Second Bay Lake Tower

[KAT4DISNEY]

Good point. To that end, couldn't they also make it fully NON-DVC and use that to replace the rooms lost by eliminating both the North and South garden wings to return CR to previous (or even greater) capacity? Not saying they ever would, just more wild speculations...

Yes, I think they could but personally I also doubt they would. Disney hasn't built a hotel in many, many moons. CR also used to be the one on the monorail line that would fill up last and was the least expensive. It was kind of a love it or hate it resort. And, they seemed willing enough to let go of the north wing. Currently I think Disney is more enamoured with DVC and having other people pay for the buildings than doing it themselves. Then, they also get to rent out rooms due to trade outs, breakage etc. etc. Just my take on things.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Another point you gave was not being able to build a 4th floor walkway. I don't see that as a stopping point either. It would just remain the same as the Garden Wings always were - a path on the ground level. That's not changing anything from other DVC's (like VWL).

Well let's say they did want to build another Tower for DVC, don't you think those staying in the 2nd one might complain about not having a skybridge to the 4th floor like from the original? Now correct me if I am wrong wasn't that listed as one of the features for Bay Lake Tower because it made getting to the 4th floor very easy. So in my opinion by not having that same thing built for another Tower wouldn't look good.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well let's say they did want to build another Tower for DVC, don't you think those staying in the 2nd one might complain about not having a skybridge to the 4th floor like from the original? Now correct me if I am wrong wasn't that listed as one of the features for Bay Lake Tower because it made getting to the 4th floor very easy. So in my opinion by not having that same thing built for another Tower wouldn't look good.

I'm sure it was listed as a feature because it was going to be there. Still, while it's nice it really wouldn't be making it that different from other DVC resorts to not have it. It just wouldn't be a sales point of the new tower and people could start putting in their requests to stay in the tower with the sky bridge! lol I haven't seen Disney being too concerned about a feature or convenience change if it suits them.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm sure it was listed as a feature because it was going to be there. Still, while it's nice it really wouldn't be making it that different from other DVC resorts to not have it. It just wouldn't be a sales point of the new tower and people could start putting in their requests to stay in the tower with the sky bridge! lol I haven't seen Disney being too concerned about a feature or convenience change if it suits them.

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't others say a 2nd Bay Lake Tower wouldn't have the same views of the Magic Kingdom because it would farther away compared to the original?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't others say a 2nd Bay Lake Tower wouldn't have the same views of the Magic Kingdom because it would farther away compared to the original?

I'd say that's correct. I don't see how it could have MK views. I think both or at least either the CR or BLT would block them. It would have to be marketed as the quiet lakeview tower or something. There would probably be some rooms that you would have a peek of the MK, or at least some of the fireworks from but not enough to have an MK view classification.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm hoping for a concierge level.

And I hope they fix the stooopid studio layout and take the bathroom sink out of the kitchen!!

 

[Tara]

And I hope they fix the stooopid studio layout and take the bathroom sink out of the kitchen!!

As a BLT owner, I hope they keep my fees nice and low and leave the studios alone.

 

[Anal Annie]

As a BLT owner, I hope they keep my fees nice and low and leave the studios alone.

I didn't say change the existing ones... I meant improve the design if they build the 2nd tower... I haven't been able to talk myself into staying there the way they are...

 

[deebits]

I would have to say, with me being a BLT owner, I would be VERY upset if they built another tower. If I had to fight even hard than I do now to get a MK view at the 11 month window is going to be a big turn off for me. BLT is hard to get into right now let alone when it is "sold out" and then you add a second tower. MK views are going to be near impossible to get with a 2nd tower and what was the reason for me buying in there in the first place.

 

[wdrl]

I'm confused... Why would the second tower need to have the same number of points as the first?
Just because it has the same number and size of rooms doesn't mean it can't have different view categories.
It's late so perhaps I'm missing your point.

MG

A second tower would not have to have the exact same number of points as the first tower. But, if a second tower is added to the BLT resort, then it must have the same ratio of points-to-square footage as the first tower. Since two-bedroom villas are allotted 19,640 points and grand villas are allotted 34,950 points at the first BLT, then those accommodations at a second tower will be allotted the same points. These point allotments are not based on view category but on square footage.

The point I was trying to make is that the first tower has villas in the expensive MK view category which, on a yearly basis, cost about 14.17% more than the points allotted to them. Unless a second tower has a high-cost view category generating a comparable booking premium, then that shortfall will have be made up by the rest of the BLT resort.

