Category — q. Reviews

Review: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Page 7

by Dave

(For the first page of this review of Bay Lake Tower, see this.)

MORE ON BAY LAKE TOWER AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

According to Walt Disney World’s website, “Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort…has been designed to complement the fabled styling of the classic Disney’s Contemporary Resort building and promises to deliver some of the most dramatic views available anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort.”

Bay Lake Tower opened in August 2009 as part of the new generation of Disney Vacation Club resorts.

Like Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which also opened in 2009, it features larger kitchen/living/dining rooms in its one and two bedroom villas, allowing both for one more person in occupancy, and a much more livable space, even when the fold-out beds in this area are opened.

Views from Bay Lake Tower are indeed spectacular.

See the photo to the right for a view of Wishes from my tenth-floor balcony a few years ago.

Otherwise, like Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower is essentially un-themed.

While its design and look are not as dated and brutal as those of the Contemporary Resort, neither are they interesting, playful, or kid-appealing.

Like many other Disney Vacation Club resorts co-located with a deluxe hotel, Bay Lake Tower relies on Disney’s Contemporary Resort for many services.

Bay Lake Tower has no shopping or dining options of its own–for these, one walks to the Contemporary, either outside or via a key-access fifth-floor sky-way.

Speaking of key access…Bay Lake Tower is unique at Walt Disney World for the extent to which it is closed to those without keys. Key access is required for all entrances, including from the Contemporary, and to and from the pool.

I suppose this extra measure of security is welcome, and partly explained by how close a walk it is from the Magic Kingdom. Given the absence of restaurants, there’s no real reason for anyone other than a guest to be in the building…other than curiosity, a defining characteristic of Walt Disney World fans.

Also in the lobby is a guardian of its top-floor “Top of the World Lounge”–which, after 5p, is reserved for Disney Vacation Club members who are paying for a Bay Lake Tower stay using DVC points.

The lobby also has a small but distinguished collection of funny looking chairs. See photo above.

As oddly shaped as they are, more commonly than not they were draped with kids–so they must be comfortable!

Bay Lake Tower guests are welcome to use all of the facilities of the Contemporary, including its pool, beach, and water sports options.

Bay Lake Tower also has its own nice-sized pool, surrounded by the wings of the C-shaped building. See this for more on the pool.

Between the pool area and the main lobby are shuffleboard and boules courts.

Bay Lake Tower’s principal negatives are the small size of its studio and studio-based two bedroom lock-off villas, and its lack of kid appeal.

The bedroom component of its studio rooms is comparable in size to those of the value resorts, and smaller than the VIP suites at Disney’s pet center, Best Friends Pet Care!

Returning visitors will likely find Bay Lake Tower to be a favorite. The views from the higher floors are indeed spectacular, and in convenience it is second only to the Polynesian Resort.

EXTERNAL LINKS FOR BAY LAKE TOWER AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT:

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August 29, 2014 10 Comments

Review: The Frozen Sing Along Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

by Dave

Frozen moved into Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer, with a parade, fireworks, and a sing-along.

The festivities have been extended through 2014, and it’s widely expected that at least parts of the program will continue after then as well.

One element is the For the First Time in Forever: The Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, currently showing in the Premier Theater but expected to be offered later in the old American Idol theater space.

(There’s a review of the Frozen Parade here , and the Frozen Fireworks here.)

The sing-along is really four things:

A sing-along to some of Frozen’s best songs, with the lyrics posted…

…A re-telling of the Frozen story…

…On stage visits by most of the key Frozen characters…

…and a comedy show. The narrative glue of the re-telling of Frozen is provided by the “Court Historians of Arandelle,” and they are wonderfully funny–so funny that I recommend this show even to those who are not big Frozen fans–though I do think you will have to have seen the movie to get many of the jokes.

The show is continuing at least through 2014, and is widely expected to move from its current home back beyond San Francisco in Streets of America to the American Idol theater.

The show is now available as a Tier Two FastPass+ and you can also grab same-day tickets from a station.

The station is in San Francisco, under an umbrella–though if the location of the show does change, the kiosk likely will move.

Request your show time and number of tix, and if available you’ll get something like this.

Currently show times are 12.30, 1.30, 2.30, 3.30, 5, 6 and 7. This may change as Disney World shifts into the quieter fall months.

Your ticket or FastPass return will have a window for arriving well before showtime. Show up as early in the window as you can, as you will get better seats.

The FastPass+ offering is new, and it’s not clear yet how many reservations will go to it vs. the paper tickets that have been the sole way of getting in until now. So far this summer tickets have been pretty available.

