Disney Vacation Club (DVC)
General Information on DVC
In October 1991, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) revolutionized the vacation-ownership concept by drawing on Disney’s unrivaled brand of imagination and innovation. Today, more than 400,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and all 50 states have learned “the best-kept Disney secret” and have secured decades of Disney-quality vacations at today’s prices through the magic of membership.
Inspired by guests who return to Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks year after year, DVC is one of the most successful and highly rated vacation-ownership programs on the continent. The DVC ownership program provides members with a wide variety of quality vacation experiences in the Disney tradition while offering the freedom to tailor every vacation to each guest’s interests and personal needs.
“Guests become members of Disney Vacation Club because of the magical memories and traditions that are so ingrained in the Disney experience,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “Anyone can sell accommodations, but only Disney can offer the experiential environment, the entertainment and the imaginative programs that are part of our tradition. We call it ‘the best-kept Disney secret,’ but the secret’s getting out.”
How Disney Vacation Club Works
The methodology behind DVC’s not-so-secret vacation-ownership program is simple: with the purchase of a deeded real estate interest, guests automatically become a member of DVC. That membership then provides guests with the flexibility to personalize their vacation experiences as their family’s vacation interests change over time.
That signature flexibility is a hallmark of DVC’s “vacation point” system, which gives members an annual allotment of points that can be used in a variety of ways. Each year, members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations at a dazzling variety of resorts and for other vacation experiences, subject to availability. Guests can customize each and every vacation in a nearly limitless number of ways.
New members can join DVC with an initial purchase starting at approximately $17,920 plus a small monthly maintenance fee. Members can also elect to bank or borrow vacation points, use their vacation points in combination with renting accommodations on a cash basis or purchase an additional real estate interest at any time.
Where Disney Vacation Club Vacation Points Can Be Used
DVC members have the option of using their vacation points to stay in a variety of locales. Should they choose to vacation at a DVC resort, members can opt to stay at one of eight resorts, including: Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, which are all located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, or at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Fla.) or Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort (Hilton Head Island, S.C). Members wanting to stay within the Disney family can also vacation at other select Walt Disney World properties, the Disneyland Resort hotels in Anaheim, Calif., and at Disneyland Resort hotels in Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Members looking to stay at a DVC resort can also anticipate a few new options scheduled to open in 2009. At Walt Disney World Resort, Kidani Village, part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, recently opened its doors to members and guests. Upcoming resort offerings include Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (the fourth phase of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa) and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Plus, on the west coast, DVC is scheduled to open The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, part of an expansion of the existing hotel. For those members looking for new offerings that are outside of a Disney theme park resort, plans are underway to open an expansive Disney family mixed-use resort in Hawaii, which is scheduled to include 350 traditional hotel rooms and 480 DVC vacation villas built on 21 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Oahu.
“What excites me most about this tremendous growth is that we’re not only creating new accommodations, but new experiences,” Lewis said. “Each of the projects we’ve undertaken at Disney Vacation Club is unlike anything previously available in our resort portfolio, and our newest vacation experiences proudly build on that tradition.”
With the opening of its first phase in May 2009, Kidani Village, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, offers guests African-inspired details and home-like amenities. Many vacation villas also feature sweeping views of an expanded savannah inhabited by a variety of African animals.
The opening of Kidani Village includes new additions to the resort, such as Sanaa, a table-service restaurant celebrating African-inspired cuisine with an Indian touch; Samawati Springs Pool, a themed pool area; Uwanja Camp, a themed water-play area; Survival of the Fittest, a fitness center; Johari Treasures, a merchandise shop, and much more.
Jambo House, which includes 109 remodeled two-bedroom equivalent accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, opened in July 2007 and is considered phase one of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. The first rooms and amenities at Kidani Village, phase two of the resort, opened May 1, 2009, with the remaining rooms and amenities planned for a fall 2009 opening. Upon its completion, Kidani Village is planned to include 340 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas, for a total of 449 two-bedroom equivalent accommodations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas.
The 15-story Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, scheduled to join the Disney Vacation Club family of properties in August 2009, is designed to complement the fabled styling of the original building. Beyond mimicking the color palette and strong horizontal lines of its iconic predecessor, the tower’s crescent shape, hugging lush landscaping, planned recreation options and a lakeside pool promises to deliver some of the most dramatic views available anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort. Some villas face scenic, undeveloped stretches of Bay Lake, while others offer spectacular views of Magic Kingdom, located a short walk away.
