The Orlando Sentinel got the scoop we have all been waiting for: Disney has confirmed the addition of both the Contemporary Bay Lake Tower and Treehouse Villas to the Disney Vacation Club program (LINK). Bay Lake Tower will be the ninth DVC property with over 300 rooms adjacent to the Magic Kingdom theme park. The Treehouse Villas project will add 60 units to the existing Saratoga Springs Resort.
According to the Sentinel's Jason Garcia:
Disney this morning will formally reveal plans for its Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, confirming earlier reports that the 15-story tower rising just beyond the Magic Kingdom will be used for time shares. The company also will unveil plans to sell time shares at the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, a secluded community of 60 units that is being rebuilt in a forested pocket of Walt Disney World.
The Sentinel article provides a wonderful overview of these two projects and is definitely worth the read. But here are a few bullet-points to summarize the projects, including a few new details:
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
- 15-Story Tower
- 295 Two Bedroom equivalent units
- Will consist of the usual mix of Studio, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom and Grand Villa accommodations
- One bedroom villas have two full bathrooms and sleep up to 5 guests; Two Bedroom villas have three bathrooms and sleep up to 9
- Top two floors contain Three Bedroom Grand Villas
- Click for guest room floorplans
- There will be three room categories:
- Magic Kingdom View (approx 20% of all rooms)
- Lake View (65-70%)
- Standard View (10-15%)
- Click for In-room photos
- Click for virtual tour of resort and guest rooms
- Click for nightly Points Chart
- New pool being added with zero entry, slide, whirlpool spa, interactive children's area
- Community Hall
- Rooftop lounge (accessible to guests only; limited capacity)
- Points start at $112 each; new purchases and add-ons of 100 or more receive a $5 per point discount; add-ons of 25-99 points pay full price
- First year dues are $3.67 per point, a figure which agrees with the full budget we posted back in February (LINK)
- Owners can begin booking in March 2009 for stays in fall (approximately September '09)
- Ownership ends on January 31, 2060
- Sales begin Sunday, September 21, 2008 with first points available to existing members
- Click for initial ownership documents filed with Orange County (subject to change)
- First 1,000 members to buy 160 or more points will be noted as Founding Members on a plaque displayed on the resort fountain
Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Additional phase of Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- 60 units
- 1200 sq ft; three bedrooms; sleep 9 guests
- Sleeping accommodations include:
- Master bedroom with queen bed
- Second bedroom with queen bed
- Third bedroom with bunk beds
- Living room with queen sleeper sofa and twin sleeper chair
- Nightly point cost will be the same as current Saratoga Springs Two Bedroom villa
- Treehouse area will include a new pool, boat dock and two bus stops
- Units set to open Summer 2009
- Sales date and pricing not yet set
- Check out our previous coverage of the Treehouse Villas which includes floorplans.
Disney has published a promoational video on YouTube with an overview of the Bay Lake Tower:
Special thanks to Jason Garcia, "DVC Mike", Christoper Lingaren and a host of other people who sent information regarding this announcement!
