The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (July 2011)

[MamaCrush]

Welcome! I bet you're excited about your first BLT stay. There is a great BLT/DVC thread that has all the BLT room numbers and their views on the first page. I think that would be a great place to start! There are also many room view photos there:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

Have a great vacation!

Thanks for such a quick response! Actually, I'm not so much concerned about the "view", but rather room proximity to elevators, pools, etc. I don't want to have to take a hike just to get to the walkway or pool!

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

Hi, all!

I am currently planning my family's third trip to WDW and our first at CR! We stayed AKL 09/10, then BWV (rented points from a friend) in 05/11, and are going to CR TPV 10/12!!

We were originally booked POFQ, but DH got a new job (starts in 3 weeks) and it has a big pay bump so we decided to splurge and go for our dream resort! When I called I was just going to get the cheapest room available, which happened to be TPV. Other than that it would have been CL and I didn't want to pay that much. I am so excited. I wanted a TPV, but wasn't sure I wanted to pay for it. LOL Now I have no choice since that is the cheapest available! I am hoping they come out with some room discounts or free dining or something to help alleviate the cost. Our trip cost is about double what it was when we had POFQ booked.

My DD will be 5 and DS will be 15 months - it will be his first visit (unless you count me being 30 weeks pregnant when we went May, 2011 LOL). Love the idea of being right on the monorail. Love that we are so close to the Poly because I've been dying to go to the Spirit of Aloha show and Kona (both are booked ). We are also going to MNSSHP for the first time. Already have one night set aside to watch HalloWishes from our room so we can see it a second time.

Anyway, I spent the last few days (off and on) reading all 103 pages in this thread so I just had to comment that I will be there in 144 days!

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

Oh, and I would love to see more pictures!! I love going on WDW website seeing the picture of the Contemporary saying I will be staying there soon.

 

[dmband]

Got my magic espress pack today
And in conversation my kids said something about July 24, I told them I have a big announcement on the day and they are guessing left and right but never once said Disney or a trip in general
This is going to be great...
I made a "treasure map" of the yard
Each piece of the map has a gift that they will need for the trip, like sunscreen, and the next part of the map
The final gift is going to be a Mickey balloon holding the customized park maps
They are going to go nuts because they love trip and Disney plus they have been saving soda can money and other change in a jar
So anyway map drawn, gifts bought, everything booked, reward cards in hand, me here today
Let's go

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi, all!

I am currently planning my family's third trip to WDW and our first at CR! We stayed AKL 09/10, then BWV (rented points from a friend) in 05/11, and are going to CR TPV 10/12!!

We were originally booked POFQ, but DH got a new job (starts in 3 weeks) and it has a big pay bump so we decided to splurge and go for our dream resort! When I called I was just going to get the cheapest room available, which happened to be TPV. Other than that it would have been CL and I didn't want to pay that much. I am so excited. I wanted a TPV, but wasn't sure I wanted to pay for it. LOL Now I have no choice since that is the cheapest available! I am hoping they come out with some room discounts or free dining or something to help alleviate the cost. Our trip cost is about double what it was when we had POFQ booked.

My DD will be 5 and DS will be 15 months - it will be his first visit (unless you count me being 30 weeks pregnant when we went May, 2011 LOL). Love the idea of being right on the monorail. Love that we are so close to the Poly because I've been dying to go to the Spirit of Aloha show and Kona (both are booked ). We are also going to MNSSHP for the first time. Already have one night set aside to watch HalloWishes from our room so we can see it a second time.

Anyway, I spent the last few days (off and on) reading all 103 pages in this thread so I just had to comment that I will be there in 144 days!

What a great vacation you have planned. For fun, you might just want to compare the price of a TPV room, like you have booked, with a Bay Lake View Club Level room (it will be listed as "Standard View"). There should be some sort of general public discount that will come out for October, so keep an eye out on MouseSavers for all the latest.

Oh, and I would love to see more pictures!! I love going on WDW website seeing the picture of the Contemporary saying I will be staying there soon.

The photos without dates are from July/August 2011 and last month.

Got my magic espress pack today
And in conversation my kids said something about July 24, I told them I have a big announcement on the day and they are guessing left and right but never once said Disney or a trip in general
This is going to be great...
I made a "treasure map" of the yard
Each piece of the map has a gift that they will need for the trip, like sunscreen, and the next part of the map
The final gift is going to be a Mickey balloon holding the customized park maps
They are going to go nuts because they love trip and Disney plus they have been saving soda can money and other change in a jar
So anyway map drawn, gifts bought, everything booked, reward cards in hand, me here today
Let's go

Awww, this is just so sweet. I wish I could see the look on their face when they realize where they're going. So you're not going to tell them until the day they're leaving? I could NEVER keep a secret like that. We'd love it if you could post a photo of the big surprise!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Awesome photos WDWKOOK. Where were you when you took the picture of CR head on with the monorail to the left? 5th photo.