Until the ticket supply becomes a little clearer, if you really really need to see this show, the thing to do is to book it as FastPass+. Then when in the park, see if tickets are available for a convenient show. If so, get them, and swap your FastPass+ for something else.

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August 28, 2014 5 Comments

Review: The Beach and Pool at Bay Lake Tower

by Dave

(For the first page of this review of Bay Lake Tower, see this.)

THE POOL, BEACH AND OTHER AMENITIES AT BAY LAKE TOWER

Guests staying at Bay Lake Tower get access to all the amenities of its next-door sister resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The Contemporary has as long a list of fun stuff to do as you’ll find at any Disney World deluxe resort–from parasailing to shops to playful and fine dining. Details begin here.

In particular you’ll find at the Contemporary vast stretches of white sand beaches and two pools, one larger with a slide and a water play area, and another smaller one.

Bay Lake Tower is, however, unusual among the DVC resorts paired with deluxes in having an additional pool, the “Bay Cove Pool,” restricted to guests staying at Bay Lake Tower. Among the other paired DVC options, only Kidani Village also has a restricted pool.

Bay Lake Tower is shaped like a “C”, and the pool is heart-shaped and enmeshed at the end of its arms.

Here’s a shot of it from the balcony of the Villa we stayed in.

Here’s the pool and Bay Lake Tower.

While there’s nothing overwhelmingly special about this pool, it is very convenient, and does have all the basics–a slide which you can see on the images above, a pool bar…

…a hot tub…

…and a kids water play area shaped like Mickey’s head.

Outside the pool area there’s a little private beach…

…and a fire pit.

Overall, this is a fine pool, with more on offer than the usual “quiet pools” that you’ll find near the DVC resorts paired with deluxes.

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August 28, 2014 2 Comments

Theming and Accommodations at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

by Dave

(For the first page of this review of Bay Lake Tower, see this.)

THEMING AT BAY LAKE TOWER AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

Bay Lake Tower is one of many Disney Vacation Club options at Walt Disney World. These resorts are available not only to DVC members, but also to everyone else, just like any other Disney World offering, through the regular Walt Disney World website or resort reservations phone number at 407-939-7675.

Kelly, the long-time travel agent partner of this site, can also book them for you. See the form near the bottom of this page for how to contact her.

They also are sometimes available to the general public at a discount through renting points from a Disney Vacation Club member or point broker.

Because the two sets of options at the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs are so different, for review purposes I count thirteen options among the Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World.

The overall ranking among them for first time family visitors is as follows:

Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows (studios only)
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, main resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Treehouse Villas

The next DVC offering to open will be Reflections, located on grounds that were formerly part of Fort Wilderness.

Bay Lake Tower opened in August 2009. Like Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which also opened in 2009, it features larger kitchen/living/dining rooms in its one and two bedroom villas, allowing both one more person in occupancy, and a much more livable space, even when the fold-out beds in this area are opened.

Views from Bay Lake Tower are indeed spectacular.

See the photos for a view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from my most recent stay here, when I had a second-floor theme standard view room–about as bad as views get.

Otherwise, like Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower is essentially un-themed.

While its design and look are not as dated and brutal as those of the Contemporary Resort, neither are they interesting, playful, or kid-appealing.

Like many other Disney Vacation Club resorts co-located with a deluxe hotel, Bay Lake Tower relies on Disney’s Contemporary Resort for many services.

Bay Lake Tower has no shopping or dining options of its own–for these, one walks to the Contemporary, either outside or via a fifth-floor walkway that links to the Contemporary’s fourth floor.

In the lobby of Bay Lake Tower is a dedicated check-in area, and also a guardian of its top-floor “Top of the World Lounge”–which, after 5p, is reserved for Disney Vacation Club members who are paying for a Bay Lake Tower stay using DVC points.

The lobby also has a small but distinguished collection of funny looking chairs. See photo above.

As oddly shaped as they are, more commonly than not they were draped with kids–so they must be comfortable!

Bay Lake Tower guests are welcome to use all of the facilities of the Contemporary, including its pool, beach, and water sports options.

Bay Lake Tower also has its own nice-sized pool, surrounded by the wings of the C-shaped building. See this for more on the pool.

Between the pool area and the main lobby are shuffleboard and boules courts.

Bay Lake Tower’s principal negatives are the small size of its studio and the studio area of its two bedroom lock-off villas, and its lack of kid appeal.

