Castle Cake Apologist
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'm honestly not sure. The way they've chosen to brand it is... odd, at best.
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News Florida Blue lounge opens in EPCOT'S Norway Pavilion as part of the Food and Wine Festival
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Yeah, I'm honestly not sure. The way they've chosen to brand it is... odd, at best.
I don't know where you guys are getting the impression it's for Florida Blue customers only. Here's their webpage for it https://www.floridablue.com/magic with a link to print the guest pass.
No where on that page nor on the guest pass does it say limited to Florida Blue customers. In fact it says "We look forward to hosting Florida residents of every age with exciting events and opportunities that can only be achieved with a touch of Disney magic."
That reads to me like it's open to everyone (in particular Florida residents) and they're going to try and sell you a timeshare (or health insurance).
No where on that page nor on the guest pass does it say limited to Florida Blue customers. In fact it says "We look forward to hosting Florida residents of every age with exciting events and opportunities that can only be achieved with a touch of Disney magic."
That reads to me like it's open to everyone (in particular Florida residents) and they're going to try and sell you a timeshare (or health insurance).
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
Too bad they didn’t have a chance to sponsor wonders of life
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
That’s my read as well. I’ll bring a guest pass next month. Worst-case scenario, I walk 50 ft and buy a F&W snack or three.
Just some info on getting into the lounge.
I've been told but those in the know that they will soon implement a registration system that will allocate times, and require specific memberships (if demand becomes an issue). They expect it to be available to Florida Blue members (with a Florida Blue account) and Florida Blue employees.
I've been told but those in the know that they will soon implement a registration system that will allocate times, and require specific memberships (if demand becomes an issue). They expect it to be available to Florida Blue members (with a Florida Blue account) and Florida Blue employees.
doctornick
Well-Known Member
The American Adventure lounge was converted to Club 33
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
It is new, (at least as far as I know) which is the whole issue. I don't know of any other time Disney has taken a space that was previously open to all guests and changed it into something only open to a corporate sponsor on a regular daily basis (even if just temporarily). It sets a bad precedent.
I'm not sure why you're so passionate about defending it. If it doesn't bother you, that's fine, but it's a legitimate complaint.
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peter11435
Well-Known Member
That what has happened before? There have certainly been spaces that were only accessible to certain groups. This isn’t that unusual. And again… this was a closed venue.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I edited my comment while you were quoting it, which answers the first part.
And yes, it was a temporarily closed venue, but again, they could/should have done the same thing that they did with Restaurant Marrakesh. Or, better yet, use it as a food booth instead of closing an actual attraction. That's really what makes it seem like a terrible decision, although I think it's a bad precedent overall.
When you're using a temporarily closed restaurant as a corporate lounge while also closing an actual attraction to use as a food space for the general public, that's a really poor look.
I agree that it would be much worse if they'd done this to a space that would otherwise be open, though, which is also why it's not as bad as what they chose to do in Canada. I think this would probably bother people less if that hadn't happened.
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UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure why people keep saying this; it's conflating two separate things.
This is not that. Regardless of whether you think it's a big deal or not (I don't even think it's a big deal, but it's definitely a mistake when looking at the overall picture and the closure of Canada Far and Wide), it's not comparable.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
Those are two separate spaces. The third floor American Adventure corporate lounge was converted to Club 33. Currently (at least as of my last visit this summer), the rotunda and second floor (where you used to enter the theater) are not being used. People enter and exit the American Adventure via the theater exit. The rotunda was used as a general cafe. My point was to use the second floor (mezzanine) as the Blue lounge. Sort of like a VIP area over the "main floor". It already has elevator and escalator access (since it's actually the theater entrance) and could share the food service with the Rotunda cafe. You arguably could even let people enter the theater there if you wanted to as an added perk.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
This misses the point entirely. Those lounges were tucked away. The VAST majority of g
guests had no idea they existed. They weren't put in a primary location right in front of everyone - like a sectioned off area of the park. So, it enhanced the experience of those guests without making others feel like they were being left out.
While I agree it isn't the biggest deal, it's a dangerous game to play in hospitality. The crowd you attract with VIP and exclusivity in this manner is different than the prior. It's the hidden speakeasy back bar in the great lounge vs. the blatant VIP section with "bottle service".
GimpYancIent
Well-Known Member
This may hurt some feelings but since the renaming and, the now, long term non-presence of the sisters the vast majority of guests will not care about much less even notice the "Florida Blue Lounge".
I have to agree with this.
While it's not going to have any influence on my trip, it is a bit weird to see a once popular restaurant, in a country in Epcot, near a very popular ride be closed to become a "members only" type of lounge. Even if it's only temporary and due to Covid.
The sorry, you're aren't allowed is a bit in your face.
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
If they hadnt closed Canada then I wouldn’t be super bothered, but here we are
speck76
Well-Known Member
The Canadian 360 has been closed for at least the past 3 years during food and wine..... this is nothing new.
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
It was only closed once before for food and wine which lead directly into its refurbishment to install a new show. This years closure should never have happened.