Can I reserve this?

[roadtripper]

Hello all!
We are new DVC Members. Just stayed at AKL last week for our first DVC visit. Our home is BLT.
So, here is my question: There are 5 in my family. The kids are 9,7,and 4. They often end up in the same bed just for fun on vacations. Do we HAVE to book at a 1 bedroom that is set up for 5? Or can we reserve at, say Boardwalk, in a 1 Bedroom with the understanding that there will not be the chair bed?
I ask because when making this last reservation, we were initially waitlisted for part of the reservation. The booking agent started to offer me a 1BR at a resort that was only set up for 4 people in the 1 BR. I asked if we could do that and she commented something along the lines of understanding that we wouldn't have a "bed" for the 5th person. This could open up possibilities for the future without having to spend the extra for a 2 bedroom which seems like a waste of points when there are places that will accomodate the 5 of us for fewer points in a 1BR.

 

[mousefan1972]

Yes, you can. DVC members may stay with a party of 5 in a 1 BR that has an occupancy of 4. However you will not be provided with bedding or towels for the 5th person. Many members bring an air mattress for the 5th guest. This is not something that cash guests are allowed to do.

 

[roadtripper]

Ok...really good to know! Now to further complicate the question. With that being said, can I reserve a studio with the understanding that no additional towels, etc...will be included?

 

[mousefan1972]

Ok...really good to know! Now to further complicate the question. With that being said, can I reserve a studio with the understanding that no additional towels, etc...will be included?

No, maximum studio occupancy is 4 plus an infant age 2 or under. No exceptions are made.

 

[roadtripper]

One more question
Does anyone know what a one-bedroom value at Animal Kingdom is? How is it different than a Standard view 1BR? Could 5 go in the 1BR value?
Just planning to try to save points for future stays!

 

[tjkraz]

One more question
Does anyone know what a one-bedroom value at Animal Kingdom is? How is it different than a Standard view 1BR? Could 5 go in the 1BR value?
Just planning to try to save points for future stays!

The Value rooms are smaller than others at AKV. All of the Jambo House villas at AKV were former cash rooms which were converted to DVC. Some of the rooms were smaller than others and those ended up as the "Value" rooms.

Occupancy of the value rooms is rigidly enforced at 4/4/8.

 

[Blueliner]

Related Question for 2BR Villas

As long as we're on this topic, is it permissible to have 9 in a two bedroom villa at a resort that might not have the extra sleeper chair (i.e., Boardwalk, Baech Club, etc.)?

We are about a week from closing on resale points at BWV. We usually will have 7 in our party, so we generally will be in a two bedroom villa. On occasion there is a chance that 2 more might come along. We can look into the treehouses, AKL, BLT, etc. if necessary, but I was just curious about it.

 

[Master Yoda]

As long as we're on this topic, is it permissible to have 9 in a two bedroom villa at a resort that might not have the extra sleeper chair (i.e., Boardwalk, Baech Club, etc.)?

We are about a week from closing on resale points at BWV. We usually will have 7 in our party, so we generally will be in a two bedroom villa. On occasion there is a chance that 2 more might come along. We can look into the treehouses, AKL, BLT, etc. if necessary, but I was just curious about it.

It will depend at as the 2br occupancy numbers vary by resort. Off the top of my head the only resorts that allow 9 in a 2br are Bay Lake, AKL and the tree houses. All of the other DVC resorts peak at 8 guests 3 or older.

 

[Blueliner]

It will depend at as the 2br occupancy numbers vary by resort. Off the top of my head the only resorts that allow 9 in a 2br are Bay Lake, AKL and the tree houses. All of the other DVC resorts peak at 8 guests 3 or older.

