Is Bay Lake Tower Really That Bad?

[Joepic]

In my perfect armchair imagineer world, both garden wings would have been torn down and replaced with a BLT type C-Shape structure on both sides of the A-Frame tower. Except these DVC towers would top out around 8 stories.

I would agree. Both these towers would be A-Frame. One is BLT, the other is SSL Tower.

I could see another tower being built on the other side, but there would really be no enticing views... also, the south garden wing was refurbished a couple years ago! I don't think they'll be touched for a while.

 

[jt04]

I would agree. Both these towers would be A-Frame. One is BLT, the other is SSL Tower.

I could see another tower being built on the other side, but there would really be no enticing views... also, the south garden wing was refurbished a couple years ago! I don't think they'll be touched for a while.

That all depends on how soon the BLT sells out. I have a feeling it won't take long considering all the upgrades to the CR and it's location and amenities.

 

[kcnole]

I hated it when it first came out, it isn't that bad now that its done. I'll admit, it looks better than the awful wings did. Those looked like some sort of cheap motel 6. My only complaint is that that plot of land deserved something really fantastic. It may be a wonderful hotel, but it just looks like a normal hotel you'd see about anywhere.

 

[surfsupdon]

Being associated with the Contemporary itelf is the new Towers saving grace. It looks like any other run of the mill high rise hotel in any other region. I do wonder how often the pool and pool deck will see sunlight. I hope they thought of this in their planning.

And the "MK Views" always make me laugh. Yes, you do look out over the Magic Kingdom and can see the fireworks. But you see the backstage buildings and many, many parking lots. I'd rather a Bay Lake View.


It reminds me of the hotel that you used to win a few nights in if you won Double Dare on Nickelodeon, just outside of Universal. Forget the name....

 

[TheBeatles]

all of my friends down here strongly dislike BLT.

i've yet to talk to anyone who likes it.

 

[puntagordabob]

And I have to believe they have a plan for the other garden wing eventually.

They just remodeled the other garden wing, i would say they will not do this anytimed in the near future.... also they want to keep prices high along the monorail so they would be just as likely to build a new wing for the Contemporary resort for cash paying guests with perhaps a few "grand villas" for DVC only since those are mega-point costs.

Still my bet is that it will be 20+ years from now if ever.

 

[jt04]

They just remodeled the other garden wing, i would say they will not do this anytimed in the near future.... also they want to keep prices high along the monorail so they would be just as likely to build a new wing for the Contemporary resort for cash paying guests with perhaps a few "grand villas" for DVC only since those are mega-point costs.

Still my bet is that it will be 20+ years from now if ever.

See post #62 :wave:

 

[Susan Savia]

The building itself looks great, but perhaps it should of more closely resembled the Contemporary in shape and structure style. Also, they should of been further apart.

 

[MousDad]

I strongly disagree that the building of a complimentary tower (the idea of which itself is nothing more than a figment of the imagination, not even based on a wild rumor) would be considered upon the speedy (or otherwise) selling out of the BLT.

When the BLT sells out (which I'm sure it will at some point), Disney's first task will be to sell all the units from the other properties that were vacated by current customers, who in reality are probably the only customers flocking to the BLT. If and when that happens (which I think is highly unlikely any time in the next 10 years, but that's my personal opinion), only then would it even be reasonable to make up rumors about building a complimentary tower to encircle with circles the iconic CR tower.

 

[devoy1701]

It may not dwarf the tower but it takes away from the impact and impressiveness of the size of the A-frame building, both up close and from afar by having something just as big next to it.

i just spent the weekend at the Contemporary and I really don't think the new tower takes away from the impressiveness of the a-frame. From the most traveled approaches to the hotel, either from the main road/monorail from TTC, or heading back from MK, the new tower is ALWAYS behind the a-frame which gives it a commanding and larger presence than the new tower. Even though they are just about the same height, with BLT being recessed alittle (not to mention it's only about 3/4 as wide as the A-frame), BLT always looks smaller than the A-Frame.

