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It's almost BLT time!
- Thread starter DVC Mike
- Start date
SMRT-1Michael
Well-Known Member
FINALLY!!! I cannot wait for Bay Lake Tower to open!!!!!!!
I've been looking forward to opening day for sooo long!
Our Bay Lake Tower trip is Thanksgiving week (November) in a One Bedroom MK view!!!!!!! Ive been longing for DVC to open a resort on the monorail circuit.
Words cant describe my excitment!!!:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:
I've been looking forward to opening day for sooo long!
Our Bay Lake Tower trip is Thanksgiving week (November) in a One Bedroom MK view!!!!!!! Ive been longing for DVC to open a resort on the monorail circuit.
Words cant describe my excitment!!!:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:
LivFreeorDisney
Well-Known Member
This has been a very exciting year for all Disney visitors with three great new places to visit. I go to Disney once a year and made Kidani Village our first choice this year and the Tree House Villas next year. But I can't wait for BLT and being able to see the fire works every night after a long day at the parks. I hope you all have fun and let us know all about it when you return.
foreverbelle
Well-Known Member
For all those that are staying at BLT's in the upcoming weeks have a fabulous time and enjoy!
We're hoping to snag a 2 bedroom Lake View next year, possibly early-to-mid February (before Spring break starts). MK view is not worth the point premium to us right now. It's going to be tough enough to get kids to bed without fireworks going off right outside the window. 
Please let us how it is, Mike. And that's an awesome picture!
Please let us how it is, Mike. And that's an awesome picture!
wserratore1963
Active Member
me too 8/21OK, I'm not going opening week, but I'm still excited that I'll be staying at BLT in less than 3 weeks!
puntagordabob
Well-Known Member
Will be there August 4th...excited too
OnWithTheShow
Member
8/9-10 for me.
Anyone seen a menu for the appetizers/snacks at Top of the World?
Anyone seen a menu for the appetizers/snacks at Top of the World?
brianheather
Member
Sept 6th-12th MK view... :sohappy::sohappy: and I can't wait....
DizneyFamily4
New Member
87 Days and counting...
BLT is our home resort! We are totally psyched. :sohappy:OCtober 30th -November 7th. Looking forward to MNSSHP!!! YEAH!
BLT is our home resort! We are totally psyched. :sohappy:OCtober 30th -November 7th. Looking forward to MNSSHP!!! YEAH!
pcarathers
Active Member
Unfortunately, we don't go until April 2010, but are so excited. We had been wanting to buy into the DVC for a couple of years but ended up holding off once we heard about BLT coming! WE are excited beyond belief about our HOME RESORT! Can't wait......cant wait to see pics of BLT that have NOT been posted elsewhere!
schewy
Member
Blt
I hope everyone going on opening week (Aug 4th) has a great time in the newest resort. Make sure to let us know what it is like. I am reserved for Nov 15. on a Bay Lake View. I saw on You Tube where the fireworks at Epcot could be seen from this view. Let us know if this is true and how well ou can see them.
I hope everyone going on opening week (Aug 4th) has a great time in the newest resort. Make sure to let us know what it is like. I am reserved for Nov 15. on a Bay Lake View. I saw on You Tube where the fireworks at Epcot could be seen from this view. Let us know if this is true and how well ou can see them.
Bigart
Active Member
I'm posting with good reviews of the BLT. For any that havent been yet it is quite amazing.
The building is complete save for very minor touch up details, and the soft opening seemed to go smooth. The building's exterior lines and colors blend well with the horizontal lines of the main tower, and whether you agree with its shape, design and proximity to the old tower or not, the workmanship is very good and the interior details are quite chic and beautiful. There are lots of brushed metals, neutral colors, subtractive and modern decor, and large window openings for natural light. The lobby is small but ultra modern (check in is at the old tower desk) and access to the lobby from the valet drive up or the 4th/5th floor sky bridge is restricted by DVC room key. The bridge is covered and curved with access from the 4th floor Grand Canyon concourse's Northwest exit door to a small covered circular pod with keyed auto doors. The bridge curves softly each way, and is supported by concrete support columns connected to brackets, along with huge turnbuckles linked to thick steel suspension cable which drapes the coulumns and connects at ground level to large caissons. Entry to the BLT from the bridge is on floor 5 and leads directly to the elevator lobby. This bridge was already showing signs of lots of usage as it is the most efficient way between the two structures. Level 5 will be a busy floor.
There are many subtle details that any Disneyphile will appreciate, especially the Andy Warhol type Disney 70's themed artwork throughout the resort rooms and elevator lobbies that have subtle tributes to all our favorite symbols of the park. The furnishings in the common areas are contemporary and chic; colored leathers, amorphous shapes, stainless steel, etc.
The rooms are very modern and seem to work well ergonomically, although I did not see every type. There are lots of stainless steel and modern materials and cool interior space saving and design tricks that even the hardest hearted architect could appreciate. Furnishings are modern and comfortable. The hallways are obviously curved, as most of you know the resort is a large C shape in plan to maximize exterior exposure. The carpeting has the essential hidden if not obvious Mickeys, and the room number signs are warmly backlit stainless panels with modern font...think starship Enterprise.
The pool area is typical disney with a fountain play area for the kids, water slide, cabana bar, hot tub and pool complete with a beach type gradual entry area. There are shuffleboard and bocce lanes (a nice touch) flanking the courtyard from the lobby to the pool. A long linear fountain rests directly along the building's main axis, complete with engraved name tiles along the edge.
