Contemporary view of the MK

[uncleleo]

I was on the Disney Restaurants board answering a question about seeing Wishes from California Grill and found myself writing an critique of MK views from CR. And I realized I was probably not in the right forum.

After spending a week in a MK view room in the Contemporary, I'm a little jaded about the view. While seeing the Poly and GF across the lagoon is nice, the view of the park is not what I'd call magical. Many have already pointed out that the CR's MK view comes combined with a far-less-desirable parking lot view, but that's not my focus.

Disney has done a decent job of hiding the backstage areas, but after all, MK was not designed to be viewed from above. Forced perspective doesn't work so the castle is diminished. Space Mountain dominates the view from the CR angle and the spinning AstroOrbiter is the only movement you can consistently see, making the rest of the park seem like an appendage to Tomorrowland.

Our room was a surprise upgrade from Bay Lake view; I might have felt some disappointment had I shelled out the extra $50/night for the MK view. I think the view would be more exciting if you could actually see down to steet level in some parts of the park. Perhaps Bay Lake Tower, closer to MK, will afford such a view.

I think everyone should see Wishes from the California Grill or somewhere else in the CR before watching it MK. The experience of seeing the fireworks explode far to the right of the castle will enable you to appreciate better the intended view from Main Street or the hub, where the fireworks seem to frame the castle.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I actually think the Contemporary Magic Kingdom View beats the ones at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Sure those views would either be Cinderella's Castle or Space Mountain, however I don't see how they call it a Magic Kingdom View since it does not foucs on the whole park. So I would say the Contemporary got their view right since it's a full view of everything at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

After spending a week in a MK view room in the Contemporary, I'm a little jaded about the view. While seeing the Poly and GF across the lagoon is nice, the view of the park is not what I'd call magical. Many have already pointed out that the CR's MK view comes combined with a far-less-desirable parking lot view, but that's not my focus.

Our room was a surprise upgrade from Bay Lake view; I might have felt some disappointment had I shelled out the extra $50/night for the MK view. I think the view would be more exciting if you could actually see down to steet level in some parts of the park. Perhaps Bay Lake Tower, closer to MK, will afford such a view.

I think everyone should see Wishes from the California Grill or somewhere else in the CR before watching it MK. The experience of seeing the fireworks explode far to the right of the castle will enable you to appreciate better the intended view from Main Street or the hub, where the fireworks seem to frame the castle.

1. I agree about your Poly/GF point - that is my favorite part of the MK view, although seeing the 3 mountains and castle is nice too.

2. Bay Lake Tower will not have nicer views than the main CR tower. While BLT is shifted north of the original tower, it is also further east from the park. This means that BLT's MK views will be even more "shifted" than CR's view, and the fireworks will definitely look funny from that angle. Plus, BLT's MK views will not have a clear view of the Seven Seas Lagoon (perhaps the most beautiful part of the view), but will still overlook a fair chunk of parking lot.

3. I agree about seeing Wishes from CG first - this is exactly what happened with me, and I hated Wishes at first. But as soon as I saw it on Main Street, it was so wonderful it made me cry. Nothing compares with seeing Wishes on Main Street.

My favorite MK view is from the Poly: centered, framed with beach and palm trees, overall it's just perfect.

 

[francie]

hi, would you all agree that the fireworks viewed from a "fireworks cruise" boat would run a close second to viewing them from main street?

 

[brergnat]

hi, would you all agree that the fireworks viewed from a "fireworks cruise" boat would run a close second to viewing them from main street?

NO WAY!!! I've seen the fireworks from the MK ferry boat and it's not even close to seeing them from Main Street. You HAVE to see them from Main Street...at least once each trip.

Personally, I think the fireworks cruises are the single biggest waste of money at WDW..., but if you HAVE to do one, the Illuminations one seems to be a MUCH better option, because you really get up close, and those are lower fireworks...you are practically IN the show there. Just my 2 cents...