Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[Dean]

And even though it speciically mentions the possibility of a 5 day minimum stay, it also would legally be nearly impossible to implement. Disney can not FORCE people to bank or borrow points, yet must allow them to use their points. With a 25 point minimum contract being available through resale, there is currently NO option to use 25 points for a 5 day stay without banking or borrowing, thus Disney, if it wished to implement that rule, may be forced to buy back any contract that does not have enough points to allow for a 5 day annual stay.

Chuck, Disney can certainly not force one to bank or borrow points. They can however, eliminate banking and or borrowing. All Disney has to do is to provide a mechanism to make reservations they actually have no absolute obligation to provide those reservations. For example, lets say no one calls to make reservations the first half of 2008 and then every one wants to make reservations the second half of 2008. There obviously will not be enough units available and some of those may actually lose points. In this situation Disney has no direct obligation.

 

[Chuck S]

Dean, that is true...but I am referring specifically to the suggestion that they could enforce a 5 day minimum reservation, with a small contract that is not possible, even for most studios, every year...and they do need to provide a way to use your points yearly. Or else, it is in essence, forcing them to bank or borrow.

For instance, a person with 100 points, even with a 5 day minimum reservation requirement, use their points, and bank (their choice) any remaining. A 25 point contract could NOT make any reservations, even for a studio at BCV, SSR or VWL, even every other year, if there were a 5 day minimum stay. Thus making it virtually impossible to utilize their home resort.

 

[Dean]

Dean, that is true...but I am referring specifically to the suggestion that they could enforce a 5 day minimum reservation, with a small contract that is not possible, even for most studios, every year...and they do need to provide a way to use your points yearly. Or else, it is in essence, forcing them to bank or borrow.

For instance, a person with 100 points, even with a 5 day minimum reservation requirement, use their points, and bank (their choice) any remaining. A 25 point contract could NOT make any reservations, even for a studio at BCV, SSR or VWL, even every other year, if there were a 5 day minimum stay. Thus making it virtually impossible to utilize their home resort.

Chuck you are correct that 25 points will not reserve five days. However one could get as much as 75 points with banking and borrowing. While understand that it's unlikely they will orphan those who own smaller contracts, the rules still allow for the five-day minimum stay. This is indeed enforceable in my opinion. And that's true even if it presents this catch 22.

 

[castleri]

However, the check-out day thing is certainly open to interpretation as it is written. For instance, say I wanted to reserve 12-20 to 12-25 day by day. I could call on 1-21 for a one day reservation (12-21 being my desired check-out day. Then I could call for another one day reservation on 1-22, with 12-21 being my desired check-out day. And so on... That is certainly allowed by the rules, isn't it?

Member Services is not required anywhere to link those reservations, they do it as a courtesy so members don't need to check-in and out (putting undue strain not only on the members, but on the resort operations personnel). By linking the reservations they reduce the number of front desk personnel needed, and the number of housekeeping days that would be required for a daily, separate reservation, thus keeping members happy and our dues under control.

The times I made day by day reservations for a GV Chirstmas week the CM actually said each day that she was making a reservation with checkin on xdate and check out on ydate. She also said she would hold the confirmation until I had all my days. I had told them I was making a 5 day reservation but each day it was as if I had made a single night's reservation. At the end it was all linked as you stated. If this was not allowed it could be very difficult to get all your nights during certain times. I tried getting Christmas reservations several times before I knew about day by day booking and had no luck. That is back when there were only two or three DVC resorts.

I find it claustrophobic with 6 in a 2 BR at any resort other than OKW so can't even imagine that many in a 1BR but I guess different people have different levels of tolerance. Just because they do doesn't mean that rules should be broken. We had 6 adults and two children (4 and 1) in an OKW 2BR last year
and even needed an air bed for that because of the make up of the group.

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

We are looking to rent points for two nights. My question is....what resort/room would you suggest for a party of 3 adults a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old? My MIL is traveling with us and she usually falls asleep in a bed but then moves to a chair/couch because of her hips. Plus, do the resorts furnish a crib/pack-n-play or do I need to find one? Thanks!!

 

[Chuck S]

We are looking to rent points for two nights. My question is....what resort/room would you suggest for a party of 3 adults a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old? My MIL is traveling with us and she usually falls asleep in a bed but then moves to a chair/couch because of her hips. Plus, do the resorts furnish a crib/pack-n-play or do I need to find one? Thanks!!

I think a studio would feel crowded for your group. A one bedroom unit would be comfortable.

At OKW, the largest DVC rooms, the one bedroom units have a King bed, a queen sleeper sofa, a loveseat and a chair with ottoman.

All DVC units should have a Pack N Play for a small child in one of the closets, and I know all 1 bedrooms & larger units at OKW have a high chair, I don't think studios have high chairs.

 

[ZPT1022]

I am new to this and found this thread through the DVC board. Would my family of five- two adults, a 6 year old, and twin 3 year olds, be able to stay in a one bedroom at AK Villas? My kids would likely share a bed, they LIKE to do that on vacation. They asked for it once and slept great and now they think part of a vacation is them all getting to pile in one bed. I wouldn't want to but they're still small and think it's fun , so bedding wouldn't be an issue, just whether or not it's allowed.

 

[LisaS]

Would my family of five- two adults, a 6 year old, and twin 3 year olds, be able to stay in a one bedroom at AK Villas?

