Associate member and Top of the World

[CMNJ]

I guess it is two ways of interpreting the statement on the website. I always read it as meaning "DVC member" every time the word "member" was used in the paragraph and thus thought the actual DVC member would need to be present for TOTWL.

 

[Dean]

I guess it is two ways of interpreting the statement on the website. I always read it as meaning "DVC member" every time the word "member" was used in the paragraph and thus thought the actual DVC member would need to be present for TOTWL.

Here's the way I read the quote in your post 15.

This perk is available exclusively to Members and those in their traveling party who are staying on that Member's reservation.

Member must be on the reservation, presumably present.

At least one Member in the traveling party must accompany the group and present his or her current MagicBand or Key to the World card with a Disney Vacation Club Membership notation in order to gain admission to the lounge and observation deck.

Only one member from the villas need be present.

If the Member's MagicBand or Key to the World card doesn't display a Membership notation, a Disney Vacation Club Member ID is also required to verify Membership.

This is the questionable part. Does the members of the party staying in a members room display this information?

 

[js]

My dh and I both have DVC Member cards. I am the only one on the deed since my mother sctually purchased the points and put me down as the owner. Maybe it was a mistake he has one too in his name?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As I'm reading it all you have to do is have the member on the reservation and a member of the party with the group. That's assuming the info in post 15 is the correct information. Sometimes implementation is different than wording and that may be an issue, not sure. But having the member listed in the room made under their membership with a member of that party in attendance would meet the conditions spelled out above taken from the website as I read it.

Because of two things I interpreted it that a DVC member must be along to present their membership card. One, that it's DVC members and their traveling party staying on that Members reservation - so only people staying onsite which defines Member in the next sentence because only people in the traveling party are ( technically) allowed. If I understand your interpretation it would have to allow others to join them at TOTWL. And two, Member is capitalized so is used as a title, not as a reference to just anyone in the party.

 

[supersnoop]

The definition of Member doesn't change from one sentence to the next.

 

[rlovew]

My dh and I both have DVC Member cards. I am the only one on the deed since my mother sctually purchased the points and put me down as the owner. Maybe it was a mistake he has one too in his name?

If your DH is not on a deed then yes DVC made a mistake in issuing him a member card- only actual deeded members are supposed to get one.

 

[DVCFan1994]

In my opinion this is definitely a case of the rules, although seeming clear to most, are enforced only as strongly as the CM checking qualifications lobby chooses. I have been to the TOTWL both as a member, and prior to being a member - when I was staying on a reservation of a member. The member was present on the reservation, but not in the party going to the lounge that evening. I was still allowed up, and was not asked any questions.

I would say it would be worth a try for an associate member to utilize the lounge, but I would only do so if I felt that I would be ok being turned away and perhaps then going to a lounge at CR or another monorail hotel.

 

[disneynutz]

As I posted, like most things Disney it depends on the CM. Once at BLT we were turned away because DW, a member, didn't bring her member card, (I had mine). Another time, they didn't even ask for a card, another time, they scanned one band, not a members.

Bill

 

[Dean]

My dh and I both have DVC Member cards. I am the only one on the deed since my mother sctually purchased the points and put me down as the owner. Maybe it was a mistake he has one too in his name?

We have had this happen as well. Wy wife was not on the first membership and when we bought a second with her on it, they sent us a card for her for the first as well. Obviously the difference is she was then a member, just not on that contract.

 

[freediverdude]

I agree with disneynutz, as with a lot of things at Disney, it depends on what kind of castmember you get at the time. So give it a try, and have a backup plan and not be disappointed if you get turned away. Or, you could just do a mission impossible style (Kim Possible style?) scale up the side of the building type of entrance or helicopter drop on top of the roof, lol.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The definition of Member doesn't change from one sentence to the next.

Oh, sure, such an easy, succinct way to say the same thing I rambled on about.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Or, you could just do a mission impossible style (Kim Possible style?) scale up the side of the building type of entrance or helicopter drop on top of the roof, lol.

In terms of "Mission Impossible" - here is a question I do not recall the answer to.

