Today we take a look at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Located in walking distance from Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Bay Lake Tower is a top notch Disney Vacation Club property.
Bay Lake Tower is a 15-story, 295-unit Disney Vacation Club property resort with studios and one- and two-bedroom villas, as well as two-story, three-bedroom Grand Villas. Rooms afford fantastic views of Bay Lake or the Magic Kingdom, and each room has a private balcony or patio.
Rooms are well appointed, with flat-panel TVs, DVD players, mini- fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Brightly colored accessories, paintings, and accent walls complement an otherwise-neutral color scheme. Wood tables and granite countertops add a natural touch.
Studios sleep up to four people and include one queen-size bed and one double sleeper sofa. The part of the studio with the bed, sofa, and TV measures about 170 square feet and feels small with just two people; four would be an adventure. A refurbishment of all studio rooms moved the bath’s sink from the kitchen to the bathroom.
One-bedroom villas sleep five (the living room’s chair and sofa fold out to sleep three people) and provide a formal kitchen, a second bathroom, and a living room in addition to the studio bedroom.
The two-bedroom villas—our pick for the best of the standard rooms—sleep nine and include all of the kitchen amenities found in a one-bedroom, plus an extra bathroom. One of the baths is attached to a second bedroom with two queen beds or a queen plus a sleeper- sized sofa. As with the one-bedrooms, a sofa bed and sleeper chair in the living room provide extra places to snooze, though they’re best suited for small children. Bathrooms in the two-bedroom villas are a bit more spacious than those in the one-bedrooms. One odd feature in the baths (also found at other DVC resorts) is a folding door separating the tub from the master bedroom.
The two-story Grand Villas sleep 12 and include four bathrooms, the same master-bedroom layout, and two bedrooms with two queen beds apiece. An upstairs seating area overlooking the main floor pro- vides a sleeper sofa and chair. Two-story windows offer unparalleled views of either Bay Lake or the Magic Kingdom—with unparalleled prices to match.
Dining, transportation, and other recreational activities are shared with the Contemporary Resort. Bay Lake Tower has its own check-in desk as well as its own private pool and pool bar, plus a small fire pit on the beach.
Its Top of the World Lounge is the best bar on Disney property. It comes complete with a fireworks viewing area, but, alas, the bar admits only DVC owners and their guests.
GOOD TO KNOW
If you scored a Disney Resort hotel reservation, remember it does not guarantee theme park access, which you will have to request separately. When it comes to the parks, openings are scheduled as follows: July 11 for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.
If you landed both a resort reservation and park admission, note that there will be no FastPass+ service, no Extra Magic Hours, and no park hopping for now. Private dining and in-room delivery will not be offered during the initial reopening window. Be aware that face coverings will be required for each guest age 2 and up; they must be worn in all public areas, except while swimming or seated for dining. There won’t be any fireworks, parades, or character meet-and-greets for the foreseeable future.
Some hotel amenities and experiences will be unavailable, including: arcades, campfires, marina rentals, pin trading, playgrounds, spas, in-room child services, and special events. For more information check out the Walt Disney World Resorts website.
For all COVID-19 related information read our updates.
For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, or to plan your family’s trip to Orlando, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2020. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channeland sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
