Contemporary or Pop? (no Epcot monorail and I hate the buses :( )

[olive]

I know this might sound silly but... We have a reservation at Pop. We have never stayed there. We haven't been to Disney in several years. Our youngest doesn't even remember going! I am sure he would love Pop because it is colorful. He loves any hotel honestly. We haven't been to Disney since the Skyliners existed. I think both children would enjoy them, and they seem convenient. In the past we have stayed at each of the monorail resorts for convenience. Our kids are out of strollers now, but convenience is still...convenient. We have had good and very bad experiences with the buses, like most families. I read that the Epcot monorail is completely down, which is a bummer for Contemporary. We did always like the walk from there to MK, though. I am not sure it is worth the over $1k upgrade cost to switch hotels. Sure, the extra space is awesome and so is the pool area, and the monorail throught the hotel is super cool, but the kids would be happy at either. We have family staying at the CR, so they would have fun from that, too, but we will also see them at the parks. I am putting a lot on the convenience of the Skyliner from Pop to DHS and Epcot as a big bonus whereas we will have to take the bus from CR to three parks. What do people think of this calculus? I haven't been in so long that I might be missing something super obvious. I need experts weighing in.

Thanks!

 

[need2travel]

How about either the Beach Club or Yacht Club resort? That gives you the option of walking or boating to both Epcot & HS or taking the skyliner to HS. You'd only have to rely on the bus for MK & AK.

 

[chasgeese]

I think your calculus is mostly correct here. A few more things to think about.

1. Rooms at CR are much bigger, and frankly nicer. Pop rooms aren’t cramped, but that extra space at CR is valuable. Not to mention they are more private without the exterior hallways being ur only view due to the motel setup of Pop.

2. The Skyliner is fairly sensitive to rain, which can lead to relying on busses to all the parks depending on when you go.

3. There are more food options at CR and it’s also accessible to the other monorail resorts and WL by direct Disney transportation and walking paths.

4. Depending on how much time you plan on spending with your family at the CR, getting from Pop to CR pretty much requires an Uber or renting a car unless you are willing to bus to MK and walk over.

5. The pools are a draw for me because although CR has a waterslide, it’s kind of bland compared to the pool at Pop.

Whether these make a difference in terms of deciding CR is worth that much more, is up to you, but worth considering.

 

[olive]

I think your calculus is mostly correct here. A few more things to think about.

1. Rooms at CR are much bigger, and frankly nicer. Pop rooms aren’t cramped, but that extra space at CR is valuable. Not to mention they are more private without the exterior hallways being ur only view due to the motel setup of Pop.

2. The Skyliner is fairly sensitive to rain, which can lead to relying on busses to all the parks depending on when you go.

3. There are more food options at CR and it’s also accessible to the other monorail resorts and WL by direct Disney transportation and walking paths.

4. Depending on how much time you plan on spending with your family at the CR, getting from Pop to CR pretty much requires an Uber or renting a car unless you are willing to bus to MK and walk over.

5. The pools are a draw for me because although CR has a waterslide, it’s kind of bland compared to the pool at Pop.

Whether these make a difference in terms of deciding CR is worth that much more, is up to you, but worth considering.

Yes, we have stayed at CR a few times and at BLT once, so we already know we love CR and the kids have enjoyed the CR pool (even though I agree the pool theme is sterile). And I remember that CR has those daybeds, which might be helpful since we have a 13 year old and an 8 year old now. I didn't realize that rain could shut down the Skyliner. That could definitely be an issue in summer! If we are likely to be stuck with buses either way, that might give the edge to CR.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Timandalicia]

I know this might sound silly but... We have a reservation at Pop. We have never stayed there. We haven't been to Disney in several years. Our youngest doesn't even remember going! I am sure he would love Pop because it is colorful. He loves any hotel honestly. We haven't been to Disney since the Skyliners existed. I think both children would enjoy them, and they seem convenient. In the past we have stayed at each of the monorail resorts for convenience. Our kids are out of strollers now, but convenience is still...convenient. We have had good and very bad experiences with the buses, like most families. I read that the Epcot monorail is completely down, which is a bummer for Contemporary. We did always like the walk from there to MK, though. I am not sure it is worth the over $1k upgrade cost to switch hotels. Sure, the extra space is awesome and so is the pool area, and the monorail throught the hotel is super cool, but the kids would be happy at either. We have family staying at the CR, so they would have fun from that, too, but we will also see them at the parks. I am putting a lot on the convenience of the Skyliner from Pop to DHS and Epcot as a big bonus whereas we will have to take the bus from CR to three parks. What do people think of this calculus? I haven't been in so long that I might be missing something super obvious. I need experts weighing in.

