DVC 'Vacation As You Wish' at Contemporary?

[deba]

Did anyone go to the 'Vacation As You Wish' two hour DVC event at the Contemporary yesterday? We are scheduled for 3 PM today. They are calling it on the reservation comformation a 'Showtime', and say that there will be good 'give-aways'. Anyone have more info? I think it just started yesterday, with two times each day. Is it worth our time?

[dizfan]

We are wondering the same thing.

With BLT opening just over a month away, we are anxious for each and every update.

[florep1]

We stopped by the DVC kiosk at Kidani yesterday to trade pins and the CM asked if we were going to it. He encouraged us to go as it was a nice way to see characters and get refreshments while touring the BLT rooms but we're not going till Thursday. Let us know what you think.

[deba]

Lol, I guess I'll be the guinea pig. It's raining off and on today, and so it'll be dry and cool in the middle of the afternoon, if nothing else. I'll let you know what it's all about. :-)

[Niagara2]

Just back from the 9am program this am. '
It was very nice, much like the programs in Rochester NY, Boston and Chicago.
Same moderators who do a good job. We all got nice blue leather like luggage tags, the DVC binoculars, plastic DVC binder, a rice crispy birthday treat and one lucky person a week in the passport collection.
We then were walked to the new building and were escorted to a bay lake view. The skys opened up about then and it was a bit foggy too but can imagine on a nice day that it is a beautiful view.
Note, the room we saw seemed much smaller than the model at the Contemporary. I questioned it and it seems that some rooms on the curve are much larger than ones that are straight to the windows. I asked to see another room on the curve and there is a BIG noticible difference!
We were not adding on today, and our CM basically left us when we told him and when we asked if we could go see the grand villa he told us to go on our own. We kept getting stopped as we were not escorted. We found it and it is really nice as others have reported.
One nice CM then showed us how to get to the new lounge on top. It will take 499 people on a first come first serve basis with only Vacation Club Members staying there allowed. I would think that maybe 150 would fit tight in the lounge, with the rest of the people outside on a viewing platform.
We overheard someone say they got fastpasses for the day and we went back to the sign up desk where our very unhelpful guide was standing as we found our own way around. I asked him where to get the fast passes and he pointed to the table. We waited in line again and got our fast passes, three each! Great addition to the giveaway as we were there next door to MK!
It has been raining and we are back in room waiting for a break.
The reception was in the back half of the Contemporary Ballroom. We had our picture with Mickey and the kids in the room were dancing with Chip and Dale. The finger foods were great and they had big coolers full of Mickey Bars!
It was a very nice event and we are glad we went. We are lucky enough to have a pre Thanksgving ressie at BLT. Got three days our our 5 day stay so far!!
I would recommend for you to go if you are here and are OK with being out of the parks for a few hours. Even the teens enjoyed it.

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Just back from the 9am program this am. '
It was very nice, much like the programs in Rochester NY, Boston and Chicago.
Same moderators who do a good job. We all got nice blue leather like luggage tags, the DVC binoculars, plastic DVC binder, a rice crispy birthday treat and one lucky person a week in the passport collection.
We then were walked to the new building and were escorted to a bay lake view. The skys opened up about then and it was a bit foggy too but can imagine on a nice day that it is a beautiful view.
Note, the room we saw seemed much smaller than the model at the Contemporary. I questioned it and it seems that some rooms on the curve are much larger than ones that are straight to the windows. I asked to see another room on the curve and there is a BIG noticible difference!
We were not adding on today, and our CM basically left us when we told him and when we asked if we could go see the grand villa he told us to go on our own. We kept getting stopped as we were not escorted. We found it and it is really nice as others have reported.
One nice CM then showed us how to get to the new lounge on top. It will take 499 people on a first come first serve basis with only Vacation Club Members staying there allowed. I would think that maybe 150 would fit tight in the lounge, with the rest of the people outside on a viewing platform.
We overheard someone say they got fastpasses for the day and we went back to the sign up desk where our very unhelpful guide was standing as we found our own way around. I asked him where to get the fast passes and he pointed to the table. We waited in line again and got our fast passes, three each! Great addition to the giveaway as we were there next door to MK!
It has been raining and we are back in room waiting for a break.
The reception was in the back half of the Contemporary Ballroom. We had our picture with Mickey and the kids in the room were dancing with Chip and Dale. The finger foods were great and they had big coolers full of Mickey Bars!
It was a very nice event and we are glad we went. We are lucky enough to have a pre Thanksgving ressie at BLT. Got three days our our 5 day stay so far!!
I would recommend for you to go if you are here and are OK with being out of the parks for a few hours. Even the teens enjoyed it.
So you were allowed to wander around the tower and you saw the lounge and a Grand Villa??? That seems better than I expected. And they didn't have Mickey Bars at the Chicago event. Are the Fast Passes dated for that day only?

