This is a bit of a detour, away from the Disney Discounts and deals we normally feature, but I thought this would be of interest to you none the less. Bay Lake Tower is Disney’s newest resort, located at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. I recently had the opportunity to stay there for 11 nights, from February 28 – March 11, 2010. Due  to a mixup with booking, flights, DVC points, money and other factors, we ended up with 2 Bay Lake view studios our first night, then a standard view 2 bedroom villa for the last 10 nights.

Here are my initial views of the resort, I will update them once our vacation has ended:

What I love

The Layout – I love that the bedrooms are small, and most of the 2 bedroom villa’s space was put into the living room area. All of our awake time in the villa is spent in the living room, it sure is nice to have the extra space, the bedrooms are pretty small, but who cares when you are asleep.

The third bathroom – With 5 kids (3 boys, 2 girls), the three full bathrooms have been fantastic. Parents get their own, then one for boys, one for girls. Perfect. All large enough to be functional bathrooms, best idea DVC has had in years.

The decor - The rooms and resort are beautiful. Clean, well done, they feel very upscale. I love the sliding doors on the bathrooms. I could live here. I don’t think I could say that about any other DVC resort.

The view – As mentioned above, we have a standard view villa. Our view is actually of Bay Lake, facing North. From our balconies we can easily see the Magic Kingdom, which is wonderful at night. I am happy we did not pay for the more expensive views. Compared to other DVC resorts, this standard view blows away any other view at any other DVC resort.

What I like

The location – I am a huge fan of the Beach Club Villas, where we usually stay. I love the location there. Of our 10 nights with dining reservations, 7 of them are in the Epcot area. We have found that doing one of the other three parks during the day, then Epcot at night for diner, works best for us, so Beach Club gives us nearly instant access to our home after we are done in Epcot. The monorail is nice, but we have found it is much quicker to walk from here to the Magic Kingdom, and the monorail to Epcot takes forever, as you have to wait for 2 separate monorails. Bus service to everywhere else is adequate. Unless you are spending all your time in the Magic Kingdom, I don’t see the location as an advantage here (nor a disadvantage).

The Contemporary – I like the Contemporary as a hotel, very nice looking inside, plenty of amenities and options, not too far of a walk from the villa. I prefer the villas associated with one of the deluxe hotels, they seem to offer a better experience.

The dedicated Bay Lake Tower Pool – Nice to see Disney recognize that the villas are resorts too, and deserve their own pool. Both Bay Lake and the new Kidani at Animal Kingdom Lodge have their own pools, separate from the resort pool. The Bay Lake pool is nice, nice slide, and only accessible to Bay Lake guests, unless you walk the long way around and have someone get you into the gate. As far as pools go, it is fine, nothing to pool hop about.

What I don’t like

Dining options – I like the proximity and access to the Contemporary, but there is a severe lack of decent food options here. Of course, California Grill is great, but Chef Mickey’s isn’t my favorite, and not really a place you can eat each day. Contempo Cafe is horrible, a step below theme park food. Really a disappointment. The Wave is very good too, just wish there was a food court/quick service type place here that had decent food. The market is a disappointment as well, kind of an after thought in a corner once they built the villas.

Top of the World Lounge – The one thing Bay Lake has going for it that no other DVC resort will have ever is the proximity to the Magic Kingdom, and the view it creates from the top floor. You feel right on top of the Magic Kingdom, like you are looking down from a hot air ballon. I love the view, especially at night, just fantastic. I was very disappointed in the actual lounge, just seemed very unfriendly place, especially for kids. I think Disney really missed here, would be a great place for a nice restaurant or something special for DVC members.

The doors – Now, I mentioned above I love the decor, and the doors in particular are fantastic. The problem is that none of them lock. The only door I have found in the entire villa that locks is the master bedroom door. None of the bathroom doors, including the one off of the kitchen, lock. They are wonderful sliding doors, very cool looking, but the fact that there isn’t any way to lock them, is a bit crazy.

The studios – As mentioned above, we had 2 studios the first night of our stay. They are tiny. Good, if they are the second bedroom in a 2 bedroom villa, bad if it is your only room. Because of the way the kitchenette is laid out, the sleeping area is small, just big enough for the queen bed and the couch. They feel much smaller than the rooms at the value resorts, and are not a replacement for a room in the Contemporary. They would work well for 2 adults, but anything more than that, you will be cramped. The studios are only about 300 square feet, the rooms in the Contemporary are over 450 square feet.

Would I stay here again?

