We went to the top of the world lounge on our honeymoon one night to watch the fireworks! We love it up there and it's a great view but I don't care for letting kids up there! It was a big mood killer, we want a romantic night for ourselves and drink so adult drinks! To me it's alike a bar and kids should not be allowed. They were running around yelling and one kid knock over my drink! I dont hate kids, I have a two year old, but the idea of letting running in a bar is annoying to us that want a romantic night!
Well, you can consider me on the opposite side of that argument. I had a 3 year old that wanted to see fireworks but was scared to death about the potential noise. Loud noises have always scared her and many rides wound up going on the "never ever again" list mainly because of how loud they were. Staying in BLT on points afforded me a chance to bring her up to the lounge one night, and when she started worrying about how loud it might be were we to be outside on the deck watching, we went inside. I checked with one of the bartenders that it would be OK, she dismissed me with a smile and wave as if to say "of course," and offered to refill her sippy cup with water. My little Slapperina was louder than I would've liked but it was only because she was so excited. She called the big round yellow sofa in the center of the lounge a "cookie couch" and we sat there much of the waiting period before the fireworks; as others have said, it's not like it gets so filled that people were inconvenienced by her. She didn't get in anyone else's way, didn't get in anyone's face, and everyone else there seemed cool, even amused, by her excitement. And when the time came for fireworks, we got a window seat, obscuring no view for anyone as most people went outside to see the fireworks. And it was perfect for her, as she thought the fireworks display was beautiful, but made it clear that she would not want to go outside where it was noisy, not matter how many times I asked.
Personally, I think DVC/BLT is missing the boat entirely. Sure, it's always nice for grownups to be able to go someplace without a lot of kids, but maybe someplace in view of the castle during a fireworks display ain't it.
I think DVC/BLT would be better suited turning the lounge into a 100% family friendly area. Turn the bar into an upscale dessert counter, have a singer or other entertainer upstairs conducting singalongs. I'm not saying the place would it be packed, but I'll bet it would see more business (which means more business as more food and drink gets consumed).
But if they are going to keep it as it is, but they'd like to offer the area up to more people, my suggestion will probably tick off DVC members, but would also lessen the risk of the Lounge getting overrun (which I think it could often be if it were open to ALL DVC members): Randomly give people who eat dinner at The Wave & Chef Mickey's (much like surprise fastpasses, make it random) permission to enjoy the lounge by showing their receipt at the tower's main entrance. It would only require the cast member with access to the lounge elevator to station him/herself closer to the front door to let those people in. DVC can tell the restaurants how many "surprises" they can offer each night, and call them to tell them to stop if the lounge does indeed start getting packed.
