(CLOSED) Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT and BAY LAKE TOWER INFORMATION THREAD

[Cobern]

Yes! We own EVERY single LP Disney item, including the brand new Snow White's cottage. She just turned 4 on Tuesday. She has been playing with the Polly Pocket sized princesses more now, but she still plays with her LP at least 3 times a week. We also got her the new Clip clop Princess Pony stable for her birthday and it's soooo cute.

We also have EVERY single Disney princess barbie, prince and some of the villians, plus the extra clothes they used to sell on Disney shopping. We bought the first 8 princess set when she was 2 and we've been adding to it everytime I find stuff on clearance. But she isn't interested in Barbies yet. lol

Sorry...that was way too much info!

Haha! I will have to look for snow whites cottage. I know we have everything else (thanks to Nana). The clip clop has arrived for Christmas. I would try the smaller toys but my ds1 still loves to put everything in his mouth, so I must hold off for now. I am starting to collect the princess barbies for her. She loves to play with the 2 I got her. Mine loves Barbie and I have no clue why! Every time she seems them at the store she goes "it's Barbie" but with a Boston accent (we live in south Florida, have no idea where that came from).

It is never too much info, you obviously love your daughter

 

[KathieSmallwood]

I have a question for the people who get to try out the Magic Bands! Are your vacations paid in full already? Maybe that is one of the tricks to being picked to get to test them out? I really want to be a tester but my trip is not paid in full yet so I am wondering.

 

[Princess Katherine]

I have a question for the people who get to try out the Magic Bands! Are your vacations paid in full already? Maybe that is one of the tricks to being picked to get to test them out? I really want to be a tester but my trip is not paid in full yet so I am wondering.

We got them and our trip is not paid in full.

Katie

 

[harleyquinn]

Haha! I will have to look for snow whites cottage. I know we have everything else (thanks to Nana). The clip clop has arrived for Christmas. I would try the smaller toys but my ds1 still loves to put everything in his mouth, so I must hold off for now. I am starting to collect the princess barbies for her. She loves to play with the 2 I got her. Mine loves Barbie and I have no clue why! Every time she seems them at the store she goes "it's Barbie" but with a Boston accent (we live in south Florida, have no idea where that came from).

It is never too much info, you obviously love your daughter

There is also a new Aladdin and Jasmine with carpet! Most of ours also came from Grandma! And ALL of the Polly Pcoket ones did. I refuse to pay that much for them!

 

[dmaz]

Our trip is not paid in full and is a room only reservation. I have received multiple emails to test and customize bands.

 

[Diz Kids]

Magic Band testers - how close you your trip were you asked to test? We just booked for CR about a week ago, for 3 weeks from now. Wondering if that will take us out of the running?

 

[SRUAlmn]

We're waiting patiently to be able to book BLT on cash for next July. I've been watching June and it seems that at 11 months in advance of the check OUT day for our stay we should be able to book.

My fear...

We are looking at staying during Value2 season which begins on July 13. Our dates are pretty flexible within the frame of July 13-25 (any 7 nights within that range of dates.) We finally decided on Thursday-Thursday (July 17-24,) however, I began to worry that many others would also be waiting for Value2 season and would be booking to check in on the first day (July 13) since that's a Sunday. They'd be staying through that week, which in turn, would mean when it was our time to be able to book, the first few days of our stay might be sold out because they'd be at the end of the week for those checking in on July 13. Does that make sense?

Example:
Family A - travel dates July 13 - 20
Our Family - travel dates July 17-24

Family A can book starting on August 20 of this year
We can't book until August 24 of this year

If Family A books their week (with the limited inventory there is for cash ressies,) what is the likelihood that our dates will come up unavailable because our first 3 days are during the end of their week?


Is this really a moot point since most people are booking with points and the seasons are different? I'm so worried we're going to miss out. We sort of have all our eggs in one basket with this one! (And yes, I looked into renting points, but the huge amount up front and the no cancellation are steering us away from that.)

Thanks for any help or advice you can provide!

 

[babyberger]

We're waiting patiently to be able to book BLT on cash for next July. I've been watching June and it seems that at 11 months in advance of the check OUT day for our stay we should be able to book.

My fear...

We are looking at staying during Value2 season which begins on July 13. Our dates are pretty flexible within the frame of July 13-25 (any 7 nights within that range of dates.) We finally decided on Thursday-Thursday (July 17-24,) however, I began to worry that many others would also be waiting for Value2 season and would be booking to check in on the first day (July 13) since that's a Sunday. They'd be staying through that week, which in turn, would mean when it was our time to be able to book, the first few days of our stay might be sold out because they'd be at the end of the week for those checking in on July 13. Does that make sense?

