Question about Free Internet Access

[jiminy1]

I am staying at OKW as the guest of a DVC member at the end of May. I see that as of early May, DVC members will get free Internet access at DVC resorts. As the guest of a DVC member, NOT someone renting the room through Disney, do I get free internet access, too, or will I be billed the normal rate?

I've searched the forums and can't find an answer to this. Please pardon me if I've overlooked it.

Thanks!

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

i've yet to see this answer either.

 

[bicker]

I suspect we won't get a reliable answer until someone checks with someone at the front desk at a DVC resort. The question is too esoteric to get a reliable answer through WDW Online Communications or through CRO/WDTC.

 

[CarolMN]

We don't really know.

FWIW, unless the owner is staying with you, I don't think the resort knows (or can tell) if you are a guest or a renter.

My GUESS is that all rooms paid for by points (or booked for cash through MS) will have the free internet. Rooms booked through CRO/WDWTC will not.

 

[bicker]

I don't remember now... when a person renting points from a DVC owner checks in, does the KTTK say "*** DVC MEMBER ***" like it does for us DVC owners?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Rack customers are going to pay.

Customers associated with DVC in any way (ressie through the DVC system) will not pay.

This would seem to be the only logical answer IMHO.

 

[bicker]

Ah but we've learned time and time again is that what any one of us thing is the "only logical answer" is either not the "only" logical answer to others, or perhaps isn't even a "logical" answer to others.

And beyond that, we've also learned time and time again that even if something seems like the "only logical answer" to many of us, it still might not be a "logical" answer to Disney (or Southwest, or Mears, etc.)

 

[RobDoc]

I'm at OKW right now using the broadband service.

When I first logged on, there was a standard acceptance page indicating the usual $9.95 charge with a note that it would be waived for DVC Members.

Later, another page came up requiring me to enter the last 10 digits from my room key in order to continue - again with the waiver for DVC members.

"PAYMENT DETAILS: Clicking below will provide you with 24 Contiguous Hours of access to the Internet starting with the minute the connection is made. The access fee of $9.95 will be charged to Room kwid-XXXX-XXXX-01. The access fee is non-refundable and will appear as a charge on your folio. This charge does not apply to Disney Vacation Club Members."

Since the room ID is tied to a specific name, they may be able to verify that it is actually a DVC Member - regardless whether it states "DVC Member" on the key (that notation is actually just an indictation that the room was reserved thru MS).

We may not know the real answer until a guest/renter tries the system and is willing to accept the $9.95 charge if the free service truly is limited to only DVC Members. The notice is pretty clear that it is for DVC Members with no mention of "and guests" as with some perks, but the real answer will still depend on specifically how the system is set up for the acceptance page.

Stay Tuned!

 

[colonialtinker]

Here is what it says on the member's web site. Guests renting Disney Vacation Club accommodations will continue to pay the daily rate for access, and high-speed Internet access charges still apply to Members staying at non-Disney Vacation Club Resorts. I wonder how they'll enforce this if a DVC member is renting points.

 

[bicker]

I think you're reading that sentence wrong. As far as Disney is concerned, "Guests renting Disney Vacation Club accommodations" are those renting from Disney directly: Disney explicitly does not recognize the renting of Disney Vacation Club accommodations from DVC members, so unless they make a big mistake, they won't acknowledge it in the wording of their policies.

Regardless, all they need to do to restrict this benefit to DVC members is require photo ID and presentation of the DVC member card at check-in, to qualify for the waiver of the fees.

I don't think it makes sense to limit the waiver of the fees to just DVC members. The cost of the service is built into our maintenance fees, which are reflected in the price we charge renters.

Are there any services associated with a DVC reservation that are reserved for DVC members only, and not their guests?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Ah but we've learned time and time again is that what any one of us thing is the "only logical answer" is either not the "only" logical answer to others, or perhaps isn't even a "logical" answer to others.

And beyond that, we've also learned time and time again that even if something seems like the "only logical answer" to many of us, it still might not be a "logical" answer to Disney (or Southwest, or Mears, etc.)

