BLT lounge??

[Dee77]

How has access to the lounge been? We are staying there in Dec, how can we schedule time to go there and watch the fireworks? Will we be allowed to have my in-laws (staying at SSR) join us or is it strictly available only to members staying at BLT? Any information about this is greatly appreciated!

 

[erionm]

You don't reserve a time. To access the lounge and observation deck, you go down to the check-in desk at the BLT Lobby on the 1st floor. They will check your KTTW to ensure it says 'DVC MEMBER' and then they will escort you to the elevator. They have to use a special card to get the elevator to go up to the 16th floor. I don't see why your in-laws can't join you. They will need to be with you at the resort prior to going to the check-in desk.

 

[cruisedad]

In Dec we stayed at AKV and went over to BLT lounge for drinks and a good snack. We asked at the desk if we could go up there and they first asked if we were staying at BLT. We told them where we were staying and showed our DVC keycard. They let us up and said we could go up because it wasn't busy. We didn't ask what would have happened if it was busy, so not really sure if any DVC keycard will get you to the lounge.

 

[DenLo]

How has access to the lounge been? We are staying there in Dec, how can we schedule time to go there and watch the fireworks? Will we be allowed to have my in-laws (staying at SSR) join us or is it strictly available only to members staying at BLT? Any information about this is greatly appreciated!

You don't reserve a time. To access the lounge and observation deck, you go down to the check-in desk at the BLT Lobby on the 1st floor. They will check your KTTW to ensure it says 'DVC MEMBER' and then they will escort you to the elevator. They have to use a special card to get the elevator to go up to the 16th floor. I don't see why your in-laws can't join you. They will need to be with you at the resort prior to going to the check-in desk.

Since your in laws are staying at SSR, they will not be able to accompany you to the TOTW Lounge. You can invite them to your villa and if you have an MK view they can watch the fireworks there. Here's what the DVC member website says:

Due to anticipated high demand for this location, access is available only to Disney Vacation Club Members who are staying at Bay Lake Tower using their Membership (Vacation Points or cash), guests staying in the room with that Member, and guests who are staying in a room reserved by a DVC Member with Vacation Points. Access is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Although the "demand for the TOTW Lounge" has not materialized at this time, to my knowledge the above rule still applies. And that means TOTW is for DVC members and their guests staying at BLT on points. Bummer isn't it? Since the DVC doesn't own the TOTW Lounge Disney can do whatever they want with it. There have been several threads on this subject since BLT opened.

 

[burnsoc]

I would just ask at the check in desk. We all know the official rule, but in reality if it's not crowded I'm sure they'll say okay. Judging by how poorly business has been up there I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of policy change by your December trip.

 

[Disney Spaz]

We went to the BLT lounge during Christmas week right before Wishes was scheduled to go off and we had no problem getting in.

 

[isavem98]

Personally I hope they do not change the rule and I also hope they adhere to it. Nothing against anyone or their relatives, but this perk is for BLT owners. If you want to go to the TOTW then maybe you should have bought at BLT. If the rule is changed I can see a time in the future where someone staying at BLT is not going to be able to get up there because of others not staying there having filled it up.

Just my 2 cents.
Adam

 

[erionm]

Personally I hope they do not change the rule and I also hope they adhere to it. Nothing against anyone or their relatives, but this perk is for BLT owners. If you want to go to the TOTW then maybe you should have bought at BLT. If the rule is changed I can see a time in the future where someone staying at BLT is not going to be able to get up there because of others not staying there having filled it up.

Just my 2 cents.
Adam

The lounge and observation deck are not reserved for BLT Owners only. Any DVC Member using their membership to stay at BLT has access. This applies to cash and point reservations made by MS.

 

[isavem98]

The lounge and observation deck are not reserved for BLT Owners only. Any DVC Member using their membership to stay at BLT has access. This applies to cash and point reservations made by MS.

I understand that, my original post did not make that clear.

The original post stated that they wanted to see if someone from another resort could "come over" and use the TOTW. I say in those cases the answer should be no.

Adam

 

[5forDiz]

I understand that, my original post did not make that clear.

The original post stated that they wanted to see if someone from another resort could "come over" and use the TOTW. I say in those cases the answer should be no.

Adam

Well you don't get to make their business decisions and neither do the rest of us & Disney seems to be finding that there are nights where the lounge is so woefully empty that CMs have been given discretion to allow non-BLT staying guests of a members staying at BLT permission to join them on particular evenings.

Hopefully at some point there will be enough BLT owners &/or other members who stay at BLT on points &/or cash thru MS spending enough $$$ at the lounge to sustain it. It remains to be seen what the future holds & maybe as more BLT points are sold more will visit , but so far the numbers it is attracting isn't gonna do it. We'll be staying at BLT on points in August and have said lets not even count on the lounge still being available if this trend continues (especially if BLT has sold out by then). It needs to make $ and it cannot possibly have taken in enough up to this point; Disney knows it and DVC knows it & that is why it appears that recently there have been some reports that CMs have been given flexibility to allow visitors of a member staying at BLT to accompany them to lounge when customers on that given night are extremely few.

To op Dee77, you've got nothing to lose by asking if your inlaws can join you but you are aware that access to them can be denied; and I'm sure you are a lovely family and would not cause a scene if that is the case best wishes!

 

[smjj]

We were there this last Oct. and were staying at BLT. They checked our ID each and every time we went to the lounge and verified we were staying at BLT. I would hate to invite a guest over then have them turned away. If it is up to the CM on duty at the time that is to iffy for me to invite someone.. It was never anywhere close to being crowded all the times we were they and they were still checking all ID's....smjj

 

[disneynutz]

Last month DW and I stayed at BLT and went to the TOTW twice. The first time they would let us go up until we both showed out KTTW cards. The second night, different CM, only I showed my card. Like all things in life, it depends on who you are dealing with.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

We used the lounge on Wednesday January 6th and it was very very crowded. I had made everyone, including the DGC bring their room keys, but we were not all asked to show them. Others used the lounge one other night during our 5 night stay. I hope DVC people get to "keep" using it, and I don't really care if it turns out to be shared with others. However, I'm not a BLT owner.

Bobbi

 

[Dee77]

Thanks everyone for your input and thoughts. I let my in-laws know that it is very uncertain whether we can all access the lounge. We decided to try and go up there one night for a drink and then head over to CG for our dinner. This sort of kills 2 birds with 1 stone. The fireworks would be a bonus to get to see but they are more interested in seeing our room and the lay-out of the resort etc.