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

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. People think we are crazing going during the July 4th holiday week, but it has become an annual ritual for DS and me...some folks have backyard bbq's, but we head to Disney I know I will definitely appreciate the walkway to & from MK, as the walk to International Gateway is what I love most about the Epcot resorts. As for ADR's I booked Chef Mickey before I even booked our room, because there was no way I could tell DS we are staying at CR, but we won't be able to eat at CM. I will book a few more including some at the other Monorail resorts, where the great transportation options will come in handy. Considering that CG is closed for refurb, I was going to try the Wave. Is it a good option?

BTW, Boca is almost like our second home - so jealous of your 3.5 hour drive to WDW

I really like The Wave's breakfast buffet, but I don't think it's a great substitute for CG - it's not a Signature Dining venue and I wasn't crazy about the couple of times we tried it for dinner. But, we should probably give it another try since we haven't eaten dinner there since 2010. If you want a close Signature Dining experience, how about Artist Point or GF?

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

BTW, Boca is almost like our second home - so jealous of your 3.5 hour drive to WDW

I really like The Wave's breakfast buffet, but I don't think it's a great substitute for CG - it's not a Signature Dining venue and I wasn't crazy about the couple of times we tried it for dinner. But, we should probably give it another try since we haven't eaten dinner there since 2010. If you want a close Signature Dining experience, how about Artist Point or GF?

We ate at the Wave on our trip last year in September to try it out for the first time....we all had the steak special (what can I say, we're all family! ha!) but it was very, very good. I would put it a below CG, a BIT below Artist Pointe (which is great and our usual go-to for something different) and above GF. But that's just me....try it out, you might like it! But don't forget AP at the Wilderness Lodge - so beautiful and the food is consistently good. And a nice boat ride there and back.....ahhhhhh, need to book that for our next trip!!!

 

[twodogs]

I can't recall because I always bring my own, but my parents are coming too this time and my mom wants to leave hers at home if it's full sized. Thanks! Tried zooming in on the bath pics in this thread but I can't tell!

 

[babyberger]

I can't recall because I always bring my own, but my parents are coming too this time and my mom wants to leave hers at home if it's full sized. Thanks! Tried zooming in on the bath pics in this thread but I can't tell!

I want to say its full size but don't remember the wattage.

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[disneydreamin247]

Thanks Kookamunga Cowabunga!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We ate at the Wave on our trip last year in September to try it out for the first time....we all had the steak special (what can I say, we're all family! ha!) but it was very, very good. I would put it a below CG, a BIT below Artist Pointe (which is great and our usual go-to for something different) and above GF. But that's just me....try it out, you might like it! But don't forget AP at the Wilderness Lodge - so beautiful and the food is consistently good. And a nice boat ride there and back.....ahhhhhh, need to book that for our next trip!!!

I can't recall because I always bring my own, but my parents are coming too this time and my mom wants to leave hers at home if it's full sized. Thanks! Tried zooming in on the bath pics in this thread but I can't tell!

Yes, they are full-sized:

Photo courtesy of AllEars.net

ETA: Oops, posted CR instead of BLT, but they are the same.

I want to say its full size but don't remember the wattage.

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Say it, say it! Because you're right

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks Kookamunga Cowabunga!

You're welcome, Danitabulous

 

[disneydreamin247]

You're welcome, Danitabulous

You know, staying at CR gives me a definite reason to eat at California Grill. In all of my Disney trips we have never made it there!

 

[harleyquinn]

Forgive me, but I'm confused from all the reports. So which rooms received the refurbs? I thought it was the whole resort, but most of you are posting pictures with the non-refurbed rooms...

 

[psac]

We ate at the Wave on our trip last year in September to try it out for the first time....we all had the steak special (what can I say, we're all family! ha!) but it was very, very good. I would put it a below CG, a BIT below Artist Pointe (which is great and our usual go-to for something different) and above GF. But that's just me....try it out, you might like it! But don't forget AP at the Wilderness Lodge - so beautiful and the food is consistently good. And a nice boat ride there and back.....ahhhhhh, need to book that for our next trip!!!

We had dinner at the Wave last April and really liked it. We're trying it again this week, so I'll post our impressions after. Last time we REALLY liked it, so much that we picked it this time over Citricos, using a quality/value combined thought. I agree its NOT a California Grill replacement. I would rate it high amongst the non-signatures, but would lose against many sigs. Flying Fish tonight.

 

[inky dinky doo]

I can't recall because I always bring my own, but my parents are coming too this time and my mom wants to leave hers at home if it's full sized. Thanks! Tried zooming in on the bath pics in this thread but I can't tell!