 

[MamaCrush]

Any disadvantages (other than low flow, questionable view) to requesting a 2BR Lake View room near the 5th floor walkway??? How would that relate to easy pool access? I like the idea of easy CR access, that's why I'm thinking about it.

11 More Days!!

 

[AirGoofy]

Any disadvantages (other than low flow, questionable view) to requesting a 2BR Lake View room near the 5th floor walkway??? How would that relate to easy pool access? I like the idea of easy CR access, that's why I'm thinking about it.

11 More Days!!

I think those are the busier elevators. We always used the other set. As for pool access, unless you're Spiderman and scaling down the outside, it is an elevator to 1st floor and exit back center. If you stay on that floor, it saves you an elevator ride to the skybridge.

 

[MamaCrush]

I think those are the busier elevators. We always used the other set. As for pool access, unless you're Spiderman and scaling down the outside, it is an elevator to 1st floor and exit back center. If you stay on that floor, it saves you an elevator ride to the skybridge.

Thanks. Sometimes my DS THINKS he's spiderman, but I'm more in touch with reality! Generally speaking, can you estimate the time it takes to walk from the other set of elevators to the skywal elevators? I know I could be beating a dead horse here, but we've stayed at Kidani with a 1/4 mi walk from our room to the elevator! What I'm basically looking for is a 2-bedroom lake view with easy access to the skywalk and not a killer "commute" to the pool elevators.

I know, clear as mud, right!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Thanks. Sometimes my DS THINKS he's spiderman, but I'm more in touch with reality! Generally speaking, can you estimate the time it takes to walk from the other set of elevators to the skywal elevators? I know I could be beating a dead horse here, but we've stayed at Kidani with a 1/4 mi walk from our room to the elevator! What I'm basically looking for is a 2-bedroom lake view with easy access to the skywalk and not a killer "commute" to the pool elevators.

I know, clear as mud, right!

When we stayed at BLT in 2010 we were in a 1bdrm villa lv room #8011. It took us maybe 2-3 minutes (not even as we always took pictures in the hall way) to walk to the elevator (2nd set past our room) where the sky bridge is located. Going to the pool we always took the first set of elevators that we came too, down to the first floor and just a short trip down the hall way out the back of the lobby. It normally took us longer waiting for the elevator than anything else. But I have to say they were pretty quick elevators.

We can't wait to go back in 27 days.

 

[dmband]

Awww, this is just so sweet. I wish I could see the look on their face when they realize where they're going. So you're not going to tell them until the day they're leaving? I could NEVER keep a secret like that. We'd love it if you could post a photo of the big surprise!

The week before we will tell them
We don't want to wait to soon in case their are things they want to pack, tell friends and are flight leaves at 6 am so I want them to be fully aware they are getting up early

It's bee hard keeping it to ourselves, we booked over a yr ago and many times they have asked to go
I thought for a bit my oddest son was onto the secret but I covered it up good whenever he had a thought

 

[MamaCrush]

When we stayed at BLT in 2010 we were in a 1bdrm villa lv room #8011. It took us maybe 2-3 minutes (not even as we always took pictures in the hall way) to walk to the elevator (2nd set past our room) where the sky bridge is located. Going to the pool we always took the first set of elevators that we came too, down to the first floor and just a short trip down the hall way out the back of the lobby. It normally took us longer waiting for the elevator than anything else. But I have to say they were pretty quick elevators.

We can't wait to go back in 27 days.

Thank you so much! That gives me GREAT perspective. I'm basically getting the sense that the walk between the two sets of elevators isn't very long... Right?

 

[dmband]

Awesome photos WDWKOOK. Where were you when you took the picture of CR head on with the monorail to the left? 5th photo.

That picture would have been with the garden building to the right and mk in the back left

 

[AirGoofy]

Thanks. Sometimes my DS THINKS he's spiderman, but I'm more in touch with reality! Generally speaking, can you estimate the time it takes to walk from the other set of elevators to the skywal elevators? I know I could be beating a dead horse here, but we've stayed at Kidani with a 1/4 mi walk from our room to the elevator! What I'm basically looking for is a 2-bedroom lake view with easy access to the skywalk and not a killer "commute" to the pool elevators.

I know, clear as mud, right!

Thank you so much! That gives me GREAT perspective. I'm basically getting the sense that the walk between the two sets of elevators isn't very long... Right?

