Extra person?

[dvcnut39]

Has anyone ever taken an extra person and stayed in a DVC room? Normally I would never ask this, but back when we were discussing buying into the DVC. our salesman told us on nuerous occasions that they don't do "head counts".

We were thinking of taking a 5th person (our daughter's 14yr friend) and were wondering if anyone else has ever down this. We plan on staying in a studio which allows 4 people + one child 3 or under.

As I stated earlier, if the DVC didn't use this ("no head counts") as a selling point, I would NEVER consider this, but based on the fact that it was repeatedly told to us, we are considering it. Any thoughts?

 

[reptar77]

5 people in a studio will be a little tight but you could prob do it. The only thing I would be worried about is if you are going to EMH how are you going to get the 5th in?

 

[dvcnut39]

We're driving down. Thanks for the help.

 

[Magic Maker]

According to my boyfriend, a Guide, we are to never state that anymore than 4 can fit in a 1 bdrm or studio, fire marshall code.

I supposed you can go for it if you really want to, but we are both under the impression it is not allowed.

 

[The Mom]

OK. Say "someone" tells you that 5 people are OK, and the fire code is more of a "guideline."
You go, squeeze in the extra person, and no one at WDW says a thing. You come back to this, or another, message board and post the WDW doesn't care if you have 5 people in a 4 person unit.

Someone else reads your post and thinks, 'Hmmm, they were able to get away with 5, and WDW condoned it. We have 6 people, but they're all skinny, so lets go for it. After all, it's just one more person."

They get away with it, and post it on a message board.

Do you see where this is going? The next thing you know, you'll see kids sleeping out on the patio or on the balcony while their 6 relatives take all the beds, couches, and chairs. After all, if WE'RE comfortable, why should anyone else care?

I know I'm exaggerating, but that's why Disney has to have cut-offs, and really should enforce them, knowing full well that some people will ignore them, and will get away with it.

As mentioned in every thread of this nature (ie, ignoring WDW rules) let your conscience be your guide, knowing that someday rules that have been treated as "guidelines" will start being enforced more stringently, inconveniencing those who have followed them all along. (For example, finger scanners because so many people ignored the "nontransferable" clause on the back of their tickets.)

 

[ConstanceIrene]

Well said.


I'd like to add a couple of things to mull over:

What kind of message does this teach your children about rules? A 14 year-old knows what rules are and knows when they're being broken.

Even if you decided to squeeze 5 into a studio, where is everyone going to sleep?

Save your points and get extra studio for her sweet 16. That would make a great birthday present. She could have a couple of friends and your wife could chaperone the room.

 

[dvcnut39]

As always, I appreciate all the feedback. You guys are the best. Another problem that I had with NOT adding the 5th person in the studio is if you read Birnbaum's 2006 edition, it clearly states that 5 people are permitted in a studio at BWV. I then checked with Disney and they stated that this was a misprint.

So based on your statements, plus the fact that I know for sure that only 4 adults are permitted in ALL studios, we made our decision....

We're going to stay at PORS and pay the extra 4pts/nt plus $15/nt for the trundle bed.

Again, thanks for all the input.

 

[The Mom]

Even if you decided to squeeze 5 into a studio, where is everyone going to sleep?

QUOTE]

I rented a studio/1bedroom villa combo once (along with a couple of wdwmagic oldtimers), and that would also be my question. The studio portion had a ?queen bed, and a pull out ?queen couch, but when it was open, there wasn't a lot of room left. It was bascically a hotel room with a couch next to the bed, and a kitchenette added.

The 1 br part was larger, as it had a separate living room/dining/kitchen area with a pull-out couch, and there would be room to put down a sleeping bag in one of the rooms, especially the bedroom. But unless the 3rd child was young enough to squeeze into the king bed, he/she would not have bedding.

I think you'll be happier at POR even though you won't be within walking distance of Epcot. WDW is tiring enough without having to deal with a bad night's sleep.

 

[jasondiff]

The only time DVC allows 5 in a studio or 1BR is when one of the 5 is a child under 3.
They will only provide towels for 4 people, and more importantly they will only provide keycards for 4 people. So EMH will be a problem but so will showering!

 

[Hakunamatata]

You say Disney does not do a headcount? Thats odd, they asked for the names of the people who will be staying with us in our DVC room in January. Sounds like a headcount to me.

 

[jasondiff]

You say Disney does not do a headcount? Thats odd, they asked for the names of the people who will be staying with us in our DVC room in January. Sounds like a headcount to me.

That's because each person gets a keycard with their name on it. If you gave 5 names, they would likely tell you the occupancy limit is 4. However, they won't come around and count how many people are sleeping in your room late at night.

 

[Hakunamatata]

That's because each person gets a keycard with their name on it. If you gave 5 names, they would likely tell you the occupancy limit is 4. However, they won't come around and count how many people are sleeping in your room late at night.

You are correct, but when does honesty come in to play here?

 

[slappy magoo]

You are correct, but when does honesty come in to play here?

When you act "Honestly" surprised that they won't let you bring 4 extra people with you to a studio? :hammer:

For the record, I'd never want the ghost of Walt Disney houding me in my sleep. They say fire code is four people, I'm not gonna try to slip one more person in there. I'll cut corners, rent other people's points, even go to a mod or value rather than run the risk of looking incredibly dopey when/if word got out that we were farting in the general direction of WDW's rules and regs.

Just because a CM or even a sales rep (you know, the person who makes a commission on every sale?) tells you that the rule is hardly enforced doesn't mean that the managers running the resort in question feels the same way. We all have heard stories told us by WDW employees that turned out to be wishful thinking, miscommunication or flat out whoppers. You want to chance it, feel free, but I'd be ready to pay for that extra room if you're caught.