Bay lake tower at Contemporary

[scorpioears]

yay just booked our vacation for next summer!! Super excited have never stayed at the contemporary! Tell me all of the good things about this hotel!!
This will be my kids first time ever. I'm ecstatic for them!! Two boys one will be 5 and the other will be 3 by then.

PS is it easier to get a reservation at Chef Mickey if you're staying at the resort ? (doubt it lol)

 

[Genie+]

PS is it easier to get a reservation at Chef Mickey if you're staying at the resort ?

You don’t get preference for staying at that resort (though I think you should lol), but you do get preference for being an onsite guest. You’ll be able to book all the days of your trip together at the 60 day mark from checkin, so if you’re staying 5 days it means being able to book your last day at 65 days out. That is an advantage over off site guests who can only book each day at 60 days out.

What people do is plan to book the hardest most popular ADRs toward the end of their trip to get the best advantagae.

 

[scorpioears]

You don’t get preference for staying at that resort (though I think you should lol), but you do get preference for being an onsite guest. You’ll be able to book all the days of your trip together at the 60 day mark from checkin, so if you’re staying 5 days it means being able to book your last day at 65 days out. That is an advantage over off site guests who can only book each day at 60 days out.

What people do is plan to book the hardest most popular ADRs toward the end of their trip to get the best advantagae.

OOOHH interesting thanks for the tip!!

 

[Marthasor]

The one advantage you will have is the ability to join the waitlist, if available, as you will be very close to the restaurant.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

One of the best things about being a Bay Lake Tower guest is you can use both the Bay Lake Tower pool and the two pools at the Contemporary Resort (this doesn't work the other way around - CR guests don't have access to Bay Lake Tower's pool). Having the ability to access CR's feature pool can be a nice alternative to Bay Lake Tower's pool if it's busy or you're just looking for a change of scene. Bay Lake Tower's pool has zero entry which was a big plus for us at that age, CR's pool doesn't have zero entry. Neither have a particularly elaborate splash pad for the littles, but CR's can be fun just to splash around a bit.

I adore the recreation room/community hall on the first floor - they have a ton of options for crafts, video games, board games, shuffleboard, etc. Some of the crafts have a nominal cost, the recreation items generally don't. The CMs there are wonderful.

I don't own DVC but got moved to a 2BR in BLT in the Covid reopening period and that was probably the closest I've come to considering purchasing (I see what you did there Disney). The rooms could use a refresh, but other than that it's a beautiful resort, IMHO, capped off with great amenities and ultra-convenience to MK plus the amenities of CR and the monorail resorts. Overall high marks from me.

Have fun.

 

[chefmb]

If you don't want to watch the MK fireworks in the crowds, watch from the bridge linking BLT to Cont. If the timing works out, you can then turn yourself to look over the other side of the bridge and watch the Electric Water Pageant (the boat parade with music) on Bay Lake. My DH and I have loved our two stays at BLT. Pools are wonderful and grounds/scenery are lovely. Definitely check out the community center with your boys. There always seemed to be something to do in there.

 

[scorpioears]

If you don't want to watch the MK fireworks in the crowds, watch from the bridge linking BLT to Cont. If the timing works out, you can then turn yourself to look over the other side of the bridge and watch the Electric Water Pageant (the boat parade with music) on Bay Lake. My DH and I have loved our two stays at BLT. Pools are wonderful and grounds/scenery are lovely. Definitely check out the community center with your boys. There always seemed to be something to do in there.

What is BLT?
sorry, I'm a newbie.

 

[jo-jo]

Bay lake Tower, it's the DVC next to the contemporay resort.

I've also watch fireworks from the parking lot, they pipe the music, it you find the bridge too crowded.

 

[scorpioears]

OOH Duh

Bay lake Tower, it's the DVC next to the contemporay resort.

I've also watch fireworks from the parking lot, they pipe the music, it you find the bridge too crowded.

OOH Duh on my part. Lol
Thanks for the tips!