7/21 DVCNews is reporting updated information on the BLT lounge

[5forDiz]

Yup, you missed that post because I said that's exactly what I want to do. And I don't consider BCV a "lesser" resort, just different. Oh, I just noticed-you said "lesser points". Am I reading the comparison of BLT standard view vs. BCV points wrong?

Maybe it was me who misread statement of person I quoted in my post (?)....the 'staying at OKW on less points' part that they said irked me because it's not necessarily true (seemed like a put down to OKW - but probably wasn't meant that way)

I am not put-off by any member who wants to try for access while staying at another DVC especially if, let's say, TOWL is only at half capacity with BLT guests on a particular night; it would be nice if there could be a standby option available.

 

[cutakenta]

IMHO, I want cash non-members to have access. Disney is charging $600 a night for the same days I booked (new years) for a lake view studio.

The 499 plus 77 and how close to the MK BLT makes me so glad I bought!!!

 

[Disneypirate85]

We are recent BWV owners, as well as BLT. Can someone provide some background on the Attic? Does it still exist? If so, where is it?
Thank you,
Mike

Standing on the Villiage Green (Courtyard grass) looking at the resort its straight up on the roof has windows on 4 sides and is very nice inside. Was taken back while ago from BWV owners and turned into a Special Event room, wedding receptions private parties etc.....sore spot with some very upset owners. Shawn

 

[tjkraz]

A quick clarification on the admittance policy for the lounge and deck.

It appears that admission to the lounge/deck--really admission to the entire 16th floor--will be controlled by the lobby. Guests will have to first proceed to the lobby and check-in at the designated "Top of the World" desk. Similar to the process used at California Grill, the lobby CM will control access to the 16th floor. He/she will also be responsible for keeping track of the number of guests admitted on a daily basis.

So the current plan is to prohibit direct access to the 16th floor, and use the lobby CM to police the number of guests who are granted access. Many guests likely will have to go down from their room to the lobby and then back up to 16, but it does seem like this process is the most sensible way to monitor occupancy of the facilities.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

A quick clarification on the admittance policy for the lounge and deck.

It appears that admission to the lounge/deck--really admission to the entire 16th floor--will be controlled by the lobby. Guests will have to first proceed to the lobby and check-in at the designated "Top of the World" desk. Similar to the process used at California Grill, the lobby CM will control access to the 16th floor. He/she will also be responsible for keeping track of the number of guests admitted on a daily basis.

So the current plan is to prohibit direct access to the 16th floor, and use the lobby CM to police the number of guests who are granted access. Many guests likely will have to go down from their room to the lobby and then back up to 16, but it does seem like this process is the most sensible way to monitor occupancy of the facilities.

I wonder if there will be a CM escort through any existing entrance ways. If not, there will be many tailgaters going through the door behind the cleared guests.

MG

 

[tjkraz]

I wonder if there will be a CM escort through any existing entrance ways. If not, there will be many tailgaters going through the door behind the cleared guests.

MG

I think that's what they are trying to control by having access monitored in the lobby. The way I envision it, the lobby CM checks-in folks...allows them to board the elevator...turns his/her elevator key and sends them directly to 16.

If they allowed guests free access to 16 with lounge access being by room key only, what you describe is exactly what would happen. It's like trying to get into a gated pool--people just wait for someone else to enter and follow them thru the door.

Instead the lobby CM will be the gatekeeper. Guests will still need their KTTW card to show the lobby CM, and they may have to swipe the card to actually enter the lounge. But the system sounds pretty tailgater-proof (in theory! )

 

[d-r]

We went to one of the blt previews tonight. Didn't go down to the lobby. We went to a two-bedroom first to talk to one of the guides for a while, then we joined one of the tour groups in progress. What they did was take them to a 3-bedroom villa. The "main floor" door was on the 15th floor, but the upstairs bedrooms had a door out on the 16th floor. We walked out that door, then down the hall to the lounge. The guide leading that group made a big deal that over the holidays the three-bedroom would be $2600 a night, and even paying cash they wouldn't be able to walk down to the lounge, because there was a key gate there that he said would be coded to check two things, dvc member and staying at blt. He was like can you imagine paying $2.600 a night for a week. And I was thinking, yeah, but that 1,000 points for that week would cost 100 grand plus $4K a year in dues. But anyway, even if you are walking down the hall, from both sides, there is a card key entry thing. You enter the "outside" sort of part first, then can go into the lounge. So that is why you are reading 400 something outside and 70 something inside. The outside part is very, very cool. Watched the electric water pagent from there tonight. It would suck mightely with 400 people out there though. I think the lounge would be a fun place to go to get a drink and hang out a bit, but it would be too crowded with 70 people in it for me. I hope there are some times when one could just hang out there without jockying for fireworks.

