Disney World Blog Discussing Parks, Resorts, Discounts and Dining | Only WDWorld

Bay Lake Tower Becomes The 3rd DVC Property To Open This Year At Disney World

2009-08-05T06:51:00.007-04:00

Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort is the third Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property to open in 2009.

The first was the initial phase of the Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Villas. Next came the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs, and now Bay Lake Tower has opened on August 4th.

Bay Lake Tower (BLT)is a 15 story crescent shaped tower that is added to the 38 year old Contemporary Resort complex that was part of the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971.

This resort becomes the first DVC property that is on the Disney World Monorail loop near the Magic Kingdom. The BLT houses 295 two-bedroom equivalent villas decorated in a fashion consistent with the Contemporary Resort's theming.

With its close proximity to the Magic Kingdom, BLT was built to take full advantage of the views. In addition to having many of the villas facing the Magic Kingdom, there is the Top of the World lounge and observation deck, offering sweeping views of Walt Disney World Resort, as well as a unique perspective for the “Wishes” nighttime fireworks spectacular at Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is easily accessed by way of the Sky Way Bridge which takes guests from the 5th floor of Bay Lake Tower directly to the 4th floor Grand Canyon Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Here they have close access to the monorail, shopping, and the Contemporary's restaurants, including kid favorite Chef Mickey's.

BLT also has added a new zero entry pool complex including a water slide, separate whirlpool spa and an interactive children’s water feature – all overlooking picturesque Bay Lake.

Here are some interesting facts about the construction of Bay Lake Tower:

There are 167 miles of post-tensioning cable running through the concrete slabs. These cables could stretch from Bay Lake Tower to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and back.
There are 1,398 tons of reinforcing steel, known as rebar, within the structure. This is equal to the weight of 254 full-grown elephants.
Bay Lake Tower rests on a foundation of more than 800 concrete piles that are 16 inches in diameter and extend 70 feet into the ground. Stacked on top of one another, these would reach more than 10 miles into the sky.

Although Bay Lake Tower is a DVC Resort, anyone can make reservations there, although availability may be limited during certain times.

This is certainly an exciting addition to one of the Walt Disney World Resorts original attractions.

Disney World Launches Online Resort Check-In

2009-02-27T06:08:00.009-05:00

Just this week Disney World has launched a new service for guests at one of their on property resorts: Online Check-In.

Here are some of the details:

Within 10 days of their scheduled arrival Resort Guests can go on-line at http://www.disneyworld.com/ or the DVC member site (if you are a DVC member staying at a Disney World DVC resort). While on-line they can complete the normal information that takes place during the check-in process. They can verify the names of all the people in their party, they can make their room requests and preferences (although not guaranteed), and enter in their credit card.

Once you have arrived you can skip the main line and head to a new special area where your Resort Portfolio and Room Keys will be waiting for you. Cast members will also be available to answer your questions and provide additional information.

This should really streamline the check-in process and allow you to start your vacation a little quicker.

According to Kevin Myers, vice president of Resort Operations for Walt Disney World Resort: “Our new Online Check-In Service offers added convenience and time savings for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests. It’s the latest benefit created as part of our continuous effort to provide a seamless and hassle-free arrival experience for our guests as they begin their Disney vacation.”

Recent comments from those that have tried the service for their upcoming vacations have been positive and they said the process was relatively straight forward and simple. I have not heard any comments yet from people about how things were after they arrived at their resort.

Although I am sure that this is a cost saving measure for Disney World, I think this can be a benefit for the resort guest as well in terms of speeding us through the check-in process.

Disney World's Extra Magic Hours

2009-01-29T06:02:00.008-05:00

There are differing opinions on whether to take advantage of Disney World's Extra Magic Hours or to avoid them. Today I am going to share my experience and help you use them to your advantage.

Let's start off with: "What are Extra Magic Hours?"

Extra Magic Hours are an incentive that Disney World created for staying at one of the Disney World Resort hotels. During selected times, you may enter the designated park for that day either 1 hour before the regular opening or up to 3 hours after the normal closing.

Here is an example of the current Extra Magic Hour schedule being used. Each day there is at least one Extra Magic Hour park.

Strategy

The prevailing advice is that the Extra Magic Hour Days are the busiest days for those parks and they should be avoided. For the most part, this is a true statement, but here are some exceptions that may be beneficial to you.

If you are an early riser, DO take advantage of the morning Extra Magic Hours. This can really jumpstart your day and allow you to ride the most popular attractions, before the crowds start to build.

If you have the Park Hopper Option, or you are an Annual Passholder, then visit a different park during the day and hit the Extra Magic Hour Park in the Evening. Usually the later that you get into the extra 3 hours the lighter the park attendance gets. If you are a Night Owl, you can enjoy the park until the very end.