[dolfinjuls]

Wow sounds pretty decent! I'm glad we signed up!

[Niagara2]

I do not think that we were suppose to be wandering around by ourselves. Our guide basically left us when we said we were not adding on. He said just go up the elevator. All the elevators were manned by cm's as were the halls as you exited the elevators. They all seemed surprised that our guide left us and told us to find our own way.
We exited the Grand Villa from the second bedroom floor and were on the 16th floor - same floor as the lounge. I asked to use the ladies room and it was working, but no soap and no towels. All the CM's in the hall were very helpful as they are the ones who told us how to get places and answered questions. We were in the first group that were touring and after a good 45 minutes others were waiting their turn to be assigned someone to show them a room. The fast passes are good for 4 days from date of issue.
Prices - forgot to mention it before, $`112 regular price, but with 100 points got a $12 discount, 160 points got a $15 discount. No cruise or anything like that.
The weather was pretty bad when we were in the lounge and the hallways leading to it and the walkway back to the Contemporary were very wet from the blowing rain. They are open to the elements with just a roof over head.. the lodge had some nice comfy chairs and such.
I actually liked the Bay Lake View better than MK view. The parking lot under the MK view is a real distraction. We have MK view booked but now wish we had booked Bay Lake view and saved the points. Oh well, guess I will be OK:lmao: staying MK view. I doubt we will get in there after it is all sold out.
It was great to see it just before opening. Really looking forward to our November stay there!

[n2mm]

Thanks for the update. We are booked for July 23. Do you just get a guide assigned to you? Since we already have our regular guide that we work with, what incentive is there for the "assigned" guide? My guide knows I'm going as I talked with her this week since we just added on at BLT. I'm assuming there is no incentive for under 100 points. Glad I signed up, at least for the freebies and the tour.

[wdwmouse]

Hi! I went to the event this morning, too. The guide that I went with on the tour, with only one other family, didn't even ask if we planned on adding on. We got a guided tour of the Grand Villa, but didn't go in the other units. She stayed with us the whole time and was great! At the very end, she said if we were interested in talking to a guide about adding on, we could. I think that those interested in talking more, stayed in the lounge. If we didn't want to talk to a guide, she led us back downstairs and said goodbye. She was very friendly and there was NO pressure at all. I guess if one of us had asked more about adding on, she would have gone in to it, but it was barely mentioned.
I didn't hear anything about the fast passes, but today is our last full day, and we're "parked out" a bit. The fact that it's raining and not stopping makes the parks even less appealing today.
The view was wonderful from BLT. I can imagine how wonderful it will be when there are blue skies and sun!

I enjoyed the event and just wish my teenage boys and hubby hadn't bailed on me! I think everyone would have enjoyed it.

I recommend going if you are here and not pressed for time.

[JoQuo711]

I read somewhere in one of the posts on here that someone was informed by a CM that the lounge capacity was around 80? Good to know that the deck itself is that much larger, I doubt it'll hit 499 people from BLT DVCers alone on most nights. With the Magic Kingdom so close, I'd think many people would want to just walk over there to stand on Main Street to see the show.

Edit: Here's that link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2205230 (max occ. is 77 for lounge)

As far as the room goes, I think that the floor plans for the rooms include the balconies, so maybe the balcony was noticeably larger in the room that had a noticeably smaller interior? Just a thought, though I know I'd much prefer the interior space myself, lol. Was it a 2BR they showed you? Both the studio and the 1BR area were noticeably smaller in the first room? The fact that they were aware of the size difference when you questioned it scares me a little.

[brianheather]

Where do you sign up? And can you sign up if you are already a DVC member and are looking to add on?
Do you know if they will still be doing it in Sept?

[DisneyNutzy]

Where do you sign up? And can you sign up if you are already a DVC member and are looking to add on?
Do you know if they will still be doing it in Sept?
I'd also like to know this.

[dzney2001]

I'd like to know, too!
How long in advance do you need to sign up?

[robandkelly13]

We're signed up to go on the 10th. Do we meet at BLT or the Contemporary? Will there be signs to direct us where to go? Thanks!:confused3

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Was there a noticeable difference in the quality of the view between rooms on the end or near the middle for the lake view?

