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

[Cobern]

Ok I am so confused about BLT. We did a cash reservation through Disney. What added benefits do we receive rather than renting points? Do we get daily housekeeping? What does that entail? (I read somewhere they wash your dishes for you?). We have a 2 bedroom lake view reserved. Does that mean we have no chance of even a partial MK view (do we face towards WL?)? We have never stayed at a DVC resort before and only stayed at POR once this past May so this is all still very new to me. Also where do we check in? At the BLT building or do we have to go to the main Contemporary building? I just need to get my bearing because I do not want to drag the 2 kids around more than we have to . Also if I have a stroller rental arriving at the resort where would it be at BLT or CR?

Thank you, I know I sound like a dunce

 

[Diz Kids]

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.

Thanks! I went in and it let me order the Magic Bands.

We are not on a package with tickets, but on a TA rate that is treated as a package. We have AP's for our tickets.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ok I am so confused about BLT. We did a cash reservation through Disney. What added benefits do we receive rather than renting points? Do we get daily housekeeping? What does that entail? (I read somewhere they wash your dishes for you?). We have a 2 bedroom lake view reserved. Does that mean we have no chance of even a partial MK view (do we face towards WL?)? We have never stayed at a DVC resort before and only stayed at POR once this past May so this is all still very new to me. Also where do we check in? At the BLT building or do we have to go to the main Contemporary building? I just need to get my bearing because I do not want to drag the 2 kids around more than we have to . Also if I have a stroller rental arriving at the resort where would it be at BLT or CR?

Thank you, I know I sound like a dunce

You don't sound like a dunce and everything is going to be GREAT!

On a cash reservation, booking through the WDTC, you will get daily housekeeping. With daily housekeeping, if you forget to run the dishwasher, they will run it everyday.

There are some LV two-bedrooms with partial MK views that are on the North side of BLT. I'm going to refer you to Work2Play's thread that has specific room numbers and views for all BLT rooms.

If you're arriving between the hours of 7 AM - 10 PM then you will check-in at BLT. After hours you will check-in at CR. DME drops off only at CR (at least I was told it used to) so you will check-in at CR if you're using DME or you can walk over to BLT.

 

[wdhinn89]

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?

We have a room only booked and arrive on August 12th. Today we received from UPS an invitation from Disney to try the new Fast Pass Bands for our trip.

We are not interested. I'm not sure which park we will be in for 2 of our days (one of the days we are going to a water park and it depends on the weather) and honestly I don't feel like reading up on the new fast passes procedures and figuring out how to work the bands

 

[Cobern]

You don't sound like a dunce and everything is going to be GREAT!

On a cash reservation, booking through the WDTC, you will get daily housekeeping. With daily housekeeping, if you forget to run the dishwasher, they will run it everyday.

There are some LV two-bedrooms with partial MK views that are on the North side of BLT. I'm going to refer you to Work2Play's thread that has specific room numbers and views for all BLT rooms.

If you're arriving between the hours of 7 AM - 10 PM then you will check-in at BLT. After hours you will check-in at CR. DME drops off only at CR (at least I was told it used to) so you will check-in at CR if you're using DME or you can walk over to BLT.

Thank you! This clears up a ton of our questions! We are driving so DME is not an issue for us . I know we will have more questions as it gets closer but this should appease the rest of my family.

 

[VbChristy]

We're waiting patiently to be able to book BLT on cash for next July. ...

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!

What about trip insurance to cover you if you have to cancel?

 

[VbChristy]

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.

How did you know you were eligible?

 

[OurBigTrip]

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 take issue with you stating that you are "waiting patiently", as I know otherwise!! I feel confident that you are and I are the only two people that jump on-line first thing every morning, and type in trips for the 11 month mark from today to see what is available at BLT!!

What I find interesting is that few of the other DVC resorts have 2BR availability for 11 months from now.. of.our choices, BLT, then AKL, then VWL, only BLT is showing availability at the 11 month mark right now.

We're booked at CR with TPV, and if we can't get one of the three villas above, preferably with the military discount, we'll keep the CR rooms and be thrilled.

 

[trishadono]

I take issue with you stating that you are "waiting patiently", as I know otherwise!! I feel confident that you are and I are the only two people that jump on-line first thing every morning, and type in trips for the 11 month mark from today to see what is available at BLT!!

What I find interesting is that few of the other DVC resorts have 2BR availability for 11 months from now.. of.our choices, BLT, then AKL, then VWL, only BLT is showing availability at the 11 month mark right now.

We're booked at CR with TPV, and if we can't get one of the three villas above, preferably with the military discount, we'll keep the CR rooms and be thrilled.

My first BLT I got a passholder 40% discount for 4/2010 by checking EVERY day and often more than once. It paid off! I got in at 7:30pm after checking at 8am and 2pm that same day

For 2nd trip I found airfare first then had to check every day until I got dates I wanted. Then last Nov I had a 1brm but kept checking and finally got our first 2bdrm booked in July.

This time I kept checking and got in for a cash ressie at VGF

The good stuff is hard to come by but die hards get what we want

 

[OurBigTrip]

My first BLT I got a passholder 40% discount for 4/2010 by checking EVERY day and often more than once. It paid off! I got in at 7:30pm after checking at 8am and 2pm that same day

For 2nd trip I found airfare first then had to check every day until I got dates I wanted. Then last Nov I had a 1brm but kept checking and finally got our first 2bdrm booked in July.

This time I kept checking and got in for a cash ressie at VGF

The good stuff is hard to come by but die hards get what we want

I agree completely!

