Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower-DVCers Unite!

[RLRDA]

We went to the TOTW lounge one night during our 3 night stay. It was very nice and we enjoyed it - we had cocktails and the kids had soft drinks. We went around 9:30pm so we didn't order food. I think opening it up to DVC guests staying at other resorts is a great idea. I also agree with Chuck S that the limited menu is a bit of a downside to the lounge. I like his idea of a few more easy choices in addition to the appetizers. Adding desserts to the menu would be easy, too. You'd have people arriving earlier and/or staying later after Wishes to enjoy something sweet. Maybe they should have a DVC gathering there to show members how awesome it is.

 

[Halle]

DH and I are going in November and are eagerly looking forward to doing our DVC civic duty...food and drinks at TOTW....just trying to save it for future DVC'ers to enjoy.

 

[jaurban]

Could it be because originally BLT was not scheduled to open until September, and so many DVC owners made their reservations for then or later, and when the opening changed to August, not so many changed the reservations? If so, we should start to see more DVC occupancy and hopefully a busier TOTWL. I hope so, as we will make our first visit home in August 2010, and would really still like the opportunity to go there.

 

[CDNmouse]

Also, BLT is only half declared so they should expect a smaller percentage of guest will taking advantage of this. When all of the units are declared if the place doesn't fill up and become profitable expect changes.

Gary

 

[simmons_m]

Is the Top of the World Lounge on the Dinning Plan?
Also, can you take wine back to the room from the lounge?
Finally, do they make Rasberry Mojito's?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[SamSam]

I would love for all DVC members to be able to visit. I know Dh and I would definitely spend a few evenings there, if it was allowed.

 

[buzz5985]

I remember the old Top of the World Lounge and have missed it all these years. DH and I used to love going up there. Yes, it can be a great place to watch the fireworks, but our favorite thing to do was to go up in the middle of the afternoon and watch the ferry boats going back and forth and the little water sprites zipping aroung on the Seven Seas Lagoon with the sun glistening on the water. It was such a nice little break after being in the hot crowded park. In those days it was not crowded during the day like it was in the evening but it would still get a good afternoon crowd. I hope if things continue as they are now that they will open it up to all DVC members. Our home resort is OKW and VWL and unfortunately we cannot add on at BLT at this time, but we would be up there every day if it were available to us. Right now that lounge is the main reason we would like to stay at BLT on a future vacation.

Did you ever go to the dinner show they had up there?? I remember it was like an old Las Vegas show, the booths were half circles and all faced the stage. I remember the show and food being good. I miss the old Gold Key Club days!!!!

Janis

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I posted this in another thread but this one seems more appropriate!!
I own at both BLT and AKV and will be staying at Kidani for my next trip in November (it is my parents' Golden Wedding and I let them choose where we stay - I would have liked to stay at my new home!! Although I own at BLT, I will be denied access to the lounge this trip as I am staying at my other home. This seems a shame as my party and I would definately have spent an evening there!!

 

[AnnetteF]

Did you ever go to the dinner show they had up there?? I remember it was like an old Las Vegas show, the booths were half circles and all faced the stage. I remember the show and food being good. I miss the old Gold Key Club days!!!!

Janis

Yes!!! Actually, as a child, I went there with my parents when they used to have name entertainment. I saw Shari Lewis there with all her puppet friends - Lamb Chop, Hushpuppy, etc. They used to have a big band type orchestra, too, and there would be dancing before the show began. Years later, I saw "Broadway at the Top" - which was a Broadway review type show which I think ran through most of the 80's. That was an excellent show if you love Broadway musicals. While I like California Grill very much, I miss those old days at the top of the Contemporary, so I'm so happy to see they brought the TOTW lounge back in some form.

I see you're in Wakefield. We have family there and have visited often. It's a nice little town and yet so close to Boston.

 

[pilferk]

I'm writing my letter and will drop it in the mail today.

DW and I would LOVE to use the space, regularly, but aren't likely to stay at BLT very often. We love AKV too much.

But, for example, we'd be up there 2 or 3 nights of our upcoming trip if it were open to all DVC members....eating, drinking, and making merry.

 

[thelionqueen]

I sincerely hope it will remain a BLT exclusive lounge! Although I own BLT, and my be biased, my logic is this.

