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

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Thanks for posting your review and I think this is the answer to your question. The following Garden room numbers are Garden Wing Deluxe Rooms 5109, 5209, 5309. So is that what you were asking about?
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=20816669&postcount=2681

Actually I am wondering about 5103 and similar (i.e. 5203, 5303). They are a much larger room and I assume it is a suite but I'm not sure what kind.

Thanks!


As for the pictures of the 2 BR, I will try and get them posted as soon as they get downloaded. :)
 
Does BLT offer the refillable resort mug? Is it good for coffee refills? I read in a 2009 travel book that some resorts have these and it said pop and coffee. This was the first time I have seen anything about coffee, and just wishing it is true. Has anyone done this?
You would need to purchase the mugs at the Contempo Cafe inside the Contemporary, however it can also be used at the Cove Bar at the Bay Lake Tower pool.
 
Actually I am wondering about 5103 and similar (i.e. 5203, 5303). They are a much larger room and I assume it is a suite but I'm not sure what kind.

Thanks!


As for the pictures of the 2 BR, I will try and get them posted as soon as they get downloaded. :)
Well I don't know which one is specific for those rooms, but one must be the Garden Wing 1 Bedroom Suite and the other one must be the Garden Wing Hospitality Suite, since those are the only suites listed on their 2010 room rates in the Garden Wing.
 

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010...-california-grill-at-the-contemporary-resort/

Celebrate the California Grill’s 15th anniversary with this recipe from talented chef Brian Piasecki who is at the helm in the kitchen, continuing the Walt Disney World restaurant’s run as an award-winning dining destination. All meals are made from scratch in a stage kitchen divided into seven stations, including a sushi bar, a brick pizza oven, a wood-burning grill and a dessert shop. For dining reservations, call 407-WDW-DINE.

Salmon and English Pea Risotto with Spring Ramps from the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Serves 4

Ramp Pesto:
1 1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh whole ramps, root ends and tough tops removed and discarded
2 tablespoons grated aged (hard) goat cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 teaspoon roasted garlic puree
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
Pinch coarse salt, coarsely ground black pepper
Roasted Black Trumpet Mushrooms:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups black trumpet mushrooms, or similar wild, meaty mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Sautéed Peas and Ramps:
1 tablespoon butter
12 fresh ramps, washed well
1/2 cup fresh English peas
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
English Pea Risotto:
2 cups fresh English peas
1/4 cup sugar
6 1/4 cups vegetable stock, divided
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups carnaroli or Arborio rice (also called risotto rice)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated manchego cheese
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Coarse salt, to taste
Salmon 4 (6-ounce) filets skinless wild salmon
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
24 yellow pea tendrils, for garnish

For ramp pesto:
1. Place all ingredients in a food processor; pulse until mixture is well combined but still slightly chunky. Set aside.

For roasted black trumpet mushrooms:
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Place oil, shallot, garlic, and mushrooms in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and toss again to thoroughly combine.
3. Place mixture on an ungreased baking sheet. Roast for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the mushrooms are fragrant and slightly shriveled.
4. Place the roasted mushrooms in a medium sauté pan over high heat. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing constantly, until mushrooms are seared and crisp around edges. Set aside and keep warm.

For sautéed peas and ramps:
1. Melt butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. When butter is frothy, add ramps and peas. Sauté for 2 minutes until just warm. Add salt and pepper; stir to combine. Set aside and keep warm.

