9/22: Compendium Pt. II

[Al Lutz]

Cat Food, Pirate Makeovers, Contest Winners, More... discuss them here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[KevinYee]

Note to explain the odd tenses in this update: it was written a few weeks ago. Kouzzina is open now officially, for instance. I can't catch up to the current week!

[dcaffey]

As someone who just bought 200 pts at Bay Lake Tower I'm sort of glad to know access is limited to registered guests only.

While I'm used to the come and go hustle and bustle of The Boardwalk Villas, I think the location and views from the Bay Lake Tower would lead to lots more roaming around of the halls and top floor.

Although I haven't been in the building yet and won't until next March or May, I wonder if they will at some point regret not putting a desk in the lobby of the Tower for check ins.

[toonaspie]

The theming of Pirates League looks amazing.

But yeah...er $125? Somehow I think that's one of those things that's gonna come back to bite Disney. It's happened before.

[Ian P]

Makes sense to me to only let guests in to Bay Lake Tower.
Why would you want to be wandering round the place if you did not stay there.
Only potential customers and those up to no good need access.

[testtrack321]

Bay Lake towers exclusivity is a non issue. I don't want MK guests coming by and running around trying to find Chef Mickey's!

Pirates League is very popular, especially around this time (aka MNSHP). Plus there are some fun actual movie props in there. Look for 'em!

Also, Kevin, can you post a full rsolution version of the Spectromagic photo fir use as a computer background? Thanks!

[GrumpyFan]

I completely understand the limited access policy at BLT. Without it, I imagine there would be alot of sight-seers trying to take pictures and just roam around. If I were a member, that would be highly irritating as well as concerning from a security stand-point.

[FrankieD]

Why is it that you people think that you have a right to walk through the Bay Lake Tower? How would you feel if you were a guest with your children and family and knew that strangers, not staying there, were just walking all around inside the building with access to all of the areas?

If you go over to the Grand or Poly, you'll see that those buildings just as locked down as the Bay Lake tower. Disney can't lock down the main buildings and the rooms contained therein because of the restaurants, shops and registration desks.

Locking down buildings is a business practice accepted industry wide.

Get over it.

[TheDude]

I don't think locking down the place is as big as an issue as people are making. If I owned in it, I wouldn't want people walking around either... but with that said, they SHOULD let potential DVC members in to see the place. This is why they told the DVC member to come back at 4. It's no different than scheduling a viewing of a house with a Realtor. You wouldn't buy a house without seeing it right? So why would you buy 1/52nd of a house.

Would you allow people to walk over your lawn if you lived across the street from Disneyland and had an amazing view of Disneyland's fireworks? I don't think so.

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by testtrack321

Kevin, can you post a full rsolution version of the Spectromagic photo fir use as a computer background? Thanks!

I also would love to have that picture as a background on my computer. Amazing shot!

I ought to try it at DCA with the DEP.

[Herc]

As for Bay Lake Tower, I just spent 10 days there and for all your readers, if you are not staying there, there is no reason for you to be there. There is a small lobby. If you look through the window you can see out to the fountain area. You CAN walk around the building to the fountain area with the bamboo. That is an open area. The hallways inside are just that, hallways. The only viewable areas are in the elevator areas.
As for the Top of the World Lounge, I'm glad that it is only available to guests staying at BLT. I think they are being a little too restrictive, but since there are room doors on the 16th floor, it must be a security issue. How would you like it if you paid for the MK view, landed on the 16th floor and all you heard was noise from all the pedestrian traffic in the hallways. Don't think that would be fun.
When we were escorted up the elevator, the castmember put in a key card and was granted access to the 16th floor. He said in the future, room keys of guests staying at BLT should be able to do this with no escort.
When we were there a few weeks ago, the gates to the pool area were not locked. It just looked that way. But again, you can see in so what would be the purpose of loitering around the pool area?
As for Wishes simulcast in the room, well you really have to turn the TV volume up to hear it on the balcony. To me, watching fireworks on the balcony live seems better than watching through a window (seems like on TV). But it was very neat. Unfortunately they don't play the song after the fireworks that you hear in the park.

[AstroBlaster]

Hello Kevin

I enjoyed your article. I am not concerned about DVC members getting their exclusive access to this resort because from the pictures you have posted it's really not that interesting of a place unless you are a guest staying there. I imagine the views are amazing from the rooms facing the MK but as for the other rooms probably not so much. The place is destined to make lots and lots of money however due to the special place that MK holds in the hearts of certain people. Thanks for the review of the new resteraunt as well as the pictures of the actual food. It definately looks tastey and my family and I might have to try it out on our next visit. However when you stated Cat Food in the title of your article I thought you were going to go in a different direction.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by FrankieD

If you go over to the Grand or Poly, you'll see that those buildings just as locked down as the Bay Lake tower.

I've been to the Polynesian many times, but I've never seen it locked down, nor did I have to show/swipe a room key to get into my building when I was staying there. The Contemporary South Garden Wings aren't locked down either, last time I was there, and there is even less of a reason for a non-guest to be walking around there than there is in Bay Lake Tower. The problem isn't so much the current BLT restrictions, strange as they may be, as it is the bad precedent it sets for Walt Disney World resorts.

What makes restricted access to the tower seem so very odd is that I would have thought Disney would have wanted people walking around looking at something they are trying to sell you. That's the one compelling and perfectly legitimate reason for someone not staying in the BLT to be there looking things over - they are interested in the Disney Vacation Club. Sure, anyone can arrange a tour, but not everyone who might be interested wants to do that, and again, it just seems strange to go to so much trouble to keep people away from something you want to sell them. Can you imagine a new car dealership who won't let you on their lot unless you already own one of their cars?

How would you feel if you were a guest with your children and family and knew that strangers, not staying there, were just walking all around inside the building with access to all of the areas?

This exact thing happens at every other Disney resort and nobody seems to have a problem with it. Years ago, even pool-hopping was permitted, so free access to other resorts was a given. No other Disney resorts are locked down like the Bay Lake Tower.

[BassBone]

It is no big deal that the DVC Bay Lake Tower is locked down. People are paying for the privilege of staying there. There's nothing really there to look at. Why should anyone go there?

[Voice Man Mike]

An unsophisticated palette reviewing food -yeesh!
In reference to the calamari:
"It's not just "rings" – you may also find a small squid every so often in the mix."

Squid is calamari. I think the proper reference you were looking for is "tentacles" -the best part.

And bravo to any restaurant that does not supply sauces. Unless you're eating horse meat, sauce should not be needed. And if your stake needs sauce, then well, I guess your getting what your paying for. The lack of salt and pepper on the other hand is a little ridiculous.

As for the Yellowtail, it's a rather mild fish cooked or raw, which is why it is a sushi favorite especially if you are speaking of "amberjack yellowtail." Therefor it make sense why the you were tasting the vegetables -that was the point.