The third strategy to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours is to visit the park at opening. Stay until early afternoon, then go back to the hotel for a nap or some pool time and then return in the evening to enjoy the Extra Magic Hours. This helps you avoid some of the crowds and still get an extra long day at one of your favorite parks.

As I mentioned earlier conventional wisdom says to avoid the Extra Magic Hour park on their special days. If you wish to use this to your advantage, visit a park on the day AFTER it has held an evening Extra Magic Hour. If you get there right as it opens, this is typically the lightest crowds of the week for that park.

Whether you attend the Extra Magic Hour sessions or not, take the time to find out when they are held during your visit. Try employing one of the 3 strategies mentioned above to get the most out of this perk or use the “Visit A Park The Day After” method to minimize the crowds.

Choosing a Disney World Moderate Resort

2009-01-18T12:53:00.009-05:00

With more than 20 Resort hotels to choose from in the Walt Disney World Resort, it can be a daunting task to narrow the list down and pick the right one for your vacation.

Today we are going to focus on the group that Disney calls its Moderate Resorts.

Why Choose a Moderate Resort?

The Moderates, as the name implies, will cost you more than the Value resorts, but not as much as the Deluxe resorts. That, in and of itself, does not tell you very much. Here is what you can expect when you stay at a Moderate resort:

Rack Rates start at $149 per night + Tax, but many discounts are available throughout the year.
Rooms are 314 – 340 sqft.
They have 2 Double or 2 Queen Sized beds in a standard room
Each room has it’s own mini-fridge.
Each Resort has a Food Court.
All Resorts except French Quarter have a full service sit down restaurant.
All resorts have lounges
All resorts have a special pool complex, most with water slides.
Extensive landscaping and theming that differentiate them from the Value resorts.
All resorts have bike and water craft rentals available.
Walking and jogging trails.

In summary, the Moderate resort hotels have larger rooms and more resort amenities than the Value hotels. This can make a big difference on longer trips, with older children, or if you plan on spending a fair amount of time at the resort during your vacation.

Here are snapshots of your choices for Moderate resort hotels:

Caribbean Beach:
This sprawling, 200 acre, tropical themed resort is set around the 45 acre Barefoot Bay with white sand beaches.
The brightly colored 2,112 rooms are divided into 6 villages named after Caribbean islands.
A sprawling pool complex themed like an old Spanish fortress: complete with towers, antique cannons, and a waterslide.
Pirate themed rooms are being added.

Port Orleans Riverside:
This 2,048-room hotel pays homage to rural Louisiana.
The resort is split into 2 sections, the Alligator Bayou with backwoods style cottages, landscaping, and decorations; and the white-columned Magnolia Bend Mansions with their formal gardens and stately decorations.
The 3.5-acre Ol' Man Island extensive pool complex is encircled by a bend of the Sassagoula River.
This resort has the best food court of all of the Moderates, with a large variety of choices and plenty of seating.
Although the resort is large, it is organized to keep the walking reasonable.
You may catch a free boat ride to Downtown Disney along the Sassagoula River.

Port Orleans French Quarter:

The Riverside pays homage to rural Louisiana, but the French Quarter is themed to embrace New Orleans during Mardis Gras.

This resort is the smallest of the Moderates, but still has over 1,000 rooms.

The least amount of walking is required at this resort.
The main pool area has a fun water slide that kids of all ages enjoy.
This resort is within walking distance to the Riverside and although it does not have a sit-down restaurant of its own, you can walk to Boatwright's at the Riverside.

Coronado Springs:

The Resort has an American Southwest theme to it's 1,921 rooms in 3 distinctly different themed areas.
This resort has the best main pool area of all of the moderates. The Mayan pyramid ruins make a wonderful backdrop. It also has a 22 person hot tub.
The food court here, the Pepper Market, is unique to all of Disney World. It has an ala carte set up with various pods (stations) where you "build" your meal. The food is very good, but slightly more expensive than the other food courts.
This resort also has convention facilities on site and frequently has a large number of convention goers present.

Personal Note:

You can't go wrong at any of these resorts. I have personally had the opportunity to stay at each of them over the last several years. They are all beautiful and can be a vacation destination all to themselves.

If I had to pick a favorite, I would pick the Port Orleans Riverside. I have had several wonderful vacations there and I enjoy the relaxing Bayou landscaping and decorations.

Kid's Eye View of Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge

2009-01-12T18:34:00.012-05:00

I am proud to announce a new regular feature at Only WDWorld: Kid’s Eye View.

This is Disney World from a kid’s perspective, namely my almost 10 year old daughter Madison. She is already a Disney World veteran with over 10 trips under her belt.

The views presented are hers with only minor editing. If you have comments, please submit them, as I am sure Madison would be more than willing to respond.

Her initial report gives her views and opinions of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Take it away Madison….

Hello, this week I’m going to talk about the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The lodge is as close as you can be to the Animal Kingdom. If you’re lucky you can get a room with a savannah view, which means that you can see all of the wonderful animals, such as: zebras, antelope, wildebeests, giraffes, peacocks, and more.

