Just one hour...

[NewJerseyDVCMembers]

All I'm asking for is one hour! Just one. On a recent stay at BLT we had both the pleasure and displeasure of going to the "Top of the World Lounge." I get that members want to spend time with their families enjoying the lounge, watching the fireworks and so on. But it should be that the last hour of the evening set aside for adults only up there. The lounge was open until midnight and up until 11:45, there were toddlers running around completely unsupervised. We had a small group of adults and were seated in the back corner area that has curtains in front of it. The children kept running around in circles, running up to the curtains pulling them closed, then pulling them open, then pulling them closed, then pulling them open. Meanwhile the parents were on the opposite side of the room enjoying themselves. I understand that everyone parents in a different way, and that many children would never get away with this, but there is no alternative the way I see it. The easiest solution would be to give the 11pm to midnight hour to adults only. Families would be able to enjoy the fireworks and the lounge, but then the adults could enjoy a little adult time as well.

(Of our "adults-only" group, half have children of their own, and even they said the lounge needs adult only time.)

Is one hour, between 11pm and midnight, asking too much?

 

[tomandrobin]

Honestly, my wife would have put up with kids for about 5 minutes. Then she would have politely, but firmly asked them to not allow the kids to run around the lounge and that its not a playground. Its not rude to remind others not to be rude.

 

[Mokat76]

All I'm asking for is one hour! Just one. On a recent stay at BLT we had both the pleasure and displeasure of going to the "Top of the World Lounge." I get that members want to spend time with their families enjoying the lounge, watching the fireworks and so on. But it should be that the last hour of the evening set aside for adults only up there. The lounge was open until midnight and up until 11:45, there were toddlers running around completely unsupervised. We had a small group of adults and were seated in the back corner area that has curtains in front of it. The children kept running around in circles, running up to the curtains pulling them closed, then pulling them open, then pulling them closed, then pulling them open. Meanwhile the parents were on the opposite side of the room enjoying themselves. I understand that everyone parents in a different way, and that many children would never get away with this, but there is no alternative the way I see it. The easiest solution would be to give the 11pm to midnight hour to adults only. Families would be able to enjoy the fireworks and the lounge, but then the adults could enjoy a little adult time as well.

(Of our "adults-only" group, half have children of their own, and even they said the lounge needs adult only time.)

Is one hour, between 11pm and midnight, asking too much?

It most certainly is not asking too much. It's a bar, for pity's sake, not a day care. Complain, please, loudly and long to member services about it. Why parents think it's perfectly acceptable to let their spawn run around unsupervised in a bar just because it's Disney is beyond me. Would they take them to a bar at home? Most likely not, because most bars will never allow it. Parents who think it's OK to have free-range kids need to grow up.

And why CMs are not allowed to correct inappropriate behavior is beyond me. I get it that WDW is built around children, but Disney has also worked hard to brand some things as adult friendly. An elegant lounge/bar at the top of a high-rise would be one of those things.

Parents, curb your kids. Even at the happiest place on earth one can only take so much. And for all you wonderful parents out there, I'm not talking to you. You already know a bar isn't a playground.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I do believe the old school teacher would have come out of me and told those children to go back to their parents and settle down.

Parents need to parent their children.

 

[NewJerseyDVCMembers]

My apologies for not mentioning that a CM came over rather quickly and spoke to the children and then the parents. The kids returned to the area around the parents, but all that did was reduce the area in which they roamed. Now instead of having free range around the entire lounge, they ran around about a third of it!

 

[Mokat76]

Good for the CM! It's a shame parents refuse to parent. Ugh.

 

[keishashadow]

Manners often seem to fly out the window at disney under relaxed vacation mode. I've seen parents not blink when their kids run around restaurants there.

We've been to the lounge several times. Our experience has been observing more of a mass exodus after the FW. We've taken to watching the FW from our balcony, then going up for a nightcap or two but we've witnessed the pajama clad kiddies running amok there and just glad the outside wall is as high as it is.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think there could be a rule like that, one hour without children. Either children are allowed or they are not. Considering it's a place for viewing firewworks, there will always be children. I think you'll have to find some other place to enjoy the atmosphere you want.

Bobbi

 

[Mokat76]

Sure there can be a rule like that. It's certainly easier to do that apparently than to make parents be adults and discipline their kids. All they have to do is post a rule saying after fireworks, those under 21 cannot be in the lounge. Then they have to enforce it.

 

[DeeCee735]

I agree completely with an adult only timeslot. It is a bar isn't it? A bar is a bar is a bar. Not a restuarant bar, just a bar, correct? I wouldn't bring a child to a bar no matter where I was. Especially Disney, with so many things offered for children. There's babysitting services at every hotel on property isn't there? ?

JMHO. I plan to be at TOWL one evening with an all adult party in a few weeks. I hope this isn't the case when we are there.

I had a horrible experience at the beach at the Polynesian one night. My DH and I went to watch the fireworks, a nice romantic spot, right? Not a prayer. I love kids, can't wait for my time as a grandma. I love to see them in and around Disney, it really brings on the magic.