For English pea risotto:
1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add peas and sugar to water. Cook 2 minutes, then plunge peas into an ice water bath to stop the cooking.
2. Place cooked peas and 1/4 cup of vegetable stock in food processor and puree. Once the mixture is smooth, pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pressing puree through the sieve with the back of a spoon. Discard solids. Set pea puree aside.
3. Place remaining 6 cups vegetable broth in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a slight boil, then adjust heat to medium to keep at a simmer.
4. Heat oil in a wide-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Add rice; sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
5. Slowly ladle 1/2 cup simmering broth into rice, stirring constantly until most of broth is adsorbed. Continue adding broth, 1 ladleful at a time, stirring frequently between additions and waiting until rice looks slightly dry before adding the next ladleful. When most, but not all, of the broth is absorbed, taste the risotto. When risotto is done, it should not be crunchy at all, but still slightly firm. Add remaining broth, if needed, until risotto is al dente.
6. Remove from heat, and add the pea puree, heavy cream, manchego cheese, butter, and pepper. Taste, then add salt to taste (some broths are salty, so the amount of salt you add will vary). Stir to combine.

For salmon:
1. Sprinkle the salmon filets with salt and white pepper. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, carefully add salmon filets to the pan. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip filets, and cook for 4 minutes more. Remove pan from heat.

To serve:
1. Divide the risotto equally among 4 wide, shallow bowls, then place about 1/4 cup mushrooms on the center of the risotto.
2. Place the salmon directly on top of the mushrooms, then place another 1/4 cup mushrooms on top of the salmon. Drizzle a bit of ramp pesto around the outside of the risotto.
3. Evenly divide sautéed peas and ramps over the top of the fish. Garnish with 6 pea shoots on each portion. Serve immediately.
 
Well we finally have all our plans made for our upcoming vacay! We are going in the middle of July, going to Disney and on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Dh only wanted to do a 7 night cruise, but me & the kids wanted Disney too! So we decided to squeeze both in.
Our plans:
-Fly into Orlando on Saturday, take ME and stay 1 night at the Beach Club CL LV. This will be our Downtown Disney & swim day.
-On Sunday we will pick up a rental car at the Doubletree & drive to Ft. Lauderdale stay a night there & drop off car there(to save on parking).
-Cruise Monday thru Sat on Grandeur of the Seas
-Sat pick up car at rental place, drive to the Contemporary CL BLV!!!! Drop off rental car.
-Stay 4 nights at the Contemporary.
-Take ME back to airport. Fly home on Wed. boo!
 
Well we finally have all our plans made for our upcoming vacay! We are going in the middle of July, going to Disney and on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Dh only wanted to do a 7 night cruise, but me & the kids wanted Disney too! So we decided to squeeze both in.
Our plans:
-Fly into Orlando on Saturday, take ME and stay 1 night at the Beach Club CL LV. This will be our Downtown Disney & swim day.
-On Sunday we will pick up a rental car at the Doubletree & drive to Ft. Lauderdale stay a night there & drop off car there(to save on parking).
-Cruise Monday thru Sat on Grandeur of the Seas
-Sat pick up car at rental place, drive to the Contemporary CL BLV!!!! Drop off rental car.
-Stay 4 nights at the Contemporary.
-Take ME back to airport. Fly home on Wed. boo!
I hope you have a great time.
 
Hi everyone - We just returned from a great trip at BLT. We stayed 5 nights in a 2BR villa and it really was awesome! What a nice place and location.

Thanks!

We are staying in a 2BR at BLT for the first time in November. Glad to hear you enjoyed it! We can't wait!
 
I know I've seen the answer to this before, but it's crunch time (a little over two weeks until we're there!), so I'd like to know: we'll be on 12th floor Atrium CL. Is it a tub/shower combo, or just a shower? I don't trust DD alone in a shower yet (will be 5 yrs. old), so she can shower with me if need be.

TIA for the responses!
 
I know I've seen the answer to this before, but it's crunch time (a little over two weeks until we're there!), so I'd like to know: we'll be on 12th floor Atrium CL. Is it a tub/shower combo, or just a shower? I don't trust DD alone in a shower yet (will be 5 yrs. old), so she can shower with me if need be.

TIA for the responses!

Tub/shower in all CR rooms except for the HA ones I think
 
I've got a quick question about the in-room WiFi at BLT. I am hearing a lot of conflicting reports that the rooms themselves have wifi for DVC members. I am also hearing that the rooms only offer the wired connection. I will be bringing my iPad down and there is no ethernet port for it. Is there actually WiFi in the rooms or am i going to have to bring down a router myself and configure it?
 