I would like to comment on the inside of the rooms. I applaud the use of the African themes that are seen in the authentic looking tables, beds, and the fabric. There are also wonderful porches.

I want to tell you about something that you don’t want to miss: Night Vision Goggles! Want to see animals up close, well here is your chance. I highly recommend it. Best of all it is free. I love giraffes up close. I even named my favorite ostrich: Osto.

While writing this article it made me think of zebra domes. Should I explain? I think so. Zebra domes are these tasty treats that you can get at the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s restaurants and food court. With a chocolate covering and a creamy center, zebra domes taste heavenly.

Here’s one more thing to do. Listen to an African story told by a wonderful storyteller. You will soon be enchanted. You also get to sit in rocking chairs near the huge fire ring.

That’s my Kid’s Eye View of the Animal Kingdom Lodge!

Trip Planning Part III - Choosing a Disney World Resort

2008-09-25T21:25:00.002-04:00

In earlier posts we talked about choosing When you will visit Walt Disney World and How Long you will stay during your trip. Now it is time to look at Choosing the resort you will stay at.

The Walt Disney World Resort has certainly added a variety of options over the years to help find an on site option that can fit almost everyone’s tastes and budget. Each resort offers unique theming and special touches that makes it different from the others. By understanding what each offers, you can make the best choice for you and your family.

The Value Resorts
This group includes: Pop Century, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, & All-Star Movies. These resorts offer an attractive price point and can get down to as low as $59/night with seasonal specials. The rooms are the size of standard hotel rooms, but they have special decorations and theming to fit the resort. Food Courts are available in the main building to get reasonable priced meals. Full Disney World transportation privileges are available to take you to all of the Parks and Downtown Disney. I think that these resorts work best if you are spending a lot of time in the parks and not a lot in the rooms. The smaller room sizes also work best if you have younger children.

The Moderate Resorts
Here we have Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Coronado Springs, & Caribbean Beach Resorts. These resorts offer larger rooms and increased resort theming. These resorts are the type that you could spend days without going to the parks if you were so inclined. My favorite from this group is the Port Orleans Riverside at which I have stayed several times. There is a peaceful quality as you walk through the wonderful landscaping of the Alligator Bayou section that really makes you feel that you are on vacation. The resorts are spread out and are huge. Expect to do a fair amount of walking, but the several bus stops keep it reasonable. Each resort has a themed main pool area with water slide and separate quiet pools.

The Deluxe Resorts
This group includes the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, The Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Yacht Club, & Boardwalk Inn. As you would expect with the increase in price you add larger room sizes, more theming, and increase in resort amenities. Each of these resorts can be considered a vacation destination unto themselves. Each also has excellent dining options located within or adjacent to the resort. Themed Pools with slides are also part of these resorts. A stay at any of these resorts will add many special moments to your vacation, but if you only visit your room to sleep, then the added expense of these resorts may not be the best option.

The Deluxe Villas (DVC resorts)
The DVC (Disney vacation Club) resorts currently include: Old Key West, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Saratoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, & Animal Kingdom Villas (with more beings added). These Disney Timeshares can also be reserved for cash reservations on a limited basis. They provide larger rooms with kitchens and room for 4 – 12 people depending upon the room category. These resorts also have wonderful theming and large themed pools with slides. They are excellent for longer trips, since you have the option to cook some meals in your room. They also have extra space to unwind and relax.

As you can see there are lots of choices to choose from. I have found a lot of fun over the years in trying different resorts to see what you like and to experience the different themes and atmospheres. It is hard to go wrong choosing any of them. They all give you the same Disney Resort Guest Privileges: Magic Express Service, Access to Free Disney Transportation to all of the Parks, and special Extra Magic Hours in the parks.

Stormalong Bay - Disney World's 3rd Water Park

2008-09-18T05:55:00.000-04:00

Does your family enjoy spending part of your Disney World Vacation by the resort pool? Then do I have the place for you!

Stormalong Bay, the resort pool shared by Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts almost qualifies to be a separate admission water park. This is certainly no ordinary pool.

The theming of the pool complex is based upon the legend of the gigantic sailor named Stormalong who ran his ship ashore where Stormalong Bay now stands. His ship plowed into the shoreline creating the pools and waterways that exist today. The ship still exists today with its mast projecting 150 feet into the sky.

The ship now is home to the complex’s twisty and thrilling water slide. There are three acres of pools in all, including a snorkeling lagoon, an area with a whirlpool current, and a relaxing lagoon.

One unique feature is that the pool has a sand bottom. This helps complete the theming that you are off on some shipwrecked island.

The excellent cast members who work there host a variety of recreational activities each day.

Stormalong Bay is certainly an attraction all to itself and a great reason to book a stay at either the Yacht Club or Beach Club Resort.