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

[VbChristy]

Add me to the "lucky" group testing the MagicBands. I have complicated ticket situations, so it appears that we won't be able to book any of the FP+ experiences until we are there and have our tickets. (I get a free ticket as a travel agent--I know poor me! and I want to bridge DD and DH's passes to APs)

We got our bands though! Pretty spiffy!

So you are able to get magic bands without having tickets??? I will be getting free tickets for my next 2 trips as well, and wanted magic bands- so yay!! Both my hotels are doing the test, so I am hopeful!

 

[mickeynut1]

Some pics from July.

Love the pics.....thanks for sharing them . Reading this thread and seeing all of the CR pics is making me excited to stay there in December .

 

[babyberger]

Ok so I heard from one of my relatives who is a DVC owner that at the Contemporary there is a whole floor that is a play area for kids. Is this true? If so where and does anyone have pictures of it? Thank you

If there is, I have not found it the past two times I have been there

 

[Cobern]

If there is, I have not found it the past two times I have been there

I thought it sounded odd. Just had to ask though

 

[mickeyplanner]

As of right now in order to use FP+ with an AP, it must be an activated AP. this may change in the future. This would mean you couldn't book fast passes ahead of time. I've heard of people only being able to book part if their trip with FP+ because their AP expires in the middle of their trip. I'm holding off ordering my AP until they get this settled one way or the other. If it stays like this then I'm going to book 10 day tickets and upgrade to AP when I'm there so I can get to book fast passes ahead of time.

We did something similar in 2012, we had park tickets with our room at BC to get free dining. Then we went to the International Gateway to exchange our tickets for APs with a DVC discount. I guess we should just add park tickets to our BWV room and then exchange them for APs with our DVC discount rate at the International Gateway.

I know, ridiculous, but that could work. I hope by the time we go they've changed it to include AP voucher combined with a resort reservation or something but I'm afraid that as long as the AP is not active this is the way it's going to be. You'd also have to actually walk into a park to be able to upgrade your ticket to a pass. It has to be used at least once. It will work for us because we plan to go to a park on our arrival day anyway. We mainly want to do it for the TIW card. And before anyone asks, yes it saves us more than enough money to be worth the upgrade.

We use the TIW too

Yes, we choose the colors we wanted and our names our written on the side that is not shown. We ordered them on Saturday and got them on Tuesday by UPS.

Have you tried them on yet? I am worried about them being uncomfortable. I don't even wear a watch while at WDW.

 

[Princess Katherine]

Yes I have tried them on. They are very comfy. I could sleep in them and I have. I cannot even tell I am wearing one! It is super cool!

Katie

 

[mickeyplanner]

Yes I have tried them on. They are very comfy. I could sleep in them and I have. I cannot even tell I am wearing one! It is super cool!

Katie

Sleeping in them already. You truly are ready for your trip.
I can't sleep with any jewelry on so I hope I find the bands as comfy as you. What color did you opt for? How did you schedule your FP+ times?

 

[psac]

Ok so I heard from one of my relatives who is a DVC owner that at the Contemporary there is a whole floor that is a play area for kids. Is this true? If so where and does anyone have pictures of it? Thank you

There is the "community hall" on the first floor of BLT that has games for kids. I wouldn't call it the whole floor by any stretch.

 

[Princess Katherine]

Sleeping in them already. You truly are ready for your trip.
I can't sleep with any jewelry on so I hope I find the bands as comfy as you. What color did you opt for? How did you schedule your FP+ times?

I got the blue one! I scheduled in order of how long the lines are.

Katie

 

[Cobern]

There is the "community hall" on the first floor of BLT that has games for kids. I wouldn't call it the whole floor by any stretch.

Thank you!

 

[pajamasam]

Have a GW - GR booked for March 2014. I'd like to have a 1st floor room as close to the lake/beach as possible (rooms 6101-6130). Would anyone happen to have pictures from these rooms? Is the beach anything like the Poly beach? How far from your patio do you have to walk to get on the beach?
Thanks in advance.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Feel free to add me to the Log-o-rail!!!

Please add me to the Log-o-rail as well. Just switched our 10 night stay next Jul/Aug from AKL Savanna to CR Tower Theme Park View - thank you military discount!!

Our ultimate goal is a 2BR at BLT, but we'll be thrilled with these rooms as well!

Our dates are 29 Jul - 8 Aug 2014.

Thank you for your service and congratulations on booking! I'm thinking I need to book something for next year now before the military inventory runs dry! Maybe I'll do it while there next week

I think we just got lucky with the dates. We're going May 24-28th. I know the standard view in the garden wing is hard to get because it is such a good rate. Is there something going on Sept. 2014 that would have caused the rooms to be booked up so early? Maybe people booked it in hopes of getting FD with it later on? Hopefully people will cancel and you'll be able to get the room!



Thanks, WDWKOOK! It's actually my DH that is in the Army. Although I did serve 10 years in the Air Force I love the military discount! I'm so grateful they renewed it for next year!
Please add our dates to the Log-o-rail May 24-28, 2014

HOOAH! Thank you for yours and DH's service! My DH is retired USAF. I'd be happy to add you

One interior shot.



She's such a flirt. .

There's that goofy guy! Did Mrs. psac take that or is it a selfie? I hope your DW got back at you with a nice photo with Mickey.

Ok so I heard from one of my relatives who is a DVC owner that at the Contemporary there is a whole floor that is a play area for kids. Is this true? If so where and does anyone have pictures of it? Thank you

The only indoor kid's area at CR would be the arcade which is on the 4th floor. There are many photos on the first page. There are also photos of the Community Hall at BLT in the BLT section on the first page. But it's only for the use of BLT guests.

Can I get added to the log?

We are booked March 17-23, 2014, in the GW. So excited and love this thread!

Of course you can

So you are able to get magic bands without having tickets??? I will be getting free tickets for my next 2 trips as well, and wanted magic bands- so yay!! Both my hotels are doing the test, so I am hopeful!

You have to have tickets. Even though we have AP vouchers, they haven't been activated yet so we weren't asked to participate. I'll see if I can get more information next week.

If there is, I have not found it the past two times I have been there

Maybe they were thinking of Chef Mickey's

Yes I have tried them on. They are very comfy. I could sleep in them and I have. I cannot even tell I am wearing one! It is super cool!

Katie

That's Disney dedication!

Have a GW - GR booked for March 2014. I'd like to have a 1st floor room as close to the lake/beach as possible (rooms 6101-6130). Would anyone happen to have pictures from these rooms? Is the beach anything like the Poly beach? How far from your patio do you have to walk to get on the beach?
Thanks in advance.

Welcome! We had a ground floor GW room that faced Bay Lake. It was on the very end closest to the pool. Here are a couple of photos from the first page:

I also stayed in a canal-facing room and there are some photos HERE.

 

[Happyjen27]

Search and Rescue to get us off the 2nd page!

Also ticker checking, I've got 4 months and 2 weeks!! So excited.

Yes I have tried them on. They are very comfy. I could sleep in them and I have. I cannot even tell I am wearing one! It is super cool!

I am so glad they are comfy. I've been reading some comments from the skeptics that Disney may have made them just a tad on the side of uncomfy so people would pay for the add-ons they offer. I know nothing about that, and I'm so relieved that you don't find them uncomfortable.

 

[Hulles]

Alas it seems next year we wont be at the Contemporary The cost and time frames just didnt fall into place. For 2014 we ended up booking a Grand Floridian deluxe studio villa in June. I will no doubt stop by the Contemporary while there though! For the last two years we stayed at Bay Lake Tower and it was awesome Time to give something else a try I guess!

 

[harleyquinn]

So you are able to get magic bands without having tickets??? I will be getting free tickets for my next 2 trips as well, and wanted magic bands- so yay!! Both my hotels are doing the test, so I am hopeful!