As with many DVC resorts, most of the rooms in this iconic resort will feature innovative touches, such as modern artwork designed specifically for Bay Lake Tower, flat-screen TVs, full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, separate bedrooms, washers and dryers, and other home-like amenities. Plus, to accommodate larger families or families traveling together, many Bay Lake Tower vacation villas are designed to sleep up to nine, though some units can also be divided into one-bedroom villas that sleep five and studios that accommodate four, creating flexible options for smaller groups.
The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, scheduled to open on June 1, 2009, will become the next room category offered at that resort. Nestled in natural forest glens just around the riverbend from the bustling Downtown Disney area, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will revive Walt Disney World “treehouse living,” a cherished tradition from 1975-2002. While crews are replacing villas of the ‘70s with brand-new vacation homes, Imagineers took special care to honor the original octagonal design. The construction process itself is unique as each stand-alone treehouse villa will come together like a giant 3-D puzzle to ensure both superior quality and environmental sensitivity.
Plus, all 60 three-bedroom homes, elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the forest environment, will sleep nine and are planned to offer modern luxuries such as partial cathedral ceilings, a barbecue grill, elevated wooden decks and flat-panel TVs, all presented in a style dubbed “cabin casual.”
“Bay Lake Tower is something our members have been requesting for a long time. With a sweeping view of Bay Lake on one side and Magic Kingdom on the other, the location couldn’t be any better,” Lewis said. “Treehouse Villas offers a completely different experience. Staying in one of the villas will be like having your very own stand-alone home in a peaceful, natural setting right on Disney property.”
Scheduled to open in late 2009, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will add 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas to the 2.5-acre expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and mark DVC’s first venture into California and Disneyland Resort. Most vacation villas will include kitchens, living and dining areas and other home-like amenities while reflecting the same California Arts & Crafts architecture of the existing hotel, which immerses guests in a turn-of-the-20th-century California experience.
Additionally, for those looking to travel to destinations outside of the Disney realm, members can select from a collection of world-renowned hotels, sample an adventure travel experience such as an African safari or take an Adventures by Disney vacation to one of many exotic itineraries including China, Australia or Central America. Members can also set sail on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships or stay at one of hundreds of resorts worldwide through DVC’s vacation ownership exchange program.
The Secret’s Getting Out
Word of Disney’s “best-kept secret” is spreading through members and non-members alike, spurred by the program’s flexibility, affordability and unique ability to create unforgettable vacation experiences.
“One thing we hear consistently from our members is ‘I wish I’d bought into the Club sooner’,” said Disney Vacation Club Director of Marketing Sybil Woolfork. “Plus, our members are not shy about sharing their DVC experiences with friends and family, which is why one of DVC’s biggest drivers for new members is existing members’ recommendations. These endorsements are the best kind of promotion and advertising for our program.”
Since vacation ownership programs were first introduced to the United States in the early 1960s, the industry has grown to a $10 billion business. A study conducted by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the professional association of the recreational real estate, resort and vacation ownership industry, attributes this growth to a variety of factors, including higher standards of accommodations, quality and service, flexibility and the industry’s improved overall image. Although DVC, like many vacation ownership programs, is grounded in real estate, it has brought many innovative elements to its vacation ownership product, including its signature element: flexibility.
Additional advantages to membership in DVC include special benefits such as discounts on Disney theme park admission, dining, merchandise and recreation, as well as other unique offers and exclusive member events. DVC also features a dedicated in-house member services team of professional travel planners that is only a phone call away. These vacation advisors help members plan their vacations and answer questions about DVC membership.
“Our goal is to keep growing and expanding to meet our members’ vacation needs and to ensure that member families constantly experience a great vacation no matter how they use their points,” Lewis said. “Whether it’s a stay in one of our Disney Vacation Club resorts, an African safari or a Caribbean cruise, we want our members to feel that every vacation is even better than the last.”
Disney Vacation Club is owned by Disney Vacation Development Inc., part of the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
Inspired by guests who return to Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks year after year, DVC is one of the most successful and highly rated vacation-ownership programs on the continent. The DVC ownership program provides members with a wide variety of quality vacation experiences in the Disney tradition while offering the freedom to tailor every vacation to each guest’s interests and personal needs.
