*** Bay Lake Tower Owners Group***

[BLTtinkerbell]

Does anyone know if the BLT water slide is still closed for renovation?

We just got back and the water slide was opened.

 

[MaveDatthews]

Regarding the upcoming room refurb, do they usually follow any pattern as to what rooms are completed first, or is it random? Knock them out top floor to bottom, do all studios first, etc.

 

[accm]

Regarding the upcoming room refurb, do they usually follow any pattern as to what rooms are completed first, or is it random? Knock them out top floor to bottom, do all studios first, etc.

They usually do either floors or sections (in the case of BWV, where a floor is so big).

With BLT I would guess that they'd take out either a whole floor or half a floor at a time. I think I heard top to bottom, but now I can't remember if that was someone making a guess, or if it was actually announced.

 

[MaveDatthews]

They usually do either floors or sections (in the case of BWV, where a floor is so big).

With BLT I would guess that they'd take out either a whole floor or half a floor at a time. I think I heard top to bottom, but now I can't remember if that was someone making a guess, or if it was actually announced.

Thanks! Staying in late May 2025, so fingers crossed will get an updated room (assuming they stick to the update schedule). Will certainly put the request in to give it a shot.

 

[NeutralNovice]

Can't wait to see a reveal of what the refurbishment will look like. I really like what they did/they're doing with VDH and the new tower at Poly. Just please... no cheesy Incredibles theme. If they can somehow channel a retro style with a modern touch, that would be awesome. I know those words are opposite but I don't know how to articulate exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[Bearval]

Can't wait to see a reveal of what the refurbishment will look like. I really like what they did/they're doing with VDH and the new tower at Poly. Just please... no cheesy Incredibles theme. If they can somehow channel a retro style with a modern touch, that would be awesome. I know those words are opposite but I don't know how to articulate exactly what I'm talking about.

Rumor has it that the refurb will include water beds, neon orange shag carpets and lava lamps...........

 

[Bearval]

Room View Opinion Needed:

I have researched much of the difference of dedicated vs lock-off rooms for BLT. We have a Lake view but at this point I am not sure if my lock-off idea is the best or not. I am sure it does not matter much but my number one concern is getting an actual lake view and looking at the maps the dedicated rooms tend to be closer to the middle and farthest outside of hallways. Would these rooms be "better" views you think? Inside (pool side) seems not ideal to me but if I pick dedicated it seemed that maybe those rooms generally offer higher chances of Lake or good views unless of course we get stuck down low.

What do you all think? Thanks!

I believe one big difference between the dedicated and locks offs is that in the dedicated 2nd bedroom you have 2 queen beds but in the lock off it is one queen bed and a pullout sofa bed.

 

[MilesMouse]

Can't wait to see a reveal of what the refurbishment will look like. I really like what they did/they're doing with VDH and the new tower at Poly. Just please... no cheesy Incredibles theme. If they can somehow channel a retro style with a modern touch, that would be awesome. I know those words are opposite but I don't know how to articulate exactly what I'm talking about.

Same here. Both of those builds are giving me optimism that we'll get something most people will like. I'm wondering if we'll get any artist renderings ahead of time or finding out a piece at a time through leaked construction photos.

 

[itr452]

Hello i have a question, you guys are probably able to answer best, but going to Disney springs by bus, how long does it usually take? I've read it should take 20 minutes or so but with traffic who knows?

Landing at 6:30PM and trying to figure out dinner if we should even bother with disney springs or just go to magic kingdom and eat or just eat at the hotel.

 

[buzzrelly]

Hello i have a question, you guys are probably able to answer best, but going to Disney springs by bus, how long does it usually take? I've read it should take 20 minutes or so but with traffic who knows?

Landing at 6:30PM and trying to figure out dinner if we should even bother with disney springs or just go to magic kingdom and eat or just eat at the hotel.

Depending on how you are getting to BLT from MCO, ie bus vs rideshare vs private car service, you likely won't arrive to the hotel until 8pm or so. If you drop your bags and boogie out to the bus stop and get right on a bus, you would arrive to Disney Springs by 9pm...if you're lucky and the DS bus arrives as soon as you get out there.

Personally, I'd save DS for another day and either eat at The CR or somewhere on the monorail loop.

