Our most anxiously-awaited Walt Disney World room reimagining at a resort we’ve come to like, and for which we have now a newfound appreciation as dad and mom of a toddler, simply wrapped up after over a yr of labor. It was additionally a venture that was lengthy overdue, as the unique rooms had been trying worse for put on for a minimum of 7 years.

Walt Disney World’s new marvelous Mary Blair rooms we’re reviewing at this time are at Bay Lake Tower, which is technically the closest resort to Magic Kingdom. BLT is even nearer than the principle A-frame tower of Disney’s Modern Resort or the Backyard Wing behind it, shaving valuable minutes from the whole strolling time that’s already beneath 10 minutes from resort door to Magic Kingdom’s primary entrance.

After a top-to-bottom exhausting items refurbishment that impacted all areas of the resort, the final of Bay Lake Tower’s visitor rooms have now reopened, with the tip end result being modernized rooms that characteristic completely completely different designs, a brand new look, and up to date structure. This shares photographs of the redone rooms, plus our ideas on how these evaluate to their predecessors and different Disney Trip Membership studios.

Bay Lake Tower (BLT) was controversial from the second its “secret” development started almost 20 years in the past. Many followers considered it as an eyesore that distract from the Modern, and it stays fairly divisive amongst Walt Disney World diehards to this present day for its sterile or un-Disney design that does little to differentiate the tower from actual world resorts.

It’s honest to say that this controversy has cooled over time, particularly as extra egregious towers have been constructed round Walt Disney World. The charitable perspective can be that a minimum of BLT is best than these. Or that it has turn into acquainted to followers, so it doesn’t stick out as a lot anymore.

The extra important view can be that Bay Lake Tower set a harmful precedent, and people who argued that it was a slippery slope have been vindicated with the likes of Island Tower on the Polynesian or Lakeshore Lodge over by Fort Wilderness.

In any case, we’re not right here to relitigate the architectural deserves of Bay Lake Tower. Our view is that what’s performed is completed, particularly when that venture was accomplished in 2009. If we’re dredging up decades-old selections, maybe it’s time to query whether or not it was a mistake to shut the Hen of the Sea Pirate Ship & Restaurant and the Wizard of Bras?!

Setting apart the outside deserves, the recently-completed exhausting items refurbishment at Bay Lake Tower was badly wanted.

The rooms at Bay Lake Tower had been poorly constructed within the first place and constructed a few decade earlier than the present ‘wave’ of revolutionary lodging that marry space-saving types with well-themed ones. The studios are additionally small by Disney Trip Membership requirements, particularly when contrasted with different lodging across the monorail loop.

Consequently, BLT is the resort that may profit probably the most from receiving a room reimagining. And one was anticipated for a number of years previous to it really taking place, which induced us to repeatedly delay return stays. In reality, our final keep at BLT previous to returning was again in 2021. After getting a tough room then, we swore it off till the refurbishment was completed.

That will not appear that lengthy to go between stays, however we do a whole lot of resort stays for analysis and to refresh evaluations, and goal to do a minimal of 1 keep each different yr. There are only some outliers (Saratoga Springs, Previous Key West, Riverside) the place we haven’t stayed within the final 3 years. Stays at the most well-liked resorts are extra widespread, particularly when issues are altering.

This isn’t going to be a complete Bay Lake Tower evaluate, however I’d remiss if I didn’t a minimum of acknowledge the resort’s largest promoting level: location.

Not solely is Bay Lake Tower the closest resort to Magic Kingdom, however it’s extra compact than the remainder of the Modern. You’ll be able to stroll out the entrance door of the resort and be contained in the Magic Kingdom lower than 10 minutes later.

There are few issues extra satisfying at Walt Disney World than hitting the crosswalk to Magic Kingdom with none wait after which breezing proper via bag-check with no delay. No different WDW resort is that this shut, and each minute issues on the finish of a protracted evening or while you’re racing to reach for the beginning of Early Entry.

Throughout this keep, we had a floor degree room at BLT. Prior to now, we might’ve been inclined to make a strategic room request on a excessive flooring to get a partial view, however after this, I’m a floor flooring convert.

No less than, whereas we have now a toddler. There’s something doubly satisfying about making the above stroll with no delays and in addition making it again to the room with out waking a sleeping little one.