“Guests become members of Disney Vacation Club because of the magical memories and traditions that are so ingrained in the Disney experience,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “Anyone can sell accommodations, but only Disney can offer the experiential environment, the entertainment and the imaginative programs that are part of our tradition. We call it ‘the best-kept Disney secret,’ but the secret’s getting out.”
How Disney Vacation Club Works
The methodology behind DVC’s not-so-secret vacation-ownership program is simple: with the purchase of a deeded real estate interest, guests automatically become a member of DVC. That membership then provides guests with the flexibility to personalize their vacation experiences as their family’s vacation interests change over time.
That signature flexibility is a hallmark of DVC’s “vacation point” system, which gives members an annual allotment of points that can be used in a variety of ways. Each year, members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations at a dazzling variety of resorts and for other vacation experiences, subject to availability. Guests can customize each and every vacation in a nearly limitless number of ways.
New members can join DVC with an initial purchase starting at approximately $17,920 plus a small monthly maintenance fee. Members can also elect to bank or borrow vacation points, use their vacation points in combination with renting accommodations on a cash basis or purchase an additional real estate interest at any time.
Where Disney Vacation Club Vacation Points Can Be Used
DVC members have the option of using their vacation points to stay in a variety of locales. Should they choose to vacation at a DVC resort, members can opt to stay at one of eight resorts, including: Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, which are all located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, or at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Fla.) or Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort (Hilton Head Island, S.C). Members wanting to stay within the Disney family can also vacation at other select Walt Disney World properties, the Disneyland Resort hotels in Anaheim, Calif., and at Disneyland Resort hotels in Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Members looking to stay at a DVC resort can also anticipate a few new options scheduled to open in 2009. At Walt Disney World Resort, Kidani Village, part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, recently opened its doors to members and guests. Upcoming resort offerings include Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (the fourth phase of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa) and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Plus, on the west coast, DVC is scheduled to open The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, part of an expansion of the existing hotel. For those members looking for new offerings that are outside of a Disney theme park resort, plans are underway to open an expansive Disney family mixed-use resort in Hawaii, which is scheduled to include 350 traditional hotel rooms and 480 DVC vacation villas built on 21 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Oahu.
“What excites me most about this tremendous growth is that we’re not only creating new accommodations, but new experiences,” Lewis said. “Each of the projects we’ve undertaken at Disney Vacation Club is unlike anything previously available in our resort portfolio, and our newest vacation experiences proudly build on that tradition.”
With the opening of its first phase in May 2009, Kidani Village, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, offers guests African-inspired details and home-like amenities. Many vacation villas also feature sweeping views of an expanded savannah inhabited by a variety of African animals.
The opening of Kidani Village includes new additions to the resort, such as Sanaa, a table-service restaurant celebrating African-inspired cuisine with an Indian touch; Samawati Springs Pool, a themed pool area; Uwanja Camp, a themed water-play area; Survival of the Fittest, a fitness center; Johari Treasures, a merchandise shop, and much more.
Jambo House, which includes 109 remodeled two-bedroom equivalent accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, opened in July 2007 and is considered phase one of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. The first rooms and amenities at Kidani Village, phase two of the resort, opened May 1, 2009, with the remaining rooms and amenities planned for a fall 2009 opening. Upon its completion, Kidani Village is planned to include 340 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas, for a total of 449 two-bedroom equivalent accommodations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas.
The 15-story Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, scheduled to join the Disney Vacation Club family of properties in August 2009, is designed to complement the fabled styling of the original building. Beyond mimicking the color palette and strong horizontal lines of its iconic predecessor, the tower’s crescent shape, hugging lush landscaping, planned recreation options and a lakeside pool promises to deliver some of the most dramatic views available anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort. Some villas face scenic, undeveloped stretches of Bay Lake, while others offer spectacular views of Magic Kingdom, located a short walk away.
As with many DVC resorts, most of the rooms in this iconic resort will feature innovative touches, such as modern artwork designed specifically for Bay Lake Tower, flat-screen TVs, full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, separate bedrooms, washers and dryers, and other home-like amenities. Plus, to accommodate larger families or families traveling together, many Bay Lake Tower vacation villas are designed to sleep up to nine, though some units can also be divided into one-bedroom villas that sleep five and studios that accommodate four, creating flexible options for smaller groups.
