The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (FEB 2010)

[Tinkerbellie16]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind the TWL only being for DVC members. It makes it less appealing to stay at BLT being a non-DVC member. I'll cross my fingers they change the policy.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind the TWL only being for DVC members. It makes it less appealing to stay at BLT being a non-DVC member. I'll cross my fingers they change the policy.

Your not the 1st person who has mentioned that since Bay Lake Tower has opened, although I think for now it has to do with the fact Bay Lake Tower was brand new or something. So hopefully some DVC members can explain it better then I did.

 

[elgerber]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered, but am I correct in assuming that the monorails would be running in time to get to a 7:30 am breakfast at Ohana's?? I hope?

Thanks!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered, but am I correct in assuming that the monorails would be running in time to get to a 7:30 am breakfast at Ohana's?? I hope?

Thanks!

The monorail (and buses) start taking guests beginning 1 hour prior to park opening. Their usual schedule is 7AM - 3AM. Transportation usually operates 3 hours after park closing. But that can change seasonally. You might see the monorail operating earlier than that, but that's usually because it's being taken out of "the barn" and driven around without guests.

You won't have a problem getting to the Poly for your ADR because the resort monorail will start taking guests at 7 and it's only about a 10 min. ride to the Poly. Also, if you're ever stopped at the TTC (with the doors open) and the monorail isn't leaving the station as quickly as usual, you can get off and walk right to the Poly in about 5 mins.

Aloha!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind the TWL only being for DVC members. It makes it less appealing to stay at BLT being a non-DVC member. I'll cross my fingers they change the policy.

I'm not a DVC member, nor would I want to be. I much prefer making a cash reservation with the WDTC, with a pin code discount and getting daily housekeeping included, but...

My opinion on the use of the TWL exclusively by DVC members is that other than the community room amenities, the TWL lounge is just about the only other amenity for use by DVC members only.

Considering how much money DVC members have paid to join plus their yearly dues and the fact that daily housekeeping isn't included and they can't apply pin codes and discounts to their reservations, I feel the least Disney can do for them is give DVC members and their guests priority entry into the TWL.

Also, there are capacity restrictions in the TWL. However, when Disney better determines TWL daily use averages and sees that they aren't filling to capacity and they can therefore make a lot more money selling drinks and snacks, they'll definitely be letting ALL BLT guests up there - guaranteed.

 

[elgerber]

The monorail (and buses) start taking guests beginning 1 hour prior to park opening. Their usual schedule is 7AM - 3AM. Transportation usually operates 3 hours after park closing. But that can change seasonally. You might see the monorail operating earlier than that, but that's usually because it's being taken out of "the barn" and driven around without guests.

You won't have a problem getting to the Poly for your ADR because the resort monorail will start taking guests at 7 and it's only about a 10 min. ride to the Poly. Also, if you're ever stopped at the TTC (with the doors open) and the monorail isn't leaving the station as quickly as usual, you can get off and walk right to the Poly in about 5 mins.

Aloha!

Are you saying sometimes that early it waits at the TTC for more people?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Are you saying sometimes that early it waits at the TTC for more people?

No, but sometimes we've arrived at the TTC from the CR or MK and the monorail might sit with the doors open longer than usual. It could be because it's awaiting clearance because there is another monorail up ahead at the Poly, GF or MK which hasn't left the station or it's having a slight delay for some other reason. We love the walk from the TTC to the Poly so we've sometimes just gotten off there and walked 5 mins. to the Poly if we have a ressie or if we were staying at the Poly. Just a personal preference.

 

[dvczerfs]

I'm not a DVC member, nor would I want to be. I much prefer making a cash reservation with the WDTC, with a pin code discount and getting daily housekeeping included, but...

My opinion on the use of the TWL exclusively by DVC members is that other than the community room amenities, the TWL lounge is just about the only other amenity for use by DVC members only.

Considering how much money DVC members have paid to join plus their yearly dues and the fact that daily housekeeping isn't included and they can't apply pin codes and discounts to their reservations, I feel the least Disney can do for them is give DVC members and their guests priority entry into the TWL.

Also, there are capacity restrictions in the TWL. However, when Disney better determines TWL daily use averages and sees that they aren't filling to capacity and they can therefore make a lot more money selling drinks and snacks, they'll definitely be letting ALL BLT guests up there - guaranteed.

im a ten year dvc member,(paid $58 per point for 400 points in 1999) with my dues included, total cost per year including init. investment $1500.00 per year and i can stay in a 2 bedroom for 11 nights in the tower. ive yet to find a pin that will allow that. anyway, if dvc fails to rent the rooms on points they put those roomss up for cash. which lowers my dues even more. its called "breakage". when a non dvc member pays cash to stay in a dvc resort, you are helping to pay my dues. i dont have a problem with that.also, being a dvc member, im offered a cash price to stay at a dvc resort if i dont want to use my point. i get about 40-45 percent off a room at the tower. no pins, no waiting for specials. as far as twl, to me its like the upper floors of the contemp. that you need your room key in the elevator to get to, you paid for it, you get to use it.