That appears like an ‘achievement unlocked’ second, and alone is sufficient to promote me on future stays at BLT. Actually, there’s nothing else I would like from this resort. There are different misgivings and quibbles with Bay Lake Tower, however that location and commute time to Magic Kingdom is the final word trump card.

In opposition to that backdrop, let’s check out the brand new commonplace studio rooms on the Bay Lake Tower…

Gone is the unique mid-aughts trendy type with one commonplace mattress frames and a pull-out sofa. The room was completely gutted for the redesign, with all-new decor, flooring, partitions, panels, curtains, furnishings, and beds.

Whereas the entire furnishings and fixtures have been changed, probably the most notable change is the substitute of the couch sleeper with a pull-down Murphy sleeper that’s in some way each a snug sofa and a snug queen mattress.

These rooms are DVC’s newest designs, considerably much like what was first pioneered at Disney’s Riviera Resort. That type of room has since been launched to many different Disney Trip Membership resorts which have been renovated, and for good cause, member satisfaction surveys give these rooms very excessive marks.

These studios have made nice strides in space-saving design and including revolutionary options just like the pull-down Murphy sleeper that’s in some way each a snug sofa and a snug mattress. That is the fruits of a whole lot of classes realized by DVC during the last decade.

They iterate on previous successes, disregard previous failures, and are available collectively completely. They’re a pointy distinction to the outdated rooms, which weren’t the worst–however positively weren’t the top of themed design at Walt Disney World.

Though this era of room designs started with Disney’s Riviera Resort, the brand new rooms at Bay Lake Tower share nearer bloodlines with the Villas at Disneyland Lodge. Other than structure and thematic variations, there’s appreciable overlap between the 2. That is most likely meaningless to a whole lot of you, however for DVC members, it’d supply reference level. Nonetheless you’re feeling about these, you’ll most likely really feel concerning the new BLT rooms.

The most important draw back of those new rooms is the dearth of a fifth sleeper.

As Walt Disney World has redone different resorts, they’ve changed tables and chairs or cupboard space with pull-down fifth sleeper beds for youths or smaller adults. These beds would sometimes be beneath the tv, and rather than a desk.

Bay Lake Tower didn’t obtain the fifth sleeper therapy, which I assume comes right down to accessible area. These rooms are small, and having the fifth sleeper would imply no desk and no dresser under the tv. Even then, it might be too tight of a match.

This additionally might’ve been a acutely aware determination on Disney’s half, maybe for the sake of selection. It’s good to have some rooms with desks–I’m extra inclined to e book Bay Lake Tower due to this characteristic than a fifth sleeper.

It’s additionally potential that this was performed to acknowledge the sensible actuality that this studio is just too small to accommodate 5 visitors comfortably. 

I can’t think about cramming that many individuals into this room. No matter sq. footage, the studios at Bay Lake Tower really really feel extra just like the duo studios on the Villas at Disneyland Lodge than they do the common studios there.

I do want the desk had a traditional chair versus a bit of stool, although. I’m unsure what this development is about, however the lack of a again on the chair makes the desk unusable for working prolonged intervals of time.

I’m guessing the first objective is having this be a make-up desk, however I’m unsure how placing on make-up is incompatible with having a chair with a again. Who on earth prefers a backless chair?!

I really feel loopy watching this development play out that makes completely no sense in any respect. Or am I only a dinosaur?

Bay Lake Tower nonetheless has a separate room for the kitchenette.

“Room” may overstate what that is. It’s extra like a cubby or glorified walk-in closet. This area is so cramped that it’s robust to seize even with my extremely broad angle lens. (I attempted with the fisheye however the distortion offers it a madhouse really feel.)

I’m unsure what the consensus is on this “room,” however I’m not a fan. It would make sense if the Bay Lake Tower commonplace rooms had a humiliation of sq. footage wealth that could possibly be allotted all willy-nilly. I might see this kind of characteristic being added at Previous Key West or the Poly, as an example.

At BLT, squandering the already restricted area on a separate room/huge closet for the kitchenette appears ill-advised. Type of like the massive bogs and closets within the duo/tower studios at Riviera and Disneyland Lodge.

After seeing simply how far more spacious the newer Island Tower and DLH studios really feel with, primarily, an analogous setup however out within the open, I want Disney Trip Membership would’ve performed the identical right here. After all, I didn’t anticipate them to knock down a wall throughout the refurbishment and totally reconfigure the kitchenette.

