Top Of The World Lounge At BLT Open To All DVC Members

[RDP]

I pay a premium for holding points at AKV, I don't mind visitors coming to look at the animals from the vantage points! ( my dues subsidise this) I look forward to visiting the TOTWL and if it folds, I hope it becomes another signature all can use!

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[lockedoutlogic]

I pay a premium for holding points at AKV, I don't mind visitors coming to look at the animals from the vantage points! ( my dues subsidise this) I look forward to visiting the TOTWL and if it folds, I hope it becomes another signature all can use!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Lol...I was wondering when somebody was going to make the analogy.

You are correct...nobody has paid "a premium" for their points.
We all pay "the premium"...as in the going rate at the time we bought.

The reality is that few things are guaranteed in the DVC contract...but few people read it.

So while I paid much less for Saratoga when I bought it than contemporary...I paid the full price at the time and it was the only property for sale at the time...if I wanted DVC - that was it.

So even though I bought "ghetto" points as compared to "premium" points...I still can stay at CR or anywhere else just the same...just my rooms cost alot less.

On second thought -HAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

no seriously...I think that often people don't understand what they buy...like the Rubix cube or the laserdisc player

And the storm along bay analogy is off the field.

Stormalong bay opened in 1991...in 1991 "beach club villas" was an overgrown thicket where anoles partied all night to the ORIGINAL illuminations.
Villas didn't open till '01...and the original sale price was $68 a point (they were really "un" premium)
So Stormalong had nothing to Do with the contract...the chicken can't guarantee
The egg.
Bad analogy.

 

[DizneyPilot]

Let me put this another way. If you own at Beach Club, would you mind if DVC opened up storm along to all DVC members?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Let me put this another way. If you own at Beach Club, would you mind if DVC opened up storm along to all DVC members?

No...because the pool hopping policy is in place.

DVC promotes all it's sites as "unique, magical wondrous lands of wishful wonderful dreams"

So if they're telling that each site offers its own benefits...but pool hopping doesn't detract from that...then I've always though it should be universal.

But the "home resort" thing is really not very important either...we're all basically in one big pool...and the 7/11 month window things comes into play so little that it's really not worth bringing up...

My opinion, of course.

 

[umichigan10]

No...because the pool hopping policy is in place.

DVC promotes all it's sites as "unique, magical wondrous lands of wishful wonderful dreams"

So if they're telling that each site offers its own benefits...but pool hopping doesn't detract from that...then I've always though it should be universal.

But the "home resort" thing is really not very important either...we're all basically in one big pool...and the 7/11 month window things comes into play so little that it's really not worth bringing up...

My opinion, of course.

100% agree. My family owns at old key west and saratoga. We havent stayed at either in over 3 years. Basically all our home resorts do is exist so we ca stay elsewhere (although I have a soft spot for okw and wouldn't really say its just a placeholder for me so to speak)

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Basically all our home resorts do is exist so we ca stay elsewhere (although I have a soft spot for okw and wouldn't really say its just a placeholder for me so to speak)

And that is about 90% of the draw of DVC and probably what - just as a guess - 75% of all the contract holders do. (110% at vero beach ).

If it weren't for the open schedule/multiple location concept...DVC would be ridiculously overpriced and i would bet sales would have been "soft" in comparison to what they have been.

It just kinda rubs me when the whole "home resort" thing is inferred as being like the Carolina Dunes timeshare in Calabash, NC circa 1988...
...that's not what we bought...and we need to demand "better" resorts (my HOME of Saratoga being the poster child) than just mass produced junk to rake in merchandise sales from lemmings that continue to show...demand shifting form the worse to the better is the only way to ensure that.

So back to the original point - the top of the world lounge was not designed or built to watch a fireworks show by people who flood the elevators for 20 minutes a night.

Why would they build and operate a location with overhead to give people a vantage point of a show that they COULD be spending tickets on and buying food and merch in the park while they're there?
The place is meant to use the fireworks view as a draw to get you to stick around and suck down $120 bucks worth of high profit drinks.

That's econ 101...and as with the california grill (which is very good but is always a little overrated and unnecessarily crowded BECAUSE of the fireworks and its effect on perception) it can work.

So if they don't open it up and its red ink on the balance sheet...its not gonna last.
Then nobody gets to watch...and nobody gets to drink (sounds like a voyeur movie)

 

[Goofy4Pooh]

FYI ~ Access to BLT Lounge has been extended till Dec 29th!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

FYI ~ Access to BLT Lounge has been extended till Dec 29th!

