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

[ABCastillo]

Starting January 21, 2014, service on the Magic Kingdom Resort and Express monorails will be unavailable on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. to allow for planned maintenance. This schedule will run through the end of March 2014. During this time, watercraft and additional buses will be available. The Epcot monorail beam will operate normally. AllEars

Thanks for posting. Sort of stinks but we will make it work!

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[mickeyplanner]

We stayed at BLT on points (rented) in June and I was able to book a bounce back for November at POR.

AWESOME, keeping my fingers crossed that I can get a bounceback offer for our May 2014 trip.

Now we are even considering a November 2014 trip. Thought we would use points but I will see what the bounce back offer is in January and May

 

[mickeyplanner]

We stayed at BLT on points (rented) in June and I was able to book a bounce back for November at POR.

Starting January 21, 2014, service on the Magic Kingdom Resort and Express monorails will be unavailable on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. to allow for planned maintenance. This schedule will run through the end of March 2014. During this time, watercraft and additional buses will be available. The Epcot monorail beam will operate normally.
AllEars

UGH!!! This will effect our trip next month. We had this happen to us back in March 2012 and it was a hassle. Sometime I wonder if it is worth staying at a monorail resort? We will be at BLT January 20-25 and were planning on using the monorail a lot.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Thanks to Kook's post on the monorail maintenance, I need some help on transportation...
We will be in Epcot on January 23 for the morning and lunch (Marrakesh 12:30). Then we plan to head to MK (4:20 Big Thunder FP+) and then to Ohana (5pm) for dinner. What would be the shortest route now to get from Epcot to MK around 2pm in the afternoon? Now I am wondering if I should change our FP+ time since the monorail won't be running?

 

[Missyrose]

Thanks to Kook's post on the monorail maintenance, I need some help on transportation...
We will be in Epcot on January 23 for the morning and lunch (Marrakesh 12:30). Then we plan to head to MK (4:20 Big Thunder FP+) and then to Ohana (5pm) for dinner. What would be the shortest route now to get from Epcot to MK around 2pm in the afternoon? Now I am wondering if I should change our FP+ time since the monorail won't be running?

Since you'll be eating in the WS, I'd walk to Beach Club and grab the bus to MK. Easier than walking to the front of the park, taking monorail to TTC and the bus to MK.

 

[paxsarah]

Since you'll be eating in the WS, I'd walk to Beach Club and grab the bus to MK. Easier than walking to the front of the park, taking monorail to TTC and the bus to MK.

Or the ferry from TTC to MK. But the first route via BC resort bus to MK is probably the best in that situation, regardless of monorail maintenance. I'd be more concerned about making it from a 4:20 BTMRR FP+ to 'Ohana at 5:00. That seems pretty tight, given 'Ohana's notoriety for long waits - and again, regardless of monorail status. I'd consider moving the FP+ earlier.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Since you'll be eating in the WS, I'd walk to Beach Club and grab the bus to MK. Easier than walking to the front of the park, taking monorail to TTC and the bus to MK.

Thank you, I completely forgot to think about walking to BC and using their bus. That sounds like the best route. I am worried that the ferries will be crowded since the monorails will be done.

Or the ferry from TTC to MK. But the first route via BC resort bus to MK is probably the best in that situation, regardless of monorail maintenance. I'd be more concerned about making it from a 4:20 BTMRR FP+ to 'Ohana at 5:00. That seems pretty tight, given 'Ohana's notoriety for long waits - and again, regardless of monorail status. I'd consider moving the FP+ earlier.

Thank you, I am trying to switch to 3-4 for BTMRR, if MDE ever is up and running today.

 

[Julie521]

Request is in for our two week stay. The anticipation is killing me waiting for an answer!!! Fingers crossed we will be booked soon for BLT next September

 

[VbChristy]

This majorly stinks with my 8 month old for our Feb trip. That's the point if staying at a monorail hotel- to easily hotel hop, etc. how will it work if we need to get to Poly or GF for dinner? (And my kid is sleeping by 7 - so dinner is early.)

 

[Babsy]

Starting January 21, 2014, service on the Magic Kingdom Resort and Express monorails will be unavailable on weekdays between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. to allow for planned maintenance. This schedule will run through the end of March 2014. During this time, watercraft and additional buses will be available. The Epcot monorail beam will operate normally.
AllEars

Thank you for the Heads up!

