The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (July 2011)

[Toraliina]

thanks! looks like I may just pick up stuff from the shop rather than use Garden Grocer.. although I must say looking at the garden grocer site it is rather tempting

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Officially booked!!! May 24-27 BLT!!!
Love being on monorail (I'd sleep in the lobby)

Wdwkook : Your report on BLT made my decision!!

 

[marylandgirl]

Are there any suites or a club or a concierge rooms in the garden wing?

 

[annej]

We have a 2 bedroom villa at BLT booked for the week after Thanksgiving. I am wondering about the pullout sofa and sleeper chair in the living area. My DS17 and my DD's boyfriend 21 will be with us. They are both about 5'9. My DS is a little chunky and the boyfriend is a little slender. How are those things to sleep on and are they the size for a full grown guy? Just trying to work through sleeping arrangements. My mom is also joining us. there will be 6 of us all total.
ME, DH, my mom, DD20, DS17 and boyfriend21.
Thanks guys!

 

[NJRRK]

Are there any suites or a club or a concierge rooms in the garden wing?

No Concierge service rooms in the wing but there are Deluxe Rooms (3 of them) and 1 bedroom suites (at least 6 of those).

 

[marylandgirl]

No Concierge service rooms in the wing but there are Deluxe Rooms (3 of them) and 1 bedroom suites (at least 6 of those).

Do the 1 bedroom suite have 2 queen beds in bedroom?

 

[WDWKOOK]

thanks! looks like I may just pick up stuff from the shop rather than use Garden Grocer.. although I must say looking at the garden grocer site it is rather tempting

You're welcome.

Officially booked!!! May 24-27 BLT!!!
Love being on monorail (I'd sleep in the lobby)

Wdwkook : Your report on BLT made my decision!!

Did you book the one bedroom and what view?

Do the 1 bedroom suite have 2 queen beds in bedroom?

The GW one bedroom suites have one king bed and two full-sized sleeper sofas in the parlor area. Some also have a daybed.

The Hospitality suites have a king OR two queens and one full-sized sleeper and a daybed.

For the cost of these suites, you'd actually be much better off in a villa at BLT. They are much larger, have more bathrooms/bedrooms, kitchen, washer/dryer and balconies. I have a recent BLT review hyperlinked in my signature.

 

[psac]

Do the boats to Fort Wilderness from the CR leave you close to the Hoop De Doo Revue? We're actually looking to get to HDDR from the BW, but we don't want to do multiple buses. We're thinking cab to CR (or WL?) then the boat to FW might be better than cab to FW then the internal bus? Any thoughts? I searched on the transportation board, but it wasn't extremely helpful. Same with getting back? (Going to the late show.)

(I have a feeling who might answer this one... )

Thanks!

 

[NJRRK]

You could do bus to MK then boat to FW.

 

[AirGoofy]

Do the boats to Fort Wilderness from the CR leave you close to the Hoop De Doo Revue? We're actually looking to get to HDDR from the BW, but we don't want to do multiple buses. We're thinking cab to CR (or WL?) then the boat to FW might be better than cab to FW then the internal bus? Any thoughts? I searched on the transportation board, but it wasn't extremely helpful. Same with getting back? (Going to the late show.)

(I have a feeling who might answer this one... )

Thanks!

There is a boat to FW direct from MK and there is a boat loop from CR to WL to FW. They both let you off at the same dock. HDDR is a short walk up the boat ramp and to the main building on the right. It is a little longer than the walk from BW to Epcot.

You can bus to MK, short walk to front of MK, and then boat to FW. You could bus to MK, long walk to back of CR, and then the boat loop.

 

[cadale]

We have a 2 bedroom villa at BLT booked for the week after Thanksgiving. I am wondering about the pullout sofa and sleeper chair in the living area. My DS17 and my DD's boyfriend 21 will be with us. They are both about 5'9. My DS is a little chunky and the boyfriend is a little slender. How are those things to sleep on and are they the size for a full grown guy? Just trying to work through sleeping arrangements. My mom is also joining us. there will be 6 of us all total.
ME, DH, my mom, DD20, DS17 and boyfriend21.
Thanks guys!