However, we were laying on the lounge chairs trying to relax alittle and watch the fireworks and there were some really cute kids acting as pirates, playing and running around in the sand. Cute, right? It was, except one child about 9 years old was screaming on the top of his lungs as he ran. For about 40 straight minutes. Parents were close, not one of them said a word. I'm not talking alittle scream, like a playful thing, I'm talking a monster scream as loud as his voice could carry for a long as he could. I told my husband his parents were probably allowing it, so he'd lose his voice for the rest of the trip! It was horrible, we got up and left and we haven't been back to the Poly beach since. Don't plan to either. There are other places for viewing the fireworks.....like TOWL!!!!

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

All I'm asking for is one hour! Just one. On a recent stay at BLT we had both the pleasure and displeasure of going to the "Top of the World Lounge." I get that members want to spend time with their families enjoying the lounge, watching the fireworks and so on. But it should be that the last hour of the evening set aside for adults only up there. The lounge was open until midnight and up until 11:45, there were toddlers running around completely unsupervised. We had a small group of adults and were seated in the back corner area that has curtains in front of it. The children kept running around in circles, running up to the curtains pulling them closed, then pulling them open, then pulling them closed, then pulling them open. Meanwhile the parents were on the opposite side of the room enjoying themselves. I understand that everyone parents in a different way, and that many children would never get away with this, but there is no alternative the way I see it. The easiest solution would be to give the 11pm to midnight hour to adults only. Families would be able to enjoy the fireworks and the lounge, but then the adults could enjoy a little adult time as well.

(Of our "adults-only" group, half have children of their own, and even they said the lounge needs adult only time.)

Is one hour, between 11pm and midnight, asking too much?

I couldn't agree more.

 

[VrBchJ]

The last time I was at TOWL three kids were jumping off chairs onto the big, round cushion/ottoman in the middle of the room. Their parents were at a table by the window playing with their phones. Another guest spoke to the parents who gave him lots of attitude. We left before the other "fireworks" began between the parents and the guest. Like they say about training a dog "It's always the handler. It's never the dog." Sometimes that applies to children too. It's the parents, not the kids.

 

[crazybones27]

We went to TOTWL for the first time in May with our two children(4 and 2). I refused to allow our kids to leave the deck area and go in to the bar area because I told them that it was a quiet area for adults. I truly felt like children aren't/weren't meant to be in there. While we were up there all the kids who came up that night stayed outside. Everytime our children got a little rowdy they were told to sit on the bench to calm down a bit. Lets be honest though kids are kids and they will want to run a bit, but if you allow an inch they're gonna take a mile. We made sure to be on top of our kids as not to disturb other people outside also, but you could clearly see as the night went on other parents didn't have the same theory.

While I don't see Disney imposing an hour for adults only maybe they could say keep the kids outside instead of in the lounge area so there's a compromise ?

 

[shortypots]

it most certainly is not asking too much. It's a bar, for pity's sake, not a day care. Complain, please, loudly and long to member services about it. Why parents think it's perfectly acceptable to let their spawn run around unsupervised in a bar just because it's disney is beyond me. Would they take them to a bar at home? Most likely not, because most bars will never allow it. Parents who think it's ok to have free-range kids need to grow up.

thank you!!!!!!!!

 

[Jonell]

I agree I made a comment awhile back abbout unsupervised children in the TOTWL and I happen to mention they were in their PJ's and I got flamed about it. Sorry, but IMO, the TOTWL is in fact a lounge with an upscale atmosphere and not the place for toddlers or unsupervised children. I did bring my DS11 into the lounge area on our last trip while my DH and I enjoyed a bottle of wine but he sat quietly on the chair and played games on his IPhone. If he could not have acted accordingly we would have sat on the deck. I don't think it is so much about making an adult-only time slot, but more about parents being responsible for their children and having respect for others when it comes to their children's behavior.

 

[DebbieB]

A friend and I just got back from Disneyland. We were shocked at the number of times we saw young kids running around unsupervised. The topper was one mom who thought it was perfectly acceptable to put her son into the fountain in Toontown to use it as a swimming pool.

 

[marynvince]

While I appreciate the thought of a 1 hour time slot for adults only I must disagree for the following reasons:

1) My kids have never acted unruly, I wouldn't allow it. So why penalize me for the behavior of others? I wouldn't be able to take advantage of adults only becuase my wife and I would not leave our kids in our room alone.

2) The TOTWL does not get enough business to further restrict traffic

3) This is Disney, you have to expect there to be kids most places

4) Pleasure Island used to be age restricted and it didn't work....

 

[NewJerseyDVCMembers]

While I appreciate the thought of a 1 hour time slot for adults only I must disagree for the following reasons:

1) My kids have never acted unruly, I wouldn't allow it. So why penalize me for the behavior of others? I wouldn't be able to take advantage of adults only becuase my wife and I would not leave our kids in our room alone.

2) The TOTWL does not get enough business to further restrict traffic

3) This is Disney, you have to expect there to be kids most places

4) Pleasure Island used to be age restricted and it didn't work....

Unfortunately I must disagree with your disagreement!

