I am staying for 4 nights late this year, first 2 nights on cash, next 2 on points. I am a DVC member.
Sorry, but I think it should be open to cash reservation guests.
I am staying for 4 nights late this year, first 2 nights on cash, next 2 on points. I am a DVC member.
Sorry, but I think it should be open to cash reservation guests.
Here's the quote from dvcnews.com today...
There are no reservations. Members should go to the desk in the Bay Lake Tower Lobby and check with the host/hostess for availability that day. The lobby information desk--similar to that used by the Contemporary Tower's California Grill--will be staffed during the operating hours of the lounge and deck.
[*] Availability of the lounge and deck will be established on a day-to-day basis. The lobby reception desk will not be able to provide information on availability beyond the current operating day.
Room key imprinted with the words, "DVC Member".
Based on my highlighting above....
TOTWL will be VEEERRRYYY popular the first few months.
I think Disney wants to stop any HUGE line-ups at noon (or worse) waiting for the desk to open at 5pm.
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If you are a DVC member, it IS open to you for cash reservations - but only if you booked your cash reservation through member services. That is to say, if the reservation is booked by DVC, whether using points or cash, you will have access to the lounge (based on availability). If your reservation was booked via any other source, you will not be able to access the lounge.
Seems fair to me.
1) You use your points to book a trip.
2) You can use cash to book a trip, using your membership, with the 25% discount
3) A combination of 1 & 2, if you are doing a split points/cash stay.
4) You use your points only to book a trip for someone else.
The way I read it is: If you are a DVC member, you're staying at BLT and you booked through member services, then you and everyone staying with you are in. If you are a renter, and you're staying at BLT, you and everyone staying with you are in.
Those who are not in:
Any members who booked a cash reservation outside of DVC Member services
Any members NOT staying at BLT
Any John Doe who booked via a travel agent or on the DVC website.
You really think it will be that popular? In August fireworks are at 10pm most nights. I don't see people waiting in line 10 hours (or even 5 hours from 5pm) just to see 10 minutes worth of fireworks from the 16th floor.
Maybe that's just me, though. Personally I wouldn't wait more than 30 minutes. If the lounge were full, I'd walk across the street to the MK and catch the show from there.
With the risk of not even knowing whether the lounge will be available until 5pm, I don't think there will be much of a pre-5pm line. Maybe a few people right before 5pm...particularly on the nights when the fireworks are at 8 or 9pm. That's not too bad of a wait if you plan to have a light dinner in the lounge and just camp-out for the night.
Don't get me wrong, I would not stand in line that long either!
I pulled a # out as an example during the first opening days/months.
Maybe I should have said 6pm, but by then they would be full for the night.
People will want to sit in the lounge as well, for an hour or so, just to wait it out.
I love watching the FW from out front as well, did it in May, and ready for the buses!
It does not state that you have to enter when you check-in at the desk, it states you have to check for availabity.
So to get in by 8 or 9, you better be there early.
I wouldn't stand in line for Soarin' for 80 mins either, but lots of people do!
Even though I love it, and TT as well.
An hour for Dumbo....never!
I'm simply stating that Disney is covering their A on this one.
Don't promise too much, and lets see what the response is.
The masses heading for the Observation Deck at show time......Well....that's 77 people more than that area can handle if the OD is at capacity. (499)
So maybe the limit will drop to 422, in order to account for the rush, as fire codes can be a big factor.
They will learn as the days go by, and adjust accordingly.
I will try to experience it in Dec., but I'm sure the rules will be a lot clearer by then.
I would not normally want to view from the deck, either. I do not even like the MK fireworks cruise much, I feel too far away.
But, I have a 19 year old in a wheelchair. It is a really unpleasant to have him in the park for the fireworks. He normally goes to sleep at 9 pm, so he is tired by the time of the fireworks..... Pushing a wheelchair thru those crowds before and after is nightmareish. So, I was thinking it would be sweet to see the fireworks from that deck, and return to the room and put him to bed.
But my first 2 nights are on cash, and I did not book thru member services.The FANTASTIC part, my 2nd two nights, on points, are MK view! So, I will not need the deck?
(but I would be eligible to go there) I would love check it out, and I wish it was open during the day, it would be nice to see the view even in the day time.
There could be problems with this, because most groups will send one person to wait in line, and he/she may be placeholding for 10 people. I can't help but think that there should be a better way to handle this, but I can't think of one.
- Due to anticipated high demand for this location, access to the lounge and deck is available only to Disney Vacation Club Members who are staying at Bay Lake Tower using their Membership,
guests staying in the room with that Member,
and guests who are staying in a room reserved by a DVC Member with Vacation Points.
In the third option listed, it sounds like anyone who rents points from a DVC member is also allowed in and therefore would NOT have access to a Blue membership card (I certainly wouldn't loan mine out if I was renting my points to someone I didn't really know)
IMO, only those staying at BLT should have the access. If I am going to use extra points to stay there, then I feel it is only right that I not get bumped out of line by another DVC member who is staying at OKW on less points...
Unless I missed that postthere wasn't anyone here
on this thread who said they wanted access to lounge while staying on their
points at another DVC resort. It has been long circulated here as well that
access is only to guests staying at BLT, just like SAB is only for use of
BCV guests, etc.
Any member who wants to use their points from whatever
"LESSER" point DVC resort as you wanted to point out, to book a stay at BLT can
access lounge when they are staying there on their BLT reservation - - that's clear
enough.