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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

An unsophisticated palette reviewing food -yeesh!
In reference to the calamari:


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.

[KevinYee]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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.

Correct on the tentacles - they were tasty. But a good many readers of my articles won't necessarily like what they will consider "experimental" food, which is why I try to "write for the masses" on the food options.

[Aaron Morrow]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

While you can argue that the Wilderness Lodge Villas have an open-door policy because of the Sturdy Branches Health Club, there's no reason for the Beach Club Villas to be open to the public - but they are. (While I have no problem with a closed-door policy, I'm hoping to see some consistency across property in the future.)

More importantly, I'm curious to see how the prices of the Pirates League compare to those of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Are there a couple of cheaper options to distract you from the high price of the most expensive choice? (Yes, there are.) Is there anything dirt cheap like the "Cool Dudes" package at the Boutique? (Not advertised as such, but perhaps some of the add-ons will be cheap.)

The review of Kouzzina reminded me of a big picture question I have concerning future WDW growth: Is the BoardWalk area supposed to be a center of activity and a secondary draw for visitors, like a smaller Downtown Disney? Or should Kouzzina be seen as a BoardWalk Inn and Villas restaurant first, with the possibility of drawing other WDW guests second? (I'm sorry if this isn't clear; I should start a thread in the WDW section once I've had time to ponder this issue some more.)

[GhostHost2]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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.

Why did they spend so much money on theming something that so few guests will get to see?

[BassBone]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

Why did they spend so much money on theming something that so few guests will get to see?

To help justify the price.

My girlfriend wants to do it when we go in January. I don't really care. She wants the $49.95 option.

[FrankieD]

Re: 9/22: Compendium Pt. II

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?



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.

So maybe I was incorrect about the other buildings, but don't be surprised if they get locked down as well. But, you're missing my point. You and others feel that you have a right or entitlement to casually walk around.

As to viewing the property because others might want to buy it, there is a formal DVC tour. Also, if you house is up for sale using your logic, I should be able to just go over to your house at any time of day or night and walk around the front and back yard and through the house whether or not you're there.

Pool hopping was axed because guests from other resorts were impinging on the guests that were actually staying there. Most notably the Yacht & Beach Club. Why should a person whose paying $100 a night have access to the pool at a resort where guests are paying $300 a night? If you were that guest at $300/night I dare say you'd be pissed if you couldn't enjoy your own pool because guests at other Disney resorts had jumped over to your resort. That was the exact reason why pool hopping went.

Not all of the Disney properties can be locked down - Fort Wilderness. Trust me Security would love that opportunity as it ensures the safety of the guests staying there. As another poster put it, what business do you, someone not staying there have being there?