Contempory Bay Towers

[OHIOVACATIONER]

Needing some info on this property. Last time we stayed at SSR and it was very nice but wondering if having the monorail is worth the extra points to spend at Bay Towers. Also the 1 BR at SSR was very roomy and nice trying to decide on a studio or a 1 BR. Just 2 of us. Anyone have thoughts on this property? Only gonna be at disney for 2 nights then off to the beach.

Also what exactly is this free dining that I keep reading about. Needless to say we dont stay up on the disney boards.

Thx

 

[Figment2]

Do you spend a lot of time at MK? If you do, then Bay Lake would probably be a good choice to stay. Friends & I bought small add-ons so that we can stay there every couple of years. We always go to MNSSHP so it will be great catching the monorail or walking over.

Before you book, check out the room layouts for the 1BR and the studios. The studio layout is a bit odd as the sink for the bathroom and the kitchen area are in a galley area. Someone could be blow drying their hair while someone else is trying to make toast and you will both be in the same area. Very odd. The 1BR though is beautiful - love the set up.

Free dining is a promotion from Disney (not available to DVC members) wherein you pay rack rate for a room, buy a at least a one day ticket and they give you the dining plan for free.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[DenLo]

Since you are only going to be there two nights then staying at BLT might be a good option for you. It'll give you the chance to try it out, dine at California Grille, or somewhere at the Poly or GF and you are only 10 minutes walking distance to MK. And you can take the monorail to Epcot. The monorail isn't really fast but it has some entertainment value.

We stayed in a studio at Bay Lake Tower (only one tower BTW) and had a great time. The combo vanity/kitchenette didn't affect us one way or the other. We enjoyed having all of the extra storage space in the kitchenette/vanity room. The only bad affect I had from it was on the first night I got up during the night to make my 3 am trek to the bathroom and got confused when I entered the first doorway and found only the vanity and kitchenette. I just wasn't used to having 3 rooms in a studio.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The studio at Bay Lake Tower is the smallest of all the studios on the property. It might be okay for two persons for a night or two, but for a family of four, it is too crowded.

DVC stays through Member Services (either cash or points) are not eligible for free dining. You must book that package through Disney Reservation Center and it includes tickets for all guests on the reservation.

 

[OHIOVACATIONER]

Well for just my husband and I the SSR would be best but our kids along with their 1.5 yr old may go so I was thinking maybe the monorail would be convenient but if it is not the fastest way I am not sure. So if you book a disney resort then they have a plan to get ticket and dining plan?

 

[Tara]

Well for just my husband and I the SSR would be best but our kids along with their 1.5 yr old may go so I was thinking maybe the monorail would be convenient but if it is not the fastest way I am not sure. So if you book a disney resort then they have a plan to get ticket and dining plan?

If you're going to have a small child with you, then you just can't beat the convenience of BLT. But I'd strongly recommend you book a 1br villa - 4 adults and a child in a BLT studio would be terribly cramped. In the 1br you'll not only have more space, you'll have more bed space (studio has a queen bed and double sleeper sofa; 1br has a king bed, queen sleeper sofa and a twin sleeper chair) plus you'll have 2 full bathrooms.

Are you booking through Disney CRO or are you a DVC member? If you are booking through CRO you will have to buy at least a 1-day base ticket for each person to add the dining plan, but it can be done.

As for the speed of the monorail, it's certainly very convenient, probably a wash if you are going to Epcot, though. For going to MK, it's much faster to just walk right over as the monorail would take you in the opposite direction, stopping at all the other monorail resorts and the Ticket & Transportation Center before finally arriving at MK. But if you are going to other resorts for dining, you just can't beat the monorail, and it's especially nice if it's raining as you never have to walk out from the cover of a building or covered breezeway.