Contemporary or WL???

[ms.ojo]

This may all be moot if AP codes don't happen....but IF they do, I'd like to book a couple of days during our upcoming trip in April at one of the MK resorts!!!! We are a family of 4. ds 5.5 and dd 2.5.

Personally, I've always wanted to stay at the CR ever since I was a kid. Just the idea of the monorail being right there and the fact you can walk to the park (or home) if you desire!!! I think my kids would enjoy it too. Even though I'd have to book a wing view vs. the Tower. Just wondering, has anyone had an experience where you had a "free upgrade" to the Tower upon check-in??

My 2nd choice is WL. I think the theme is great...but I'm a little turned off by some of the posts I've read on the transportation. And the noise levels. Plus I'm not sure what to request for room preferences there. If we go std....should I suggest NOT having a room over the lobby? (Some say it IS good over the check-in desk) But on the wings, std. view is near the loading area and some say it's very noisy during the day and I know we'll be coming back for naps. If I opt for Woods view...is there anything special I should ask for there???

Please help!!
TIA!!!

 

[ms.ojo]

 

[stephenjohnsilver]

I haven`t stayed in either yet.We are going in Dec. of 2006 and would like to stay at WL.Cr just looks so sterile and boring to me.To each their own! I`m from Hamden(but now in Billerica,Ma.).What part of the state are you from?You don`t have to be specific if you don`t want to.I don`t miss Ct. one bit...cost of living is too much down there.How about splitting your stay at both?Oh well take care........

 

[mjmcca]

I have stayed in both. The CR over 10 years ago and the WL about 7. I was in a garden wing of the CR and while nice wasnt as special as WL. The themeing there is amazing.

 

[CindyD]

We were just at the WL in Feb 05. I love the Lodge!!! I have never stayed at the CR.

The transportation was fine. Only waited once for a boat to MK more than 5 minutes. Buses to everywhere else. No issues for us there.

We were upgraded to a Courtyard View. Bottom Floor right by the pool and bar. Did not find it noisy at all.

Funny thing is I got a room at the WL when there where no "code" rooms left at the Contemporary, so CRO suggested the Lodge. I would like to try CR once, but my family adored the WL so I guess we will be back there!!!!
Cindy

 

[rcraw45425]

Both are great, the CR does, however, have larger rooms. Just switchedfrom the CR tower to the GF for our trip the first of April, the AP rate for tower was $353 a night with tax. We have always stayed in the wings, which are fine for us. I had booked tower since it was DD7's birthday. I then found out that she wanted to stay in the GF again, she was too young to remmeber her last stay there so I switched over. The rate for the next time block might be lower because I think it goes ot regular as opposed to peak season. The WL was quite a bit lower per night, think it was around $200. We really enjoyed the theming there, I actually booked it first, then rethought the wisdom of it when I remembered we were talking the week after Easter. It is still very high on our list of favorites. I remember someone mentioning an upgrade because a convention was there and they wanted to put all of them together. Sweet deal!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Stayed at WL in 2001--bus service was a little slow, but room/pool/theme wonderful. Great to be able to take a boat... Stayed at CR many moons ago, and going back in June b/c it's on monorail and the kids liked the looks of it on the Disney vacation DVD. Either is good--I don't think you can go wrong with either! Have fun!

 

[ms.ojo]

I haven`t stayed in either yet.We are going in Dec. of 2006 and would like to stay at WL.Cr just looks so sterile and boring to me.To each their own! I`m from Hamden(but now in Billerica,Ma.).What part of the state are you from?You don`t have to be specific if you don`t want to.I don`t miss Ct. one bit...cost of living is too much down there.How about splitting your stay at both?Oh well take care........

SJS: I'm originally from Braintree, MA. Married and moved to CT, near Bradley.

Everyone else: Thanks for the input. Still not sure what I should request for room pref if we book w/ the WL. But I agree, the theme is much more elaborate than the Contemporary. though...it's not on the Monorail. Well, guess AP codes, if they ever come out, will be the deciding factor! We're starting at ASMo and just hoping to end our trip at a fancy resort!

 

[PinCollector]

WL

We stayed in WL for Thanksgiving. It was awesome...the perfect resort for the occasion. Chef Mickey's at CR is great and I'd imagine the monorail is nice too. From what I've read, you 'have to' stay in the tower at CR to make it worth your while. We've not stayed at CR so I can't tell you from personal experience.

What I can say is that WL was a great experience for me and I'd go again.

 

[Disney_Queen34]

Though I'm sure the Contemporary is a very nice place to stay.....I just think you can't beat the theming of the Wilderness Lodge. I've stayed there twice and never had any noise issues either time. I think it would be awe-inspiring for a 5 year old boy (much more so than having the monorail come thru your resort). When we stayed in the Lodge (not the villas) we had a room on the "Villa" side of the resort. First floor and no noise.

I'd definitely recommend the Wilderness Lodge. No issues with transportation when we were there either.

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

We stayed in a tower at CR with a castle view. You cannot even put a price on the reaction of my DD4 and her friend, 5, when discovering they could see Cinderella's castle from the room and enjoy the fireworks nightly. Although I have stayed there so am perhaps biased, I could not imagine staying there again without a tower room. We loved it and so did our children. That being said, next time we will probably stay at a moderate. The cost is quite high for the limited time we spend in our room. For travel to everywhere but MK, it still takes awhile, so I don't think a moderate with an awesome pool for little ones is a bad idea (the CR pool isn't the greatest for little ones). However, if we were ever to stay in a deluxe again, it would be CR hands down.

