Top of the World Lounge "reception"?

[Fantasmic303]

Does anyone have any information about the Top of the World Lounge member reception? I just got the DVC email with info about our trip next week, and it include the info below. Unfortunately, the link included in the message just takes me back to my email, so I can't get any further information. I'm confused though - we're splitting our stay between BWV and BLT, and I'm not sure which reservation we're invited under (I assumed BWV, since that's where we check in first). Is this event open to all DVC members (so we can go while we're staying at BWV) or only those at BLT (which would limit us to the days we are there)?

Does anyone know when this is held (time-wise and is it every day?) and what it includes (meaning...how long the spiel is?) We're planning to watch fireworks from the lounge while we're at BLT, but we're not sure if it's worth planning to include this as well.

You're invited to a reception at the Top of the World Lounge
Don't miss an enchanting event at the extraordinary Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

At this event, you'll hear what's new at Disney Vacation Club, get a special sneak peek at some of this resort's incredible features and enjoy a Member reception at the spellbinding Top of the World Lounge.

Space is extremely limited.

RSVP at a Disney Vacation Club information desk at your resort upon arrival.

 

[rlovew]

I went to it a few weeks ago. Check in was at 12:30 and it started at 1pm. They had various finger sandwiches, chocolate cover cheesecake sticks, lemonade, water, tea, coffee, and such to drink. The children in the parties were given coloring books and crayons, the adults each got a bag with a portfolio type notepad, a pen, 2 lanyards 9they gave out extra lanyrads to familkies so that everyone would get 1, and some promotional reading materials.

At about 1pm they started and had a game show type format with questions and gave away prizes to those that answered (they pulled adult names out of a box). At the end of the game show (which talked about the different options one had when they are vacationing on points with a couple short clips- DCA renovations/new cruise ship) they put all the names back in and drew a name for $100 gift card. Then you could go on a tour of the villas or meet with a guide to discuss special pricing on buying more points. Sometimes they have a grand villa available but not on my day- we say a first floor 2 bedroom unit. At the end they gave everyone a pin (I don't know if it said BLT or DVC) and a set of fastpass cards for their party.

I supose it depends on you whether it is worth your time or not.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

how often does DVC do these receptions? how do you get o n the email list?

 

[Fantasmic303]

Food and free gifts?? I think I could make it worth my time... We'll definitely check it out if we can fit it in our schedule! Thanks for the info!

DisneyTrav, the email I got was simply the one they send about a week before your trip, telling you about special things going on while you're there.

 

[CoffeeCup]

You can stop at any DVC kiosk and have the representative call and put you on the list to attend. They check to be sure you are a DVC member, I think we had to show our DVC card when we checked in, and you don't need to receive an invitation. They were doing the receptions every day at 1:00 when we were there in June. It was extremely crowded, however, and even though we were there early, there wasn't anywhere to sit to eat your food.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are signs posted at the DVC resorts about this. You can call DVC on your villa telephone and ask to be put on the list. It's basically a sales presentation. If you don't intend to buy, you probably won't want to waste the time.

 

[omalley1118]

We went on June 14th. Personally, I do not think it is worth your time. However, it was very hot so the break was nice. The food was so-so, and it was all a sales pitch. They were offering a discounted rate for points that were only available at that time. We decided not to buy more--just paid it off and want to stay that way...tempting though.

I am sure that people enjoyed it and others will. I just found it to be very slick. Just my opinion.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Can someone who went report approximately how long it lasted? We're staying at BLT and might be looking for some cool down time in the afternoon, but I'd have to take it into consideration for our ADR. We don't need a tour of the villas (obviously...since we're already staying!) but will stay for the salespitchwithprizes.

 

[bbluvsdis]

It took us a couple of hours but we did do the tour and also talked to a guide. We were going mostly for the special fast passes but we ended up adding on points at VGC!

 

[Dizny Dad]

GO!

It is certainly first class and well worth the cool down time you may need. We did not do the tour and had about 1.5 hours invested. We signed up at a DVC Kiosk at SSR just for the opportunity to see the TWL - neat.

As all things Disney, it was done well, done right, was interesting if you went with the flow, and there was no pressure to buy, etc.

