Bay Lake Tower has replaced Kingdom Tower at the Contemporary

[crazy4wdw]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Disney's "Bay Lake Tower" instead of "Kingdom Tower" at the Contemporary?

Looks like Disney may have changed the name of the new time-share tower the company is building next to its Contemporary Resort.

"Bay Lake Tower" has replaced "Kingdom Tower" as the name of the project, at least in filings with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

What's more, earlier this month Disney filed paperwork to create a "Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Condominium Association," presumably to manage the resort once it is sold off to individual owners. Disney had created a "Kingdom Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Condominium Association" in January.

Disney still has not publicly announced its plans for the partially-built Contemporary addition, which now stands 14 stories and will be linked to the resort's main A-frame building by a pedestrian bridge. A spokeswoman said the company had nothing to announce today, either. But Disney has indicated in documents submitted to the state that it intends to use the tower for Disney Vacation Club, the company's Celebration-based time-share arm.

The "Kingdom Tower" name was criticized by some Disney fans when it first surfaced in those documents. Some posters on Internet forums said it evoked religious overtones, noting that "Kingdom Hall" is a term for a place where Jehovah's Witnesses worship.

"I think a lot of people were drawing comparisons to Kingdom Hall," said Tim Krasniewski, publisher of DVCNews.com, a website devoted to Disney Vacation Club.

Krasniewski said he was personally fond of "Kingdom Tower," which most assumed referred to the Magic Kingdom theme park that sits next door to the Contemporary. But he said he likes "Bay Lake Tower" -- which refers to one of the lakes that the Contemporary and its addition overlook -- even better.

"I think it's a wonderful name," he said. "I think everybody's familiar with Bay Lake, with the fact that Bay Lake is right there. It has a Disney feel to it."

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I happen to think it's a great name for the building.

[KYMickey]

I wonder if possibly there's something else behind the second condo association? Maybe they plan on taking down the other wing and building a second tower? It certainly would make the contemporary look a lot better than it will with one tower. Maybe it's just hopeful thinking but at least it's a possibility to think about.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Considering the South Garden Wing building was fully renovated I don't see that getting replaced for 2nd DVC building for a long time, because what was the point of renovating it? Plus it would make things a lot harder to get a reservation at the Contemporary, because all those rooms were lost in the North Garden Wing building.

[KYMickey]

Considering the South Garden Wing building was fully renovated I don't see that getting replaced for 2nd DVC building for a long time, because what was the point of renovating it? Plus it would make things a lot harder to get a reservation at the Contemporary, because all those rooms were lost in the North Garden Wing building.

Don't forget we haven't actually seen what's going to happen with the new tower. Maybe part of it will be hotel rooms and part time shares that way if two towers are built the number of hotel rooms could be kept constant and the time shares would be additions. Obviously not a fact but an interesting possibility. :thumbsup2

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Don't forget we haven't actually seen what's going to happen with the new tower. Maybe part of it will be hotel rooms and part time shares that way if two towers are built the number of hotel rooms could be kept constant and the time shares would be additions. Obviously not a fact but an interesting possibility. :thumbsup2Based on what a few Cast Members of told me, I have heard it's 100% going to be a DVC building. However you are right that we have to wait and see until the official announcement.

[DisFlan]

And since quite a few people already refer the the Contemporary as the "Toaster" hotel, it'll now be the BLT and the Toaster.:rotfl:

I like the new name, btw.

DisFlan

[mitros]

Isn't funny how Disney refuses to "officially" state that this will be a DVC resort. I guess they need to sell out SSR, and start moving AKL villas first......:confused3

[DisFlan]

Isn't funny how Disney refuses to "officially" state that this will be a DVC resort. I guess they need to sell out SSR, and start moving AKL villas first......:confused3

A relative of mine works at the Comtemporary and when asked what that big building is going to be, she shrugs and jokingly says it's a new Super Target.

The construction is at a point where they'll have to say something pretty soon, regardless of how well AKV sells. I'd guess it'll be before the end of the year.

