• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Walt Disney World’s Bay Lake Tower 2 Bedroom Villa

May 4, 2017 | dining, family, Travel

My parents became DVC members last year via buying resale. Their home resort is Saratoga Springs, which is where we stayed in October of last year. They had some extra points on their contract due to some that were banked by the previous owner, so Me, Bobby, and Emma Kate were invited to stay with them in a two bedroom villa for five nights in April. We were blown away by this resort, and I wanted to share our two bedroom villa with you.

bay lake villa

Before I begin, I feel it’s important to note that the modern style is REALLY not my thing. I never had a desire to stay at the Contemporary, and the only time I have was for a conference a few years ago. Bay Lake wasn’t on my radar, until I realized how easy it would be with my two year old to be able to walk to and from the Magic Kingdom and be on the monorail. I was able to snag us a villa right as our date window opened, and while I was excited about our trip, I was just “eh” when it came to the thought of the resort portion. That is until we walked into the lobby, down the hall, and up to our two bedroom villa on the sixth floor facing the gorgeous Lake. WOW.

DSC_0753

I’m going to try to paint you a picture here of the layout, because there really is a ton of space here. When you walk in, to the right is the second bedroom, straight ahead is a closet and a wall, slightly left is the walkway into the other bedroom and living/kitchen area, and directly left was a 3rd FULL bathroom. Keep in mind this villa sleeps nine people, so it’s nice that your guests on the sofa sleeper and chair have access to a full bath as seen below.

2017-04-21_13-17-58_273 - Copy

Let’s start by going left and passing up the living room for a second to go into the Master. But first there is a door for the washer and dryer, and this room was WAY bigger than anticipated. We used it to store things and keep them out of the way like our coolers we had brought.

2017-04-21_13-15-54_755 - Copy

On into the master suite is a gorgeous bathroom with a huge tub and shower.

2017-04-21_13-15-13_352 - Copy

2017-04-21_13-15-03_998 - Copy

My only qualm with this bathroom is that it only had one vanity as opposed to the master at Saratoga which had two. The bathroom was really big so maybe space could have been found? Maybe just to add another sink?

2017-04-21_13-18-12_370 - Copy

The master boasts a king sized bed and it’s own balcony, which you can also access from the living room. Check out the cute painting above the bed.

2017-04-21_13-15-28_496 - Copy

There was also a desk and a flat screen TV as well as plenty of drawer space.

2017-04-21_13-15-36_866 - Copy

Back out into the hallway, you can see into the living room and kitchen. I loved how bright and open it was, and we never closed the curtains the whole trip.

2017-04-21_13-16-33_434 - Copy

From the wall of windows facing into the kitchen, you can also see the open door where the laundry room was. There was a stove, over, microwave, refrigerator/freezer combo and a cute table to the right. The TV was on the wall parallel to the table not shown in this picture.

2017-04-21_13-16-56_212 - Copy

The sofa was weird in that the cushions would NOT stay put. We must have had to push them back 100 times. I’m not sure if it’s because it is a sofa sleeper or just old, but it was odd. There were sheets and blankets in the ottoman.

2017-04-21_13-16-48_108 - Copy

Here you can see the huge TV as well as the door going to the same balcony that is attached to the master, and you also get a shot of the sleeper chair.

2017-04-21_13-17-35_167 - Copy

I thought this Space Mountain picture above the table was a nice touch.

2017-04-21_13-17-42_755 - Copy

As was this Bay lake/monorail/Contemporary photo above the sofa.

2017-04-21_14-57-37_806 - Copy

If you go back to the hallway and go straight, you reach the second bedroom which ahs two big closets and it’s own bathroom. We had two queen sized beds and our own balcony, too! In the below picture, to the left is one closet, the other is straight behind me, and to the right is the sink area and then the separate bathroom.

2017-04-21_13-18-05_704 - Copy

We used a bed rail so Emma Kate could have her own bed. Y’all, these beds were SO comfortable. Like a cloud I tell ya.

2017-04-21_13-18-14_821 - Copy

2017-04-21_13-18-26_434 - Copy

We also had a table and two chairs as well as a set of drawers and TV, which we never turned on one time.

2017-04-21_13-18-42_701 - Copy

The very best thing about the room was the view. It never got old. Sitting on the sofa, or the balcony, or just milling around the kitchen I loved the huge windows looking out over the pool and Bay lake.

2017-04-21_14-58-55_268 - Copy

Going to be honest here for a moment. You can pay extra/use more DVC points to have a theme park view…but in my personal opinion the lake view is better at this particular resort. I don’t like seeing all the cars and concrete out the theme park view here, and it’s I think 10 extra points PER NIGHT and that is a lot. Also, the afternoon sun beat right down on the theme park view side, and many people kept their curtains closed to avoid the heat and sun, so then they couldn’t even see their view!

