Discover everything about Bay Lake Tower’s renovation at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, from redesigned rooms inspired by Mary Blair to a refreshed lobby. Plus a full history of this iconic DVC resort.
If you’re a Disney Vacation Club member, a Walt Disney World regular, or simply someone planning a stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, there is one update you absolutely need to know about: Bay Lake Tower has undergone its most sweeping transformation since opening day. After more than a decade without a major overhaul, this beloved DVC tower is finally living up to its prestigious Magic Kingdom-adjacent address. Here is everything to know, from the resort’s fascinating history to the gorgeous new spaces that are ready to welcome guests in 2026.
A Brief History of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Origins of an Icon
Bay Lake Tower sits beside one of Walt Disney World’s most storied hotels, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, a structure so architecturally daring that A-frame monorail trains pass directly through its Grand Canyon Concourse. The Contemporary opened on October 1, 1971, the same day as Walt Disney World itself, and has been a symbol of futurism and imagination ever since.
For decades, the Contemporary stood largely as Walt envisioned it: bold, sweeping, and modern. But as the resort expanded and Disney Vacation Club grew into a multi-resort timeshare empire, Disney eyed the property’s north garden wing as the perfect site for a new DVC tower.
Construction and Controversy (2006 to 2009)
Construction on Bay Lake Tower began quietly, some would say secretly, around 2006 on the site of the Contemporary’s old North Garden Wing. Word eventually spread among Disney fans, and with it came significant debate. Many felt the 15-story glass-and-steel structure was out of character with the retro-futuristic charm of the original Contemporary and would disrupt the visual harmony of the resort’s lakefront profile.
The controversy was real, and it never fully disappeared. Bay Lake Tower opened in the summer of 2009 with 428 Disney Vacation Club villas, becoming the 11th DVC resort property. Though architecturally divisive, it offered something that no other DVC resort could match: a direct skybridge connection to the Contemporary’s amenities and a walking path to Magic Kingdom’s front gate in under ten minutes.
A Decade of Wear, and the Case for Refurbishment
For all its locational brilliance, Bay Lake Tower’s original interiors aged quickly. The studios were compact by DVC standards, and the furnishings, designed in the mid-2000s before the modern wave of space-saving, Disney-themed interiors, felt dated long before renovation crews arrived. Industry observers and DVC members alike noted for years that the rooms were overdue for a refresh, with worn finishes and a design philosophy that lagged behind what Disney was achieving at newer resorts like Riviera and Copper Creek.
The time had come for Bay Lake Tower to get the transformation it deserved.
The 2024 to 2026 Renovation: What Disney Changed and Why It Matters
How the Project Began
Disney officially kicked off the Bay Lake Tower refurbishment in late September 2024, initially targeting a September 2025 completion. This was to be a full hard goods refurbishment, meaning not just new curtains and carpet, but an entirely new room: new beds, new furniture, new walls, new floors, new layout. Everything.
The scope was ambitious, and Disney tackled it floor by floor, rerouting utilities so that operational floors could continue to serve guests while renovations proceeded below or above. It was, by Disney’s own admission, a logistically challenging undertaking.
In June 2025, Disney extended the overall refurbishment timeline through July 2026 to encompass not only the remaining villa work but also common areas throughout Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower. This expansion confirmed that the project had grown well beyond a simple room update into a genuine resort-wide reimagining.
The New Room Design: Mary Blair Meets Modern Disney
When photos of the first completed rooms surfaced in January 2025, the reaction from the DVC community was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. The new rooms are a love letter to Disney’s artistic heritage, specifically, the vibrant, bold palette of Mary Blair, the legendary Disney artist whose colorful aesthetic defined the look of It’s a Small World, the Contemporary’s own interior murals, and countless other Disney touchstones.
Collaborating artist Joey Chou created entirely new original artwork for the tower, pulling from the same mid-century modern vernacular that Blair pioneered. The result is rooms that feel unmistakably Disney without leaning into any single IP or franchise, a refreshing approach that grounds the tower in the spirit of the place rather than the marketing of the moment.
Key Room Changes at a Glance
Murphy Beds: The old sofa sleeper, long a source of guest complaints, has been replaced with a pull-down Murphy bed that functions as both a comfortable couch and a genuine queen-sized bed. This change alone dramatically improves the sleep experience in standard studios.