Imagine buying @ BLT, the most expensive DVC to date. Imagine using your points @ BLT, the most point cost per night for MK view. Imagine spending all that time and effort and the anticipation of going to the "exclusive" lounge, only to be turned away due to capacity issues from someone staying somewhere other than BLT.

I consider myself a very patient and understanding person, but this would just make me so unhappy I can't even describe. If the lounge opens up to all other DVC members, I would estimate that fewer than 11-20% of guests of the lounge, at any given time, would be BLT owners. Not even to mention the impossibility of getting the lounge at fireworks time..
HEY...I just had an idea!!

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

 

[AnnetteF]

I sincerely hope it will remain a BLT exclusive lounge! Although I own BLT, and my be biased, my logic is this.

Imagine buying @ BLT, the most expensive DVC to date. Imagine using your points @ BLT, the most point cost per night for MK view. Imagine spending all that time and effort and the anticipation of going to the "exclusive" lounge, only to be turned away due to capacity issues from someone staying somewhere other than BLT.

I consider myself a very patient and understanding person, but this would just make me so unhappy I can't even describe. If the lounge opens up to all other DVC members, I would estimate that fewer than 11-20% of guests of the lounge, at any given time, would be BLT owners. Not even to mention the impossibility of getting the lounge at fireworks time..
HEY...I just had an idea!!

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

As someone who owns at resorts other than BLT, I'd have to say I would be perfectly happy and actually thrilled with that arrangement.

I do have to wonder though, if all those people who went out of their way to get that MK view are watching the fireworks from their room with the kids in jammies, etc, and that's why more aren't in the lounge?

 

[pilferk]

I sincerely hope it will remain a BLT exclusive lounge! Although I own BLT, and my be biased, my logic is this.

Imagine buying @ BLT, the most expensive DVC to date. Imagine using your points @ BLT, the most point cost per night for MK view. Imagine spending all that time and effort and the anticipation of going to the "exclusive" lounge, only to be turned away due to capacity issues from someone staying somewhere other than BLT.

I consider myself a very patient and understanding person, but this would just make me so unhappy I can't even describe. If the lounge opens up to all other DVC members, I would estimate that fewer than 11-20% of guests of the lounge, at any given time, would be BLT owners. Not even to mention the impossibility of getting the lounge at fireworks time..
HEY...I just had an idea!!

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

I think the issue right now is that, even around fireworks viewing time, the LOUNGE (not the observation deck) is relatively empty.

I have no issue with the exclusivity aspect, provided the BLT membership can support it. But, IMHO, better "no exclusivity", than NO LOUNGE. I think that's the general concensus, thus far.

Granted, BLT is not fully open yet, so who knows what the future brings. But, up til now, it looks like the BLT guests patronage isn't enough.

 

[dizfan]

It's been reported that the policy at BLT recently changed policy. They now allow DVC members with cash reservations at BLT (booked through MS) to attend the lounge.

It sounds like the lounge has seen a significant increase since this change took effect.

 

[DebbieB]

It's been reported that the policy at BLT recently changed policy. They now allow DVC members with cash reservations at BLT (booked through MS) to attend the lounge.

It sounds like the lounge has seen a significant increase since this change took effect.

I don't think that's a change, it's been that way since the start. Cash reservations through MS are treated the same as points reservation. Limited housekeeping but free internet. DVC Member on your key.

 

[DVCPAT]

I sincerely hope it will remain a BLT exclusive lounge! Although I own BLT, and my be biased, my logic is this.

Imagine buying @ BLT, the most expensive DVC to date. Imagine using your points @ BLT, the most point cost per night for MK view. Imagine spending all that time and effort and the anticipation of going to the "exclusive" lounge, only to be turned away due to capacity issues from someone staying somewhere other than BLT.

I consider myself a very patient and understanding person, but this would just make me so unhappy I can't even describe. If the lounge opens up to all other DVC members, I would estimate that fewer than 11-20% of guests of the lounge, at any given time, would be BLT owners. Not even to mention the impossibility of getting the lounge at fireworks time..
HEY...I just had an idea!!

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

Disney isn’t going to close a revenue stream at a preset time just to be nice. The observation deck holds far more people than the lounge….I could see them allowing DVC members exclusive visiting passes for the observation deck.

 

[stitchineeyore]

I sincerely hope it will remain a BLT exclusive lounge! Although I own BLT, and my be biased, my logic is this.

