Bay Lake Tower Trip Report 8/4-8/5/09 - The DIS Discussion Forums

puntagordabob · 08-06-2009, 07:46 PM

8/4 and 8/5/09 Grand Opening of the BLT....and we were the first to check in.

We live 2 hours and 20 minutes from WDW here in Florida and had studio standard view reservations for the grand opening..... My wife worked until 1am at her job, so upon her arrival home, we jumped into the car (including my 86 year old Grandma who we wanted to share the experience with!) and headed out. We arrived at the CR guard station a little after 4:15am and she asked us "if we were there for BLT", we were then informed Gratz you are the First to arrive. Upon arriving inside the CR lobby we were warmly greeted at the counter by some Cast Members who were apparently notified by the guard post that we were coming inside. They also notified us that "you are the first" which shocked us, we truly figured a bunch would arrive earlier like they did at Kidani Village (12:01 am in fact the first arrival came to there we have heard)...

Anyways they wrote down our names and said the computer would be online at 6am and invited us to lounge around either the Convention floor or the main concourse floor on some of the nice chairs and couches they have. My wife fell asleep, but my Grandma and I stayed awake. I photographed some neat pics of the Grand Concourse being totally empty...

At 6:00 am we were checked in and everyone was happy to be allowed to proceed to our rooms right away... we were in our 1st floor room by 6:30am and settled in.

The studios are nice...the sink setup is a little unusual, but we already knew that from the models...it was not really that bad for us. Our view was of the shuffleboard courts, the fountain, and the bamboo groves in the courtyard.

We, for the most part, stayed around the CR/BLT resort....we did go to MK for a little while in the early am on the 4th. We had lunch at the Contempo Cafe (great hamburgers IMHO) and later had dinner at Chef Mickey's. At around 9 pm we proceeded to the TOW lounge and had some drinks (non-alcohol as none of us drink). My wife had a Pina Colada (sorry if I mis-spelled that...she opted for no alcohol in it), my Grandma (Mom to us) had a Mickey Mouse (Disney's name for a Shirley Temple), and I, the daredevil, had lemonade

lol. The lounge is really nice...everyone's pictures truly do not do it justice! The Cast Members up there are great, of course ALL Cast Members are, but I still wanted to point that out.

We also had an opportunity to tour a Grand Villa...guess one of the windows were malfunctioning so they didnt rent it....the Cast Member said we were very lucky to get to tour one... we took some pictures.

Almost everyone walked out onto the observation deck for Wishes! and it was great viewing! The sound system is also really nice.... all and all Salutes to the Imagineers, they did a nice job on the TOW and the Obs deck!

Immediately afterwards we went to the Bay Lake observation deck (small, but its there!) and watched the Water Pageant...it was neat and we are probably one of the few who have gone to WDW since 1971 and never REALLY seen that (other than maybe as we were leaving on a monorail lol but that hardly counts)... Thank you to those on DIS Boards here who had posted the tip that this show is pretty close to Wishes! timeslot....

On the 5th we went to EPCOT and eventually to Welcome Home Wednesdays....seemed to be a lot more people there than the last time I remembered...everyone got a DVC hat for attending...

Ok Ok...a lot of people asked if Disney did anything special for us for being the first to check in. To be honest JUST THE HONOR was enough...but Yes they did send us some nice things (thank you to Disney will be leaving here in a few short days). A dozen yellow roses in a nice vase (with a Mickey shaped gem) that made my wife and grandma very happy...all I could think of was WHO is going to hold the vase all the way back home in the car!

lol ...... The second was a gift basket that had a walnut framed artwork from BLT, a limited edition BLT pin, three DVC coffee mugs and some coffee, three BLT shirts, a wrapped mysterious present (they said it was something to with the CR, wife wants to be home to open it, so we wait unti l saturday), and some other items. They also provided us with a certificate to be framed stating we were the 1st DVC members to ever check in to the Bay Lake Tower. They also took our pictures (with their camera) for what I assume in the archives or perhaps they post this kind of stuff in a magazine or something (no idea)....

Also about the shirts my wife & I were wearing, we had some custom made airbrushed shirts made by our cousin Tom from Michigan for the BLT Grand Opening.

I had never done one on here before, but some people at the resort (met some Dis Boarders!) asked me to post the pics and stuff especially of the basket....

Anyways hope everyone enjoyed our report...

Davids-Coco · 08-06-2009, 07:56 PM

That is very cool!! Thank you for sharing.

RSHEALAND · 08-06-2009, 08:19 PM

Congrats I hope the rest of your trip is just as great

RweTHEREyet · 08-06-2009, 08:20 PM

Thank you for taking the time to post your report and your pictures. How cool for you to be the first Guests at BLT, no one else will ever be able to say that. Glad you had a good trip, and kudos to you for sharing your trip with your Grandmother.

DenLo · 08-06-2009, 08:32 PM

Thanks for sharing your trip with the rest of us. Congratulations on being the first to check in. It looks like you received some nice gifts from Disney. That's what I call the Disney touch.

I enjoyed your photos on flickr too. Your brother really is talented to make your one of a kind t-shirts.

Glad to hear that the bathroom sink/kitchenette area was no problem for the three of you. My DH and I are both a little nervous about sharing a studio at BLT with a third adult (his brother) like we often do. Especially since we have been spoiled with curtains or doors that can close off the sink area and you can't see the person coming out of the shower to do their toilette at the sink. I have to admit that the kitchenette side really isn't a concern for us since we no longer drink coffee and don't have teenagers.

How does the room size overall feel to you compared to the other studios at other DVC resorts? Did I miss the photo that shows your actual room's view? I'll have to look at them all a third time.

Thanks again for sharing.

puntagordabob · 08-06-2009, 09:15 PM

Studio Rooms are a little smaller than the other resorts...our view was 1st floor of the shuffleboard courts...our room is actually to the right of the shuffleboard court photo I posted on flickr (room 7109)....separated from the courts by some landscaping (10 to 15 feet wide the landscaping is).

I always make a joke about our room views... my brother and I get room at OKW in november: His overlooks the golf course, ours looked at a bush. BWV in April: awesome view of the pool and the tower of terror/swan hotel...BUT we were on the floor that had the solid wall half way up on our balcony so you had to stand to see ANYTHING, if you sat you saw "the wall". And SSR in June: once again my brother gets a great view of the golf course, and we get view of the parking lot!

I suppose eventually we will get some pixie dust and have a stellar view! In either case, I love the DVC resorts, bush or not!

oakmanner · 08-06-2009, 09:22 PM

Awesome TR!

rlduvall · 08-06-2009, 09:24 PM

Thanks for posting a trip report and photographs.

Can't wait to check it out myself.

LoveToDisney · 08-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Thanks so much for your report. It was cool to see your pics and hear of your exciting day!

kaffinito · 08-06-2009, 09:42 PM

Awesome! How wonderful to be first!

Hope you have a spectacular trip!

fitzpa · 08-06-2009, 09:45 PM

Thank you for the TR!

LIFERBABE · 08-06-2009, 09:58 PM

Loved It!!!

That was a great welcome home!

BlakeNJ · 08-06-2009, 10:12 PM

Thanks for sharing your magical experience! We are staying 1 night in a standard studio in November. We are going to stick around the resort and experience everything.

How exciting to be the first DVC members to check in a BLT! You have some great pictures and even better memories. I am sure it was a night of a lifetime!

Congrats again to you, your wife and grandmother!

Disney Princess · 08-06-2009, 10:17 PM

Congrats on being the first! What a fun honor to hold. I hope you enjoyed every moment. Can't wait until Saturday when you open that gift! Oh - and your grandma is just precious!

She reminds me of my grandmother - always wearing a sweater in August in Florida!!

bobbiwoz · 08-06-2009, 10:24 PM

I enjoyed reading about your experience, and loved seeing the pictures. Thanks for posting!
Bobbi

08-06-2009, 07:46 PM	#1
puntagordabob Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 407	Bay Lake Tower Trip Report 8/4-8/5/09 8/4 and 8/5/09 Grand Opening of the BLT....and we were the first to check in. We live 2 hours and 20 minutes from WDW here in Florida and had studio standard view reservations for the grand opening..... My wife worked until 1am at her job, so upon her arrival home, we jumped into the car (including my 86 year old Grandma who we wanted to share the experience with!) and headed out. We arrived at the CR guard station a little after 4:15am and she asked us "if we were there for BLT", we were then informed Gratz you are the First to arrive. Upon arriving inside the CR lobby we were warmly greeted at the counter by some Cast Members who were apparently notified by the guard post that we were coming inside. They also notified us that "you are the first" which shocked us, we truly figured a bunch would arrive earlier like they did at Kidani Village (12:01 am in fact the first arrival came to there we have heard)... Anyways they wrote down our names and said the computer would be online at 6am and invited us to lounge around either the Convention floor or the main concourse floor on some of the nice chairs and couches they have. My wife fell asleep, but my Grandma and I stayed awake. I photographed some neat pics of the Grand Concourse being totally empty... At 6:00 am we were checked in and everyone was happy to be allowed to proceed to our rooms right away... we were in our 1st floor room by 6:30am and settled in. The studios are nice...the sink setup is a little unusual, but we already knew that from the models...it was not really that bad for us. Our view was of the shuffleboard courts, the fountain, and the bamboo groves in the courtyard. We, for the most part, stayed around the CR/BLT resort....we did go to MK for a little while in the early am on the 4th. We had lunch at the Contempo Cafe (great hamburgers IMHO) and later had dinner at Chef Mickey's. At around 9 pm we proceeded to the TOW lounge and had some drinks (non-alcohol as none of us drink). My wife had a Pina Colada (sorry if I mis-spelled that...she opted for no alcohol in it), my Grandma (Mom to us) had a Mickey Mouse (Disney's name for a Shirley Temple), and I, the daredevil, had lemonade lol. The lounge is really nice...everyone's pictures truly do not do it justice! The Cast Members up there are great, of course ALL Cast Members are, but I still wanted to point that out. We also had an opportunity to tour a Grand Villa...guess one of the windows were malfunctioning so they didnt rent it....the Cast Member said we were very lucky to get to tour one... we took some pictures. Almost everyone walked out onto the observation deck for Wishes! and it was great viewing! The sound system is also really nice.... all and all Salutes to the Imagineers, they did a nice job on the TOW and the Obs deck! Immediately afterwards we went to the Bay Lake observation deck (small, but its there!) and watched the Water Pageant...it was neat and we are probably one of the few who have gone to WDW since 1971 and never REALLY seen that (other than maybe as we were leaving on a monorail lol but that hardly counts)... Thank you to those on DIS Boards here who had posted the tip that this show is pretty close to Wishes! timeslot.... On the 5th we went to EPCOT and eventually to Welcome Home Wednesdays....seemed to be a lot more people there than the last time I remembered...everyone got a DVC hat for attending... Ok Ok...a lot of people asked if Disney did anything special for us for being the first to check in. To be honest JUST THE HONOR was enough...but Yes they did send us some nice things (thank you to Disney will be leaving here in a few short days). A dozen yellow roses in a nice vase (with a Mickey shaped gem) that made my wife and grandma very happy...all I could think of was WHO is going to hold the vase all the way back home in the car! lol ...... The second was a gift basket that had a walnut framed artwork from BLT, a limited edition BLT pin, three DVC coffee mugs and some coffee, three BLT shirts, a wrapped mysterious present (they said it was something to with the CR, wife wants to be home to open it, so we wait unti l saturday), and some other items. They also provided us with a certificate to be framed stating we were the 1st DVC members to ever check in to the Bay Lake Tower. They also took our pictures (with their camera) for what I assume in the archives or perhaps they post this kind of stuff in a magazine or something (no idea).... Also about the shirts my wife & I were wearing, we had some custom made airbrushed shirts made by our cousin Tom from Michigan for the BLT Grand Opening. I had never done one on here before, but some people at the resort (met some Dis Boarders!) asked me to post the pics and stuff especially of the basket.... Anyways hope everyone enjoyed our report... Last edited by CarolAnnC; 08-22-2009 at 11:55 PM.

08-06-2009, 07:56 PM	#2
Davids-Coco Sometimes my inner monologue isn't so inner Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,146	That is very cool!! Thank you for sharing. __________________ Me DH DS1 (3) DS2 (9 mo) Next trip: November 2010 - Eastern Magic Cruise!! Our first Disney Cruise and 1st trip "HOME"!

08-06-2009, 08:20 PM	#4
RweTHEREyet What makes you think the Tag Fairy doesn't know you?? :D Will get my Grapefruit Cake at Starring Rolls from now on! I can't stand not having another trip booked! Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: OKW, BCV, SSR, BLT, THV Posts: 4,334	Thank you for taking the time to post your report and your pictures. How cool for you to be the first Guests at BLT, no one else will ever be able to say that. Glad you had a good trip, and kudos to you for sharing your trip with your Grandmother. __________________ RweTHEREyet?

08-06-2009, 08:32 PM	#5
DenLo Believe in Victor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri City, TX Posts: 1,012	Thanks for sharing your trip with the rest of us. Congratulations on being the first to check in. It looks like you received some nice gifts from Disney. That's what I call the Disney touch. I enjoyed your photos on flickr too. Your brother really is talented to make your one of a kind t-shirts. Glad to hear that the bathroom sink/kitchenette area was no problem for the three of you. My DH and I are both a little nervous about sharing a studio at BLT with a third adult (his brother) like we often do. Especially since we have been spoiled with curtains or doors that can close off the sink area and you can't see the person coming out of the shower to do their toilette at the sink. I have to admit that the kitchenette side really isn't a concern for us since we no longer drink coffee and don't have teenagers. How does the room size overall feel to you compared to the other studios at other DVC resorts? Did I miss the photo that shows your actual room's view? I'll have to look at them all a third time. Thanks again for sharing. __________________

08-06-2009, 09:22 PM	#7
oakmanner DVC Member, Disney Cast Member, D23 Member, Disney Movie Club Member... Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts Posts: 1,406	Awesome TR! __________________ 1998- Dixie Landings, 2000- Dixie Landings, 2001- DLR, 2002- DLR, 2002- Port Orleans Riverside, 2003- Port Orleans Riverside, 2003- Pop Century, 2004- Pop Century, 2006- Pop Century, 2007- Port Orleans Riverside, 2008- Land & Sea; Beach Club & Disney Wonder, 2008- Saratoga Springs, 2009-Saratoga Springs, 2010- Animal Kingdom Villas

Sponsored Links
DIS ad Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000+	<div align="center">This information cannot be displayed because your browser does not support inline frames.<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com">Click Here</a> </div>

08-06-2009, 08:19 PM	#3
RSHEALAND Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Moodus, CT Posts: 128	Congrats I hope the rest of your trip is just as great

08-06-2009, 09:15 PM	#6
puntagordabob Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 407	Studio Rooms are a little smaller than the other resorts...our view was 1st floor of the shuffleboard courts...our room is actually to the right of the shuffleboard court photo I posted on flickr (room 7109)....separated from the courts by some landscaping (10 to 15 feet wide the landscaping is). I always make a joke about our room views... my brother and I get room at OKW in november: His overlooks the golf course, ours looked at a bush. BWV in April: awesome view of the pool and the tower of terror/swan hotel...BUT we were on the floor that had the solid wall half way up on our balcony so you had to stand to see ANYTHING, if you sat you saw "the wall". And SSR in June: once again my brother gets a great view of the golf course, and we get view of the parking lot! I suppose eventually we will get some pixie dust and have a stellar view! In either case, I love the DVC resorts, bush or not!

