Wishing more options for max amt people in rooms

[buzznina]

I agree. I wish they had kid suites at the Deluxes like they have at Universal. There is only one main entry door and then you go in the main room, where there is a KING bed and a small-couch/sitting area. Then there is a "kids room" with two twin beds in it, that has its own door and window, but not a door to the hallway. It's off the main room. I think they are about 600 sf total. They are so perfect for a family of 4 anyway. Just enough privacy to spread out a little bit, three beds so less people have to sleep together, and no pullouts. All beds.

Even the one bedroom villas are defective IMO. Too many pullouts, ick. Just give me real beds!

My feelings exactly. Even our DD (who was 5 at the time did not like the pullout).

 

[ArwenMarie]

Well, as a DVC owner who would have to pay for that sort of renovation, I know that I wouldn't be thrilled at all. I actually enjoy having a "living room" and would hate it if they changed the 1-bedroom villas into some sort of mutant hotel room.

So you book 1 bedrooms when it's just you and one other person? And just use the living room to sit in? I'm not DVC, so I would never do that, but it sure would be lovely to be able to have so much space for two people! What a luxury, how nice to be DVC and be able to do that (OR SEE BELOW)

If four people are sleeping in those 1 brs, I think most adults and even children would sleep better in a proper bed rather than a couch pullout.

I've seen suites with half walls like that very tastefully done.

ETA: Or to have enough cash to be able to pay OOP!

 

[ArwenMarie]

My feelings exactly. Even our DD (who was 5 at the time did not like the pullout).

We've always done regular rooms, but it's starting to get cramped now as my kids get older and bigger!

So, for example, I was looking at renting a BLT one-bedroom next spring (can't afford the 2 br at that time) and the pullouts are the deal breaker for me. The space and two full bathrooms are great, but I can't see spending that much money and only getting one real bed and two pullouts.

But back to the main point of this thread...Disney doesn't offer a lot of good options for families who want a little more space IMO.

 

[Lynne M]

I agree! I can not believe the 1-bedrooms claim to sleep 4. It sleeps 2 in a king bed and 1 in an uncomfortable, awkward contraption. My youngest son always sleeps in the sofa sleeper and I optimistically test it for comfort only to be disappointed each time. I can not imagine 2 adults sleeping in it.

Remember, Disney's resort occupancy limits are just that - limits. They represent the absolute maximum number of people who can occupy the room without violating the fire code. They're not meant to be an indication that you'll be comfortable with that many people in the room.

Timeshare room design is kind of a different mindset, and people who buy into DVC tend to do it for the larger, spacious villas - they're tired of stuffing the whole family into a single hotel room. Or, at least, I think that's Disney's assumption, that it's a home-away-from-home thing.

My personal opinion is that the studios were designed for singles or couples; the one bedrooms were designed for couples and *maybe* a kid or two, with some families with one or two children opting for a two-bedroom and only using the living room as ...well, a living room.

I know that not everyone does it that way, and that lots of people prefer to stretch their dollars or points. Just trying to give you a sense of why the room design is the way it is.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Remember, Disney's resort occupancy limits are just that - limits. They represent the absolute maximum number of people who can occupy the room without violating the fire code. They're not meant to be an indication that you'll be comfortable with that many people in the room.

Timeshare room design is kind of a different mindset, and people who buy into DVC tend to do it for the larger, spacious villas - they're tired of stuffing the whole family into a single hotel room. Or, at least, I think that's Disney's assumption, that it's a home-away-from-home thing.

My personal opinion is that the studios were designed for singles or couples; the one bedrooms were designed for couples and *maybe* a kid or two, with some families with one or two children opting for a two-bedroom and only using the living room as ...well, a living room.

I know that not everyone does it that way, and that lots of people prefer to stretch their dollars or points. Just trying to give you a sense of why the room design is the way it is.

That makes sense that they were designed that way, if they are vacation homes, they should have a living space (as opposed to a hotel).

Do you think most DVC owners use them the way that they were intended to be used as you wrote above?

 

[nugov2]

We've always done regular rooms, but it's starting to get cramped now as my kids get older and bigger!

So, for example, I was looking at renting a BLT one-bedroom next spring (can't afford the 2 br at that time) and the pullouts are the deal breaker for me. The space and two full bathrooms are great, but I can't see spending that much money and only getting one real bed and two pullouts.

But back to the main point of this thread...Disney doesn't offer a lot of good options for families who want a little more space IMO.

I agree, but a lot of places don't. We are a family of 5 with 2 boys one girl. We need 3bdrms when we travel for more than a day or two. It is why we rent houses wherever we travel. The only amenity we miss out on is housekeeping(which is a bummer), but the extra space is worth it. I wish there where more resorts that offered a 3bdrm option. I will say that house rentals are just about everywhere these days and makes travel a little easier. I think the majority of families are good with what is offered though and we are in the minority in our views of travel. We are just not a family that will cram our entire family of 5 into a 300-500 sq ft bedroom for a week or more of travel. It just isn't appealing to us.

