Wishes and contemporary resort

[abarnes64]

Hi all, celebrating my daughter's bday and DH's bday and after CRT dinner I'd like to take them all to contemporary or BLT- I understand there is admittance to a rooftop lounge and can view wishes from here?

Kids are 3yo and 4yo- this seems like a great plan. Does anyone have any experience having done this that could share? Tips?

TIA! We've never been to this resort yet

 

[bbn1122]

Last June we were staying at BLT on the top floor with extended family. On the first night we just walked down the hall to the balcony area outside the TOWL and watched Wishes from there.


There is plenty of room and benches. They pipe in the music. It was a great way to start off our vacation. My nephew who just turned 6 was with us and loved it.

You can also view them from inside the lounge but most people come outside.

We have not viewed them from California grill. But you can see them from the balcony of the CR or the bridge that connect CR to BLT.

 

[Simba07]

TOTW lounge is usually only open to DVC members though, right? We usually watch from the bridge between BLT and CR. But it doesn't seem particularly special. I think there is somewhere else but I don't remember what it is called. I also really like the beach at the Poly if you weren't wedded to CR.

 

[Unyeah]

Top of the World Lounge

Top of the World Lounge is located at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Disney Vacation Club Members staying at any Disney-owned-and-operated hotel at Walt Disney World Resort (whether they booked with vacation points or cash) may enjoy access to one of the vacation kingdom's most exclusive spaces: Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort through December 29, 2014 (blockout dates apply. Including but not limited to 12/30/13, 12/31/13, 7/3/14, and 7/4/14). Current operating hours are 6 p.m. to midnight.

This perk is available exclusively to Members and those in their traveling party who are staying on that Member's reservation. At least one Member in the traveling party must accompany the group and present his or her current Key to the World card displaying a Disney Vacation Club Membership notation in order to gain admission to the lounge and observation deck. If the Member's Key to the World card doesn't display a Membership notation, a Disney Vacation Club Member ID is required in addition to the Key to the World card to verify Membership.

Note that Members traveling from other Resorts must use Walt Disney World Transportation, as parking is unavailable to anyone not staying at Bay Lake Tower or Disney's Contemporary Resort. Upon arrival, Members must walk to the Bay Lake Tower main lobby entrance on the ground floor and check in at the Top of the World Lounge desk in the lobby.

This special Top of the World Lounge access is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the lounge reaches capacity. As the lounge is particularly popular during the Magic Kingdom fireworks, arriving as early as possible will give Members the best chance of gaining admission.

Learn more about dining at Bay Lake Tower and nearby at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

 

[nalajms]

I would not recommend it for the enjoyment of your party. We went two summers ago with a 3yr and infant. The walls of the balcony were just under my shoulders, I'm 5'6". I had to carry my 3yo, otherwise he couldn't see the castle. You could technically put the kids on the edge of the balcony, but I was too scared to do that. It's a LONG time to hold a kid Plus he lost interest after a few minutes.

We were there about 30mins prior to Wishes, all the window tables were gone. After Wishes, it cleared out fast. We had the whole lounge to ourselves. My son loved playing on the big round couch.

A better place would be to book a FP+ for Wishes. We did that earlier this month. It was great sitting on the grass, not crowded. Or the sky bridge or CR patio.

 

[abarnes64]

It's so early for my FP requests to start but I was unaware of the fact that we can use FP for wishes??? That does sound better! I would think my kids would also not pay attention if they couldn't see over rail or didnt know what we were watching

 

[nalajms]

It's so early for my FP requests to start but I was unaware of the fact that we can use FP for wishes??? That does sound better! I would think my kids would also not pay attention if they couldn't see over rail or didnt know what we were watching

The FP+ for wishes and the parades come out about a week before we were there in early May. I don't know if they release a month at a time or a couple of days prior. The parade FP+ is in the inner circle infront of the parade. The FP+ is the garden/lawn area between cosmic ray and the circle. Bring a towel, we sat and leaned against the stroller. Great view of the fireworks, ok view of the movie/song collage on the castle prior to the fireworks.

