom setup in a 1BR - there's plenty of space to spread out. The kids had their own sink (next to the shower) and we had the vanity sink. Our biggest problem came with one toilet...we're used to having four at home! After a bus ride home from the parks, well, let's just say that the kids were calling dibbs on the bathroom on the way up in the elevator!


I also do not think the guides are misinformed or trying to pull one over on people. I think this is their current policy. If it wasn't, people would be having problems with MS.

 

[lenshanem]

Coming back to add, we've taken a twin aerobed twice, once to AKL, the other to VWL in a studio.

The kids then 2 & 5 at the time fought over it.

The aerobed was definitely easy to take and inflating and deflating takes secs. I tried it out and it seemed comfortable enough, probably more so than the sofabed.

It has come in handy in other situations, too. Good thing to have stored around the house anyway.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for the input everybody. I just had my offer accepted for a 220 pt resale at OKW. We like to go once a year for a long stay. We drive from MA so I like to stay for at least 12 nights. We don't mind moving around (I just returned from a 13 night trip yesterday where we stayed 7 nights at HIFS and 6 at WL). So my plan is to stay Sun-Thurs at one DVC resort (1BR), stay offsite for Friday and Saturday, and then Sun-Thurs at a second DVC resort (1BR).

I spoke with the selling agent for the resale and she stated what others here have stated - that there is no problem with staying 5 in a 1BR. Disney does have the right to enforce the 4 person limit but will only do so if there are problems. They will not provide bedding for the 5th person.

As the kids get older (currently they are 9,7, and 2), we will probably not go every year and I will then be able to get a 2BR.

jarestel - thanks for confirming that you were able to get 5 room keys. I would like to be able to do E-nights when possible.

 

[southtown]

Great news. Congrats on your purchase. OKW is a great resort with the biggest rooms of the DVC resorts. Im sure you will be more then happy.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Where there's a will...there's a way!!!

Good luck w/ROFR.

 

[kathleena]

Congrats on your purchase.

As far as I'm concerned, your guide told you the truth. If you call and say you have 5 for a 1br, you will have no problem at all. They will note 5 on the ressie and you will get 5 key cards.

They will just tell you there will be no additional beds, linens or towels or dishes (but I know from experience that you can ask for the extra towels anyway).

So don't feel badly about your guide - they are correct. I was told the same thing by no less than 3 CMs at MS.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Buy enough points so you can stay in a 2 bedroom, you are over the limit in a one bedroom. There are other places you can stay that fit 5 at WDW. I believe Fort Wilderness has some nice places. Off site there are plenty of great spots that fit 5 or more for that matter, but not a one bedroom at DVC. i think we may see a crack down on people that do this, especailly the guides that say this. It is time too many guides are telling people this when it is not true.

 

[crisi]

Sometimes I wonder if maybe I grew up deprived. I have two sister and a mom and dad. That's a family of five. Now, get this...the house I grew up in, the one we functioned in every day, the one that serviced to get two adults off to work and three teenaged girls off to school, the one that we occationally had guest in that doubled the occupancy of the house ....had ONE bathroom!

Until I joined this board, I had no idea that this was nearly the equivalent of a tarpaper shack and this situation was unworkable. In fact, I considered ourselves lucky, down the street was a family with SIX kids and ONE bathroom. And I had second cousins where there were NINE kids and ONE bathroom.

Of all the things people say about occupancy limits the "you wouldn't want five people using a single bathroom" is the one that makes me laugh every time.

 

[panfan]

I usually never "chime in" on this topic but here goes....

If the guides are telling people with families that have SMALL CHILDREN that it is okay and the families make a decision that it is okay with them what is the big deal ?? Especially if Disney is using this as a "sale tactic" for young families of 5 .As far as sharing a bathroom and space it would be up to the family. I agree that once the kids are older/ teens it would be NICER to have more space but I know plenty of families that have raised children in small houses with only one tiny bathroom. I would be willing to bet that my aunt and uncle's house is SMALLER in square footage that the whole one-bedroom unit all together. The kitchen and living room certainly are, and they raised and still have living with them two teens and one out of college!

