(CLOSED) Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT and BAY LAKE TOWER INFORMATION THREAD

[WDWKOOK]

That is a great shot. Love that view in the evening over the lake. Your dd looks she was having a lot of fun. I hope those were not venomous ducks.

We really should start the "I saw venomous ducks at WDW" thread: They were ravenous and hissed! They even invaded the pools and jumped out of bushes. But, alas, it wasn't duck season so

Sunset and Bay Lake make for a great view.

The Agent Education Program just moved us from CR to AKL - boo! Looks like I will have to wait to do CR until 2014 when we are hoping to stay at BLT. Thanks, everyone!

Oh, darn! Well, hope you'll check back with us when it gets closer to BLT time.

I just posted this on my trip report but thought it was relevant here too

I just talked to our mousekeeper and she told me that the bed linens are staying the same (they are fairly new) but the mattresses and box springs are being replaced as well as the headboards and carpets. I talked with a manager who said the 11th and 12th floor are still considered construction zones so they cannot bring me up there

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Relevant indeed and thank you! I'm going to post your update to the first page.


Just a reminder to everyone that Melissa's great LIVE CR TR is located here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3058395

 

[NJRRK]

We really should start the "I saw venomous ducks at WDW" thread: They were ravenous and hissed! They even invaded the pools and jumped out of bushes. But, alas, it wasn't duck season so

Was it wabbit season or Elmer season?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Was it wabbit season or Elmer season?

 

[closetmickey]

Yes, that is actually a bed:

(DISboards photo)

Thanks! I thought so, but now really cant understand why I couldn't book for 9. I'll try again!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks! I thought so, but now really cant understand why I couldn't book for 9. I'll try again!

You're welcome. It does show it sleeps 9 - maybe 2 are under 3? There is a king, a twin chair, a queen sofa and it then depends if it's a lock-off or not:

1 queen-size bed
1 full-size sofa bed (lockoff) or second queen-size bed (dedicated)*

* Slight variances exist between Lockoff and Dedicated Two Bedroom Villas. Members reserving a Two Bedroom Villa are assigned to either a Lockoff or Dedicated room at the time the reservations is secured. Contact Disney Vacation Club Member Services to confirm the type of villa reserved.

 

[AirGoofy]

We really should start the "I saw venomous ducks at WDW" thread: They were ravenous and hissed! They even invaded the pools and jumped out of bushes. But, alas, it wasn't duck season so]

Was it wabbit season or Elmer season?

I found them one time over floating in the hot tub at the BWV side. I chased them out. No messes in the water, but it was really hot water. I didn't know how they floated in it without having duck soup.

 

[diswish]

Stayed in a 9th floor MK view room at the Contemporary last week - I will try to post some pics...

 

[alongtimeblooming]

Just got back from a 7 day stay in a 1BR at BLT and would be happy to answer any questions. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures before DB and I mussed up the room, but I can post pictures of the view from our lake view room if anyone is interested.

 

[bluechic03]

Just got back from a 7 day stay in a 1BR at BLT and would be happy to answer any questions. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures before DB and I mussed up the room, but I can post pictures of the view from our lake view room if anyone is interested.

I would Love to see your view! We will be in a LV Studio in April BLT owners here too!

 

[scjo68]

I am enjoying this thread!
DD and I are going to be in a Garden wing room for her 16th birthday over Thanksgiving!

Only drawback-we are currently booked at rack rate (!)

I am really hoping for some kind of discount to come out. I could not book bounceback when I was at POR a couple of weeks ago, since THanksgiving was blacked out.

Anyone have success booking CR with a discount over Thanksgiving in the past?

Oh, well, DD and I have been planning this trip for years, and I told her she could choose the resort, and she picked CR! So, discount or not- that's where we will be.
It will be so nice to be able to walk back to our room after a day in the MK without having to wait for transportation in Thanksgiving crowds!

 

[ellensfamily]

I'm sorry, but I don't. But, there are also great breakfast choices nearby: The Wave has a great breakfast menu and buffet (photos on first page), Contempo Cafe and Chef Mickey's also serve breakfast. You're just a monorail ride away from Kona and 'Ohana at Poly, The GF Cafe has a lovely breakfast and a character breakfast at 1900. You can even take the boat over to WL and eat at Whispering Canyon or Trail's End at FW (plus the quick serves at WL, Poly and GF).

