The Comptemporary Bay Lake Towers and Contemprary Resort Guest.

[StrwLady]

I read this on another site regarding the Bay Lake Towers...

"You cannot gain access to any part of Bay Lake Tower without a room key. You can’t enter the lobby doors. You can’t walk across the skyway, and you can’t enter the pool without a key"

When they say a key to they mean only a Bay Lake Tower key or does a Contemporary Resort key work too?

The reason I ask. I was originally booked at the Wilderness Lodge with one day room only standard view and 5 night free dining standard view. When my son saw the pool at the Bay Lake Towers he wanted to stay there. So I changed my 1 night only to the Bay Lake Towers. Then later I realized having to move resorts could mess up my plan of napping in the afternoon so we wouldn't be tired for EMH at the MK.

I called and changed both the one night and the free dining to the Contemporary Garden Wing. Before doing this I asked if we could still used the Bay Lake Tower pool and was told yes that the Contemporary and the Bay Late Tower shared pools.

Then I saw the above statement on another web site. So I'm a little concerned. I called and was told by Guest Services that the pool at the Bay Lake Towers was not enclosed and yes I could enter without a key. But the site I got that information from is a very reputable site. I do not believe they would report that incorrectly.

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The website is locked - BLT is totally locked off, and a CR key won't allow you in.

[DebbieB]

From what I heard, CR guests are not permitted to use the BLT pool.

[deej696]

I'm sorry to say it, but I believe the others are right and you may got some bad info from the CM.

[ThumperandLitenin]

Access to Bay Lake Tower is limited to guests staying there, that includes the pool.

Sorry, you got some bad advice from your CM.

[StrwLady]

I'm currently on hold with the Contemporary. I called and spoke with a Front Desk Manager (as I assume being that is who I requested to speak to after talking to the call center) And have indeed been told that CR quest can not use the Bay Lake Tower pool. This was after being told by CRO and Guest Services 2 times that yes the resorts shared pools.

Based on this information I made several changes to my trip. Not only changing to and paying more for staying at the Contemporary Garden Wing but also made a few changes to my Dining. Which I am not likely at this time to find openings in the restaurants I canceled.

The help desk just came back on the phone and stated the Contemporary Manager will be calling me back in the next 15 minutes or so. I'm not quite sure what she will say or plans to do. The easiest option would be to upgrade me to the Bay Lake Tower. This would mean all my changes in dining would not be impacted. But even if they could get me back into the Wilderness Lodge for my 2 reservations that would be good too. I would be a tad upset about my dining issues but hopefully I could find some things that worked into my schedule. (which will be hard because it was quite a feat to find things 2 days ago as it seems most everything is booked because of free dining)

All I can do is wait and hope things work out. I just don't know how upset my son will be. He was extremely happy about being able to swim in the Bay Lake Tower pool. So much so that, as much as he loves the Contemporary, he didn't want to make the change from the Wilderness Lodge unless staying at the Contemporary meant swimming in the Bay Lake Tower pool.

Luckily this all happened before we got there. At least if things don't work out he will have time to get over the upset.

I'll let y'all know what happens

[CoachBagFanatic]

Ok, I understand about not being able to access the pool at BLT but if you are staying at the CR which we are next July, don't you think that we and others staying at the CR should be able to have access to the building just to look around. I love to take pictures and won't be able to do so. Not that it truly matters to some. So, from what I am gathering is that the BLT guests have the use of the CR pool, restaurants and other activities but we can't have access at all.

[cosmicrays]

So you are booked at CR why not just use the pool there? I guess I dont understand the issue. Its just a pool.

[CoachBagFanatic]

Originally Posted by cosmicrays

So you are booked at CR why not just use the pool there? I guess I dont understand the issue. Its just a pool.

It's not an issue about the pool for me. A pool is a pool. I would love to be able to have access to take photos. I love architecture and I have photos of before and during construction and now I would love to have the end result.

[StrwLady]

I was hoping to look around the Bay Lake Tower too and take pictures. But I guess I can understand with being so new they wouldn't want extra people crawling around a resort that they were already trying to deal with any issues that come up with a new resort.

I have just spoke to the manager of the CR and she told me that not even DVC members from other resorts will be allowed in the pool right now. She said it is possible that during the week we are there they would open the pool to DVC guest and CR guest but it will be a wait and see issue.

The Bay Lake Towers is booked full. So she is trying to get DRC (or as we all still call it CRO) to discount my room to compensate for the increase I incurred based on the misinformation. She said if DRC can not help once I am there she can do something for me. As I told her I do not need the entire difference I spent credited just as long as they can offer me something I would be happy.

Even if they can't this wont leave a sour taste in my mouth regarding Disney. We will go and enjoy our trip. And hopefully my son will get over his disappointment soon.

[StrwLady]

Originally Posted by cosmicrays

So you are booked at CR why not just use the pool there? I guess I dont understand the issue. Its just a pool.

You are correct to me and to you it is just a pool but to an 11 year old its a different pool. I do not see a huge difference between the 2 but he does. Does he need to learn that there are disappointments in life? Yes he does.

But my issue is more that I spent an additional $235 to change from the Wilderness Lodge to the Contemporary. We love both resorts and see both of them as having convenient transportation so what I was getting for the additional $235 was the use of the pool my son wanted to swim in. There is also the issue of changing some dining to work with staying at the different resort. But that would present a personal inconvenience to me rather than a financial inconvenience.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by CoachBagFanatic

Ok, I understand about not being able to access the pool at BLT but if you are staying at the CR which we are next July, don't you think that we and others staying at the CR should be able to have access to the building just to look around. I love to take pictures and won't be able to do so. Not that it truly matters to some. So, from what I am gathering is that the BLT guests have the use of the CR pool, restaurants and other activities but we can't have access at all.

Yes you are correct that Bay Lake Tower guests have access to all the Contemporary restaurants, however they never built any other ones inside Bay Lake Tower and that they have access to the Contemporary pool and we won't have access to their pool.

[CoachBagFanatic]

Originally Posted by CR Resort Fan 4 Life

Yes you are correct that Bay Lake Tower guests have access to all the Contemporary restaurants, however they never built any other ones inside Bay Lake Tower and that they have access to the Contemporary pool and we won't have access to their pool.

I do understand but that just means that there will be a lot more people in CR than normal. But hey, I am happy and fortunate that we will be staying there anyway.

OH CR. Have a great time.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by CoachBagFanatic

I do understand but that just means that there will be a lot more people in CR than normal. But hey, I am happy and fortunate that we will be staying there anyway.

OH CR. Have a great time.

Well something else to remember when they had the North Garden Wing building, it had more total rooms then Bay Lake Tower.

Also thank you very much.

[StrwLady]

Well a guest services CM at CRO called back and offered me half of my increase refund. That works for me. So I will receive a credit of $117.

The CM I spoke to today did say it was their original intent to open the pool to CR guest as well as DVC guest but recently the official word did come down that only Bay Lake Tower guest would be allowed. I guess they are dealing with a lot right now they don't want to add additional traffic flow.

I am glad that this all happened before we arrived. Seeing our first day we planned to do Downtown Disney and then spend time in the pool. It could have been more upsetting to my son had we be turned away when we arrived.