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

[jdcthree]

If you are booking BLT direct through Disney then they open up the cash room reservations at 7 months out. If you book via a DVC owner, they can book up to 11 months out if you find an owner with BLT points.

Huh? I booked BLT this year at 10 months out and I'm not DVC. A few years ago I booked at about 9 months out.

 

[SRUAlmn]

This is why I'm confused. I have heard 10 and 7 and I don't want to miss out! We are so excited to get to 'splurge' a little this year! I just want to know when to start checking and whether I'll need to call or if I can go online. If it's not set in stone, that's going to be a looooong three months if I have to keep calling and checking.

Deb&Bill:
Thanks for the laundry room info! I had no idea it was based on the side of the building!

 

[::danielle::]

Huh? I booked BLT this year at 10 months out and I'm not DVC. A few years ago I booked at about 9 months out.

I stand corrected! Thank you for clarifying that!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Huh? I booked BLT this year at 10 months out and I'm not DVC. A few years ago I booked at about 9 months out.

Here's the issue. BLT is a DVC resort that is mostly sold out to members. That leaves very little for non-members to book for cash through DRC. DVC turns over villas to DRC to sell for cash when a member books something Disney outside of DVC to pay for the Disney. 60 days out, DVC will also turn over any unbooked points inventory to DRC to sell.

So, unless DVC has inventory (and they are usually trying to sell it), you probably won't find a lot of availability at anytime earlier than 11 months out and more 60 days out.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

We want to book BLT direct through Disney as well. We would like to travel November 2014. I thought I would be able to book it on July 10th when the 2014 packages get released, but I'm guessing from what I'm reading here that the villas are not able to be booked until later??? If that's the case maybe I will just rent points. I was going to book direct thinking I could book earlier and also because it is more flexible as far as cancellations/date changes. Hmmm....things to think about.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Here's the issue. BLT is a DVC resort that is mostly sold out to members. That leaves very little for non-members to book for cash through DRC. DVC turns over villas to DRC to sell for cash when a member books something Disney outside of DVC to pay for the Disney. 60 days out, DVC will also turn over any unbooked points inventory to DRC to sell.

So, unless DVC has inventory (and they are usually trying to sell it), you probably won't find a lot of availability at anytime earlier than 11 months out and more 60 days out.

That makes me sad because we are SO excited to get to splurge this year on a 2 bedroom villa. I really don't want to go back to the Swan and Dolphin, but we need that type of space and it will be our only other option. This makes me think (since we're not DVC) that we aren't going to have a very high likelihood of there being availability. We can start checking 11 months out, though? Then we'll have to just keep checking? So it gets released gradually as DVC members make their decisions? Thanks for explaining the process. It looks like this is going to be tedious unless we get lucky!

We want to book BLT direct through Disney as well. We would like to travel November 2014. I thought I would be able to book it on July 10th when the 2014 packages get released, but I'm guessing from what I'm reading here that the villas are not able to be booked until later??? If that's the case maybe I will just rent points. I was going to book direct thinking I could book earlier and also because it is more flexible as far as cancellations/date changes. Hmmm....things to think about.

I thought about that too, but:
*You can't apply AP discounts to rented points
*You have to pay it all up front
*All sales are final

Right?

 

[BlueSkies]

I'm sure this answer is here, bit I'm not finding it. We have a Tower room, BLV booked, I couldn't book a king size bed. Can I request one or are the only king beds CL? TIA!

Chm635 Its been a while since we have stayed in one...but I am pretty sure that the room number for a room with a king bed ends with 13..so if you were for examble on the 10th floor the room number would be 4613..every room in the CR tower starts with a 4..and added with the next number gives you the floor..46 equals 10 and so forth...

HTH...

 

[jdcthree]

Here's the issue. BLT is a DVC resort that is mostly sold out to members. That leaves very little for non-members to book for cash through DRC. DVC turns over villas to DRC to sell for cash when a member books something Disney outside of DVC to pay for the Disney. 60 days out, DVC will also turn over any unbooked points inventory to DRC to sell.

