BLT Top Of The World member perk extended through Dec. 29th, 2015

[doconeill]

Not a huge surprise, but at some point recently they extended the perk for Members not directly staying at BLT to use the Top of the World Lounge through Dec. 29th, 2015. It was set to expire and the end of this year.

Blockout dates still remain for Dec. 30th and 31st, and July 3rd/4th, although they do imply it could also be blocked out on other dates as needed.

They've also updated the perk notification to say that MagicBands are valid to present to show you are staying at a Disney O/O resort and are a member, but a Member ID may still be needed if the MagicBand or KTTW card lacks the Member notification.

An interesting addition - they say explicitly that if not staying at BLT you MUST take Disney transportation, as parking in unavailable to guests not staying at CR/BLT.

As before, you MUST be staying at a Disney O/O resort (Swan/Dolphin do not count) on either points _or_ cash.

Top of the World Lounge

Top of the World Lounge is located at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Disney Vacation Club Members staying at any Disney-owned-and-operated hotel at Walt Disney World Resort (whether they booked with vacation points or cash) may enjoy access to one of the vacation kingdom's most exclusive spaces: Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort through December 29, 2015 (blockout dates apply, including but not limited to December 30, 2014, December 31, 2014, July 3, 2015 and July 4, 2015). Current operating hours are 6 p.m. to midnight.

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

Note that Members traveling from other Resorts must use Walt Disney World Transportation, as parking is unavailable to anyone not staying at Bay Lake Tower or Disney's Contemporary Resort. Upon arrival, Members must walk to the Bay Lake Tower main lobby entrance on the ground floor and check in at the Top of the World Lounge desk in the lobby.

This special Top of the World Lounge access is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the lounge reaches capacity. As the lounge is particularly popular during the Magic Kingdom fireworks, arriving as early as possible will give Members the best chance of gaining admission.

 

[LisaS]

That's good news! We have enjoyed our visits to the TOWL.

An interesting addition - they say explicitly that if not staying at BLT you MUST take Disney transportation, as parking in unavailable to guests not staying at CR/BLT.

That wording has been there for at least the past 12 months if not longer.

 

[doconeill]

That's good news! We have enjoyed our visits to the TOWL.

That wording has been there for at least the past 12 months if not longer.

It's possible...I just don't recall seeing it before.

 

[OKW Lover]

That wording has been there for at least the past 12 months if not longer.

I agree, its not new.

 

[jerseygal]

Not a huge surprise, but at some point recently they extended the perk for Members not directly staying at BLT to use the Top of the World Lounge through Dec. 29th, 2015. It was set to expire and the end of this year.

Blockout dates still remain for Dec. 30th and 31st, and July 3rd/4th, although they do imply it could also be blocked out on other dates as needed.

They've also updated the perk notification to say that MagicBands are valid to present to show you are staying at a Disney O/O resort and are a member, but a Member ID may still be needed if the MagicBand or KTTW card lacks the Member notification.

An interesting addition - they say explicitly that if not staying at BLT you MUST take Disney transportation, as parking in unavailable to guests not staying at CR/BLT.

As before, you MUST be staying at a Disney O/O resort (Swan/Dolphin do not count) on either points _or_ cash.

Will make sure we have membership cards just in case MB don't have enough infor!

 

[LisaS]

It's possible...I just don't recall seeing it before.

The reason I know it's been there a while is because there have been some heated discussions here about whether or not it's OK to park in the BLT or CR lots to go to the TOWL. Someone would then post the official announcement on those threads. (And then more heated discussion would follow... LOL).

I was curious myself how long that has been part of the official announcement so I did a quick search. Post #3 from this thread from back in Feb 2013 has that same wording: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3069739

But again, thanks for posting this. We didn't get to WDW this year and now we can look forward to visiting TOWL when we go next year!

 

[doconeill]

The reason I know it's been there a while is because there have been some heated discussions here about whether or not it's OK to park in the BLT or CR lots to go to the TOWL. Someone would then post the official announcement on those threads. (And then more heated discussion would follow... LOL).

I was curious myself how long that has been part of the official announcement so I did a quick search. Post #3 from this thread from back in Feb 2013 has that same wording: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3069739

Heh...usually I'm dealing with similar arguments on whether you have to be staying on property, have guests, etc. Apparently I skipped the parking ones.

 

[supersnoop]

Maybe I'm just being picky, and maybe it's obvious, but I really don't like the way they list blockout dates. What exactly is blocked out? All DVC members, or just those not at BLT. There's nothing that says BLT guests are allowed in on those dates. I'm assuming, since I'll be staying at BLT on those dates, that I'll be allowed up. But nothing that explicitly states what IS allowed on those dates.

 

[erionm]

Maybe I'm just being picky, and maybe it's obvious, but I really don't like the way they list blockout dates. What exactly is blocked out? All DVC members, or just those not at BLT. There's nothing that says BLT guests are allowed in on those dates. I'm assuming, since I'll be staying at BLT on those dates, that I'll be allowed up. But nothing that explicitly states what IS allowed on those dates.

The blockout dates only apply to members not staying at BLT.

 

[doconeill]

It's true that it isn't worded well, but as erionm says, the blockout is for the "added" perk to all members staying somewhere on property. BLT guests get it as a perk of staying there already.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have enjoyed this perk many times! I am glad it is extended!

We have a BLT stay specifically to see the MK fireworks from the lounge on December 30th. BLT stayers can definitely use the lounge that night. I checked with MS.