Any VIP Lounges left?

[Brooklynos]

I read online about certain sponsor companies having VIP lounges in the parks that employees of given company could gain access to. Are these a thing of the past or do the still exist?

Also, I heard from a friend that works for a major company that they didn't have to wait in lines if they flashed their company id badge... that can't be real, can it?

Just wondering as I have been many times and never once thought about either possibility above. Going to Disney is special for us and the lines (within reason) and the queues are a fun part of it for us... :mickey:

[Rekenna]

I don't know the answer, but the lounge part sounds at least plausible but not the part about not having to wait in line.

The lounge thing would be nice, I work for a very large company-maybe I should ask around at work?

Hopefully someone will come along soon who can provide a definite answer for you.

[Brooklynos]

Yeah, the line thing sounds unrealistic, but I agree with you about the Lounge thing. It would be nice but in all the times I've been I've never known any of these to exist... It would be nice though... :mickey:

[disneyboundagain]

As a former Siemens employee, I know they have a VIP lounge in Epcot that is open to all employees with a valid ID. I never made it there, but I believe it is in SE.

[Zone Stop]

VIP ride access? Sort of. The Epcot lounges have a card that they CAN give to lounge Guests that will admit them to other lounges-where they would presumably gain VIP access to the related rides.

As for the lounges themselves, here are all the ones I know of....

ACTIVE Lounges:
Siemens' Base 21 at Spaceship Earth
HP's Red Planet Room at Mission: SPACE
GM's VIP Lounge (Unnamed?) at Test Track (99% sure about this one-but the lights are still on and the decorations are still up)

INACTIVE Lounges:
The old Fedex lounge at Space Mountain
The old Exxon lounge in the Universe of Energy (Reclaimed as offices for Ride & Show Engineering)
The massive MetLife lounge in Wonders of Life. (Reclaimed as Outdoor Foods offices and event spaces, and as a training area that has now be re-reclaimed for some special project.)
The old Kodak lounge at Imagination! (Reclaimed as offices for Epcot Future World West Attraction)
The old Kraft lounge at The Land (Reclaimed as a continual training area called "The Treehouse")
The old United Technologies lounge at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Absolutely my favorite lounge, hands down. Have your wedding there. (Reclaimed as event space)

[WDWdriver]

Also, I heard from a friend that works for a major company that they didn't have to wait in lines if they flashed their company id badge... that can't be real, can it?

No. That doesn't happen. Some guests who are considered to be VIPs are occasionally escorted onto the rides by a Guest Relations Cast Member. But simply being employed by a ride sponsor doesn't make you a VIP.

[faline]

I don't know how the VIP lounges might work now but, years ago, we had access to a VIP lounge run by General Electric (Horizons). You could visit the lounge there, have a soda and relax. When you were ready, you would be escorted to the exit are of the Horizons ride and allowed to board there. You would then ride by all the folks waiting in the standby line to enjoy your ride - being able to do this was my daughter's favorite part of visiting the lounge!

[Ian]

No. That doesn't happen. Some guests who are considered to be VIPs are occasionally escorted onto the rides by a Guest Relations Cast Member. But simply being employed by a ride sponsor doesn't make you a VIP.That's inaccurate. As a GM employee you absolutely get front-of-the-line priviledges on Test Track just by flashing your badge.

I know because I've done it literally dozens of times.

[EpcotChic23]

I read online about certain sponsor companies having VIP lounges in the parks that employees of given company could gain access to. Are these a thing of the past or do the still exist?

Also, I heard from a friend that works for a major company that they didn't have to wait in lines if they flashed their company id badge... that can't be real, can it?

Just wondering as I have been many times and never once thought about either possibility above. Going to Disney is special for us and the lines (within reason) and the queues are a fun part of it for us... :mickey:

Over 10 years ago I was treated to VIP passes. We went into the Exxon one, Kodak one, and the one in spaceship earth and Horizons. We got free drinks sit and watch tv use there bathrooms and we did get to cut the line to ride the attractions.

[TheRustyScupper]

Other past lounges:
1) Annual Passholder Lounge
2) AAA Lounge in MK
3) Delta Lounge in Tomorrowland

[mel]

thought they still had the aaa lounge at mk...

[WDWdriver]

That's inaccurate. As a GM employee you absolutely get front-of-the-line priviledges on Test Track just by flashing your badge.

I know because I've done it literally dozens of times.

