Linda Mac's Orlando Adventures

On September 16, 2008, Disney Vacation Club finally announced plans for the long-rumored Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort.

Bay Lake Tower Information Sheet and Photographs

The Bay Lake Tower Model is open at the DVC office at Saratoga Springs.

Here are photos of the Studio Model:

The layout of the studio (bedroom/living room) is a standard DVC floor plan except the kitchen has a twist to it. The kitchen area is no longer out in the open where you pass through it on the way to the living room. It is now set up like a butler's pantry or galley kitchen, long and narrow. The design is sleek and modern. The handle on far left of the photo is used to pull out the storage shelves. You will find the same thing in the 1-bedroom units only larger.

Here's the real twist to the newly designed kitchen area -- When looking in from the hallway, on the wall on your right is the kitchen (as shown above) but on the wall to your left is the bathroom vanity. It's in the same "room" as the kitchen. I could put an English Muffin in the toaster with one hand and brush my teeth with the other hand, all at the same. It is a little too close for me. Would it stop me from staying at the new resort. No way!

Let me just say, that most of my DVC stays are in studio units. So I am familar with many of the studio layouts at Walt Disney World. I have never found it odd that bathroom vanities are across from the studio kitchens because there is a walkway in between.

The shower/tub and toilet is in a seperate room when you first enter the studio.

I am interrupting my daily trip reports to bring this "Breaking Disney Vacation Club News".

I have always wanted to say that.

On Friday night, I attended the first DVC event held in California. A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to attend the Disney Vacation Club Getaway Days Travel Expo at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Due to the popularlity of the event, Disney added an extra date. Originally set for this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, by the time I went online to RSVP the only date available was Friday, May 23. Lucky for me they added the extra reception. According to my invitation, the event would take place between 7 and 8:30 pm.

About 150 DVC Members and their families attended the event held at the Pacific Ballroom inside Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. We had a chance to enjoy light snacks that included cheese, vegetables, dips and crackers. Wine was also offered at no charge.

All attendees were given a small board to which we could attach pins as we collected them at different locations throughout the room. Arcade-like simulators were set up so we could try our hand at skiing, water rafting, jet skiing, etc.

We wandered around to different stations set up by Adventures By Disney, Disney Cruise Line, etc. to collect our pins. The final pin needed to complete the set would be given out at the presentation. Hmmm... what presentation I asked?

Disney had a much larger room set up right next door. A presentation on a Friday night, what had I gotten myself into? Well, I am glad I opted to stay. I found a seat in back so I could move about to take photos without bothering other people. There was a woman on stage that was already speaking to the audience about DVC membership. As I was settling in, the tone of her voice caught my attention. There was something so familiar about it. WOW, it hit me! The woman on stage was Casey. I mean this in the most respectful way -- this woman has put me to sleep on more nights than I can count. Casey is hostess of the DVC informational tape that plays on all the Disney resort hotels' TVs. I had the chance to briefly chat with her after the presentation.

The presentation turned out to be a lot of fun. Several "announcements" were made, including the name of the full service restaurant at Animal Kingdom Villas -- it will be called Sanaa. I'm not sure how "newsworthy" this announcement is since this information has been out for a while.

We were entertained by African musicans and dancers before the general information was given about the Animal Kingdom. Other entertainment included a country band right out of Frontierland with Chip and Dale and a strolling accordion player.

It didn't take me long realize why we were there of course. It was to add more points to our membership account. This was different from past events I attended such as Summer on the Savanna, which seemed more like a DVC Mingle. But that said, DVC had some terrific bonuses if you wanted to add points now. During the presentation all these incentives were listed as "event only incentives": Add 100 points - get an $8 off bonus per point (this discount is now called Dream Dollars), plus receive 130 one-time use bonus points. As the number of points increased (up to 500) so did the bonuses.

Next we were shown artist's renderings of future attractions at Disney's California Adventure, which included Carland and an Ariel ride. Again, this information has been public knowledge for a while now.

Following the California Adventure presentation, more incentives were offered that included Annual Passes, 3-day stays at a California Concierge Collection Hotel, confirmed 7-night stays at top Interval International destinations, one night stays in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse 7 night land and sea packages and my favorite, Adventures By Disney trips.

Several drawings was held and a few very lucky winners walked away with some of the bonus incentive packages.

A dessert party and meet and greet with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck followed the 'long" information presentation. The reception hours were extended until 10 pm so everyone had a chance to take pictures, dance to the DJ music and enjoy coffee and dessert. Pictures taken with the characters could be download to your computer free of charge.

All in all, I had a lot of fun and feel it was time well spent. I don't think I have mentioned this yet but the weather was just plain ugly here yesterday. It was cold, damp and rainy all day and night. Hopefully, the sun will shine today. I don't mind the cold but the rain and overcast skies make for really nasty looking photos.

Good-bye for now from Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Resort. BTW, the Steak and Eggs are the best! As is my server Chuck, who found a nice, quiet table for me so I could work on this blog over breakfast. Thanks, Chuck.

Construction at Disney's newest Vacation Club, Animal Kingdom Villas-Kidani Village is moving right along. The new resort will feature studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and grand villas units; a barbecue pavilion, basketball and shuffleboard courts, community hall, gift shop, fitness center, arcade, pool, tennis courts and special kids' play area, Uwanja Camp. Two new eateries are scheduled to be constructed too -- the full-service Sanaa (serving breakfast and dinner) and the pool bar, Maji.

The Animal Kingdom Villas -- Kidani Village will share an expanded Sunset Savanna with the Jambo House and will also have its own Savanna. It is hoped that a couple new animal/bird species will be on the new savanna.

Disney Vacation Club Members visiting Walt Disney World this summer were treated to a special party in honor of the new Animal Kingdom Villas. The parties were held every Thursday from 3-5 pm at the International Gateway just outside of EPCOT through August 23.

Upon arrival, members and their guests, were given booklets that included a coupon for a free snack and an entry form for a raffle that was held at the end of the party for a large gift basket. Kenyon Cooler which tasted like Kool-aid to me was available as was ice water at no charge and African wine was offered for $7.50 a glass. We were entertained by a Disney DJ and the First Lady of the Disney Vacation Club, "Deevy See". Everytime I turned around there was another Animal Kingdom character at the party. Free face painting and crafts were offered for the children.

The Kilimanjaro Club at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge have been moved to the presidental suite for the next few months while the 6th floor rooms are being remodeled. It is smaller then it's orginal spot but has a view of the savannah.

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Signage located at the main elevators on 3rd floor across the lobby from front desk (elevators to Boma on ground level).

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The next set of photos are looking out over the Sunset Savanna. Some were taken from an exit stairway on the outside of the building on 5th floor of Kudu Trail Guest room area and the others were taken from 3rd observation deck just pass the front desk, outside the exhibit room.

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Exterior view of the Presidental Suite - temporary home of the concierge Kilimajaro Club.

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Zawadi marketplace -- Getting ready to install a new, bigger cooler for DVC food items like deli meats, frozen pizza, etc..

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Possible future entrance to AKV. It is at the end of the parking lot.

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