Yes, BLT is no where near the AKV trek. For some reason, the number 10 is in my head. We stayed in one of the center rooms in BLT. Was it 10 doors to the elevator? I don't know. But, even if you were on the very far north end, as you walk to the first set, the back wall of the elevator is a window view of MK. We had a lake view, and when we walked to the hotel, would just pause in amazement of that view. And, unless you're just going to hang at CR, go to Epcot, or other monorail resort, there isn't a reason to get the skybridge. You walk to MK from BLT out the front door and the bus stop to all the others is in the front between CR and BLT.

 

[JavArmy]

Thanks. Sometimes my DS THINKS he's spiderman

Totally off subject, but I know what you mean. My 6 year old was climbing over the furniture yesterday, looked me straight in the eye and said "Mom, you should have named me spiderman when I was born." I said 'I can call you spidey if you want, but the name Jackson is gonna have to stay'

 

[serene56]

If I got refillable mugs== staying in the Garden wing-- where can we fill these

 

[MamaCrush]

Yes, BLT is no where near the AKV trek. For some reason, the number 10 is in my head. We stayed in one of the center rooms in BLT. Was it 10 doors to the elevator? I don't know. But, even if you were on the very far north end, as you walk to the first set, the back wall of the elevator is a window view of MK. We had a lake view, and when we walked to the hotel, would just pause in amazement of that view. And, unless you're just going to hang at CR, go to Epcot, or other monorail resort, there isn't a reason to get the skybridge. You walk to MK from BLT out the front door and the bus stop to all the others is in the front between CR and BLT.

THANK YOU! If it were just me, I wouldn't worry much. But DH is another matter!

 

[MamaCrush]

Totally off subject, but I know what you mean. My 6 year old was climbing over the furniture yesterday, looked me straight in the eye and said "Mom, you should have named me spiderman when I was born." I said 'I can call you spidey if you want, but the name Jackson is gonna have to stay'

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Thank you so much! That gives me GREAT perspective. I'm basically getting the sense that the walk between the two sets of elevators isn't very long... Right?

You are correct. The walk is not long at all. Nothing like AKV like AirGoofy said.

That picture would have been with the garden building to the right and mk in the back left

Thank you. I was racking my brain trying to figure out where it was taken.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Awesome photos WDWKOOK. Where were you when you took the picture of CR head on with the monorail to the left? 5th photo.

Thanks, CBF! I took it from the MK boat in the canal that connects Bay Lake to Seven Seas Lagoon.

I think those are the busier elevators. We always used the other set. As for pool access, unless you're Spiderman and scaling down the outside, it is an elevator to 1st floor and exit back center. If you stay on that floor, it saves you an elevator ride to the skybridge.

Thanks. Sometimes my DS THINKS he's spiderman, but I'm more in touch with reality! Generally speaking, can you estimate the time it takes to walk from the other set of elevators to the skywal elevators? I know I could be beating a dead horse here, but we've stayed at Kidani with a 1/4 mi walk from our room to the elevator! What I'm basically looking for is a 2-bedroom lake view with easy access to the skywalk and not a killer "commute" to the pool elevators.

I know, clear as mud, right!

Wow, I can see why you're concerned. I had read that the walk from Kidani to Jambo was about a half mile, but I had no idea the walk to the elevator could also be so far. I think you're going to feel much more relaxed and refreshed at BLT

The week before we will tell them
We don't want to wait to soon in case their are things they want to pack, tell friends and are flight leaves at 6 am so I want them to be fully aware they are getting up early

It's bee hard keeping it to ourselves, we booked over a yr ago and many times they have asked to go
I thought for a bit my oddest son was onto the secret but I covered it up good whenever he had a thought

OK, that sounds like a great idea. You hear about parents who awaken their kids with, "We're going to Disney World!" and the poor kids are half asleep and totally unprepared and haven't even gotten the chance to tell their friends or anticipate the trip. Your kids will get the chance to bounce off the walls for one week

Totally off subject, but I know what you mean. My 6 year old was climbing over the furniture yesterday, looked me straight in the eye and said "Mom, you should have named me spiderman when I was born." I said 'I can call you spidey if you want, but the name Jackson is gonna have to stay'

Sounds like you need a vacation

If I got refillable mugs== staying in the Garden wing-- where can we fill these

There are two options: The official and most popular method is to go to the Contempo Cafe which is on the 4th floor in the Tower (about a 3-5 minute walk). Or some guests go to the quick serve by the pool and ask (politely) for a mug refill and the CM will usually oblige. They will put your beverage in a cup though because due to health codes, they can't take your refillable mug.