I've got a quick question about the in-room WiFi at BLT. I am hearing a lot of conflicting reports that the rooms themselves have wifi for DVC members. I am also hearing that the rooms only offer the wired connection. I will be bringing my iPad down and there is no ethernet port for it. Is there actually WiFi in the rooms or am i going to have to bring down a router myself and configure it?
Well from what I know DVC members staying on points get free internet access, so maybe that's what you are reading about. Besides that here is a list and information about wifi areas for the Contemporary, however I don't think they are any at Bay Lake Tower.

Main Lobby
Tower Club 14th Floor Club Level Lounge
Outer Rim Bar
1st Floor Convention Center Lobby
2nd Floor Convention Center Lobby
Main Pool

It is not free; cost if $4.99 for the first 60 minutes, or $9.95 for 24 continuous hours. You'll need a credit card for payment, as the wi-fi is provided by an outside vendor and is available to anyone, whether staying at CR or not.
 
Just back from a week at CR which is our favorite resort and I must say we had a less than stellar visit. Mousekeeping was far below what we were used to, we never received the text to let us know our room was ready and when we finally returned after 9pm we went to a room where the bathroom was nasty. They did offer to move us for the night or clean the room, we opted for the cleaning and they did send someone promptly but really is a clean room too much to ask. Contempo Cafe was not busy but all the tables had food or trash left on them with no one attending to them. Did see another guest ask about clean tables and they sent someone out who wiped down exactly one table.

The food on CL was delicious and plentiful no complaints there, one day we had CM's that we knew and were wonderful the other days not so much not a smile to be found. The pool and marina area were wonderful and well kept as usual, room was in good repair. Our real complaint was the cleanliness of the room and that we requested mousekeeping anytime other than 2:30 to 5:30 as we nap/rest during this time. Well for 7 our of 8 days guess when they showed up.... 3:30 every day. The first two days they woke us as we did not have a privacy please door hanger, after we got that the room did not get cleaned one day until 9pm because we had it on the door from about 3 to 5. Also. we did not have robes, took two requests and finally walking down to the desk where they handed them to me to get these. I know robes aren't a big deal but we did not pack ours because we count on them being there.

I really hope Disney is aware of the issues with Mousekeeping, the issue with our bathroom was deplorable. We never stay off site, I love staying on property but with our last two visits (Poly and now CR) we have had horrible cleanliness issues. In all my years as a child and teen and now adult I never had a problem with the cleanliness of the rooms. We certainly did not let it ruin or trip or even our day we just carried on and I must say the parks were very clean and service was great everywhere else.
 
Well from what I know DVC members staying on points get free internet access, so maybe that's what you are reading about. Besides that here is a list and information about wifi areas for the Contemporary, however I don't think they are any at Bay Lake Tower.

Main Lobby
Tower Club 14th Floor Club Level Lounge
Outer Rim Bar
1st Floor Convention Center Lobby
2nd Floor Convention Center Lobby
Main Pool

It is not free; cost if $4.99 for the first 60 minutes, or $9.95 for 24 continuous hours. You'll need a credit card for payment, as the wi-fi is provided by an outside vendor and is available to anyone, whether staying at CR or not.

yes it is our first trip being DVC members. I guess I'll just pick up an Airport Express and plug that in to the Ethernet cable in each room and make my own wifi hotspot. Thanks for the help! Can't wait. Ill be down there in 12 days!:cool1:
 
yes it is our first trip being DVC members. I guess I'll just pick up an Airport Express and plug that in to the Ethernet cable in each room and make my own wifi hotspot. Thanks for the help! Can't wait. Ill be down there in 12 days!:cool1:
You're welcome and have a great time. :thumbsup2
 
Just back from a week at CR which is our favorite resort and I must say we had a less than stellar visit. Mousekeeping was far below what we were used to, we never received the text to let us know our room was ready and when we finally returned after 9pm we went to a room where the bathroom was nasty. They did offer to move us for the night or clean the room, we opted for the cleaning and they did send someone promptly but really is a clean room too much to ask. Contempo Cafe was not busy but all the tables had food or trash left on them with no one attending to them. Did see another guest ask about clean tables and they sent someone out who wiped down exactly one table.

