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View Full Version : Top of the World lounge - any new information?

Pig Pen
10-11-2009, 06:28 PM
We are looking forward to trying the TOWL on our upcoming trip. I know that when BLT first opened, members were reporting that the lounge was being under-utilized and feared it would be closed and used for special events only, or it would be opened up to anyone (and lose exclusivity).

For those of you who are there now (or just returned), any updates?
Deb & Bill
10-11-2009, 06:36 PM
Since they won't need so many valets now, they might be able to use this area as a valet rest area.;)
Pig Pen
10-11-2009, 06:37 PM
:lmao: Lucky for us we never drive so we won't miss it. Sounds like it was a great perk though!
disneynutz
10-11-2009, 07:18 PM
Give them some time. As soon as it becomes really popular, Disney will put out a $1 worth of free food and charge you $25 to get in the door.

You will love them for it and they will still complain that they aren't making enough money. :sad2:
deej696
10-11-2009, 09:26 PM
I too am curious on any recent reports. We would like to visit the lounge on our first night, but we wont be checking in until about 8pm. I'd imagine it will be getting busy about that time for Wishes. Anyone think we'll have luck that late?
jlewisinsyr
10-11-2009, 09:41 PM
Expect to hear from a MS rep tomorrow that effective Tuesday the TOW will be demolished due to member feedback and to reduce the weight of the building.
stitchineeyore
10-12-2009, 09:06 AM
I too am curious on any recent reports. We would like to visit the lounge on our first night, but we wont be checking in until about 8pm. I'd imagine it will be getting busy about that time for Wishes. Anyone think we'll have luck that late? Go up! The deck holds 400 people. The indoor lounge 75. If you want to enjoy a beverage outside, they will serve you out there! The staff is awesome. If Brucie is the bartender and you drink adult beverages, get her to make you her signature drink. And congratulate her on 20 years at Disney this last month.
deej696
10-12-2009, 09:10 AM
Go up! The deck holds 400 people. The indoor lounge 75. If you want to enjoy a beverage outside, they will serve you out there! The staff is awesome. If Brucie is the bartender and you drink adult beverages, get her to make you her signature drink. And congratulate her on 20 years at Disney this last month.

Excellent...we are looking forward to it. If I remember right, they were limiting entry to the guests registered to the room at BLT, I'm assuming thats still the case? We have another couple at BW, and I had told them I didnt think it was possible for them to join us, but figured I'd check....
smjj
10-12-2009, 10:23 AM
We were there last week. We used the lounge two times for the fireworks display and the lounge was never anywhere close to capacity. On the second night, we went up about 45 minutes prior to the fireworks and there was maybe 30 people there. When they started maybe 80 to 100 tops...smjj
hakepb
10-12-2009, 12:14 PM
Expect to hear from a MS rep tomorrow that effective Tuesday the TOW will be demolished due to member feedback and to reduce the weight of the building.

You only got that partially correct. TOtW will be demo'ed to make room for Jim Lewis' helipad because he no longer gets free valet parking..
jlewisinsyr
10-12-2009, 01:40 PM
You only got that partially correct. TOtW will be demo'ed to make room for Jim Lewis' helipad because he no longer gets free valet parking..

Thank you for correcting me, and to add, everyone's dues will go up by 15% (the maximum allowed) to offset the rebuilding to accomodate the helipad and for a fleet of helicopters and a jet for him to commute between CA and FL while he vies for a new position.
carolina_yankee
10-12-2009, 01:53 PM
There were never more than 120 people each of the 4 nights we visited TotWL on our trip the last week of September. About 30 in the lounge and the remainder on the balcony.

In the lobby, they were verifying the DVC blue member card and the top keycard at the elevator for your group. (I had a stack of 4, and they didn't care about the others.)

Because we were on a high floor, we just walked the steps to the 16th floor a couple of times and were never stopped by anyone for membership verification.

Dirk
Deb & Bill
10-12-2009, 02:11 PM
You only got that partially correct. TOtW will be demo'ed to make room for Jim Lewis' helipad because he no longer gets free valet parking..

Thank you for correcting me, and to add, everyone's dues will go up by 15% (the maximum allowed) to offset the rebuilding to accomodate the helipad and for a fleet of helicopters and a jet for him to commute between CA and FL while he vies for a new position.