 

[itr452]

Depending on how you are getting to BLT from MCO, ie bus vs rideshare vs private car service, you likely won't arrive to the hotel until 8pm or so. If you drop your bags and boogie out to the bus stop and get right on a bus, you would arrive to Disney Springs by 9pm...if you're lucky and the DS bus arrives as soon as you get out there.

Personally, I'd save DS for another day and either eat at The CR or somewhere on the monorail loop.

Thanks for the information. Our airline changed the flight times(for the better) now we get in a little earlier at 450pm. So yeah may just head into MK or epcot to eat dinner.

 

[MyDogTink]

IIRC, the front desk told me it would be sections (top to bottom) as opposed to floors. I’ll ask again next month.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Thanks for the information. Our airline changed the flight times(for the better) now we get in a little earlier at 450pm. So yeah may just head into MK or epcot to eat dinner.

Another good option if you would be to do dinner at Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary - easy walk fro BLT and the food is excellent, then no need to use a park day.

 

[accm]

IIRC, the front desk told me it would be sections (top to bottom) as opposed to floors. I’ll ask again next month.

This makes sense from a construction point of view (change a plumbing riser in one go), but sounds like a nightmare from a hotel operations point of view. You'd have workers on all floors, with materials being moved through the same hallways as guests.

I don't doubt the front desk told you that, but it's just hard to believe they'd be bringing in a murphy bed and having to try to go around someone with a double stroller. From a public interference perspective, this would also be a nightmare to manage.
They could theoretically do a combination of both - and section off parts of every floor. They'd essentially be taking out around 25% of the rooms at a time, but who knows.

 

[CWTC]

Another good option if you would be to do dinner at Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary - easy walk fro BLT and the food is excellent, then no need to use a park day.

Steakhouse 71 is our go to arrival day dinner if we are staying at VGF/BLT/PVB. As a side note, they have an excellent breakfast menu too and we try to eat there once per trip (usually on a MK day).

 

[LoveToDisney]

This makes sense from a construction point of view (change a plumbing riser in one go), but sounds like a nightmare from a hotel operations point of view. You'd have workers on all floors, with materials being moved through the same hallways as guests.

I don't doubt the front desk told you that, but it's just hard to believe they'd be bringing in a murphy bed and having to try to go around someone with a double stroller. From a public interference perspective, this would also be a nightmare to manage.
They could theoretically do a combination of both - and section off parts of every floor. They'd essentially be taking out around 25% of the rooms at a time, but who knows.

Having personally watched how they did BWV refurbishment, they don’t move equipment and furnishing in/out thru guest areas. They remove a balcony doorway (and temporarily replace with wood) along with part of the balcony to give access so lifts can move items into the building areas that are being worked on. The rest of the hallway is blocked off with plastic so the dust stays in the section being worked on. They definitely have a process that tries to be as guest friendly as a refurbishment can be (and still keep guests staying in the building). I would assume they will handle BLT similarly.

 

[tidefan]

Hello i have a question, you guys are probably able to answer best, but going to Disney springs by bus, how long does it usually take? I've read it should take 20 minutes or so but with traffic who knows?

Landing at 6:30PM and trying to figure out dinner if we should even bother with disney springs or just go to magic kingdom and eat or just eat at the hotel.

You can always go to the MK bus stops and take the SSR bus to the Congress Park stop and walk from there as well.

 

[BigOnDis]

Just booked Bay Lake Tower for our spring break trip next March. I am not even going to start hoping for a refurbished room, and if by chance we get one, it will be a great surprise. I just hope that the construction doesn't impact us too much. We were at Boardwalk during their refurb and maybe we were lucky, but it didn't impact us at all.

 

[McCrae]

Just booked Bay Lake Tower for our spring break trip next March. I am not even going to start hoping for a refurbished room, and if by chance we get one, it will be a great surprise. I just hope that the construction doesn't impact us too much. We were at Boardwalk during their refurb and maybe we were lucky, but it didn't impact us at all.

Disney are fantastic at managing construction projects… don’t expect it to be an issue.

 

[gleddo]

I hope to be joining the Bay Lake Tower Owner's Group soon. My wife and I are purchasing a 206 point resale contract to go along with our Boardwalk and Vero Beach points. The contract comes with 189 banked 2023 points too. Our offer just got accepted by the owners on Wednesday so it's still early in the process. It's a waiting game now.