The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, scheduled to open on June 1, 2009, will become the next room category offered at that resort. Nestled in natural forest glens just around the riverbend from the bustling Downtown Disney area, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will revive Walt Disney World “treehouse living,” a cherished tradition from 1975-2002. While crews are replacing villas of the ‘70s with brand-new vacation homes, Imagineers took special care to honor the original octagonal design. The construction process itself is unique as each stand-alone treehouse villa will come together like a giant 3-D puzzle to ensure both superior quality and environmental sensitivity.
Plus, all 60 three-bedroom homes, elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the forest environment, will sleep nine and are planned to offer modern luxuries such as partial cathedral ceilings, a barbecue grill, elevated wooden decks and flat-panel TVs, all presented in a style dubbed “cabin casual.”
“Bay Lake Tower is something our members have been requesting for a long time. With a sweeping view of Bay Lake on one side and Magic Kingdom on the other, the location couldn’t be any better,” Lewis said. “Treehouse Villas offers a completely different experience. Staying in one of the villas will be like having your very own stand-alone home in a peaceful, natural setting right on Disney property.”
Scheduled to open in late 2009, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will add 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas to the 2.5-acre expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and mark DVC’s first venture into California and Disneyland Resort. Most vacation villas will include kitchens, living and dining areas and other home-like amenities while reflecting the same California Arts & Crafts architecture of the existing hotel, which immerses guests in a turn-of-the-20th-century California experience.
Additionally, for those looking to travel to destinations outside of the Disney realm, members can select from a collection of world-renowned hotels, sample an adventure travel experience such as an African safari or take an Adventures by Disney vacation to one of many exotic itineraries including China, Australia or Central America. Members can also set sail on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships or stay at one of hundreds of resorts worldwide through DVC’s vacation ownership exchange program.
The Secret’s Getting Out
Word of Disney’s “best-kept secret” is spreading through members and non-members alike, spurred by the program’s flexibility, affordability and unique ability to create unforgettable vacation experiences.
“One thing we hear consistently from our members is ‘I wish I’d bought into the Club sooner’,” said Disney Vacation Club Director of Marketing Sybil Woolfork. “Plus, our members are not shy about sharing their DVC experiences with friends and family, which is why one of DVC’s biggest drivers for new members is existing members’ recommendations. These endorsements are the best kind of promotion and advertising for our program.”
Since vacation ownership programs were first introduced to the United States in the early 1960s, the industry has grown to a $10 billion business. A study conducted by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the professional association of the recreational real estate, resort and vacation ownership industry, attributes this growth to a variety of factors, including higher standards of accommodations, quality and service, flexibility and the industry’s improved overall image. Although DVC, like many vacation ownership programs, is grounded in real estate, it has brought many innovative elements to its vacation ownership product, including its signature element: flexibility.
Additional advantages to membership in DVC include special benefits such as discounts on Disney theme park admission, dining, merchandise and recreation, as well as other unique offers and exclusive member events. DVC also features a dedicated in-house member services team of professional travel planners that is only a phone call away. These vacation advisors help members plan their vacations and answer questions about DVC membership.
“Our goal is to keep growing and expanding to meet our members’ vacation needs and to ensure that member families constantly experience a great vacation no matter how they use their points,” Lewis said. “Whether it’s a stay in one of our Disney Vacation Club resorts, an African safari or a Caribbean cruise, we want our members to feel that every vacation is even better than the last.”
Disney Vacation Club is owned by Disney Vacation Development Inc., part of the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
DVC Fast Facts
Established: October 1991
Workforce: Approximately 2,000 cast members
Since it was founded in 1991, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has become one of the highest-rated vacation ownership programs in the industry – and a prime example of how Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is growing its family vacation business by addressing a broad range of vacation experiences.
DVC was created as a unique experience for guests who like to return to Walt Disney World Resort on an annual basis and stay for longer periods of time. It has quickly grown to include a wide range of vacation offerings, currently boasting eight properties both inside and outside Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with numerous others scheduled to open in the near future.
Members access their vacation club ownership through a highly flexible vacation point system that allows them to tailor vacations to their personal needs. Members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations.
In 2009, DVC reached a company milestone, with more than 400,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and every U.S. state having made a long-term commitment to unforgettable vacations.
Fun Facts
Workforce: Approximately 2,000 cast members
Since it was founded in 1991, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has become one of the highest-rated vacation ownership programs in the industry – and a prime example of how Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is growing its family vacation business by addressing a broad range of vacation experiences.