Example:
Family A - travel dates July 13 - 20
Our Family - travel dates July 17-24

Family A can book starting on August 20 of this year
We can't book until August 24 of this year

If Family A books their week (with the limited inventory there is for cash ressies,) what is the likelihood that our dates will come up unavailable because our first 3 days are during the end of their week?


Is this really a moot point since most people are booking with points and the seasons are different? I'm so worried we're going to miss out. We sort of have all our eggs in one basket with this one! (And yes, I looked into renting points, but the huge amount up front and the no cancellation are steering us away from that.)

Thanks for any help or advice you can provide!

I can only offer our experience booking BLT on a cash basis. In April we decided to book BLT for next Feb (Value1), so 10 months out. Even though I was not able to book online because 2014 dates were not available, I was able to call and book with no problems. We booked a 1BR LV. Now with that said, I did book during an off peak period and Sat to Sat. But I honestly think that there is enough inventory that you should be able to get what you want when you are able to finally call and book it. I have also found that availability changes on a daily basis and people cancel all the time, so even if you are not able to get exactly what you want when you call, keep checking.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

If you are booking a cash reservation does the 11 months still apply? I thought if I booked a cash stay i could book even 12+ months out via phone through CRO. (I am not a DVC owner so I might be mistaken.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are booking a cash reservation does the 11 months still apply? I thought if I booked a cash stay i could book even 12+ months out via phone through CRO. (I am not a DVC owner so I might be mistaken.)

Members cannot book until 11 months out and BLT is pretty much sold out. Unless a BLT owner has traded their points for a DCL vacation or other Disney vacation (not DVC), there might not be any availability at all for cash reservations through Disney Reservation Center.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Broken Window Causes Relocation of Chef Mickey's
Leah Zanolla

Guests at Chef Mickey's at Walt Disney World got a scare around 11:00 this morning, as one of the large windows above the restaurant broke and glass fell into the dining area. For those who aren't familiar with the location, Chef Mickey's is located in the open lobby of the Contemporary Resort, with large picture windows up above. One of the guests dining this morning, Peter Jones, posted a photo of the broken window on Facebook, stating, "Luckily we had already met all the 'chefs' when it sounded like hail. We looked up to see the window crumbling and glass bouncing all over the floor and some tables." Jones added, "Staff were great and kept us safe. Food available but we left as storm was coming."

Chef Mickey's will temporarily operate from the Ballroom of Americas on the second floor of the resort.

Peter Jones - Facebook

 

[SRUAlmn]

I can only offer our experience booking BLT on a cash basis. In April we decided to book BLT for next Feb (Value1), so 10 months out. Even though I was not able to book online because 2014 dates were not available, I was able to call and book with no problems. We booked a 1BR LV. Now with that said, I did book during an off peak period and Sat to Sat. But I honestly think that there is enough inventory that you should be able to get what you want when you are able to finally call and book it. I have also found that availability changes on a daily basis and people cancel all the time, so even if you are not able to get exactly what you want when you call, keep checking.

Thank you so much! Since our dates are flexible, maybe we'll just keep checking throughout that time period until we're able to secure something. Thanks for your advice! You calmed my fears a little

If you are booking a cash reservation does the 11 months still apply? I thought if I booked a cash stay i could book even 12+ months out via phone through CRO. (I am not a DVC owner so I might be mistaken.)

Members cannot book until 11 months out and BLT is pretty much sold out. Unless a BLT owner has traded their points for a DCL vacation or other Disney vacation (not DVC), there might not be any availability at all for cash reservations through Disney Reservation Center.

I've been watching June of next year as it leads up to the dates we're looking to book and there has been quite a large amount of inventory available through CRO. It seems like the 1 bedroom lake view and the studios are booking pretty quickly, but everything else has seemed to have had availability at the 11 month mark. For example: I just checked June 19-26 (today would be the 11 month mark for the check out day,) and the following are available through CRO:

Studio TPV
1 Bedroom TPV
2 Bedroom TPV

 

[SRUAlmn]

Broken Window Causes Relocation of Chef Mickey's
Leah Zanolla

Guests at Chef Mickey's at Walt Disney World got a scare around 11:00 this morning, as one of the large windows above the restaurant broke and glass fell into the dining area. For those who aren't familiar with the location, Chef Mickey's is located in the open lobby of the Contemporary Resort, with large picture windows up above. One of the guests dining this morning, Peter Jones, posted a photo of the broken window on Facebook, stating, "Luckily we had already met all the 'chefs' when it sounded like hail. We looked up to see the window crumbling and glass bouncing all over the floor and some tables." Jones added, "Staff were great and kept us safe. Food available but we left as storm was coming."

Chef Mickey's will temporarily operate from the Ballroom of Americas on the second floor of the resort.

Peter Jones - Facebook

Yikes! Glad everyone was ok!