All-New Furnishings: Every piece of furniture, every fixture, every floor covering has been replaced. The original mid-2000s modern aesthetic is entirely gone. In its place is a warm, colorful, cohesive design that bridges classic Disney artistry with contemporary comfort.
Refreshed Layout: The spatial arrangement of the rooms has been updated to feel more intuitive and functional, with an eye toward the storage and flow needs of families visiting a theme park resort.
Wi-Fi Infrastructure Upgrade: A complete overhaul of the wireless network was included in the renovation scope, ensuring that connectivity meets 2025-and-beyond expectations.
The Lobby and Community Hall: A Fresh Welcome
The Bay Lake Tower renovation extended well beyond the guest rooms. By late 2025, Bay Lake Tower’s main lobby had debuted a dramatically refreshed look. Curved mid-century inspired chandeliers now hang over each side of the lobby, giving the arrival experience a warmth and personality it previously lacked.
Community Hall, the resort’s activity space for families, hosting movies, crafts, and games, also received a vibrant redesign. A bold orange Mary Blair-inspired accent wall now anchors the room, complemented by green and orange furniture that ties the space thematically to the new rooms above. Cast Members continue to staff the space for activities including coloring, crafts, and pin trading.
Pool Area Closure and Renewal (January to May 2026)
The Bay Cove Pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower closed for maintenance on January 26, 2026, with an expected reopening in early May 2026. During this period, guests continue to have full access to the feature pool, Bay Lake Pool, Cove Bar, and water play area on the main Contemporary side, which remain open throughout.
This final phase of the renovation ensures that every corner of the Bay Lake Tower experience, from arrival to the pool deck, reflects the renewed investment Disney has made in the property.
Why the Bay Lake Tower Renovation Matters for Your Next Disney Trip
Bay Lake Tower has always offered one thing no other Disney resort can replicate: you can walk out the front door and be inside Magic Kingdom in under ten minutes. No other hotel on property comes close. For families with young children, Early Entry guests, and anyone who has ever raced back to the hotel at the end of a long park day, that proximity is worth its weight in Lightning Lane Passes.
What the resort lacked, until now, was an interior that matched that extraordinary location. The 2026 renovation closes that gap entirely. The new rooms draw consistent comparisons to the highly-praised Riviera Resort interiors, which have earned top satisfaction marks in DVC member surveys since their introduction.
For DVC members who have been banking points and waiting for this moment, the time to book Bay Lake Tower is now. For non-members staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the renewed common areas and the skybridge connection to Bay Lake Tower mean the entire campus feels more cohesive, vibrant, and worthy of the Contemporary name.
Bay Lake Tower: Quick Facts for Guests
Location: Adjacent to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Distance to Magic Kingdom: Under 10 minutes on foot, the closest resort to the park
Resort Type: Disney Vacation Club (DVC) deluxe villa resort
Opened: Summer 2009
Number of Villas: 428 DVC villas
Refurbishment Period: September 2024 to July 2026
Room Style: Mary Blair-inspired mid-century modern with original Joey Chou artwork
Notable Feature: Top of the World Lounge, a Villains Lair, offering fireworks views for eligible DVC members
Pool Status (2026): Bay Cove Pool closed January 26 to early May 2026 for maintenance; Contemporary pools remain open
Final Thoughts: Bay Lake Tower’s Best Chapter Begins Now
Bay Lake Tower has spent its first fifteen years living in the shadow of its own potential. The location was always exceptional. The views of Bay Lake and Magic Kingdom are spectacular. The access to one of Disney’s most historically significant hotels has always made it a compelling choice. But the rooms, until now, told a different story.
The Bay Lake Tower renovation changes the entire calculus. Bay Lake Tower is no longer a resort you stay at despite the rooms. It is now a resort you stay at because of them. Mary Blair’s spirit runs through every detail, Joey Chou’s artwork brings warmth and whimsy to spaces that once felt sterile, and a renewed lobby and Community Hall ensure the magic begins the moment you walk through the door.
Whether you are a lifelong DVC member finally coming home to a refreshed favorite, or a first-time guest discovering everything Bay Lake Tower has to offer, 2026 is the year to experience it. The wait was long. The result was worth it!