Questions on Marriott Shadow Ridge II - Enclaves

[spaulino]

Hello everyone! We're staying at the Shadow Ridge Palm Desert for 4 days sometime this month and have some questions. Hope someone can answer.

Got a 1 bedroom villa but thinking if we can take a nephew or niece, or both. Not sure if Marriott will care that we have more than 4 ppl in the room? And if not, does this apply to all their vacation property? We're new owners to Ko'Olina but previous stays, we've already just had 2 adults (hubby and I) and our 2 kids. We've never really brought anyone else and I'm not sure if they are strict like the hotels that will charge for the 5th person in the room.

Anyone here have stayed at Shadow Ridge? Anything to do there for a 14 yr old and 11 yr old? I've heard it's a nice property, and good reviews. But since it's in Palm Desert, not sure what else to do or where to go at night time.

Any tips on what building if we want pool view? Are all parking spots close to the buildings?

Thanks.

 

[tiel]

I don't know how strict they are about occupancy, but the units in the Enclave section are smallish, imho. It might be a bit crowded with any extra people. You might even find the 1-bdrm a bit cramped for the 4 of you.

 

[dneveu]

I believe there are 2 sizes of one bedrooms at enclaves. One has a full kitchen and is 750 sq feet. The smaller 1 bedroom has a regular fridge, microwave and cooktop burners (in place of a stove). This unit is 560 sq ft. I agree these could be a bit tight even for 4.

The one bedrooms at shadow ridge the villages are bigger at 825 sq feet.

For comparative purposes MDS II 1 bedroom villas are 1204 sq feet and MDS I villas are the largest at 1375 sq feet.

I took all square foot measures from marriott.com reservation website

 

[dneveu]

Fun places to go With kids may include:
Palm Springs Ariel tramway & hiking at top of mountain
the living desert
Joshua tree national park
Palm Springs air museum - near airport
All terrain vehicle tour. - shadow ridge coordinates these with vendors
Indian canyons

 

[davidvel]

You'll be fine as far as the resort is concerned. I posted a link to resort map in the other thread, and all parking is right next to the buildings.

 

[suenmike32]

Something else to consider (if needed) is whether or not they have elevators in the building. I was just recently told that MDS 1 &2 have no elevator service.
I know they are only 2 stories but I will be recovering from tendon surgery and now have to take that into consideration. I believe Shadow has them.
Mike

 

[davidvel]

There are elevators in all the buildings.

 

[Chrispee]

I believe the max occupancy for a 1br at Shadow Ridge Enclaves is 4 people so I think Marriott will indeed care (and likely stop you from checking in).

 

[bazzap]

I am sure that my views will not be universally agreed with, but I have to say that as an owner paying my maintenance fees and seeking the best possible vacation experience, I do welcome MVC enforcing maximum occupancy rules.

 

[davidvel]

There have been plenty of threads about his in the past. Pros/cons, extra wear and tear etc.
Its a very family friendly resort and I've never heard reports like the one in this thread: Kicked out of resort because of [occupancy rules exceeded.]

Unless you march your kids across the front desk counter at Shadow Ridge, they'll not notice nor care that you have 2 adults and 3 (or 4 kids) in your 1BR. That being said, it is correct that the maximum stated occupancy is 4.

 

[spaulino]

There have been plenty of threads about his in the past. Pros/cons, extra wear and tear etc.
Its a very family friendly resort and I've never heard reports like the one in this thread: Kicked out of resort because of [occupancy rules exceeded.]

Unless you march your kids across the front desk counter at Shadow Ridge, they'll not notice nor care that you have 2 adults and 3 (or 4 kids) in your 1BR. That being said, it is correct that the maximum stated occupancy is 4.

Thanks! And I agree Davidvel, and normally I would get a 2 bedroom if we have more people but that 1 extra child is a "maybe"... And I did call the resort and no, you will not be stopped at check in. and they don't work as a hotel where they will charge extra for that "extra" person in your room but there is a maximum occupancy for safety reasons as well.

 

[BigMac]

Don't know about Shadow Ridge but the last time I was at Ko'olina I talked to a guy who had rented a 2 bedroom and had 4 adults and 10 kids in the place. I asked whether this was 'legal' and he told me the front desk had given him 2 roll-aways and wrist bands for all 14.

 

[bazzap]

It is unacceptable for the any MVC resort management to knowingly allow over occupancy and such extreme overcrowding is totally ridiculous.

 

[davidvel]

It is unacceptable for the any MVC resort management to knowingly allow over occupancy and such extreme overcrowding is totally ridiculous.

And yet it's quite possible that the group was better behaved than their neighbors who had 3 people's in a 2 bedroom, had a great time, no one got hurt and other guests were not impacted and none the wiser.