Imagine buying @ BLT, the most expensive DVC to date. Imagine using your points @ BLT, the most point cost per night for MK view. Imagine spending all that time and effort and the anticipation of going to the "exclusive" lounge, only to be turned away due to capacity issues from someone staying somewhere other than BLT.

I consider myself a very patient and understanding person, but this would just make me so unhappy I can't even describe. If the lounge opens up to all other DVC members, I would estimate that fewer than 11-20% of guests of the lounge, at any given time, would be BLT owners. Not even to mention the impossibility of getting the lounge at fireworks time..
HEY...I just had an idea!!

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

We are BLT owners as well, founding members, with plans to stay here at least once or more a year until we are too old to get on a plane and leave it to our kids! Seriously, however, I felt just the same way until we arrived last week, determined to patronize "our" lounge every night in some way, starting with an "appetizer dinner" and dessert several other nights. And a nice Chardonnay during the fireworks. I figured if DVC was going to give us a private club, we were surely going to use it. For the most part, the Lounge is a ghost town. The facility is magnificent, and the CMs recruited to staff it for us are superior. We have loved going up there. What we haven't loved is seeing those superior CMs standing around, waiting for the people who never come. This place deserves to be lively, and used. The Lounge (the interior) holds 75, give or take. The observation deck holds 400, give or take. That's close to 500 people. And you know what? At this point, I'd rather sit downstairs and wait for a space if I knew that we could keep TOTW in the DVC family for good. DH and I both think that Disney management isn't going to wait very long before making some kind of change if the present trend continues. They won't wait for BLT to sell out. And I would rather see TOTW stay DVC exclusive that lose it entirely. I will be mailing my letter as soon as we get back to New Hampshire. In the meantime, one more nice Chardonnay as we watch the fireworks! Hope you all get to enjoy the same soon!

 

[RLRDA]

What if they opened up the lounge for all DVC members from open to 6:00pm? Then from 6:00pm to close ONLY for BLT guests? Then that would allow other DVCers to visit the lounge, but save the "coveted" fireworks viewing ONLY for BLT owners....hmm...I like it!

I'm not a BLT owner and I'm not opposed to opening it up to DVC members but I do think BLT DVC guests should have a "booking" advantage when staying there. For example...have the CMs in the BLT lobby take reservations for the lounge each day for that night. If they start taking ressies at, say, 10am then BLT guests can reserve between 10am and 2pm for coveted times. After 2pm spots open up to all members. Let's face it, if 400 people can fit on the observation deck there's plenty of room during the fireworks but the BLT guests will have first shot at the seating in the lounge.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm not a BLT owner and I'm not opposed to opening it up to DVC members but I do think BLT DVC guests should have a "booking" advantage when staying there. For example...have the CMs in the BLT lobby take reservations for the lounge each day for that night. If they start taking ressies at, say, 10am then BLT guests can reserve between 10am and 2pm for coveted times. After 2pm spots open up to all members. Let's face it, if 400 people can fit on the observation deck there's plenty of room during the fireworks but the BLT guests will have first shot at the seating in the lounge.

The only problem, that I could potentially see, is whether or not opening it up to other DVC'rs will help the situation. The lounge is what needs to be filled, not the observation deck (since that makes no money).

How many DVC'r's staying at other resorts are going to come up to eat and drink vs. just to watch the fireworks? If that is the case, it does nothing other than potentially shut out the BLT guests from going up.

And, just out of curiosity, how many DVC'rs (not staying at BLT) would still be interested in visiting if they had to pay something to go up? For example, you show up and you have to pay say $3.00 per person to go up. You then get something to turn in for that value toward food and/or drinks.

I still think that things at the lounge will be much better during the fall/winter months when the parks close early and more of BLT is sold.

 

[Chuck S]

It's really too bad they didn't put in a full kitchen and make it a regular TS restaurant. It would be great if they'd made a version of the Concourse Grill/Concourse Steakhouse in that location. It would be great to have a DVC exclusive TS restaurant that could serve quality food and not be affected by "free" dining, although it would likely not be able to take the DDP at all, unless there was some way to negotiate a special deal on reimbursement, knowing that the only DDP patrons there would be those that paid for the DDP, no "freebie" DDP people. The restaurant could be open to all DVCers, the observation deck exclusive to BLT DVCers.