Pool Hopping Aside, How About Other "Recreational Programs"

[GrammieMame]

Someone quoted from the Guidebook that "...DVC Members...may elect to participate in rcreational, educational and miscellaneous programs...(including, without limitation, programs offered to children through the Disney Discovery Club...)" and others go on to talk about "the fundamental right of a DVC member to use recreational facilities at any DVC Resort". I own a non-DVC home at HH, right across the road from DVC. I would love to sign my grandchildren up for some of the activites that they have there. Does this mean I can? I think I asked this on this board before and got a "no".

 

[RobDoc]

You should just ask at the resort. The poster who insisted that he has confronted the Disney lawyers about this issue has removed all of his posts on the subject and not been back since.

Before assuming an anonymous internet interpretation of the DVC documents is really the correct interpretation, I'd be prepared for disappointment unless I'd gotten an affirmative response and explanation from DVC myself. Good luck!

Doc DVC Board Co-Moderator
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[PamOKW]

Grammie I believe you are saying you are NOT a DVC member. In that case, no you couldn't use the programs unless you were a paying guest at the HH resort. You could inquire, they may offer some special rate like some hotels allow people to join a "health club" that lets them use the facilities.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Pam, not sure, but I think maybe GrammieMame is a DVC member, but also owns a non-DVC home across the street from HH DVC, so as a DVC owner, can she use the DVC facilities there for her grandchildren, even though she's not staying there. ?? But...I could be wrong.

Beach Club, '97, '99, '00
Portofino Bay Hotel, '00, '01
BWV, '01

 

[PamOKW]

Hi MaryAnn. I just looked at Grammie's profile and she is a DVC member. I think the answer is still no (FL resident DVC members aren't allowed to use DVC facilities) but it wouldn't hurt for her to ask.

 

[Dean]

I've asked that question at HH previously, DVC members are not allowed to use the resort activites or facilities unless actually staying there. They might make an exception if an event is not full but I doubt it. Why don't you consider some of the day camp activites like Gregg Russell?

Dean

 

[lodgelady]

Just got through reading all of the paperwork 'cause we signed on for the VWL this week. The documents are clear that unless you are staying at a DVC property USING YOUR POINTS that you or your guests are not entitled to use the DVC resort ammenities. At first this policy seems unfair, but it does make sense if you consider that we DVC members share our Home with each other and all expect to have full use of the resort while we are staying there. If the activities, pools and other facilities were full during your stay because of use by DVC members who were staying off-site ( not using their points) you wouldn't be getting your full use of the resort you were spending your hard earned points on. Disney has crafted a very tight, but fair, system I think.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

lodgelady,

I have been looking for that statement for about a week and cannot find it. Can you tell me exactly where, either in the Declaration of Condominium or Public Offering Statement you founds the words "Using Your Points"

Thanks a lot.

 

[lodgelady]

LIDisneyfan- on page 97 of VWL public offering statement under the heading of Personal Use it states..."No Owner may occupy a Unit or Vacation Home or use any recreational facilities or Common Elements at any time other than the time a vacation home is properly reserved in accordance with the Condominium Documents." I would guess that means one could also pay cash for the home or use points, but it seems clear that a member must be staying at the resort to use DVC facilities.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

lodgelady,

Thanks for your quick response. Interestingly, under the section "Personal Use" for BWV, I found the following:

“…use of the accommodations and recreational facilities of condominium is limited solely to the personal use of owners, their lessees, guests, exchangers, invitees, and for recreational uses of corporations and other entities owning ownership interest in the unit”.

Does it sound like Disney realized their mistake and is trying to change it going forward (with WLV)? I'm starting to think that perhaps those people who have interpreted the POS and Declaration to state that (at least at OKW and BWV) these is an ownership right to use the common elements even if you're not staying on points might have stumbled upon something here...

Anyone else find anything at BWV or OKW specifically limiting use of common elements to guests staying at the that property on points?

 

[lodgelady]

sounds like maybe you are right LIDisneyFan...I wonder if there have been anymore revisions since Boardwalk? I suppose that whatever rules are written into the book of the resort you are staying in would apply? Very Interesting. I do know that in the new member benefits book that pool hopping is only mentioned as part of another sentence and isn't highlighted as it's own benefit. Maybe DVC is backpeddling a bit.

 

[Dean]

The 2000 OKW wording is the same as yours. I think it's a stretch to try to use this statement to try to prove either that a member can use when not staying at THAT resort OR that "pool hopping" to other DVC locations is contracual. I sure like you to be right but having dealt with this issue with other timeshares and having dealt with DVC regarding other unclear issues; I'd doubt they will give you much leeway. All you can do is try. Contact MS and find out who to write to so that you can contest this ruling and let us know what happens. Good luck.

Dean