Does Anyone Remember the Top of the World ......

[Scrubjay]

........ After reading a previous thread titled "Does Anyone Remember the Empress Lilly?" I got kind of nostalgic thinking of the great WDW restaurants that have either changed or are no longer with us. I remember going to The Top of the World Dinner Show (now the California Grille) with my wife and 4 year old son back in 1986. For those unfamiliar it was a dinner and show featuring broadway hits performed by some very talented unknown performers. We had a table right off the stage area and I remember all the women performers smiling and winking at my son during the show which he really ate up the attention. I also remember at one point in the show one of the guy performers was singing that song from "The Music Man" about "having trouble in River City" and before I know it the guy is in the audience right next to me and singing it to me with a bright spot light on us. Unfortunately, for me, I had gotten this giant zit on my nose which I was extremely self conscious of and the last thing I wanted was a bright spot light and every eye in the place on me. I think I almost slid under the table and my wife still laughs about it. It was a great time, a great dinner and like so many things of WDW a great memory.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Yes - I remember going to the Top of the World and the Empress Lilly in l988! I do miss them both along with Tangorra Terrace at the Poly!

 

[Chuck S]

I loved the Broadway at the Top show! I miss the Coral Isle at the Poly, to me their menu selection was far superior to Kona Cafe. The more open Kona restaurant design is very nice, though.

 

[beccasmom]

Top of the World is one of my most treasured Disney memories. I miss it very much! They had wonderful breakfast buffets! And the ice cream pie dessert at lunch! Fabulous!

The Broadway at the Top show was wonderful as well! Happy memories abound!

 

[sotoalf]

I'm not sure if it's a case of apples and oranges, but does anyone prefer the original Top of the World to the California Grill?

 

[s&k'smom]

My DH and I loved the Top of the World show, it was fantastic, we went years ago (before kids and I had a waistline!) and it was wonderful. Do you guys remember the Sunday brunch they used to have? Oh man you didn't need to eat for a week after that. I really miss the old top of the CR. It was a nice lounge and we would sit and have a drink and just watch through the huge windows.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

My wife and I saw Pat Boone perform at the Top of the World back in the late 70's (I think). We thought we were on top of the world seeing such a big star (at the time).

HBC

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's right--before it bacame that dinner show, it used to be a supper club, with "name" entertainment. In the late 70's we saw Billy Eckstein--I know Rosemary Clooney also performed there, among others.

 

[ahutton]

I would love to see them bring back the breakfast buffet, it was such a great way to start the day, and then ride the monorail into MK.

 

[jennypenny]

Memories . . .

My hubby and I got married on a Saturday in 1989, flew to disneyworld that night, and had a wonderful Sunday brunch at the Top of the World the next morning.

It was funny too. We didn't really get to eat much at the rehearsal on Friday, then hardly ate anything at the wedding on Saturday (just liquids ) then got to disney after midnight and couldn't get any food (didn't mind because it was our wedding night). But by Sunday morning we were STARVING! We must have stayed at the buffet for two hours and ate our way from one end to the other.

I can't believe that was 15 years ago.
Jenny

 

[Terry S]

What was the name of that restaurant around 1985? I was engaged there (never married that person) and I don't remember there being a dinner show there, but Top of the World sounds a bit familiar? I know it was at the Contemporary and the men had to wear suit jackets to dine there.

 

[wdwrich]

I remember having a lunch buffet there on our first day when we visited in 1982 for the opening of the "new" EPCOT. We stayed at the Poly and checked in at around noon. When we rode the monorail past the Magic Kingdom, my then 5yo son cried because we didn't get out and go into the park. We also ate most of our breakfasts at the Tangaroa Terrace- we miss that place too!

 

[Grumpy92]

Boy do we miss the wonderful Sunday Brunch they used to have. The food was fabulous.

 

[AnnetteF]

I really miss Top of the World. I first went there with my parents when I was 12 in 1975 and we saw Shari Lewis. Years later, when they had Broadway at the top, I went to that a few times and loved it, too. But the thing I miss most was being able to go up to the lounge and sit down and have a drink with the beautiful view. My husband and I used to go up there in the middle of the afternoon to get out of the heat and go sit by the big windows and have one of those "monorail drinks" and just stare out at the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. I like California Grill but my biggest disappointment about it was that it was no longer a lounge by itself. They really don't seem to want you there unless you are waiting for dinner and during the day I believe it is closed.

 

[zippeedee]

We saw Frankie Avalon there in 1976. He had a backdrop of sharks swimming while he was singing. I was a Sr in high school and it was my first trip without my parents. I still don't know why they let us order a bottle of wine, but we were so clueless-the waiter opened the bottle and gave the cork to one of my friends and she put it in her purse. She thought it was a souvenier. I'm sure he got a good laugh out of it!

 

[Uncleromulus]

 

[BCV23]

Zippeedee, that is funny!

I remember those great buffets at the Top of the World. We miss Tangaroa Terrace, too.

We never did see Broadway at the Top. I always felt our children were too young for it and that eventually we could do it. By the time our youngest was old enough...it was gone.

Terry S, in 1985 it was still Broadway at the Top in the evening. Could you have dined at the Gulf Coast Room? I believe jackets were required for men there.

Uncleromulus, your trip must be coming soon. Safe trip and happy dining. Oh, and no hurricanes, too!

 

[TerriBelle]

We always went to the Sunday Brunch! It was the best.

 

[flyball]

I remember the Top of the World, only when we went in 1987 the talent wasn't as top notch. Our recollection is of smarmy lounge singers a la Bill Murray in the old SNL skits (happy birthday, you knuckle head, you!)!!! We still had a great time, and it's a funny memory!