DisFlan

[rugelus]

DVC is enjoying the speculation. Without spending a dime there is enough buzz and tower hungry members to start selling but until SSR sells out and more is sold at AKL there is no rush. AKL phase 1 is now sold out and new buyers in phase 2 cannot use the points until May of 09.

The announcement will come after the cast discount for DVC drops from 25% to 15% on June 1st. DVC is not going to provide the higher discount for California, Hawaii or Kingdom Tower.

http://www.disneylinkswebawards.com/images/userbar.gif (http://www.disneylinkswebawards.com/wwwportorleansorg.php)

[DC7800]

A relative of mine works at the Comtemporary and when asked what that big building is going to be, she shrugs and jokingly says it's a new Super Target

Well, the tower does look more as if it belongs near a strip mall somewhere, rather than next to a Contemporary Resort...

A Super Target is not such an architectural abomination.

[jimmytammy]

I like the name change. Seems a bit more appropriate to its location. As for SSR selling out, I made a call to our DVC guide today, and her message stated they have been very busy the last 2 weeks with SSR being very close to sellout. So we could hear something a bit more official soon based upon a true sellout at SSR.

[fall08CP]

Based on what a few Cast Members of told me, I have heard it's 100% going to be a DVC building. However you are right that we have to wait and see until the official announcement.

Yesterday I spoke with one of the top managers of DVC and he said they do not actually know what's going on with that building. They are keeping their fingers crossed but have not actually been told by Disney what it will be. They are focusing on their DLR and Hawaii locations right now. I work at a vacation club resort and had to tour the vacation club hq and went on the "secret floor" (you need a special key and a security escort to access it) and it had the plans for future resorts- CR was not one of them at this point in time.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yesterday I spoke with one of the top managers of DVC and he said they do not actually know what's going on with that building. They are keeping their fingers crossed but have not actually been told by Disney what it will be. They are focusing on their DLR and Hawaii locations right now. I work at a vacation club resort and had to tour the vacation club hq and went on the "secret floor" (you need a special key and a security escort to access it) and it had the plans for future resorts- CR was not one of them at this point in time.I was told the same thing when I asked at the DVC info desk on the 4th floor that they don't know what's going on. So it's kind of weird that non DVC Cast Members know it's going to be a DVC building, but the DVC ones don't know anything.

[CanadianGuy]

I think the filings with the state of Florida for it to be a DVC property are all the proof you need of the 'intentions'..

Knox

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I think the filings with the state of Florida for it to be a DVC property are all the proof you need of the 'intentions'..

KnoxThat sounds like a good reason for me to believe it.

[KYMickey]

How about another possibility? Maybe the building is going to be condominiums but not DVC! Maybe they're going to be full ownership condominiums and the owners could just rent them out when they're not there or could live there fulltime. It would explain everything they've been stated in the thread so far:

1. That they are going to be condominiums, thus the association was formed.
2. It would explain why DVC knows nothing about them.
3. It would explain why cast members know they are condos but DVC staff doesn't.

Just an idea but something to think about considering there also going to have some other permanent residences on site. :rolleyes1

[jade1]

How about another possibility? Maybe the building is going to be condominiums but not DVC! Maybe they're going to be full ownership condominiums and the owners could just rent them out when they're not there or could live there fulltime. It would explain everything they've been stated in the thread so far:

1. That they are going to be condominiums, thus the association was formed.
2. It would explain why DVC knows nothing about them.
3. It would explain why cast members know they are condos but DVC staff doesn't.

Just an idea but something to think about considering there also going to have some other permanent residences on site. :rolleyes1


Maybe, but wouldn't that mean they are literally selling the land as well? I find that hard to believe they would part with that parcel.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

How about another possibility? Maybe the building is going to be condominiums but not DVC! Maybe they're going to be full ownership condominiums and the owners could just rent them out when they're not there or could live there fulltime. It would explain everything they've been stated in the thread so far:

1. That they are going to be condominiums, thus the association was formed.
2. It would explain why DVC knows nothing about them.
3. It would explain why cast members know they are condos but DVC staff doesn't.