Thanks. It looks like someone else in the thread indicated that DVC members are allowed to put 5 in a one bedroom, even without the sleeper chair, like at the Beach Club or Boardwalk. I was just curious as to whether that rule carries over to a two bedroom where there is no sleeper chair. In other words if members are allowed put 5 in a one bedroom where the "official" capacity is 4, can members put 9 in a two bedroom where the "official" capcity is 8? To me, that might make sense, given that a lot of two bedrooms are a studio/one bedroom lockoff.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks. It looks like someone else in the thread indicated that DVC members are allowed to put 5 in a one bedroom, even without the sleeper chair, like at the Beach Club or Boardwalk. I was just curious as to whether that rule carries over to a two bedroom where there is no sleeper chair. In other words if members are allowed put 5 in a one bedroom where the "official" capacity is 4, can members put 9 in a two bedroom where the "official" capcity is 8? To me, that might make sense, given that a lot of two bedrooms are a studio/one bedroom lockoff.

Room occupancies are very strictly enforced. It is my understanding that they are set by the fire martial and not Disney. The only exception is when a member of your party is below the age of 3. A infant does not count against room occupancy. In the case of a party of 5 where there are 2 adults a 15 year old, a 9 year old and a 1 year old they can be put into a room that holds 4. Disney will never allow you to book a room that is over occupancy.

 

[tjkraz]

DVC does currently allow 5 occupants of any age in all One Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. They also allow 9 occupants of any age in all Two Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. Those are the limits they have been permitting for a good 4-5 years now. The written contracts (POS) for older resorts still list the 4/8 occupancy maxes so DVC could legally go back to that on a whim. But they have never given any indication of a desire to do so.

The resorts which actually SLEEP 5/9 include:

Old Key West
Vero Beach
Bay Lake Tower
SSR Treehouse Villas
Animal Kingdom Villas (Standard, Savanna and Concierge only)
Grand Californian
Aulani

Those resorts all have a twin sleeper chair or Murphy Bed for the 5th / 9th guest.

All other resorts (except AKV Value) will permit 5 / 9 occupants but they only have sleeping accommodations for 4 / 8. Resorts will NOT provide rollaway beds, cots, airbeds or any other sleeping facilities for the 5th / 9th guest. Members are pretty much on their own to decide how to accommodate everyone.

 

[Blueliner]

DVC does currently allow 5 occupants of any age in all One Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. They also allow 9 occupants of any age in all Two Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. Those are the limits they have been permitting for a good 4-5 years now. The written contracts (POS) for older resorts still list the 4/8 occupancy maxes so DVC could legally go back to that on a whim. But they have never given any indication of a desire to do so.

The resorts which actually SLEEP 5/9 include:

Old Key West
Vero Beach
Bay Lake Tower
SSR Treehouse Villas
Animal Kingdom Villas (Standard, Savanna and Concierge only)
Grand Californian
Aulani

Those resorts all have a twin sleeper chair or Murphy Bed for the 5th / 9th guest.

All other resorts (except AKV Value) will permit 5 / 9 occupants but they only have sleeping accommodations for 4 / 8. Resorts will NOT provide rollaway beds, cots, airbeds or any other sleeping facilities for the 5th / 9th guest. Members are pretty much on their own to decide how to accommodate everyone.

Thanks to you and Master Yoda for helping clarify this for me. I had assumed that maximum occupancy meant maximum occupancy, as Master Yoda suggested, until I saw the post above about the unofficial policy of allowing an extra guest with no further accomodations from Disney.

 

[dizzney]

DVC does currently allow 5 occupants of any age in all One Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. They also allow 9 occupants of any age in all Two Bedroom Villas except the AKV Value rooms. Those are the limits they have been permitting for a good 4-5 years now. The written contracts (POS) for older resorts still list the 4/8 occupancy maxes so DVC could legally go back to that on a whim. But they have never given any indication of a desire to do so.

The resorts which actually SLEEP 5/9 include:

Old Key West
Vero Beach
Bay Lake Tower
SSR Treehouse Villas
Animal Kingdom Villas (Standard, Savanna and Concierge only)
Grand Californian
Aulani

Those resorts all have a twin sleeper chair or Murphy Bed for the 5th / 9th guest.