Absolutely. I have stayed at every DVC resort currently open except for Kidani and the new Grand Californian (later this year). Bay Lake is my favorite resort of them all, as far as the rooms go. Whether we stay here or not will depend on if we can get a standard view villa, which is roughly the same price as a villa at Beach Club Villas. I definitely would not pay more than Beach Club Villas to stay here, if both were available.

This was originally meant to be a quick post on our facebook page, but there is too much information fit, so I decided to expand it a bit and post it here.

We have been getting a ton of questions about the free dining discount at Walt Disney World for 2010. To be blunt, no one knows at this point. In fact, I’m not even sure if Disney knows right now. If I had to venture a guess, I would say there is a 90% chance we will see free dining for 2010. I’m not sure what form it will take, but would gess it will be similar to the late 2009 free dining discount (free quick service at values, free Disney dining at moderate and deluxe resorts). Things are lining up pretty well for a 2010 free dining discount, bookings are still a little soft for the year, discounts have been available for every day so far in 2010 (including normally discount-challenged months in the summer), and we have seen the free dining discount every year since Disney released the dining plan. In short, it would be a surprise not to see free dining released again for 2010, but at this point there are no guarantees.

We usually do not know exactly what the discounts will be until they are released, or sometimes a day or two ahead of time if we are lucky. If we see free dining again in 2010, we probably won’t know what form it will take or the dates that will be covered until the actual discount is released.

So, when will we know?

The booking window for current WDW discounts expires on March 27, 2010, and those discounts are good for travel through August 14, 2010. We anticipate the next round of discounts to be released following the closure of that booking window.

Please note the following dates for discounts that were released in 2009:

• March 30, 2009 – Free Dining released for travel from August 16 – October 3, 2009
• July 27, 2009 – Free Dining (quick service at values, free Disney Dining at moderate and deluxe resorts) extended for travel from October 4 – December 17, 2009
• August 16, 2009 – Bounceback offer for WDW guests for Free Dining for 2010 travel dates  (travel from August 15 – September 30, 2010)

I would expect similar timing for the release of any 2010 discounts as well as the initial travel dates. Initial travel dates should be August 15 – September 30, 2010. If it’s released, expect to see free dining made available for August/September first, and then possibly be extended to cover more dates later in the summer and fall.

Update – April 27, 2010 – We are nearly a month past the expected release of Fall discounts for WDW, as Disney World continues to heavily discount summer travel. Rumor has been spreading we may see discounts for August 15 – October 2, 2010 released as early as Thursday, April 29 for Disney VISA cardholders, and on Monday, May 3 for the general public. The prevailing feeling is that we will see free quick service dining for value and moderate resorts, and free Disney Dining for deluxe and villa resorts. I hope to have further information soon.

Update April 29, 2010 – Disney is currently offering the Disney Dining plan free for Disney VISA cardholders. Soon to be released for the general public. Travel dates of August 15 – October 2, 2010.

Update May 3, 2010 – Disney is currently offering the Disney Dining plan free for everyone. Travel dates of August 15 – October 2, 2010.

To keep up to date on the free dining progress of 2010, follow us on twitter or facebook, or subscribe to our email updates here on MouseMisers.

You’ve finally made the mental leap and decided to take the whole brood to Disney for a vacation. OK…so…now what? Where do you start? Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California? Or maybe a Disney cruise? How long do you need to stay? Should you stay in a Disney hotel or is a nearby off-site hotel better? Do you need a rental car? What about park admissions? Isn’t there a breakfast where your kids can eat with the princesses? How are you going to get around?  What documents do you need? How do you get to the cruise terminal?

These questions, and hundreds more, are very common for most folks who are planning a Disney vacation. The simple fact is that Disney, just within its domestic United States operations, features 6 major theme parks, two water parks, two major shopping districts, two 2,400 passenger cruise ships, a private Bahamian island, 27 resort hotels, the sixth-largest marine fleet in the world, the busiest monorail system in the world, and over 27,000 acres of land. Disney is a huge operation with a mind-boggling array of options offered to travelers. How in the world are you supposed to wade through all of the information and options to design the vacation that’s perfect for you?

Well, you have one of two options. First, you could spend hours and hours and hours online visiting the thousands of web sites that specialize in Disney content. You would have to determine from that information what is fact and what is not, whether the writer’s opinions, preferences, and tastes match yours, and where you would then go to begin making vacation arrangements. You could talk to friends and neighbors who have been to Disney and ask their opinions. You could spend hours on the phone talking to others who might or might not be interested in helping you find the best deal on the best vacation.