As you point out, a second tower could have different view categories that make up for the absence of the MK view. In my opinion, those different view categories can't be just a rehash of standard view and lake view. That is why I believe that the introduction of a concierge level category, or any category where the premium cost is justified by amenities offered rather than view, would be necessary if the BLT resort is expanded.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would have to say, with me being a BLT owner, I would be VERY upset if they built another tower. If I had to fight even hard than I do now to get a MK view at the 11 month window is going to be a big turn off for me. BLT is hard to get into right now let alone when it is "sold out" and then you add a second tower. MK views are going to be near impossible to get with a 2nd tower and what was the reason for me buying in there in the first place.

And I am willing to bet it's not just BLT owners who would be upset, because it will also be harder for others to just stay in the Contemporary Tower when you add in the loss of their other Garden Wing. Plus when you add in the convention guests who book maybe 1 year ahead then how can anyone get a reservation over there?

 

[wingkng]

Grand Floridian DVC will be next. At least before a second BLT.

I agree that Grand Floridian will be next. One possible reason is that I heard there is mold problem in some of the existing buildings at GF. It may make sense to gut those buildings and remodel them into DVC. I imagine any DVC resort there will be small, to make it more "exclusive."

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Build it, and they will come!!!!!!

 

[DVCGeek]

I imagine any DVC resort there will be small, to make it more "exclusive."

Like the 48 room VGC addition to Grand Cal.? Grand resorts = small DVC?

 

[La2kw]

It seems likely that Disney will eventually demolish the Garden Wing building and build a second BLT tower to finalize the hidden mickey they are creating with the footprint of the buildings. (Maybe with a different name than south BLT tower?)

Any speculation on how that will effect our current BLT points? Not really too depressed at the idea of more Standard view rooms or more Grand Villas (Std View category?) and they can't increase the point chart (although don't really know how they can add a whole building to our BLT community and maintain the integrity of that chart).

Did the Jambo owners know that a Kidani was in the works?

I don't think it seems likely at all. The Contemporary is fixed now. Pre-DVC, it had trouble filling rooms. Now, it doesn't. DVC will move on to other resorts that do not yet have a DVC component. The south wing is geared toward conventions and Disney will want to keep that business.

I'm not sure why you think the rectangular shaped Contemporary tower and the attached rectangular convention center would make a hidden Mickey with the detached semi-circular BLT.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't think it seems likely at all. The Contemporary is fixed now. Pre-DVC, it had trouble filling rooms. Now, it doesn't. DVC will move on to other resorts that do not yet have a DVC component. The south wing is geared toward conventions and Disney will want to keep that business.

It's also geared towards those guests who want to stay at the Contemporary but don't want to pay the cost for the Tower, which is another reason why it's so popular and why it's the least expensive rates among the Monorail Resorts.

 

[DenLo]

Like the 48 room VGC addition to Grand Cal.? Grand resorts = small DVC?

I agree that Grand Floridian will be next. One possible reason is that I heard there is mold problem in some of the existing buildings at GF. It may make sense to gut those buildings and remodel them into DVC. I imagine any DVC resort there will be small, to make it more "exclusive."

I think the DVC may never go with a small exclusive resort again since they are having so much trouble selling VGC. I would hesitate to buy there if that was my main park because with only 48 villas it could be real gamble as to whether you would get a reservation even at 11 months. And it would be more difficult to get a reservation at 7 months or closer. Since it is not yet sold out we cannot tell if this will be case, but I would always worry about it at this point.

However, after making such a blanket statement, I can think of one type of villa that would be appropriate for a small exclusive DVC resort and that would be Concierge villas. And that type of DVC seems appropriate for the Grand Floridian.

 

[Chuck S]

However, after making such a blanket statement, I can think of one type of villa that would be appropriate for a small exclusive DVC resort and that would be Concierge villas. And that type of DVC seems appropriate for the Grand Floridian.

I think the number of points required per night, and thus sales to "new" owners requiring a lot of points, would make an all concierge DVC impractical from a sales stand point.

 

[disneychic]

Grand Floridian DVC will be next. At least before a second BLT.

Ooooooh.....I'm getting all goose-pimply just dreaming about that!

 

[DVCGeek]

I would hesitate to buy there if that was my main park because with only 48 villas it could be real gamble as to whether you would get a reservation even at 11 months.

That's why I did buy there; after staying at the hotel I knew that when we go to DL I'll always want to stay at the grand, and with VGC ownership I can (more or less ) afford to! I generally travel at off-peak times and book at 11 months to the day, so hopefully I won't have problems with it, but I was afraid 7 months might be a near impossibility once fully sold...