New Complementary Fireworks Viewing Reservations at TOTWL - Report Experiences Here

[ShariM]

I was able to get Feb. 15 booked this morning.

As of this morning I was able to book Feb 22nd. I’ve been calling since 60 +10 days out, minus New Years Day and yesterday. Yay!!

 

[ak517]

Hi again! I made a res when these opened for tonight, January 3rd, for five people including a toddler and an infant. We ended up being less the toddler and an adult, so just three checked in. Our reservation was for “7:30” and the DVC CM on the phone told me I’d be charged $10 per person if we missed it when I made the reservation a few weeks back.

In reality, the three of us showed up a little after 8, didn’t need to actually do anything to check in for the reservation other than show DVC Y, and I confirmed with the CM at TOTWL that they wouldn’t charge me if I hadn’t shown up. He stated that the reservation system is more a way to help people actually get to the contemporary (eg for parking) and “they,” or TOTWL, aren’t planning on charging no shows. I’m planning on keeping an eye out for random charges in any case.

Also we couldn’t get drinks until the service for WWD dwindled which was approx 8:40pm for 9pm fireworks. It was maybe 2/3 full and the bartenders still seemed swamped. I’m not sure if that’s typical as this was my first visit.

Finally, the wall was not obstructive to me or my mom, and we’re 5’4” on a good day!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hi again! I made a res when these opened for tonight, January 3rd, for five people including a toddler and an infant. We ended up being less the toddler and an adult, so just three checked in. Our reservation was for “7:30” and the DVC CM on the phone told me I’d be charged $10 per person if we missed it when I made the reservation a few weeks back.

In reality, the three of us showed up a little after 8, didn’t need to actually do anything to check in for the reservation other than show DVC Y, and I confirmed with the CM at TOTWL that they wouldn’t charge me if I hadn’t shown up. He stated that the reservation system is more a way to help people actually get to the contemporary (eg for parking) and “they,” or TOTWL, aren’t planning on charging no shows. I’m planning on keeping an eye out for random charges in any case.

Also we couldn’t get drinks until the service for WWD dwindled which was approx 8:40pm for 9pm fireworks. It was maybe 2/3 full and the bartenders still seemed swamped. I’m not sure if that’s typical as this was my first visit.

Finally, the wall was not obstructive to me or my mom, and we’re 5’4” on a good day!

Thank you so much for reporting back. Glad the it worked out well, we will be sure to not show thirsty.

 

[muppets3d]

Hi again! I made a res when these opened for tonight, January 3rd, for five people including a toddler and an infant. We ended up being less the toddler and an adult, so just three checked in. Our reservation was for “7:30” and the DVC CM on the phone told me I’d be charged $10 per person if we missed it when I made the reservation a few weeks back.

In reality, the three of us showed up a little after 8, didn’t need to actually do anything to check in for the reservation other than show DVC Y, and I confirmed with the CM at TOTWL that they wouldn’t charge me if I hadn’t shown up. He stated that the reservation system is more a way to help people actually get to the contemporary (eg for parking) and “they,” or TOTWL, aren’t planning on charging no shows. I’m planning on keeping an eye out for random charges in any case.

Also we couldn’t get drinks until the service for WWD dwindled which was approx 8:40pm for 9pm fireworks. It was maybe 2/3 full and the bartenders still seemed swamped. I’m not sure if that’s typical as this was my first visit.

Finally, the wall was not obstructive to me or my mom, and we’re 5’4” on a good day!

That pretty much confirms my suspicion that this is pretty much something they're doing to control the demand for parking at BLT.

 

[Brian Noble]

I confirmed with the CM at TOTWL that they wouldn’t charge me if I hadn’t shown up.

It's pretty easy to see where this is going to end up. Folks will make speculative reservations for several nights of their trip, maybe they show up to one, but won't bother to cancel the others. And that's why we can't have nice things.

I suspect that very quickly they will either start enforcing the cancellation penalty, or stop the offering entirely.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

DVC-Y member staying on-site. Called at 60+10 and was told date I was looking wasn't yet loaded into system. Called at 60 days out and was told the same thing. Called at 55 days out and was told the booking was full.

Well, I figured I'd call today just for the heck of it and see if I could make a reservation and what do you know, I was able to get it for the same date I tried the other times I called.

 

[Mombaker]

If you just have reservations for the complimentary fireworks viewing can you order food? It seems like there’s a menu separate from WWD? Or do you have to do the wicked wind down in order to get food? We have 3 kids and I know they wouldn’t eat what’s offered on that wwd menu.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

If you just have reservations for the complimentary fireworks viewing can you order food? It seems like there’s a menu separate from WWD? Or do you have to do the wicked wind down in order to get food? We have 3 kids and I know they wouldn’t eat what’s offered on that wwd menu.

You aren’t getting a guaranteed table, just guarantee to stand and watch the fireworks. I also believe that the food options from WWD are the same things offered at the bar in general. The 7 layer cake was very good.