Wow. I didn't know they were still doing that. I'm glad I don't work over there. I would hate putting people in line ahead of others just because they had some sort of corporate ID. I've never seen that happen at Animal Kingdom.

[Brooklynos]

Interesting responses.... I never knew there were so many VIP lounges and to know there are a decent number of them is kinda crazy!!!!

Ian - you just show the person at the standby line your badge and go to the front of the line? That's amazing!

Thanks everyone for the responses! I like learning something new about a place I love so much!!!

[Ian]

Wow. I didn't know they were still doing that. I'm glad I don't work over there. I would hate putting people in line ahead of others just because they had some sort of corporate ID.I guess when your employer pays for the attraction's development and operations you're entitled to a few perks.


Ian - you just show the person at the standby line your badge and go to the front of the line? That's amazing!Oh no it's much more complicated than that. You literally have to go in through the "secret door" and show your ID to this remote camera. Then they buzz you into an elevator where you go up to the VIP lounge area. There's free sodas, private restrooms, a seating area, and (of course) a ton of GM ads. ;)

When you're ready to ride the receptionist in the lounge issues you a special ride pass and you go down into the ride loading area by a different "secret elevator." You actually end up coming out on the platform on the exit side of the queue area instead of the loading side. Then you show your special pass to the loading CM and they lead you up into this walkway that crosses the track (it's what you go under when your car first leaves the load area) and they load you into the next available car.

It's quite a production!

[Imagineer1981]

That's inaccurate. As a GM employee you absolutely get front-of-the-line priviledges on Test Track just by flashing your badge.

I know because I've done it literally dozens of times.

Correct. We used to give Fed Ex employees front of the line access at Space Mountain

[Patricia]

I don't have an issue with Employees of sponsors getting front of line access. I would think it odd if they didn't get this perk. Not to mention, there are probably not that many loading in any given day anyway. It sounds like they load the same as any other VIP at the parks and are not just pushing past a long line of people.

[faline]

I guess when your employer pays for the attraction's development and operations you're entitled to a few perks.

Oh no it's much more complicated than that. You literally have to go in through the "secret door" and show your ID to this remote camera. Then they buzz you into an elevator where you go up to the VIP lounge area. There's free sodas, private restrooms, a seating area, and (of course) a ton of GM ads. ;)

When you're ready to ride the receptionist in the lounge issues you a special ride pass and you go down into the ride loading area by a different "secret elevator." You actually end up coming out on the platform on the exit side of the queue area instead of the loading side. Then you show your special pass to the loading CM and they lead you up into this walkway that crosses the track (it's what you go under when your car first leaves the load area) and they load you into the next available car.

It's quite a production!


That's exactly how it would work with GE on Horizons!

[HoosierDisneyFan]

Where is the AAA Lounge in MK? Do you have to do someone (other than be a AAA member) to gain access? What is it like?

[Ian]

Where is the AAA Lounge in MK? Do you have to do someone (other than be a AAA member) to gain access? What is it like?It used to be in Tomorrowland like off to the right side of CoP, but I think it closed back in 2006. It was only open to guests who actually booked through AAA, though.

[MinnieMommie]

It used to be in Tomorrowland like off to the right side of CoP, but I think it closed back in 2006. It was only open to guests who actually booked through AAA, though.

On one visit we bought our park tickets through AAA and they gave us the lounge pass. It was inside Town Hall at that time. Far down the left side of the building. That was a long time ago. :mickey:

[MegaDisney]

Do you have to do someone (other than be a AAA member) to gain access?

:rotfl:

I assume you mean "do something" not someone!

[TheRustyScupper]

Where is the AAA Lounge in MK? Do you have to do someone (other than be a AAA member) to gain access? What is it like?

1) Book the full package through AAA.
2) Not just admission tickets.
3) And, beig an AAA member did not grant admittance.

[HoosierDisneyFan]

Oops... "do something"

:blush:

[SillySymphony]

Visited the one in Mission: Space a number of years ago. As an educator, I was really interested in M: S technology. Prior to our trip, I went to the HP website and found a link to "Ask Carly" (Fiorina, then Pres. of the Company) I was contacted by a WDW Cast Member stationed from HP at M:S who invited my son and I to visit during our trip. There was a "secret door" to the left of the main entrance and a buzzer to id yourself.

We were treated to a cold soda and a chance to sit and watch the centrifuges being loaded. Then we were ushered straight to the ride, by-passing everything and actually getting to see the "inner workings" of the attraction. Tres Cool.