Did you ever feel like you were just looking at your neighbor's balconies.


I've also thought the Bay Lake View could possibly be the better view.

[5forDiz]

As far as the room goes, I think that the floor plans for the rooms include the balconies, so maybe the balcony was noticeably larger in the room that had a noticeably smaller interior? Just a thought, though I know I'd much prefer the interior space myself, lol. Was it a 2BR they showed you? Both the studio and the 1BR area were noticeably smaller in the first room? The fact that they were aware of the size difference when you questioned it scares me a little.




They state square feet of units as 'approximately xxx sq ft' and as far as I know that only refers to interior space and would not include balcony. I can see how units on the curve can possibly be wider (larger).

:goodvibes


ETA : Email invitations were sent for this event(contained link to click to sign up)

and also AP holders could sign up on AP site. iirc, there were blocks of dates

beginning 6/29 into third week of July.

:-)

[Ohana 4]

Interesting thing I just realized about this. I signed on from the invitation and it stated 7/11 was "full" but then I signed on as an AP member and got a spot for 3pm on 7/11. I wonder if the tours are differently given pertaining to one group or another? Now I have to figure out how to cancel my 7/10 reservation :rotfl:

ETA: Ok, figured out the cancel issue. On the AP website, it says to meet at the Ballroom of Americas in the CR to check in.

[Niagara2]

The room we first saw was Bay Lake View, center of a wing shaped like a "U".
It was a one bedroom connected to a studio. The bedrooms seemed just like the model, it was the living area that seemed to be not much bigger than the average DVC room at BCV, BWV etc.
I asked about that and was told that the rooms on a curve are bigger at the ends. I asked to see one, and walked across the hall to MK view and the curve room was even more open at the entrance but that could be due to the fact that it was a dedicated 2 bedroom so the doors would be different. The width of the room was a good 6 -8 feet wider than the Bay Lake room we saw. There were no covers or decorative pillows on the beds, only white sheets at this point.
Our guide asked us point blank how many points we were interested in and had price sheets and all. When we said no, he was fine with that and basically was done with us. We asked if we could see the GV and he sent us upstairs all by ourselves.
The lounge probably only fits that 77. I said 150 very crowded inside. 499 total would be wall to wall outside too I would think. I asked a CM if there was music on the outdoor platform and she said that we are close enough to hear the real thing. I think they would pipe music in. We are close but not that close!
The hall carpet is the same soft blue swirls that is in the gift shop in the hotel.
The public bathrooms were nothing special. We also toured Kindai this trip and those public bathrooms were so unique and beautiful.

[Pirate Jack]

Does anyone know what floors the MKV studios start on. I want to make sure that the MKV won't be too low. TIA

[JoQuo711]

The public bathrooms were nothing special. We also toured Kindai this trip and those public bathrooms were so unique and beautiful.

Yeah, the public bathrooms in AKV/AKL in general are really nice.

[dizfan]

DVC Mike posted a link to a great video from the preview.
Here's a link to DVC Mike's post (http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32507937&postcount=3)

[DVC Mike]

The video of the walkway from the contemporary, a GV and (especially) the rooftop lounge is making me very glad I purchased BLT.

Here is the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL_CBX8yRIs).

[LorieDisneyLover]

We attended Tuesday night event. And we were wowed

My 3 kids loved the event. They came away with about ten Disney pins from the dj trivia at the party with Mickey and Minnie

We were able to watch wishes from the 16th floor lounge and observation deck. It was fantastic. We were told the lounge holds 77 people and Blt must be your home resort and you must be currently staying at blt on points to obtain access.

[renchick]

We attended Tuesday night event. And we were wowed

My 3 kids loved the event. They came away with about ten Disney pins from the dj trivia at the party with Mickey and Minnie

We were able to watch wishes from the 16th floor lounge and observation deck. It was fantastic. We were told the lounge holds 77 people and Blt must be your home resort and you must be currently staying at blt on points to obtain access.


Were your kids able to join you for Wishes, or did they have to remain in the Kids Club?

[LorieDisneyLover]

Actually our experience last night was quite unbelievable and magical. The kids wanted to see wishes and we were still enjoying our time with our guide. So Nikki had our children escorted up to the observation deck a few minutes later we joined them

our children our 10, 12, and 13 years old. So able to know how to behave on their own without worrying they would get in trouble. They did not go to the kids club. Too old for that

One thing I thought I should mention - the balcony in the rooms would be concerning for me if I had younger children. There is a white cement block where a small child could stand and be in a dangerous situation if they leaned over.