Just an idea but something to think about considering there also going to have some other permanent residences on site. :rolleyes1While you make some good points, I don't see WDW doing something like that.

[KYMickey]

Maybe, but wouldn't that mean they are literally selling the land as well? I find that hard to believe they would part with that parcel.

Depending how it's set up the land could still remain the property of Disney with the condominium association holding a 99 year land lease or some other kind of arrangement. Just because the units were sold the property itself wouldn't have to be. Besides they're already planning on selling a limited number of homes on another planned development on site.

[bookwormde]

Lets see condominiums VS DVC timeshare. Well the selling price would have to be $2,000,000 for a 2br (~18000pts/yr) to be equivalent to the gross. Maintenance fees for DVC would be $81,000 so take 75% of that for a single owner and you are at $60,000.
And how many would be willing to give Disney the level of control that the DVC members give to DVC?

Not going to happen.

You can bet if it was going to be a CRO resort that they would already be hyping it.

It just makes good marketing sense not to announce it until SSR and a good part of AKV are sold. Most DVC purchasers are not as informed as those on this board so they so they think the only short-term possibilities are SSR and AKV. It is very much the same thing with the “sold out” resorts. If you are not sophisticated enough to know they are available DVC salespersons is not going to offer this info.

Anyone who looks at the nature of the construction and looks at the filings and DVC past procedures knows that there is about a 99% chance that it will be a DVC property. DVC is just “smart” not to announce it until SSR is sold out and to keep the sales staff from “speculating about it”, since that would just additionally slow sales more than a 14 story building on the monorail already does.

bookwormde

[Andrew Bichard]

Maybe they're going to be full ownership condominiums

That would make the owner a full time resident of Reedy Creek, with voting rights. Disney would not like this.

I believe I was told when I bought my DVC points that there was an upper limit on how many you could own, so that you never achieved permanent resident status.

Andrew

[White_Sox_Fan]

How about another possibility? Maybe the building is going to be condominiums but not DVC! Maybe they're going to be full ownership condominiums and the owners could just rent them out when they're not there or could live there fulltime. It would explain everything they've been stated in the thread so far:

1. That they are going to be condominiums, thus the association was formed.
2. It would explain why DVC knows nothing about them.
3. It would explain why cast members know they are condos but DVC staff doesn't.

Just an idea but something to think about considering there also going to have some other permanent residences on site. :rolleyes1

There is a difference between the DVC staff not knowing about it and the DVC staff not talking about it.

That would make the owner a full time resident of Reedy Creek, with voting rights. Disney would not like this.

I believe I was told when I bought my DVC points that there was an upper limit on how many you could own, so that you never achieved permanent resident status.

Andrew

2000 points at any one resort and 5000 total for multiple resorts.

[doconeill]

That would make the owner a full time resident of Reedy Creek, with voting rights. Disney would not like this.

I believe I was told when I bought my DVC points that there was an upper limit on how many you could own, so that you never achieved permanent resident status.

Andrew

OK, I was curious...so I took the 2008 points chart, took the cheapest room category (AKV Value Studio), and added up the points. Assuming I got them right, per month:

Jan: 312
Feb: 379
Mar: 485
Apr: 410
May: 379
Jun: 390
Jul: 421
Aug: 409
Sep: 304
Oct: 329
Nov: 331
Dec: 372
Total: 4521

The total cap on points is 5000, so this is actually possible, assuming no problems booking at 7 months (there is a 2000 cap at any one resort).

Of course, if I was going to stay for a long time, I'd want a full kitchen - and that's not going to happen (points roughly double going to a 1BR).

[Disneycrazymom]

So,

If DH takes me to Disney for my birthday in Nov. 2009 could he buy me a really cool gift at the Contemporary? :lovestruc I have been thinking about DVC and the tower would be perfect! :love: