DVC Member Lounge Coming to Imagination!

[Figments Friend]

Not keen on this....not at all.

I can however understand why this space was chosen.....that scenic view of SSE from up there through the glass pyramid is fantastic.
Real eye candy.
That will have immediate appeal and be a attraction onto itself for many.

Too bad day visitors not on the DVC bandwagon will not be 'allowed' to enjoy that view...in what was once public space, many years ago.

A bit more disappointing Is the realization that this prime space is being wasted....still......

So much potential there for something truly great.
Something that could be enjoyed by all.
As it once was, and as it should be.

Seems to me there would be better places for a DVC Lounge in the Park, but like I said earlier, I'm sure that great view from upstairs had a part to play in the decision.
It really is a beautiful scene to see..exspecially at night.

-

 

[glvsav37]

Not keen on this....not at all.

I can however understand why this space was chosen.....that scenic view of SSE from up there through the glass pyramid is fantastic.
Real eye candy.
That will have immediate appeal and be a attraction onto itself for many.

Too bad day visitors not on the DVC bandwagon will not be 'allowed' to enjoy that view...in what was once public space, many years ago.

A bit more disappointing Is the realization that this prime space is being wasted....still......

So much potential there for something truly great.
Something that could be enjoyed by all.
As it once was, and as it should be.

Seems to me there would be better places for a DVC Lounge in the Park, but like I said earlier, I'm sure that great view from upstairs had a part to play in the decision.
It really is a beautiful scene to see..exspecially at night.

-

no offense, but I don't get the hate?
1. yea, it could be enjoyed by all...but right now, it's not being enjoyed by anyone. Its completely closed.
2. It's only temporary for the 25th anniversary. And of that, it'll be some couches and a soda fountain. Nothing that will get in the way of future renno.

Honestly, I'd love to see these in all the parks in some form. Yes, I am DVC, so i may be a bit jaded, but as someone who invested in it, I appreciate the perk, even if it's temporary. Make no mistake, there is going to be a DVC CM looking to get anyone who walks in there to buy more points, so for Dis, its not so much as a perk, but more of YET another marketing opportunity. As a non-DVC person, would access to small lounge be worth it if you had to sit through a hard sell? Prob not.

I'd pretty much bet that 75+% of the Non-DVC guests in Epcot anyday wouldn't even know this lounge exists, let along let it upset them.

Club 33 access is exclusive to a small select grp of members? Is that wrong?

 

[FigmentForver96]

no offense, but I don't get the hate?
1. yea, it could be enjoyed by all...but right now, it's not being enjoyed by anyone. Its completely closed.
2. It's only temporary for the 25th anniversary. And of that, it'll be some couches and a soda fountain. Nothing that will get in the way of future renno.

Honestly, I'd love to see these in all the parks in some form. Yes, I am DVC, so i may be a bit jaded, but as someone who invested in it, I appreciate the perk, even if it's temporary. Make no mistake, there is going to be a DVC CM looking to get anyone who walks in there to buy more points, so for Dis, its not so much as a perk, but more of YET another marketing opportunity. As a non-DVC person, would access to small lounge be worth it if you had to sit through a hard sell? Prob not.

I'd pretty much bet that 75+% of the Non-DVC guests in Epcot anyday wouldn't even know this lounge exists, let along let it upset them.

Club 33 access is exclusive to a small select grp of members? Is that wrong?

Club 33 was designed a special place. This is using something that was meant for the general public. It could be the coolest lounge ever and I'll be sore cause this space was once a glorious space used to support the imagination theme. Now it's wasted space that will be filled with a mediocre lounge in an attempt to make DVC members like they are special. It's one thing if they added a lounge alongside great attractions, but this is taking what was once great space and wasting it.

 

[brb1006]

Club 33 was designed a special place. This is using something that was meant for the general public. It could be the coolest lounge ever and I'll be sore cause this space was once a glorious space used to support the imagination theme. Now it's wasted space that will be filled with a mediocre lounge in an attempt to make DVC members like they are special. It's one thing if they added a lounge alongside great attractions, but this is taking what was once great space and wasting it.

If that space was meant to open for the general public. That would have been the perfect area for guests to rest there feet after walking all day at Epcot. Heck that would be a great place for guests to read the Figment comics that are sold at Epcot and everywhere else in the resort. What a shame indeed.

 

[flynnibus]

So the old staircase is in the gift shop.

Are the escalator and elevator in areas they are guest accessible now? They will have to have the elevator open to guests

 

[glvsav37]

Club 33 was designed a special place. This is using something that was meant for the general public. It could be the coolest lounge ever and I'll be sore cause this space was once a glorious space used to support the imagination theme. Now it's wasted space that will be filled with a mediocre lounge in an attempt to make DVC members like they are special. It's one thing if they added a lounge alongside great attractions, but this is taking what was once great space and wasting it.

again, I'll go back to the point that it's not being used at all—DVC, regular guest or otherwise—right now.....for years. So if this wasn't happening, then it would still be just an attic with a great view. And it's as temporary as it can be, this will not last past the 25th celebration. Maybe (but i doubt it) WDW might see the value in these and open it up to all guests after the 25th Celebration is over. Didn't they converted spaces in other parks with larger seating and phone charging....like the area by Pete's Silly sideshow in the MK?