Now that may’ve been fairly the reimagining! I’m talking within the grand scheme of issues, for these questioning concerning the BLT rooms versus comparable alternate options.

Fashion-wise, I do like what was performed with this area. The brand new inexperienced tile makes it pop, provides new texture, and furthers the mid-century trendy sensibility of the brand new rooms. On the opposite facet, there are historic photographs of Walt Disney World. All the time a welcome addition.

One plus concerning the kitchenette is that it’s not out within the open, so whoever is within the kitchenette just isn’t in the best way of everybody else within the room. Subjectively, it’s really simple to see a use-case for this area as a father or mother to a toddler.

I often get up earlier than Sarah and Megatron, and making a cup of espresso with out waking them up is a tall job. I’m fairly adept at stumbling round, making unintended noise earlier than I’m totally caffeinated. (Consequently, the espresso maker throughout a current keep at Disneyland Lodge was relegated to the lavatory.)

Talking of espresso, one huge nice shock with the brand new BLT room is the dual-use Keurig machines, that may both brew a single cup through pods or complete cups of espresso.

This can be a great improve from the traditional Cuisinart espresso makers, and I nearly surprise if it was within the studios by mistake. I might see this being commonplace within the bigger rooms, however was stunned that it’s supplied in studios. Regardless, I beloved this.

The kitchenette additionally has a mini-fridge (not only a beverage cooler), sink, microwave, and loads of cupboard space.

Whereas cheap minds might differ about just about each different side of room designs, there’s close to unanimous settlement concerning the new pull-down Murphy beds. They’re far more snug that couch sleepers due to having a traditional mattress, and the area freed up when transformed right into a sofa makes the room really feel bigger.

The Inova Murphy beds have been an enormous hit with nearly each Disney Trip Membership member we all know. This type has unfold to each single Disney Trip Membership room (and past!) that has been renovated in the previous couple of years, and for good cause, member satisfaction surveys give these rooms very excessive marks.

The most important win of the brand new rooms is the mid-century trendy stylization and the art work. Gone are the pop artwork Mickey Mouse prints that appear like one thing you may discover on the cabinets of TJ Maxx. (That’s a bit harsh–they weren’t that dangerous.)

Instead, there’s new artwork everywhere in the room that’s by artist Joey Chou and impressed by Disney Legend Mary Blair. That is directly trendy, fashionable and stylish, upscale, and distinctly Disney. It checks each field and is pitch excellent for Disney’s Modern Resort.

My solely slight stylistic criticism is that I want there have been extra artwork above the mattress. I really most popular the outdated headboard, which created a spot to intensify a chunk of art work. General, although, the aesthetic of the brand new rooms is much superior.

The brand new art work makes use of a vibrant colour palette and options scenes from Magic Kingdom and the Modern. It appears like a love letter to the unique Trip Kingdom of the World, and self-referential to the resort as a complete.

That is one other approach Bay Lake Tower feels loads like Disneyland Lodge, which is mainly Disneyland: The Lodge–a love letter to Walt Disney’s authentic magic kingdom and its lands.

Walt Disney World had already gone on this path with the brand new foyer of the Modern, and we’re ecstatic to see this type continued in Bay Lake Tower. That is going to be an enormous hit with DVC members and Disney diehards. My solely request: end the job, Disney! 

You’re so near restoring the Modern to its full former glory. Sustain this vitality with a cohesive type within the Grand Canyon Concourse. Take away the layers of junk which have gathered through the years. Do away with the Incredibles IP injection. You’ve discovered the proper type for the resort as a complete–that is it!

As long as you don’t have a celebration of 4 adults doing a week-plus keep, there ought to be a enough quantity of cupboard space within the BLT commonplace studio. There’s storage within the dresser under the tv, beneath the elevated queen mattress, in a closet throughout from the lavatory, beneath the espresso desk, and different locations I’m most likely forgetting.

Regardless of how a lot cupboard space Walt Disney World provides, it’ll by no means be sufficient for some events. I get that, however the counterpoint is that these rooms are solely so huge, and all the pieces is a tradeoff. What’s an acceptable quantity of area devoted to stage? In my view, that is it.

There’s additionally a ton of energy shops and USB ports (A and C) throughout the room. For some time, Walt Disney World resort rooms had not “caught up” to the proliferation of gadgets that have to be charged every evening, however that’s not the case.

I don’t have any main complaints about these new rooms at Bay Lake Tower.

