7/21 DVCNews is reporting updated information on the BLT lounge

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 didn't think the language was interpretation, but apparently by the other posts, it is. Doesn't it say anyone staying at BLT on points may have access (given the availability of course).

So renters, owners, whatever - if you're there on points, you have a chance of using the lounge. If you're there on cash, you can't.
 
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.


ita that a member staying at BLT with both points nights and cash nights in their reservation should be allowed access on the cash nights as well especially if, as it appears, guests on a rented reservation will have the privilege & non-members who are friends, etc. of a member who arranges a BLT ressie for them. Going slightly ot here, we don't rent our points, but I'd imagine that for members that do rent telling prospective BLT renters that they can access lounge (subject to availability on a particular day) will be an attractive feature.


:)
 
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.

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.
 

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.

Based on my highlighting above....


TOTWL will be VEEERRRYYY popular the first few months. :cool1:
I think Disney wants to stop any HUGE line-ups at noon (or worse :scared1:) waiting for the desk to open at 5pm. :scared1:
There is the possibility of 576 people (499+77) up there at any one time. :scared1: (as it states at this time)
That's a LINE-UP!!!! my friend!!

This could be their reasoning for the cash ressie being "omitted" at this time.
Once they get the feel of the whole thing, things may change.
I feel that if you are staying at the BLT, whether paying cash or on points, (because $$$ are large for BLT) access should be given, on a first come first served basis. (And I don't plan to stay on cash!).
I also think this is Disney's first draft of the Reg's, and they may lax later, once they figure out the logistics and demand.
 
Based on my highlighting above....

TOTWL will be VEEERRRYYY popular the first few months. :cool1:
I think Disney wants to stop any HUGE line-ups at noon (or worse :scared1:) waiting for the desk to open at 5pm. :scared1:

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.
 
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.

I do believe you are correct. The quote from the website says "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. Availability is strictly first-come, first-served."

It doesn't say ANYTHING about points. My understanding is there are many ways to gain access to the lounge:

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 disney website.
 
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.

That is my interpretation also. If you used any part of your or someone else's membership to book your BLT stay, you are in. If you booked what is available to the general public on cash then you are not. There are some caveats, but for the most part 1 group will have 'DVC MEMBER" printed on their card and the other group will not.
 
Just my opinion, but I think Wishes is best viewed from the MK. I'm not a fan of viewing from the California Grill observation deck. They just seem to lose a little something when seen from a distance, even though it's not a huge distance.

At least Wishes is still a good show. I don't think they have suffered from the cutbacks that Hallo-Wishes and Illuminations have.

MG
 
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.
 
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 agree with you. I think Disney knows right now there is a lot of interest and therefore, needs to put something in place during all this speculation to keep control until they know for sure what the real interest is.

Limiting it to DVC members and their guests (those who will have cards that say DVC member) gives them that in the short term. Once they know exactly how things play out, they will change and adjust.

But, when I am there on the 7th and 8th, I will head to the lobby around 9:30ish to go up for the fireworks. If I can't get in, I can't get in. But, as you said, I am not going to spend hours sitting around just so I can see fireworks for 10 minutes. If that is the case, I will save my points for MK view every couple of years.
 
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. :headache: The FANTASTIC part, my 2nd two nights, on points, are MK view! So, I will not need the deck? :thumbsup2 (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.
 
Is there a maximum amount of time you're allowed to stay up there? Is everyone going to rush up there as early as possible and just hang around until Wishes? What about the people who just want to go up for an hour or so to watch the sun set, and (shocking, I know) don't want to stay up there for Wishes?
 
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. :headache: The FANTASTIC part, my 2nd two nights, on points, are MK view! So, I will not need the deck? :thumbsup2 (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.

It DOES sound like you will be able to have access on all nights of your stay both cash & points nights, if you booked your cash nights through MS -- I see that you say you didn't but did you try giving MS a call to see if they can book those 2 cash nights for you (25% member discount might even be available) and then cancel what you now have with CRO?

And you never know, so it'd may pay to check at desk opening time, perhaps there is an area that is being designated for guests in wheelchair?

ita with you that placeholding may become a problem - - especially if families get on list at 5 pm and then change their plans before Wishes and decide not to go up to TOWL - - hopefully they'd notify desk to let them know they don't plan to come afterall and free up that accessibility for other guests, that'd be considerate thing to do but probably much too wishful thinking on my part.

:goodvibes
 
  • 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:scared1:)

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...
 
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:scared1:)

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 post :confused3 there 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.
 
I predict this will be a disaster, because we all know how Disney is very lax on enforcing rules. They will probably close it for private groups only after a couple a weeks of major problems.
 
Unless I missed that post :confused3 there 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.


Yup, you missed that post because I said that's exactly what I want to do. And I don't consider BCV a "lesser" resort, just different. Oh, I just noticed-you said "lesser points". Am I reading the comparison of BLT standard view vs. BCV points wrong?
 







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