Disney Restricts Access to Hotel’s Observation Area

[mkt]

Disney Restricts Access to Hotel’s Observation Area

(Orlando Sentinel) -- Although attendance is still below normal at Walt Disney World, one spot there is too crowded, officials have decided. The Contemporary Resort has closed its 15th floor observation deck to everyone except customers of the pricey California Grill. The deck had become congested during evenings just before the closing-time fireworks shows at nearby Magic Kingdom. For the non-California Grill masses, the Contemporary has created a new fireworks viewing area — down on the fourth floor. “We are encouraging guests to use this location . . .” said Jacquee Polak, a Disney World spokeswoman. “The Contemporary Resort operations officials said there was too much elevator traffic immediately before the fireworks and not everyone was getting up to the 15th floor. “One way to solve this traffic jam is to direct day guests to the 4th floor and those with reservations at California Grill to the 15th floor.” Polak said the fourth floor has become a popular fireworks viewing area. “There is music at this spot and guests are telling us they like it,” Polak said.

 

[cymbaldiva]

:veryconfu

 

[Lilo]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
Presumably once on the 15th floor you can only access the viewing area through the Cali Grill ?
If thats the case I'm all in favour of Disney restricting it to diners, however, perhaps they should bend the rules a little and allow guests staying at the Contemporary to have restricted access ?

Contemporary guests staying on the MK side can watch the fireworks from their balcony. I think the Cali Grill had a bar area where you could hang out for drinks and watch the show, but you had to enter the restaurant to be seated at it.

Staying at the Beach Club this Thanksgiving (11/24-11/29):sohappy:

 

[Lance]

Originally posted by cymbaldiva
Please forgive my terribly warped point of view on this subject, but to me it just feels like one more "Magical" thing that I won't be allowed to do because I can't afford it - in this case , I just really can't afford to dine at the Cal Grille...

Sorry ya'll, I'm a bit down about the whole $$ thing as of late!

I agree, it's totally ridiculous, just another thing to discriminate against the middle-lower class families that visit WDW!

Pretty soon, there will be nothing CHEAP and FREE for families to do!!!

The Contemporary is my favorite resort, and this makes me take a second look...

 

[instidude]

I'm actually looking forard to checking out the 4th floor area. It sounds like they are trying to make that area pleasant for the guest. I've stayed at the Contemporary enough (about 7 times) to know that the view is good from there, and since they are piping in the music for the fireworks at this location, it should make it even better than looking out from a room balcony.

And there is a valid point with the elevators. Those things get packed at park closing time. You sometimes have to wait for 5 or six cars to go before you can get on, and I usually go during the off-seasons.

 

[Married@WDW]

While I'm not trying to condone this, the stairs are only locked from the outside, not from the inside. The stairs are the fire escape route and the doors are fire doors, which is why they are locked from the outside -- so you don't try to re-enter a fire.

I believe you could take the elevator to the highest non-concierge level -- is that 11 or 12? -- then walk up to the 15th floor viewing area. Afterward, you would have to walk down to the fourth floor or all the way to the bottom to get out though. And the stairs are outside, so you do not need to enter the restaurant to do this, though I don't know if there will be a CM there to check.

Personally, I'll be making a PS for Cali. Grill to see the fireworks -- it's a big splurge, but the food is always so outstanding and it'll be so much nicer without the crowds.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Originally posted by Lance
I agree, it's totally ridiculous, just another thing to discriminate against the middle-lower class families that visit WDW!

Pretty soon, there will be nothing CHEAP and FREE for families to do!!!

The Contemporary is my favorite resort, and this makes me take a second look...

Thanks man....

That's exactly how I feel!

 

[Lilo]

Cymbal - Belle and I will buy you dinner at the Cali Grill:slurp:

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by cymbaldiva
Please forgive my terribly warped point of view on this subject, but to me it just feels like one more "Magical" thing that I won't be allowed to do because I can't afford it - in this case , I just really can't afford to dine at the Cal Grille...

Sorry ya'll, I'm a bit down about the whole $$ thing as of late!

But think of all the people who have paid big bucks for their "Magical" dinner who have it ruined by non-diners tramping in just to watch the display.

I'm all for this policy. Too often people expect to get something for free. This is like Pool Hoppers all over again.

 

[Lilo]

Originally posted by Catch 22

I'm all for this policy. Too often people expect to get something for free. This is like Pool Hoppers all over again.

Not the pool hopper thread :lol:

Seriously though I agree about only those with reservations being up there. It is too small to accomodate everyone. I'm sure they will make the 4th Floor observation deck more enjoyable and comfortable.

________________
11/24-11/29/02 - Beach Club:sohappy:

 

[Cosmo]

i think "discrimination" is a totally warped view! You pay, you see it. Anybody can do it. Is it discrimination that the All Star Resorts don't have a monorail running through them? No. If you want perks, you need to ante up for them. Why should people paying their hard earned money not get a little something special?
I'm spending my honeymoon at the Polynesian and we have a PS for the Ca. Grill on our wedding night. We plan to get dressed up and have a nice romantic dinner and we're going to be paying through the nose for it...i think we EARNED it. I don't want 50,000 people pushing and shoving and screaming during something that i've been looking forward to...THAT would be "discriminating" against me!:fork:

 

[Tink]

I've had dinner at the California Grille right before fireworks time and I don't remember it being crowded outside. But I can see why they would want to control the crowd size...not only can large crowds ruin your dining experience but how safe can it be to have masses of people out there? I would think that Disney's main concern is liability.

This from a person with problems with vertigo...

 

[cymbaldiva]

Originally posted by Lilo
Cymbal - Belle and I will buy you dinner at the Cali Grill:slurp:

Oh Lilo!

That is the nicest thing anyone's said to me in quite a while!

I have to take a moment now....I'm both teary and speechless...