Fortunately, we are staying at the CR so we can walk to and from the MK without having to depend upon the monorail or alternate transportation to the MK!

LOVE CR!!!

 

[Babsy]

This majorly stinks with my 8 month old for our Feb trip. That's the point if staying at a monorail hotel- to easily hotel hop, etc. how will it work if we need to get to Poly or GF for dinner? (And my kid is sleeping by 7 - so dinner is early.)

You could walk to MK and take the boat. Or avoid booking at the Poly or GF for meals, which is what have decided to do.

 

[Babsy]

Since you'll be eating in the WS, I'd walk to Beach Club and grab the bus to MK. Easier than walking to the front of the park, taking monorail to TTC and the bus to MK.

That is one of the great things about staying at the CR - you have nearly direct access to all other resorts via their bus to the MK!

Awesome, isn't it?

 

[mickeyplanner]

This majorly stinks with my 8 month old for our Feb trip. That's the point if staying at a monorail hotel- to easily hotel hop, etc. how will it work if we need to get to Poly or GF for dinner? (And my kid is sleeping by 7 - so dinner is early.)

Boat would be the way I would go, then you might not have to break down your stroller like you would on the bus.

That is one of the great things about staying at the CR - you have nearly direct access to all other resorts via their bus to the MK!

Awesome, isn't it?

We rarely use the buses when we stay at BLT. What is the order in which the buses make their stops at the other resorts they share with?

 

[Happyjen27]

Well, I bid farewell for now to the CR.

Our stay was great. No problems with our room, adequate storage for our things. The room upgrade to TPV was amazing, and we enjoyed the fireworks nearly every night from our balcony.

The only downside to staying at CR on the TPV side is that even with a good white noise machine (a Dohm) the night I went to bed early the fireworks woke me up, and because it was so loud and I was disoriented being in a hotel, my heart was thumping out of my chest!! For the rest of the trip I made sure that I stayed awake until after the fireworks. This was an easy task in winter, but I think summertime might have later fireworks. The kids slept right through the sound of the fireworks with no problem.

The children have requested that we stay at the Grand Floridian next time. I can't imagine it would ever beat the CR, but, I'll give it a shot.

 

[Julie521]

Does any know how many points I would need to rent for a 10 night stay at bay lake tower?

 

[WDWKOOK]

The next time I post will be from WL! I will try to get some festive CR photos soon. No fighting (or parties) while I'm gone...

 

[NandK]

Does any know how many points I would need to rent for a 10 night stay at bay lake tower?

It depends on on the time of year, view category and room size. I suggest going to one of the DVC points rental sites and using a points calculator. You should find several sites by doing a google search. The points calculator is typically easy to find on these sites. We went in Feb. of this year, stayed in a 1 bedroom standard view for 7 nights and we needed 250 points. However, busy times require more points per night and slower times are less. Hopes this helps!

 

[psac]

Well, I bid farewell for now to the CR.

Our stay was great. No problems with our room, adequate storage for our things. The room upgrade to TPV was amazing, and we enjoyed the fireworks nearly every night from our balcony.

The only downside to staying at CR on the TPV side is that even with a good white noise machine (a Dohm) the night I went to bed early the fireworks woke me up, and because it was so loud and I was disoriented being in a hotel, my heart was thumping out of my chest!! For the rest of the trip I made sure that I stayed awake until after the fireworks. This was an easy task in winter, but I think summertime might have later fireworks. The kids slept right through the sound of the fireworks with no problem.

The children have requested that we stay at the Grand Floridian next time. I can't imagine it would ever beat the CR, but, I'll give it a shot.

By the way, you'll still have the fireworks keep you up there as well. The first time we stayed there, we went to bed early to be up for rope drop and we thought we were under attack!! obviously you know what it is right away, but like you said, when you're already asleep you get disoriented.

 

[trishadono]

The next time I post will be from WL! I will try to get some festive CR photos soon. No fighting (or parties) while I'm gone...

I just love the Christmas tree at WL. Have a great trip !

 

[Babsy]

The next time I post will be from WL! I will try to get some festive CR photos soon. No fighting (or parties) while I'm gone...

Have a fabulous trip!

Looking forward to the festive photos,
Babsy

(sorry, but fighting and parties are almost inevitable this time of year! LOL)