BLT Restaurants

[jeanninepl]

Will there be a separate restaurant for BLT? I was wondering if they would have their own table service and counter service at the pool or if guests at BLT will have to use the Contemporary facilities.

 

[SSRFred]

That's what the bridge is for. BLT will share the existing Contemporary eateries.

 

[rogerram]

although the bridge will let people have easy access, I wouldn't be surprised if there is another place or 2 to eat at the BLT. There will be a lot more guests when it opens.

 

[JaxFLBear]

No new restaurants are planned for BLT. There will be a pool bar at BLT but all other dining locations will be at the Contemporary.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Methinks that somebody smarter than me didn't think this one through and we'll likely see a restaurant in BLT inside a year, maybe two max.

I can't see the Contemporary handling the increased traffic given its already popular status as a non-hotel guest place to congregate and eat.

 

[nuts]

Methinks that somebody smarter than me didn't think this one through and we'll likely see a restaurant in BLT inside a year, maybe two max.

I can't see the Contemporary handling the increased traffic given its already popular status as a non-hotel guest place to congregate and eat.

I doubt it. Where would they put it? Look at SSR as a good indicator...tremendously larger than BLT, yet it took them a looong time to finally put in a fine restaurant. BLT is not that large compared to the other resorts.

 

[SSRFred]

They've already expanded the dining options in the Contemporary. They updated and moved the grab & go to the 4th fl. and added a new CS there as well. Downstairs you have the Wave.
There really isn't a measurable need for more dining choices yet.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I doubt it. Where would they put it? Look at SSR as a good indicator...tremendously larger than BLT, yet it took them a looong time to finally put in a fine restaurant. BLT is not that large compared to the other resorts.

I understand but riddle me this (and I really don't know). What's on the first floor that takes up so much space? Are there actually rooms on the first floor? Typically, first floors are "hotel ammenities" floors filled with restaurants, shops and the like. Other than check-in, what's on the first floor at BLT that would prevent them from putting a restaurant there?

 

[Mississippian]

Methinks that somebody smarter than me didn't think this one through and we'll likely see a restaurant in BLT inside a year, maybe two max.

I can't see the Contemporary handling the increased traffic given its already popular status as a non-hotel guest place to congregate and eat.

Remember, they tore down the north garden wing, which was three stories and maybe had a larger footprint of the new tower. All of the rooms were just over 400 sq. ft. They are replacing it with a tower that has an average room size of 800 sq. ft. or so.

The South Garden Wing has 216 rooms. Just from looking at the pictures the North Garden Wing was slightly larger than the South Garden Wing, although I'm not going to try to guess the actual room number.

The new BLT only has 281 units. Given the fact that all of these units contain kitchens or kitchenettes and the end result is that the tower will dramatically lower the number of people trying to use the restaurants and such at the Contemporary. There will be a reduction in traffic, not an increase.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I understand but riddle me this (and I really don't know). What's on the first floor that takes up so much space? Are there actually rooms on the first floor? Typically, first floors are "hotel ammenities" floors filled with restaurants, shops and the like. Other than check-in, what's on the first floor at BLT that would prevent them from putting a restaurant there?

In the lobby of the Tower that is where they built The Wave and it's where the Food & Fun Center use to be. Now since that use to be the old counter service location/arcade it was a huge space and The Wave is a huge restaurant. Besides that the stores, aracde, Chef Mickey's, Contempo Cafe and the Outer Rim Lounge once it gets re-built are all on the 4th floor Grand Canynon Concourse level. Finally the California Grill is on the 15th floor Tower and it takes up that whole floor.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I understand but riddle me this (and I really don't know). What's on the first floor that takes up so much space? Are there actually rooms on the first floor? Typically, first floors are "hotel ammenities" floors filled with restaurants, shops and the like. Other than check-in, what's on the first floor at BLT that would prevent them from putting a restaurant there?