 

[bazzap]

And yet it's quite possible that the group was better behaved than their neighbors who had 3 people's in a 2 bedroom, had a great time, no one got hurt and other guests were not impacted and none the wiser.

Yes, it is quite possible.
However if one group can just choose to ignore/break one of the rules, what next - pets in the villas, smoking in the villas...?
Why would other groups respect/follow other rules, if they can see that some rules are not enforced?

 

[spaulino]

Wow... 14 in 2 bedroom? Just for comfort, I think that's way too many.

Anyway, I did call and of course they encourage everyone to go by the number of occupancy due to safety issues, and also just in case of emergency like fire etc. I would've thought a place like KoÓlina will be a bit more strict since they do give out wrist bands for everyone in the room. IMO, having 1 or 2 extra in the room is ok, as long as they are all following the rules and not a nuisance but having 14 in a 2 bedroom, even with rollaways, that's uncomfortable.

AND if I was in KoÓlina for a nice vacation, as an owner, i would not be a happy owner if next door had 14 ppl and really noisy.

 

[bazzap]

Except that "having 1 or 2 extra in the room" is not "following the rules"
I am sure that your family would be wonderful to have as neighbours at the resort.
The problem is that there will be other groups who over occupy or break the rules in other ways, because it becomes the done thing, who would be the neighbours from hell.
And that is neither right nor fair on all those who do follow the rules.

 

[spaulino]

Except that "having 1 or 2 extra in the room" is not "following the rules"

I supposed having that one extra is breaking the rules.. But sometimes, some families have 3 chiildren and if all really young, and maybe under 5 yrs of age, so I can understand why renting just a 1 bedroom is good enough. But of course as kids get older, they do need to get a bigger room. And yes, i'm all for following the rules too... But I still can't get the 14 ppl in 2 bedroom... LOL

And good thing I just got 1 bedroom too cuz that 1 niece was a "maybe" and didn't end up coming anyway. So there will only be 4 of us.

 

[bazzap]

Have a great time.

 

[jlp879]

I really like Shadow Ridge. They do an excellent kid's program there and have two very nice pools; one with a pool slide.

However, I prefer the layout of the Villages units over Enclaves. Villages units are the traditional Marriott lockoffs, where Enclaves are designed open plan. They are also noticably smaller units.

The deal breaker is that the master bedroom is really open to the living area and only closes off to it with a sliding wall. Right on the other side is the living room area where your kids/guests would be sleeping (in a one bedroom unit).

The sliding wall does close all the way, but it does not block out sound or light. A design flaw if you ask me. It makes the Enclaves larger one bedroom function like a studio.

The Enclaves smaller one bedroom actually has a bedroom door, but only a partial kitchen. I've attached a photo of the sliding wall in the one bedroom.

 

[jd2601]

I was surprised Marriott would market this design as a one bedroom versus a studio. We enjoyed the resort, pools, and activities but felt this design does not work for our family.

 

[SeaDoc]

There are two versions of the enclave units at Shadow Ridge - the original (non-deluxe) has a small lock-off, bathtub, microwave, small refrig, no balcony - the newer unit is called a deluxe unit (under view type when you book it) and has another washer/dryer, balcony, full refrigerator, hot plate for two pans, microwave, and a bedroom that closes off. Thus to get the large two bedroom, 1 bedroom, or studio you request a two-bedroom deluxe unit, or one bedroom deluxe unit, or studio deluxe unit. The point values between the two versions is negligible and always use the terminology deluxe when it comes to the Enclave Units and you won't go wrong... and yes, I do work at Shadow Ridge.

I believe there are 2 sizes of one bedrooms at enclaves. One has a full kitchen and is 750 sq feet. The smaller 1 bedroom has a regular fridge, microwave and cooktop burners (in place of a stove). This unit is 560 sq ft. I agree these could be a bit tight even for 4.

The one bedrooms at shadow ridge the villages are bigger at 825 sq feet.

For comparative purposes MDS II 1 bedroom villas are 1204 sq feet and MDS I villas are the largest at 1375 sq feet.

I took all square foot measures from marriott.com reservation website

 

[riverdees05]

Occupancy rules are often governed by Fire Codes.

 

[jd2601]

Thus to get the large two bedroom, 1 bedroom, or studio you request a two-bedroom deluxe unit, or one bedroom deluxe unit, or studio deluxe unit. The point values between the two versions is negligible and always use the terminology deluxe when it comes to the Enclave Units and you won't go wrong... and yes, I do work at Shadow Ridge.[/QUOTE]

We had a dedicated two bedroom. Is this closer to the regular unit with a second bedroom vs deluxe? Do all Enclave units have the collapsible wall in the master?

 

[davidvel]

I was surprised Marriott would market this design as a one bedroom versus a studio. We enjoyed the resort, pools, and activities but felt this design does not work for our family.

But its the "Villa of the Future!"