(CLOSED) Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT and BAY LAKE TOWER INFORMATION THREAD

[YCFAN]

My fiancé and I are planning on staying at the CR in Sept '14 for our honeymoon/1st anniversary. My biggest dilemma is whether or not to go with the 14th floor "standard" room (bigger balcony) or 12th floor atrium club room... My biggest wish is to have a MK view and be on the north side of the building closer to the fireworks... I've seen maps of the 14th floor but how about the 12th-do any exist anywhere?? CR Fan where are you??? Anyone have a 12th floor plan/pics of the 12th floor rooms??? (I've seen the atrium lounge-it's awesome!) but looking for some pics of the 12th floor MK rooms/balconies etc etc. thanks so much!

They are the same as any other regular room at CR and the balconies are the same as non CL rooms in the tower also. (Not referring to Tiwer Club but the tower part of the hotel, if that makes sense).

 

[MET270]

Got our Mickey Mail yesterday. Trying to keep the fact that I switched our ressie from POR to CR from DW and surprise her! Wish me luck!

 

[annakate27]

ETA: There are new photos on the WDW booking site: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/contemporary-resort/rates-rooms/ Just click on PHOTOS next to Hospitality Suite.

Here are some (pre-rehab) photos from 2005:

http://contemporaryresort.net/hospitalitysuite.html

And here are more recent (pre-rehab) photos from 2010:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2397445&page=104

Congratulations on booking such a great room! Were you able to apply a discount?


Thanks...yes we were able to apply free dining! Thanks again!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Just got back from our stay at Bay Lake Towers. The place was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in room 7708. Had an awesome view of the lake and the Magic Kingdom. I did not get the magic band but it was absolutely given to every person checking in to the contemporary.

Glad you had a nice trip and enjoyed staying at BLT .

The only thing I am nervous about with the tower is being up so high and having a balcony with our youngest only being 2 at the time of trip?! I know that may seem crazy to some to worry about! LOL

I don't think it's a crazy concern at all.

That's not a silly concern at all. The Garden Wing has no balconies and the ground floor rooms are wonderful for small kids. The kids can run around and play in the grass or patio. Maybe this would be better?

I agree with this .

Got our Mickey Mail yesterday. Trying to keep the fact that I switched our ressie from POR to CR from DW and surprise her! Wish me luck!

Yay for Mickey mail....and what a great surprise for your DW .

Thanks...yes we were able to apply free dining! Thanks again!!!!

Congrats on being able to take advantage of FD .

 

[mlamanna1701]

Yes, you were on the Tower Club level before you changed. Just curious, was your request granted for a King on the Atrium Club level?

I ended up switching resorts and stayed at Polynesian. We had a great room discount and ended up staying in the Honeymoon Room. My wife was happy because she wanted the Polynesian all along.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Got our Mickey Mail yesterday. Trying to keep the fact that I switched our ressie from POR to CR from DW and surprise her! Wish me luck!

I could never keep it a secret - I'd be bursting! Is your plan for her to find out when she pulls up to CR or before? Will she notice the ME tags?

Thanks...yes we were able to apply free dining! Thanks again!!!!

You're welcome and enjoy that fabulous room! Maybe you could post some photos?

I ended up switching resorts and stayed at Polynesian. We had a great room discount and ended up staying in the Honeymoon Room. My wife was happy because she wanted the Polynesian all along.

Happy wife, happy life - aloha

 

[MET270]

I could never keep it a secret - I'd be bursting! Is your plan for her to find out when she pulls up to CR or before? Will she notice the ME tags?

My plan is to keep it a secret until ME pulls up to CR, hopefully she doesn't spot it on the ME tags. It's been really tough, I just hope I can pull it off!

 

[Happyjen27]

I missed multi-quoting you - sorry

Yes, I'll probably file a TR after our August trip. But, you do know it's WL/CL?

That's how I plan ADRs, too. I look at the schedule and choose the non-EMH park and go from there in choosing an ADR. Planning is half the fun and so is the anticipation

Yay! for a WL CL trip report! CR and WL have been neck and neck for me throughout this planning process. CR is in the lead right now because last trip I wanted CR but got lured by all the Poly nuts out there. This time, if I get lured away again, I'll just regret it.

However, it's very likely that WL is next up.

Do bounceback offers ever come toward the end of the year? If so, is it only for the same resort, or any resort on property?

Happy July everyone!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Yay! for a WL CL trip report! CR and WL have been neck and neck for me throughout this planning process. CR is in the lead right now because last trip I wanted CR but got lured by all the Poly nuts out there. This time, if I get lured away again, I'll just regret it.

However, it's very likely that WL is next up.

Do bounceback offers ever come toward the end of the year? If so, is it only for the same resort, or any resort on property?

Happy July everyone!

I've had the WL vs. CR debate too. The thing that normally makes the CR win is the monorail. We try to avoid the buses when possible. I know WL has the boat to MK, but how do you get to EPCOT from there? Bus? Is there a boat to the TTC?

 

[mickeynut1]

Do bounceback offers ever come toward the end of the year? If so, is it only for the same resort, or any resort on property?

Yes, bouncebacks have come been offered at the end of the year . You do not have to book the same resort you are currently staying at. You can book any resort under a BB as long as that resort is available under the promo .