DVC was created as a unique experience for guests who like to return to Walt Disney World Resort on an annual basis and stay for longer periods of time. It has quickly grown to include a wide range of vacation offerings, currently boasting eight properties both inside and outside Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with numerous others scheduled to open in the near future.
Members access their vacation club ownership through a highly flexible vacation point system that allows them to tailor vacations to their personal needs. Members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations.
In 2009, DVC reached a company milestone, with more than 400,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and every U.S. state having made a long-term commitment to unforgettable vacations.
Fun Facts
- DVC has doubled its membership since 2003 to include more than 400,000 member families from each U.S. state and approximately 100 different countries.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas feature intricate African-inspired details and home-like amenities, and many vacation villas offer sweeping views of an expanded savannah inhabited by a variety of African animals.
- At Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, a horse racing fanfare can be heard across the resort every hour on the hour signaling the top of the hour to amused members and guests.
- A special room at The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge houses a collection of train memorabilia and artwork, including an exhibit featuring two of Walt Disney’s personal scale-model railroad cars.
- There are 167 miles of post-tensioning cable running through Bay Lake Tower’s concrete slabs. These cables could stretch from Bay Lake Tower to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and back.
- Environmental sensitivity is extremely important to Disney Imagineers while constructing the new Treehouse Villas. As a result, 5,178 tons, or 65.22 percent, of materials from demolition are being recycled, including concrete and metals.
Bay Lake Tower Fast Facts
Overview
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a Disney Vacation Club private resort, complements the strong horizontal lines of the original resort while adding its own unique touches, including a fireworks viewing deck, a rooftop lounge, a lakeside pool and much more. Add to that a sky bridge linking the tower to the original resort’s monorail station, restaurants and shops, and you’ve got a new classic Disney resort that allows guests to blow Tinker Bell a kiss goodnight as they relax after a fun day of theme park experiences.
Building Upon a Beloved Icon
Bay Lake Tower builds on the celebrated legacy of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, hailed as a modern marvel of American architecture when it opened alongside nearby Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, 1971. Proximity to Magic Kingdom continually proves to be among the resort’s most popular “amenities,” allowing families to easily return to their rooms for quick breaks from their busy day in the park.
Bay Lake Tower takes that experience one step further, adding the conveniences of “home” to this world-class vacation destination. Most rooms feature full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, separate bedrooms, washers and dryers, and other home-like amenities that will add even more comfort and convenience to the unique experience offered by Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Unparalleled Views
Bay Lake Tower’s crescent-shaped tower boasts some of the most dramatic Walt Disney World views available, offering open sightlines to an amenity-filled courtyard, the picturesque lakefront or one of the most beloved theme parks on Earth. The view is equally appealing on the other side, with rich woods and warm fabrics complementing interior spaces and creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment.
Rooftop Lounge and Fireworks Viewing Area
The only view better than the one families will enjoy from their rooms may be the one available from the exclusive rooftop deck (availability is limited and usage guidelines do apply), offering sweeping views of the resort and – by night – dramatic views of Magic Kingdom fireworks. Plus, as a homage to the original, Bay Lake Tower’s rooftop lounge, Top of the World Lounge, was actually inspired by Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s former dinner show of the same name.
Spacious Lobby
After checking in at the original resort, guests’ first glimpse of the tower’s interior is the lobby area filled with woven woods and glass-wrapped columns.
Bay Cove Pool
Nestled in the shadow of Bay Lake Tower, the resort’s zero entry pool includes a water slide, separate whirlpool spa and an interactive children’s water feature – all overlooking picturesque Bay Lake.
Resort Amenities
Beyond the rooftop lounge, spacious lobby and lakeside pool, Bay Lake Tower features a covered outdoor sky bridge that connects to the original resort so that guests can access the monorail as well as the restaurants and merchandise shops. Plus, Bay Lake Tower guests can order room service available through the original resort or make use of Community Hall, an activity center.
Disney Vacation Club
Disney Vacation Club is a vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy flexibility and savings on vacations for decades to come. By purchasing a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club resort, families enjoy flexible vacations at Disney destinations worldwide, as well as more than 500 other popular Member Getaways vacation locations around the globe.
Quick Facts
Date Announced:
Sept. 16, 2008
Targeted Completion Date:
Summer 2009
Location/Geography:
Bay Lake Tower is ideally situated between Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Comtemporary Resort with easy access to the monorail.
