Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort

This new, 16-story Disney Deluxe Villa Resort adjoining the Contemporary Resort offers dramatic views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and Bay Lake. The crescent shaped tower is linked by pedestrian sky bridge to the Contemporary Resort with access to the monorail and all the Magic Kingdom area has to offer. The resort’s small, circular lobby is bright and sunny due to huge glass windows with ultra contemporary seating, tropical palm trees, and a fun glass bubble chandelier hanging overhead. Just outside the lobby is an area faintly Asian in design with dramatically lofty bamboo and a sparkling fountain that leads to the pool area and Bay Lake.

I do feel that a resort that could have been darn near perfect misses the mark for two reasons: check-in is far away next-door at the Contemporary Resort; and, worse yet, the resort’s amazing Top of the World Lounge on the 16th floor is available only to Disney Vacation Club owners (an absolutely ridiculous concept that resort guests of the Bay Lake Tower are not allowed access!). .

428 units. 4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830; 407-824-1000; Fax 407-824-3539. Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.

Accommodations

Villas

Villas are quite impressive with modern furnishings that are soothing to the eye. Contemporary artwork adorns the walls, and stylish charcoal gray carpeting adds a soft look to the rooms. All enjoy an IPOD docking station, electronic safe, DVD player, iron and ironing board, Pack ‘n’ Play, coffee maker, vacuum, and hairdryer. One irritation is that ice machines are found on only three of the fifteen floors-an unbelievable inconvenience.  

While studios units are pleasant, they are unusually small at just over 300 square feet. Adorning the room is a queen bed topped with a soft white duvet and a gold and pumpkin hued bed runner, a linen-look beige sofa sleeper with celery-colored throw pillows, sky blue leather ottoman coffee table, a two-person dining table, full-size bureau over which is a wall-mounted, flat-panel TV, and adjoining balcony (first-floor units have a patio). Off the entry hall is an open, somewhat cramped room where one side is the mini-kitchen with wet bar, pull-out pantry, undercounter refrigerator, and microwave, and, strangely enough, the other side a bathroom vanity with a single sink (you’re never sure whether to  wash the dishes or wash your face). Separated from the hallway by a sliding frosted glass door is the marble bath with a commode area and tub accented with glass tiles.

Striking one-bedroom villas are 807 square feet. The kitchen has contemporary, dark wood cabinets, sea blue backsplash, and white and gray granite countertops with stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and microwave. A granite island features two yellow leather bar stools. Just opposite is booth dining seating four. The adjoining living area is furnished with a white sleeper sofa adorned with bright yellow pillows, blue leather oversized ottoman/coffee table, a sand-colored leather sleeper chair, chocolate brown occasional chair, and a bureau over which is mounted a flat-panel TV (turn on channel 20 to hear the accompanying Wishes fireworks music). A sliding door leads to the balcony. Off the living area is a full-size bonus bath with a small, corner single sink. You’ll also find a stacked washer/dryer in the hallway. In the bedroom is a king-sized bed with an interesting black and white woven leather headboard intermixed with dark wood. A moss green throw tops a white duvet with a punch of nautical blue in the bolster. Two glass-topped black side tables flank the bed. A dark wood bureau with a white cabinet front holds another flat-panel TV and a built-in luggage rack. There’s also a vanity-style marble desk, an easy chair with chrome arms, and a door leading to the balcony. One area of the master bath has a whirlpool tub and single sink set in a taupe granite vanity backed by a wall of shimmering glass tile; in the other area is the shower with chic hardware and splashes of glass tile, the commode, and a small corner single sink. 

A two-bedroom suite is simply a combination of the one-bedroom and a studio at 1,152 square feet. Some are dedicated with the second bedroom offering two queen beds and  no mini-kitchen.

With 2,044 square feet, the spectacular Grand Villas offer magical views (fourteen in all with six Magic Kingdom and eight Bay Lake views). Although these are the exact same layout as the Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani, the Bay Lake villas seem larger because of the lighter décor. The first thing you notice is the amazing view, so heavenly that you’ll simply refuse to lower the shades. Offering three bedrooms and four baths on two levels, you’ll find the kitchen, dining area, living room, master bedroom, laundry room, and extra bath on the first floor and two bedrooms, two baths, and a TV room on the second floor (entry doors are found on both floors). The kitchen is open to the living area with a small island, and there’s an adjoining eight person dining table. A balcony is found off the kitchen. The soaring, two-story living area has hardwood flooring topped with a colorful, contemporary rug, a sleeper sofa, two occasional chairs, ottoman-style coffee table, and entertainment center with TV and stereo system. A master, similar to the one found in the one-bedroom villa, is just off the living area with it’s own balcony. Climb the hardwood floor and stainless steel cable railing staircase to the second floor where two identical bedrooms, each with two queen beds and balcony flank the loft TV room with sleeper sofa. Sleeps 12.   

Villas view choices range from a standard view with a look at either the parking area or the pool, to a Bay Lake view, or a Magic Kingdom view. But like the next-door Contemporary Resort, Magic Kingdom views here also offer a not-so-nice look of the giant parking lot below.

Cara's Tip: If you are in a Magic Kingdom view villa request one on the north side of the building closest to the park which affords a superb vista of Space Mountain and the Castle. On the Bay Lake side request floors nine and above for an Epcot view. A few bonus type villas on the far north side considered Bay Lake View units actually have a view of the Magic Kingdom from their balconies only.

You’ll find complete information on dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney's Contemporary Resort in The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort.