Read well before flaming!

[Jordan's MOM]

I have three co-workers who ,thanks to me, are planning a trip to WDW at the end of May. All are going, with their families, at the same time and plan to stay at the ASMu.Our family is not going on this trip. Only one has her reservations so far. As they were sharing their plans with me this week-end I remarked that one family could not stay in one room at the all-stars because they have 5 members in their family. The youngest is four. She was confused and heart broken when I explained the rules. The other two workers encouraged her to just "not tell" or "to lie" about it. This is not the way our family plays and I discouraged her from doing that. She said she does not want to lie about it in front of her son and that she will just pay extra for him. I again explained that they still would not let you do this because of fire codes. She wanted to know if they ever make exceptions. I said I doubt it. This family is on a tighter budget than the other families and I think saying off site would be their only other choice.

I was trying to think of other solutions. Only one I came up with was to see if the other families would split the cost of a extra room three ways and get all the girls in the families (4 of them ages 7-12) a conecting room from one of the families.Any more ideas.

As I said, our family would never lie about it and I encourage her not to also. What are the chances that she would be caught if she would lie or just slip him in without saying anything. What would happen if she gets caught?

Thanks for the help you can give her.


Jordan's mom

 

[Jen D]

As I said, our family would never lie about it and I encourage her not to also. What are the chances that she would be caught if she would lie or just slip him in without saying anything. What would happen if she gets caught?

I agree, I would not do it either and would not encourage anyone to do it.

However... my feeling is that it probably happens quite often and that with a small child, Disney would be likely to look the other way. Worst case scenario, I guess they could get kicked out, but I seriously doubt it.

Nobody flame me either, I don't condone it. But I think this is an oft-broken rule in the hotel world.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Did they price POR with a trundle bed. I had a CRO tell me this is what she recommends to people in that situation.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

How many kids do the other two families have?? Maybe one of her kids could sleep in one of the other rooms? Of course only if someone doesn't already have 4 people.

I like the idea about splitting an extra room 3 ways. That would be cheap and it would get the older kids out of their hair.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

The other two families have 4 members each. Thanks for the posts. I will mention the POR idea to her. All help is welcome.


Jordan's mom

 

[gepetto]

Personally, I wouldn't pay for any part of co-worker's vacation.

Your friend has 3 choices....lie, stay at a WDW resort that allows 5, or stay offsite

 

[Tina]

I think your idea of sharing the cost and putting the kids together is a great idea. I'm sure the kids will think its pretty fun, too.

 

[ukcatfan]

The thing you have to worry about is if something happened to him while at the resort. Even if something horribly wrong happened to him at the fault of the hotel, there would be a limited recourse because he was not a registered guest. Accidents do happen at WDW. It is just too risky for me and my family. We have three kids and the youngest only has a year and a few months before she is counted. BTW under three are not counted, but must still be registered.

 

[jel0511]

Well, here at my thoughts... I like you wouldn't lie about it and would encourage my friend to do the same. Now, as someone who has stayed at an AS hotel, I have to tell you that the room is going to be WAY too small for all those people in one room, even with 3 children. As I'm sure you're aware, there are only doubles at the AS not queens. I also agree that their only option is going to be POR, or off-site. I wouldn't want to pay for another 1/3 of a room, which I didn't need, nor would I want to be responsible for anyone else's children or have my child not be in my room under my supervision. Also, there is the point of the 5th child not being a registered guest at the hotel. Now, I'm sure most people don't think things happen, but they do, and as an unregistered guest, there really would be no recourse for them. Also, there is the problem with park passes. Unless they plan on getting their passes separetely, they would be unable to get a pass for the 4 year old, since he wouldn't be registered. I do feel for your friend, but rules are rules unforunately, and they really don't have any options at ASSp, in my opinion.

 

[pstepka]

I was JUST talking to a friend this weekend about her stay at the value resorts (she has been twice). She said next time they go they will stay in at least a moderate because the rooms are VERY small. She said it was ok while her boys were younger (she has 2), but now that they're getting older, there definitely is not enough room for their family. So...I would think it would be quite crowded for a family of 5.

