Membership perks to guests

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I just read something in another thread, and didn't want to go off topic. The comment had to do with guests in a villa not getting DVC perks.

I know only members are entitled to perks like the annual pass discounts, and that the actual membership card needs to be shown to purchase those. However, I thought the official policy on other perks was that anyone staying in a room booked with points was entitled to them, unless the member identifies to Member Services that they are renting the reservation for cash. If you gift a stay to family/friends, even if you're not there, I thought the keys still printed with "DVC Member."

For DVC perks such as meal discounts and free valet (when it still existed) I thought the guests got the perks with their key. I also assumed the free internet fell into the same category.

Was this once the case and it's now been changed, or do I just totally have the wrong end of the stick?

 

[ilikedvc]

Last I knew the perks went to anyone staying with a DVC reservation. not staying a DVC resort but the reservation was from DVC points. Unless this is a recent change that just started.

 

[spiceycat]

internet access is only for the DVC member.

so unless the member was staying with them - they won't get that one.

with the dinning - the restuarants are surpose to ask for the blue card - but most of the time they don't - so guests can probably get those.

 

[vicki_c]

Most here say that some perks - free Internet, pool hopping, discounts, probably some others, are really only intended for the member. If you don't get free Internet, and you don't have a blue member card, you can't get it removed from your bill. When asked, I always tell points renters that getting free Internet is hit or miss since they are not truly entitled to it.

Even for Top of the World lounge access, the rule is the member staying on their membership @ BLT along with their guests staying on that same reservation, although it seems to be enforced inconsistently (sometimes making blue member cards be shown, some not).

 

[DenLo]

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded the latest copy of the Home Resort Rules and Regulations from the MS website. The following is what it says about guests staying on your points.

Making Reservations for Non-Club Members

1) Club Members may use their Home Resort Vacation Points to reserve Vacation Homes that will be occupied by non-Club Members.
2) When a Club Member uses his or her Home Resort Vacation Points to reserve Vacation Homes on behalf of a non-Club Member, and the Club Member does not charge any rental or other fees to the non-Club Member for the reservation, the non-Club Member is eligible for all or some of the Club Member privileges and benefits that a Club Member would normally receive during his or her stay in the reserved Vacation Home. If the non-Club Member is renting, it is the responsibility of the Member to notify Member Services when making the reservation. Member privileges and benefits cannot be extended to non-Club Members who rent Vacation Homes from Club Members.

So it depends on whether it is truly a guest or a rental. So what are perks related to a DVC stay. I can't find that information in writing, but it would make sense that it is a perk you can't use unless you are staying in a DVC resort on perks, like pool hopping, taking special safari tours at AKV, going to the TOTWL, using fitness centers and spas (no discounts though), and parking at the parks for free.

I can get a dining or shopping discount using my DVC member card with my membership card and it's not dependent on staying at a resort as well as many other discounts. But it sounds like my guests do not qualify for these types of discounts.

 

[tjkraz]

Operationally, Disney has always been pretty loosey-goosey about giving out perks to anyone staying on DVC points. As long as the stay was booked using points, the room key would read "DVC Member" and most CMs would grant member discounts on that basis alone.

However, over the last 6 months Disney has removed the "DVC Member" notation from room keys. The only real way to identify oneself as a member is with the blue DVC ID card and a non-member would obviously not have that. I wouldn't count on a non-member being able to utilize dining discounts, shopping discounts, etc.

Free Internet is still a bit unique in that it's linked to the room reservation so no display of ID is necessary. HOWEVER, to the best of my knowledge it has always been billed as a member perk. When you first sign in there is a long disclaimer which much basically says that non-members will be charged and members are free.

If everything works as it should, anyone staying in a room on points will get free Internet. However, if something goes wrong with that automated (non) billing process, or Disney becomes aware that there is a non-member in the room, they could charge for Internet services and the guest wouldn't really have any grounds to get the charges reversed.

I think the odds are very good of a non-member getting free Internet, but it's still a member perk and there's always a chance for a non-member to be justifiably billed.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded the latest copy of the Home Resort Rules and Regulations from the MS website. The following is what it says about guests staying on your points.

Thanks! I knew I'd read that somewhere recently. Like you say though, not real specific on the definition. I love the phrase "all or some" in there.

 

[dbs1228]

internet access is only for the DVC member.

so unless the member was staying with them - they won't get that one.

with the dinning - the restuarants are surpose to ask for the blue card - but most of the time they don't - so guests can probably get those.

Not true, I made a ressie for my daughter and 3 friends using points and called MS about the internet (we wanted to know for sure) she actually put me on hold called BWV directly (we also wanted to know if there were any areas that were free wireless) We were told no free wireless internet access on property but since my DD was booked on points she would not be charged for the internet. She used the internet all week and was never charged. I thought she would have to pay but I was assured "any reservations booked on points would not be charged for internet access".