Most of the resorts do have rooms on the 1st floor. WLV and BCV don't have any extra amenities in their building (except the health club at WLV) and the first floor is primarily guest units. If the BLT plans do not call for any restaurants and they've already expanded the dining options in the Contemporary tower then it's a good bet that that's the way it's going to end up. They won't add a restaurant later because it will mean removing villas which they can't do if they've sold the points. I just don't see it happening.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also in the Tower at the Contemporary the rooms don't start until the 5th floor since the lobby is the 1st floor, 2nd floor is a bunch of meeting rooms & the California Grill check-in desk location, 3rd floor is the fitness center & hair salon and I already mentioned what was on the 4th floor.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

In the lobby of the Tower that is where they built The Wave and it's where the Food & Fun Center use to be. Now since that use to be the old counter service location/arcade it was a huge space and The Wave is a huge restaurant. Besides that the stores, aracde, Chef Mickey's, Contempo Cafe and the Outer Rim Lounge once it gets re-built are all on the 4th floor Grand Canynon Concourse level. Finally the California Grill is on the 15th floor Tower and it takes up that whole floor.

At BLT, not The Contemporary.

 

[CraftyMouse]

CR now has 3 full-service restaurants and one counter-service option, in addition to room service. Aside from the Boardwalk, no other DVC property has that many restaurants (and the BW doesn't have the counter-service option). Also remember that they removed a wing of the contemporary to add the BLT building. That means that they reduced the number of CR rooms before adding the DVC section.

All of the DVC buildings that have been added to hotels have had their amenities as part of the original plan. For example, the new Kidani Village section of AKL has a full-service restaurant in place on the plans, at VWL the health club area was on the original plans, etc. BLT is just a short walk from the main CR tower so it isn't an inconvenience to head over there for restaurant service (unlike Kidani, which will be a good distance from Jambo House).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

At BLT, not The Contemporary.

My mistake.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There is no physical space in DVC construction to "allow" for additional restaurants to be added in a year or two....

the renovations to Contemporary's existing facilities is because of the tower construction....really no other reason....

Still haven't figures out what the top of the new tower will be.....I think DVC has it as a vague 'lounge'....not sure what that really means.


but I do agree that they've not planned properly for food with those units coming online...

The Wave is...well....not good....and not very big. Concourse was much better in my opinion....

I think the resturant situation is not going to be good when they add 1000 or so bodies to the resort next fall.....chef mickeys is always raided by outside guests....the california grill is a niche location....the wave is not gonna cut it......

Poor planning on DVC's part....again....
They insist on building huge room blocks without upgrading the dining facilities at the resorts they're raiding....

Obviously the idea is to maximize existing facilities without increasing labor and operational output by a dime....

but they're going to overrun the restaurants.....just as they didn't provide adequate services at Saratoga....

Animal Kindgom Villas.....was handled correctly....a new set of facilities for the new building....say it with me: pool, sit down, giftshop, quickserve....

But I think they might run into problems with contemporary without new facilities....they're really only rearranging the old ones

 

[spiceycat]

there will be something - remember those building things - someone found even before the place was opened.

then again one was for the top of the world.

the other looked like counter service.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

there will be something - remember those building things - someone found even before the place was opened.

then again one was for the top of the world.

the other looked like counter service.

I don't think they'd put a full restaurant directly across from the California Grill.....that is a company favorite and they aren't likely to create competition directly out the window form it....

It said "one of a kind experience" and something about a lounge.....

I think it's just a bar.....I don't believe anywhere in the new building is going to come equipped to handle food service....just a hunch

 

[disprincessatheart]

Our guide specifically said there will only be a new pool snack bar and the Top of the World lounge on the top floor of BLT. They assume that with kitchens in each unit, people will eat some in their room, and being on the monorail you have PLENTY of food choices that you can get to easily, so it's not really the same as some of the other resorts. THey did expand the CS in the contemporary and moved it to the 4th floor to provide easy access for BLTers on their way to the monorail. I for one think they are planning and there will be plenty of food to go around. Think about the GF - they only have one TINY CS place and they dont' have issues...

 

[disneynutz]

Unfortunately DVD realizes that they make their money selling timeshares, not running restaurants. They and amenities only when they have to.