Bay Lake Tower refurb dates

[3Anderboys]

I liked the banquette as well and am sorry that is gone.
DVC has an issue when they go with the wood look vs all white or something like that but it tends to be better in person than in pictures. I found BRV to be that way so am waiting until I see it. Not that it will affect me staying there though.

the BLT banquette was the best. I wish they could have kept that or reworked it.

 

[3Anderboys]

Has anyone seen images or video from a grand villa yet? that’s what I’m eager to see!

 

[ocdb8r1]

This is a refurb and it's consistent to see things they run into that they had never thought of. Worst was incorrectly sized fridges in some of the early updates. I wouldn't be surprised that they'll end up doing something about the TV power cords once it's pointed out. Maybe not but it's obviously not a good spot for the outlet now with the murphy bed installed.

Some of the early updates? Have you seen the fridge (door) issues at many of the BRV refurbs?!?!

Bottom line is that these are literally hot off the refurb assembly line. It will take some time to work out the little kinks and fix things here and there. I personally prefer that they get the inventory back online once all major issues are addressed and then fix these sorts of minor things over time.

As to the overall refurb, as a BLT owner with the vast majority of my points there, I am pretty happy. I was a bit concerned about the kitchen backsplash when early (from afar) pics were posted and I still don't love it, but I feel like it at least flows well with the overall color scheme.

As has been said, you can't please everyone. It felt like everyone complained that the Beach Club soft goods refurb made everything too muted with no character. Here, I feel like they tried to balance muted (in the furniture, headboards, curatains) with some pops of color and character in the artwork, carpets and backsplash. I'm happy with the balance from what I've seen.

 

[ocdb8r1]

Ok, I concede that they could have done a little better and I'm holding out hope that they will be making some final tweaks, including the dangling Murphy bed cords. I have a 2 BR VDH this Saturday. I can’t remember if it has a Murphy bed and I’m too lazy to google the answer at the moment…but if it does I’m def gonna pull it down and compare..

The cords aren't showing in all the pics I've seen....in fact, only in the one pic I've seen here so far.

No cords in this pic (although this bed is all the way down). I am voting for some sort of installation error on the other pic (or as others have posted, it's just a feature of the bed needing to be fully down for the headboard to be fully up).

 

[eticketplease]

Yeah, one of my joys is seeing all 6 grandkids like peas in a pod eating there.

Who has amazing skills and can post the size of the old table vs new table?

I have absolutely no skills.

This is what I was able to do with Excel. I'm sure there are people out there with Photo software that can do a much better job.

 

[muppets3d]

The cords aren't showing in all the pics I've seen....in fact, only in the one pic I've seen here so far.

No cords in this pic (although this bed is all the way down). I am voting for some sort of installation error on the other pic (or as others have posted, it's just a feature of the bed needing to be fully down for the headboard to be fully up).

View attachment 925349

The headboard comes up as the bed is lowered and covers the outlet.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This all speaks my language. Love the walk, love the point chart. And extra bathrooms? Say no more!

Sort of off topic, but I’m still surprised you can get alcohol on premises at WDW. I get that resorts probably have to offer it, but it’s still a neurotoxin that messes with people’s ability to make better choices. Some people are more affected than others when drinking, but we are all affected. It sort of makes me sad, because I know that somewhere out there, some parents’ drinking at WDW turned what should have been the best day for those kids ever into the worst day possible, and that will be those kids’ core memories of Disney.

I get they need the profit margins and that the cost of the drinks themselves makes it very expensive to get inebriated….. see my previous posts about the fantastic coconut mojitos at Aulani… but I do feel the alcohol focused culture has gotten a bit excessive for what are supposed to be family friendly spaces.

Disney doesn’t need to be Las Vegas…..

(I think wine sales are down in my state because I’ve started having Kirkland Signature Cranberry juice with Topo Chico with dinner )

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I get they need the profit margins and that the cost of the drinks themselves makes it very expensive to get inebriated….. see my precious posts about the fantastic coconut mojitos at Aulani… but I do feel the alcohol focused culture has gotten a bit excessive for what are supposed to be family friendly spaces.

