Back from Dec trip to CR - 14th AND 12th floor

[suzywindy]

If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to respond. This trip we were trying to compare the 14th floor to the GF RPC (which we have always gotten at a discount - so prices would roughly be the same with a slight edge to GF being cheaper)

We did this because last year it seemed like we had to beg for a can of coke and I got annoyed. Guess I was getting tired towards the end of my trip as usual. The CM actually rolled her eyes. So this year we were determined to go back to the CR. It is our families favorite hotel since we think it is the best bargain on the monorail line.

Next time - if no GF codes - we will skip the 14th floor at the Contemporary. Here is our story. My DH and I booked a trip and then later added my DD and her DH. Since the rooms on the 14th floor are so hard to come by, we could only reserve the first 4 nights for them and then they had to move to the 12th. Well - they were so happy on the 12th floor we moved down also. The rooms were so much fresher on the 12th floor and it had a ceiling fan along with more furniture. This sounds crazy - but we shop so much - we missed the couch that they give you with the table in the rooms in the tower. Our room on the 14th floor was sorta beat. Rugs were pretty dirty - and I just want to say at this moment - I thought others complaining were a little over the top. But the rugs here were dirtier than I would have lived with let alone pay top dollar a night for. The walls were all banged up also. My daughters room had a stall shower and a pedestal sink. That meant she could not unpack her toiletries. Sounds slight - but it mattered since she had to keep her deordorant, etc on the bureau. Closet was small and the phone was on the table across the room from the bed. For wake up calls that did not make sense. In addition - no couch in that room either. But that was the only difference from the regular room. For the good part - I have to say the Concierge staff were ABSOLUTELY the best we have run across. So friendly, they felt like neighbors who really cared. They rotate the 14th and 12th floor staff which was very nice. Plus they were so knowledgeable about everything - down to explaining the details on the white wine and making sure you did not miss wishes. They MADE our trip soar!!!! We had lots of PS which I am going to post on the restaurant board and we took some pictures with our new digital camera. My DH said he thinks he can figure out how to post some pictures. We will see - he seems to be working 7 days a week since we got back...

Again - I have stayed at the CR probably - 10 times at least. When we go back if I cannot afford GF RPC then I will ABSOLUTELY book CR 12th floor!!!

Once again it was truly a magical trip that ended too soon.

 

[nygrl]

we were on the 12th floor last month and when i got back i posted that the only thing light about the 12th floor was the food. we loved it so much and couldnt imagine the 14th floor being any better . maybe they give a better food selection but the room , mousekeeping and the cms on the 12th were in my opinion outstanding. we had every need that could be imagined met. i was looking foward to trying the 14th but after reading so many negative posts about it i think for the money i will stick to the 12th it was worth every dime!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I am one of those 14th floor complainers. We paid $1200/night for a MK Suite that was disgustingly filthy. Just so poorly maintained it was a shame. We also wanted to move to the 12th floor (as we have stayed there MANY times and enjoyed it) No availability on the 12th for us, though. Our 14th floor room was a grungy disgrace. I LOVE the CR, but I will NEVER again stay on the 14th floor. It is way overhyped and over priced for what you get. It was a VERY disappointing stay on the 14th for us.

I agree that the Contemporary concierge staff are some of the nicest people around!!

Lives4Disney

 

[erinz]

Ok I'm getting worried here. I'm not sure what to do. I have reservations for the 14th floor next December. I think the main reason was the lounge. For two of the days we won't be going to the parks and I though it would be really neat to have a private lounge to hang out in to read.... and eat....

But do you think having the lounge is worth being on the 14th floor?

Also, could someone explain how the 12th floor sets up the food? I know there isn't a lounge. Is it all in a hallway or something?

I would LOVE more opinions about the 12th vs 14th floor!

 

[Lives4Disney]

ERINZ - The 14th floor "lounge" is an area with a large TV, some sofas (only a couple) and a few tables. They set the food up on a countertop and on the other side of the room a smaller countertop has coffee, tea, hot water. The concierge desk is in the same vacinity. I personally would feel awkward hanging out there. It isn't a large area at all. Just the size of a living room. There is a balcony with 3? tables that faces the MK. But how long can you really sit there???? I couldn't sit there and read, there would be too many disturbances. The elevators are right there, also. The lounge area is just a few paces away from the conc. desk and elevators.

The 12th floor has a large open area also. The concierge desk is on one side of the elevators and the food is set up across from the elevators. The food is on a large sort of buffet table. It is nice looking. (I personally think it is a larger food set up then the 14th has)-except there is no soda. They have the SAME stuff. The tables and chairs are on the other side of the elevators farther from the concierge desk. A bit less intrusive if you ask me. Oh, and no TV area at all - just tables and chairs. So you step off the elevator - look left and across(I think) and it is concierge. Look straight ahead and it is food - go right and there is the sitting area. I am probably being a bit wordy.....

The 14th floor is no big deal, really. The same food, staff, same room key card (I don't know anything about a "gold" one posted somewhere else). I know I have said this before, but we have stayed 12th floor MANY times and always enjoyed it A LOT!! I would think twice about the price difference if I were you, however it isn't much difference between a standard 12th floor room and a regular 14th floor room. (don't know what you have reserved) It is the rip-off 14th floor suites that are hideously priced. So if you want your appetizers, evening cordials and deserts and a quieter floor, 14th may be for you. (The 12th isn't noisy - it just overlooks the concourse area and has many more rooms/more traffic) For us, I have discovered that the convenience of the breakfast and the afternoon snack ( which we sometimes took advantage of) were perfectly fine. We didn't need the appetizers as we always have a nice ps for dinner, and the bedtime snackies are nice if you make it back in time. They are only out until 10. Usually we don't get back in time, anyway.

Hope you have better luck on the 14th (if that's what you decide)than we did!!! It is funny how there are so many different views about it.

 

[nygrl]

i just wanted to add that i feel that some of the magic of the cr is lost on the 14th floor not being able to look over onto the concourse. we loved comming out of our room and hearing everyone at chef mickeys and seeing the characters it really made us feel like we were in disney. have a great trip whatever you decide to do erinz

 

[pooh6890]

Floor 14 is really Floor 13......I always keep that in mind when staying at the CR, so we always book the 12th floor.

 

[erinz]

You guys are awesome!

Thanks SO MUCH for the advice!!

Looks like we're going to go for the 12th floor!

 

[suzywindy]

You could also hang on the 4th floor - concourse area near the outer rim. Very comfortable with a great view. I agree with the posts above and also agree that the 12th floor has more offerings for breakfast - including chocolate milk.

They also had soda while we were there. I also like to "hear the hotel" when I come out of my room as that is part of staying at the Contemporary.

We found the best spots to hang out in a lounge would be GFRPC and the AKL Concierge. Their lounges are much bigger because they have to serve more people.

14th floor has very few rooms so that is why the lounge does not have to be really big.

Regular rooms on the 12th floor are in so much better condition than the 14th. For the $100 difference a day you could eat a fine dinner.