Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

This sixteen-story Disney Deluxe Villa Resort adjoining Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers dramatic views of the Magic Kingdom® Park, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and Bay Lake. Its crescent-shaped tower linked by a pedestrian sky bridge to Disney’s Contemporary Resort has 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 colossal glass windows with ultra-contemporary seating, tropical palm trees, and a flirty glass bubble chandelier hanging overhead. Just outside the lobby is an outdoor area with a sparkling fountain leading to the pool area and Bay Lake. Tour Disney’s Bay Lake Tower on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

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.

  • Disney's Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort

    Disney's Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
    A Deluxe Villa property with monorail access. Perfect!

  • The Lobby

    The Lobby

  • The Lobby

    The Lobby

  • Bay Lake Tower's two wings

    Bay Lake Tower's two wings

  • Cooling fountains add to the ambience

    Cooling fountains add to the ambience

  • The pool area faces Bay Lake.

    The pool area faces Bay Lake.

  • Pool slide

    Pool slide

  • The resort's beach area is a calm oasis

    The resort's beach area is a calm oasis

  • Theme Park View Villas overlook Magic Kingdom and a parking area as well

    Theme Park View Villas overlook Magic Kingdom and a parking area as well

  • One- and Two-Bedroom Master Bedroom

    One- and Two-Bedroom Master Bedroom
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • One- and Two-Bedroom Living Area

    One- and Two-Bedroom Living Area
    A sleep chair and sofa allows for more guests in the villa - Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • One- and Two-Bedroom kitchen

    One- and Two-Bedroom kitchen
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • One-and Two-Bedroom Villa

    One-and Two-Bedroom Villa
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • One- and Two-Bedroom dining area

    One- and Two-Bedroom dining area

  • One- and Two-Bedroom Master Bath

    One- and Two-Bedroom Master Bath
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • Two-Bedroom guest bedroom

    Two-Bedroom guest bedroom

  • One- and Two-Bedroom Extra Bath

    One- and Two-Bedroom Extra Bath
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • Deluxe Studio

    Deluxe Studio
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • Deluxe Studio Kitchenette

    Deluxe Studio Kitchenette
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • Deluxe Studio Bath

    Deluxe Studio Bath
    Photo courtesy of Michelle Schaeffer

  • View from Bay Lake

    View from Bay Lake

Accommodations

Villas

Villas here offer modern furnishings, contemporary artwork adorning the walls, and stylish beige and cream carpeting. An electronic safe, DVD player, iron and ironing board, Pack ‘n’ Play, coffeemaker, vacuum, and hairdryer are extra amenities included in each. One irritation is that you’ll find ice machines on only three of the fifteen floors, which I consider to be an unbelievable inconvenience.

While studios units are pleasant, they are a bit small at 356 square feet. Decorating the room is a queen bed topped with a soft white duvet and a cherry-hued bed runner along with a milk chocolate leather ottoman coffee table, two-person dining table, full-size bureau over which is a located a flat-panel TV, and a beige sofa sleeper with bright throw pillows. In some units, off the entry hall is an open, somewhat cramped room where on one side is the mini-kitchen with wet bar, pullout pantry, under-counter refrigerator, and microwave, and, strangely enough, on the other side a bathroom vanity with a single sink (you’re never sure whether to wash the dishes or wash your face), commode and tub being down the hallway. Other units have the bath and sink in one area with a separate mini kitchen in another. A balcony adjoins the living area (first-floor units come with a patio instead). View Disney’s Bay Lake Tower Deluxe Studio on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

Striking one-bedroom villas are 727 square feet. The kitchen has contemporary, dark wood cabinets, sea blue backsplash, and taupe granite countertops with stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and microwave. A small granite island sits opposite booth-dining seating four. An adjoining living area furnished with a beige sleeper sofa is adorned with sea blue pillows, gold leather oversized ottoman/coffee table, soft blue sleeper chair, occasional chair, and bureau over which is mounted a flat-panel TV (turn on channel 20 to hear the accompanying Wishes fireworks show music). A sliding door leads to a balcony or patio also accessed from the bedroom. Off the foyer is a full-size bonus bath with a smallish corner single sink. You’ll also find a stacked washer/dryer in the hallway.

In the bedroom is a king-sized bed with an orange bed runner topping a white duvet and a punch of kiwi green in the bolster. A dark wood bureau with a white cabinet front holds another flat-panel TV and built-in luggage rack, and a quite small closet is near the bath. You’ll also find a vanity-style marble desk.

One area of the marble 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 is the commode and a frameless glass shower with chic hardware and splashes of glass tile. A two-bedroom villa is simply a combination of the one-bedroom and a studio at 1,080 square feet. Some are dedicated units with the second bedroom offering two queen beds and no mini-kitchen. View a dedicated 2-bedroom Villa at Bay Lake Tower on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

With 2,044 square feet, Grand Villas offer magical views from the top floors (fourteen in all with six Magic Kingdom and eight Bay Lake views). Although these are the same layout as the Grand Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village, Bay Lake Tower villas seem more substantial because of the sunny interior and lighter décor. The very first thing you notice as you walk into the villas is the fantastic view, so heavenly that you’ll simply refuse to lower the shades. There are three bedrooms and four baths on two levels. The kitchen, dining area, living room, master bedroom, laundry room, and extra bathroom are on the first floor. Two bedrooms, two baths, and a TV loft are on the second floor (with an entry door found on both levels). The kitchen is open to the living area with a small island, and there’s an adjoining eight-person dining table with a balcony found off the kitchen. The soaring, two-story living area has hardwood flooring topped with a colorful, contemporary rug, sleeper sofa, two occasional chairs, ottoman-style coffee table, and entertainment center with TV and stereo system. A master, similar to those found in one-bedroom villas, is just off the living area with its own balcony. Climb the 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 a sleeper sofa. Sleeps 12. View Bay Lake Tower’s Grand Villa on the Glass Slipper Concierge YouTube channel.

Villa view choices range from a Standard one with a look at either the parking area or the pool, a Bay Lake View, or a Theme Park View. But like next-door at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Magic Kingdom views also offer a not-so-nice look of the resort’s parking lot below.

Cara’s Tip: Those with a Magic Kingdom view villa should request a location on the north side of the building closest to the park, affording superb vistas of Space Mountain and the Castle. On the Bay Lake side request floors nine and above for a distant view of Epcot Spaceship Earth. A few bonus type villas on the far north side are considered Bay Lake View villas, but actually have a view of the Magic Kingdom from their balconies only.

Be forewarned that the resort’s Top of the World Lounge on the 16th floor is available only to Disney Vacation Club owners.

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