08-06-2009, 09:24 PM	#8
rlduvall This tag took six years to make Now maybe some-one will pick me first for dodgeball Join Date: May 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,201	Thanks for posting a trip report and photographs. Can't wait to check it out myself. __________________

08-06-2009, 09:40 PM	#9
LoveToDisney Always needing another Disney trip! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kansas, BCV, BWV & BLT Posts: 857	Thanks so much for your report. It was cool to see your pics and hear of your exciting day! __________________ LoveToDisney

08-06-2009, 09:42 PM	#10
kaffinito Grant me the Serenity to Accept the Reservations I Cannot Change Lock yourself in there for a few minutes and sing a happy song until the angry gerbils in your head stop stomping on your brain! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Too Far North Posts: 3,614	Awesome! How wonderful to be first! Hope you have a spectacular trip! __________________ Me & DH DS17 DS9 DN4

08-06-2009, 09:45 PM	#11
fitzpa Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 42	Thank you for the TR! __________________ Me DHDS DS

08-06-2009, 09:58 PM	#12
LIFERBABE DVC MEMBER @ BCV BWV OKW SSR BLT AKV Join Date: May 2002 Location: COWTOWN U.S.A Posts: 5,945	Loved It!!! That was a great welcome home! __________________ "If "if" was a fifth we'd all be drunk" -my Daddy "Mama I want go see Mittey Mouse" MAY 1998 Apopka/JUNE 2002 Highland Rsrv./JUNE 2003 Wind. PalmsMAY 2004 SSR DVC Member Homecoming/JUNE 2004 SOG & BCV 2B2Q/OCT 2004 BWV 1B & SSR H-Jeanne/ DEC 2004 VWL & SSR/MAY to JUNE 2005 MONTH VISIT TO BCV AND SSR/SEPT 05 DVC MEMBER CRUISE DCL Wonder/DEC 05 BCV & SSR/MAY-June 2006 SSR/Sept 2006 7 Day DCL Double Castaway Cay/Oct 2006 DVC Member Cruise 2006/Dec 2006-Jan 2007 Christmas @ BCV & NYE @ SSR/March 2007 Girls trip to BWV & SSR/June 2007 Family Reunion @ SSR/July 2007 First Trip to AKV Sav.View!/Oct 2007 BCV F&WF/Dec-Jan 2008 AKV Concierge and SSR/JUNE 08 BCV/SSR/AUG-SEP 08TOAL EB REPO/OCT 08 F&WF BCV concierge/DEC 08 SSR/AKV/HHI/JUNE 09 DCL/DEC 09 THV/.........

08-06-2009, 10:12 PM	#13
BlakeNJ DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,290	Thanks for sharing your magical experience! We are staying 1 night in a standard studio in November. We are going to stick around the resort and experience everything. How exciting to be the first DVC members to check in a BLT! You have some great pictures and even better memories. I am sure it was a night of a lifetime! Congrats again to you, your wife and grandmother! __________________

08-06-2009, 10:17 PM	#14
Disney Princess Member Since Day 1 I am just the "organized" one Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: TX Posts: 1,393	Congrats on being the first! What a fun honor to hold. I hope you enjoyed every moment. Can't wait until Saturday when you open that gift! Oh - and your grandma is just precious! She reminds me of my grandmother - always wearing a sweater in August in Florida!! __________________ DH Me Dory

08-06-2009, 10:24 PM	#15
bobbiwoz I'm happy to dance with you I have 2 opinions We had tried usual things to keep them away, including something like coyote urine, it is sold in hardware stores by us Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Washington Township OH and Cape May NJ Posts: 27,819	I enjoyed reading about your experience, and loved seeing the pictures. Thanks for posting! Bobbi __________________ Thanks Meriweather! Thank you Kitty 34!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Team Renfroe's 2nd Trip Report - 1,500 pictures, dining reviews, and DISmeets!	alan_renfroe	Disney Trip Reports	1275	01-31-2010 11:13 AM
This time our son is coming too! Day 5 parts 1 and 2, links in first post	declansdad	Disney Trip Reports	478	01-22-2010 10:03 PM
Girls DL Trip OLD THREAD	mommaU4	Disneyland (California)	3678	08-08-2009 10:30 AM