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

[LSUfan4444]

So the walk to the main tower from the garden wing is 5 minutes? Or less than that?

You can moonwalk it in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Disney Mommy D]

We have decided to switch to Wilderness Lodge. We can save 1200 bucks by switching. We are going to be moving in May, so I would like to put that extra money toward something else.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Just a note for soon arrivals. As of last week, there is no sound from Wishes being played on the observation deck underneath the monorail (4th floor contemporary/5th floor bay lake). The area is still open for viewing, but none of the speakers are piping in the music.

Thanks for the update.

How far of a walk is it from the garden view rooms to the main lobby? Does anyone have an opinion on them. We never stayed here but got a good deal.

We once had an amazing ground floor GW room that was directly in front of Bay Lake. But, I've also stayed in a couple of GV/GW rooms that didn't have as fabulous a view. We just love the Tower and all our recent stays have been in a Tower BLV room. We prefer the Tower because the view is more commanding since we're up higher than a GW room, we have a guaranteed Bay Lake View and guaranteed balcony. We love that everything is just an easy elevator ride down. But, the GW rooms are identical, you would save some money, yet still experience all CR has to offer, and you can easily take the covered walkway from the GW to the Tower in less than 5 minutes from the furthest room.

Depends on where you are located at in the garden wing (home of the soon to be Bay Lake II ), but it will be less than 1/4 mile to the lobby. Add additional if you're going to the Contempo Cafe.

Nice visual aid. Where did you read recently about a BLT expansion to include removal of the South Garden Wing?

While I am posting pics, I thought I would share a beautiful sunrise last week over bay Lake from an 8th floor room (7817) with a Lake View.

Beautiful!

We stayed in the garden wing while we were there for our Disney wedding and honeymoon. When I've posted my opinion about it before, others have often not felt the same, but for us.....we felt it was way too "hotely" feeling. It just felt like we were at a nice Hilton somewhere. Every single time we were in the hallways we passed multiple conventioneers with their suits and briefcases, and although very nice, it didn't feel like Disney to us. The following year we stayed in the tower, and with the same rooms/décor it was a totally different feeling because we were IN the action. We liked the tower MUCH better. That being said, you can't beat the location of the CR to the MK and the monorail to EPCOT, so if it's a budget thing, give it a try!

We felt the same way about the hallways in the GW (and Poly for that matter). We really disliked passing (sometimes the same) room service trays left in front of doors throughout the day. I don't ever recall seeing them in the Tower to the same extent as the GW. Maybe it's less convenient to collect them over there?

I had heard that the land wouldn't support another tower on that site.

And, I haven't read anything (other than rumors years ago) that the South Garden Wing would be razed.

We have decided to switch to Wilderness Lodge. We can save 1200 bucks by switching. We are going to be moving in May, so I would like to put that extra money toward something else.

I've already added you to the Lodgers' Log

 

[LSUfan4444]

Where did you read recently about a BLT expansion to include removal of the South Garden Wing?

I didn't read about it. I'll spare everyone the "I heard it from a CM" story and let's just say it is more of my opinion than any word (official or unofficial) from Disney.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I didn't read about it. I'll spare everyone the "I heard it from a CM" story and let's just say it is more of my opinion than any word (official or unofficial) from Disney.

Thank you. BTW, I never mind a good, juicy, "The bus driver told me" story

 

[psac]

I had heard that the land wouldn't support another tower on that site.

I've heard that many times as well. Of course the new VGF is partially on top of what was just water, so it wouldn't surprise me if Disney engineering came up with some additional magic at some point in the future.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I've heard that many times as well. Of course the new VGF is partially on top of what was just water, so it wouldn't surprise me if Disney engineering came up with some additional magic at some point in the future.

Well, maybe they could build in-water bungalows like they are soon at Poly

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've heard that many times as well. Of course the new VGF is partially on top of what was just water, so it wouldn't surprise me if Disney engineering came up with some additional magic at some point in the future.

But GFV isn't a tower, either. Maybe just a lower level building. Similar to what is there now.

 

[psac]

Well, maybe they could build in-water bungalows like they are soon at Poly

But GFV isn't a tower, either. Maybe just a lower level building. Similar to what is there now.

Or a lower level building AND bungalos!!!

 

[LSUfan4444]

I've heard that many times as well. Of course the new VGF is partially on top of what was just water, so it wouldn't surprise me if Disney engineering came up with some additional magic at some point in the future.

If the fear of building on land that wouldn't support what was being built stopped Disney, WDW would have been build in St Louis, not swamp land in central florida. The land currently may or may not be able to support another tower, but the land can be built to support another tower (or pretty much anything else they want to build).

It appears ( - thank you "bus driver") they are doing just that over at Polynesian as well

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

If the fear of building on land that wouldn't support what was being built stopped Disney, WDW would have been build in St Louis, not swamp land in central florida. The land currently may or may not be able to support another tower, but the land can be built to support another tower (or pretty much anything else they want to build).

It appears ( - thank you "bus driver") they are doing just that over at Polynesian as well

It's the land underneath the land/water that matters. Seven seas lagoon is entirely man made, so filling it is just reclaiming surface land. What matters is what is below the surface and whether there are sinkholes. Of course, with today's technology we can build anywhere, but it is a matter of cost.

The land between the TTC and Contemporary is full of sinkholes and very expensive to build on. You can't read too much into the GF DVC or Poly Bungalows, because the land below the water there may be perfectly suitable for building on, and hence easy to just fill in and build, whereas the land where the South Garden Wing is may be very expensive to put such a large structure. Plus, you need to think about the infrastructure of the resort to handle that many more people.

It's not fear -- it's cost.

 

[oneprincessjo]

Ahhhhh!!!! Just checked into BLT today... got room 8442 on the 14th floor. Booked 1 bedroom lakeview but got a magnificent view of Epcot!!!! Loving it!!!!

 

[trishadono]

Ahhhhh!!!! Just checked into BLT today... got room 8442 on the 14th floor. Booked 1 bedroom lakeview but got a magnificent view of Epcot!!!! Loving it!!!!

We had that room on the 8th floor and loved it too!

Enjoy!

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

NEW Create Your Own Sundaes and Specialty Drinks at Contemporary Grounds.

Soooo excited to try this in March!! Can't seem to find operating hours tho.....anyone?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Soooo excited to try this in March!! Can't seem to find operating hours tho.....anyone?

Today's hours are 5:30 AM - 11:00 PM, but you can put in a different date HERE.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ahhhhh!!!! Just checked into BLT today... got room 8442 on the 14th floor. Booked 1 bedroom lakeview but got a magnificent view of Epcot!!!! Loving it!!!!

That's terrific. Enjoy the rest of your stay and keep warm.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Today's hours are 5:30 AM - 11:00 PM, but you can put in a different date HERE.

Thx Kook!!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Soooo excited to try this in March!! Can't seem to find operating hours tho.....anyone?

We are too!!! We went to a place in Panama City Beach that had the make your own sundae Dippin Dots and it was so good. Plus, we are coffee fiends, so this is our favorite little stop on our walk to MK

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

We are too!!! We went to a place in Panama City Beach that had the make your own sundae Dippin Dots and it was so good. Plus, we are coffee fiends, so this is our favorite little stop on our walk to MK

I checked out Kook's link.....looks like hours are 5:30AM-11PM!! Woot woot!! Plenty of time to try it out!! . I have never had the Dots before but I'm REALLY looking forward to trying them!!!

 

[acg]

Can you buy a case of water at contemp market