Was she right?? About This Page:

[disneygal]

When I spoke to member services yesterday regarding waitlist for BCV at the end of October she told me I didn't need a two bedroom for my party of five. That although the one bedroom only sleeps 4 they will allow a fifth person, but there isn't any bedding for that fifth person. I was shocked. I thought all along that I had to be in a two bedroom as soon as my youngest turned 3, which he will 5 days before I want to go to Disney. I kept asking her if she was sure and she kept reassuring me. Is it true? Have I just been assuming incorrectly all along?

[B.M.]

I'm with you , I also thought the 1 bdrms were up to 4. (maybe it lists it as sleeping up to 4 , but allows 5 like she said) I might be prone to double check. Maybe someone else on here will know for sure.

[ghost1000]

DVC will also not provide towels for the 5th person, in addition to the bedding (except at AKV).

[MBUS]

It has been mentioned on the boards several times that they will allow 5 in a one bedroom. I think it was said they allowed cash bookings to do this (people not using DVC points to stay in DVC resorts) so DVC guests could do this as well.

I have not tried it, since my Mum usually travels with us making us a party of 6, but I will definitely keep it in mind for the trips when it is just the 5 of us!

Beth

[disneymom9092]

The only problem I see is where that fifth person would sleep? There isn't much room with the sofa bed out for an aerobed, etc. on the floor. OKW has much bigger rooms and the place for that. Only once have we had 5 in an OKW 1 BR when DS#1's best friend came with us. We usually get a 2 bedroom for 5 of us. However, we had 5 room keys and they knew from the beginning we had 5 as Ryan has epilepsy and I requested a first floor room in case we had an emergency. I could not imagine all 5 of us in a BCV 1BR, but then you have a 3 year old. We always stay on points as well.

[ljjri]

I would go with the two bedroom. I can honestly say I had a one bedroom with 5 people and never again!!! For one thing, only one bathroom, trying to make room for the 5th person was a challenge as was it made for cramped spaces. Also we all kinda got on each others nerves, there really was no extra space. We had luggage, 5 adults, and whatever we bought.

My advice go with the 2 bedroom you will all be much happier!!

[alb]

I tried to waitlist for BCV thru Interval yesterday and she said even with 5 we would be waitlisted for a one BR and could try to get a 2 BR if it became available. There seemed to be no restrictions on putting 5 in a one-BR.

[tjkraz]

The POS states 4 occupants in a One Bedroom.

For years DVC had informally expanded that to be "Four plus one under the age of three."

Then around 2005 when Disney started printing individual guest names on the key cards (remember when they were all issued in just one name?) DVC began allowing five occupants any age.

I believe everything stated here is correct. They will not give you any extra bedding or towels. No cots or rollaway beds can be obtained. Some people squeeze into the accommodations provided (I've heard of families allowing a small child to join them in the king bed.) Others bring their own sleeping bags or airbeds.

We did it once back when the kids were ages 2 and 4. Grandma came along and had no problem sleeping in the living room with the two kids. Now that the kids are older I couldn't imagine doing that again.

Most of the AKV rooms--all EXCEPT the Value class--will actually sleep 5 guests. They have the queen size sleeper sofa in the living room plus a twin sleeper chair. Other resorts just have the king bed and queen sofabed.

It probably comes down to a personal level of comfort. The larger DVC villas were originally designed to appeal to those who want more of a high quality resort experience. But as DVC has grown, its appeal has reached those with different expectations.

There are people who are quite comfortable putting 4 in a 300 sq ft Value room. I'm sure they have little reservations about putting 5 into a 700 sq ft DVC villa.

[chezp]

I'm with the others - I'd still go for the two bedroom and have the additional space.

[MelissaL]

Our family of 4 stayed in a 1-bedroom at Boardwalk Villas last October. We were leery of our 4 year old daughter and 9 year old son sharing a bed, as they are both restless sleepers, so we brought a sleeping bag. There was ample room on the floor by the sofa bed for the sleeping bag. So 5 people would fit, but as mentioned above, having 5 people share a bathroom (with only 4 sets of towels) is another concern altogether.
Melissa

[disneygal]

I don't mind the one bedroom for my family of five. My kids will be 3, 5 & 8 at the time we go. The two older would sleep together and the baby will sleep in a porta crib if he still fits, or my husband will sleep with the two older boys in the big bed and I'll sleep with the baby in the smaller bed. For us it is no biggie. The boys each have their own rooms at home so they like to bunk together. Also, as far as the amount of towels, we just call and get more towels and wash them. I don't mind doing wash, with three very active boys I'm always doing laundry so it's just part of my day. I actually do have enough points for a two bedroom, but a one bedroom would be easier for me to get I was told by member services.