 

[Terra2721]

Help with 1st time trip planning!
Hello all. My family is beginning to plan a first time trip to WDW for Thanksgiving week 2014. I have read several threads but find all this information very overwhelming. So I thought I would post and ask you amazingly experienced people for help.

On this trip will be my brother's family (2 adults 3 kids: ages 9, 7, 5), my parents (2 adults), my family (1 adult 1 kid: age 3.5), and possibly my little brother (2 adults).

Questions
1. We are planning on staying at the Contemporary resort (mainly because of the close location to MK....I am fairly sure my son 3.5 will still be napping).
----What would be the best room (Bay Lakes Tower?) accommodations...right now we are thinking 2 bedroom suites.
----Any specific room #'s we should try to get?
-----Should we consider Club level?

 

[dmaz]

Magic Band testers - how close you your trip were you asked to test? We just booked for CR about a week ago, for 3 weeks from now. Wondering if that will take us out of the running?

Nope shouldn't matter. Changed my dates and hotels from BW to CR a week ago. Only a few weeks out from trip. Wasn't eligible at BW but saw everything pop up once I switched. Customized my bands last Sat or Sun and they were here by Tues. A full day or 2 before the paper invitation came.

 

[Cobern]

There is also a new Aladdin and Jasmine with carpet! Most of ours also came from Grandma! And ALL of the Polly Pcoket ones did. I refuse to pay that much for them!

She got the carpet for her birthday on the 15. I agree the prices are crazy high, all Disney is though

 

[harleyquinn]

Magic Band testers - how close you your trip were you asked to test? We just booked for CR about a week ago, for 3 weeks from now. Wondering if that will take us out of the running?

For me it was 4 weeks. I think if you mess around with MDE, you will get asked to test. Are you on a package with tickets included?

Go to MDE and link your resort reservation.

 

[KathieSmallwood]

For me it was 4 weeks. I think if you mess around with MDE, you will get asked to test. Are you on a package with tickets included?

Go to MDE and link your resort reservation.

Sorry. But what is MDE?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Search and Rescue to get us off the 2nd page!

Also ticker checking, I've got 4 months and 2 weeks!! So excited.

Alas it seems next year we wont be at the Contemporary The cost and time frames just didnt fall into place. For 2014 we ended up booking a Grand Floridian deluxe studio villa in June. I will no doubt stop by the Contemporary while there though! For the last two years we stayed at Bay Lake Tower and it was awesome Time to give something else a try I guess!

Nothing wrong with trying something new - it can sometimes have the unintended consequence of making you like the old better though.

Just a gentle bump to move us off of the 2nd page

Anybody there currently who can update us on the never-ending debacle of Fridgegate 2013?

We check in to CR 37 days

I bolded your question in case someone there now missed it.

Help with 1st time trip planning!
Hello all. My family is beginning to plan a first time trip to WDW for Thanksgiving week 2014. I have read several threads but find all this information very overwhelming. So I thought I would post and ask you amazingly experienced people for help.

On this trip will be my brother's family (2 adults 3 kids: ages 9, 7, 5), my parents (2 adults), my family (1 adult 1 kid: age 3.5), and possibly my little brother (2 adults).

Questions
1. We are planning on staying at the Contemporary resort (mainly because of the close location to MK....I am fairly sure my son 3.5 will still be napping).
----What would be the best room (Bay Lakes Tower?) accommodations...right now we are thinking 2 bedroom suites.
----Any specific room #'s we should try to get?
-----Should we consider Club level?

to the DIS and the CR/BLT thread, Terra2721!


Bay Lake Tower (BLT) is the DVC villa part of Disney's Contemporary Resort (CR). CR does have club level suites on the 14th floor Tower Club Level and non-suites on the 12th floor Atrium Club Level. BLT does have two-bedroom villas, but no club level. A two bedroom villa would only work for 9 or fewer and by my count you have 9 IF your brother and guest don't join you. If he does, then the two-bedroom would not be possible. A two-bedroom CL suite at CR wouldn't work either because those accommodate only up to 8.

If you want CL, it would be best to book separate STD. CL rooms. If you don't want CL, then you could book a two-bedroom villa, if your brother doesn't join you or if he books another villa or room at CR for himself and his guest. Have you ever stayed CL at any resort before? If not, we'd be happy to answer any questions about it. We love CL at some WDW resorts and we'll be at WL/CL next week

It's best never to request a specific room number. If the Room Assignor doesn't have that room available for you, they won't easily be able to put you in a similar room. It's best to request a location or feature that's important to you. We can help you with room requests when you've booked either BLT or CR. They are completely different buildings and requests. All Tower rooms at CR have unobstructed views and balconies which makes requests less necessary than some resorts.

Happy planning!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Sorry. But what is MDE?

My Disney Experience - formerly, My Disney Vacation