That guide kind of put me off a little. Before the group left the three bedroom he made a big "I'll let you all in on a secret, we NEVER do this but tonight only if you talk to a guide about anything - just ask them some questions, now make it a serious question - and you'll get a fast pass so that you can go on anything you want for the next three days"

When we got to the area before the lounge he was like "OK, everyone who wants to talk to a guide step up here and we'll go in. Our group didn't. So he took the first group in, walked them around, then came back and got us, and led us out the other side of the lounge, and said feel free to come ask for someone if you have a change of heart. Listen, guy, I already talked to a guide tonight, my name is on the fountain out back for that matter, and I have those fast passes (that I know are good for three rides) in my back pocket already.

Oh well, it just seemed kind of cold.

Oh yeah, from the three bedroom bay lake view we could watch illuminations really well.

It really is a nice place. I have never before seen this concept of having a lounge with drinks and light appetizers for sale and before it even opens limiting who can come up there to only a subset of people staying at a certain resort, it seems like it would limit the cash they could make. They are certainlyh planning on it being in high demand. And let me tell you. When we bought our add on there they made it really clear that it was not guarenteed to be a part of our purchase (the lounge) but tonight during that tour it was a major, major selling point. People have worried about them pulling an attic, and if they did it would really suck the way they were pushing it tonight.

Oh you all are right, there isn't a parking deck on the first floor like I thought there would be, doh, but it looked like they had redone the parking lot, at least since the last time I parked there.

 

[monetnj]

Hey d-r we were at the same event! We were told the same thing about the deck and lounge. Only open to DVC members staying at BLT. They used it as a major selling point. Didn't get to see Illuminations and Wishes though. They did say they will pump in the music for Wishes onto a BLT TV channel. Might be cool if they decided to do the same with Illuminations. Anyway, I did take some pics from the terrace, so here is the MK view from the deck at night.

 

[dizfan]

Thanks for the great picture.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

So, you don't have to go thru the lounge to get to the Observation Deck, as I was told on another thread, but you go thru the Observation Deck to get into the lounge. That makes more sense to me.

And I am still wondering how much noise the foot traffic will make for those in the Grand Villa.

 

[d-r]

monetnj that is an awesome picture. I broke my camera that day so I didn't take any, luckily I borrowed my mother-in-laws the next day.

one thing is, there are two elevators in the tower. It seemed like basically the area between the two elevators was the deck and lounge. So the top-floor of the grand villas would be on the "wings" outside the elevators. I think that maybe the ones in the "middle" between the two elevators are a story below. I don't know what that will mean to the noise level.

One thing I do think though is that there isn't going to be a bad room up there.

ETA one thing I think monetnj's photo shows is that the parking lot in "front" of blt seems expanded to me.

 

[patsal]

Let's hope they don't pull an SSR and have no fireworks at MK to watch!

 

[monetnj]

Thanks! Taking pictures is my "day" job. I brought my nice Nikon and lens up to the deck to try my hand at some high dynamic range (HDR) photography. It basically composites a bunch of pictures to to more closely approximate the range of what the human eye can see when compared to the the average picture. I did that with some of Disney's icons and I will post them if they turn out any good. On another BLT thread I posted a few more pics I took from the deck if anyone is interested:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=32834198#post32834198

The first picture (the one I posted here) and the Contemporary shot I think capture about the right relative sizes of objects as seen from the deck.

monetnj that is an awesome picture. I broke my camera that day so I didn't take any, luckily I borrowed my mother-in-laws the next day.

one thing is, there are two elevators in the tower. It seemed like basically the area between the two elevators was the deck and lounge. So the top-floor of the grand villas would be on the "wings" outside the elevators. I think that maybe the ones in the "middle" between the two elevators are a story below. I don't know what that will mean to the noise level.

One thing I do think though is that there isn't going to be a bad room up there.

ETA one thing I think monetnj's photo shows is that the parking lot in "front" of blt seems expanded to me.

 

[Jillpie]

Am I the only one thinking, what in the world is the big deal here?? I think this "highly anticipated demand" is totally fabricated. I mean, its a BAR folks, thats all. Yes, its a nice view of MK, but so what, I am never, ever sitting in a bar at Disneyworld at 9:30 pm, I'm in a park with my family having a ball!!

I just don't think its going to be that much in demand, I really don't. For honeymooners, maybe. For single people that want the nightlife, perhaps. But for the typical Mom and Dad with their kids at Disneyworld, NO WAY. So I think everyone can relax a little bit here, its just not going to be "all that".

