DVC Guest reservation question

[MichelleMaBelle]

My dad has a habit of buying our reservations off Ebay from a DVC member, and that goes for our two trips this year as well. I don't know all the details that go into it but I do know that our room keys usually say DVC on them so now I'm wondering if we get some of the same DVC perks? We're staying at BLT next month and I'm dying to get into the Top Of The World lounge!

It sounds too good to be true, so I hope this isn't a stupid question :lookaroun

 

[Captain Chaos]

My dad has a habit of buying our reservations off Ebay from a DVC member, and that goes for our two trips this year as well. I don't know all the details that go into it but I do know that our room keys usually say DVC on them so now I'm wondering if we get some of the same DVC perks? We're staying at BLT next month and I'm dying to get into the Top Of The World lounge!

It sounds too good to be true, so I hope this isn't a stupid question :lookaroun

I thought Top of the World was for DVC members only... I remember back in 2009 I had to show my DVC membership card in order to go up there... I thought the lounge was for members only + their guests... But I could be wrong.. I didn't go up there this past trip so I am not sure if rules have changed to allow anyone staying there...

As for other DVC perks, I've had to show my DVC membership card, not the room key...

 

[MichelleMaBelle]

I thought Top of the World was for DVC members only... I remember back in 2009 I had to show my DVC membership card in order to go up there... I thought the lounge was for members only + their guests... But I could be wrong.. I didn't go up there this past trip so I am not sure if rules have changed to allow anyone staying there...

As for other DVC perks, I've had to show my DVC membership card, not the room key...

Yeah, all the stuff I've been reading makes it clear that you have to be a DVC member to access the lounge, but when I saw that is said "and guests" I thought maybe it meant guest renters too and not just other people in the DVC member's party.

 

[dreamfinder]

I believe it is only for members staying at BLT on points. They may require both your room key and membership card to verify you are a member, and staying at BLT. "and guests" means the other members of the party. You may be able to get up there just by showing your KTTW, but they really mean the member and the other 7 people staying in their room. Since not everyone travels just with their family, "guests" helps to avoid any sticky situations around relationship status and the like.
As part of these reservations you may get the DVC members welcome folder instead of the regular welcome folder, but thats really about it.

 

[bgraham34]

Its possible they might let you up. Your Room Key with say DVC on it and they might let you up with that, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[Lynne M]

Yeah, all the stuff I've been reading makes it clear that you have to be a DVC member to access the lounge, but when I saw that is said "and guests" I thought maybe it meant guest renters too and not just other people in the DVC member's party.

When you see "and guests", referring to DVC perks, it generally means non-members who are staying with the member.

I wouldn't expect to be able to get into the lounge. I believe that they're no longer printing "DVC" on the room keys. Like the other posters, I usually have to show my member ID card to get the member perks.

 

[MichelleMaBelle]

Thanks for the info guys. If my KTTW does end up saying DVC again, I will give it a shot to get in but I won't be heartbroken if I don't. Guess I'll just have to take pictures from the elevator areas

 

[worldfanatic]

Unfortunately, you probably won't have the option.
As Lynne said, sometime during 2011, they decided to stop printing DVC Member on room key cards.
And sure enough, on our DVC trip last month, there was no DVC Member printed on our card.:shrug:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

When you see "and guests", referring to DVC perks, it generally means non-members who are staying with the member.

I wouldn't expect to be able to get into the lounge. I believe that they're no longer printing "DVC" on the room keys. Like the other posters, I usually have to show my member ID card to get the member perks.

This is interesting, because I never paid attention to this until I just read your post. It seems that sometimes it is there, and then other times it isn't now. I just took a look at some old room keys (because I am crazy and kept them) and see that in Sept my keys didn't say DVC. However, in Oct they had it on there again. I can't seem to find my key from Nov, but I will be able to check what they say at OKW and WL this weekend when I am there.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

If the room keys no longer say DVC on them, how are they figuring out if you're staying at BLT on points? Your member ID card obviously wouldn't state that. Have they opened up the Top of the World Lounge to all DVC members now?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

If the room keys no longer say DVC on them, how are they figuring out if you're staying at BLT on points? Your member ID card obviously wouldn't state that. Have they opened up the Top of the World Lounge to all DVC members now?

Well your room key has a code on it that designates which resort you are staying that. I suppose if you show your room key and your DVC membership card that is enough for them.