So, unless DVC has inventory (and they are usually trying to sell it), you probably won't find a lot of availability at anytime earlier than 11 months out and more 60 days out.

Thanks for the info! I had read about the 11 month mark, but I wasn't aware that more rooms are (possibly) available at 60 days. That may come in handy in the future.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

Here's the issue. BLT is a DVC resort that is mostly sold out to members. That leaves very little for non-members to book for cash through DRC. DVC turns over villas to DRC to sell for cash when a member books something Disney outside of DVC to pay for the Disney. 60 days out, DVC will also turn over any unbooked points inventory to DRC to sell.

So, unless DVC has inventory (and they are usually trying to sell it), you probably won't find a lot of availability at anytime earlier than 11 months out and more 60 days out.

Thanks for this explanation!

That makes me sad because we are SO excited to get to splurge this year on a 2 bedroom villa. I really don't want to go back to the Swan and Dolphin, but we need that type of space and it will be our only other option. This makes me think (since we're not DVC) that we aren't going to have a very high likelihood of there being availability. We can start checking 11 months out, though? Then we'll have to just keep checking? So it gets released gradually as DVC members make their decisions? Thanks for explaining the process. It looks like this is going to be tedious unless we get lucky!



I thought about that too, but:
*You can't apply AP discounts to rented points
*You have to pay it all up front
*All sales are final
Right?

No, you cannot apply AP discounts but the rental rates are already a large savings over rack rates direct through Disney.

It is common to have to pay it all up front. However, DVC Rental Store allows you to pay $8.00 per point up front and the balance (other $6.00 per point) 45 days prior to arrival.

Yes, in most rental agreements all sales are final. Trip insurance is recommended to cover yourself.

 

[Gryhndmom]

We want to book BLT direct through Disney as well. We would like to travel November 2014. I thought I would be able to book it on July 10th when the 2014 packages get released, but I'm guessing from what I'm reading here that the villas are not able to be booked until later??? If that's the case maybe I will just rent points. I was going to book direct thinking I could book earlier and also because it is more flexible as far as cancellations/date changes. Hmmm....things to think about.

I booked my Oct 2012 on 21 Nov 2011 which was 11 months out from our arrival. DH and I are owners at BLT so that may be where the 11 mo discussion is about. We are fairly new owners and were told you can book at your home resort 11 mo out and other Disney resorts 7 mo out.

 

[SRUAlmn]

No, you cannot apply AP discounts but the rental rates are already a large savings over rack rates direct through Disney.

It is common to have to pay it all up front. However, DVC Rental Store allows you to pay $8.00 per point up front and the balance (other $6.00 per point) 45 days prior to arrival.

Yes, in most rental agreements all sales are final. Trip insurance is recommended to cover yourself.

Thanks so much for the info! From what I can tell, the AP discount would still save us close to $1000 over renting points from that site. It WOULD save some of the hassle, but I'm not sure if that's worth $1000

 

[glvsav37]

Can anyone give me a basic run down of the daytime pool activities at CR and BLT pools?

I'm not a lounge around the pool guy, but we have 1 full pool day planned (got a cabana for the day).

I'm looking forward to what the activities CMs do with the pool guests on most days.

thx!

 

[jdcthree]

Can anyone give me a basic run down of the daytime pool activities at CR and BLT pools?

I'm not a lounge around the pool guy, but we have 1 full pool day planned (got a cabana for the day).

I'm looking forward to what the activities CMs do with the pool guests on most days.

thx!

There is a link in post 11 of this thread. I tried to link it for you, but my iPad doesn't want me to, lol!

 

[glvsav37]

There is a link in post 11 of this thread. I tried to link it for you, but my iPad doesn't want me to, lol!

Awesome!!! exactly what I was looking for....thank you

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

I need some help, please. I plan on booking my May 2014 vacation on July 10th. YAY! So soon! ;-)

I would like a 1st floor Garden Wing room, close to the Tower, preferably facing the pool/bay.