And I'm sure will be reinstated on Jan. 2...
You know - due to "overwhelming guest demand"

 

[MrSanderz27]

Hello all..

I'm still in the process of learning about DVC and planning for what I would like to purchase in the near future (if all goes as planned ), so I apologize if my question is obvious to DVC owners.

If your "home base" resort is BLT but you use your points to stay at a different resort, can you still access TOWL at BLT or do you need to be staying at BLT to access TOWL.

Thanks everyone!

 

[4stroke]

If your "home base" resort is BLT but you use your points to stay at a different resort, can you still access TOWL at BLT or do you need to be staying at BLT to access TOWL.

Hi MrSanderz!

With the new policy, yes you can visit the TOTWL as long as you are staying on points at a DVC Resort at WDW. you'll need to show your DVC Member Card and your room key to go up. This may change in the new year, as the other posters have alluded to.

In my opinion, it's a good change: if the lounge stays busy, it stays open. If not, we all lose out.

Good luck on your DVC purchase.....you'll never look back!

Cheers,
4S

 

[dvcblt93]

With the new policy, yes you can visit the TOTWL as long as you are staying on points at a DVC Resort at WDW.

Actually you just need to be a DVC member staying anywhere in a Disney owned resort, even on cash.

 

[MrSanderz27]

Hi MrSanderz!

With the new policy, yes you can visit the TOTWL as long as you are staying on points at a DVC Resort at WDW. you'll need to show your DVC Member Card and your room key to go up. This may change in the new year, as the other posters have alluded to.

In my opinion, it's a good change: if the lounge stays busy, it stays open. If not, we all lose out.

Good luck on your DVC purchase.....you'll never look back!

Cheers,
4S

Thanks!!

So it seems like the policy on TOTWL changes year to year... So it's uncertain of what the policy will be?

I guess I'm more wondering what the policy was prior to this recent change (in case it goes back to the old policy). Before this promotional change, what was the requirement for access to TOTWL? Did you have to be staying at BLT AND own at BLT or could you be a BLT owner staying anywhere and still have access? Etc...

Thanks again!!

 

[Riverhill]

Policy and such aside..... I love that fact that the name "Top of the World" is back in use.

I still refer to the California Grill as The Top of the World. It is very confusing to my DH and kids who did not know about the orginal restaurant.

I have great memories of being about 7 and going their with my parents and brothers.

 

[TagsMissy]

As a BLT owner I am happy to see the lounge used. I spent too many hours in there with the lounge being empty -- a sure way to lose it if it's not making money.

I say welcome my fellow DVCers

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks!!

So it seems like the policy on TOTWL changes year to year... So it's uncertain of what the policy will be?

I guess I'm more wondering what the policy was prior to this recent change (in case it goes back to the old policy). Before this promotional change, what was the requirement for access to TOTWL? Did you have to be staying at BLT AND own at BLT or could you be a BLT owner staying anywhere and still have access? Etc...

Thanks again!!

The old policy was that you needed to be member staying at BLT on points for access.

The important lesson is that Disney can and will change policies as they see fit. Sometimes it's to our benefit but often it's to their benefit.

Bill

 

[bom_noite]

I guess I am surprised on the mystery behind the motivation for this change? The folks staying at BLT could not sustain a bar that was built for 499. Thus, they felt they needed to expand the universe a bit. It is really that simple.

If this does not work, it will become open up to anyone. If that does bring in green spending gringo's it may become a restaurant that anyone can dine at. If that does not work, they will transform it in to a Bungee Jump platform. Expect policy changes until it turns a profit.

To be honest, I am a bit surprised that they opened a place that can hold 499 and make it exclusive to BLT Guests? It seems liked a doomed strategy - and - I guess it was. I doubt Boma has capacity for 499 folks? And, I am not sure opening it up to DVC members will do much too increase profitability.

Regardless, I am a DVC member going in December - so - see you all there!

And, to all those BLT members reading this - you are more then welcome to meet me for a drink at my home resort at OKW. See you at the Gurgling Suitcase - capacity 7 (or 8 when I am on a diet).

The old policy was that you needed to be member staying at BLT on points for access.
The important lesson is that Disney can and will change policies as they see fit. Sometimes it's to our benefit but often it's to their benefit.
Bill

Correction: It is always to their benefit, and, sometimes it is to our mutual benefit.