I haven't been to BLT in a couple of years, been staying at BWV and BCV. Do you need to put in a key to get to the 16th floor? I was only escorted up once that I can remember and I do not recall there being a key required. I've never paid attention to if there was a key reader in the elevator in general. Other than that, other stays we've been in a GV that spanned from floor 15 to 16. To be honest, right or wrong, we simply left our 16th floor GV exit and walked down the hall into the TOTWL. No one ever questioned it, and therefore we didn't think much of it. I hadn't been on the Disboards much back then to see how upset some people got by those not following protocol. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Have things changed, we have a GV stay in February again, if we get one that spans 15 & 16, am I now going to be required to ride the elevator down 15 or 16 floors and back up again? IS there someone at the door of the TOTWL these days?

 

[freediverdude]

I was under the impression that the TOTWL elevator is accessed via a key, but not a guest key, a key that a castmember keeps at the check-in desk to go up, and the castmember has to insert the key into the elevator after checking you in. I was not aware that the top floor GVs had exits from the second floor out to the hallway to get to TOTWL though. That is cool if true.

 

[DVCFan1994]

I was under the impression that the TOTWL elevator is accessed via a key, but not a guest key, a key that a castmember keeps at the check-in desk to go up, and the castmember has to insert the key into the elevator after checking you in. I was not aware that the top floor GVs had exits from the second floor out to the hallway to get to TOTWL though. That is cool if true.

It was a couple of years ago, but that was my recollection. I know we didn't go down and up, so at the very least, we took a stair case. But in my foggy memory, I remember walking right down the hall from our room, and I thought we passed other rooms that were on the 16th floor.

 

[js]

If your DH is not on a deed then yes DVC made a mistake in issuing him a member card- only actual deeded members are supposed to get one.

I actually checked both and what I said above is correct. Im only on hhe Deed and my dh has the same Member card as I have. I never knew this should have been different.

What does the card say that a non member spouse would have?

Thanks.

 

[rlovew]

I actually checked both and what I said above is correct. Im only on hhe Deed and my dh has the same Member card as I have. I never knew this should have been different.

What does the card say that a non member spouse would have?

Thanks.

A non-member does not get any card no matter the relationship to any member. DVC made a mistake and issued him a card at some point. Personally if I was you I wouldn't worry about it since it was their mistake- it just means he doesn't need you with him to get discounts and such.

 

[CMNJ]

In terms of "Mission Impossible" - here is a question I do not recall the answer to.

I haven't been to BLT in a couple of years, been staying at BWV and BCV. Do you need to put in a key to get to the 16th floor? I was only escorted up once that I can remember and I do not recall there being a key required. I've never paid attention to if there was a key reader in the elevator in general. Other than that, other stays we've been in a GV that spanned from floor 15 to 16. To be honest, right or wrong, we simply left our 16th floor GV exit and walked down the hall into the TOTWL. No one ever questioned it, and therefore we didn't think much of it. I hadn't been on the Disboards much back then to see how upset some people got by those not following protocol. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Have things changed, we have a GV stay in February again, if we get one that spans 15 & 16, am I now going to be required to ride the elevator down 15 or 16 floors and back up again? IS there someone at the door of the TOTWL these days?

When we went in May there wasn't anyone at door at TOTWL checking anything that was all done in the lobby so if you have an exit from your GV on 16th floor then you should just be able to walk over-not sure if the staircase would be locked to access 16th floor (from 15) if not. The employee in the lobby did have to use a key or something for us to travel up to 16.

Don't really think people are all that upset about others not following protocol just trying to point out that the actual "rule" (which cast members may or may not choose to follow) is that it is a members only perk. So if a member isn't present and someone tries to go anyway they can hope for the best but be prepared they could be turned away.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is from the Top of the World Lounge - WDWMagic.Com

Access to the lounge and deck is available only to Disney Vacation Club Members who are staying at Bay Lake Tower using their Membership and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This includes guests who are staying in the room with the Member. Access is also available to guests who are staying in a room reserved by a DVC Member with Vacation Points

Read the last line in the paragraph, may be worth looking in to if your staying on points?

This is not official DVC language, but their interpretation of it. Plus the information is out of date. You don't need to be a member staying at BLT for most of the nights TOTWL is open. Just a DVC member staying at WDW on points or cash and any guests staying with them on that reservation.

 

[bumbershoot]

I actually checked both and what I said above is correct. Im only on hhe Deed and my dh has the same Member card as I have. I never knew this should have been different.

What does the card say that a non member spouse would have?

Thanks.

As was mentioned, non-members, even spouses, don't get cards.

 

[DisEye]

If I am an associate member staying on points at BLT, will I have any problem getting up to the TOTWL? Debating between Theme Park View and Lake View. If I know I can go up to TOTWL without a problem, then I will save the points.