Top of the World Lounge

[dis2cruise]

Is there a charge to visit now, besides beverage and food costs.
A friend of mine DVC owner said there was a charge to go up the the
Lounge.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Is there a charge to visit now, besides beverage and food costs.
A friend of mine DVC owner said there was a charge to go up the the
Lounge.

wow....it's one of my home resorts. I guess I should know the answer to this but I don't? There is a dessert party you can book for a fee but that is all I heard about.

 

[PrincessKL]

You can pay for the Wicked Wind Down, which is a drink, appetizer and dessert package to go inside the lounge and then have a reserved area for watching the fireworks. But without this package, you can still go to the outside terrace to watch the fireworks as long as you are a bluecard member staying at a disney hotel. It's on a first come first served basis.

There are certain holidays that they might have different events and restrict the access to members.

 

[RD-SOX]

We went to the Top of the World lounge on Tuesday, there was NO charge. You can walk around outside and even sit down in a certain area and relax if you don't want to purchase anything, but if you want to sit inside the host will sit you at a table inside and you will have a bartender/server to order food and drinks. It is first come first serve. However if you want to do one of the events like the Wicked Wind Down then yes there is a charge.

 

[dis2cruise]

Thanks, So could I go and just order a cocktail inside instead of being a part of the Wicked Wind Down?

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks, So could I go and just order a cocktail inside instead of being a part of the Wicked Wind Down?

It depends on whether there are seats or not. Last I knew, if you didn’t have a seat, at a table or the bar. you would not be let in, even to order from the bar to take back out.

There have been times when they had an outside cart set up to buy drinks but don’t think that is always the case.

 

[RD-SOX]

Thanks, So could I go and just order a cocktail inside instead of being a part of the Wicked Wind Down?

Yes as long as there is availability. When we were there it was slow, about 7 pm, but as we were leaving closer to 8:30 it started to get very busy, people coming in for fireworks viewing. I was told if we want drinks to get a table, the bartender did say they can put drinks in a "to go" cup to bring out on the balcony. I would take this to mean they probably don't want glass out there and only in the bar/lounge.

 

[dis2cruise]

Thanks everyone

 

[bbn1122]

BLT is my home resort and it's been years since I have been to TOWL. I tried to get up there last year but it was full.

Maybe I will try again in June. I guess go early. I am not interested in fireworks, I can watch them from CR.

 

[MartyParty]

Thanks everyone

Home resort for us. They times we've went a reservation gets you a spot for sure if doing the dessert package. A reservation was not needed to walk out on the viewing deck for fireworks.

Usually when we're there, the bar seems to have open seats. I've often commented to my DW that we should just try our luck walk up and see if we can get a seat at the bar. In that past it's been family and friends for a total party of 4-6. Not ideal for a walk up. If it's just for 2 your odds are better for walking up.

 

[MartyParty]

I looked at some pics a couple of years ago, and the bar area looks to have about 7 or 8 chairs.
Good luck...

 

[muppets3d]

There is no charge to visit the lounge but there isn't much you can do in there without paying obviously. By the book, it is only available to eligible members who are currently staying on property (but doesn't have to be BLT obviously). I have never been turned away if I'm staying off-site or on a cash stay (we went to the lounge the night we bought our first contract - but we were staying at Pop Century at the time), but it is possible they may enforce that sometimes.

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.g...rs/member-experiences/top-of-the-world-lounge

July 4th NYE etc I am pretty sure they restrict the lounge to only people staying in BLT. Like all the other monorail resorts.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hmmmm we are staying at BLT and we would like to go but I don’t like commitment of the dessert package since what we are doing that day is up in the air as of now.

 

[D-Trick]

I went this past Saturday with my group of 11 (all registered in my grand villa). We just went up for firework viewing-- no desserts, no drinks. We all had dinner at Steakhouse 71.

It had been a few years since I was last at TOTWL, so I didn't know about the check-in moving to the actual lounge on the south side 16th and not on the ground floor north side.

The check in CM just asked to see my membership card on my phone, and that was it. She did not scan my MB. Just told us we good to enter the fireworks viewing area. There was a mobile bar cart serving drinks though the bartender left sometime during the fireworks as he was gone after the show ended.

 

[muppets3d]

The last few times I've visited the fireworks viewing area seemed to be open to anyone, you only needed to check in if you wanted to get in the lounge.

 

[Steelers0854]

We are new blue card members and have never been. So based on the posts then there is nothing free in TOTWL like the other lounges (Coke freestyle, small snacks?). I’m just curious as we were going to make a point to go in December just to check it out. But my rethink our plans if everything is for purchase. Thanks!

 

[cruisehopeful]

We are new blue card members and have never been. So based on the posts then there is nothing free in TOTWL like the other lounges (Coke freestyle, small snacks?). I’m just curious as we were going to make a point to go in December just to check it out. But my rethink our plans if everything is for purchase. Thanks!

I've looked into it quite a bit. It looks like the new version (Villians Lounge) is a paid bar with nothing free. There are a couple more expensive paid events there, but most of the time it's a bar that only allows DVC - Y to enter, whereas anyone can stay in the outside part.

 

[CarolynFH]

We are new blue card members and have never been. So based on the posts then there is nothing free in TOTWL like the other lounges (Coke freestyle, small snacks?). I’m just curious as we were going to make a point to go in December just to check it out. But my rethink our plans if everything is for purchase. Thanks!

Right, it’s not a lounge for resting like in the parks and is not paid for with DVD marketing money like those are. It’s a bar-type lounge, carved out of the BLT condo association as commercial space, meaning it’s under Disney control the same as Trader Sam’s is at Poly. But as noted above, you can go up to the outside terrace to watch MK fireworks at no charge.

 

[Sandisw]

Right, it’s not a lounge for resting like in the parks and is not paid for with DVD marketing money like those are. It’s a bar-type lounge, carved out of the BLT condo association as commercial space, meaning it’s under Disney control the same as Trader Sam’s is at Poly. But as noted above, you can go up to the outside terrace to watch MK fireworks at no charge.

Since they have made this a membership extras benefit, there has to be some agreement between DVD and Disney who operates it to keep it closed like this.

So, I think there is some level of payment via marketing budget.

 

[CarolynFH]

Since they have made this a membership extras benefit, there has to be some agreement between DVD and Disney who operates it to keep it closed like this.

So, I think there is some level of payment via marketing budget.

Yes, could be. OTOH I’m not sure Disney wants to open it to general public like Trader Sam’s. I hope it doesn’t go the way of The Attic at BWV, available only for private events $$$. Sounds like it stays busy enough!