 

[kimpossible]

It took us a couple of hours but we did do the tour and also talked to a guide. We were going mostly for the special fast passes but we ended up adding on points at VGC!

We went for the fast passes too (3 per person to be used within 4 days of your stay). They were worth it alone...but yes we added on at AKV.

Also, our children were able to go to the community hall instead of the presentation.

I would do it on the day you switch hotels (that's what we did) then the rest of your trip is a breeze with the extra fastpasses

Oh...it took us a little over an hour.

 

[evaready51]

We just went July 2nd...made an appt through the DVC Kiosk at SSR rlove summed it up very nicey. The day we went they were introducing the Aulaiani. The FP were nice since it was July 4th...but be careful w/the magnetic strip, we were gypped out of on of the FP because the strip stopped working

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We were there almost three hours. It started late, then at the end after touring a two bedroom unit, it took forever to sit down with a guide and get info.
While we enjoyed seeing the units, the length of time it took was not worth it.

This is my fault, but I didn't look at the fastpass cards until yesterday and of course they are expired. There had not been a mention of them expiring and we had no need of them until yesterday.
Someone at the kiosks told us to swing by Saratoga and see if they will re-activate the cards. I guess we will see.

 

[ReneeQ]

I went on Thurs. 6/24. My sister and nephew weren't interested, then were jealous when they saw my bag of loot. I didn't see it mentioned, but you need to sign up at least 2 days before you plan to go, as it books up. I didn't sign up until that morning, but since I was going solo, they squeezed me in. I arrived at BLT at 12:30, which was WAY too early. They limit it to 75 people per day and it's at 1 pm. They put us in groups of 15 or so, and I was in the first group to go up.

I thought it was a very nice presentation. It started right at 1 PM, and we were out of there by 1:45 PM, and done touring the resort and rooms by 2 PM, so the actual event was only 1 hour total for me. I did win a mini photo album that holds 24 pictures, in addition to the other goodies.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

Just returned from a quick last-minute trip, just me and DH. We had no idea about the member events but learned about it from a DVC booth at DHS. Signed up for it and went on Friday 07/09. Probably spent a couple hours there at BLT? Might not have done it with the kids (although might have just left them at the resort - they are older.) We got DVC bags with lanyards, each got a DVC pin and got the fastpasses (main reason we went!) Each FP card gives you 3 "instant" fastpasses. Then ran into a family of 4 on our way out that were heading out, so they gave us their cards also. SWEET! We hadn't really done much rides since we had gotten there on Wednesday (like I said, a quick trip - just 3 nights) and we were leaving the next day. But we managed to put those cards to VERY good use!! Went to MK that evening and rode Space Mountain and BTMRR each a couple times, then back to DHS in the morning before our departure to do RNRC and TSM a couple times each! RNRC had been down on Thursday afternoon when we were there, then down again Friday morning when DH tried to go early. He was getting pretty disappointed/frustrated. So it was nice to be able to finally ride it a couple times with really very little wait!! They did give out some prizes at the event, but we didn't win anything. I think they had some duffel bags, clock, etc, those type things, gave away maybe 4-5 prizes and then the $100 gift card to one lucky person (which was NOT us, boo-hoo!) They did take us a little around BLT and then you could meet with a guide if you wanted to get more info about adding on points. We did meet with a guide but did not buy any more points at this time. Also learned that if you go to the Welcome Home Wednesdays, they give out the DVC member hats. We had gotten in on Wednesday, but really didn't have time to get over to the event but might have tried a little harder if we had known that. We stayed at SSR Wednesday night and then BWV Thursday and Friday nights. Would have been WAYYYY more convenient if we had been staying at BWV Wednesday.

One little note - the daily BLT event fills up. You need to "book" it a couple days ahead of time. I suggest booking it before you get there and make sure you have time to get good use of the FP cards.

 

[nhmomx2]

When during the sales pitch do you actually get the FP? We are staying at BLT so we won't need the tour and truly don't plan on buying, but really want to check out TOWL!

 

[DiznyDi]

We received our fastpasses after the sales pitch but before the guided tours. We opted not to do the tour. Fastpasses were handed to us as we were leaving.

 

[nhmomx2]

That is exactly what I was hoping Thank you...