 

[monetnj]

While there is a bar lounge that seats around 70, it is enclosed in glass. The best view will be outside on the deck which can accommodate much more than that. I have no idea what the demand and atmosphere will ultimately be, but I don't think classifying it as simply a non-family-friendly bar properly describes the space.

Am I the only one thinking, what in the world is the big deal here?? I think this "highly anticipated demand" is totally fabricated. I mean, its a BAR folks, thats all. Yes, its a nice view of MK, but so what, I am never, ever sitting in a bar at Disneyworld at 9:30 pm, I'm in a park with my family having a ball!!

I just don't think its going to be that much in demand, I really don't. For honeymooners, maybe. For single people that want the nightlife, perhaps. But for the typical Mom and Dad with their kids at Disneyworld, NO WAY. So I think everyone can relax a little bit here, its just not going to be "all that".

 

[tjkraz]

Am I the only one thinking, what in the world is the big deal here?? I think this "highly anticipated demand" is totally fabricated. I mean, its a BAR folks, thats all. Yes, its a nice view of MK, but so what, I am never, ever sitting in a bar at Disneyworld at 9:30 pm, I'm in a park with my family having a ball!!

I just don't think its going to be that much in demand, I really don't. For honeymooners, maybe. For single people that want the nightlife, perhaps. But for the typical Mom and Dad with their kids at Disneyworld, NO WAY. So I think everyone can relax a little bit here, its just not going to be "all that".

For the most part, I agree. The lounge and deck would hold nearly 25% of all BLT guests if every room were at full occupancy. Subtract people in the MK view rooms, people who visited the lounge on another day (nobody is going to make it a daily event), and people who are in the parks and people with no interest. And as far as people coming hours ahead of time, that deck isn't going to be very conducive to waiting during the cooler months.

I think it's smart for Disney to plan for the worst. At times (holidays, near opening, special fireworks displays like MNSSHP) it may actually reach capacity. But the vast majority of the time I think you'll be lucky if there are a couple hundred people up there by the time the show begins.

 

[spiceycat]

gee hope you are correct - will always try to get a sv not MK - so yes would love to see the fireworks from the lounge/balcony


so for folks like me - the lounge will be popular. getting a drink and seeing the fireworks - sounds nice to me.

 

[twinklebug]

Am I the only one thinking, what in the world is the big deal here?? I think this "highly anticipated demand" is totally fabricated. I mean, its a BAR folks, thats all. Yes, its a nice view of MK, but so what, I am never, ever sitting in a bar at Disneyworld at 9:30 pm, I'm in a park with my family having a ball!!

I just don't think its going to be that much in demand, I really don't. For honeymooners, maybe. For single people that want the nightlife, perhaps. But for the typical Mom and Dad with their kids at Disneyworld, NO WAY. So I think everyone can relax a little bit here, its just not going to be "all that".

I was thinking the same thing as you -- until -- I visited the deck last week. I still have minimal to no desire to stay at BLT, but I can see how the view from the deck, looking out at space mountain, the castle and the monorails gliding by all right in your own "yard" makes it a very appealing spot to watch the fireworks from for those staying there.

BTW - we were told that the connecting walkway between CR & BLT is designed with the intent that it will be an overflow viewing area from the balcony. Our guide at the time pointed out the speakers and I was happy to see good heavy cables are holding the structure up in case it is crowded with a hundred people.

 

[mlayton14]

Am I the only one thinking, what in the world is the big deal here?? I think this "highly anticipated demand" is totally fabricated. I mean, its a BAR folks, thats all. Yes, its a nice view of MK, but so what, I am never, ever sitting in a bar at Disneyworld at 9:30 pm, I'm in a park with my family having a ball!!

I just don't think its going to be that much in demand, I really don't. For honeymooners, maybe. For single people that want the nightlife, perhaps. But for the typical Mom and Dad with their kids at Disneyworld, NO WAY. So I think everyone can relax a little bit here, its just not going to be "all that".

I couldnt agree more .. Ive watched from both the monorail level at the CR Tower and Cali Grill .. and while I guess you could say its a very small bonus that you dont get at other resorts.. it is no match for watching in-person, with the music and ambience present at the Magic Kingdom which is a 10 minute walk from there. I just dont get the big hoopla. Add the view of the parking lot directly in front of you .. I wonder what people are getting their panties in a bunch about.

 

[Longhairbear]

I can see all of the above comments being made when the viewing deck at VGC opens for World Of Color. I'd imagine there could also be special event times, such as Food & Wine at California Adventure, Napa Rose having a special dine and view evening.
I have no idea how many people the viewing deck at VGC will hold.