The bedroom component of its studio rooms is smaller than those of Disney’s value resorts, and smaller than the VIP suites at Disney’s pet center, Best Friends Pet Care!

Returning visitors will likely find Bay Lake Tower to be a favorite. The views from the higher floors are indeed spectacular, and in convenience it is second only to the Polynesian Resort.

ACCOMMODATIONS AT BAY LAKE TOWER

All Disney Vacation Club resorts except the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows have studio rooms, One-Bedroom Villas, and Two-Bedroom Villas. Most have Grand Villas as well.

Bay Lake Tower has rooms of all types.

At Bay Lake Tower, Studios sleep four on a queen and a fold-out couch, and have a microwave, toaster, utensils, and a mini fridge.

Bay Lake Tower studios are so short along the bed wall that I recommend them only for three person families, with the third person short enough to sleep on the couch un-opened–the couch cushions are ~4′ 4″ long in this dimension. Otherwise, tower rooms at the Contemporary Resort are a much better choice.

One-Bedroom Villas have a master bedroom with a king and a private master bath, a particularly livable full kitchen/dining/living space with a second bath, and sleep 5.

Two-Bedroom Villas add a second bedroom with a queen and a full sleeper sofa, or two queens, to the amenities of a One-Bedroom, and sleep 9.

Some Two-Bedroom Villas are “lock-offs.” This means that they combine a One Bedroom Villa and a Studio via a connecting door.

Such lock-offs will have the same space problems in the studio bedroom that studio rooms do, but the extra space of the combined living/dining/kitchen space may make them sufficiently comfortable for smaller groups.

“Dedicated” Two Bedroom Villas were designed as two bedroom spaces from the start, and have a much more livable second bedroom with two queens and no fold-out sofa.

Grand Villas at Bay Lake Tower sleep 12 in three bedrooms (one with a king, and two with two queens) plus sleeper sofas.

At Bay Lake Tower, Grand Villas are two-story spaces, fronted with a two-story window.

Magic Kingdom views through these windows are particularly spectacular.

The master bedroom, small living room, dining room, and kitchen are on the first floor, and the two other bedrooms are on the second.

The second floor has a small loft sitting area–welcome, given how small the living area on the main floor is.

Although you’ll note only 5 beds, there are also two sleeper sofas–one on each floor.

(To each of the capacity figures above, you can add one more kid under 3 at time of check in who sleeps in a crib.)

EXPANSION OF BAY LAKE TOWER?

There’s been speculation over the years that another DVC building might be added to the Contemporary Resort, on the grounds of the current South Garden Wing.

The issue with this is that a design symmetrical with the current Bay Lake Tower would mean weak Magic Kingdom views.

See the image. The current Bay Lake Tower is outlined in red, a symmetrical south addition is in yellow, and the main Contemporary Resort tower is blue. The blue lines show the blocking of views (centered on the castle, marked with an X) by the main building.

A spot with better views but that would be geometrically odd would be on the current dedicated convention space. That spot is marked in orange above

However, if it were my money I’d put my capital instead into a new monorail DVC resort on the hotel pad on the Seven Seas Lagoon just to the southwest of the Contemporary, across the canal from the lagoon to the lake. I’ve marked it with a Bay Lake Tower-sized green circle, but am actually imaging a much bigger resort.

Disney has had its eye on this spot for years, but every time it thinks seriously about it the extra construction costs of the bad land here gets in the way. But by making the site DVC, those construction costs can then be re-sold to DVC buyers.

PHOTO TOUR OF A STUDIO AT BAY LAKE TOWER

This review continues here!

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August 27, 2014 2 Comments

Review: The Frozen Fireworks Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

by Dave

Frozen moved into Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.

The festivities have been extended through September 28, and it’s widely expected that at least parts of the program will continue after then as well.

One element is the Frozen Fireworks Spectacular, on nightly through September 1st, and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through at least September 28th.

(There’s a review of the Frozen Parade here, and of the Frozen Sing-Along here.)

This is a full-throated fireworks display really nicely choreographed to various bits of Frozen songs.

Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff appear on the main stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat–there’s repeater video by Sunset Boulevard–and do a little bit of business between songs/fireworks.

Getting close enough to see Anna etc. live on the stage means both a long wait and neck strain once the fireworks shoot. It’s better to be back on Hollywood Boulevard by the repeater screens.

Those who aren’t Frozen obsessed may find, as I did, that the fireworks are at their best right outside the park (see the image below and also the one at the very top of the page)–which also positions you well to get back to your hotel ahead of the mobs leaving after the fireworks…