Thanks!

It’s tough because a grand to you may not be the same as a grand to someone else. Plus depends on what you value in quality. I say Contemporary hands down. So many reasons. Some were mentioned but mostly the je ne sais quoi.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, we have stayed at CR a few times and at BLT once, so we already know we love CR and the kids have enjoyed the CR pool (even though I agree the pool theme is sterile). And I remember that CR has those daybeds, which might be helpful since we have a 13 year old and an 8 year old now. I didn't realize that rain could shut down the Skyliner. That could definitely be an issue in summer! If we are likely to be stuck with buses either way, that might give the edge to CR.

Thanks for the feedback!

It's more thunderstorms and severe wind. I've ridden it before in the rain - it just becomes another water ride. LOL.

But it can also shut down for any number of mechanical things. So even if the weather is perfect, you might still have to get to Epcot and Studios on the busses.

 

[Marthasor]

I would highly suggest considering BCV/BC/YC or BWV. Even if the Skyliner or buses aren't in operation due to weather, you can use your feet to get to both parks - that's a major bonus to me. Plus, the amenities at those resorts will more closely resemble what you've experienced at the monorail resorts - larger rooms, interior hallways, sit-down restaurants, more comfortable beds, etc. It seems you are looking at this solely from a transportation perspective, however, you may want to think about the differences between a value and a deluxe resort. Pop will be nothing like CR.

 

[olive]

How about either the Beach Club or Yacht Club resort? That gives you the option of walking or boating to both Epcot & HS or taking the skyliner to HS. You'd only have to rely on the bus for MK & AK.

We actually stayed at the Yacht Club last time. We do like the Epcot resort area a lot! We often do split stays between the MK and Epcot area, but this trip will be shorter so we are sticking with one hotel.

I would highly suggest considering BCV/BC/YC or BWV. Even if the Skyliner or buses aren't in operation due to weather, you can use your feet to get to both parks - that's a major bonus to me. Plus, the amenities at those resorts will more closely resemble what you've experienced at the monorail resorts - larger rooms, interior hallways, sit-down restaurants, more comfortable beds, etc. It seems you are looking at this solely from a transportation perspective, however, you may want to think about the differences between a value and a deluxe resort. Pop will be nothing like CR.

Yeah, I am sort of just thinking about it with regard to transportation because that convenience angle is a significant factor. We have stayed in the Epcot area on many trips, and we have stayed at all of the monorail resorts, including Bay Lake Tower. We have actually only stayed at the deluxe resorts so far, although we have stayed at the value at Universal (Cabana Bay) though I understand that may not quite translate to Disney's version of value since it has a lazy river and more extensive other pool/recreation areas, bars, bowling alley, etc. This is the shortest trip we have ever done - a week, instead of 10 days to 2 weeks. Usually we have park free days added in where we are hanging around the hotel, just spending days at the pool or enjoying time otherwise not being in the parks. I was thinking since we are not really doing that this time, we don't need to focus on the hotel amenities to much, but convenience getting to the parks would be more of an issue. The hotel we have stayed at the most in the past is the Poly - we always liked being close to the TTC. Second would be CR/Bay Lake, for walking to MK. But with the Epcot monorail out and planning far more time at DHS this time because our kids are insanely into Star Wars, I was thinking Pop and just Skyliner to DHS since they would get a kick out of the Skyliner. They used to get kind of tired of the walk over to DHS from the Epcot hotels and the boat was not a great experience frequently. It was beautiful, but my goodness the lines and the slowness. Kids can be impatient and the Florida weather didn't always cooperate. But I agree that the Boardwalk area is gorgeous. We have just stayed there many times and wouldn't be taking as much advantage of it, and we stayed there on our last trip. The kids did love SAB, though!

 

[olive]

It's more thunderstorms and severe wind. I've ridden it before in the rain - it just becomes another water ride. LOL.

I think that actually sounds like a giant plus as far as my kids are concerned.

 

[Dug720]

I was thinking Pop and just Skyliner to DHS since they would get a kick out of the Skyliner. They used to get kind of tired of the walk over to DHS from the Epcot hotels and the boat was not a great experience frequently. It was beautiful, but my goodness the lines and the slowness. Kids can be impatient and the Florida weather didn't always cooperate.

Especially now with them only putting one party per Skyliner (I personally love it - I hate being stuck in a space that small with strangers), the lines can get VERY long, especially at closing and opening. Coming from Pop, you'd have to transfer at Caribbean Beach, and especially towards opening the line looped around a couple of times during Presidents Week in February. Not trying to be negative or discourage you. I just want you to be aware that there definitely can be times where there are long lines and though it is mostly constantly moving, the lines do move slowly.