I always take my own hair dryer with me, because I have short hair and wattage matters. This trip, though, to the Contemporary and to BLT, my dryer never left the suitcase. The hair dryers in both locations were 1875 watts. I even remember looking, because I thought they did such a great job!

 

[DemonLlama]

Forgive me, but I'm confused from all the reports. So which rooms received the refurbs? I thought it was the whole resort, but most of you are posting pictures with the non-refurbed rooms...

They are currently rehabbing the Garden wing closest to the Tower, which is closed. From there, I assume they'll move outward to finish the rest of the Garden section.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Okay. More pictures from the studio at BLT (room 7523). Pardon the shoes, the yellow bag, and the laptop. This picture was taken, looking from the bed to the other (TV) side of the room. I was very impressed with the storage area in this studio and the space-saving ideas they came up with. There are six large drawers under the TV.



What I really fell in love with, though, was the kitchen. Here's a picture of the storage under the kitchen sink, with the refrigerator in the background.



These next three pictures are something I need at my house. I took the pictures, so I could show my son what I want. Isn't this nifty?? The first picture shows the microwave, with the built-in shelving closed. (That's a full-length mirror to the right of the shelves. You can see the reflection.)

The next picture shows the shelving open just a bit, and the third picture shows the shelves all the way open. I was just sorry I didn't have more people with me, so I could use these shelves. They are SO clever!!







Just too cute!!! And, a longer shot of the left side of the kitchen. . .



And, the right side of the kitchen, with the full-length mirror at the far end of the room . . .

 

[inky dinky doo]

And now, the bathroom of BLT 7523 (a studio). . .



The throne . . .



A closer shot of the sink area . . .



And a closer shot of the storage area, built in "behind the wall." Just another clever idea they came up with.



Gosh! I am really missing the Contemporary and the BLT, right now!!!

 

[DisneyFans222]

BTW, Boca is almost like our second home - so jealous of your 3.5 hour drive to WDW

I really like The Wave's breakfast buffet, but I don't think it's a great substitute for CG - it's not a Signature Dining venue and I wasn't crazy about the couple of times we tried it for dinner. But, we should probably give it another try since we haven't eaten dinner there since 2010. If you want a close Signature Dining experience, how about Artist Point or GF?

Moving to Boca 20+ years ago from "up North" was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have not regretted one day in South Florida (with the exception of a couple of really mean hurricanes). And the icing on the cake is that Disney rewards us via WDW and DCL discounts for our residency and patronage

Thanks so much for sharing your experience at The Wave. I was not looking at it as a signature dining option, as signature dining would still be lost on my DS12 whose palate is still developing. I was hoping it might be something within the resort that was a few steps above the usual counter service fare of burgers and nuggets that had decent food offerings and a relaxing atmosphere. As you pointed out, given the myriad of transportation options, ADR's that suit our needs abound

 

[DisneyFans222]

We ate at the Wave on our trip last year in September to try it out for the first time....we all had the steak special (what can I say, we're all family! ha!) but it was very, very good. I would put it a below CG, a BIT below Artist Pointe (which is great and our usual go-to for something different) and above GF. But that's just me....try it out, you might like it! But don't forget AP at the Wilderness Lodge - so beautiful and the food is consistently good. And a nice boat ride there and back.....ahhhhhh, need to book that for our next trip!!!

Thanks for your review of The Wave! I think we will try it to experience all we can of CR. AP is definitely on my short list as well ... DS and I stayed at WL twice and each time he was way too young to enjoy the food or the atmosphere. Thus, I spared the other diners a miserable evening by not booking there...and I never received so much as a "thank you" (lol)

 

[harleyquinn]

They are currently rehabbing the Garden wing closest to the Tower, which is closed. From there, I assume they'll move outward to finish the rest of the Garden section.

Do we have a time frame for the renovations? I see something in the first post, but maybe I'm reading it wrong as I think it states that everything should be already done?

 

[DisneyFans222]

We had dinner at the Wave last April and really liked it. We're trying it again this week, so I'll post our impressions after. Last time we REALLY liked it, so much that we picked it this time over Citricos, using a quality/value combined thought. I agree its NOT a California Grill replacement. I would rate it high amongst the non-signatures, but would lose against many sigs. Flying Fish tonight.

Wonderful! Can't wait to see your review of The Wave, and any menu suggestions would be very much appreciated! Enjoy the Flying Fish!

 

[inky dinky doo]

Oops! I almost forgot! A few views from BLT studio 7523 . . .

Across the room, toward the balcony:



Through the window:



Early morning on my last day:







Nighttime:



Electric water parade (what IS that building in the background???)



Electric water parade finale:

 

[disneynanacat]

Thank you for the studio pics! And the lake views too! I've got a studio booked for October but worried we will be too cramped. Rented points so can't change but hoping it won't be too bad. Love seeing all the storage space!