 

[Captain Chaos]

This is interesting, because I never paid attention to this until I just read your post. It seems that sometimes it is there, and then other times it isn't now. I just took a look at some old room keys (because I am crazy and kept them) and see that in Sept my keys didn't say DVC. However, in Oct they had it on there again. I can't seem to find my key from Nov, but I will be able to check what they say at OKW and WL this weekend when I am there.

I just looked at mine from October 2011 and it isn't printed on the room key... Anytime I received DVC member benefits or discounts, I had to show my DVC membership card, the room key never sufficed...

 

[Captain Chaos]

If the room keys no longer say DVC on them, how are they figuring out if you're staying at BLT on points? Your member ID card obviously wouldn't state that. Have they opened up the Top of the World Lounge to all DVC members now?

Well your room key has a code on it that designates which resort you are staying that. I suppose if you show your room key and your DVC membership card that is enough for them.

I think the assumption is, if you area DVC member and staying at BLT, then you are using your points... But that probably doesn't matter... The lounge is open to DVC members and their guests who are staying at BLT... I don't believe "staying on DVC points" was a requirement, as long as you were a DVC member staying at Bay Lake...

 

[tjkraz]

Technically renters ARE eligible to visit the Top of the World Lounge. For the sake of clarity, I asked this question several different ways of several different DVC contacts over the years and was always told that it's open to anyone staying at the resorts on a reservation made through DVC Member Services--points or cash...member or not. Here is the perk text printed right on DVCMember.com:

Due to anticipated high demand for this location, access is available only to Disney Vacation Club Members who are staying at Bay Lake Tower using their Membership (Vacation Points or cash), guests staying in the room with that Member, and guests who are staying in a room reserved by a DVC Member with Vacation Points. Access is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note the section that I bolded. That isn't just limited to people traveling with the member.

All of that said, I have read the reports of people being asked for a DVC Member ID. Technically such identification shouldn't be required to comply with the language above. So it becomes a matter of how far you want to go to challenge the CM policing the lounge. Unless DVC changes the written policy, they are wrong to turn-away a renter who wishes to use the lounge.

 

[MichelleMaBelle]

Technically renters ARE eligible to visit the Top of the World Lounge. For the sake of clarity, I asked this question several different ways of several different DVC contacts over the years and was always told that it's open to anyone staying at the resorts on a reservation made through DVC Member Services--points or cash...member or not. Here is the perk text printed right on DVCMember.com:



Note the section that I bolded. That isn't just limited to people traveling with the member.

All of that said, I have read the reports of people being asked for a DVC Member ID. Technically such identification shouldn't be required to comply with the language above. So it becomes a matter of how far you want to go to challenge the CM policing the lounge. Unless DVC changes the written policy, they are wrong to turn-away a renter who wishes to use the lounge.

Well that's good news! However, I just found out that this year my father rented our BLT room through an RCI timeshare owner, not a DVC member but hopefully this clears up any confusion others had.

 

[tjkraz]

Well that's good news! However, I just found out that this year my father rented our BLT room through an RCI timeshare owner, not a DVC member but hopefully this clears up any confusion others had.

Is he an RCI member to traded into Bay Lake Tower or did he rent someone else's RCI trade?

Just so you know, renting out RCI trades is against RCI policy. If you are actually staying on a rented RCI trade--and RCI finds out about it--they will cancel the reservation without hesitation. It's happened many times.

 

[MichelleMaBelle]

Is he an RCI member to traded into Bay Lake Tower or did he rent someone else's RCI trade?

Just so you know, renting out RCI trades is against RCI policy. If you are actually staying on a rented RCI trade--and RCI finds out about it--they will cancel the reservation without hesitation. It's happened many times.

I really don't know what goes into it, that's all his department. I know we've done it before though. I think they own at BLT through RCI and we're staying under their guest reservations? I'm not 100% sure. Who knows if it's legit though, my dad will do anything to try and save money!

 

[disneyeater]

FYI, We stayed at BLT on rented points in May of 2011 and showed our room key to get to the Top of the World Lounge.

 

[dizzney]

I really don't know what goes into it, that's all his department. I know we've done it before though. I think they own at BLT through RCI and we're staying under their guest reservations? I'm not 100% sure. Who knows if it's legit though, my dad will do anything to try and save money!

They can't own at BLT thru RCI, I hope for your sake that this is legit as only DVC owners who purchased at BLT own at BLT.