 

[vicki_c]

Not true, I made a ressie for my daughter and 3 friends using points and called MS about the internet (we wanted to know for sure) she actually put me on hold called BWV directly (we also wanted to know if there were any areas that were free wireless) We were told no free wireless internet access on property but since my DD was booked on points she would not be charged for the internet. She used the internet all week and was never charged. I thought she would have to pay but I was assured "any reservations booked on points would not be charged for internet access".

However members here on this board have posted that they were charged in error for the Internet, and when they requested to have it removed from the bill, they had to show their membership card. It was not good enough that they were in a points room. This has been stated multiple times here. Which is the point Tim was making. If all goes well, someone renting points would be fine. But if there's a glitch, you might be stuck paying for it.

And I can say myself that at some locations for merchandise discounts, they just looked at my room card (with the DVC designation on it) and at some places they asked for my member card.

And Tim - it does seem that now all the KTTW cards again have a DVC reference on them. I haven't seen anyone say lately that they haven't, only going back 4 or more months. Our cards all said DVC on them last month.

(edited - although the PP just came back and said their card in Feb didn't say DVC on it - so who knows? )

 

[dbs1228]

That is why I took the MS name, time I called and that she stated my DD would not be charged for internet just in case there was a problem. I agree and was surprised that I was told she would not be charged. When I stayed at BLT in Feb my KTTW did not even say DVC member on it even though I am a member. I never asked about it since I had my DVC card with me.

 

[Dean]

It's really up to DVC. The quote above is no different than it's been for many years. Generally guests will get perks that are room related, basically those you don't need the blue card for. But is is hit or miss.

 

[Kathi OD]

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded the latest copy of the Home Resort Rules and Regulations from the MS website. The following is what it says about guests staying on your points.

Making Reservations for Non-Club Members

1) Club Members may use their Home Resort Vacation Points to reserve Vacation Homes that will be occupied by non-Club Members.
2) When a Club Member uses his or her Home Resort Vacation Points to reserve Vacation Homes on behalf of a non-Club Member, and the Club Member does not charge any rental or other fees to the non-Club Member for the reservation, the non-Club Member is eligible for all or some of the Club Member privileges and benefits that a Club Member would normally receive during his or her stay in the reserved Vacation Home. If the non-Club Member is renting, it is the responsibility of the Member to notify Member Services when making the reservation. Member privileges and benefits cannot be extended to non-Club Members who rent Vacation Homes from Club Members.

So it depends on whether it is truly a guest or a rental. So what are perks related to a DVC stay. I can't find that information in writing, but it would make sense that it is a perk you can't use unless you are staying in a DVC resort on perks, like pool hopping, taking special safari tours at AKV, going to the TOTWL, using fitness centers and spas (no discounts though), and parking at the parks for free.

I can get a dining or shopping discount using my DVC member card with my membership card and it's not dependent on staying at a resort as well as many other discounts. But it sounds like my guests do not qualify for these types of discounts.

Actually, by using the words "all or some" it appears that whether a non-member receives member perks is at the whim of DVC, as there are no real guidelines set forth.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, by using the words "all or some" it appears that whether a non-member receives member perks is at the whim of DVC, as there are no real guidelines set forth.

And "non-member" means non-paying guest of the member.

 

[kristenrice]

I rented points from a DVC member for a trip in October 2008. In August 2008, we became members ourselves. When we went on our rented reservation, they'd charged me for internet. I showed them my membership card and explained that we'd become members after we'd rented the reservation. The CM said that since I was a member, my internet should have been free and she reversed the charge. So, in my case, the perk was tied to the member and not the reservation.

 

[Kathi OD]

And "non-member" means non-paying guest of the member.

Yes. Just curious here...how many members do you think let MS know that they are charging their "guest" for a reservation?

 

[kamikazecat]

We booked two studios at BLT over Christmas. One was for us and the other was for my parents. They were never charged for internet and we also granted access to the TOTWL on multiple evenings.

 

[vicki_c]

yes. Just curious here...how many members do you think let ms know that they are charging their "guest" for a reservation?

.000001.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I rented points from a DVC member for a trip in October 2008. In August 2008, we became members ourselves. When we went on our rented reservation, they'd charged me for internet. I showed them my membership card and explained that we'd become members after we'd rented the reservation. The CM said that since I was a member, my internet should have been free and she reversed the charge. So, in my case, the perk was tied to the member and not the reservation.

But since you weren't using your points for that reservation and bought the reservation from another member, you really weren't entitled to free internet. You were in that case a non-member renting from a member.