We went on an extended family trip back in 1998, and we wanted to stay in a 2BR at the Villas at the Disney Institute. I had an AP, and kept checking Expedia four or five times a day, because it would show the rates day by day. Every time I saw another day in our range open up, I would call CRO and make the adjustment. At one point, I had four reservations for an eight day trip, just to get the discounts LOL. But I finally got all eight nights at the AP discount!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I take issue with you stating that you are "waiting patiently", as I know otherwise!! I feel confident that you are and I are the only two people that jump on-line first thing every morning, and type in trips for the 11 month mark from today to see what is available at BLT!!

What I find interesting is that few of the other DVC resorts have 2BR availability for 11 months from now.. of.our choices, BLT, then AKL, then VWL, only BLT is showing availability at the 11 month mark right now.

We're booked at CR with TPV, and if we can't get one of the three villas above, preferably with the military discount, we'll keep the CR rooms and be thrilled.

I know!! I'm trying to convince myself that I'm being patient! I wish we had another option, but we'd need 3 TPV tower rooms which would run us about $3000 more than the BLT 2 bedroom. Fingers crossed!!

My first BLT I got a passholder 40% discount for 4/2010 by checking EVERY day and often more than once. It paid off! I got in at 7:30pm after checking at 8am and 2pm that same day

For 2nd trip I found airfare first then had to check every day until I got dates I wanted. Then last Nov I had a 1brm but kept checking and finally got our first 2bdrm booked in July.

This time I kept checking and got in for a cash ressie at VGF

The good stuff is hard to come by but die hards get what we want

SOOOO glad to know our obsession is understood, warranted, and will hopefully pay off Once I finally get this reservation, I too am hoping to apply an AP discount.

 

[Cobern]

My first BLT I got a passholder 40% discount for 4/2010 by checking EVERY day and often more than once. It paid off! I got in at 7:30pm after checking at 8am and 2pm that same day

For 2nd trip I found airfare first then had to check every day until I got dates I wanted. Then last Nov I had a 1brm but kept checking and finally got our first 2bdrm booked in July.

This time I kept checking and got in for a cash ressie at VGF

The good stuff is hard to come by but die hards get what we want

Are ap discounts offered very often at BLT?

 

[psac]

There's that goofy guy! Did Mrs. psac take that or is it a selfie? I hope your DW got back at you with a nice photo with Mickey.

Yeah, Mrs. Psac took the pic, and she got pics with Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and even one with a duck who didn't have any pants on!! Very scandalous.

Overall we liked Chef Mickey's. Very expensive for what you get, but good character interaction with the big ones -- you're obviously not just paying for the food. We really liked the food itself, but $75 for two adults is a bit harsh! (We may have been caught in holiday pricing.). Good thing we weren't there when the glass broke!

 

[princessap]

With all the construction talk at the poly for 2014 we have decided for our week stay at the CR...with maybe two nights at GF if we can secure a villa! LOL

I am thinking of booking the garden wing but just wondered if anyone knew if they are normally included with the room only discounts or free dining?? I am thinking room only would work out cheaper for us but not sure if they are included usually in the discounts.

thanks

Because of this thread I am pretty excited to stay here for our next trip and first week onsite!!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

With all the construction talk at the poly for 2014 we have decided for our week stay at the CR...with maybe two nights at GF if we can secure a villa! LOL

I am thinking of booking the garden wing but just wondered if anyone knew if they are normally included with the room only discounts or free dining?? I am thinking room only would work out cheaper for us but not sure if they are included usually in the discounts.

thanks

Because of this thread I am pretty excited to stay here for our next trip and first week onsite!!!!

I was able to secure garden wing with 40% off for next August (2014), so they are definitely included! Good luck!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I was able to secure garden wing with 40% off for next August (2014), so they are definitely included! Good luck!

What type of discount would be released already for NEXT August? You have me intrigued!

 

[Mousemommy1]

What type of discount would be released already for NEXT August? You have me intrigued!

Military discount. LOVE our military discount....

 

[princessap]

I dont think general public will be forty but fingers crossed it will be 35% off! I know tpv is excluded for the fall ones so I was wondering if garden wing is excluded.

 

[scotas]

With all the construction talk at the poly for 2014 we have decided for our week stay at the CR...with maybe two nights at GF if we can secure a villa! LOL

I am thinking of booking the garden wing but just wondered if anyone knew if they are normally included with the room only discounts or free dining?? I am thinking room only would work out cheaper for us but not sure if they are included usually in the discounts.

thanks

Because of this thread I am pretty excited to stay here for our next trip and first week onsite!!!!

Garden Wing is included in free dining. We'll be there Sept 21-27 and were able to get free dining.

 

[mickeynut1]

I dont think general public will be forty but fingers crossed it will be 35% off! I know tpv is excluded for the fall ones so I was wondering if garden wing is excluded.

I know this is only speculation, but when the Sept-Dec RO discount thread was started, it showed which resorts were included under each discount and CR TPV and CL were only falling under 5%, with others falling under 20% and 30% (although it didn't specify which room types went with which discount, other than TPV and CL...it only stated "certain rooms"). The thread has since been modified and no longer shows this information, so it's anybody's guess which room types will reflect which discounts. Before this thread came out, I decided to go with CR CL BLV, but now may rethink that if the discount is only 5%. My DH really wants to try the CR and I was so looking forward to trying CL or at least getting a TPV, so now to decide whether to just book what I want and take the little bit of savings I can get, or change room types (should tower BLV be offered with a higher discount) and save a little more .