All but the Value 1BRs at AKV officially accommodate five people. They have a queen size sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair in the living area. The Value 1BRs are smaller and do not have the sleeper chair, so they only sleep four. So you will be fine at AKV provided you book a Standard View, Savanna View or Concierge villa.

 

[ZPT1022]

All but the Value 1BRs at AKV officially accommodate five people. They have a queen size sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair in the living area. The Value 1BRs are smaller and do not have the sleeper chair, so they only sleep four. So you will be fine at AKV provided you book a Standard View, Savanna View or Concierge villa.

awesome! Thanks so much. The sick part is they will probably still want to share a bed I won't pretend to understand it but hey, it's vacation, they can do what they want (within reason)

 

[Deb & Bill]

awesome! Thanks so much. The sick part is they will probably still want to share a bed I won't pretend to understand it but hey, it's vacation, they can do what they want (within reason)

Not too long ago, you would have been fine in a room that sleep 4 plus one because your twins were under 3 and only one counted towards room occupancy. Now both are over three and all five of you count towards room occupancy.

 

[ZPT1022]

Not too long ago, you would have been fine in a room that sleep 4 plus one because your twins were under 3 and only one counted towards room occupancy. Now both are over three and all five of you count towards room occupancy.

not too long ago as in this past June! But now we're trying to figure it all out and work within our new set of guidelines. It is rather odd, most people increase their family size one by one but we just jumped right on out of the small family category and landed in "big family". We're still working out all the kinks and trying to see what it means for us for the important stuff, like WDW vacations

 

[JLitfin]

Sorry I double posted by mistake

 

[JLitfin]

I read alot about 1-BRs sleeping 2-adults, 2-children and will allow a 3rd child if the child was under 3.

How about studios? Will Disney allow 2-adults, 3-young children with the youngest under 3. I'm planning on calling MS tomorrow to ask this question but would love to know tonight if anyone here knows the answer.

Thanks

 

[Deb & Bill]

I read alot about 1-BRs sleeping 2-adults, 2-children and will allow a 3rd child if the child was under 3.

How about studios? Will Disney allow 2-adults, 3-young children with the youngest under 3. I'm planning on calling MS tomorrow to ask this question but would love to know tonight if anyone here knows the answer.

Thanks

They will allow a fifth person in the studio if that fifth person is under the age of three. They will not provide additional bedding or towels. They pretty much expect that child to sleep in the pack and play.

 

[JLitfin]

They will allow a fifth person in the studio if that fifth person is under the age of three. They will not provide additional bedding or towels. They pretty much expect that child to sleep in the pack and play.

Thanks.

 

[Micmaniac]

surely the max occupancy gets stretched all the time. What is DVC's response when it happens? Do they give someone the boot?

 

[minnie61650]

Just because member services allows more than 4 in a one bedroom in no way makes it okay but booking day-by-day is okay because member services allows it?

Oversimplification, I know. Totally understand that there's reasoning behind the occupancy thing, but surprised at the thought that Disney would risk the wrath of fines or being shut down for being unsafe. Doesn't seem like a risk they would take, and placing extra members on the reservations certainly makes it hard to look innocent. Seems to me (in my completely uneducated opinion, of course!)that maybe it's allowed more in response to what members want. Curious, though, if a child under 3 is an occupant. Is it 4+baby, 4 with baby, and if you're talking the extra person, is it 5+baby or 5 with baby??

It is my understanding a child under 3 is not counted as an occupant ( and yes we all know a child under 3 really is a person) in regards to fire codes because it is assumed that a child under 3 will will be carried to safty. That since the child is being carried they are not taking up floor space in the escape route.

Some guests think occupancy limits are solely based on room size.
The room size is not as an important issue as are the width of doorways, widths of hallways, number of stair wells, location of stairways, number of fire walls, number of stories in a building and the total number of persons in a building when determining the fire code in regard to fire access and egress.


------------------------------------------------------


Since 9/11 a lot of the fire codes are stricter especially in regards of the disabled and fire access and egress.


See this website about Resources on Emergency Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness for more info:



http://www.access-board.gov/evac.htm

There are real reasons why hotels/motels have room occupancy limits.

Just a little FYI

Have fun at Disney!

 

[Dean]

It is my understanding a child under 3 is not counted as an occupant ( and yes we all know a child under 3 really is a person) in regards to fire codes because it is assumed that a child under 3 will will be carried to safty. That since the child is being carried they are not taking up floor space in the escape route.

Some guests think occupancy limits are solely based on room size.
The room size is not as an important issue as are the width of doorways, widths of hallways, number of stair wells, location of stairways, number of fire walls, number of stories in a building and the total number of persons in a building when determining the fire code in regard to fire access and egress.

ONE under 3 is not counted, but more than one is even if under 3. While I'm sure fire codes come into play, that really is not the question when this normally comes up.

 

[minnie61650]

ONE under 3 is not counted, but more than one is even if under 3. While I'm sure fire codes come into play, that really is not the question when this normally comes up.

You are correct only 1 child under 3 does not count toward the total occupancy.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[JLitfin]

I just recently spoke with someone who was planning on renting a studio for her family of 5, (2 adults, 3 children ages 8, 7 & 3), from a DVC member. What if the family says their youngest if under 3, (which she didn't do), than what, Disney won't know, right? I don't feel confortable with this but I'm sure others would do it in a second. What do you think, not trying to start anything but I'm sure it happens all the time.