Top Of The World Lounge (Carrie or anyone?)

[MiaSRN62]

Maria, your response was very respectful and logical, and I appreciate that. I completely agree that you and your 18-25 guests would not cause anyone problems or discomfort as you chatted and ate finger sandwiches. However, I did not base my response on only your situation. If you were given permission to invite your guests to a small, quiet "mingle", other DVC members should have the same privilege to arrange social events at TOTW. While I agree that I probably wouldn't even notice your group, I would be very annoyed by a large group of guests who took over the lounge with excessive noise, maybe their own music, and a sense of ownership of the space. I fully realize that is not the kind of social gathering you are planning, but we have an abundance of people in our society who feel entitled to do as they wish without regard for other people. I am not implying you have that kind if attitude. You seem to be a considerate person who wants to provide a pleasant social experience for guests at your daughter's wedding while not inconveniencing anyone.

My point is that policies and rules aren't written separately for considerate people and entitled, inconsiderate people. If you were permitted to have your small, quiet event and posted a review on a public message board, there would be people demanding the same privilege to reserve space for a larger, unruly event. I look at the worst possible scenario when considering rules and policies so that I can be pro-active in avoiding problems. I have been an educator for 44 years, and I deal with the best and the worst of society. My comments are based on my experiences, not as a criticism of your desire to provide a pleasant evening for friends and family.

I completely "get" what you are saying. I still have concerns though that as BLT/DVC Members we desire this space to be so exclusive to the point it might bite us on the nose. By this I mean, it takes a lot of $$$ to keep TOWL open to us. It already failed as a "sacred space" for BLT owners so they extended for a second year to "all" DVC and their "GUESTS". This was clearly a direct result of failing revenue in this location. If this proves not successful due to under use of the space and low revenue coming in, what comes next will probably not make any of us happy campers. I figured if I was going to spend $500-$600 on my family's celebration, why not give that revenue to a spot that would directly benefit BLT Members in keeping TOWL going for us all instead of another venue. It's a perfect spot and it feeds the TOWL maintenance budget. Fingers crossed in the near future we don't lose this spot. I believe this was an issue with the Boardwalk and the Attic too--or similar. DVC decided it wouldn't bring in enough revenue with just Member use and it became a space to rent out for private affairs/celebrations/parties/corporate meetings. I, for one, will not be surprised with the lack of $$ TOWL is bringing in that this will happen soon too. So I think many are afraid of losing the exclusive nature of this spot to private smallish groups coming up, but what we should all be afraid of is there is not enough people willing to drop $$ such as my party was willing to do. Fingers crossed I'm wrong on this but I've been a DVC Member for 14 years and seen many a perk taken away due to under use.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.......take care

 

[holula]

I am also a DVC member. I don't own at BLT but we have used the lounge. I would have no issue with one private party per night, perhaps up to 50 guests, in a roped off area, as long as they paid a venue fee. TOTWL is painfully underused and I would hate to see it go.