 

[abarnes64]

Oh geez, well I suppose that if the FP are released only a month to a week ahead of time, then that will give me something else to stalk over!!! LOL

 

[Kidanifan08]

Hi all, celebrating my daughter's bday and DH's bday and after CRT dinner I'd like to take them all to contemporary or BLT- I understand there is admittance to a rooftop lounge and can view wishes from here?

Kids are 3yo and 4yo- this seems like a great plan. Does anyone have any experience having done this that could share? Tips?

TIA! We've never been to this resort yet

The FP+ for wishes and the parades come out about a week before we were there in early May. I don't know if they release a month at a time or a couple of days prior. The parade FP+ is in the inner circle infront of the parade. The FP+ is the garden/lawn area between cosmic ray and the circle. Bring a towel, we sat and leaned against the stroller. Great view of the fireworks, ok view of the movie/song collage on the castle prior to the fireworks.

Oh geez, well I suppose that if the FP are released only a month to a week ahead of time, then that will give me something else to stalk over!!! LOL

We are within our 60 day FP+ window, and the Wishes and Festival of Fantasy parade options are currently available. I would guess that you will have the same options at 60 days (if your tickets are linked).

Honestly, watching Wishes from TOTWL is just so-so, particularly with small children. In your case, you would have the hassle of getting there (walking or monorail) and then having to get back to the bus stop to go back to your resort. Totally not worth it, IMO.

Personally, we think that the best place to watch Wishes is in the middle of Main St. We usually stand in the area near Casey's. You can see the projection show reasonable well from there, and the fireworks are awesome! One of our favorite Wishes viewing experiences was from the Seven Seas Lagoon on the Pirates and Pals cruise. Your kids may enjoy something like that, although you still have the problem of returning to CR and needing to get back to your resort.

I don't think I would waste a FP+ selection on the Wishes viewing location. Just finish your dinner and head out to Main Street to watch the shows.

 

[nalajms]

I don't think I would waste a FP+ selection on the Wishes viewing location. Just finish your dinner and head out to Main Street to watch the shows.

Totally worth it if you have little kids in strollers. Otherwise, you're fighting the crowd for space...then end up having the kids sit on your shoulders

Our trip earlier this month we would hit Fantasy land right after Wishes (park closed an hour after). Most people were heading out, we finish most of the ride without waiting. Not sure how the crowds will be in the summer months, but if your little ones can stay up, I'd try that.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Totally worth it if you have little kids in strollers. Otherwise, you're fighting the crowd for space...then end up having the kids sit on your shoulders

Our trip earlier this month we would hit Fantasy land right after Wishes (park closed an hour after). Most people were heading out, we finish most of the ride without waiting. Not sure how the crowds will be in the summer months, but if your little ones can stay up, I'd try that.

Good point about the strollers. Although, in late Sept, the crowds are not too bad, so scoping out a spot on main street is not quite as contentious. DW or I have usually had to hold DS8 for Wishes in the past, anyways. I guess if there is no other important use for the FP+, then using for Wishes seems reasonable. I still don't know if I would enjoy it as much sitting off to the side of the castle. We are hoping to spend some time in the park after Wishes this summer, since it will be less busy and cooler.

 

[HarvardAce]

One additional downside to using your FP+ on the fireworks or parades is that pretty much precludes you from getting any additional FP+ that day. If your initial FP+ all are done early, you can get a few more (one at a time), or even park hop and use them at another park. If you still have the firework or parade at the end of the day, you won't be able to get another FP+ because you can only get additional ones after you've used all of yours up.

That said, if you are going to see Fantasmic, especially with small children, it's worth giving up a FP+ and all the downside. When we saw it last August FP+ was still in testing, so there were maybe 50 people in the FP+ section, but we arrived 15 minutes before the show started and got seats in the third row. I'm sure it'll be a bit more packed now that FP+ is available to everyone, but it still beats having to show up an hour before the show starts in order to secure a decent seat.

 

[nalajms]

One additional downside to using your FP+ on the fireworks or parades is that pretty much precludes you from getting any additional FP+ that day.

I'm not sure how this works. We were at AK on 5/4. I had booked MK FP+. At 10am I was in the park trying to change them to AK FP+. The displays near the FP+ kiosks said most FP+ were unavailable. I think a bug's life was the only one we could get! So unless they reserve some FP+ for people getting a 4th later in the day, I don't see how that will work.