New Complementary Fireworks Viewing Reservations at TOTWL - Report Experiences Here

[Genie+]

Wait... what?

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...g-tinkerbell-wdw-morning-wasnt-sure-go-27997/

Being it was just ONE lucky family per day and first dibs, you can imagine the competitive nature.

The Jedi Academy had a sprinkle of this though nowhere near the same since it had dozens of slots daily. As long as you showed up at park open very likely to get one. The time slots could fill in pretty quick though.

 

[Mojomanny]

Second trip there tonight (Thursday 1/22). I tried to make reservations but was told none were available. I decided to chance it with some friends who were on their 1st Disney trip. We had no issue getting into the viewing area, no one checked reservations. There were a total of 115 guests (from the CM who walked around with a clicker while the fireworks were going on). There was plenty of room for everyone and could have been 200 more without being crammed.

To the person who asked about being crowded, there's plenty of room and you don't need to be right at the front since the fireworks are up high.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Second trip there tonight (Thursday 1/22). I tried to make reservations but was told none were available. I decided to chance it with some friends who were on their 1st Disney trip. We had no issue getting into the viewing area, no one checked reservations. There were a total of 115 guests (from the CM who walked around with a clicker while the fireworks were going on). There was plenty of room for everyone and could have been 200 more without being crammed.

To the person who asked about being crowded, there's plenty of room and you don't need to be right at the front since the fireworks are up high.

Awesome!!

 

[Sheree]

Second trip there tonight (Thursday 1/22). I tried to make reservations but was told none were available. I decided to chance it with some friends who were on their 1st Disney trip. We had no issue getting into the viewing area, no one checked reservations. There were a total of 115 guests (from the CM who walked around with a clicker while the fireworks were going on). There was plenty of room for everyone and could have been 200 more without being crammed.

To the person who asked about being crowded, there's plenty of room and you don't need to be right at the front since the fireworks are up high.

thank you the 3 nights I checked were all booked. what time did you goto podium?

 

[Mojomanny]

There really isn't a podium and no one was paying any attention who came.

First time we got there really early, second time we got there around 830.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There really isn't a podium and no one was paying any attention who came.

First time we got there really early, second time we got there around 830.

Edit to delete because I think it was just me repeating myself oops!

 

[Dznypal]

we just got back from our end of Jan yearly stay--we were there from the 23 to 30
our home resort is the poly but like taking the monorail to BLT for the fireworks--
this has sure changed in the last few years--used to be there was a check in podium right by the elevators--you haad to show your blue card or on the phone I believe and then theCM would get you in the elevarorand send you on your way
you could stand anywhere on the deck--nothing more to do once you got up rather
but the last few times there was no one to check we just went up--no one to check in with so we got pur usual spots right by the railing
but this year we still just went up by ourselves and right when you walk in to the deck was roped off--we had to go all the way to the end to get in which was also blocked off--DH has issuses with his knees so he needs to sit in the chairs that are accoss from the railing but that was in a roped off area but a CM let us in that area anyways which was nice
but this year my DH saw that we could see the fireworks really good right from the poly with piped in music-
sure was nice just walking back to the room instead of waiting for the elevator and then a monorail
so that was a good change

 

[VGCgroupie]

We went during our recent trip. There was a CM at the podium checking reservations. You can get drinks inside and enjoy them outside. There are some seats to wait. You can arrive at 8:45 and be fine. The wall is very high. Makes castle viewing hard for kids. But the castle view wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. I think it’s actually a bit too high up.

I think this is an awesome free perk but I would only do it if I were staying at BLT and was at the room, I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch fireworks from here.

 

[jksung5295]

Just a quick report back from 03/27

Booked 60+ days out because first preference wasn’t availble.

The reservation showed up on my app earlier in the day but when we arrived at around 8:35pm the host couldn’t see our reservation (and disappeared from MyDisney app) but he said no problem. We were able to grab spots right against the wall in the “general” area not the roped off area and it didn’t get all that crowded even during fireworks.

Was able to go inside the bar twice to order drinks while waiting. The host and bartenders were nice, but they controlled who could go in to order so some (small) wait was needed before I could get drinks.

Our family enjoyed it and beats fighting crowds inside Magic Kingdom (and drinks for adults were a plus as well). Given it was free, honestly not bad. I wouldn’t do it every trip, but on occasion I would do it again.