My son who is 5'8" and about 275 pounds slept on both during our stay. He was very comfortable on either the sofa or the chair and in fact preferred the chair. I have slept on both also and they are very comfortable. They should not have a problem sleeping on them.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

WDWKOOK, your review has also driven me to want to try BLT!

We're looking to travel in June, I'll book a 2-bedroom lake view. I'm thinking for us (the whole family, 5 adults and 2 infants) the dedicated unit is going to work out better if its available. It looks like I want an outer room for the wider living room so I will request an even number.

Anyone think there will be any impact from the CA Grill/14th floor tower renovations? Being over at BLT I doubt this will pose a problem, unless they have cranes or anything up. I'm probably just over analyzing as I tend to do.

I'm a bit disappointed that the CA Grill will be closed, though. We eat there all the time and had a fantastic dinner there a couple weeks ago! We even had our favorite server, Jenny. She reassured us that the same concept and staff will be returning when the place reopens.

I'm not real thrilled about the Wave menu. I'd personally like to try it, but I know atleast a couple members of the party will have trouble finding something on the menu (I wish wish wish the Concourse Steakhouse was still there! That might tell you how long it has been since we last stayed at the Contemporary!). That leaves Chef Mickey's. I know the kids will love the characters, so we would probably give it a go. The last time we ate there was either '96 or '98, so for what its worth I do have a positive memory of it. But I keep reading reviews of how awful the food is! Please tell me its not that bad? We'd probably do dinner, unless breakfast is a much better choice? We really don't ever eat breakfast, so it'd be a 10:30am kind of thing.

Along the same lines, the Food & Fun Center was the counter service the last time I stayed at the Contemporary, which we really liked. The perception that I've gotten of the Contempo Cafe is positive, so I believe we'll be satisfied with that. With the kids, I'm guessing we'll be using CC for a quick lunch or dinner more than usual.

I have a lot of question marks there, so thanks for any thoughts!

 

[wdwfun!]

Looking forward to our stay at the CR in a few weeks and I have a question. I have read through some threads about the thermostats shutting off the air at night. Does this happen in the CR rooms? Having 4 in the room I would think it would get warm at night pretty quickly. If it does shut off, is there a way to override it? I read about using a balloon but that doesn't seem to always work.

 

[psac]

There is a boat to FW direct from MK and there is a boat loop from CR to WL to FW. They both let you off at the same dock. HDDR is a short walk up the boat ramp and to the main building on the right. It is a little longer than the walk from BW to Epcot.

You can bus to MK, short walk to front of MK, and then boat to FW. You could bus to MK, long walk to back of CR, and then the boat loop.

Thanks for the tips!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Do the boats to Fort Wilderness from the CR leave you close to the Hoop De Doo Revue? We're actually looking to get to HDDR from the BW, but we don't want to do multiple buses. We're thinking cab to CR (or WL?) then the boat to FW might be better than cab to FW then the internal bus? Any thoughts? I searched on the transportation board, but it wasn't extremely helpful. Same with getting back? (Going to the late show.)

(I have a feeling who might answer this one... )

Thanks!

I'm late, but AirGoofy was right on time

There is a boat to FW direct from MK and there is a boat loop from CR to WL to FW. They both let you off at the same dock. HDDR is a short walk up the boat ramp and to the main building on the right. It is a little longer than the walk from BW to Epcot.

You can bus to MK, short walk to front of MK, and then boat to FW. You could bus to MK, long walk to back of CR, and then the boat loop.

Thanks for answering, AG. I feel like the walk from the FW marina to HDDR is shorter than BWI to Epcot. It's more like BC to the IG.

My son who is 5'8" and about 275 pounds slept on both during our stay. He was very comfortable on either the sofa or the chair and in fact preferred the chair. I have slept on both also and they are very comfortable. They should not have a problem sleeping on them.

Thanks for answering, cadale

WDWKOOK, your review has also driven me to want to try BLT!

We're looking to travel in June, I'll book a 2-bedroom lake view. I'm thinking for us (the whole family, 5 adults and 2 infants) the dedicated unit is going to work out better if its available. It looks like I want an outer room for the wider living room so I will request an even number.

Anyone think there will be any impact from the CA Grill/14th floor tower renovations? Being over at BLT I doubt this will pose a problem, unless they have cranes or anything up. I'm probably just over analyzing as I tend to do.