That stands to reason. Good point. LOL

 

[Chuck S]

But it also depends upon which definition of guest and renter they chose to use. By the POS, a "guest" is someone who does not compensate the DVC owner. A "renter" is someone who pays the DVC owner for the reservation, and we, the DVC owners, are supposed to inform Member Services if it is a paid rental. The problem with such a system is enforcement on the part of DVC having an effiecient system to distinguish between the guests and renters, and that such a system relies upon the DVC owner honestly informing MS if it is a paid renter or a non-paid guest.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Are there any services associated with a DVC reservation that are reserved for DVC members only, and not their guests?

I think all of the services/perks are technically for members only and proof of membership could be asked for at anytime. Does it mean everyone checks everytime? Of course not. Some days I get carded at the store buying wine and sometimes I don't (for the record I'm 37 and some local store have a rule that they card under 40) We were offered the DVC Member Golf Membership last June when we were renting. The CM at the pro shop saw our room key, it said DVC and she told us to get the membership. We signed our own papers that week, so I didn't feel bad about getting the golf membership. In December we were asked to show our blue member card for valet parking.

I think it comes down to guests of a member may get some perks, but they can't expect them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Public Offering Statement says that renters are not entitled to any DVC member perks. It also says that guests (no compensation) of DVC members staying with the member may be entitled to some of the perks.

So, based on that, my take on it would be that renters would not get the free internet. Guests staying with the member might get free internet and guests staying without the member would not get free internet.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I'm at OKW right now using the broadband service.

When I first logged on, there was a standard acceptance page indicating the usual $9.95 charge with a note that it would be waived for DVC Members.

Later, another page came up requiring me to enter the last 10 digits from my room key in order to continue - again with the waiver for DVC members.

"PAYMENT DETAILS: Clicking below will provide you with 24 Contiguous Hours of access to the Internet starting with the minute the connection is made. The access fee of $9.95 will be charged to Room kwid-XXXX-XXXX-01. The access fee is non-refundable and will appear as a charge on your folio. This charge does not apply to Disney Vacation Club Members."

Since the room ID is tied to a specific name, they may be able to verify that it is actually a DVC Member - regardless whether it states "DVC Member" on the key (that notation is actually just an indictation that the room was reserved thru MS).

We may not know the real answer until a guest/renter tries the system and is willing to accept the $9.95 charge if the free service truly is limited to only DVC Members. The notice is pretty clear that it is for DVC Members with no mention of "and guests" as with some perks, but the real answer will still depend on specifically how the system is set up for the acceptance page.

Stay Tuned!

From what Doc states here, it would appear that the charges will be waived for DVC Members only.

 

[PSC]

I was at BWV from May 4 until yesterday. I treated friends to their own studio. When I'm on vacation I don't want to see anything that resembles a computer, but my friend who doesn't work with them all day long can't leave home without one. He was able to get free Internet access because his room was booked via a DVC member. It did require a call for support because he didn't link his KTTW to a major credit card, but it only took one phone call.

 

[FLYNZ4]

From what Doc states here, it would appear that the charges will be waived for DVC Members only.

I have a question about being a DVC member who is staying at DVC, not using DVC points.

What if I as a DVC member:

1) Rent a reservation from a different member
2) Book a room for cash, rack rate, from CRO
3) Exchange into DVC through II

Will I pay for free internet if I show my blue member ID during check-in/check-out... even if it has nothing to do with my current reservation. According to the language posted by DOC (the one on the sign-in agreement)... I would not pay. I would have expected the opposite.

/Jim

 

[bicker]

That's why I think relying on our own interpretations of the written statements in the promotional materials is the wrong approach. Those things are intended to address the 90% most common cases.

 

[kristytru]

I don't remember now... when a person renting points from a DVC owner checks in, does the KTTK say "*** DVC MEMBER ***" like it does for us DVC owners?

We made a reservation for my parents in their name using our points and their keycard DID say DVC MEMBER

 

[dianeschlicht]

We made a reservation for my parents in their name using our points and their keycard DID say DVC MEMBER

But the key card saying DVC member and being charged or not for internet may be two different things. What Doc posted makes it sound like the computer will take care of checking if the owner is named on the ressie or not, and THAT might be how it's dertermined.

Stay tuned, because these things always shake out in the end.