Top of the World Lounge is reopening for Disney Vacation Club Members on July 11th, 2022!
Disney Vacation Club Members and their guests will have the opportunity to attend a private hard-ticketed “Bound to be Bad” Grand Opening Party from July 8th – July 10th to celebrate the return of this member favorite destination. This DVC Membership Magic hard-ticketed event includes cocktails and appetizers inside the lounge, before stepping outside to enjoy “Disney Enchantment” from high atop Bay Lake Tower.
As part of the lounge’s reopening, it will also feature a newly refurbished Disney Villains-themed look and has been renamed “Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair“.
This paid event will only be offered to Members staying at Walt Disney World Resort during those dates. It is also exclusive to direct members eligible for Membership Extras. More information is being sent soon to eligible members.
We have learned the events will be capped at 60 guests per night, with a price tag of $160 per person. Booking will begin Friday – June 24th, 2022, at 11:00 am, EST for those eligible members.
We previously had the opportunity to attend a similar hard-ticketed event at Top of the World Lounge on July 4th, 2019!
Once reopened, Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair will operate from 6 pm to midnight nightly, except for during other private ticketed events. Check-in begins at 5:45 pm with complimentary parking for eligible Members beginning at 5:00 pm at Bay Lake Tower.
The lounge will feature a new menu of special cocktails, wines, beer, and snacks including a new “Seven-Lair Cake”.
By far the most shocking news as part of this announcement is that it appears Top of the World Lounge will now be exclusive to direct Members eligible for Membership Extras. Members will need to present their valid digital Membership Card to access the lounge and will need to have a current resort reservation at a Disney Vacation Club property, or at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel.
While the language on this was originally unclear, we were able to verify this with Member Services shortly after this news broke.
Prior to the lounges closure in 2020, both direct and resale Disney Vacation Club Members were eligible to visit Top of the World Lounge.
As part of the announcment, Disney Vacation Club also teased “frightfully fun classes and events” also coming soon to this member exclusive space!
Stay tuned to DVCFan.com and our DVC Fan Facebook Group for more information as it becomes available! Also, be sure to let us know your thoughts about the long-anticipated reopening of Top of the World Lounge in the comments.
Source: Disney Vacation Club
Direct member access only!?!? Maintenance for TOWL had better be removed from the BLT assessment or DVC will end up in court.
I would love to help file suit. This is a slap in the face to us owners at that resort. It is a commodity of the building, a reason to consider buying there, hardly an added perk I feel as it should be part of the building. This was the last perk we had and they took it because they are too sorry to make up reasons for buying direct. At least include the current resale owners who had this before. Feel robbed and think this will definitely not work out well in court for them.
With TOTWL being a commercial unit and not part of the BLT ownership, access was never guaranteed for anyone. It is merely a courtesy if you read the BLT public offering statement. https://dvcfan.com/2022/06/24/dvc-fact-check-access-to-top-of-the-world-lounge/
BLT dues do not cover TOTWL. https://dvcfan.com/2022/06/24/dvc-fact-check-access-to-top-of-the-world-lounge/
I don’t disagree with the changes to access and it shouldn’t be surprising that Disney is looking for ways to encourage direct purchases. The change in theme is concerning. I love the monorail graphic behind the bar. While I understand the need for refreshing, I would have preferred for the venue to be themed like Steakhouse 71.
I’m very disappointed that this is now for direct members only. We bought our DVC as resale during COVID, but with the understanding that we would be allowed to use the Top of the World Lounge once it reopened. It even says it on our digital cards… very annoyed that we will never experience this.