[JoQuo711]

The video of the walkway from the contemporary, a GV and (especially) the rooftop lounge is making me very glad I purchased BLT.

Yeah, the rooftop lounge really does look impressive- even better than it looked in the renderings and sketches that were released ages ago. This is the first I've seen of the actual interior of the lounge, and it's great. Hope I can get in on my first trip home there some time next summer! Might be an issue with the capacity at 77 people.... Anyway, great video, thanks for it! :thumbsup2

[renchick]

Actually our experience last night was quite unbelievable and magical. The kids wanted to see wishes and we were still enjoying our time with our guide. So Nikki had our children escorted up to the observation deck a few minutes later we joined them

our children our 10, 12, and 13 years old. So able to know how to behave on their own without worrying they would get in trouble. They did not go to the kids club. Too old for that

One thing I thought I should mention - the balcony in the rooms would be concerning for me if I had younger children. There is a white cement block where a small child could stand and be in a dangerous situation if they leaned over.

Thank you for this information. My children are seven and (nearly) three; I don't think a family viewing of Wishes will be possible. Sounds like a nice event otherwise though.

[LorieDisneyLover]

Thank you for this information. My children are seven and (nearly) three; I don't think a family viewing of Wishes will be possible. Sounds like a nice event otherwise though.


We saw plenty of younger children on the tour. I don't think you will have any trouble watching wishes together

[gwmom]

We just got back from Vacation as You Wish presentation this morning. Description in prior post pretty much on, no Mickey Ears and there was a nice DVC padfolio in the bag also.

My addition would be the discounts for BLT for existing members with a Starting price of $112 per point,

$12 per point discount for 100 - 159 points (net $100 a point)
$15 per point discount for 160 - 199 points (net $97 a point)
$17 per point discount for 200 or more points (net $95 a point)

0 closing costs
No approval needed if you already are using Disney financing.

Not sure where some of the other discount numbers were coming from in some other posts. This is what they offered today at the event for BLT

[disney0505]

Are those discounts for existing members only? Are the discounts the same for new members?

[renchick]

We saw plenty of younger children on the tour. I don't think you will have any trouble watching wishes together


Thank you - I am quite excited now!

[AshleyMWC]

We attended Tuesday night event. And we were wowed

My 3 kids loved the event. They came away with about ten Disney pins from the dj trivia at the party with Mickey and Minnie

We were able to watch wishes from the 16th floor lounge and observation deck. It was fantastic. We were told the lounge holds 77 people and Blt must be your home resort and you must be currently staying at blt on points to obtain access.

So for the Top of the World lounge, does this mean that if we are staying at BLT for a week, but own at BWV, we won't be able to go up? Sorry, but that jsut seems unfair to me. I know I might be in the minority there, but that's just my opinion. I can udnerstand not being able to just waltz up if you're not staying there, but I think all DVC members staying at BLT on points should have access. Am I even reading/interpreting this correctly? :confused3

[gwmom]

Not sure what the discounts for new members might be, the cm's indicated the crowd this morning were already members.

[locodemickey]

If I didn't get an email, I can't go to this? What if I call my guide and ask if he could get me in? TIA

[colonialtinker]

If I didn't get an email, I can't go to this? What if I call my guide and ask if he could get me in? TIA

Do you have an AP? If so you can sign up on the AP home page. If not I would call my guide. I received the email last week about 2 weeks before we go home again.

[Sandisw]

So for the Top of the World lounge, does this mean that if we are staying at BLT for a week, but own at BWV, we won't be able to go up? Sorry, but that jsut seems unfair to me. I know I might be in the minority there, but that's just my opinion. I can udnerstand not being able to just waltz up if you're not staying there, but I think all DVC members staying at BLT on points should have access. Am I even reading/interpreting this correctly? :confused3

If you watch the video DVC Mike posted, it looks like the sign says "DVC members only". To me, that would indicate that any DVC member staying on points would be allowed. So, as a BWV owner, staying there on points, I think you would be able to use the lounge.

Don't you think it would say "Bay Lake Tower Resort Owners Only" if it was only for those you own BLT points?

But, since the KTTW cards say DVC owner on them, even for renters, it will be interesting to see what actually happens when it opens--of course, unless they require members to show their membership card at check in before putting DVC member on the card.

[oakmanner]

Anyone have any pictures to post from the show?