Reimagine the Top of the World lounge

[TCRAIG]

It was open to all DVC..including resale owners not eligible for membership extras.

I know - I meant to say DVC instead of Blue…I’m just saying if the limit free to Blue going forward - non-Blue could just wait for someone to invite them to come along as part of their free group…which is why I think they’ll make it a $$ type of package for all DVC.

 

[mort1331]

Why does all think that this will be a paid service? |The Epcot lounge gives drinks away for free and no cost. I enjoy the view,,but it was never a game changer for us. If we had to pay,,,I know I would not be up there. As well if there is a pay,,,cant see how they could restrict to just Blue card.

 

[zavandor]

Why does all think that this will be a paid service? |The Epcot lounge gives drinks away for free and no cost. I enjoy the view,,but it was never a game changer for us. If we had to pay,,,I know I would not be up there. As well if there is a pay,,,cant see how they could restrict to just Blue card.

If the Epcot lounge has ever to close, actually moving it to BLT would be a great idea.

I went only once, with the idea of getting the chocolate cake before the fireworks, but it was busy and couldn't find a free seat. Maybe they should have a " cake to go" window.
Anyway, I really don't get the appeal of watching the fireworks from outside the park. Projections on the castle are now very much part of the show, if I'm at BLT, I'd rather walk to the park and watch it from Main street. Even a bad view there beats the view from the TOTW. I understand it with kids in pijamas, but for adults... meh.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Why does all think that this will be a paid service? |The Epcot lounge gives drinks away for free and no cost. I enjoy the view,,but it was never a game changer for us. If we had to pay,,,I know I would not be up there. As well if there is a pay,,,cant see how they could restrict to just Blue card.

TOTWL is a commercial space that is part of BLT. It is currently held to a P&L as part of the lease to the operator.

The Epcot Lounge is a space rented by DVD as a marketing tactic. It is not a commercial space.

So it is a very different scenario.

 

[pinkxray]

I am just a lowly white card member so I really hope it doesn’t just go to blue card members. We are staying at Bay Lake in Nov. and I would love to check out the fireworks one night. Would plan on buying at least some cake and drinks. Hope it doesn’t change to make it so we can’t go.

 

[Sandisw]

I know - I meant to say DVC instead of Blue…I’m just saying if the limit free to Blue going forward - non-Blue could just wait for someone to invite them to come along as part of their free group…which is why I think they’ll make it a $$ type of package for all DVC.

I can’t imagine a lot of DVC owners doing that.

But there are ways to do it I think. Again, blue card owners being free means DVD picks up the tab for it in some way.

I am more inclined to see it as a paid event each night like a dessert party which requires reservations.

But I do wonder if the days of just using the deck to watch and leave are over.

 

[Sandisw]

Why does all think that this will be a paid service? |The Epcot lounge gives drinks away for free and no cost. I enjoy the view,,but it was never a game changer for us. If we had to pay,,,I know I would not be up there. As well if there is a pay,,,cant see how they could restrict to just Blue card.

The Epcot lounge is paid for by DVD. So while free to an owner, it’s not free as they pay Disney for its use and for the snacks/drinks provided.

BLT is a commercial space leased to Disney and they run it to make money

They may have decided it wasn’t profitable enough prior and want to change that. That is why some think there will be a cost associate with it.

 

[chrish2]

The Incredibles Lounge?

In all seriousness having looked at some of the old photos I can see management may have wanted to take the opportunity to change the space a little to see if they can

• Transform the area from a pure evening pull to a more uniformed demand pattern. The most obvious way given recent track record of Disney would be with some IP addition, ideally with something quirky relating to it during the day.
• Address the catering challenges with the location. I don't think the food menu is well though out at this location some of it is attributed to the limited facilities (yet I have no idea why the menu was both "eclectic" (are we pairing with wine, serving sports bar food or a desert destination?) and yet shallow with insufficient variety to satisfy any take.

 

[Boopuff]

Maybe it will re-open with a system similar to Trader Sams, and possibly a drink minimum, and like Ogas, kick you out after so many minutes. Possibly, may go to blue card only, as it seems that they're chipping away at everything.

 

[PolyRob]

I am more inclined to see it as a paid event each night like a dessert party which requires reservations.

This is what I thought "reimagine" meant.