You guys are really good!!:rotfl2:
pouncingpluto
10-12-2009, 02:37 PM
Did everyone have to have their membership cards? What if just one person in a couple does? We're both members, but we're not both good at keeping track of things. :)
DebbieB
10-12-2009, 05:49 PM
Did everyone have to have their membership cards? What if just one person in a couple does? We're both members, but we're not both good at keeping track of things. :)

I thought guests of members were also allowed in, they would not have a blue card (if the member wasn't there).

I think they are intentionally being strict about entry so that when they start renting it out they can point to the low numbers.
MASrules
10-12-2009, 06:22 PM
we were there a couple of weeks ago. Went up all three nights. Very few people most of the time...3 bartenders, no other patrons.

Each night had 80-100 for fireworks.

One night we had locals come to visit, and had no trouble getting them up with us. We were told one guest per person ( Our group of 2 could bring an additional 2 with us). They did check 1 card each time we went up.

Did not think of using the stairs...we were on 10 and had to go all the way down...walk to the lobby, just to walk back to elevator and take it right past 10 to 16...seemed pointless to me. Would have rather just gone up 6 flights.
Ctsplaysinrain
10-12-2009, 06:26 PM
Can any DVC memeber staying on points visit here or do you have to be a DVC memeber staying on points at BLT?
Deb & Bill
10-12-2009, 07:53 PM
Can any DVC memeber staying on points visit here or do you have to be a DVC memeber staying on points at BLT?

So far they have said only DVC guests staying on points at BLT and the guests staying with them.
carolina_yankee
10-12-2009, 08:02 PM
I thought guests of members were also allowed in, they would not have a blue card (if the member wasn't there).

I think they are intentionally being strict about entry so that when they start renting it out they can point to the low numbers.

Our experience was that one person had to have the blue memership card. Every person staying in the member's villa is allowed to have access. However, they only check the blue card, and one key card to verify a BLT stay. I could have had 8 people with me with key cards from AKV, Pop, and the Disney Magic and they'd not have noticed. For all they know, we all were staying the same grand villa.

Now, if things start to get crowded, my bet is they'll check each individual keycard. When things are slow, they just want to make sure you're a DVC member actually staying at BLT.

Dirk
carolina_yankee
10-12-2009, 08:04 PM
Did not think of using the stairs...we were on 10 and had to go all the way down...walk to the lobby, just to walk back to elevator and take it right past 10 to 16...seemed pointless to me. Would have rather just gone up 6 flights.

We were on 12. We did the elevator lobby, walk over to the next elevator, and head up, but that seemed a bit ridiculous, so we just went exploring to see what other options we might find. We took elevator to 15th floor, then the stairwell at the end of the hall to 16th. The stairwells in the center don't open on the 16th floor.

By the way, that's also how to get to the balcony during the day.

Dirk
deej696
10-12-2009, 09:24 PM
How late is the lounge open in the evenings?
carolina_yankee
10-12-2009, 10:57 PM
The hours were 5 - midnight the last week of September when we were there. I had though it was until 11 pm, so the extra hour caught me off guard. It's actually a pretty nice feature, especially since the sodas and a couple of other non-alcoholic beverages were free-refills. A very relaxing way to socialize and wind down at the end of the day.

Dirk
Uncleromulus
10-13-2009, 10:41 AM
My guess is that once BLT is "sold out" and fully occupied, the lounge will be pretty crowed most evenings....
BCV23
10-13-2009, 10:48 AM
We were not asked for our DVC membership card...just had to show our room key.

I was up there 2 out of 3 nights. Both times the lounge had patrons but was not crowded. Not empty either. There are several appetizers served and we considered making a light dinner of those. I think we'll try to do that next trip.

Brucie is great. Her signature drink is refreshing and not too sweet.
gmboy95
10-13-2009, 01:59 PM
Give them some time. As soon as it becomes really popular, Disney will put out a $1 worth of free food and charge you $25 to get in the door.

You will love them for it and they will still complain that they aren't making enough money. :sad2:

This could not be more correct....who do you soak when you need cash?...of course....your most loyal customers!:confused3
LuvtoPlan
10-13-2009, 07:16 PM
You not only must be a DVC Member staying at the BLT but you must be staying on points to go up to the Lounge or at least that is what we were told. We tacked two days on our stay just to stay at the BLT to see the Lounge. All the points covered the rest of the week at Boardwalk and Saratoga Springs and we were not permitted to go up to the Lounge because the stay was not booked on points.