Or, you could simply contact a travel agent that specializes in Disney and let them do all of that and more for you. For Free.

If you have never used a travel agent before, the process is very simple. A travel agent’s job is to take the time and ask the right questions to find out from you exactly what your ideal vacation is. They then use their experience and expertise to custom-tailor all of the available options to assemble the perfect trip for you.

While there are many different kinds and flavors of travel agents available, the sheer volume of information and options available from Disney make choosing the right travel agent even more important when planning a Disney vacation. Having a travel agent that specializes exclusively in the Disney product will increase your chances of landing the best deals, best itinerary, and best overall Disney vacation.

Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are travel agencies who have been recognized by the Walt Disney Company for their expertise and experience in planning Disney vacations. These agencies have earned the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner designation through a demonstrated proficiency in outstanding customer service and extensive Disney product knowledge. Always make sure the travel agency you select for your Disney vacation is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

In addition, your individual travel agent should be certified by Disney as a “Disney Specialist.” Disney specialists have completed the College of Disney Knowledge, a course offered by Disney that requires demonstrated knowledge and expertise in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Line. Your personal travel agent should also, of course, have detailed and extensive personal knowledge of the Disney products through their frequent and repeated visits to the various Disney resorts and cruise ships. (Yes, a tough job, but someone has to do it…)

How Does the Process Work?

Upon contacting a Disney specialist travel agency, your travel agent should take the time to find out what is important to you for your Disney vacation. Details such as travel dates, length of stay, hotel preference, party size, special occasions, transportation preferences, dining preferences, and many other details should be gathered by your travel agent so that a personalized quote can be created just for you.

You should expect to receive prompt and accurate information regarding your personal trip request. This information should include pricing and details for the Disney or other resort hotels, theme park passes, any applicable packages, discounts, and available options. Your Disney travel agent should also make sure you are getting the very best deal possible for your vacation by booking the lowest rate up front and by automatically rebooking your reservation for you if a better rate becomes available later. Your agent should also offer to help you with many other details like dining reservations, tour reservations, show reservations, and recommendations for other lesser-known or “hidden” attractions and activities.

Once you have reviewed and approved the information presented, your travel agent will book all required reservations for you and provide you with a detailed confirmation. From that point on, your travel agent is your single point of contact for everything having to do with your Disney vacation. There’s no need for you to call multiple Disney departments or phone numbers (In fact, Disney will not allow you to make changes or cancellations to a reservation if it was made by a travel agent).

Is It Really Free?

Yes, it is. Really. Disney travel agents make their living from a small commission paid to them by Disney for booking your vacation. This commission does not increase the price you pay. The price you are offered by your Disney travel agent will be exactly the same or better than you would get if you booked the vacation on your own.

Your travel agent wants you to have the perfect Disney vacation, and works hard to make that happen. The commission is his/her compensation for doing so (along with the glowing trip reports and referrals you will provide upon your return). Please respect the travel agent’s time and effort by not asking them to do the work and then booking elsewhere.

Why Shouldn’t I Just Call Disney Directly?

Great question. While anyone call pick up the phone and call Disney directly to book their vacation, what exactly will they get? Will you get the best deal? Maybe, if you have done your homework, and keep working to make sure a better discount doesn’t come along. Will you get the best resort for your family? Possibly, if you know the right questions to ask. Will I ever talk to this Cast Member again? Very unlikely, once your reservation is made, you are just a number to Disney.

When calling Disney, think about who they are working for, compared to working with a Disney specialist:

Disney Cast Member: They work for Disney, and their loyalty is to Disney. While they won’t cheat you in any way, they also won’t go out of their way to find a better deal for you either.

Disney Specialist: They work for you, just as your attorney or accountant does. Their job is to make sure you get the best deal possible, whether it is available now or not released for 6 months down the road, and that you are 100% happy with what you have paid and what you get for your money. Your Disney specialist is always on your side, and takes care of you every step of the way. 

Do you really want to fight the Disney machine by yourself, or would you rather have an experienced specialist on your side?

MouseMisers Recommends

While there are several outstanding Disney travel agencies, we at MouseMisers highly recommend Mouseketrips as a premier Disney specialist travel agency. Mouseketrips is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and each and every one of the Mouseketrips travel agents is a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge. In addition, Mouseketrips travel agents visit each of the Disney theme parks and the Disney Cruise Line on a regular basis, and have exhaustive personal, first-hand knowledge of the various details and options available.

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