BLT TOW Lounge report

[cruisedad]

This past weekend my DVC wife and I stayed at OKW. We took a chance and went over to TOW Lounge being we were at MK. We asked the person there if we could go up and told her we were staying at OKW and were DVC members. (It was about 6:30pm). We were "scolded" by her She said if we were DVC members we knew the rules and that we were not alLowed up!! etc blah blah blah. She asked WHY we wanted to go up and told her we wanted to get something to eat and she said it wasn't a RESTAURANT. We explained that we had stayed there before and knew they had food. She looked at us and her "people counter". 2 other couples had come up and asked to go up also. (1 was staying at BLT and the other DVC member asked to just see the TOW.)
The Disney person said she would let us up. When we got up there, there were only 2 other people up there. As a matter of fact we did stay through the fireworks and spent a good amount of money up there. The whole time the TOW was empty except from 7:45 to end of fireworks, but about 90% of those people were outside and spent no money.
OK I know some of you will say the rules are the rules, but we asked nicely and had she just said we couldn't go up we would have just left. But to be scolded? FUNNY PART WAS WHEN WE LEFT THE SAME PERSON SAID WELCOME HOME!!

 

[lugnut33]

I'm guessing they'll turn the lounge into a pay spot similar to the Wishes dessert party. I would think they'd make mega bucks doing that. They could even advertise it as "avoid the crowd on Main Street".

 

[cruisedad]

This was our 3rd time up there and it has never been busy. If they opened it up to DVC members staying at ANY WDW resort with a KTTW card, I am sure they would do better.

 

[lugnut33]

This was our 3rd time up there and it has never been busy. If they opened it up to DVC members staying at ANY WDW resort with a KTTW card, I am sure they would do better.

They could open it up to all DVC members as a "Wishes Dessert Party" and charge people $24 each for it. Limit it to 100 or so people so it sounds exclusive.

 

[Lady V]

I'll be there next week! How was it? Were the views wonderful?

 

[disneynutz]

I think that they will keep the access restricted to DVC Members until BLT is fully declared and close to selling out.

The next modification will be to let all BLT Guests have access.

After that they will allow private parties like they do at the BWV Attic.

Bill

 

[cruisedad]

Lady V, the views were great and it was fun seeing the fireworks from up there. Before the show it was nice seeing the castle change colors!!

 

[Mr_Potts]

When we were at BLT over Christmas I saw something strange. A nicely dressed couple pulled under the porte-cochere of BLT and parked their car there. I thought this was a little nervy--in the whole time I was there I didn't see any car parked there, only people being dropped off or picked up. Then this couple went up the TOTWL for the fireworks. Later, I rode the elevator back down to the lobby with them and saw them get back in their car and drive away from BLT. Even my nephew noted that they didn't seem to be staying at BLT, but they were clearly allowed up to the TOTWL (with a premium parking spot!). I wonder if the guides are giving special experiences like that to people who are consdiring buying BLT? Has anyone seen or heard of anything similar?

 

[smjj]

I'll be there next week! How was it? Were the views wonderful?

We stayed there in Oct. The views were OK but we did not think they were that great. Sure we had an unobstructed view but thats about it. Being so far away and not on Mainstreet, it lost something. Its just "OK" in our book. On all occasions(3) we were there it was only somewhat growded on the patio part and not very busy in the lounge at all..smjj

 

[dvcblt93]

I'm guessing they'll turn the lounge into a pay spot similar to the Wishes dessert party. I would think they'd make mega bucks doing that. They could even advertise it as "avoid the crowd on Main Street".

How do you figure they are going to turn it into a dessert party

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd love to go up but I'm not interested in Wishes. Why not allow DVC members staying elsewhere up AFTER Wishes?

 

[SFD998]

We stayed there in October and made sure to get there early, because we didn't want to miss out on the chance to get up there. When we got up there we were 1 of only 3 groups of people there for a total of 12. It stayed pretty quiet until closer to the time of the fireworks and even then it wasn't very crowded. The view is nice and it is great to just go right back to your room and not deal with the crowds, but it just isn't the same. The most noticeable difference to us was how the fireworks don't "line up" with the castle, because you aren't standing in front of it. This changes the whole perspective. We enjoyed it, but I wouldn't make the effort again in the future to make sure that I get there early.

P.S. We did our part and did spend money when we were there.

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with SFD998.........we didn't really like the way fireworks "lined" up with the Castle in our views from BLT........we watched from our 8th floor lake view (which actually had more MK view than lake) one night and another night from TOWL. In future when I want to see Wishes and don't want to fight crowds on Main Street........I'll go over to the beach at the Poly, get myself a drink at the pool bar and proceed to sit in a beach chair .....near one of low volume speakers!! When I feel like dealing with the crowds.......I'll go to the Rose Garden at MK.......
We also spent some time at the TOWL bar.......one evening it was myself, adult son and adult daughter.......when we got up there (about 10 p.m.) there was only ONE other person in the whole place and two bartenders. A few nights later my DH and I went up.....it was Thursday evening, 1/7/10 and the place had quite a few people.........I would say maybe 40 or so..........there were 3 larger groups of maybe 8 to 10 people and then several couples or groups of 3 to 4. I don't know how long the larger groups had been there.......I suspect they were there just for Wishes and maybe one drink because they left maybe 15 minutes after Wishes.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

We were there 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed the atmosphere of TOWL. For the fireworks it was nice but I have to agree with PP they just do not look the same. We also had a North facing room on the 9th floor and the view of wishes was about the same as TOWL even had the music on the TV. MY kids thought they were big stuff drinking their virign drinks with all the adults. IMHO a very nice place I am not sure if it is a selling point for staying at BLT.

 

[disneylovin24]

I'm sorry but I don't like that you were allowed up The lounge is designed so it will never get too crowded and so it's something special of people staying at the resort. Now, people will read your story and go and try and do the same thing

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Personally I would love it if they would allow all DVC members access if it wasn't too crowded up there.

 

[burnsoc]

We were there last Thursday and there was a good size crowd. All the tables were full and about thirty people were outside when the fireworks went off. We spent a good amount of money and the waitress was very appreciative of the business. I told DW that we'll have our vow renewal there in 5 years if it goes to private affairs only.

 

[Sammie]

They could make it like pool hopping, if its not busy, not like they don't know how many have gone up, then let other DVC members go up.

It is ridiculous it is staying near empty at times.

 

[dvc4life]

We just can't wait to try it in September while we are there. It is just up my families alley. A nice place to sit, have a snack, have a refreshing beverage and not be surrounded by hundreds of people. I just hope it remains open until then!

 

[Micca]

What type of food is on the menu?