Future of Bay Lake Tower

[Bo1203]

Thinking of buying a BLT contract, we prefer tower style resorts and obviously the proximity to MK and other resorts.

I know the refurb is coming up, should we expect resale prices to climb post refurb? At $130pp average it trails GF and Poly significantly. Beach Club is selling around the same price point and expires 18 years sooner!

DVC has now + GF and Poly, is BLT next? Tear down the garden wing or take over a parking lot for an additional tower?

Hope we get some photos of refurbed rooms soon.

 

[kilik64]

Thinking of buying a BLT contract, we prefer tower style resorts and obviously the proximity to MK and other resorts.

I know the refurb is coming up, should we expect resale prices to climb post refurb? At $130pp average it trails GF and Poly significantly. Beach Club is selling around the same price point and expires 18 years sooner!

DVC has now + GF and Poly, is BLT next? Tear down the garden wing or take over a parking lot for an additional tower?

Hope we get some photos of refurbed rooms soon.

If the refurb is well done, ala SSR, there will most likely be a little bit of a bump in resale pricing from that, outside of normal market changes.

 

[tjkraz]

DVC has now + GF and Poly, is BLT next? Tear down the garden wing or take over a parking lot for an additional tower?

Bay Lake Tower opened in 2009. Disney has had 15 years to add more units to the site, and hasn't gone that route. There's no specific reason to believe that will change anytime soon. Given that DVC has unsold points in at least 5 different properties (Riviera, Poly, Fr Wilderness, Disneyland Hotel, Aulani), it may be a year or two before they announce another project then 2-3 years to build. And they recently renewed a series of permits from the Reflections resort which was derailed by Covid.

Hope we get some photos of refurbed rooms soon.

Probably October at the absolute soonest.

 

[supercarrie]

It has been long rumored that they will demolish the other garden tower to add BLT 2, but I don't see that happening in the near future.

We ended up buying a 100 point contract at BLT in February for $120/point. Especially with the refurb coming up, it felt like a steal compared to Poly or GF. I love visiting both of those, but the serenity of Bay Lake, walk to MK, size of the rooms, and access to amenities at Contemporary made it an easy decision for us to buy in to use as SAP. (We'll see if we end up using them at other resorts, or just hanging on with BLT, especially once the refurb is done!)

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thinking of buying a BLT contract, we prefer tower style resorts and obviously the proximity to MK and other resorts.

I know the refurb is coming up, should we expect resale prices to climb post refurb? At $130pp average it trails GF and Poly significantly. Beach Club is selling around the same price point and expires 18 years sooner!

DVC has now + GF and Poly, is BLT next? Tear down the garden wing or take over a parking lot for an additional tower?

Hope we get some photos of refurbed rooms soon.

I think you are buying in at today’s prices with a “margin of saftey”. The low dues and location alone lock in a certain value.

 

[Bo1203]

It has been long rumored that they will demolish the other garden tower to add BLT 2, but I don't see that happening in the near future.

That garden wing needs to go!

 

[CastAStone]

That garden wing needs to go!

It got a full refurbishment in 2022, so it may not be the next project on the list.

 

[CastAStone]

Thinking of buying a BLT contract, we prefer tower style resorts and obviously the proximity to MK and other resorts.

I know the refurb is coming up, should we expect resale prices to climb post refurb? At $130pp average it trails GF and Poly significantly. Beach Club is selling around the same price point and expires 18 years sooner!

DVC has now + GF and Poly, is BLT next? Tear down the garden wing or take over a parking lot for an additional tower?

Hope we get some photos of refurbed rooms soon.

I don’t expect a huge bump from the refurbishment unless it just blows people away, as it was noted above that SSR did.

If the number of contracts on the market keeps declining though, it may just increase in price anyway from supply and demand pressures.

 

[tidefan]

Just a personal anecdote. We own at all 3 MK properties (BLT, VGF1, and PVB1) and out of those, we prefer BLT.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I ask every time I talk to to DVC when are you going to build BLT 2???? I will throw my money at you before you break ground - take my money !! I absolutely Love BLT !!! Needless to say I get the same answer nothing on the table about it !! So sad ! one of these days I have faith it’s going to happen - maybe after Reflection is finally built

 

[supercarrie]

Just a personal anecdote. We own at all 3 MK properties (BLT, VGF1, and PVB1) and out of those, we prefer BLT.

Curious - why? I am excited to hear more about the greatness of BLT! We have visited it multiple times but bought a resale contract without having ever stayed there or at the Contemporary.