 

[dvczerfs]

im a ten year dvc member,(paid $58 per point for 400 points in 1999) with my dues included, total cost per year including init. investment $1500.00 per year and i can stay in a 2 bedroom for 11 nights in the tower. ive yet to find a pin that will allow that. anyway, if dvc fails to rent the rooms on points they put those roomss up for cash. which lowers my dues even more. its called "breakage". when a non dvc member pays cash to stay in a dvc resort, you are helping to pay my dues. i dont have a problem with that.also, being a dvc member, im offered a cash price to stay at a dvc resort if i dont want to use my point. i get about 40-45 percent off a room at the tower. no pins, no waiting for specials. as far as twl, to me its like the upper floors of the contemp. that you need your room key in the elevator to get to, you paid for it, you get to use it.

example, the 2009 budget at old key west, 1.3 million of income from breakage. thats okw only and not many people fight to pay cash at okw. thats 1.3 million of dues an okw member dont pay. so the therory that dvc members dont like non dvc members staying at there resort is false. im not sure the breakage at other dvc resorts are, my points are at okw and i only get there ann. budget.

 

[mamasha]

As for Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom, if your going in the mornings the Contemporary shares bus service with the Polynesian or Wilderness Lodge. However if your going in the afternoon/evening they then share with both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. So I would say for those two parks it could take around 30 minutes or maybe more.

Is the CR the first stop in the morning?....just wondering if we will have to stand

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Is the CR the first stop in the morning?....just wondering if we will have to stand

No matter how many other of the Magic Kingdom Resorts the Contemporary shares bus service with, they are always the 1st resort where you will be picked up and dropped off at.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

No, but sometimes we've arrived at the TTC from the CR or MK and the monorail might sit with the doors open longer than usual. It could be because it's awaiting clearance because there is another monorail up ahead at the Poly, GF or MK which hasn't left the station or it's having a slight delay for some other reason. We love the walk from the TTC to the Poly so we've sometimes just gotten off there and walked 5 mins. to the Poly if we have a ressie or if we were staying at the Poly. Just a personal preference.

Sometime when going to Epcot early in the mornings we have also waited at the Contemporary station for the Monorail to leave and that has also happened while waiting for the Epcot Monorail to leave the TTC.

 

[mamasha]

I have seen people on the beach before, because you will notice there are pool chairs over there and it's also where they play movies on specific nights.

Will there be a schedule of the movies in the check-in folder? Are they traditional disney movies?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Will there be a schedule of the movies in the check-in folder? Are they traditional disney movies?

Yes there will be a schedule you will get when you check-in, plus the movie which is played that day it will also be listed on the pool activties sign by the pool. Also it's usually Disney cartoon movies that are usually played.

 

[WDWKOOK]

From today's AllEars Newsletter:

The Wave… of American Flavors Discovery Dinner on March 18, 2010, will celebrate its guest farmer, Santa Sweets Tomatoes, the country's only grower and packer of Santa Sweets grape tomatoes. The evening begins with a reception at 6:30 in the restaurant's lounge, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. in The Wave's private dining room. Cost is $92 per person (includes tax and gratuity). The event is limited to 50 guests. For reservations, email WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party. You will be notified on a first-come, first-served basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

From today's AllEars Newsletter:

The Wave… of American Flavors Discovery Dinner on March 18, 2010, will celebrate its guest farmer, Santa Sweets Tomatoes, the country's only grower and packer of Santa Sweets grape tomatoes. The evening begins with a reception at 6:30 in the restaurant's lounge, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. in The Wave's private dining room. Cost is $92 per person (includes tax and gratuity). The event is limited to 50 guests. For reservations, email WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party. You will be notified on a first-come, first-served basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed.

Thanks for posting that.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks for posting that.

You're welcome.

 

[funforfive]

Can anyone tell me what the pool hours are? I'm wondering if the kids will be able to swim after DHS closes around 10pm?

TIA

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can anyone tell me what the pool hours are? I'm wondering if the kids will be able to swim after DHS closes around 10pm?

TIA

Yes, they can use the pool then, however, after 10PM there won't be any lifeguards. They're usually out from 8AM-10PM.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't remember the time when the lifeguards start to work but I do know 10:00 PM is when they are finished. Now you are still allowed to swim anytime you want because I have seen people swimming past 1:00 AM, however if something serious happens the lifeguards won't be there to help you. So it's swimming at your own risk.