 

[Chicago262]

We've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge both times we have taken our kids with us (DD9, DS7). We have all really enjoyed the lodge and have not had any problems. On our first trip we booked a standard view and were upgraded at check in for a courtyard view (which overlooked the pool). It was such a good spot that the next year we asked for a room close to where we had previously stayed. We have never had a problem with any noise (knock on wood) and I know the lodge was completely booked on our last trip. We had to wait for the busses sometimes but I'm sure that happens at all of the resorts. The kids also love the slide in the pool.

I also want to try CR on our next trip. The kids want to split our trip between CR and WL. They just don't want to miss out on WL. Good luck deciding!

 

[swatts1]

I have stayed at both within the last 3 years. The following are my opinions.

As others have suggested CR is a bit sterile. If you like the Contemporary theme then you will love it. The rooms are very big and comfortable. The convenience factor is excellent! Not only are you a few stops from MK, but you are the closest monorail stop to TTC which will get you to Epcot in a jiffy. This resort was there when WDW opened; I stayed in it with my family the 2nd summer. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen at that time. Truthfully, it is a little dated now, though the rooms looked to have been recently renovated.

WL is excellently themed and a truly beautiful resort. The rooms are very small and will remind you of Davy Crockett. The lobby is quite loud, but the rooms in the wings were quiet. My issue at WL was with transportation. I found it to be very difficult. We ended up using our rental car to get to every theme park, even MK, after one day of trying to use the boats.

My inclination would be to stay at the CR.

 

[KayakDaddy]

I would recommend the WL in your case. The pool at the WL is perfect for your kids at their age. It is themed beautifully and the slide is managable for younger kids. The only cool thing about the CR pool is that it's shaped like Mickey. There are Woods view rooms at the WL that can give you Castle/Fireworks views. (search for other threads on this topic) We had one and we enjoyed the fireworks from our balcony one night. I know it wasn't as impressive as the view that night from a CR tower balcony, but it's way less expensive with the added bonus of the wonderful themeing. Plus it is really fun for the kids to take the boats around to the park and the other resorts.

I too grew up longing to stay at the CR, but after visiting it a few times, that desire isn't as strong now. My DS (5) really wants to stay there because he's wild about the monorail. We may end up splitting a stay there eventually, but we can get most of the CR benefits by riding the boat over from the WL.

I would still love to stay in a CR tower room facing the Castle, but since I can't justify the expense, I recommend the WL over the CR wings.

 

[Bracho]

It would be a hard choice to make, I love both places but like you said you've always wanted to stay at the CR ever since you was a kid.. maybe now is the time to take care of that. I loved the Wilderness Lodge so much that I purchased a time share there but if I had to make a choice and I had always wanted to stay at the Contemporary.. I'd go for it. The Wilderness Lodge isn't going anyplace and will be waiting for you on your next trip!

Good Luck!

 

[sunnyd11]

Hi, we have stayed at both resorts. The CR does offer larger rooms, but for all the beauty and relaxation that the WL has to offer, I for one would not pass it up. The transportation should not be an issue. We actually used the CR for all their transportation. The WL has a boat shuttle that runs all day until about an hour after park closing. The boat goes to the CR, and is about a 2 min ride. We had never waited more than 5 min. for a boat. Once at CR, we would just hop on the monorail for Epcot and MK. For the other parks, it is no different than staying at any other MK resort, they all share the same busses. Room selection, I think the only noisy place in the lodge is Whispering Canyon, so just request a room that is pool view, that way you would not be over the restaraunt. Which by the way is a great place to eat!!

 

[vbarry]

I just got back yesterday from the Wilderness Lodge and loved it!! The transportation was great. We never waited more than a few minutes. It was never noisy. We were on the 5th floor- inner courtyard view- I believe room 5041.... what a view!! We were on the first floor and asked to move. You could not see the lake at all and you did not have much of a view. I do not think you can go wrong at the Wilderness Lodge.

My only complaint was the size of the room. It did get small after 7 days with two children, but it is a hotel room!

Have a super trip!!

 

[swilphil]

I vote for CR, especially if it's someplace you have always wanted to stay. They are talking about rehabbing it, and I probably won't be able to afford it once they do. The transportation can't be beat--where else can you walk to MK? The rooms are huge. The wing rooms are not that much more expensive than WL.

 

[A4Disney]

This may all be moot if AP codes don't happen....but IF they do, I'd like to book a couple of days during our upcoming trip in April at one of the MK resorts!!!! We are a family of 4. ds 5.5 and dd 2.5.

Personally, I've always wanted to stay at the CR ever since I was a kid. Just the idea of the monorail being right there and the fact you can walk to the park (or home) if you desire!!! I think my kids would enjoy it too. Even though I'd have to book a wing view vs. the Tower. Just wondering, has anyone had an experience where you had a "free upgrade" to the Tower upon check-in??

My 2nd choice is WL. I think the theme is great...but I'm a little turned off by some of the posts I've read on the transportation. And the noise levels. Plus I'm not sure what to request for room preferences there. If we go std....should I suggest NOT having a room over the lobby? (Some say it IS good over the check-in desk) But on the wings, std. view is near the loading area and some say it's very noisy during the day and I know we'll be coming back for naps. If I opt for Woods view...is there anything special I should ask for there???

Please help!!
TIA!!!

CR!! Transportation is key with little ones and to have the option to walk to MK or take the monorail is fantastic!Have fun!

 

[ms.ojo]

I think we're going to try for CR for 2 nights at the end of our trip in April IF AP codes are available. I think it's time to make that dream come true if I possibly can and the transportation will be great w/ 2 young children. 2nd choice will be WL is I can't get into CR.

BUT...we are fortunate enough to be going back in Dec and I will DEF. be booking WL for part of that trip as I think the theme, and Christmas decor, will really be outstanding!!! We have more flexibility on those dates so hopefully that will work in our favor as I would guess WL is a very popular choice in Dec.

Thank you for the input on room locations too!!!