The food on CL was delicious and plentiful no complaints there, one day we had CM's that we knew and were wonderful the other days not so much not a smile to be found. The pool and marina area were wonderful and well kept as usual, room was in good repair. Our real complaint was the cleanliness of the room and that we requested mousekeeping anytime other than 2:30 to 5:30 as we nap/rest during this time. Well for 7 our of 8 days guess when they showed up.... 3:30 every day. The first two days they woke us as we did not have a privacy please door hanger, after we got that the room did not get cleaned one day until 9pm because we had it on the door from about 3 to 5. Also. we did not have robes, took two requests and finally walking down to the desk where they handed them to me to get these. I know robes aren't a big deal but we did not pack ours because we count on them being there.

I really hope Disney is aware of the issues with Mousekeeping, the issue with our bathroom was deplorable. We never stay off site, I love staying on property but with our last two visits (Poly and now CR) we have had horrible cleanliness issues. In all my years as a child and teen and now adult I never had a problem with the cleanliness of the rooms. We certainly did not let it ruin or trip or even our day we just carried on and I must say the parks were very clean and service was great everywhere else.
Thanks for posting your review and sorry about some of the issues you had. However I will say one thing I also hate is when people leave their garbage on the tables like you saw at the Contempo Cafe, so I think to myself if they are walking right by the garbage cans when they leave why can't they throw out that stuff? Although I have also seen this at McDonald's and Wendy's, so it's not just a problem at WDW. Now if it's sitting there for a while the Cast Members should realize that they should throw it out, however that's something the guests should be able to do themselves.
 
I've got a quick question about the in-room WiFi at BLT. I am hearing a lot of conflicting reports that the rooms themselves have wifi for DVC members. I am also hearing that the rooms only offer the wired connection. I will be bringing my iPad down and there is no ethernet port for it. Is there actually WiFi in the rooms or am i going to have to bring down a router myself and configure it?
This poster (post #715) mentions that their Mac AirPort was able to connect in their BLT room to WiFi. I know that at the CR they provide an ethernet cable for wired access and I have read BLT reviews that mention "wired internet access." You could PM the poster I link to above and verify with them or post your question to that thread for more replies.
 
Thanks for posting your review and sorry about some of the issues you had. However I will say one thing I also hate is when people see the garbage left on the tables like you saw at the Contempo Cafe, so I think to myself if they are walking right by the garbage cans why can't they throw out that stuff? Now if it's sitting there for a while the Cast Members should realize that they should throw it out, however that's something the guests should be able to do themselves.

There was no garbage, only butter, jam, snot, sweat and other fluids that I do not even want to begin to guess the orgins of. There was a guest shaving her legs at one of the tables so I do not even want to guess what else might be on them. Even so guests should not have to dispose of others garbage, I do not allow guests in my home to run around cleaning up. People should behave appropriately (that is whole other story) but I should not have to clean up behind others, we are paying to dine there and have normal expectations of cleanliness .

I will say the best meals we had on property were the ones we had from private dining at CR. Frankly, all the others were mediocre at best
 
This poster (post #715) mentions that their Mac AirPort was able to connect in their BLT room to WiFi. I know that at the CR they provide an ethernet cable for wired access and I have read BLT reviews that mention "wired internet access." You could PM the poster I link to above and verify with them or post your question to that thread for more replies.

Thanks! I will most definitely do that.
 
baler31- so sorry about your issues with mousekeeping :hug:

We have been very lucky at all our WDW hotels thus far (KNOCKING VERY LOUDLY ON WOOD!!!!) when it comes to cleanliness.

(And a shameless plug to say- 16 more days!!!!! :cool1:
 
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