Are we going to be disappointed in the Contemporary?

[cheerbop]

We are going in Sept and have read and heard about all the construction and wonder if it is going to be a pain?
We have always looked forward to staying there and are now reconsidering about moving to Poly maybe or the WL.
Anyone been there recently that can share?
Please be honest!
Thanks

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You won't be disappointed in the Contemporary. Even though when you will be there they will be working on the lobby and the Food & Fun Center will be closed, it's not going to be as bad as it sounds. I would assume the entrance to the Food & Fun Center would be blocked off and besides check-in, how often do you spend time in the lobby? Besides that the only other major renovation going on is on the outside where the North Garden Wing use to be, however there is a huge fence that covers it all up. Plus no one is forced to look at it unless they wanted to while ridding the Monorail, or by looking from the windows of the 4th floor. So it has 100% no effects on anyone staying in the Tower or South Garden Wing.

If you want my honest opinion as of right now there is more renovation going on at the at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, then what is happening as of right now at the Contemporary.

Finally here is the schedule of renovations for the Contemporary, so you can see when your there in September it won't be as bad as you think it will be.

August 2007 - Newly renovated Fantasia Shop will re-open.

June 11, 2007 through November 2007 - The Lobby will undergo partitioned refurbishments to update the area's image and decor.

July 2007 through October 2007 - The resort's grounds will undergo partitioned refurbishments to install new landscaping and re-route existing guests paths.

July 30, 2007 through April 2008 - The Food & Fun Center will be closed for major renovations. The location will re-open as a new table service option, "The Wave". During this time a temporary counter service location will be operating on the Grand Concourse level near the Outer Rim Lounge.

April 2008 through August 14, 2008 -The Concourse Steak house will be closed for major renovations. The location will re-open as the new Counter Service location for the resort. During this time a temporary counter service location will be operating on the Grand Concourse level near the Outer Rim Lounge.

 

[Bibbidi]

We just were there a month ago. We LOVED it, so much more than we thought we would. We were upgraded to a Tower, Bay Lake view and I have to disagree with the previous poster - the construction is clearly visible from all Bay Lake Tower rooms and you can hear it during the weekdays if you are out on your balcony. It didn't bother us, but if you don't want to see any construction at all, you're probably better off on the MK side or in the garden wing. As of our visit 4 weeks ago the construction wasn't enough to deter me from staying out on our balcony - not too noisy, but it was definitely visible.

The Food and Fun Center was still open and we ate there maybe one or two times. We actually went over to the Poly food court a couple times because we liked the food there better.

The main concourse area appeared to have very little construction going on. We were on the 5th floor, just above it and never heard any noise from down there. Once we shut our door it was as if the world melted away.

My husband, and I quote, said "That Contemporary room was the most relaxing hotel room I've ever stayed in". Now he doesn't want to stay anywhere else. We've stayed previously at WL, BC (this trip also--he didn't like it compared to CR), CBR, and POR.

Will we stay there again?--we like it so much that we're going back next May (already have it booked) for 4 nights after our cruise. Construction will still be going on and if the temporary quick service isn't what we're looking for we'll hop the monorail to the Poly.

 

[cheerbop]

Thanks for the replies.

One reason we are worried is because we have 3 children and do not want noise during naps or evening or whatever to be a problem.
We will also have our parents visiting with us there (it is their first trip) and do not want them getting the wrong opinion of Disney. We want them to LOVE it, ya know?!

 

[CarolA]

We are going in Sept and have read and heard about all the construction and wonder if it is going to be a pain?
We have always looked forward to staying there and are now reconsidering about moving to Poly maybe or the WL.
Anyone been there recently that can share?
Please be honest!
Thanks

Depends.

What are you expecting? If you FULLY understand that for the price you are paying you are NOT getting true "Deluxe" service, that the price difference between this and the POR is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION then I think you will be fine.

If you think that for the amount you are spending you will experience "Deluxe" service, they like me, you will be disappointed. One of my very good friends took her MIL and FIL to Disney. Two days into thier trip they moved out of Disney and to an offsite hotel. Why? MIL and FIL are TRUE Luxury travelers (VERY VERY VERY Well off LOL!) They were sorely disappointed in the service at the WL and decided it wasn't worth the funds. (I think they went to JW, but I could be wrong. I was too busy at my friend who wanted to kill her MIL!)

The Disney Deluxes are all about location and IMHO this one has a great location IF you are a MK fan.

 

[momimouse27]

Don't worry, you will love it! We felt the same way last September when we stayed there for the first time, but now I love CR and would go back for sure. It has become one of my favorite resorts!

 

[chasgoose]

Depends.

What are you expecting? If you FULLY understand that for the price you are paying you are NOT getting true "Deluxe" service, that the price difference between this and the POR is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION then I think you will be fine.

If you think that for the amount you are spending you will experience "Deluxe" service, they like me, you will be disappointed. One of my very good friends took her MIL and FIL to Disney. Two days into thier trip they moved out of Disney and to an offsite hotel. Why? MIL and FIL are TRUE Luxury travelers (VERY VERY VERY Well off LOL!) They were sorely disappointed in the service at the WL and decided it wasn't worth the funds. (I think they went to JW, but I could be wrong. I was too busy at my friend who wanted to kill her MIL!)

The Disney Deluxes are all about location and IMHO this one has a great location IF you are a MK fan.

I completely agree about the Disney Deluxe not being real deluxe level thing, but since the OP sounds pretty set on remaining onsite, that really isn't something that switching to the Poly will fix (actually in my opinion the CR seems more luxurious than the Poly, but that is because the Poly is a little too kitschy for me).

I wouldn't go so far as to say that the construction at the Contemporary won't be bothersome. I doubt the lobby/ Food and Fun Center refurbs will be that disruptive, except they could be a little ugly, but depending on where you are in the resort, whatever they might be building over where the North garden wing used to be could be disruptive. Disney is not giving any sort of schedule or plan as to how or when that bulding will be constructed, but if construction is in full swing, it could be a problem for those staying in the South wing or the Tower Bay Lake side. CRResortFan mentioned the fence the allows you to avoid looking at the construction (which is true), but the fence itself is not that pretty, and if the plans we have seen are close to accurate, eventually that tower is going to rise over the fence (who knows when that will happen though. Even if you can't see the construction, you will be able to hear it. Which could present a problem for day time naps.

That said, I think the Contemporary is a great resort to go with young kids. You will really like the monorail and the walkway access to the MK and it does have some of the nicest rooms on property. I would stick with it for now, and wait until we know more about the construction. You should be able to switch to the Poly in September without too much hassle.