 

[CarolA]

Do you know what the room rate she has at the All Stars? If she is paying rack it is possible that a code rate might make a mod more affordable. I don't think codes are out yet for May, but... maybe she will get lucky!

 

[PirateFan]

Also, if the child is not a registered guest, he will not get a resort ID. This would possibly prevent the family from going to an early entry park. When we were there in Dec.-Jan. there was always a CM checking ID's for early entry. They checked all of ours, not just the adults. This may have been just because it was peak season, since that was the only time I ever recall them checking. But I really wouldn't want to chance it.

Maybe a code will come out and they can get a better rate on two rooms or a mod. I hope everything works out well and they have a magical trip.

 

[catwho]

Children under the age of 3 aren't counted they also do not recieve a door key if there are more than 4 people in the AS rooms. We had this happen. The CM though was nice enough to give us a blank key so that he had one too (even though it didn't work) He said that the AS's can only issue 4 keys even though under 3's are registered guests.

I like your idea of splitting an extra room for the "older girls" and I would do that to help a friend out if I had the money to do so.

 

[Whitegloves]

Do both of the other families have 4 in each room?

 

[crisi]

Have her call and ask. Then MYOB.

In addition to the possibility of PO, there are some decent and inexpensive resorts offsite. She could stay in a Kidsuite at the Holiday in Maingate for around $80 a night. Have her call Dreams Unlimited and ask around.

Yes, its nice to stay on site, but it isn't worth breaking the bank over.

 

[Belle5]

Sometimes I would rather not know what my aquaintances do...
I've had to learn the hard way that other people's vacation is just that. Their's! I would not take on this burden of figuring out her problems. You've told her. Let her work it out. We all did at some point!

 

[freediverdude]

Just my suggestion: Purchase an annual pass voucher for one of the children as their ticket, and that entitles you to the annual pass rate for a port orleans-trundle bed room for probably less money than, or about the same as the all-stars rack rate that they have now. Then everything will be legal and everybody's happy.

 

[tjmw2727]

You are in such a tough spot - kind of a no win situation. If you have already told them they are only allowed 4 to a room then stick to that. If not (respectfully said) MYOB <vbg>, when they call cro and give the names and ages they will be made aware of the rules and it won't be "your fault".

From experience, no matter how well meaning I was, it was always a shoot the messenger experience for me, like I made the rules!!

If your already into it, their choices are to use a pac-N-play for the 4yo (HA). Move to POR - and use a trundle, which if you use a code or purchae an ap could be just as inexpensive as an AS. They could check out the All Ears rate for the Dolphin - I think for that time period its 162.50 for the Dolphin - lots of room and legal for 5. (IMHO completely worth it for a deluxe Epcot resort that will sleep 5, but I digress!) Last and least desirable choice is move offsite!

In any case if you suggest any of these and they are not happy for any reason it "could be" your fault. If they do their own research and make their own decision it takes you out of the loop.... IMHO a VERY GOOD THING.

I, unfortunately, have had a difficutl experience in giving advice - I was very well meaning but took the blame for everything from weather, sickenss to early park closings. So beware....

TJ

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by freediverdude
Just my suggestion: Purchase an annual pass voucher for one of the children as their ticket, and that entitles you to the annual pass rate for a port orleans-trundle bed room.

Having an AP dosen't "entitle" you to a discount anywhere. The discounts are subject to availability and not always offered at all times during the year.

 

[BettyCv]

I am not trying to dispute whether or not it is "right" for Disney to have a limit of 4 people per room in the value resorts, but I have a question because I am trying to figure out why the Dolphin allows 5. Wouldn't they fall under the same fire regulations as the Disney value resorts? As far as I know, both resorts only have 2 beds in each standard room...

Is it based on square footage, or on sleeping arrangements?

BettyC