 

[CraigInPA]

When Disney wasn't taking contracts via ROFR earlier this year, you could pick up contracts in the $110pp range. Now that they're back, you may be paying more. After the refurb, you may be paying more. Carpe Diem.

 

[tidefan]

Curious - why? I am excited to hear more about the greatness of BLT! We have visited it multiple times but bought a resale contract without having ever stayed there or at the Contemporary.

Not sure. Just like the overall vibe of the place. The walk to Contemporary is easy via the skybridge and we love the boats to WL and FW.

We also love the setup of the studios. I know that many do not, but we mostly go as a couple and very much appreciate that, IMHO, BLT has the best studio kitchenette setup with it being almost a separate room.

We do also like VGF and Poly, but with VGF, we only like the Deluxe Studios, not the hotel rooms, and with all the added contracts they sold when they added BPK, it has become a lot tougher to get in to those rooms. Also, both VGF and Poly are just a lot of points when compared to BLT, so that is also a major consideration.

Actually, since the renovation and as we have owned a number of years now and are no longer park commandos and the fact that we always drive, we actually tilt more towards SSR now as it has a great balance of points and beautiful rooms/grounds. When people above mention the renovation at SSR as one that was well done, it’s even more than that. It really doesn’t even look like the same place, from a room perspective. It got a serious upgrade. I think this is what people are hoping for at BLT, though personally, I think the rooms are fine, but maybe we will be in for a surprise like we were at SSR!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Depending on the sites you follow and tea leaves you read, there were discussions that a Seven Seas Lagoon Tower, which would replace the South Garden Wing, was to follow after the Island Tower. The construction of the new tower would coincide with the razing of the Convention Center and addition of more amenities at the Contemporary Resort. However, many insiders are now saying that the stars are aligned for something, likely not Reflections as envisioned, on the old River Country site that will add value to the Cabins at Fort Wilderness and bring another deluxe resort to the Magic Kingdom area. Again, tea leaves.

If and when another tower comes to the Contemporary, it would certainly be its own association as Bay Lake Tower is approaching its 15th year anniversary.

 

[MyDogTink]

Just a personal anecdote. We own at all 3 MK properties (BLT, VGF1, and PVB1) and out of those, we prefer BLT.

Why is that? I can’t decide if I want to add more BLT resale or direct PVB. We love BLT and are looking forward to the refurbishment. Although, I’m staying clear away from BLT during the refurbishment.

 

[Disdreaming479]

I’m just wondering if they’ll move people to the contemporary during refurbishment if/when they run into delays. I’m 50/50 right now on modifying away from BLT in 2025. I have a 3 night WL in January from lake view to standard that hasn’t filled yet. It was placed asap.

 

[MyDogTink]

I’m just wondering if they’ll move people to the contemporary during refurbishment if/when they run into delays. I’m 50/50 right now on modifying away from BLT in 2025. I have a 3 night WL in January from lake view to standard that hasn’t filled yet. It was placed asap.

For us, I don’t want to risk getting moved from a 1 BR to the hotel side. There will be a divorce. I suppose the BWV debacle has a lot of us on edge.

We were at BLT last week. I mentioned this to the front desk CM. I wasn’t expecting much info but he said they will be doing the refurb in sections.

 

[Disdreaming479]

For us, I don’t want to risk getting moved from a 1 BR to the hotel side. There will be a divorce. I suppose the BWV debacle has a lot of us on edge.

We were at BLT last week. I mentioned this to the front desk CM. I wasn’t expecting much info but he said they will be doing the refurb in sections.

My main concern is lack of water or power or noise in daytime. I’ll be in a studio.

 

[CastAStone]

For us, I don’t want to risk getting moved from a 1 BR to the hotel side. There will be a divorce. I suppose the BWV debacle has a lot of us on edge.

We were at BLT last week. I mentioned this to the front desk CM. I wasn’t expecting much info but he said they will be doing the refurb in sections.

At other recent renovations that had to move people moved them to the same accommodation category at other resorts. So they might call and offer you a choice of a 1BR at AKV, SSR, or RIV or something like that. Whatever they have available.

 

[MyDogTink]

At other recent renovations that had to move people moved them to the same accommodation category at other resorts. So they might call and offer you a choice of a 1BR at AKV, SSR, or RIV or something like that. Whatever they have available.

Good to know. Maybe this refurbishment won’t be as bad as BWV.