Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort - *2 New Parties Added! “Enchantment at the Top” & New “Bound to Be Bad” Dates Added

[Sandisw]

Update: Has the Direct vs. Resale page disappeared for anyone else? Seems to be a redirect now.

Yes..gone for me

 

[ksromack]

As a brand new direct owner, I am super excited! I have never been to the TOWL. I received an email this afternoon with an invitation to book starting tomorrow as we are staying during those dates. Hopefully we can add this to our date night without the kids!

Same. I also expect this themed party to carry over for Halloween. The theming would be perfect but would it compete with MNSSHP? I hope you are able to get tickets for your date night!

This resale plebian is disappointed, but I get it. DVC needs to differentiate more and give direct members more stuff to justify their increased cost per point over resale. I'm disappointed, but pretty sure I can find something else to do.

Not that this would necessarily make someone buy direct versus resale but maybe this is just the beginning. Disney HAS to make it more palatable for folks to buy direct otherwise everyone will only buy resale. I am excited to see how this first party goes and I hope someone :::wink wink::: @pkrieger2287 will attend to give us the full review.

 

[kilik64]

Wow they killed that direct vs resale page super fast.

 

[tjkraz]

Yeah I get that, it just seems like such a weak benefit I'm struggling to understand what they think this is going to do. I can't imagine this will actually convince people to buy or have any real impact on member satisfaction but maybe direct buyers are more easily pleased than I thought.

It looks good on paper, that much is certain. Even more so with the villains theme.

I can think of 2 reasons people are drawn to the lounge:

1) Convenience. The Epcot lounge has a steady flow of traffic because it's right there in the middle of the park. It's a brief pit stop in the middle of one's day.

Problem with TOTWL is that half of the BLT rooms already have a fireworks view, leaving you with maybe ~150 rooms who are truly conveniently located to visit. DVC is opening 200 new rooms on the monorail. Is that convenient enough for people to ride over to the lounge? Maybe if #2 comes into play....

2) The other reason people would visit is because it's a destination. That seems to be what DVC is trying here with the theming. We'll see how far it goes once open. The lack of food options was always a criticism. Have they figured out a way to address that?

The purpose of Membership Magic is always to drive up direct point sales. This is another bullet point on the list, and it will perk up the ears of a few "villain" fans. Unfortunately that takes a back seat to the loss of a few $12 cocktail sales to resale owners.

 

[Disney mac]

I’ll be really curious to see how this plays out with the looming recession. Although the parks and Springs are packed.

 

[tjkraz]

I’ll be really curious to see how this plays out with the looming recession. Although the parks and Springs are packed.

How which part "plays out"?

The paid parties will only hold a couple hundred people combined. I'll be shocked if they don't sell out. Doesn't take many willing to splurge.

And the percent of owners who are permanently blocked isn't enough to concern DVC about lost bar sales.

Speaking as an audience of one, I'm more intrigued by TOTWL than I have been in about 8 years. Didn't expect them to add theming. Now I actually want to visit, if only to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I assume this is just the start of differentiating Direct from Resale. They have to take away more perks to push their product.

Resale is what differentiated DVC from other timeshares. If they make it unattractive to the point that it hurts the resale values, it will impact their ability to push direct sales.

I may have a jaded point of view as a resale owner though.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

Open bar and buffet at Disney for $160 isn't that bad.

YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! It’s an appetizer buffet and I don’t drink so, $160 is ridiculous overpriced!,,

 

[MinnieSueB]

YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! It’s an appetizer buffet and I don’t drink so, $160 is ridiculous overpriced!,,

Yes, for us non-drinkers, definitely not worth the price tag

 

[holden]

I’m excited for TOWL to reopen. I won’t pay for the party though. We have many happy memories of hanging out there in this cubbies with the curtains. I hope they are still there!

 

[MinnieSueB]

As long as you are eligible for membership extras...ie: blue card...you can go....its free. But, resale owners since 2016 can not.

It does sound like paid events will also be done more regularly...but if those are not scheduled, then DVC Y owners can indeed stop by. I plan to when there in July!!!

I'll be there July 13 then headed to Extended Hours in MK to prep for MM next night.

 

[CambrianExplosives]

Resale is what differentiated DVC from other timeshares. If they make it unattractive to the point that it hurts the resale values, it will impact their ability to push direct sales.