 

[Lynne M]

That makes sense that they were designed that way, if they are vacation homes, they should have a living space (as opposed to a hotel).

Do you think most DVC owners use them the way that they were intended to be used as you wrote above?

I honestly don't know, I'm sure it's a mix of both. That'd make for an interesting poll on the DVC boards.

 

[samnbilly]

I don't really want this to turn into a DVC debate.
That was not the intention of this thread. I'm talking about the one bedrooms available in the hotels & I wish there were more options. People did ask me if I considered renting DVC points, & I did. Had I thought we'd be able to book this vacation months ago, we'd of had a better shot.

No one is talking about reconstructing the DVC & I certainly didn't hear any people talking about somehow sticking the cost onto the DVC owners, which I'm not sure how they would do that anyway except raise the # of points to stay there or increase your maintenance.

A lot of us are talking about the space available in hotel rooms (especially the deluxes) for families of four with older, larger, adult type children or kids of the opposite sex or 5 in a room.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't really want this to turn into a DVC debate.
That was not the intention of this thread. I'm talking about the one bedrooms available in the hotels & I wish there were more options. People did ask me if I considered renting DVC points, & I did. Had I thought we'd be able to book this vacation months ago, we'd of had a better shot.

No one is talking about reconstructing the DVC & I certainly didn't hear any people talking about somehow sticking the cost onto the DVC owners, which I'm not sure how they would do that anyway except raise the # of points to stay there or increase your maintenance.

A lot of us are talking about the space available in hotel rooms (especially the deluxes) for families of four with older, larger, adult type children or kids of the opposite sex or 5 in a room.

I didn't mean to contribute to a DVC debate, just wanted to clarify that as well.

Since I am not part of DVC and since WDW is more than happy to sell villa reservations for cash payments I evaluate all of the accommodations on the WDW site as I would any other accommodation at any other hotel company. I don't think of them as DVC or not DVC because it's irrelevant to me.

Anyway, I'll stick with my original comment....I wish Disney offered something at the Deluxes like the kids suites at the Universal Orlando hotels.

 

[samnbilly]

I didn't mean to contribute to a DVC debate, just wanted to clarify that as well.

Since I am not part of DVC and since WDW is more than happy to sell villa reservations for cash payments I evaluate all of the accommodations on the WDW site as I would any other accommodation at any other hotel company. I don't think of them as DVC or not DVC because it's irrelevant to me.

Anyway, I'll stick with my original comment....I wish Disney offered something at the Deluxes like the kids suites at the Universal Orlando hotels.

Totally agree!!
They also have larger CL rooms available which is what I was referring to, although I do see some of the same complaints in DVC (I've seen those air mattress posts!)
The daybed thing isn't bad if you have a smaller child, but I would like to see more "Deluxe" type rooms in the Deluxe's!
I'm definitely going to book one of those Garden units @ BWI when my DS goes to college (lol)
It's expensive @ the Deluxe hotels & I just wish there were more options

 

[Marionnette]

So you book 1 bedrooms when it's just you and one other person? And just use the living room to sit in? I'm not DVC, so I would never do that, but it sure would be lovely to be able to have so much space for two people! What a luxury, how nice to be DVC and be able to do that (OR SEE BELOW)

If four people are sleeping in those 1 brs, I think most adults and even children would sleep better in a proper bed rather than a couch pullout.

I've seen suites with half walls like that very tastefully done.

ETA: Or to have enough cash to be able to pay OOP!

I know that you've responded further down the thread, but I just wanted to answer your question.

Yes, I would book a 1-bedroom unit for just 2 people. Not every visit, but on the occasion when we're in Disney while friends are also there, or if family in the area wants to pop by to see us, it's nice to have a living room space to entertain in. As Lynne M pointed out, DVC vacationers have a different mindset from the resort room guests. Most of the time, DVC guests want that extra space so that they can spread out. I don't see it as paying for extra beds that aren't being filled. I see it as paying for extra space.

You also need to understand that Disney Resorts does not own those villas. The Disney Vacation Club does. They only way that Disney Resorts gets any villas to book for cash-paying guests is when a DVC member "trades" their points for a regular resort room or cruise. Even then, DVC retains ownership and Disney Resorts is sort of "renting" that villa for the duration of that guest's stay. DVC is not going to alter the villas at the owners' expense to create rooms that Disney Resorts can market to their guests.

I understand your frustration. I have a family of 5 as well. But Disney Resorts does offer many choices of suites that have regular beds instead of pullout sofas and chairs. You will, however, pay a premium price for those suites. It's all about the Benjamins at Disney.