For anyone expecting a breathtaking inner space like the grand canyon concourse will be disappointed, as the main lobby is actually quite small.
There are no restaurants or shops...any late munchies are in the main tower although of course room service is available and all trucked over from the main building. The impression factor lies in the room views, especially the west exposure towards the MK.
The ultimate view is of course from the observation deck on floor 16, a highly desired and controlled area that includes the Top of the World Lounge. Floor 16 can only be accessed by room key. The lounge is housed in the A frame rooftop center structure (meant to mimic the old tower's shape) and is ultra chic, complete with a gorgeous chandelier and dramatic window paintings depicting the old alweg Disneyland Monorails. Holding about 70 people max, the lounge is highly restricted to BLT DVC members and their guests and is on a first come first served. The observation deck has an incredible, breathtaking western view, and is about the equivalent to the decks at the CA Grille minus the exposed flat roof. The chrome hidden mickey speaker covers pipe the fireworks music right in.
Note to the wise: close your curtains at night as your acivities are for the World to see, no pun intended. From the ground at night, the BLT is like a giant version of the movie Rear Window. Lets just say I saw many things I shouldn't have. It was like watching 300 tv sets at once.
All in all the building is quite impressive, but is not nearly as impressive as the main tower, nor was it meant to be. The rooms are beautiful, the materials well chosen, the decor ultra modern. Detractors dont like its facade or location in relation to the Mother Building, but it is what it is. Whether a better design could have been produced is irrelevant. Any Disney freak will appreciate the stark beauty and detail work, and realize it is an addition to, not a replacement for an old original icon.
The building is complete save for very minor touch up details, and the soft opening seemed to go smooth. The building's exterior lines and colors blend well with the horizontal lines of the main tower, and whether you agree with its shape, design and proximity to the old tower or not, the workmanship is very good and the interior details are quite chic and beautiful. There are lots of brushed metals, neutral colors, subtractive and modern decor, and large window openings for natural light. The lobby is small but ultra modern (check in is at the old tower desk) and access to the lobby from the valet drive up or the 4th/5th floor sky bridge is restricted by DVC room key. The bridge is covered and curved with access from the 4th floor Grand Canyon concourse's Northwest exit door to a small covered circular pod with keyed auto doors. The bridge curves softly each way, and is supported by concrete support columns connected to brackets, along with huge turnbuckles linked to thick steel suspension cable which drapes the coulumns and connects at ground level to large caissons. Entry to the BLT from the bridge is on floor 5 and leads directly to the elevator lobby. This bridge was already showing signs of lots of usage as it is the most efficient way between the two structures. Level 5 will be a busy floor.
There are many subtle details that any Disneyphile will appreciate, especially the Andy Warhol type Disney 70's themed artwork throughout the resort rooms and elevator lobbies that have subtle tributes to all our favorite symbols of the park. The furnishings in the common areas are contemporary and chic; colored leathers, amorphous shapes, stainless steel, etc.
The rooms are very modern and seem to work well ergonomically, although I did not see every type. There are lots of stainless steel and modern materials and cool interior space saving and design tricks that even the hardest hearted architect could appreciate. Furnishings are modern and comfortable. The hallways are obviously curved, as most of you know the resort is a large C shape in plan to maximize exterior exposure. The carpeting has the essential hidden if not obvious Mickeys, and the room number signs are warmly backlit stainless panels with modern font...think starship Enterprise.
The pool area is typical disney with a fountain play area for the kids, water slide, cabana bar, hot tub and pool complete with a beach type gradual entry area. There are shuffleboard and bocce lanes (a nice touch) flanking the courtyard from the lobby to the pool. A long linear fountain rests directly along the building's main axis, complete with engraved name tiles along the edge.
For anyone expecting a breathtaking inner space like the grand canyon concourse will be disappointed, as the main lobby is actually quite small.
There are no restaurants or shops...any late munchies are in the main tower although of course room service is available and all trucked over from the main building. The impression factor lies in the room views, especially the west exposure towards the MK.
The ultimate view is of course from the observation deck on floor 16, a highly desired and controlled area that includes the Top of the World Lounge. Floor 16 can only be accessed by room key. The lounge is housed in the A frame rooftop center structure (meant to mimic the old tower's shape) and is ultra chic, complete with a gorgeous chandelier and dramatic window paintings depicting the old alweg Disneyland Monorails. Holding about 70 people max, the lounge is highly restricted to BLT DVC members and their guests and is on a first come first served. The observation deck has an incredible, breathtaking western view, and is about the equivalent to the decks at the CA Grille minus the exposed flat roof. The chrome hidden mickey speaker covers pipe the fireworks music right in.
Note to the wise: close your curtains at night as your acivities are for the World to see, no pun intended. From the ground at night, the BLT is like a giant version of the movie Rear Window. Lets just say I saw many things I shouldn't have. It was like watching 300 tv sets at once.
All in all the building is quite impressive, but is not nearly as impressive as the main tower, nor was it meant to be. The rooms are beautiful, the materials well chosen, the decor ultra modern. Detractors dont like its facade or location in relation to the Mother Building, but it is what it is. Whether a better design could have been produced is irrelevant. Any Disney freak will appreciate the stark beauty and detail work, and realize it is an addition to, not a replacement for an old original icon.
Hi Guys, would very much appreciate any reviews to go into our review system if you get a chance - http://www.wdwmagic.com/Resorts/Bay-Lake-Tower-at-Disneys-Contemporary-Resort/Reviews.htm
Thanks!
Thanks!