Contemporary - Garden Wing?

[sbprincess]

So my husband and I are going down in May and staying at the Contemporary for 7 nights! We are super excited as for our Honeymoon two years ago we stayed at ASMo. So this is quite a step up and kind-of a dream trip! Anyways, we were able to do this by using a PIN code I received via email. My questions is this: Unless we get an upgrade (which I'm definitely not even expecting at all), we are staying in a Garden Wing room. We couldn't justify the extra expense for a view we probably won't see that often. We picked CR because of course, we've both seen it growing up and because it's on the Monorail line. My second choice was Beach Club but DH really wanted CR. Are we going to be disappointed with the rooms in the Garden Wings? I've read they're a little distance from the Tower (which I'm fine with I think).

For those of your who've stayed there, what do you think?

 

[WDWKOOK]

So my husband and I are going down in May and staying at the Contemporary for 7 nights! We are super excited as for our Honeymoon two years ago we stayed at ASMo. So this is quite a step up and kind-of a dream trip! Anyways, we were able to do this by using a PIN code I received via email. My questions is this: Unless we get an upgrade (which I'm definitely not even expecting at all), we are staying in a Garden Wing room. We couldn't justify the extra expense for a view we probably won't see that often. We picked CR because of course, we've both seen it growing up and because it's on the Monorail line. My second choice was Beach Club but DH really wanted CR. Are we going to be disappointed with the rooms in the Garden Wings? I've read they're a little distance from the Tower (which I'm fine with I think).

For those of your who've stayed there, what do you think?

The CR Garden Wing rooms are exactly the same configuration as the Tower rooms and they are the least expensive monorail rooms - a great value.

The walk from the GW to the Tower is only a few minutes and there is a covered walkway so you won't get wet if it's pouring.

I think you'll love staying at the CR. If you are staying in a Garden View room, request a room on the ground floor facing Bay Lake. You'll be literally steps from the beach and pool. You'll also have a beautiful view and cute little ducks and bunnies on your patio. The second and third floors of the GW don't have balconies, so if you want to be able to step outside, you'll want to request a ground floor room.

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[okiedokieartichoke]

personally i feel like the garden wing rooms are overlooked just because they aren't in the main tower. the walk is literally between 30 seconds and 5 minutes depending your room location. compared to MOST disney resorts, thats not bad AT ALL! I dont know whats going on with Americans where we feel that a five minute walk is too much to bear these days... hmm..anyway, definitely recomend requesting a first floor room as PP mentioned...you get a patio and its quite lovely to sit on outside in the morning or in the evening. also i'd reccomend asking for a room between 6109-6120 because they are lake view rooms and absolutely beautiful views : )

 

[NJRRK]

This is our garden view from August 2007. We like the Garden wing, especially when we drive down, parking is right there.

 

[Momof626x3]

We stayed in a garden wing room in Dec. 2008 and we loved it! It was just DH and I, the rooms were big and very comfortable, we had a beautiful view of bay lake, and the walk to the main tower was only a few minutes. We stayed on the 2nd floor and enjoyed opening the sliding door and enjoyed the fresh air and the view even without a balcony to step out on. I would definitely stay there again!

 

[tinkerfan1]

We have always been happy with the Garden Wing at the Contemporary. In fact, last time we stayed there, we were super pleased. We stayed on the first floor and had a room on the end with a view of Bay Lake and could walk right out the side and see the pool as well. It was great! We just walked out our door and across the patio to the main building to go to the monorail. Staying at the Contemporary and loving it so much is what got us to eventually buy into BLT vacation club!

 

[graceesmom]

We too loved our Garden View Room last year. We had a 1st floor room that overlooked Bay Lake. It was lovely. It was also super convenient to our car so we drove to HS and AK.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The CR Garden Wing rooms are exactly the same configuration as the Tower rooms and they are the least expensive monorail rooms - a great value.

The walk from the GW to the Tower is only a few minutes and there is a covered walkway so you won't get wet if it's pouring.

I think you'll love staying at the CR. If you are staying in a Garden View room, request a room on the ground floor facing Bay Lake. You'll be literally steps from the beach and pool. You'll also have a beautiful view and cute little ducks and bunnies on your patio. The second and third floors of the GW don't have balconies, so if you want to be able to step outside, you'll want to request a ground floor room.

Have a wonderful vacation!

I agree with everything you said.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I stay in Garden Room in the 70's yes the 70's. We love it. Now we stay in the tower and LOOOVE IT.

 

[curemyreed]

Have you priced out staying at the Bay Lake Tower next to the Contemporary?

I'm looking at the 2010 Points Chart for May and see the following for Sun. through Thurs. for a Studio: standard view 13; lake view 17; Magic Kingdom view 21. $10 seems to be the going rate per point over on the DVC boards here. There are no additional taxes/charges, so if you rented from an owner instead of through Disney, you would spend $130/night BLT (standard view) Studio. Rack rate Garden Wing (standard view) CR weekdays in May is $330, plus 12.5% tax, so actually $371.25. Contemporary Resort $371.25 versus $130 Bay Lake Tower. Big, big difference. Granted BLT and CR are not interchangeable, but.....

Just wanted to bring up an alternative you may not have considered. Even with the current 35%-45% off Deluxe codes or $750 Gift Card offer, it would cost less to stay at BLT. Hopefully, money isn't a consideration & you can just have a dreamy anniversary vacation wherever you please!!!

Happy Anniversary!

 

[sbprincess]

personally i feel like the garden wing rooms are overlooked just because they aren't in the main tower. the walk is literally between 30 seconds and 5 minutes depending your room location. compared to MOST disney resorts, thats not bad AT ALL! I dont know whats going on with Americans where we feel that a five minute walk is too much to bear these days... hmm..anyway, definitely recomend requesting a first floor room as PP mentioned...you get a patio and its quite lovely to sit on outside in the morning or in the evening. also i'd reccomend asking for a room between 6109-6120 because they are lake view rooms and absolutely beautiful views : )

Thanks everyone! The above reply calmed my anxiety the most. Looking at the CR maps, I couldn't understand why the walk was made out to be such a big deal. The GW rooms looked so close. Now I know they are! I figure, with all the walking we're going to be doing anyways, what's an extra few minutes? Would I really spend $700+ extra to cut out about 5-6 minutes per day? I don't know about others, but I just couldn't live with myself over that.

I will definitely be requesting a room on the ground level now! Great tip. Again, thanks fellow DISers!

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

YOU WILL LOVE IT!!! We usually stay in the Tower...but have stayed in the Garden Wing too!! I didn't think the walk was very far to the Main building at all!!

I'm so happy you received a PIN code!! We have never received one...but my sister who has gone to Disney only once just received one in the mail a couple months ago (it was neat to finally see one in person) LOL!! ENJOY!!!!!

 

[ginnymack]

Welcome sbprincess! We are from the same hometown!

I am trying to book the garden wing in Dec for the same reasons you mentioned! I am having trouble getting all of the days I want, so I am going to keep trying. I think it is a very good value to be on the monorail - I'm with you - the extra price tag is really hard to justify to save a few minutes walk - when you have already committed to walking all day!

 

[vettechick99]

I have stayed Tower before, never GW.. However, I have taken the water mice out and have always loved those GW rooms - especially the ones that are right on the water, on the bottom floor. It just looks so relaxing to sit out there on your patio and have a view of the water.

Maybe you can score one of those rooms!!