When we walked out to the elevator, we had a view of the “theme park side” so I am posting a photo here for you to see what I mean. It just doesn’t wow me.

2017-04-21_15-23-09_265 - Copy

I watched the sunrise most mornings from our balcony and it was just spectacular. We also enjoyed seeing the boats all coming and going, and we watched the electrical water pageant most nights.

2017-04-22_06-37-30_408 - Copy

We were all surprised at how much we all loved this resort, and would stay there again in a heartbeat. We walked to Magic Kingdom several times, and used the monorail for EPCOT. Keep in mind if you aren’t using points and are just booking this resort outright, that it rarely if ever qualifies for discounts because it’s already so popular. I do however highly recommend staying here if you get the chance!

QOTD: What is your favorite Disney resort? Why?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leigh Ann Perry says

    May 4, 2017 at 5:22 am

    BLT is one of our home resorts! We absolutely love it! I think the only one that rivals it when comparing convenience is the Beach Club Villas. With the Beach Club Villas, you can walk right into the International Gateway in EPCOT. It’s especially great at both resorts if you have children needing midday naps! 🙂
    You are spot on about the BLT lake view, we chose that in a heartbeat over the Castle view!
    Don’t forget to visit the Top of the World lounge in BLT… If you are in your room at fireworks time, it’s magical atop BLT with the piped in music from the Magic Kingdom show!
    It’s the best for special ticketed nights at Christmas and Halloween!

    • Heather says

      May 4, 2017 at 6:07 am

      We didn’t make it up to the lounge Bc of the two year old and bedtime, but we did watch from the breezeway connecting BLT and the contemporary and the music was piped in there as well.
      We love the Epcot resorts too but again with the toddler we spent most of our time in MK. But for adult only trips I love that area!

  2. Karen says

    May 4, 2017 at 6:57 am

    I’m with you on the Theme Park View…the lake view looks so much nicer! Glad you guys were able to stay altogether with your parents! 🙂

    • Heather says

      May 4, 2017 at 6:59 am

      I highly recommend a villa with a little one. We could put her to bed, and still had a place to hang out without having to be quiet and go to sleep ourselves at 7:45 every night!

  3. Diana says

    May 4, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    What an amazing view!! Living in Tampa means we don’t get to stay at the resort very often, so the jury is still out on our favorite. Bay Lake Tower looks awesome!

    • Heather says

      May 4, 2017 at 7:26 pm

      That’s one thing I miss since we live here now too, but thankfully my parents let us crash their dvc party some!

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom
  • Protecting Your Kids’ Eyes In the Digital Age
  • Late Spring Events Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
  • 6 Ways to Make Mother’s Day Special This Year
  • Exciting News: Allegiant Air Launches New Knoxville to Gulf Shores Nonstop Flight

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
If people who believe these are at my table, it’ If people who believe these are at my table, it’s time for me to find a new one.
 (And you are always welcome at mine!) 🩷

#propaganda #momliferocks #momtruths #summer2025
Tucked away just outside of Gatlinburg, Alpine Hav Tucked away just outside of Gatlinburg, Alpine Haven was everything we wanted in a mountain getaway—and then some. ⛰️ 

This luxury cabin has 4 spacious bedrooms (including one with built-in bunks that my daughter loved) and 4 full bathrooms, making it perfect for a family trip or group vacation.

We spent our days soaking in the hot tub with mountain views, lounging on the deck by the fireplace with coffee in hand, and playing pool in the game room. 

The cabin even has its own private sauna and steam room—YES, really! It felt like a full-on spa experience right in the woods. ✨ 

And one of the best surprises? It has its own playground, which was a total hit with with daughter and such a bonus for keeping little ones entertained.

We were just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, but honestly, we barely wanted to leave. If you’re planning a Smoky Mountains trip, Alpine Haven is that perfect mix of cozy, modern, and wow-worthy. 💫

🚨 Use code Heather10 at the 🔗 in my bio to save 10% on your stay at one of their 3 cabins! 
@alpine_haven_cabin_spa 

#AlpineHavenCabinpartner #alpinehavencabin #GatlinburgCabin #TennesseeCabin #LuxuryCabinRental #SmokyMountainGetaway #FamilyTravel #CabinGoals #luxurycabin
Looking to sneak away without the kids and reconne Looking to sneak away without the kids and reconnect as a couple? #For21+ #Sponsored ✨ 

Hendersonville, NC is open and ready to welcome you with small-town charm, sweeping vineyard views, and incredible local flavor along the Cheers! Trail! 🍷🍻

We spent two amazing days exploring everything from cozy coffee shops to vibrant wineries — and you can steal our exact itinerary for your next getaway! 🧳💑

