raven
Well-Known Member
YOU CAUGHT ME!!! That's me leaning over the railing outside in the background! Too weird. :lol:
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A photo tour of the new Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
- Thread starter Mr.EPCOT
- Start date
YOU CAUGHT ME!!! That's me leaning over the railing outside in the background! Too weird. :lol:
3IAlienKid
Member
I'm not really that impressed. Maybe I just need to see it myself to appreciate it, but the whole thing is a bit underwhelming. I'm not too sure what the theme is here. The exterior of the entrance is less than ordinary. The entryway decor, especially that chandelier, is an odd mix of retro and contemporary (perhaps they are trying to compliment the next door neighbor). The hallways are bare. I do actually enjoy the understated room interiors, probably because of my personal preference for simple living quarters, but other than that, I'm not sure I like it as a whole.
Tom
Beta Return
I Love It
At first, when I saw original concept art and read about it in my DVC Mickey Monitor, I was skeptic. I could only imagine a slightly larger version of the Contemp.
How I was wrong. I think it looks exactly like what it should look like. When I try to describe it, my tongue is tied until I land on the words, "...it looks...contemporary!"
To those of you who hate it and think DVC is coming crashing down because they built such an awful hotel - you have the right to your opinion, but what are you basing them on? Do you really think this facility is less of a product than another DVC resort? Or do you just not like the design?
Disney is all about theming, obviously. We all on here know that. They've developed a set of standards for their DVC resorts which define room sizes, restroom and room layouts, number of occupants and furniture required, and other lgistical things like that. You can cookie-cutter that product all over property and you'll end up with the same thing. The same great Disney product.
WL Villas and Kidani Village, and OKW - they're all the same level of quality and construction and amenities, they're just themed differently. Same AA - different wig costume. I liken it to saying Captain Jack Sparrow AA is better than the Wicked Witch AA. They're identical things, painted and dressed differently.
All I can figure is that the people who HATE BLT just don't appreciate this specific theming. I'll respect that, because I don't like anything beach-themed. I hate beaches and I don't want to stay at a hotel at Disney World that reminds me of being at a beach. I DO like the wilderness - so WL and POR are two of my favorites.
And for some reason, I like the BLT. It's not what I'd make my house look like, but I can appreciate the design and creative brainstorming and theming that went into BLT - even if the theme isn't something that everyone loves.
Above all else, I get to stay there for a week in October and I'm looking forward to it. We're in a 2BR with MK View October 19-23 and I'm gonna relax and watch Wishes from my balcony and watch them properly put the monorails away and nod off to sleep while all the crazies exit the MK at the same time. Ahhhh.
RE: The original poster - nice photos. Thank you for the stellar tour!
At first, when I saw original concept art and read about it in my DVC Mickey Monitor, I was skeptic. I could only imagine a slightly larger version of the Contemp.
How I was wrong. I think it looks exactly like what it should look like. When I try to describe it, my tongue is tied until I land on the words, "...it looks...contemporary!"
To those of you who hate it and think DVC is coming crashing down because they built such an awful hotel - you have the right to your opinion, but what are you basing them on? Do you really think this facility is less of a product than another DVC resort? Or do you just not like the design?
Disney is all about theming, obviously. We all on here know that. They've developed a set of standards for their DVC resorts which define room sizes, restroom and room layouts, number of occupants and furniture required, and other lgistical things like that. You can cookie-cutter that product all over property and you'll end up with the same thing. The same great Disney product.
WL Villas and Kidani Village, and OKW - they're all the same level of quality and construction and amenities, they're just themed differently. Same AA - different wig costume. I liken it to saying Captain Jack Sparrow AA is better than the Wicked Witch AA. They're identical things, painted and dressed differently.
All I can figure is that the people who HATE BLT just don't appreciate this specific theming. I'll respect that, because I don't like anything beach-themed. I hate beaches and I don't want to stay at a hotel at Disney World that reminds me of being at a beach. I DO like the wilderness - so WL and POR are two of my favorites.
And for some reason, I like the BLT. It's not what I'd make my house look like, but I can appreciate the design and creative brainstorming and theming that went into BLT - even if the theme isn't something that everyone loves.