On the contrary, I feel these are an enormous step ahead that can probably accomplish the uncommon and spectacular feat of being extra interesting to each informal visitors and diehard Walt Disney World followers.

The outdated rooms had been nothing particular. That they had touches of Disney, however weren’t exemplars of themed design. That was an issue since BLT was very fundamental just about all over the place else, too.

In relation to perform, there ought to be little shock that these rooms are an improve. That’s just about a given at this level, as all new rooms are emulating the method of the Riviera Resort rooms, with every subsequent design getting its personal little iterations and defining design options.

Disney Trip Membership has even indicated that visitor satisfaction scores have elevated by 20% amongst visitors who’ve stayed in new rooms at Saratoga Springs. The brand new room type looks like the fruits of a whole lot of classes realized by DVC during the last decade–iterating on previous successes and disregarding previous failures–into one thing that coalesces completely.

Imagineering actually obtained the rooms proper with Disney’s Riviera Resort and have utilized these classes elsewhere. These designs make vital strides in space-saving design, which is very worthwhile at Bay Lake Tower because the rooms are on the smaller facet.

Right here’s a have a look at the bogs within the BLT studios:

The bogs are undeniably cramped, with all the pieces in a single area. When you have 4 folks sharing the room, that may be an issue.

The bogs are only one clear distinction between the final era of DVC rooms and the present one. These aren’t on par with the usual rooms at Island Tower or Riviera, and actually, they aren’t even nearly as good because the tiny tower or duo studios.

Opinions on the brand new rooms at BLT will certainly come down to border of reference. Are you evaluating them to the brand-new DVC rooms or their direct predecessors at BLT? The latter invitations a way more favorable comparability, whereas the previous goes to be harsher.

These rooms are an evening and day enchancment over what was right here earlier than. Nonetheless, Walt Disney World has made great strides with brand-new rooms within the years since BLT, and there’s solely a lot that may be modified throughout a retrofit versus new development.

The photographs that comply with are of the widespread areas at Bay Lake Tower, offered with out commentary. A few of these have been redone, some haven’t.

Observe that this Bay Lake Tower room evaluate ought to NOT be construed as a suggestion to purchase into Disney Trip Membership.

As mentioned in our Disney Trip Membership Shopping for Information, there’s loads to contemplate when figuring out whether or not to hitch DVC, and in that case, which dwelling resort to decide on. The placement, transportation, ambiance, structure, or different components of any resort might not attraction to you.

There’s a cause “strive before you purchase” and “purchase the place you wish to keep” are common adages amongst DVC Members. Not solely that, however Disney Trip Membership just isn’t proper for everybody within the first place. Positively do your analysis!

There’s loads to like concerning the overhaul of Bay Lake Tower. There’s a ton of artwork that pays tribute to Walt Disney World historical past. The designs are on theme, with a transparent mid-century trendy affect.

There’s a ton of depth through textures, patterns, and even issues like wallpaper. There’s likewise loads colour, and all of it works harmoniously with out ever really feel overly chaotic or garish.

Suffice to say, the brand new BLT rooms are a big departure from the drab designs for which Walt Disney World has been criticized with some resort redesigns.

Bay Lake Tower sticks the touchdown on well-themed with out being overwhelming. They’re distinctly Disney and attraction to me as a WDW diehard, and I might simply see a first-timer discovering them sufficiently fashionable and complicated.

I might not go so far as to say these are my new #1 favourite Disney Trip Membership studios, however they’re up there. That was completely not the case beforehand–we had actively averted Bay Lake Tower for a number of years as a result of rooms. They had been backside of the barrel earlier than.

Finally, the brand new rooms at Bay Lake Tower accomplish precisely what they wanted for us to deem them a hit. Each the kind and performance of the brand new rooms are main upgrades. They appear more energizing, are extra on-theme, and in addition higher make the most of the restricted sq. footage.

Then there’s the preexisting proximity to Magic Kingdom, which is hard to beat. BLT doesn’t want the #1 rooms as a result of it already had the #1 location. It simply wanted satisfactory rooms, and it greater than cleared that bar. All issues thought of, Bay Lake Tower is now within the operating for our first alternative resort for household journeys to Walt Disney World.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you might want to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What are your ideas on these new rooms at Bay Lake Tower? Have you ever stayed in at each BLT and the resort facet of Disney’s Modern Resort? Which do you like? What do you consider the rooms? Something you don’t like concerning the redesign? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!