#1. I don't know your children and have no reason to doubt that they are well behaved. But how are you penalized? If TOWL is open from 5 to 12, you have access 6 out of the 7 hours with your children, including the time of the fireworks. The second part in which you state; "I wouldn't be able to take advantage of adults only becuase my wife and I would not leave our kids in our room alone." seems selfish. I'm guessing you didn't mean it that way, but the way it comes across is... "If I can't take advantage of it no one should." Perhaps a baby sitter for the hour would be a welcome night/hour out.

#2. Neither you nor I can definitively state what business levels would be. But you state that TOWL doesn't get a lot of business now, how can you be so sure that an adults only hour wouldn't be a positive, increasing business? Speaking for us personally, we won't go back, unless they offered time without children. I'm further guessing that my business would be worth more, because I am free to spend more on drink and food. I don't need to limit consumption because I'm responsible for children. How many parents can go to a lounge and consume more than one or two? If they do, what kind of parent takes a kid to a bar and drinks like that?

#3. Yes it is Disney and I do expect children everywhere, except bars/lounges. Just as I find it an annoyance to have kids running around, don't you find it disconcerting to have your children in a bar after 11pm? Just because you are on Disney property is it okay? Would you take your children to a local tavern after 11? Of course not. Is it worth the risk to expose your children to adult conversation, adult atmosphere and adult beverage consumption?

#4. Pleasure Island failed for many reasons, but in my opinion it was when they removed the restrictions to allow children/families/shoppers/diners to "just walk through" to get to the West Side.


I look forward to the new Splitsville location at Downtown Disney. According to the press release and website they will stick with the company policy of "No One Under 21 after 8pm." While I would expect them to alter it somewhat, perhaps limiting the top floor only, I look forward to the opportunity to enjoy quite adult time.

 

[deedeetoo]

I had a horrible experience at the beach at the Polynesian one night. My DH and I went to watch the fireworks, a nice romantic spot, right? Not a prayer. I love kids, can't wait for my time as a grandma. I love to see them in and around Disney, it really brings on the magic.

However, we were laying on the lounge chairs trying to relax alittle and watch the fireworks and there were some really cute kids acting as pirates, playing and running around in the sand. Cute, right? It was, except one child about 9 years old was screaming on the top of his lungs as he ran. For about 40 straight minutes. Parents were close, not one of them said a word. I'm not talking alittle scream, like a playful thing, I'm talking a monster scream as loud as his voice could carry for a long as he could. I told my husband his parents were probably allowing it, so he'd lose his voice for the rest of the trip! It was horrible, we got up and left and we haven't been back to the Poly beach since. Don't plan to either. There are other places for viewing the fireworks.....like TOWL!!!!

I agree with the OP that there should be adult only time at TOWL but I completely disagree with this poster who thinks the beach should be quiet. If you have a noisy nine year old that needs to burn off steam, where do you go? I think the parents made a good choice taking this kid to the beach so he could run around and play pirates and not bother the people in the room next door to theirs. Was the poster even a guest at the Poly? I'm guessing no since this is on a DVC board. So you go to a hotel that you aren't staying in, into a public area like a beach and then complain because kids are noisy and running around? Really? That's what beaches are for.

 

[marynvince]

Unfortunately I must disagree with your disagreement!

#1. I don't know your children and have no reason to doubt that they are well behaved. But how are you penalized? If TOWL is open from 5 to 12, you have access 6 out of the 7 hours with your children, including the time of the fireworks. The second part in which you state; "I wouldn't be able to take advantage of adults only becuase my wife and I would not leave our kids in our room alone." seems selfish. I'm guessing you didn't mean it that way, but the way it comes across is... "If I can't take advantage of it no one should." Perhaps a baby sitter for the hour would be a welcome night/hour out.

#2. Neither you nor I can definitively state what business levels would be. But you state that TOWL doesn't get a lot of business now, how can you be so sure that an adults only hour wouldn't be a positive, increasing business? Speaking for us personally, we won't go back, unless they offered time without children. I'm further guessing that my business would be worth more, because I am free to spend more on drink and food. I don't need to limit consumption because I'm responsible for children. How many parents can go to a lounge and consume more than one or two? If they do, what kind of parent takes a kid to a bar and drinks like that?

#3. Yes it is Disney and I do expect children everywhere, except bars/lounges. Just as I find it an annoyance to have kids running around, don't you find it disconcerting to have your children in a bar after 11pm? Just because you are on Disney property is it okay? Would you take your children to a local tavern after 11? Of course not. Is it worth the risk to expose your children to adult conversation, adult atmosphere and adult beverage consumption?

#4. Pleasure Island failed for many reasons, but in my opinion it was when they removed the restrictions to allow children/families/shoppers/diners to "just walk through" to get to the West Side.


I look forward to the new Splitsville location at Downtown Disney. According to the press release and website they will stick with the company policy of "No One Under 21 after 8pm." While I would expect them to alter it somewhat, perhaps limiting the top floor only, I look forward to the opportunity to enjoy quite adult time.

OK I agree 11-12 adults only, as long as this did not interfere with Fireworks is a good idea and I'm all for it!!