Above all else, I get to stay there for a week in October and I'm looking forward to it. We're in a 2BR with MK View October 19-23 and I'm gonna relax and watch Wishes from my balcony and watch them properly put the monorails away and nod off to sleep while all the crazies exit the MK at the same time. Ahhhh.
RE: The original poster - nice photos. Thank you for the stellar tour!
kbmum
Well-Known Member
What a great post! When I first saw the brochures and concept art, I was less than impressed. The building and rooms had an almost sterile look. I changed my mind after seeing it in person. The theming and decor fit with the resort, and the views are fantastic from either side of the building.
There will always be people who don't like a particular resort. Fortunately, Disney offers many options.
There will always be people who don't like a particular resort. Fortunately, Disney offers many options.
HoneyMnShawnee
Member
Thanks to all who have posted pictures of their tours. I absolutely love this resort. The outside of the building is slightly generic, but the inside just says to me "You have to be a member here!". The rooms are just beautiful and so are the lounges. Now if only I could scrape together enough to get into the DVC...
EPCOTPluto
Well-Known Member
Me too.
Guess it was a blast, then, Mr. EPCOT? :animwink:I will try one day to sneak in.... :lol:
Back on the first floor... yet more artwork.
Call me crazy, but I love signage!
Heading outside...
The Tempo Fountain.
I thought this was kind of a neat plaque. Although the story as I've heard it is that "Contemporary" was the working name for the hotel, and then close to the Resort's opening, the Imagineers decided on the name "Tempo Bay." However, Roy Disney hated that name, so it was changed back to Contemporary.
Is your name in there?
Okay, off to the pool.
The Bay Cove Pool.
Call me crazy, but I love signage!
Heading outside...
The Tempo Fountain.
I thought this was kind of a neat plaque. Although the story as I've heard it is that "Contemporary" was the working name for the hotel, and then close to the Resort's opening, the Imagineers decided on the name "Tempo Bay." However, Roy Disney hated that name, so it was changed back to Contemporary.
Is your name in there?
Okay, off to the pool.
The Bay Cove Pool.
Looks quite refreshing, doesn't it?
Slide structure.
Spa! So soothing... Who wants to jump in with me?
Slide entrance.
Back behind the spa is a nice little beach-ish area.
There's a passageway through the slide structure.
And if you look up, there's the slide above you!
Slide structure.
Spa! So soothing... Who wants to jump in with me?
Slide entrance.
Back behind the spa is a nice little beach-ish area.
There's a passageway through the slide structure.
And if you look up, there's the slide above you!
A play fountain.
The one thing I didn't like about the rebuild of the main pool at the Polynesian Village were the generic big lights that were put up to illuminate the area. These are quite nice and well-themed.
A slide for the little ones.
Even further refreshment!
Here's what you'll see while you're kickin' back a few.
And then here's what you'll want to see once you've kicked back a few too many.
The one thing I didn't like about the rebuild of the main pool at the Polynesian Village were the generic big lights that were put up to illuminate the area. These are quite nice and well-themed.
A slide for the little ones.
Even further refreshment!
Here's what you'll see while you're kickin' back a few.
And then here's what you'll want to see once you've kicked back a few too many.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
That pool signage looks difficult to read.
Here's the officially named "Sky Way Bridge." An homage to attractions past? Who knows?
This is the entrance to the Sky Way bridge over in the A-frame. Unfortunately, this wasn't part of the tour.
Other parts of the hotel are still getting some love, too. They're currently working on fun new water features for the main pool. These pics are from a couple of weeks ago.
There are new directories scattered around the property.
We were given our own tour guide with a map and fun facts:
And that's it, folks! Hope you enjoyed the tour!
This is the entrance to the Sky Way bridge over in the A-frame. Unfortunately, this wasn't part of the tour.
Other parts of the hotel are still getting some love, too. They're currently working on fun new water features for the main pool. These pics are from a couple of weeks ago.
There are new directories scattered around the property.
We were given our own tour guide with a map and fun facts:
And that's it, folks! Hope you enjoyed the tour!
DonaldDoleWhip
Well-Known Member
On the fountain rules board, does it really say "Bay Lake Towers"?
jt04
Well-Known Member
So, my theory is right. See ya South Garden Wing. :lookaroun