Having seen it about once a month as it's been built (FL resident AP'er) I have to say the building itself looks better than the artist renderings. Especially now that so much of the scaffolding is coming down.

That said, I really hate it's placement. I don't think it ties in with the Contemporary at all. I

Also, there are several points in the park where you can now see not only the Contemporary, but BLT as well. (Notably Tomorrowland and certain angles of Main Street.) It's a little distracting to see two different hotels from within MK and I wish they'd bring in some tall trees or something to help block the view.

BLT is a nice enough looking building. Just should have gone somewhere else entirely.

Are you sure you can see it from Main Street? I would suspect that the only place could see it would be from the Train Station, the buildings of Main Street are just too close for you to see any of the Contemporary buildings. I could be wrong.

Being associated with the Contemporary itelf is the new Towers saving grace. It looks like any other run of the mill high rise hotel in any other region. I do wonder how often the pool and pool deck will see sunlight. I hope they thought of this in their planning.

And the "MK Views" always make me laugh. Yes, you do look out over the Magic Kingdom and can see the fireworks. But you see the backstage buildings and many, many parking lots. I'd rather a Bay Lake View.

One of the arguments that alot of the nay-sayers were shouting was that the color and style was all wrong on the new tower. but honestly, the blend perfectly. The new tower looks simply like an extension of the old building.

and I have to ask, have you had an MK view room before? it is VERY impressive. You don't see many backstage areas at all...alittle where the old Galaxy Palace Theater was but most of it is blocked by the thick foliage around the park. you do see the Contemporary Parking lot but big deal. You also get to see fireworks outside your window every night.

all of my friends down here strongly dislike BLT.

i've yet to talk to anyone who likes it.

you're talking to the wrong people.

I took ALOT of picture of the two towers this weekend. I'll put some of them up in here tonight when I get home.

 

[devoy1701]

I strongly disagree that the building of a complimentary tower (the idea of which itself is nothing more than a figment of the imagination, not even based on a wild rumor) would be considered upon the speedy (or otherwise) selling out of the BLT.

When the BLT sells out (which I'm sure it will at some point), Disney's first task will be to sell all the units from the other properties that were vacated by current customers, who in reality are probably the only customers flocking to the BLT. If and when that happens (which I think is highly unlikely any time in the next 10 years, but that's my personal opinion), only then would it even be reasonable to make up rumors about building a complimentary tower to encircle with circles the iconic CR tower.

DVC doesnt work that way though. I don't think current members of DVC are looking towards buying into BLT. It doesn't cost anything extra "pointwise" to book in a DVC resort outside of your home resort. The only difference is that you can book your trip a year out instead of 7 months out. And currently you need to purchase a minimum of 160 points for DVC whereas if you buy into Animal Kingdom or Saratoga you can get away with only buying 100 points. There would really be no reason to move your home resort once you've already bought into DVC. BLT is going to be impossible to get into for the first 2-3years anyway.

And I also don't think they're going to wait for BLT to sell out before they build a new resort...afterall they're still selling the Animal Kingdom Villas and Saratoga has been selling for what, 5 years now? I'm not saying that they're going to be building a 3rd Tower at the Contemporary...I doubt they will...

 

[MousDad]

DVC doesnt work that way though. I don't think current members of DVC are looking towards buying into BLT. It doesn't cost anything extra "pointwise" to book in a DVC resort outside of your home resort. The only difference is that you can book your trip a year out instead of 7 months out. And currently you need to purchase a minimum of 160 points for DVC whereas if you buy into Animal Kingdom or Saratoga you can get away with only buying 100 points. There would really be no reason to move your home resort once you've already bought into DVC. BLT is going to be impossible to get into for the first 2-3years anyway.

Seems like alot of current owners were excited to transfer to BLT, from their comments I've been reading. But thanks for the clarification. So how are they expecting so sell those units to new customers if they can't book them for 2-3 years?

And I also don't think they're going to wait for BLT to sell out before they build a new resort...afterall they're still selling the Animal Kingdom Villas and Saratoga has been selling for what, 5 years now? I'm not saying that they're going to be building a 3rd Tower at the Contemporary...I doubt they will...

