In January 2021 my family stayed in a 3-Bedroom Grand Villa in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The Grand Villas in Bay Lake tower are over 2,000 square feet in size and feature four balconies as well as a floor to ceiling 2 story set of windows in the living room area. We had a Lake View villa that faced to the south offering a view of the Contemporary, Bay Lake, Wilderness Lodge, and in the distance several other Walt Disney World landmarks. This post features pictures taken during our week stay sharing the view we enjoyed. If you would like a photo tour of our Grand Villa or pictures from the 16th floor viewing Terrace I have separate posts on them.
Here is a look from one of the balconies on the west side and then one on the east side of the room.
The view from the right hand bedroom balcony.
Sitting in a chair looking out over the Contemporary Marina and Garden Wing
A series of sunrise pictures:
6:48am – A fishing boat cruising across Bay Lake
6:56am – Bay Lake at Sunrise
Bay Lake at Sunrise
Bay Lake at Sun Rise
The sun rising over Bay Lake
The rising sun reflecting off the main Contemporary Tower
Bay Lake at sunrise
A quiet morning on Bay Lake
In the foreground of our view was the Contemporary Marina area and pool area.
Contemporary Marina, pool and garden wing
The marina was really quiet this visit with an occasional fishing excursion departing, but nothing else going on due to the COVID-19 closure of the recreational watercraft.
Contemporary marina, dock and pool areas on a quiet morning.
Contemporary Marina, pool and garden wing
Looking down toward the Marina
A closer look at the Contemporary Pool area:
Contemporary Pool
Contemporary Pool water play area.
The boat traffic on Bay Lake was minimal too with only launches for Fort Wilderness crossing the lake most of the day. The intra-resort launch was closed due to COVID.
A boat on its way to the Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness
Two Magic Kingdom launches crossing paths in Bay Lake.
A boat making its way back to Bay Lake as a Monorail passes overhead on a rainy morning.
Looking across Bay Lake we had a view of the Tri-Circle D Ranch
In the foreground construction has halted for the DVC Reflections project. The long short building is the new Tri Circle D Ranch barn. Beyond it the Four Seasons and other hotels on the horizon.
Tri-Circle D Barn/Stables.
A closer look at the Tri-Circle D Ranch
If we stood on the balcony and looked 90 degrees to the right (west) we could see the Seven Seas Lagoon between the Contemporary Tower and Bay Lake Tower.
A Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat arriving.
Magic Kingdom Bus stops and beyond the Monorail Station.
Looking out on the horizon you could see several other Walt Disney World landmarks – A series of pictures starting on the left side of the lake and panning to the right (east to west) – click to enlarge the image.
Looking across Bay Lake at some cleared beach beyond the Fort Wilderness marina.
The balloon at Disney Springs and several non-Disney hotels on the right.
Guardians of the Galaxy show building with several non Disney hotels in the background.
Left-Right: Guardians of the Galaxy show building, Wonders of Life, Riviera Resort and Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth in the middle of the frame, on the left you can see the Riviera Resort and beyond it some non-Disney resorts.
In the center you can make out some of Future World. The Imagination pyramids, Land roof and Soarin’ show buildings.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin with the Tower of Terror off to the right.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts plus the Swan Reserve tower on the right.
On the left the Swan Reserve, in the center you can see some of the taller peaks of Black Spire Outpost at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in the foreground. Background is Swan and Dolphin on the left and Grand Destino on the right.
Gran Destino Tower @ Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Blizzard Beach is in the center of the picture
Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In the center is the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, to its right is Pandora and in the distance non Disney hotels.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge –
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
To close out this picture set some night time pictures:
Contemporary Main Tower at night
Contemporary Marina and Pool area at night
The sea serpent from the Electrical Water Pageant making its way through the channel and back toward Seven Seas Lagoon.