🍽️ Stayed at: The Charleston Inn @thecharlestoninn

🍕 Lunch: West First Wood-Fired @westfirstwf

🍇 Wine tasting: Marked Tree Vineyard @markedtreevineyard

🌮 Dinner: Tipsy Taco @tipsytacoofficial

☕ Next day coffee: Arabella’s @arabellahvl

🍳 Breakfast: Mike’s on Main @mikesonmainstreet

🛍️ Shopping: Downtown (McFarlan Bakery = must-visit!) @mcfarlanbakery 

🍷 Lunch + Tasting: Burntshirt Vineyards at The Vintner’s Table @burntshirt.vineyards 

Want to sip and explore like we did? Download the NEW Digital Cheers! Pass from Visit Hendersonville — your gateway to a flavorful adventure! 🍻

This free digital pass unlocks exclusive tasting experiences at Hendersonville’s best breweries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies. Whether you love bold IPAs, crisp ciders, or smooth reds, there’s something for every artisanal beverage lover. Check in as you go to earn points and redeem them for exclusive Cheers! Trail merchandise — all while supporting local makers.

After Hurricane Helene, they are so happy to welcome visitors back to @visithendersonvillenc! Their wineries, breweries, cideries, and more are ready to pour, and their charming downtown is eager for you to wander. Local businesses are so welcoming and ready to invite you to experience the southern hospitality of the area—come rediscover what makes it so special. 

Plan your trip to Hendersonville today — your next romantic adventure is just a sip away.

#VisitHendersonville #CheersTrail #HendersonvilleNC #CouplesGetaway #SipStayRepeat
🏰 We have been planning this for months. I th 🏰 We have been planning this for months. 

I thought about the right time to surprise her, and after then lost the state AAU tournament in the championship game, AND she was sick (crazy cough at the end of the video haha!) 

I knew this would be the perfect time to cheer her up. I think it worked. 😜

Check out my story highlight on my profile called “Disneyland70” if you missed all the fun! 

#disneyland70 #disneyland70th #surprisedisneytrip #disneycreators #disneylandpark #disneylandsurprise #disneyland70thanniversary
GIFT-AWAY! 🎉 I feel so blessed to be at openi GIFT-AWAY! 🎉 

I feel so blessed to be at opening weekend of @disneyland’s 70th celebration, that I wanted to give something back to one of YOU! 

I picked up the light up balloon 70th popcorn bucket AND a travel wine tumbler that I am gifting to one of my followers just for following along and being here. 💙 (I really want to keep them both but I’d rather spoil one of yall!) 

See below for entry!

1.) Follow @heatherslg 
2.) ❤️ this post 
3.) tag at least 2 friends in separate comments (can tag more, each tag is one entry!)
4.) Tell me your favorite Disney movie 

BONUS!
Share this post to your stories and TAG ME! Counts for 5 entries ONLY from this account! 

BONUS 2: F0llow @bobbymontg  for 3 extra entries! 

Not associated with IG. Must be 18 to enter. US only (sorry to my international friends!) ends May 25th, I will announce in stories! 

#disneyland70th #disneyland70 #popcornbucket #disneymerchandise #disneylandmerchandise #disneyland #disneygiveaway
We spent the evening at Mountain Mile in Pigeon Fo We spent the evening at Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and it was one of those simple, sweet evenings that just felt good. 

Located right in the heart of Pigeon Forge, @mountainmilepf is an open-air shopping and entertainment area with gorgeous views of the Smoky Mountains (seriously—those views 😍). It’s super family-friendly, easy to walk around, and there’s so much to do without feeling overwhelming.

We wandered through cute boutiques and shops, played yard games, and just enjoyed being outside in such a pretty setting. There are over 40 shops and restaurants here—plus thrill rides if that’s your thing (we skipped them this time, but they looked fun!).

It’s one of those places where you can go slow, let the kids run around a little, sit and relax with a coffee, or get your shopping fix—all in one spot. And the giant lawn area with yard games? Perfect for kids (or tired parents 😅).

If you’re visiting the Smokies and want something fun and low-stress that everyone can enjoy, I definitely recommend adding Mountain Mile to your list.

🎯 Free parking
📍Central location in Pigeon Forge
👟 Easy to walk + stroller friendly
🍽️ Restaurants, snacks, coffee, and more (Azul was delicious!)
🛍️ Shops from boutique to big brand
🎡 Rides + a massive lawn space for kids to play

Let me know if you’ve been or are planning to go—I’d love to hear your favorite spots there! #mountainmilepartner

#PigeonForge #MountainMile #FamilyTravel #ThingsToDoInPigeonForge #TennesseeTrip #TravelWithKids #SmokyMountainViews #FlourishAndGlowTravels #OutdoorFun #TravelWithFamily #FamilyAdventure #TravelTip
He did it for the gram 💁🏻‍♀️ #instagr He did it for the gram 💁🏻‍♀️

#instagramhusband #blooper #instagramfunny #funnyfails #funnyfalls #doorbellcamera

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

%d