Why are Bay Lake Tower guests allowed to use the Contemporary pool?

[Innkeeper's Club]

Ever since Bay Lake Tower opened I have always wondered something. How come anyone staying there is allowed to use Contemporary pool if they feel like it, but anyone staying at the Contemporary can't use the Bay Lake Tower pool? Now first let me say I have no problem with this rule and I am just wondering the reason for it. Yes I know that to enter Bay Lake Tower you need to be staying there with a valid KTTW card so any of their doors to open and that includes the pool entrance. I also know that their pool size isn't that big and I am sure there is a chair issue, however from what I have seen there doesn't seem to be a lot of total chairs at the Contemporary pool. Also I am sure we could all agree this is a unique rule because at the other Deluxe/DVC Resorts that are connecting to each other all pools can be used by guests of either location, like the Boardwalk Inn & Boardwalk Villas.

Finally let's say for example that the Contemporary pool was being closed for a renovation or it closed for something un-expected and it would be like that for 24 - 72 hours. During that time could the Contemporary guests be given temporary access to the Bay Lake Tower pool? In the past when their pool had closed guests were told they could swim at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge. However now with Bay Lake Tower would you not agree that on paper it's easier for those guests to swim there, so they don't need to take the Resort Monorail or Boat somewhere else to swim.

 

[SCB502]

Maybe because when they built BLT they screwed up and put the pool in the shade for most of the day. It's not so bad when it's hot but on the cool days it sucks.

 

[OldYeller]

Not sure if it's the reason but I agree; it does get really cool in the shade of the building during the cooler months. Last November, we had to keep moving to try to stay in the sun. By 3:00 or so, there was no sun to be had and it was far too cool to sit in the shade at the pool at BLT.

 

[Annielkd]

Ever since Bay Lake Tower opened I have always wondered something. How come anyone staying there is allowed to use Contemporary pool if they feel like it, but anyone staying at the Contemporary can't use the Bay Lake Tower pool? Now first let me say I have no problem with this rule and I am just wondering the reason for it. Yes I know that to enter Bay Lake Tower you need to be staying there with a valid KTTW card so any of their doors to open and that includes the pool entrance. I also know that their pool size isn't that big and I am sure there is a chair issue, however from what I have seen there doesn't seem to be a lot of total chairs at the Contemporary pool. Also I am sure we could all agree this is a unique rule because at the other Deluxe/DVC Resorts that are connecting to each other all pools can be used by guests of either location, like the Boardwalk Inn & Boardwalk Villas.

Finally let's say for example that the Contemporary pool was being closed for a renovation or it closed for something un-expected and it would be like that for 24 - 72 hours. During that time could the Contemporary guests be given temporary access to the Bay Lake Tower pool? In the past when their pool had closed guests were told they could swim at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge. However now with Bay Lake Tower would you not agree that on paper it's easier for those guests to swim there, so they don't need to take the Resort Monorail or Boat somewhere else to swim.

That's not right. At Boardwalk Villas, you can use the Boardwalk pools... the same holds true for ALL villas... they have access to the Inn's pools. At Beach Club Villas you can use the Beach Club Inn pool, stormalong bay... same is true at Animal Kingdoms. It's part of the perks of having a DVC membership.

 

[Annielkd]

For the second part of your question... Villas are generally populated by DVC members. As a member you have to pay for upkeep and renovations as part of your dues. I believe the only way you can access a Villa pool is if you pay to go there. Yes, you can book there but they allow DVC members to have first access there. Which is why you can't say that people at contemporary should have access to the small pool that DVC members pay a huge due for.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Yes I know that to enter Bay Lake Tower you need to be staying there with a valid KTTW card so any of their doors to open and that includes the pool entrance.

I would say that this is THE major logistical issue.

 

[tjkraz]

I would say that this is THE major logistical issue.

It's a logistical issue...but it's one that Disney itself created. There's really no good reason for BLT to be closed off. You could argue that non-guests don't have a reason to enter but that's still a pretty thin argument, IMO. Non-guests enter every other Disney resort and they have never felt the need to...protect (?)...guests from having to mingle with the non-guests.

And the key card "security system" is at best a mild deterrent.

As for the pool, my suspicion is that Disney feared the BLT pool would draw more guests from the CR tower than it could accommodate.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

As for the pool, my suspicion is that Disney feared the BLT pool would draw more guests from the CR tower than it could accommodate.