Thank you, sydjim! Servers sure would be great at the pool, however, none of the WDW resorts have any. However, the cabana does have the option of having food brought to you from room service.

From contemporaryresort.net:

If Guests are interested in confirming poolside dining options in their
Cabana, they may order directly using the house phone in the Cabana or
can call in advance at 407 824-1786.

Have you considered a Grand Villa at BLT?

Actually, have had waiter service every time at beach club pool & even gF pool.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Do the bathrooms in the studios have those magnifying mirrors mounted in them? I use one at home to apply make-up and some hotels do have them so I thought I'd ask the experts before I bring my own!

Nope. No make up mirror.

 

[alongtimeblooming]

I would Love to see your view! We will be in a LV Studio in April BLT owners here too!

This is the view from the balcony in our 1BR:



The water parade floated by BLT/CR every night while we were there:



We were on the 7th floor of BLT.

 

[psac]

The water parade floated by BLT/CR every night while we were there:



We were on the 7th floor of BLT.

Everybody do the dinosaur...

 

[disneynanacat]

I am enjoying this thread!
DD and I are going to be in a Garden wing room for her 16th birthday over Thanksgiving!

Only drawback-we are currently booked at rack rate (!)

I am really hoping for some kind of discount to come out. I could not book bounceback when I was at POR a couple of weeks ago, since THanksgiving was blacked out.

Anyone have success booking CR with a discount over Thanksgiving in the past?

Oh, well, DD and I have been planning this trip for years, and I told her she could choose the resort, and she picked CR! So, discount or not- that's where we will be.
It will be so nice to be able to walk back to our room after a day in the MK without having to wait for transportation in Thanksgiving crowds!

We went over Thanksgiving one year and were pleasantly surprised that the crowds weren't has bad as we feared. In fact, we did MK on TG day and had planned on leaving when the crowds got bad but they never did so we stayed all day till close. It was an awesome day! We cancelled our ? TG dinner ADR and had our TG at CHH counter service. lol

 

[minerva78]

Okay, I need some honest opinions here. We're planning for a Disney trip next year and I had convinced myself we would probably spend 7 nights at POR or POFQ. But I could not resist the draw of staying somewhere on the monorail line since we'll be doing 2 days at MK and probably 1 1/2 days at Epcot. Unfortunately the CR is going to be out of our budget. So now I think I'd like to try to rent points for 4 nights at BLT in a studio and 3 nights at POR or POFQ, which will cost about the same. The problem is everyone talks about how small the studios are! There would be four of us in the room - myself, DH, and two girls who will be 5 and 6. We'll definitely plan on spending a lot of time in the parks, but will try to come back to the resort each day for some down time, probably to swim and relax. There are several character and other TS meals we want to do that are in the MK area as well, so I thought it would be perfect to do our MK and Epcot days during the first part of our trip. So do you think the small studio is still worth it to stay at BLT?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Stayed in a 9th floor MK view room at the Contemporary last week - I will try to post some pics...

Thank you for posting your photos, diswish!

Just got back from a 7 day stay in a 1BR at BLT and would be happy to answer any questions. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures before DB and I mussed up the room, but I can post pictures of the view from our lake view room if anyone is interested.

Welcome back. Was this your first BLT stay? Thank you for posting your view photos!

I would Love to see your view! We will be in a LV Studio in April BLT owners here too!

all BLT OWNERS!

I am enjoying this thread!
DD and I are going to be in a Garden wing room for her 16th birthday over Thanksgiving!

Only drawback-we are currently booked at rack rate (!)

I am really hoping for some kind of discount to come out. I could not book bounceback when I was at POR a couple of weeks ago, since THanksgiving was blacked out.

Anyone have success booking CR with a discount over Thanksgiving in the past?

Oh, well, DD and I have been planning this trip for years, and I told her she could choose the resort, and she picked CR! So, discount or not- that's where we will be.
It will be so nice to be able to walk back to our room after a day in the MK without having to wait for transportation in Thanksgiving crowds!

Congratulations on booking. What a wonderful birthday memory for DD. I've never seen discounts shortly before and after T'giving or Christmas, they are usually blacked-out. But, sometimes if you book before a blacked-out period, the discount will continue, but that's rare. I don't know about AAA and their blackout periods though. Are you or your spouse military active or retired?

