The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (July 2011)

[Jedimike]

Wildlife Discovery Excursion
Guests staying on the concierge level at a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort can take advantage of a unique tour called Wildlife Discovery Excursions. An animal expert will accompany you in a specialy designed climate controlled vehicle for a one hour journey into the 110 acre savannah at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Tours began February 2005).

This tour is very educational and full of information regarding Disney's animal programs. You stop at pre-selected locations in the savannah for photo oportunities. The tour is held rain or shine (unless the weather is severe). During our tour it rained quite heavily at times, however the animals were out all over the savannah.

Small groups (14 maximum) head out for this adventure twice a day at a cost of $45 each. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund. Advance reservations are required. Contact your concierge or resort itinerary planner at your deluxe Disney resort.

To make reservations call or e-mail the Contemporary IPO Cast Members.
http://allears.net/tp/ak/wildexcursion.htm[/COLOR]

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Do you know if this is still true? My wife tried to make reservations for December 2011 and was told that they will no longer be doing this?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Do you know if this is still true? My wife tried to make reservations for December 2011 and was told that they will no longer be doing this?

That is correct. The tour was discontinued as of December 2010.

 

[hstrickland]

Happy Saturday Morning!

Don't we all wish to be there!!?? Resting, relaxing and taking in the gorgeous view of Bay Lake

All of you who are leaving soon....I wish you safe travels and a wonderful vacation!

Heather

 

[WDWKOOK]

Happy Saturday Morning!

Don't we all wish to be there!!?? Resting, relaxing and taking in the gorgeous view of Bay Lake

All of you who are leaving soon....I wish you safe travels and a wonderful vacation!

Heather

Beautiful, Heather. Happy Saturday to you, too.

FINALLY, a Quiet Pool photo that lives up to its name




Anyone leaving for the CR this weekend? Anyone just book a CR stay?

 

[hstrickland]

HeyKOOK! It's pouring rain in South GA this morning! Sooooooo wishing I was at WDW looking at Bay Lake! And who am I kidding....it wouldn't be by the quiet pool with 3 children! Isn't CRF4L at Disney now?

When are y'all going back? Soon?

 

[mhconley]

28 days out from our first stay at the CR. I've wanted to stay in the CR since my first visit as a teenager in the early 1970's. I am getting more excited with each passing day and it is becoming more difficult to keep the news from our 8 year old DS for whom this trip will be a surprise.

We've booked 7-nights in a Tower Theme Park view room and I'm seriously considering adding an eighth night in the same category room as a separate room only reservation using the FL resident discount ($370 total for the night).

Woo-hoo!

Martin

 

[WDWKOOK]

HeyKOOK! It's pouring rain in South GA this morning! Sooooooo wishing I was at WDW looking at Bay Lake! And who am I kidding....it wouldn't be by the quiet pool with 3 children! Isn't CRF4L at Disney now?

When are y'all going back? Soon?

So sorry you're getting all the rain we got last night. Ours didn't last too long, so hopefully it'll move out of your area soon.

I'm still on the fence about going back at Christmas since we have some other vacation choices that are much closer for us. Definitely we'll be back next August, but I haven't made the reservation yet. I need to do something about that!

28 days out from our first stay at the CR. I've wanted to stay in the CR since my first visit as a teenager in the early 1970's. I am getting more excited with each passing day and it is becoming more difficult to keep the news from our 8 year old DS for whom this trip will be a surprise.

We've booked 7-nights in a Tower Theme Park view room and I'm seriously considering adding an eighth night in the same category room as a separate room only reservation using the FL resident discount ($370 total for the night).

Woo-hoo!

Martin

Your trip is coming up soon, Martin. Your DS is going to be so surprised, but I don't know how you can keep it a secret

Seeing that I'm a Disney Resort enabler, I think you should add an extra day

 

[Disneymama5816]

Beautiful, Heather. Happy Saturday to you, too.

FINALLY, a Quiet Pool photo that lives up to its name




Anyone leaving for the CR this weekend? Anyone just book a CR stay?

I only have 7 more days!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I only have 7 more days!

Yippee! Shouldn't you be packing?

Have a great vacation at the CR!

 

[lnh'smom]

You guys are depressing me! I have over a year!!!!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Can't wait to go back!

 

[Disneymama5816]

Yippee! Shouldn't you be packing?

Have a great vacation at the CR![/QUOTE

Thanks! I should be packing, but then I wouldn't be able to run around with my hair on fire at the end of the week.

 

[DrMomof3]

Beautiful, Heather. Happy Saturday to you, too.

FINALLY, a Quiet Pool photo that lives up to its name




Anyone leaving for the CR this weekend? Anyone just book a CR stay?

We'll be arriving for dinner with Chef Mickey at this time next week! We arrive one week from today and we're staying in a one bedroom villa at BLT. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

PS This is my break from packing. My kids think we need to bring everything, including the kitchen sink. I'm trying to allow them to help.

 

[WDWKOOK]

You guys are depressing me! I have over a year!!!!

Just think, in about a year you can make everyone else depressed and you can start stressing about packing

Can't wait to go back!

Me, too!

Thanks! I should be packing, but then I wouldn't be able to run around with my hair on fire at the end of the week.

That's too funny - and spot on!

We'll be arriving for dinner with Chef Mickey at this time next week! We arrive one week from today and we're staying in a one bedroom villa at BLT. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

PS This is my break from packing. My kids think we need to bring everything, including the kitchen sink. I'm trying to allow them to help.

Amanda, that sounds great! Have you been practicing for the Celebration song at home by waving your napkins at dinnertime?