 

[Mombaker]

You aren’t getting a guaranteed table, just guarantee to stand and watch the fireworks. I also believe that the food options from WWD are the same things offered at the bar in general. The 7 layer cake was very good.

Thanks for the reply. So if you do order food you order from the bar and might just be standing with it…which is fine with me! I’m hoping to go early to get a table though but this is all new to me so should be interesting!

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Thanks for the reply. So if you do order food you order from the bar and might just be standing with it…which is fine with me! I’m hoping to go early to get a table though but this is all new to me so should be interesting!

Coming early or on a night without WWD or a dessert party should really help.

 

[Mojomanny]

I attended on January 19th which was a cold (40 degree) night.

We bussed there from VWL but spoke with some who drove and they said there was no issue getting in for parking. We arrived at 7:30 and were the first to arrive. There was no check in process, just told where we could stand by the hostess in the Lair. Other than that, we were left alone. People slowly trickled in and there were less than 50 in the space that evening.

Other than making the reservation, which no one checked, it was no different than doing things in the past.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I attended on January 19th which was a cold (40 degree) night.

We bussed there from VWL but spoke with some who drove and they said there was no issue getting in for parking. We arrived at 7:30 and were the first to arrive. There was no check in process, just told where we could stand by the hostess in the Lair. Other than that, we were left alone. People slowly trickled in and there were less than 50 in the space that evening.

Other than making the reservation, which no one checked, it was no different than doing things in the past.

Did you fell like people were crowding behind you at fireworks time?

 

[heathpack]

It's pretty easy to see where this is going to end up. Folks will make speculative reservations for several nights of their trip, maybe they show up to one, but won't bother to cancel the others. And that's why we can't have nice things.

I suspect that very quickly they will either start enforcing the cancellation penalty, or stop the offering entirely.

I have called multiple times and can't get a reservation. The CM both times told me that people are booking multiple nights, or even every night of their trip, with the intention of only going once. They tell me to "keep checking" but my last call was a 40 min wait to talk to a human being- so its definitely annoying:
1. annoying that people book many nights, preventing others from booking
2. annoying that they're not going to enforce the fee for no-shows
3. annoying that you have to call in, enter your member number and social security number, then wait on hold X minutes, then repeat your member number, then confirm your address, phone number and email, then state your business, then have them check and tell you the same thing "no dice, keep calling"

I actually don't care that much about it but we're bringing a friend who is 66 years old, never been to WDW and has bad knees. It would be nice to be able to drive up to the front door, drop him off, and park. We only have 1 park day during EEH at MK so we are not planning on FW viewing in the park. Would be nice for him to see the FW in a non-hassle way.

 

[Brian Noble]

The CM both times told me that people are booking multiple nights, or even every night of their trip, with the intention of only going once.

"Oh, there's a big surprise! That's an incredible...I think I'll have a heart attack and die of NOT SURPRISE!"
---Iago

People are the ****ing worst. I mean this isn't as bad as parents throwing elbows so their kids could wake up Tinkerbell back in the day, but it's up there.

It would be nice to be able to drive up to the front door, drop him off, and park.

In this situation, I would either (a) take a ride share, (b) combine it with dinner at Steakhouse 71, or (c) just book the Wine Down.

 

[heathpack]

"Oh, there's a big surprise! That's an incredible...I think I'll have a heart attack and die of NOT SURPRISE!"
---Iago

People are the ****ing worst. I mean this isn't as bad as parents throwing elbows so their kids could wake up Tinkerbell back in the day, but it's up there.


In this situation, I would either (a) take a ride share, (b) combine it with dinner at Steakhouse 71, or (c) just book the Wine Down.

Its not important enough to us to pay money to do it (the rideshare cost would be minimal so that's not off the table). We are staying at WL so can take the boat over. I assume the knees will be ok to walk from the launch dock to BLT. If they're not, we can consider rideshare or just skip it. We only have one park day due to budget constraints of our guest, so paying more than a minimal $ is not an option.

 

[muppets3d]

So is the reservation required to be able to park at BLT now? If it is, they absolutely should enforce the no-show fee because people are hogging parking spots for others.

 

[heathpack]

So is the reservation required to be able to park at BLT now? If it is, they absolutely should enforce the no-show fee because people are hogging parking spots for others.

Required to park but CM told me there is fireworks viewing availability outside of the parking-inclusive option.

 

[muppets3d]

Required to park but CM told me there is fireworks viewing availability outside of the parking-inclusive option.

Yeah they still take walk-ups without a reservation, but if they're requiring the reservations for parking then they should enforce the no-show fee so people aren't hogging parking availability for others. I know there isn't really a no-show penalty in the lounge - if they don't show up they can just take more walk-ins - but they're making it harder for people who need the ability to park at BLT.

 

[Sandisw]

So is the reservation required to be able to park at BLT now? If it is, they absolutely should enforce the no-show fee because people are hogging parking spots for others.

That is my understanding and yes, I agree, they should enforce the no show policy.

Certainly not different to booking a restaurant and not showing. In many cases, those can be filled with walk ups too