Is Bay Lake Tower Really That Bad?

[ToTBellHop]

So now that they are taking down the scaffolding, pictures are starting to emerge showing the finished Bay Lake Tower. We've been complaining about it for months, but now that I see the finished product, is it that bad? I think it complements the Contemporary tower very well:

 

[Buried20KLeague]

You know, it doesn't bother me that much. :shrug:

 

[DisneyMusician2]

It's not as bad as people really made it out to be. You would have thought they were putting up something truly horrific.

I just object to more DVC.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

the tower isn't that bad, I think the resort would look better if another tower were added to the other side of the A framed to balance out the look of the resort

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

It's not a bad looking building on it's own, my problem with it is just that there is absolutely nothing special about it. This is a new building attached to one of the most iconic, recognizable structures at Walt Disney World, it shouldn't just look like a standard condo tower that you might find in Miami or Los Angeles or something. It seems that they did just the bare minimum to just barely match the A-frame and get the maximum amount of rooms possible out of the thing, without giving much thought to truly expanding upon the unique design of the rest of the Resort and what makes it special.

 

[Bug715]

I think the new tower looks awesome!! My family went through the DVC preview center and I can't wait to stay there. It may become my new favorite.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Its no more of an eyesore than the building its adjacent to.

 

[ryguy]

I am going down on Saturday and will see for myself. I think everyone should hold judgement till they see it in person. (for the record I am one of those who thinks this was a horrible decision, but I am doing best to be objective till I see it first hand). I agree it would probably look better with another tower, but without seeing it person it's hard to tell. Don't worry I think the recession has put the skids on any new DVC expansion for quite some time.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It's not a bad looking building on it's own, my problem with it is just that there is absolutely nothing special about it. This is a new building attached to one of the most iconic, recognizable structures at Walt Disney World, it shouldn't just look like a standard condo tower that you might find in Miami or Los Angeles or something. It seems that they did just the bare minimum to just barely match the A-frame and get the maximum amount of rooms possible out of the thing, without giving much thought to truly expanding upon the unique design of the rest of the Resort and what makes it special.

That's my point...in the picture I attached it looks VERY similar to the Contemporary. I've never found the Contemporary to have all that incredible of a theme...and BLT is themed similarly. The only difference is the shape, but it's stylistically almost identical, and to have an interestingly-shaped A-frame next to an interestingly-shaped "C-frame" doesn't seem that off to me.

 

[imagineer boy]

The building itsself is not bad looking, but like somone else said, its nothing more special than anything you'd find outside of WDW.

Plus when you see it standing next to the old contemporary, they don't complement each other too well architecturally.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

That's my point...in the picture I attached it looks VERY similar to the Contemporary. I've never found the Contemporary to have all that incredible of a theme...and BLT is themed similarly. The only difference is the shape, but it's stylistically almost identical, and to have an interestingly-shaped A-frame next to an interestingly-shaped "C-frame" doesn't seem that off to me.

I agree that the Contemporary itself is nothing special when it comes to its theme and design. I think that the new tower is very similar to the original idea here with just another uniquely shaped tower. I could understand complaints if they just built a square tower that looked like a Holiday Inn. I think the thing that throws me off here is the symmetry...two big towers and one small wing. But it isn't anything to complain about. Maybe next we will get a B-Frame tower on the other side

 

[MKCP 1985]

the early criticism was all the "blah blah blah" we get here from people quick to complain before they even see the product. No matter what is built, you can never please everybody in the design and chances are the big complainers would have no clue how to design anything better.

Of course, some people simply complained because they would prefer nothing be there at all. :shrug:

Bay Lake Tower is going to be an excellent and expensive place to stay on a Disney vacation.

 

[WDWFigment]

I have no problem with the design of the new building, although I do wish it were a little shorter, so it wouldn't detract from the original A frame building (or, so the A frame would remain the clear focal point). Building another C building on the other side of the A would help balance out the area, I think.

 

[jt04]

It's not as bad as people really made it out to be. You would have thought they were putting up something truly horrific.

I just object to more DVC.

There is a simple reason I don't mind the DVC's. In order to keep those rooms full they will have to offer new reasons for people to visit. Especially as more DVC's are built and people's options for travel increase.

Of course, I also believe Disney has long range plans for WDW and they are building so many new rooms because they know those new plans will keep them full.

The economy may slow things down some but I believe the future of WDW is bright.

And the BLT and bridge looks better by the day. It's a winner!

 

[marni1971]

It`s not a bad design at all.

Just the wrong location.

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

Actually I think it looks good next to the contemporary.

 

[jt04]

Actually I think it looks good next to the contemporary.

And I have to believe they have a plan for the other garden wing eventually. Then people would get the full effect. There is one picture where it really does look great next to the original.

As usual there are posters here who always predict the worst. I think some of them actually wake up unhappy everyday!

The new building looks fine.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

That's my point...in the picture I attached it looks VERY similar to the Contemporary. I've never found the Contemporary to have all that incredible of a theme...and BLT is themed similarly. The only difference is the shape, but it's stylistically almost identical, and to have an interestingly-shaped A-frame next to an interestingly-shaped "C-frame" doesn't seem that off to me.

I think the most important identifier for the Contemporary is its shape. No, there's actually nothing that super special about the look otherwise, it just works well for that shape of a building. Say someone were to build another A-frame somewhere else with the same shape and proportion but say more of a glass structure, shown a picture of it most people would still probably say "Hey, isn't that that hotel at Disney World?" Buildings just aren't common with that kind of slant and angle to it, but there are plenty of curved and circular buildings out there. Now we have a new building that shares the architectural detailing but nothing of the unique shape of the A-frame. My opinion is just that the new tower should be of a design that the average Joe should be able to readily identify it with the Contemporary and Walt Disney World if it were to be seen on its own without the A-frame next to it.

I have no problem with the design of the new building, although I do wish it were a little shorter, so it wouldn't detract from the original A frame building (or, so the A frame would remain the clear focal point). Building another C building on the other side of the A would help balance out the area, I think.

This was one of the issues that I was worried about back when we first learned about the design, but seeing it on a daily basis that has actually been allayed now. Even though it is the same height, it doesn't impose on the A-frame, although there is kind of a funky relation to it when viewed from the Bay Lake side.

 

[carolina_yankee]

The 7th photo down on this page won me over:
http://jefflangedvd.com/2009/02/con...agic-kingdom-parade-dvd-sneek-peek/#more-1723

From a distance, in the sunset, it seems to be quite nice by my tastes. And I was pretty scathing of the idea when it first appeared.

Dirk

 

[Animaniac93-98]

It`s not a bad design at all.

Just the wrong location.

Agreed. It dwarfs the old tower which used to be the main focus of the resorts design. Even if another were built, the exterior view would look far less dramatic than it originally did. Still wondering if it can be seen from Main Street.