Room Capacity

[cashout]

Are the room capacities for the Disney resorts based on fire code restrictions, or is it just company policy?
I can remember on a high school having 10 teenage boys and two adults stuffed into 2 rooms, albeit not at a Disney hotel. IMHO, Disney is really putting it to those of us who do not comform to the "American 1.8 kids per family" mold.
At least I should be getting a $400 per child refund check in the mail; and, hopefully, I can put some of that toward my next Disney trip.

 

[Misti]

It is determined by fire codes.

 

[cashout]

I just find it funny that other hotels with approximatel the same size rooms can accomodate more than four people. I know that my ranting will not change anything, but trying to provide a Disney vacation costs enough just for tickets, let alone having to get a hotel room costing more than what my employer would spend for a room on a business trip.

 

[MELSMICE]

Don't most hotels have a capacity of 4 guests & then allow one roll-a-way bed for a total of 5?

I realize that only the deluxes hold 5 people, unless you have an infant/toddler that will sleep in the pak-n-play. There is also the option to stay a FW cabin or rent DVC pts. from someone. (actually, I think 1 or 2 of the moderates also accommodate 5 ) Of course, there are always off-site options also.

We have 3 DD's so I can "feel your pain". We have used all of the above options with the exception of the moderates. Honestly, I enjoy having more room anyway so I don't mind getting the larger accommodations. My favorite is the FW cabins or a DVC with a kitchen. IMO it works out the same as staying off-site or getting 2 rooms because we cook breakfast and a few other meals in the room.

I can understand where you're coming from. I used to feel the same way, but then I came to terms with the fact that everything is more expensive the more children you have. BTW - we didn't even plan to have 3 - we had twins the 2nd time around!!!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Maybe it has to do with sanity preservation! We are a family of 4. I cannot imagine more than 4 people being together in a WDW sized room for any length of time.

Joking aside, a WDW vacation is costly, and I definitely feel for those families of 5+ that must splurge for an extra room.

 

[cashout]

We have never had a problem with our family of 5 in any hotel. I had never ever heard of capacity problems except for at Disney. When I was growing up, we had a family of 7, and we were never required to take more than one room. Were we squeezed in? Yes, definitely. But the experience of being in a hotel was enough for us, especially if they had a pool.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

not wanting to sound rude,but if why not rent points from a DVC member or stay offsite.if you think it is to expensive to get 2 rooms.as for having 7 in a room,i would have been crazy by the end of the first day,i would never ever stay that many in a room.

 

[cashout]

I have no problem staying offsite, except that once you stay onsite, and your kids remember, it would be very hard to stay offsite again. We stayed in ASSp when my youngest was almost 2, and had no problem, but my kids talk about when thay stayed at Disney World all the time.
We are also thinking about becoming a family of 6 at some point, and that would cut out most of the Disney resorts, except for those that I would have a very difficult time budgeting, even with renting points.

 

[undertheradar]

My family of five prefers to stay offsite in vacation villas. While staying onsite has benefits, we get a two bedroom villa with whirlpool tub in the master,w/d, screened balcony and open air balcony, dining room with breakfast bar, 3 tvs and a full kitchen. My 3 kids prefer this and actually request to stay offsite for the added space. The resort we frequent has numerous pools, allowing for lots of semi private swim time. My 12yoDS has refused to stay onsite due to the high prices and small space.

If you think the onsite hotels are limited for families over 4, try the cruise line. Once you have more than 4 for a cabin, the fares skyrocket as they use Coast Guard regulations to control cabin capacity. My family of 5 cannot do a DCL for under $4000.

We are going to San Diego in 2 wks and hotel capacities there are also very restrictive.

 

[Laura1994]

That a deluxe room at WL could accomodate a family of six! I e-mailed just the other day and asked. So at this point I assume it's true, but of course would double check before trying to make a reservation!

We have six and I too feel your pain! We've done the FW cabins, which are fine. We liked the campground, plenty to do there. We've also done the villas at WL. Very nice!! We'd love to stay in the main building at WL so hoping that what I was told is true, as that may be our next trip! Good luck

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by Laura1994
That a deluxe room at WL could accomodate a family of six! I e-mailed just the other day and asked. So at this point I assume it's true, but of course would double check before trying to make a reservation!

Don't quote me but I think the "rooms" that sleep 6 at WL are actually a Jr. Suite. I remember speaking with someone about them while we were staying in a FW cabin & they said they were more expensive than the cabins were. Let us know when you find out.

Also, as far as renting points from DVC, you can get a 2BR for 5 nights during Adventure Season (lowest points) for 22 pts. a night. That pt. value is for weeknights only, not weekends. At approximately $10/pt. (the average rate) that is $1100, which would include your tax. If you consider getting 2 rooms at an AS resort & then paying all the taxes, you are not paying that much more for the extra space of the 2BR. Having the kitchen would save on the costs of eating all meals out. Plus, sometimes owners rent their points for less.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think it's fire codes. It's more to do with bed capacity. An OKW 1 bedroom is almost 3 times the size of a deluxe but only has a capacity of 4 because it only has a king bed & a queen sofa bed. Most deluxe rooms are 5 because they have 2 queens & a daybed.

 

[disneydentist]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
Don't quote me but I think the "rooms" that sleep 6 at WL are actually a Jr. Suite.

Disney seems to use the terms "deluxe room" and "Jr. suite" interchangably in the case of WL. Whatever you prefer to call them, they do sleep six and are quite a bit lafger than a "regular" room in any of the other resorts. You should be able to check out the floor plan and cost at Disneyworld.com.

 

[undertheradar]

Disney does indeed claim that room capacity is determined by fire code. The allowance of children under 3 not involved in the room count creates a question of selective ignorance. The WL Jr Suites are pricey and almost always unavailable.