Yes, but we are booked as a package. A travel agent rate is technically a package without tickets. I don't think anyone with a room only reservation is being chosen for the test. You will definitely be able to order and use them when the full system comes out, but probably not test them.

I am so glad they are comfy. I've been reading some comments from the skeptics that Disney may have made them just a tad on the side of uncomfy so people would pay for the add-ons they offer. I know nothing about that, and I'm so relieved that you don't find them uncomfortable.

I find them pretty uncomfortable. My DD wore hers for about 3 seconds before complaining.

They feel very similar to a plastic watch to me. Just the band would be okay, but the spot with the chip is very hard. There is no way my family will be keeping them on in August. I plan to hook them to my bag.

 

[Cobern]

Yes, but we are booked as a package. A travel agent rate is technically a package without tickets. I don't think anyone with a room only reservation is being chosen for the test. You will definitely be able to order and use them when the full system comes out, but probably not test them.

I find them pretty uncomfortable. My DD wore hers for about 3 seconds before complaining.

They feel very similar to a plastic watch to me. Just the band would be okay, but the spot with the chip is very hard. There is no way my family will be keeping them on in August. I plan to hook them to my bag.

Is that the little people princess castle in the background? My dd3 loves hers! How old is your dd? Just wondering if mine would wear it or not

 

[dmaz]

Room Only Ressie Tester here. You definitely did not need to book a package. They will let you test as long as you are able to link the tickets online. There are different options for ticket types online We have leftover days from 09' and I was able to link them, got email and paper invite, bands, etc.

So excited to finally be staying here and to test out the new technology!

 

[KathieSmallwood]

Yes, but we are booked as a package. A travel agent rate is technically a package without tickets. I don't think anyone with a room only reservation is being chosen for the test. You will definitely be able to order and use them when the full system comes out, but probably not test them.



I find them pretty uncomfortable. My DD wore hers for about 3 seconds before complaining.

They feel very similar to a plastic watch to me. Just the band would be okay, but the spot with the chip is very hard. There is no way my family will be keeping them on in August. I plan to hook them to my bag.

Not trying to be nosey but I am wondering is your trip paid in full? Maybe that is a way to get picked to test the magic bands? I would love to test them out and thinking maybe I will get picked if I pay in full? We are staying at Bay Lake.

 

[poohgirl6]

Just a gentle bump to move us off of the 2nd page

Anybody there currently who can update us on the never-ending debacle of Fridgegate 2013?

We check in to CR 37 days

 

[harleyquinn]

Is that the little people princess castle in the background? My dd3 loves hers! How old is your dd? Just wondering if mine would wear it or not

Yes! We own EVERY single LP Disney item, including the brand new Snow White's cottage. She just turned 4 on Tuesday. She has been playing with the Polly Pocket sized princesses more now, but she still plays with her LP at least 3 times a week. We also got her the new Clip clop Princess Pony stable for her birthday and it's soooo cute.

We also have EVERY single Disney princess barbie, prince and some of the villians, plus the extra clothes they used to sell on Disney shopping. We bought the first 8 princess set when she was 2 and we've been adding to it everytime I find stuff on clearance. But she isn't interested in Barbies yet. lol

Sorry...that was way too much info!

Room Only Ressie Tester here. You definitely did not need to book a package. They will let you test as long as you are able to link the tickets online. There are different options for ticket types online We have leftover days from 09' and I was able to link them, got email and paper invite, bands, etc.

So excited to finally be staying here and to test out the new technology!

That's very good to know! Thanks for clearing that up!

Not trying to be nosey but I am wondering is your trip paid in full? Maybe that is a way to get picked to test the magic bands? I would love to test them out and thinking maybe I will get picked if I pay in full? We are staying at Bay Lake.

Yes it is, but only because it has to be (within the window). When are you staying? I wonder if after the August testing they might move to testers at other resorts?