I find it interesting that out of all the 'DVC Celebration' events they are planning for this, that this one is such a sore point. I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just don't see why this 1 room is such a big deal to most people.

Edit to add: I just noticed your UN is FigmentForever....so you are obviously a passionate Imagination fan. I understand why it would offend you. Trust me, I was a CM when that attraction was great and I've been all over the imagination playground when it was fully operational and whenever my kids go in there I think "man, you don't even know what you are missing". I agree its a sad, sad shell of itself. I hope it gets the referb it deserves, with at least some of the original attraction's elements. Lets keep our fingers crossed for you, that if anything they make this lounge public once the anniversary is over.

 

[Next Big Thing]

I find it interesting that out of all the 'DVC Celebration' events they are planning for this, that this one is such a sore point. I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just don't see why this 1 room is such a big deal to most people.

This isn't something you can win on here. Someone like @ford91exploder, @Disneyhead'71 or @marni1971 will come along and talk about nostalgia and how that should be a space for ALL guests.

While i'd like to agree, until Imagination gets a proper refurb, it's impossible to argue this too much. The pavilion right now is in shambles, so until they decide to fix it, this will at least make use of that space and it will cost them peanuts.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

This isn't something you can win on here. Someone like @ford91exploder, @Disneyhead'71 or @marni1971 will come along and talk about nostalgia and how that should be a space for ALL guests.

While i'd like to agree, until Imagination gets a proper refurb, it's impossible to argue this too much. The pavilion right now is in shambles, so until they decide to fix it, this will at least make use of that space and it will cost them peanuts.

While I do think a good redo including bringing the upstairs back to it's former glory is the appropriate course, I said years ago that they should reopen the upstairs as an "Relaxation Station" with a snack stand and tons of AC outlets.

 

[WDWdream97]

I'll believe it when I see it, Disney does squat for DVC members except raise their member fees whilst cutting back services to members.

This is what I meant. That there used to be more perks, but they have been taken away.

 

[MaxW]

i hope they will make use of the upstairs after the temp lounge is gone. I don't see them clearing out the second floor for use, only to abandon it again in a year.

 

[JohnWD]

Awesome that Disney is using it again!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

So the old staircase is in the gift shop.

The Stairway is clearly visible as you walk right by it to exit through the gift shop..
Found on google...

What it looked like before...

 

[flynnibus]

The Stairway is clearly visible as you walk right by it to exit through the gift shop..

??? yes, I know this.. which is why I said... it's in the gift shop. The question is where is the elevator relative to the current guest areas. I seem to think it might be near the exit doors of the shop.. like a side hallway down there?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Sorry But, it look like you were asking a question...
My bad if you weren't....

 

[Jeffxz]

??? yes, I know this.. which is why I said... it's in the gift shop. The question is where is the elevator relative to the current guest areas. I seem to think it might be near the exit doors of the shop.. like a side hallway down there?

I think the elevator is in the center of the winding staircase.

 

[ford91exploder]

I really do wonder if this idea will spread to all 4 parks. Maybe they are doing it as a peace offering to the DVC members who are not feeling they are getting enough magical perks of being in DVC.

The only 'Peace Offering' many of us disaffected DVC owners would accept at this point is some REAL investment in the parks not some nebulous 3 billion over 10 year project (for the mathematically illiterate that works out to $300 Million per year) which is a drop in the bucket compared to what's needed for both infrastructure and attractions at todays attendance levels.

Personally a 1 Billion per year spend over and above what's being spent now would be just about right along with building attractions at the pace they were once built. If Disney were opening A-C attractions every year and D-E attractions every 4-5 years I'd be happy

 

[Horizons1]

The Stairway is clearly visible as you walk right by it to exit through the gift shop..
Found on google...

What it looked like before...

That looks so sad.

 

[habuma]

Having never seen it in its glory days, I could only trust that it was something amazing given all of the devoted fans. But these pics help me understand why it had such devoted fans. The current gift shop area is stuffy, boring, and evokes claustrophobia. It appears that the original area was roomy, exciting, and (gasp) imaginative.

So yes, here's another person hoping that after a temporary use as a DVC lounge that some day this space can once again be amazing.

The Stairway is clearly visible as you walk right by it to exit through the gift shop..
Found on google...

What it looked like before...

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Found a youtube video from 08 showing the Elevator still does work...

 

[andysol]

The only 'Peace Offering' many of us disaffected DVC owners would accept at this point is some REAL investment in the parks not some nebulous 3 billion over 10 year project (for the mathematically illiterate that works out to $300 Million per year) which is a drop in the bucket compared to what's needed for both infrastructure and attractions at todays attendance levels.

You know it's not 10 years. SWL won't take until 2025. While I agree the number isn't what it should be- people who are forced to exaggerate to try to make a point end up not making a point at all and just look like exaggerators.