We all have different ideas as to what a vacation means to us...some want to spread out and spend a lot of time in the villa, and some just want a place to "crash" at the end of the day and don't mind "roughin it" to be at WDW. NOw I know that is not the point of DVC, and It would be wonderful if all families of 5 could be in a 2-bedroom, but if Disney continues to allow it.......

Also ...I would agree that it really would only be approprite to me personally if the kids were still little ( not teens) but I really won't run into this issue as we are only a family of 4 .

 

[kweaver]

crisi - I totally understand. My Dad grew up in a family of 10 - two parents, my Dad and his SEVEN sisters! One bathroom (tub only), one phone (rotary til I was a teen!).

 

[crisi]

I've mentioned this before here, but I'm 37. I went to junior high with a girl who got indoor plumbing when we were in eighth grade (1979?). Before that, three generations lived in the farmhouse and used an outhouse.

As much as we all complain about (fill in least favorite DVC resort here), at least they all have indoor plumbing - although outhouses would make a lovely themed addition to VWL - it really can't be well themed without them.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by jarestel
I guess you haven't seen the 1-BR bathroom layouts. There is a sink and tub in one room, and a sink and shower in another room. No problem-o!

Have to agree with Horace.

I have seen the layout many times and it still only has one toliet, which is much harder to wait on than the sinks, tub or shower.

 

[Disney Doll]

The stated occupancy limits for a studio and a 1BR are 4 plus one child under the age of 3.

I have a problem with an CM telling someone "it's OK to do 5" if they didn't specify the details,...that the 5th person has to be under age 3. I have nothing against people with children, but I do believe that occupancy limits need to be enforced, especially for fire-code reasons.

I also agree with whomever said the 1BR should be able to sleep 5 adults. At least at OKW, there is certainly enough room in the living area to open the couch bed plus put in a rollaway. I'd rather that be the case than have people sneaking in extra. It just seems dangerous to me in the event that there's a fire.

I do believe that the studio should remain a 4 adult max room.

 

[crisi]

No one, in any debate on this topic, has been able to provide a fire code limit of four. Fire code is apparently done by square footage and any DVC studio is bigger than a POR room, which sleeps five. Also, fire code would not have "four plus one under three" written into it. Moreover, if this were fire code, Disney would be insane to take the liability associated with their current "wink" stance - i.e. giving out five room keys.

If someone can cite Lake Buena Vista fire code regulations on these rooms, I'd be happy to see it and start firmly supporting the "limit." Moreover, I'd write a nasty letter to Disney for allowing people to break the code.

As long as people aren't breaking laws or regulations, however, and if DVC (via MS and the checkin desk) doesn't have a problem with it and doesn't choose to enforce the contract, its not my business.

 

[jarestel]

Bottom line is you only have to clear your vacation plans with MS, not with people on the DIS boards. I agree with Crisi - whether you need one bathroom or a hundred bathrooms is an entirely personal decision. Don't see why anyone would care how many bathrooms my family uses while on vacation.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by jarestel
Bottom line is you only have to clear your vacation plans with MS, not with people on the DIS boards. I agree with Crisi - whether you need one bathroom or a hundred bathrooms is an entirely personal decision. Don't see why anyone would care how many bathrooms my family uses while on vacation.

I totally agree. They had to put a limit of 4 in the product understanding checklist because that is all they are providing bedding for. If they put 5, it would lead people to believe there is bedding for 5 (like a daybed or trundle bed in other resorts). If they choose to allow exceptions, it's between DVC and the member, as long as the member is upfront about it when they make the reservation. I don't buy the arugment that what the guide said at a sales presentation is irrelevant. So many have said it that it's obvious DVC condoned it, it wasn't a guide acting on his own. For them to turn around now and change it would be sleezy business.