Look at all the paid events DVC has attempted in the past. There was a Wave dinner package, 4th of July paid access, NYE paid access, etc. Just like NYE I would imagine DVC could limit actual holidays to DVC guests staying at BLT and other days to all DVC members.

I also think DVC would try to make it a blue card/DVC Y event. DVC has been aggressively making a distinction.

 

[DVC Dom]

I think they need to blend price and exclusivity. My vote is on paying a higher premium for nicer drinks/tapas food and a more relaxing atmosphere for my family (with or without kids). Much like Airport lounges....you can't please everyone, but if you make it too cheap, then too many people use it, making it less enjoyable for everyone.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

My first thought when I saw the announcement was that they were going to "re-imagine" it as a benefit only available to blue card holders.

It was at one point.
direct member, staying in the BLT on BLT points.
or at least it was when it open

like 6 people a day went up there …..
the law of unintended consequences hard at work

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I can’t imagine a lot of DVC owners doing that.

But there are ways to do it I think. Again, blue card owners being free means DVD picks up the tab for it in some way.

I am more inclined to see it as a paid event each night like a dessert party which requires reservations.

But I do wonder if the days of just using the deck to watch and leave are over.

Yea, when it first opened it was restricted to owners only, and staying at blt on points….

it didn’t make money

 

[CarolMN]

It was at one point.
direct member, staying in the BLT on BLT points.
or at least it was when it open

like 6 people a day went up there …..
the law of unintended consequences hard at work

AFAIK, the TOTWL was never restricted to direct members only. It did start out restricted to Members staying at BLT only, and then later opened to Members using their Membership to stay at any WDW resort. Of course, the differentiation between direct and resale is a relatively recent thing. As I recall it opened to all Members using their Membership before most of the restrictions were initiated.

I have no idea what the "reimagined" space will turn out to be, but some type of paid option would not be a surprise. I would be very surprised if it restricts resale members, and not too surprised if it opens to all & requires reservations. YMMV.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

AFAIK, the TOTWL was never restricted to direct members only. It did start out restricted to Members staying at BLT only, and then later opened to Members using their Membership to stay at any WDW resort. Of course, the differentiation between direct and resale is a relatively recent thing. As I recall it opened to all Members using their Membership before most of the restrictions were initiated.

I have no idea what the "reimagined" space will turn out to be, but some type of paid option would not be a surprise. I would be very surprised if it restricts resale members, and not too surprised if it opens to all & requires reservations. YMMV.

I went there as a BLT owner but I was staying at SSR, and was told that I had to be stay at BLT

 

[Sandisw]

I went there as a BLT owner but I was staying at SSR, and was told that I had to be stay at BLT

That part is correct. You had to be staying at BLT to access the lounge. But, it didn't matter how you bought your points as when it first opened, there was no distinction between resale vs. direct. The whole white card/blue card benefits went in to play in 2016...by that time, TOTWL lounge was open to all DVC members staying at WDW.

I stayed at BLT in the early days on resale points and it didn't matter because my reservation was at BLT.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

That part is correct. You had to be staying at BLT to access the lounge. But, it didn't matter how you bought your points as when it first opened, there was no distinction between resale vs. direct. The whole white card/blue card benefits went in to play in 2016...by that time, TOTWL lounge was open to all DVC members staying at WDW.

I stayed at BLT in the early days on resale points and it didn't matter because my reservation was at BLT.

ok, the way the guide explained it to me at the time, was a little different, however, in either case…. It did not work! The top of the world was ghost town usa until the reduced the restriction….

My last trip up there pre covid…. Is was ok at best, and demand was low, might be the reason it did not reopen….

also if I understand correctly, there is no real kitchen space available to them. So what they can do up there is limited…

 

[Sandisw]

ok, the way the guide explained it to me at the time, was a little different, however, in either case…. It did not work! The top of the world was ghost town usa until the reduced the restriction….

My last trip up there pre covid…. Is was ok at best, and demand was low, might be the reason it did not reopen….

also if I understand correctly, there is no real kitchen space available to them. So what they can do up there is limited…

Exactly why they opened it up to all owners and not just ones staying at BLt!

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Exactly why they opened it up to all owners and not just ones staying at BLt!

Agreed, and even that didn’t really work

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I’ve been up there a couple of times. While I’m glad I visited, the menu was slim, service slow & disorganized, not enough sitting area, and to be dead honest, the view of the fireworks wasn’t all that great.