I may have a jaded point of view as a resale owner though.

People don’t buy resale for the benefits. TOTWL was a nice benefit for all owners but I can’t imagine anyone was thinking of spending tens of thousands of dollars and that was what pushed it over the line - or at least very few people.

People buy resale because they want to stay at deluxe resorts for a lot less money. I really can’t imagine this will have more than a negligible effect on the resale market other than a short term effect of potentially driving more people to sell.

 

[sethschroeder]

YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! It’s an appetizer buffet and I don’t drink so, $160 is ridiculous overpriced!,,

I am not sure what to say but the Apps and Drinks will likely be $15-$20 each when they hit the menu (just compare to Enchanted Rose). So that is like 8-9 items before you likely are hitting a "break even" if you simply look at the price.

As an example if they did this event at the Enchanted Rose tomorrow (without the fireworks views) what would that price be?

Menu:
https://allears.net/dining/menu/enchanted-rose/lounge/

Also for reference something like Rose & Crown is $90 and that with just beer and single choice 3 course meal. There will be way more food and actual drinks for this event and sounds like some entertainment (unsure). I do know Pete has been to one of these in the past and he said it was one of the best events at Disney if I am not mistaken (that was for a fireworks event for TOWL if not mistaken).

 

[Narcoossee11]

I read it like the theme is now going to VILLIANS , not just the party.
Maybe black and purple colors, food and drinks with that theming also

 

[Disney mac]

How which part "plays out"?

The paid parties will only hold a couple hundred people combined. I'll be shocked if they don't sell out. Doesn't take many willing to splurge.

And the percent of owners who are permanently blocked isn't enough to concern DVC about lost bar sales.

Speaking as an audience of one, I'm more intrigued by TOTWL than I have been in about 8 years. Didn't expect them to add theming. Now I actually want to visit, if only to satisfy my curiosity.

How it plays out in coming months. This is all trial to see how much they can get away with. Call it “limited” and people go nuts. It’s insanely overpriced…UNLESS people are willing to pay it, which you clearly are. For $640 for my family of 4, I can pay for a round trip of gas, tolls, hotel on way down and way back, food, and have money left over. I’d rather take another trip than spend 3 hours with appetizers, watered down drinks, and a 15 min firework show.
But hey, it’s obvious I’m not Disney’s target audience someone who would be a DVC member who wants an AP, as Chapek has stated before. That is until the recession and then they need us.

 

[Sandisw]

How it plays out in coming months. This is all trial to see how much they can get away with. Call it “limited” and people go nuts. It’s insanely overpriced…UNLESS people are willing to pay it, which you clearly are. For $640 for my family of 4, I can pay for a round trip of gas, tolls, hotel on way down and way back, food, and have money left over. I’d rather take another trip than spend 3 hours with appetizers, watered down drinks, and a 15 min firework show.
But hey, it’s obvious I’m not Disney’s target audience someone who would be a DVC member who wants an AP, as Chapek has stated before. That is until the recession and then they need us.

It won’t be paid events every night. The bulk of the time is free like before, but now only for those with DVC Y

 

[elgerber]

Question, I am a blue card holder with a Y, so regardless that is not an issue. Dh and are traveling with a friend in September. He is staying on our points, but not in our room. Would he be allowed in with us? I've never tried to go in with someone not in my room before.

 

[Sandisw]

Question, I am a blue card holder with a Y, so regardless that is not an issue. Dh and are traveling with a friend in September. He is staying on our points, but not in our room. Would he be allowed in with us? I've never tried to go in with someone not in my room before.

It says on a members reservation. In the past, they did allow guests staying at the same time on the membership but different room to go up.

Until it opens and we get reports, they may or may not count.

 

[Disney mac]

It won’t be paid events every night. The bulk of the time is free like before, but now only for those with DVC Y

However as time goes on and more and more people start to sell their DVC (for whatever reason, whether it be recession, frustration, or just moving on), the resale people are about to grow in numbers to a point where Disney will need to start to cater to them.

 

[Sandisw]

However as time goes on and more and more people start to sell their DVC (for whatever reason, whether it be recession, frustration, or just moving on), the resale people are about to grow in numbers to a point where Disney will need to start to cater to them.

No they won’t because DVD only cares to cater to those buying direct. That is why they went this route to begin with.

They want people to buy from them.