Yeah, but that all started 5 years ago, like you said. I think the climate has changed. My main point was that it seems to be a rollover/upgrade market now. Not a new customer market.

 

[jt04]

Yeah, but that all started 5 years ago, like you said. I think the climate has changed. My main point was that it seems to be a rollover/upgrade market now. Not a new customer market.

That's because you are buying into the "doom and gloom" propaganda. The sky isn't falling, they just want you to think that.

Fearful people are easier to manipulate. Don't drink the kool-aid! :lol::lookaroun

 

[MousDad]

That's because you are buying into the "doom and gloom" propaganda. The sky isn't falling, they just want you to think that.

Fearful people are easier to manipulate. Don't drink the kool-aid! :lol::lookaroun

If there are as many new customers buying into DVC as there were 2 or 3 years ago, I would be perfectly happy, but surprised.

 

[jt04]

If there are as many new customers buying into DVC as there were 2 or 3 years ago, I would be perfectly happy, but surprised.

Oh I am not saying things have not slowed down but DVC's are still selling. In fact they are opening a DVC store on Long Island and that is probably just the begining as Disney Travel is a growth market. IMO.

http://mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=215558

 

[TwoTigersMom]

DVC doesnt work that way though. I don't think current members of DVC are looking towards buying into BLT. It doesn't cost anything extra "pointwise" to book in a DVC resort outside of your home resort. The only difference is that you can book your trip a year out instead of 7 months out. And currently you need to purchase a minimum of 160 points for DVC whereas if you buy into Animal Kingdom or Saratoga you can get away with only buying 100 points. There would really be no reason to move your home resort once you've already bought into DVC. BLT is going to be impossible to get into for the first 2-3years anyway.

And I also don't think they're going to wait for BLT to sell out before they build a new resort...afterall they're still selling the Animal Kingdom Villas and Saratoga has been selling for what, 5 years now? I'm not saying that they're going to be building a 3rd Tower at the Contemporary...I doubt they will...

We enjoy having the flexibility of being able to book a year in advance at multiple places. We originally bought in at AKV and a small contract at BCV. Since then we've added SSR and this past December we added BLT.

Yeah, but that all started 5 years ago, like you said. I think the climate has changed. My main point was that it seems to be a rollover/upgrade market now. Not a new customer market.

As far as new folks buying into BLT, I know of 3 families here locally that have purchased contracts there within the last 2 months. I see our purchases in DVC or any purchase in DVC as a safe investment. In the long run, I will have saved a TON by being a DVC member considering the number of trips we take. Also, with the money we invested in DVC is something we don't have to worry about. Disney isn't going anywhere. If we had put that money in stocks instead, well, I think my husband would have had a heart attack by now to lose that much money so fast. So I would have lost my money and my husband. :lookaroun :lol: I know, it's an odd way of looking at it :lol:

 

[jt04]

We enjoy having the flexibility of being able to book a year in advance at multiple places. We originally bought in at AKV and a small contract at BCV. Since then we've added SSR and this past December we added BLT.



As far as new folks buying into BLT, I know of 3 families here locally that have purchased contracts there within the last 2 months. I see our purchases in DVC or any purchase in DVC as a safe investment. In the long run, I will have saved a TON by being a DVC member considering the number of trips we take. Also, with the money we invested in DVC is something we don't have to worry about. Disney isn't going anywhere. If we had put that money in stocks instead, well, I think my husband would have had a heart attack by now to lose that much money so fast. So I would have lost my money and my husband. :lookaroun :lol: I know, it's an odd way of looking at it :lol:

I'm not suprised to hear about so many purchasers of BLT shares. Location, Location, Location!

 

[devoy1701]

Just wanted to put these up incase anyone wanted to see them...

I think they look great together!

:wave:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

City centre hotel springs to mind. :shrug:

 

[unkadug]

Just wanted to put these up incase anyone wanted to see them...

I think they look great together!

:wave:

So do I! :wave:

Nice shots.