Room Mix:
Bay Lake Tower offers studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The majority of room categories include views of Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom.
Number of Units:
295 two-bedroom equivalent villas
Resort Amenities:
Zero entry pool with water slide, separate spa and interactive children’s water feature.
Exclusive lounge on the top floor with outdoor fireworks viewing area (availability is very limited and usage guidelines apply).
Covered outdoor sky bridge connects Bay Lake Tower to the existing resort so that guests can access the monorail.
Fun Facts
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a Disney Vacation Club private resort, complements the strong horizontal lines of the original resort while adding its own unique touches, including a fireworks viewing deck, a rooftop lounge, a lakeside pool and much more. Add to that a sky bridge linking the tower to the original resort’s monorail station, restaurants and shops, and you’ve got a new classic Disney resort that allows guests to blow Tinker Bell a kiss goodnight as they relax after a fun day of theme park experiences.
Building Upon a Beloved Icon
Bay Lake Tower builds on the celebrated legacy of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, hailed as a modern marvel of American architecture when it opened alongside nearby Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, 1971. Proximity to Magic Kingdom continually proves to be among the resort’s most popular “amenities,” allowing families to easily return to their rooms for quick breaks from their busy day in the park.
Bay Lake Tower takes that experience one step further, adding the conveniences of “home” to this world-class vacation destination. Most rooms feature full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, separate bedrooms, washers and dryers, and other home-like amenities that will add even more comfort and convenience to the unique experience offered by Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Unparalleled Views
Bay Lake Tower’s crescent-shaped tower boasts some of the most dramatic Walt Disney World views available, offering open sightlines to an amenity-filled courtyard, the picturesque lakefront or one of the most beloved theme parks on Earth. The view is equally appealing on the other side, with rich woods and warm fabrics complementing interior spaces and creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment.
Rooftop Lounge and Fireworks Viewing Area
The only view better than the one families will enjoy from their rooms may be the one available from the exclusive rooftop deck (availability is limited and usage guidelines do apply), offering sweeping views of the resort and – by night – dramatic views of Magic Kingdom fireworks. Plus, as a homage to the original, Bay Lake Tower’s rooftop lounge, Top of the World Lounge, was actually inspired by Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s former dinner show of the same name.
Spacious Lobby
After checking in at the original resort, guests’ first glimpse of the tower’s interior is the lobby area filled with woven woods and glass-wrapped columns.
Bay Cove Pool
Nestled in the shadow of Bay Lake Tower, the resort’s zero entry pool includes a water slide, separate whirlpool spa and an interactive children’s water feature – all overlooking picturesque Bay Lake.
Resort Amenities
Beyond the rooftop lounge, spacious lobby and lakeside pool, Bay Lake Tower features a covered outdoor sky bridge that connects to the original resort so that guests can access the monorail as well as the restaurants and merchandise shops. Plus, Bay Lake Tower guests can order room service available through the original resort or make use of Community Hall, an activity center.
Disney Vacation Club
Disney Vacation Club is a vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy flexibility and savings on vacations for decades to come. By purchasing a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club resort, families enjoy flexible vacations at Disney destinations worldwide, as well as more than 500 other popular Member Getaways vacation locations around the globe.
Quick Facts
Date Announced:
Sept. 16, 2008
Targeted Completion Date:
Summer 2009
Location/Geography:
Bay Lake Tower is ideally situated between Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Comtemporary Resort with easy access to the monorail.
Room Mix:
Bay Lake Tower offers studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The majority of room categories include views of Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom.
Number of Units:
295 two-bedroom equivalent villas
Resort Amenities:
Zero entry pool with water slide, separate spa and interactive children’s water feature.
Exclusive lounge on the top floor with outdoor fireworks viewing area (availability is very limited and usage guidelines apply).
Covered outdoor sky bridge connects Bay Lake Tower to the existing resort so that guests can access the monorail.
Fun Facts
- There are 167 miles of post-tensioning cable running through the concrete slabs. These cables could stretch from Bay Lake Tower to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and back.
- There are 1,398 tons of reinforcing steel, known as rebar, within the structure. This is equal to the weight of 254 full-grown elephants.
- Bay Lake Tower rests on a foundation of more than 800 concrete piles that are 16 inches in diameter and extend 70 feet into the ground. Stacked on top of one another, these would reach more than 10 miles into the sky.