I'm a bit disappointed that the CA Grill will be closed, though. We eat there all the time and had a fantastic dinner there a couple weeks ago! We even had our favorite server, Jenny. She reassured us that the same concept and staff will be returning when the place reopens.

I'm not real thrilled about the Wave menu. I'd personally like to try it, but I know atleast a couple members of the party will have trouble finding something on the menu (I wish wish wish the Concourse Steakhouse was still there! That might tell you how long it has been since we last stayed at the Contemporary!). That leaves Chef Mickey's. I know the kids will love the characters, so we would probably give it a go. The last time we ate there was either '96 or '98, so for what its worth I do have a positive memory of it. But I keep reading reviews of how awful the food is! Please tell me its not that bad? We'd probably do dinner, unless breakfast is a much better choice? We really don't ever eat breakfast, so it'd be a 10:30am kind of thing.

Along the same lines, the Food & Fun Center was the counter service the last time I stayed at the Contemporary, which we really liked. The perception that I've gotten of the Contempo Cafe is positive, so I believe we'll be satisfied with that. With the kids, I'm guessing we'll be using CC for a quick lunch or dinner more than usual.

I have a lot of question marks there, so thanks for any thoughts!

Congratulations, California Dreaming (nice seeing you over here).

We really love the Contempo Cafe - MUCH better than F&F was. Great view of the monorail and plenty of seating and ordering kiosks.

The repair of the roof and CAG, may in fact involve cranes, but I couldn't tell you how much work will be from the exterior Vs. interior.

We're not fans of The Wave for lunch or dinner, but we absolutely love their breakfast buffet. You go to CM for the characters and the great photos you'll get, but go to The Wave for a really nice breakfast buffet.

Don't forget that you're a short walk to the MK, a short monorail ride to the Poly and GF and a short boat ride to WL and FW. You have plenty of great dining options at all of those resorts and it's so much fun resort hopping.

If you need any dining suggestions or have any questions, fire away.

Looking forward to our stay at the CR in a few weeks and I have a question. I have read through some threads about the thermostats shutting off the air at night. Does this happen in the CR rooms? Having 4 in the room I would think it would get warm at night pretty quickly. If it does shut off, is there a way to override it? I read about using a balloon but that doesn't seem to always work.

I believe that the Poly is infamous for that because it's on a sensor, but I've never experienced this at the CR. I have always turned the fan to ON at the CR so that it runs all the time at night as white noise. the cooling is not on a sensor at the CR so it won't shut off when it thinks no one is in the rooms. If you open the sliding glass door and don't close it, then it will shut off, I believe.

 

[marylandgirl]

I'm confused, Bay Lake Towers is separate of CR and you can only book there if you arr a DVC member correct? So if I book a room in CR, they are not going to move me to BLT when I check in right?

 

[honeymo78]

I'm confused, Bay Lake Towers is separate of CR and you can only book there if you arr a DVC member correct? So if I book a room in CR, they are not going to move me to BLT when I check in right?

You can also book rooms at BLT for cash but they are villas, not regular hotel rooms. You won't be moved there if you book a hotel room at CR.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

You're welcome.



Did you book the one bedroom and what view?

We booked a studio as it is enough space for us (It is only three nights)

We booked Lake View and I have no idea what to request but I have not started planning / researching yet as before this we will be in Boardwalk in January....

 

[Meesh201]

Help! I am trying to decide between getting a TPV studio in BLT vs a standard room at the Poly. We are only planning to stay for 2 nights in May after our cruise. We will be spending 1 day at MK, so that's why we wanted to be on the monorail. We have only ever stayed off site or at a moderate before, but would love to try a deluxe this time for the convenience to MK and the ability to view the fireworks from our resort on the night that we check in. Our kids will be 4 & 6 and love the pool and waterslide. I know that a studio is small, but we will have just gotten out of a standard indoor room on the Dream, so I don't think that will bother us very much. I am leaning toward BLT right now, and just wanted to know what would make you choose this resort over Poly. (BTW, I know this thread is full of people that love CR, so I will also be posting to the Poly thread to ask the same question ) TIA

 

[LucyBC80]

I booked a 3 day stay at CR for the end of my trip!

How far is the garden wing from the main building? How can I make requests for a room closer to the monorail?