[Goofy'sGal]

We have stayed as a party of 5 in a 1 bedroom at both the VWL and BCV; however, our party consisted of myself, DH, MIL and my two young girls (who were 6 and under). The girls were small enough that they preferred sleeping with us in that big King bed LOL and MIL slept on the Queen sofabed.

On that first trip, we were not DVC members yet. My youngest was 2-1/2 so it wasn't an issue at all. Not thinking for our 2nd trip when she was turning 4, I called to book a 1 BR and add all of us plus my MIL onto our ressie and the CM told me that the 1BR could only fit 4. I didn't realize that DD's age made the difference so I said we'd been able to do it before PLUS the girls would be sleeping with us (again! LOL). The CM didn't sound happy but she added MIL to the ressie and said that they wouldn't provide add'l bedding or towels for the 5th person. As it turned out, our Mousekeeper gave us lots of extra towels (without our asking for it, too!) so it wasn't a problem. Thereafter, we've always booked a 2 bedroom for us when we travel with 5 or more.

This year I thought we'd have another problem. We asked my friend's family to join us. I then realized that I'd have enough pts for a 2BR but she has a family of 5! And her kids are teenagers! I immediately called Member Svcs to see if it was possible and I was reassured that it was ok b/c two of my friend's kids are considered juniors (12 and 17). I was very worried but she said it was fine. When my friend booked her airfare, I called MS with sweaty palms to add them all to the ressie. The CM who helped me was worried too. She did not think that the computer would allow 9 names on the ressie. But again, b/c two of the kids were juniors, it accepted all 9 of us without a problem - whew! LOL I don't know how comfortable they really were. My friend brought an air mattress for her teenage son to sleep on. As for towels, I had told her not to pack beach towels as she could get them by the pool. Well, once they checked in, they called the desk to see if that was right and the CM told them that they should take their room towels down to the pool! Not knowing any better, they did and when they returned for showers, they were seriously short towels! Still, they were so happy to be at Disney, they really didn't complain much!

[o2bnwdw!]

We are facing an issue similar to this.

We have booked a 2 bedroom at SSR for 4 nights in late Oct. One of my best friend's has been going through colon cancer treatments this year and she will be done with chemo in June. So I thought it would be nice to treat her and her family to a Disney trip with us. All they would have to pay for was airline & park tickets.

Well, she was thrilled & touched by the invitation. However, her DH is upset because I just invited her, DH and her 2 kids, thinking 2 bedroom DVC units only hold 8 people. He has a daughter from a previous marriage. He basically has said that if she can't come, they won't come. He is not normally this difficult!

Anyway, if we can add his daughter to our ressie legitimately, it will alleviate the tension and I believe they will all come. This is something I know my friend needs - something to look forward to and to celebrate being done with chemo!

So should I call DVC and see about adding her? I would have no issue packing some extra bedding and towels so one of the kids can sleep on the floor. By the way, it would make our ressie 4 adults and 5 kids, ages 16, 15, 14, 12 and 11.

[disneygal]

It definitely wouldn't hurt to call and see. Hope it works out and everyone can go, it sounds like your friend really could use the getaway!

[Goofy'sGal]

As I mentioned in my response, we were able to fit 5 adults and 4 children (ages 7, 9, 12 and 17) in a 2 bedroom at SSR. My friend's family (which included her oldest dd who is 20 and the two older kids - 12 and 17) might have been cramped in the 2nd bedroom but they were very happy to be there with us.

The CM at Member Svc was worried when we added all 9 names to the 2 BR ressie but the computer allowed it b/c the 12 and 17 year olds were considered "juniors". They did not provide add'l towels or bedding.

I hope this works out for your friend - I think that's a wonderful gift to give her