Still not sure what happened to the reservation. Maybe it got cancelled after 8:30? As the reservation time was 7:30? Still dumbfounded but it didn’t matter in the end.

 

[holden]

We went in early March. I didn't know about the new restrictions (we hadn't been there in a few years). I asked at check-in about going up to TOWL to see the fireworks. They told me I had to call to make a reservation.

I called to make a reservation. I assumed I was reserving a seat for four people. We planned to get some drinks and watch the fireworks. I spent about 20 minutes on the phone making the reservation. The cast member was having trouble booking it but was successful.

We went up to check-in for the reservation that night. When we arrived a cast member told us we were not allowed into the bar if we had not purchased the Villains Lair event. We explained that we made a reservation. The cast member said that we didn't need a reservation to stand outside and watch the fireworks. I was so confused because I spent 20 minutes making the reservation earlier that day, and it showed I had a reservation in MDE.

So, it turned out that we did not need a reservation, we were not allowed to purchase drinks and no one up at TOWL knew anything about the reservation process I had experienced earlier that day.

I was really disappointed in the whole experience. I would have liked better communication about how things are operating at TOWL now. I'm actually still confused. Am I ever allowed to go up there for a drink? Can I only access it if I book the Villains event? I'm not sure what the perk is if it's something anyone can book.

Can anyone clarify how things work there now?

 

[Sandisw]

We went in early March. I didn't know about the new restrictions (we hadn't been there in a few years). I asked at check-in about going up to TOWL to see the fireworks. They told me I had to call to make a reservation.

I called to make a reservation. I assumed I was reserving a seat for four people. We planned to get some drinks and watch the fireworks. I spent about 20 minutes on the phone making the reservation. The cast member was having trouble booking it but was successful.

We went up to check-in for the reservation that night. When we arrived a cast member told us we were not allowed into the bar if we had not purchased the Villains Lair event. We explained that we made a reservation. The cast member said that we didn't need a reservation to stand outside and watch the fireworks. I was so confused because I spent 20 minutes making the reservation earlier that day, and it showed I had a reservation in MDE.

So, it turned out that we did not need a reservation, we were not allowed to purchase drinks and no one up at TOWL knew anything about the reservation process I had experienced earlier that day.

I was really disappointed in the whole experience. I would have liked better communication about how things are operating at TOWL now. I'm actually still confused. Am I ever allowed to go up there for a drink? Can I only access it if I book the Villains event? I'm not sure what the perk is if it's something anyone can book.

Can anyone clarify how things work there now?

The reservations are more to guarantee you will be allowed up for fireworks if it were to get crazy busy but more importantly, its to allow you to park at BLT if drivings…

If there is a paid event going on, then getting a drink at the bar or even a seat will be dependent on how full that even is.

So, you can still do walk up to the deck and lounge, but whether or not you can get a drink is going to be dependent on that specific night and what crowds are like.

They sometimes have a mini bar set up outside in the deck area….but I don’t know when they decide to set up that up…I believe when it is the event that includes drinks and food and not Wicked Wind Down.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We went in early March. I didn't know about the new restrictions (we hadn't been there in a few years). I asked at check-in about going up to TOWL to see the fireworks. They told me I had to call to make a reservation.

I called to make a reservation. I assumed I was reserving a seat for four people. We planned to get some drinks and watch the fireworks. I spent about 20 minutes on the phone making the reservation. The cast member was having trouble booking it but was successful.

We went up to check-in for the reservation that night. When we arrived a cast member told us we were not allowed into the bar if we had not purchased the Villains Lair event. We explained that we made a reservation. The cast member said that we didn't need a reservation to stand outside and watch the fireworks. I was so confused because I spent 20 minutes making the reservation earlier that day, and it showed I had a reservation in MDE.

So, it turned out that we did not need a reservation, we were not allowed to purchase drinks and no one up at TOWL knew anything about the reservation process I had experienced earlier that day.

I was really disappointed in the whole experience. I would have liked better communication about how things are operating at TOWL now. I'm actually still confused. Am I ever allowed to go up there for a drink? Can I only access it if I book the Villains event? I'm not sure what the perk is if it's something anyone can book.

Can anyone clarify how things work there now?

The free fireworks area reservation just ensures you won’t be turned away in case it’s full. They take walk ups if it’s not full. When we went it was pretty empty.

If you do the free area you can go inside the lounge and buy drinks and take them back outside but you can’t sit inside the lounge area.