Actually, have had waiter service every time at beach club pool & even gF pool.

Thank you for correcting me! Those are the only two Deluxes I've not stayed at. I've stayed at YC, but we didn't go to SAB. So now I wonder why all the Deluxes don't have poolside wait service?

Everybody do the dinosaur...

We went over Thanksgiving one year and were pleasantly surprised that the crowds weren't has bad as we feared. In fact, we did MK on TG day and had planned on leaving when the crowds got bad but they never did so we stayed all day till close. It was an awesome day! We cancelled our ? TG dinner ADR and had our TG at CHH counter service. lol

That was a nice surprise. I've also found the Deluxe resorts to be a lot less crowded at spring break and Christmas than I thought they would be. I guess with the additional holiday overcharges, they're less popular and end up at nice refuge from the crowds.

Okay, I need some honest opinions here. We're planning for a Disney trip next year and I had convinced myself we would probably spend 7 nights at POR or POFQ. But I could not resist the draw of staying somewhere on the monorail line since we'll be doing 2 days at MK and probably 1 1/2 days at Epcot. Unfortunately the CR is going to be out of our budget. So now I think I'd like to try to rent points for 4 nights at BLT in a studio and 3 nights at POR or POFQ, which will cost about the same. The problem is everyone talks about how small the studios are! There would be four of us in the room - myself, DH, and two girls who will be 5 and 6. We'll definitely plan on spending a lot of time in the parks, but will try to come back to the resort each day for some down time, probably to swim and relax. There are several character and other TS meals we want to do that are in the MK area as well, so I thought it would be perfect to do our MK and Epcot days during the first part of our trip. So do you think the small studio is still worth it to stay at BLT?

Welcome! A POR/POFQ room is about 314 SF and a BLT Studio is only 300 SF. You're paying for location, location, location. I have never stayed in a Studio, only a one bedroom so I can't comment personally on that. Seeing that the CR isn't in your price range and you would like to be in the MK resorts area, have you considered WL or even a FW Cabin? Those would be less expensive ways of staying just a boat ride away from the MK (or a direct bus ride in the case of WL) and you would also have more room than a BLT Studio. A WL room is 340 SF and a cabin is over 504 SF and would provide you with a full kitchen instead of a kitchenette. You could even take the CR boat from WL and FW and monorail from there.

 

[alongtimeblooming]

Welcome back. Was this your first BLT stay? Thank you for posting your view photos!


all BLT OWNERS!

Yes, we bought into BLT in 2009 but this is the first time we actually stayed at our home resort. We stayed at SSR in 09 and the Guy went to BWV with his family in 2010.

 

[AirGoofy]

Okay, I need some honest opinions here. We're planning for a Disney trip next year and I had convinced myself we would probably spend 7 nights at POR or POFQ. But I could not resist the draw of staying somewhere on the monorail line since we'll be doing 2 days at MK and probably 1 1/2 days at Epcot. Unfortunately the CR is going to be out of our budget. So now I think I'd like to try to rent points for 4 nights at BLT in a studio and 3 nights at POR or POFQ, which will cost about the same. The problem is everyone talks about how small the studios are! There would be four of us in the room - myself, DH, and two girls who will be 5 and 6. We'll definitely plan on spending a lot of time in the parks, but will try to come back to the resort each day for some down time, probably to swim and relax. There are several character and other TS meals we want to do that are in the MK area as well, so I thought it would be perfect to do our MK and Epcot days during the first part of our trip. So do you think the small studio is still worth it to stay at BLT?

We own DVC BLT points and have stayed four in the studio for a week - Me, DW, and dds 11,8. We only do parks every other day, and usually swim and have a nice TS on those in between days. It is small, but there are a lot of space savers to try to give you some additional room. But, as others said, it is all about the location. As for being worth it, that is up to you. I do not like split stays, so I try to avoid those.

 

[Leafsgirl36]

We are at BLT now staying in a one bedroom. I really like the one bedroom because it has so much extra space. I will say that the unit we are staying in is in need of some repair. There are stains on the sheets, curtains, sofa and carpets. There is a piece of veneer missing off the island in the kitchen. The glass shower door is holding on by a thread. And there are numerous bumps and dings in the stainless steel appliances and the walls.
We stayed here this time as the atrium level was being renovated so we decided to try BLT. Nothing against BLT but both my husband and I really prefer staying at the CR.