I've had the WL vs. CR debate too. The thing that normally makes the CR win is the monorail. We try to avoid the buses when possible. I know WL has the boat to MK, but how do you get to EPCOT from there? Bus? Is there a boat to the TTC?

If the WL appeals to you, you really should give it a try as it is an amazing resort . We've had 2 great stays at the WL and the buses were always quick and efficient. I don't remember any time in which we waited a long time and/or had a super crowded bus. Comparing the bus transportation among all of the resorts we've stayed at, the WL ranks at the top (in our experience) for great service .

 

[GrandCalifornian]

I've had the WL vs. CR debate too. The thing that normally makes the CR win is the monorail. We try to avoid the buses when possible. I know WL has the boat to MK, but how do you get to EPCOT from there? Bus? Is there a boat to the TTC?

The "quick" way to Epcot from WL is the bus, but we enjoy catching the boat over to CR then taking the monorails. The boat ride to CR is very short, and then we have all of the CR transportation options.

The boat options are the boat loop between WL, CR, and FW and also the direct boat to MK. There is no direct TTC boat without transferring at MK. There are buses to each park including MK, which really don't seem to be that bad.

 

[annakate27]

Hello again!!!! I have more Contemporary questions. We have the Hospitality Suite booked and I am wondering if anyone knows the room numbers of the Hospitality Suites? I was told that they are located closest to the tower but I'm not sure if that is accurate. We are excited about having such a large room but now somewhat dreading have to walk to the tower to enjoy the club level. TIA

 

[princessap]

I am planning to book for sept 2014 when the rates are released next week and just wondering what I should be booking. Am debating between tower and garden wing and wondering which books out first? I will be hoping for a discount but I want to book now so I can pay it off over the year instead of all at once.

Should I book BLV, TPV or Gw room? Which one has least availability? I really wanted TPV but am not sold on the parking lot below, although I know my kids would love seeing the castle from the room

 

[mickeynut1]

I am planning to book for sept 2014 when the rates are released next week and just wondering what I should be booking. Am debating between tower and garden wing and wondering which books out first? I will be hoping for a discount but I want to book now so I can pay it off over the year instead of all at once.

Should I book BLV, TPV or Gw room? Which one has least availability? I really wanted TPV but am not sold on the parking lot below, although I know my kids would love seeing the castle from the room

This is just a guess, but I would think the GW rooms would book up first as they are the cheapest. Since you are trying to decide between 3 room types, maybe compromise and book BLV. This will put you in the tower and although it will be a little more than a GW room, it will be less expensive than a TPV .

 

[WisconsinDad]

This is just a guess, but I would think the GW rooms would book up first as they are the cheapest. Since you are trying to decide between 3 room types, maybe compromise and book BLV. This will put you in the tower and although it will be a little more than a GW room, it will be less expensive than a TPV .

In my experience, GW rooms book up first, especially the standard view rooms. The GW standard view rooms are actually the least expensive rooms of any monorail resort I believe.

 

[SRUAlmn]

In response to questions about the GW rooms... This is just my opinion, but we didn't care for them. We actually stayed in the GW during our wedding trip and it felt very un-Disney. The CR decor is very modern (which we actually loved and part of why we chose it,) but while there, it tended to feel very conventioney and like any other resort anywhere you might travel. The following year we stayed in the tower, and although the decor was the same, it felt much more Disney-like because of the mural, monorail, gift shop, Chef Mickey's, etc... All being visible when you exit your room. It just felt more fun to us and more like we were part of the 'action.'

 

[princessap]

In response to questions about the GW rooms... This is just my opinion, but we didn't care for them. We actually stayed in the GW during our wedding trip and it felt very un-Disney. The CR decor is very modern (which we actually loved and part of why we chose it,) but while there, it tended to feel very conventioney and like any other resort anywhere you might travel. The following year we stayed in the tower, and although the decor was the same, it felt much more Disney-like because of the mural, monorail, gift shop, Chef Mickey's, etc... All being visible when you exit your room. It just felt more fun to us and more like we were part of the 'action.'

Thank you for this review...this is what I was worried about too so it is helpful to see someone else's review as well. We love the poly as it is the only onsite we have tried so far and were going to do a split stay between poly/CR...but it looks like there will be construction when we want to go at the poly so am thinking of a week at the CR!!!

 

[princessap]

So now that I am leaning towards a week at the CR, can someone help me decide which view is best??

Also, our girls will be 2, 5 and 7 at the time of trip...they LOVED the poly, will they like CR as much?? I have always wanted to stay there but not sure it is kid friendly?!

Can someone tell me where to find the kids activities, or tell me what your kids love about the CR?

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We always stay at CR MK view and DD loves it. Watching the fireworks from our own balcony every night makes it worth every penny for us DD loves watching the monorail from the room, and enjoys the shops and restaurants. The pool is great, water slide and splash pad included DD loves all of the children's activities at the pool, beach and boats to rent are a highlight for DH and DD

 

[princessap]

We always stay at CR MK view and DD loves it. Watching the fireworks from our own balcony every night makes it worth every penny for us DD loves watching the monorail from the room, and enjoys the shops and restaurants. The pool is great, water slide and splash pad included DD loves all of the children's activities at the pool, beach and boats to rent are a highlight for DH and DD

Thank you! I love hearing opinions on TPV because I always said if I stayed here it would be in a tpv room...but I looked at pictures and i didn't like looking at the parking lot below...is that something that you noticed??