Disney doesn’t need to be Las Vegas…..

(I think wine sales are down in my state because I’ve started having Kirkland Signature Cranberry juice with Topo Chico with dinner )

Cheers to that.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Alright, this looks great. Now when do we get main tower public spaces refurb pics? Chef Mickeys, Outer Rim Lounge, and it's 90s friends.. It's all gotta go.

 

[ClaraOswald]

can’t beat the proximity to MK from BLT for young kids. The 10 min walk back to your room ditching crowds is monumental! Very satisfying walking by all transportation lines after fireworks

How much of the walk from BLT to MK is in the elements? I'm curious about how much time one would need to be in the rain/sun? (Not that it really matter since you're in the elements in the park. I'm just curious.)

 

[AstroBlasters]

How much of the walk from BLT to MK is in the elements? I'm curious about how much time one would need to be in the rain/sun? (Not that it really matter since you're in the elements in the park. I'm just curious.)

YouTube is our friend:

 

[rlk]

That…is almost like saying you hate Christmas! More monorail=better!!! At least for me. lol.

I like everything else about the new rooms and look forward to our stay at BLT, our home resort, next May.

 

[ClaraOswald]

YouTube is our friend:

Thanks! Feels very similar to the Harbor hotels to Disneyland walk. Similar "outside the bubble feel" a bit too with traffic and parking lots, unfortunately. Not very long of a walk though.

 

[kilik64]

I like what I've seen of the refurb so far. Looks much better then the old stuff. Will try to get a 1br in the future for sure. We stayed in a studio on our very first DVC stay and my wife hated it and BLT overall, but I think she will like it now.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thanks! Feels very similar to the Harbor hotels to Disneyland walk. Similar "outside the bubble feel" a bit too with traffic and parking lots, unfortunately. Not very long of a walk though.

It feels completely in the bubble. My wife hates Harbor hotels and was fine with the Bay Lake Tower walk.

Think of it like a closer version of Pixar Place when walking to the Downtown Disney entrance.

You really feel like you are at the front gate in no time at all.

 

[Gr8scott]

Sorry if already discussed but I noticed in the 1-bedroom living area there is only one small chair in addition to the sofa, whereas there used to be a chair plus a sleeper chair. Does this mean the maximum guests in the refurbished 1-bedroom villas will now be reduced to four instead of five?

 

[eticketplease]

Sorry if already discussed but I noticed in the 1-bedroom living area there is only one small chair in addition to the sofa, whereas there used to be a chair plus a sleeper chair. Does this mean the maximum guests in the refurbished 1-bedroom villas will now be reduced to four instead of five?

No it will sleep 5 but it might not work for some families that have taller children.

The sleeping chair has been replaced by the under the tv flip down twin found through out DVC.

 

[katied]

One things we’ve noticed… the table in the kitchen eating area is not very functional. It has a very wide base, so only two can fit on the space against the wall. (No where for legs in the middle) and then you have only two chairs. It’s ok for us, we only have 4 this trip… but most trips, we have 6. So, we could not all sit together. It’s an odd choice,

 

[muppets3d]

One things we’ve noticed… the table in the kitchen eating area is not very functional. It has a very wide base, so only two can fit on the space against the wall. (No where for legs in the middle) and then you have only two chairs. It’s ok for us, we only have 4 this trip… but most trips, we have 6. So, we could not all sit together. It’s an odd choice,

Yeah the very wide base is an odd choice indeed. Where in the world did they get this furniture.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

One things we’ve noticed… the table in the kitchen eating area is not very functional. It has a very wide base, so only two can fit on the space against the wall. (No where for legs in the middle) and then you have only two chairs. It’s ok for us, we only have 4 this trip… but most trips, we have 6. So, we could not all sit together. It’s an odd choice,

Good catch. Ugh