1)is this request "bookable"?
2)is it more expensive than a standard/parking lot view?

How specific can I get when booking a room? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

More than anything, I want to just be sure we get a 1st floor room. A glass of wine on the patio (even if shared with neighbors) after the kids go to bed would be lovely!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I need some help, please. I plan on booking my May 2014 vacation on July 10th. YAY! So soon! ;-)

I would like a 1st floor Garden Wing room, close to the Tower, preferably facing the pool/bay.

1)is this request "bookable"?
2)is it more expensive than a standard/parking lot view?

How specific can I get when booking a room? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

More than anything, I want to just be sure we get a 1st floor room. A glass of wine on the patio (even if shared with neighbors) after the kids go to bed would be lovely!

How exciting!! Yes, those are requests which can be added to our reservation and yes, it would be a higher rate garden view rather than a parking lot/std view.

Remember: not more than three request and always in order of which is most important to you.

1. First floor
2. Close to Tower
3. Pool or Bay view

Be sure to ask at check in if they were able to honor any of your requests - if not, try not to be discouraged and nicely ask if they could try to find a room that will meet all or some of your requests and let them know you are willing to wait until it is ready. Also, if staying several nights it might be worth asking if a room that meets your requests would be available the next day. It means moving, but could be a way to get exactly what you hoped for in room location etc.

Good luck and happy planning!!

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can anyone give me a basic run down of the daytime pool activities at CR and BLT pools?

I'm not a lounge around the pool guy, but we have 1 full pool day planned (got a cabana for the day).

I'm looking forward to what the activities CMs do with the pool guests on most days.

thx!

In addition to the recreational activities listed in Posts 10 and 11, the monthly resort activity calendar is hyperlinked in Post #1 and it includes all daily activities, currently for July. I think this may be what you're looking for?

I need some help, please. I plan on booking my May 2014 vacation on July 10th. YAY! So soon! ;-)

I would like a 1st floor Garden Wing room, close to the Tower, preferably facing the pool/bay.

1)is this request "bookable"?
2)is it more expensive than a standard/parking lot view?

How specific can I get when booking a room? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

More than anything, I want to just be sure we get a 1st floor room. A glass of wine on the patio (even if shared with neighbors) after the kids go to bed would be lovely!

Your request is only bookable insofar as you would need to book a Garden View room and request the following:

~Ground Floor
~Facing Bay Lake or the pool

Rooms face one or the other, but not both. Rooms that face the pool will have a Bay Lake view off to the right, but they won't front Bay Lake and front the pool. The only other Garden view is of the canal/trees. I have photos on the first page of both a Bay Lake and canal view-facing GW room. Good luck!

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

One more question - for the Garden Wing rooms facing the Bay...about how far is that walk to the Tower? It doesn't seem all that far, but I'm just curious. I'll be pushing a double stroller.

 

[Kimi313]

I need some help, please. I plan on booking my May 2014 vacation on July 10th. YAY! So soon! ;-)

I would like a 1st floor Garden Wing room, close to the Tower, preferably facing the pool/bay.

1)is this request "bookable"?
2)is it more expensive than a standard/parking lot view?

How specific can I get when booking a room? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

More than anything, I want to just be sure we get a 1st floor room. A glass of wine on the patio (even if shared with neighbors) after the kids go to bed would be lovely!

Just wanted to add a couple of thoughts. These rooms go fast! So book as soon as you know your dates. Also we love the bottom floor, having a patio and grass area but I think there isn't very many of us. Most people, to me, always request a higher floor so I think you will get one but request first for sure. Also let me reiterate make your request in the order of importance and then when you check in if you don't get them, make sure there isn't a room that meet your request. Love the Poly but they always tried putting me on a higher floor probably cause that's what most people wanted so I would ask and they would be like "oh yea we have some bottom floors".

I think you will love the CR wings we use to stay there all the time but after the North Wing got torn down and DD got older and busier they were always gone by the time we knew when we wanted to go.