Tell the kids to forget the kitchen sink. They can have one at the BC

Have a great stay at BLT!

 

[lnh'smom]

Just think, in about a year you can make everyone else depressed and you can start stressing about packing

That's a good positive attitude!

 

[WDWKOOK]

That's a good positive attitude!

It's that world famous (former) Hoosier glass-is-half-full attitude

 

[pixarmom]

We'll be arriving for dinner with Chef Mickey at this time next week! We arrive one week from today and we're staying in a one bedroom villa at BLT. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

PS This is my break from packing. My kids think we need to bring everything, including the kitchen sink. I'm trying to allow them to help.

We're at WDW at the same time again! I remember your family was at Poly at the same time as ours over marathon weekend. We're leaving for our BWI/3-night Disney Dream/BC trip in just a few days. We'll look forward to hearing your thoughts about CR - we're considering a split CR/BC stay at some point and will be interested to hear what you think! Have a great trip!

 

[DrMomof3]

Amanda, that sounds great! Have you been practicing for the Celebration song at home by waving your napkins at dinnertime?

Tell the kids to forget the kitchen sink. They can have one at the BC

Have a great stay at BLT!

You totally made me laugh! I've tried to block out the noise levels at Chef Mickey's in general so I forgot about the napkin waving. For now we've been workin on "napkins in laps."
Good point on the kitchen sink.

We're at WDW at the same time again! I remember your family was at Poly at the same time as ours over marathon weekend. We're leaving for our BWI/3-night Disney Dream/BC trip in just a few days. We'll look forward to hearing your thoughts about CR - we're considering a split CR/BC stay at some point and will be interested to hear what you think! Have a great trip!

I think we lead parallel lives! we stayed in the Garden Wing a few years ago and really liked it. There was an unfortunate incident on the flight down resulted in 3 vomit-covered individuals which required intimate knowledge of the laundry room. Luckily it was just down the hall. I will be very happy to have a washer and dryer readily accessible this time and I'm trying my best to pack accordingly (my 7 year old wanted to bring a bathrobe and sweatpants in August and multiple books to read and art supplies. My 5 year old wanted to know how many dresses she is allowed to bring - 5 is the absolute max - and how many dolls and stuffed animals? The list goes on and on).

Amanda

 

[Disneymama5816]

You totally made me laugh! I've tried to block out the noise levels at Chef Mickey's in general so I forgot about the napkin waving. For now we've been workin on "napkins in laps."
Good point on the kitchen sink.



I think we lead parallel lives! we stayed in the Garden Wing a few years ago and really liked it. There was an unfortunate incident on the flight down resulted in 3 vomit-covered individuals which required intimate knowledge of the laundry room. Luckily it was just down the hall. I will be very happy to have a washer and dryer readily accessible this time and I'm trying my best to pack accordingly (my 7 year old wanted to bring a bathrobe and sweatpants in August and multiple books to read and art supplies. My 5 year old wanted to know how many dresses she is allowed to bring - 5 is the absolute max - and how many dolls and stuffed animals? The list goes on and on).

Amanda

Too funny. For a few years, I didn't think it was a vacation unless someone was "sick" or I was trying to keep antibiotics cold on the plane on the way down. Hopefully we are all passed that! Have a great time. Perhaps we will run into each other!

 

[goopysolelady]

We are currently booked for a one-bedroom villa at BLT. I am very nervous about it though, we've never stayed there before. I'm not a huge fan of the contemporary itself, but I think these villas seem really nice in pictures. I'd love a run-down on the pluses and minuses ... what's great about, what's not so great. THANKS!

I can't speak for the one-bedroom but I can tell you we loved the two-bedroom unit! Our extended family included 5 adults and 2 children and we had more room than we knew what to do with. Our unit was a Bay Lake view and I'd request that view again in a heartbeat...it was beautiful. We were able to see the balloon ride from DTD; the Epcot ball; the Tower of Terror and on a clear day, Expedition Everest, in addition to part of WL. The sunrises were amazing. If we needed a MK "fix" we'd go to the elevator area. Dining and bar area gave us plenty of space for a sit down meal; the kitchen had everything we could ask for. We also used the washer and dryer and while they are small they got the job done for us. Both bedrooms and bathrooms gave us plenty of room. The "common bathroom" was small but nice. The "living area" gave DGD's plenty of room to play even with the sofa bed open and the balcony's were very nice.
The only complaints I would have would be the 2nd bedroom/bath's vanity area. Very small and not nearly enough room for "daily essentials". The closet in that area was also very small but the hall closet is right outside the door.
We all loved the pool area. Pool is rather small on a hot afternoon but that wouldn't make me not want to stay there. DGD's really enjoyed the children's water area, the slide and the ping pong table. The bar offered a good variety of drinks but bartender was often a little slow. Many times, however, it was not his fault...some guests liked to visit! Our room was not ready when we arrived so we kept DGD's occupied in the game room and the staff was excellent! AND...can't forget viewing the fireworks from "the top"! Awesome!
It is a little bit "of a pain" to have to go over to the CR for morning coffee but then I sort of enjoyed the "alone" time. There is a soft drink refill area at the pool bar. The elevators were nice and never had to wait very long. We did have a few problems getting our room key to work at the side entrance door. We used the walkway to the MK more than once and the walk is a pleasant one...unless it's 100 degrees!
My "first love" resort was the Poly but BLT has pushed the Poly back to a close second. I think you'll really enjoy your stay there!

PS I was not a big fan of "contemporary" either but it kind of "grows on you"! Ended up liking the entire area a lot!