Let's say the situation was reversed and the Bay Lake Tower pool was closed, wouldn't the guests staying there cause more problems with the Contemporary pool being over run and not having any room? Yes their pool maybe bigger but there isn't a huge number of pool chairs. So that's why I never understood why they don't allow Contemporary guests at the Bay Lake Tower pool, but it's ok for Bay Lake Tower guests to swim at the Contemporary pool.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

It's a logistical issue...but it's one that Disney itself created. There's really no good reason for BLT to be closed off. You could argue that non-guests don't have a reason to enter but that's still a pretty thin argument, IMO. Non-guests enter every other Disney resort and they have never felt the need to...protect (?)...guests from having to mingle with the non-guests.

The one difference is Bay Lake Tower doesn't have any stores to look around at because their guests go to the Contemporary for items sold at the Fantasia Market. Plus they don't have any of their own Table Service Restaurants or Quick Service locations.

 

[tjkraz]

Let's say the situation was reversed and the Bay Lake Tower pool was closed, wouldn't the guests staying there cause more problems with the Contemporary pool being over run and not having any room? Yes their pool maybe bigger but there isn't a huge number of pool chairs. So that's why I never understood why they don't allow Contemporary guests at the Bay Lake Tower pool, but it's ok for Bay Lake Tower guests to swim at the Contemporary pool.

I wasn't speaking to the closure issue. Have no idea how Disney will handle that. Resort "feature pools" are forced to close for maintenance from time-to-time and there is never an ideal solution.

The one difference is Bay Lake Tower doesn't have any stores to look around at because their guests go to the Contemporary for items sold at the Fantasia Market. Plus they don't have any of their own Table Service Restaurants or Quick Service locations.

Obviously that's the justification but it's still a non-essential measure.

If Disney had wanted the pool open to non-BLT guests, they could have omitted the key card access for either the entire resort or just the pool.

 

[Funfy]

I think it is more of a DVC perk than anything. I believe DVC members can pool hop in all resort pools except Beach Club-Stormalong, Animal Kingdom and one more I can't remember. But, if you are a guest in the villa with a regular resort attached, you can swim in the resort pool or the DVC quieter pools.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

But, if you are a guest in the villa with a regular resort attached, you can swim in the resort pool or the DVC quieter pools.

That's where I think DVC sounds like hypocrites because they let Bay Lake Tower guests swim at the Contemporary, however they don't let Contemporary guests swim at Bay Lake Tower. They should have extended that rule to Contemporary guests or not allowed Bay Lake Tower guests to swim there to make things fair for both sides.

 

[disneyeater]

That's where I think DVC sounds like hypocrites because they let Bay Lake Tower guests swim at the Contemporary, however they don't let Contemporary guests swim at Bay Lake Tower. They should have extended that rule to Contemporary guests or not allowed Bay Lake Tower guests to swim there to make things fair for both sides.

My guess is that the owners of BLT pay for the BLT pool entirely and pay for part of the amenties at the Contempo and that is where it stems from.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

My guess is that the owners of BLT pay for the BLT pool entirely and pay for part of the amenties at the Contempo and that is where it stems from.

Just wondering why would Bay Lake Tower owners need to pay for part of the amenties at the Contemporary, considering it's been open since 1971.

 

[disneyeater]

Just wondering why would Bay Lake Tower owners need to pay for part of the amenties at the Contemporary, considering it's been open since 1971.

Because they use the contempory check-in, gym, restaurants, bell services, ect. They do not have their own for any of this. They are considered part of the Contemporary. The official name of the resort is Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

 

[Annielkd]

I think you are missing the point. The reason it's not both ways is because you purchase a one time placement at a resort... DVC members contribute annually towards dues that allow them to go to any of the pools listed on their membership. We don't pay one time fees... we pay yearly... and it's NOT cheep. The price of all hotels reflects their ammenities. A DVC membership requires members to share the cost of mantenence and has the other pools listed. I know I can only use Stormalong when I book at Beach Club... it's clearly listed in the agreement. However, you pay a price for a level of service when you book and pay rack rate... it does not include pool hopping at any of the Villa pools... they just don't charge you the fees it would incur. If you wanted to go to other pools, I think they should charge you accordingly.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

Because they use the contempory check-in, gym, restaurants, bell services, ect. They do not have their own for any of this. They are considered part of the Contemporary. The official name of the resort is Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Would that be the same rule for BWV, BCV and VWL since they share the exact same things as the BWI, BC and WL?

 

[Annielkd]

Yes, they share the amenities for all of the Inns. There pools are considered "quiet pools" and are rather small in all the villas.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

Yes, they share the amenities for all of the Inns. There pools are considered "quiet pools" and are rather small in all the villas.

What about the quiet pools located at the BWI and BC which are seperate from the quiet pools located on the BWV and BCV side. Do those count as shared amenities for DVC members given the locations of those pools?

 

[Annielkd]

I'm not positive. I do know the Beach Club has a "quiet pool" behind the Villas which is supposed to be for DVC members only. BUT, they don't have anyone checking anything, and it doesn't seem to be a problem.