SUBMITTED BY “CONTEMPORARY” CRAIG BENDELE 

My wife, Dina, and I were able to go to the Saratoga Springs Disney VacationClub Sales Centerrecently and take a tour of the new Bay Lake Tower Models.  The models are directly across from the DVCCenter in a building that looks like a sound-stage at The Studios.  When You enter the building you are immediately taken into “BayLake Tower”.

You enter into a hallway complete with BLTcarpeting and colors.  When you turn the corner, at the end of the hall are the two models, a Studio, and a One Room Suite.  The end of the hall is complete with room numbers and lights.

Studio:

We went into Room “7234” first, which is the Studio Model.  You walk into a very short hall with the bathroom on your left.  A little further in is the kitchenette.  Finally you enter the main room with a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and a table and chairs.  At the end of the room, all Studios have a balcony with two chairs, just like at the Contemporary.  The Studio is pretty small; covering just over300 square feet.  A “standard room”, next door at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is over 400 sq. feet.  There is only one queen bed as opposed to the two double beds at the Contemporary, because there is no room for a king bed or two queens in the studio.  Across from the bed are the TV and an entertainment center and next to the TV is a small table with two chairs.

The bathroom/kitchenette has a very strange and unusual design.  I put the slash there since half of the bathroom is in the kitchen.  The bathroom includes the toilet and tub; there is no sink.  To wash your hands, you must leave the bathroom and head into the kitchen.  The Kitchenette is a narrow galley design.  On one wall is the vanity with bathroom sink and mirror and on the other wall are the counter, cabinets, and sink.  Somebody with long arms could probably use both sinks at the same time. 

We were told that the theory is that more than one person can “get ready” at the same time.  The kitchenette is equipped with a microwave, mini fridge, and small bar type sink. It has plenty of cabinets, including a really neat cabinet that pulls out of the wall. The Studio has plenty of storage.  It has lots of drawers, including under the vanity sink.   It also has lots of Mickey and Disney references.  The Contemporary Resort has removed most of its Disney Fun to pursue being a convention hotel.   It is very nice to see all the Disney fun here.

One Bedroom Suite:

After touring the Studio we went into the One Bedroom Suite. WOW!  Now, this room is great!  A long vacation would be VERY comfortable in the one bedroom suite.  The Suite is just over 1100 sq feet – very spacious.  Entering this room, you first walk into a small foyer which has a closet.  You walk past another small closet which has the (stacked) full size washer and dryer. Also off the foyer is a second bathroom.  Up next is the full size kitchen, complete with full sized appliances, and fully stocked with dishes.  Across from the kitchen is a dining area which is a very comfortable bench type arrangement with a nice large table that has a“diner” type feel to it.  It feels very informal and comfortable.

After the kitchen is the living room.  On one wall is the sleeper sofa with an ottoman, which includes built in storage.  Across from the sofa is an oversized chair,which hides a fold out twin bed.  On the other wall, is the TV complete with an entertainment center. The back wall of the living room is almost entirely a window.  The windows are very large stretching from about 2.5 feet off the floor.  In the corner, a glass door goes out to the balcony which is shared with the bedroom.

The bedroom is also very large and spacious and includes a king bed.  Across from the bed are more storage, the TV, and a desk complete with high speed Internet hook up and a power strip.  We were told that the high-speed hookup is complimentary (Ed. Note: DVC members staying “on points” receive free Internet access as a perk). The Contemporary Resort rooms include a computer with high speed Internet, but here at Bay Lake Tower you will need your own laptop.

The bathroom is also very large, including a whirlpool tub,large vanity, and a separate room with the toilet and a large shower.  One of Disney’s marketing points is the moveable wall separating the bathroom from the bedroom.  It is neat.  The wall slides into the corner so that you can have a view of the fireworks while soaking in the tub.

The One Bedroom Suite is also full of Disney and Mickey Artwork.  And, the Suite also has lots and lots of storage.

The two models are also situated so that you can see how theBay LakeTower will combine the Studio and One-Bedroom Suite into a TWO Bedroom Suite.  It seems that this will be the way most Two-Bedroom Suites will be rented out.

When considering an ownership at the BayLake Tower,I would think hard about what room type you would like to most stay in for the next 50 years.  If at all possible, I would buy as many points as possible to be able to stay in the Suite over the Studio.  The Studio just does not seem comfortable enough for more than a few nights.  The Suite, however, feels like you could just move right in and never leave, especially if you get a Magic Kingdom View!!

For more photos of Bay Lake Tower, visit Craig’s  BAYLAKETOWER.NET 

Discuss this article and suggest others in The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Forum  

Ed. note:  Craig Bendele is a major contributor to the TMIP Message Forums; he also has his own websites, cdbendele.com and contemporaryresort.net.