All other resorts (except AKV Value) will permit 5 / 9 occupants but they only have sleeping accommodations for 4 / 8. Resorts will NOT provide rollaway beds, cots, airbeds or any other sleeping facilities for the 5th / 9th guest. Members are pretty much on their own to decide how to accommodate everyone.

I totally agree, we travel with 5 in immedaite family all the time and I have never had a problem booking all five into BWV. I personally keep a blowup mattress in our owners locker so its never a problem.

I do wish they would add the sleeper chair at BWV but thye say there isnt enough room

 

[Blueliner]

I totally agree, we travel with 5 in immedaite family all the time and I have never had a problem booking all five into BWV. I personally keep a blowup mattress in our owners locker so its never a problem.

I do wish they would add the sleeper chair at BWV but thye say there isnt enough room

That's good to hear. Thanks.

 

[mousefan1972]

Room occupancies are very strictly enforced. It is my understanding that they are set by the fire martial and not Disney. The only exception is when a member of your party is below the age of 3. A infant does not count against room occupancy. In the case of a party of 5 where there are 2 adults a 15 year old, a 9 year old and a 1 year old they can be put into a room that holds 4. Disney will never allow you to book a room that is over occupancy.

Richard, DVC reservations are a little different. (I didn't learn this until we joined last year) Member services does allow 5 (everyone over age 3) in a 1 BR for points reservations. Also 9 in a 2 BR is allowed. Not sure why, but they do.

For cash reservations, the occupancy limits are strictly enforced.

 

[roadtripper]

Woo Hoo! With the info you all helped clear up, I just changed part of our reservation to Beach Club for July! Pretty excited to check out the pool!:sohappy:

New question...someone mentioned an owner's locker. What is this?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Woo Hoo! With the info you all helped clear up, I just changed part of our reservation to Beach Club for July! Pretty excited to check out the pool!:sohappy:

New question...someone mentioned an owner's locker. What is this?

Owner's Locker is a company that does storage for frequent vacationers. You get a box to store items in and they pick it up and drop it off when you are coming to visit. Since a lot of DVC members visit multiple times a year they will pack up items instead of bringing them back and forth.

 

[mousefan1972]

Evan explained owners' locker well.. here is a link to their website.

http://www.ownerslocker.com

I almost got one for my family last fall, but couldn't justify the cost. I guess we don't have that much crap we'd need to store. :lol:

 

[disneylvrs]

We just joined the DVC a couple weeks ago and one of my questions to the lady setting us up is what if it says the room sleeps 5 people, but you have 6, is it aloud? She pretty much told me that they don't do a head count or anything. My husband told me I was crazy for asking the question, but I just wanted to know in case we went with some friends and ended up getting a three bedroom and maybe wanted to have a teenager sleep on the floor or something.

Susan

 

[tjkraz]

We just joined the DVC a couple weeks ago and one of my questions to the lady setting us up is what if it says the room sleeps 5 people, but you have 6, is it aloud? She pretty much told me that they don't do a head count or anything. My husband told me I was crazy for asking the question, but I just wanted to know in case we went with some friends and ended up getting a three bedroom and maybe wanted to have a teenager sleep on the floor or something.

Susan

DVC will not list any more people on the reservation than what I put in a previous post. That means a maximum of 5 occupants in any One Bedroom villa. (And the 5 occupants already exceeds the sleeping capacity at several resorts.)

No DVC does not do head counts but those are the rules. Of course, some people don't really care about rules and will do whatever they please. Kinda disappointing that a DVC rep would advocate it, though. Anything to make a sale, I guess.

For the benefit of anyone who many be inclined to flaunt the rules, unlisted room occupants cannot use Disney's Magical Express. They cannot use the dining plan. They will not get room keys which means no Extra Magic Hours. They won't have a key for getting into the room. They won't be able to use the room charging privileges. At resorts like the Beach Club where pool access is strictly policed, they won't be able to use the pool. Disney will not provide airbeds, cots or other portable beds...not even for a fee. There are probably other shortcomings that I'm forgetting.