Contemporary resort room help please

[Ven]

Hi

Here is my dilema.
We are a family of 5 (me, DH, DD17, DD13, and DS11) who will be spending 6 nights at the Contemporary Resort the first week of September. This is our 'big family vacation' we have been wanting to go on for years, and will probably be the last 'big' family vacation we do with our oldest daughter going out of town to college.
As of now, we are booked into the standard wing room, which I do believe is the view of the lovely parking lot. We are definately going to upgrade to the garden view BUT are seriously considering a tower room.
We booked our trip on the FTP, and I am weighing the cost of the upgrade to the tower room (approximately 450.00 more for the six nights) versus just staying in a wing garden view room (only a 150.00 more for that upgrade). We are on a budget.

I really want to know if it is worth the extra 300.00 we would be paying for a tower room.....

Also, my husband travels a couple of times a year and stays at some pretty swanky hotels. I don't want him nor my kids to be disappointed.

If you have stayed in either room recently...please give me your input...it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

We have stayed in all 3 categories you have listed about the CR! You will not be dissappointed in any room at the CR, it is our favorite resort!

The "rooms" are all identical in furniture and set up except: the tower bathroom is slightly different the gardens bathroom have 2 sinks in the main bath area and a plain counter in with the commode and in the tower only 1 sink in the main bath area and 1 sink in with the commode. Also different is the balcony situation, the gardens ground floor's get a shared patio with your neighbor and the 2nd and 3rd floors sliding glass open a few inches but no balcony. The tower all rooms have full balcony's.


Of course the ultimate is the tower, but the situation usually comes down to availablity and price. Which is everyone's decisions. The magic kingdom view is NOT guarranteed and you may have the bay lake / pool view anyway which is the same as the garden's view.

Seeing that you are on the FTP you might want to check soon about availabity if it would be possible to upgrade to the tower or garden upon check in or closer to your stay, but I would do it before the june 29th dead line.

Good luck, have a great time at the contempary resort, we go back ourselves in 48 days! and can not wait!!!!

MKY

 

[Mouseteacher]

I believe the Tower rooms are slightly larger (but not sure). I have stayed in both Tower and GW. I do love the Tower and prefer it over the GW but budget can play a factor. Also, does the GW have the daybed in the rooms - (I can't remember)? That would make a difference in accomodating 5 in a room.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Yes, same day bed! All same furniture, and fixtures.

MKY

 

[Ven]

I just called about tower rooms today...yes it's available...I just have to make a decision by tomorrow...ACK hehe.

I'm really leaning towards the tower room just because it's in the main building closer to the monorail and dining.

 

[pooh2001]

I would do the tower. We were upgraded from the pool view wing to a Tower room. Even though we had a view of the drive up to the hotle and convention center below - we could see Cinderella's Castle from our balcony - great view looking straight
ahead. We could also see the monorai, and a Lake (not sure of the name). We were on the 9th floor.

All the reataurants and stores are in the Tower.
The walk to the pool is just past the main lobby(1st floor).
The monorail is on the 4th floor along with Chef Mickeys,
the Concourse Steak House, and lots of fun stores to shop in.
The kids can get room keys (cards) without charge privaleges.
That will allow them to go to the pool or game room on their own.

To be able to stay inside when you get off the monorail
is wonderful.

We plan on staying at the CR again - we'll pay for the Tower.
I would do the Tower for an extra $450. Normally I think it's $700
for an 8 night stay to move from the Wing to Tower.

The Day bed will be great for your son, if the 2 girls do not
mind sharing a queen size bed with 3 pillows.

Save some money by bringing your own cereal, bowls and spoons. Buy milk the day before and keep it in a cooler
with ice overnight. I do not know how early the stores open up
to buy milk in the AM. They sell milk right in one of the stores
where the wine is on the 4th floor. We did a food stop before the CR to buy a foam cooler and water bottles (and cookies, snacks....).

Just my 2 cents

 

[Uncle Scar]

I would say the Tower.

We've stayed in both and nothing beat being in the middle of it all. Coming out of your room and looking into the hotel with the monorail going through is great.

Also, you don't have to worry about walking to the main building if it should rain during your stay.

If you don't get a view of Magic Kingdom, the lagoon is a nice view and you get to see the Water Pagent Parade at night from your balcony.

For us, it's worth the money.

 

[FreeTime]

I have stayed in both. The garden wing was nice because we had a first floor and the kids could go out in the yard. The tower room was great. We had a MK view and left the curtains open and could see Cinderella Castle and Maint Street lit up all night (I don't know if it normally is, but there was a special event going on). The downside is that our room was on the floor above the Monorail and the bed shook everytime it came through! It is fun though to go out in the hall and watch the monorail and the bustle at Chef Mickey's. However, keep in mind that even with a MK tower room you still overlook the parking lot. If you decide to go this route, be sure to check in early so that your room request can hopefully be filled.

 

[cinmell]

We've stayed at the Contemporary several times, it's our favorite resort. The first time we stayed there we had a tower room and haven't been able to leave the tower since! The view is amazing for the MK side. You don't hear any noise in your room from the concourse at all. When you open the door from your room you can hear the monorail buzz thru and depending on the time you can hear singing from Chef Mickey's (can't get that anywhere else)! It's great and it's worth every penny! Enjoy your vacation!!!!!!

 

[elbo450]

Well, i've stayed in the Garden several times and found it nice. It can get a bit loud as kids run trough the halls at all hours. Depending how far the walk is to your room, you may want to rent a car (sorry, bad joke).

The last time I was there, I was lucky enough to get placed in the Tower facing the MK. Sadly, I can no longer stay in the Garden. I've had my taste of heaven.

Our upcoming trip in September i'm springing for the Tower Club on the 12th floor. Not so bad with the FTP rate.

Rooms are virtually identical, but the view all around is breathtaking. I'm also looking forward to being pampered a little.

Have a good time.

elbo

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Dear Ven,

If you stay in the tower, ask for a room as high up as possible for an amazing view.

I like the Bay Lake side best. It's so peaceful and beautiful. The Magic Kingdom side does overlook the parking lot.

One of my favorite memories of the Contemporary Resort is waking up to see the sunrise over Bay Lake. The cast members are always busy at work down below, using their tractors to "comb" the sand into neat designs (i.e. Mickey Mouse) on the beach.

In the evening, the Electrical Water Pageant floats by your room after the fireworks. The music and lights always make me smile.

I feel like I am in this amazing city of the future when I stay in the Tower, mostly because of the monorail entering the lobby. It's worth the extra money!

Best wishes on your trip!

 

[denisenh]

OllieDannyandMe, you just reminded me of the wonderful feeling that I had when I would get up early at CR and watch the grounds crew and see the world "wake up". But then, I love those early morning hours no matter what resort we are at.

 

[tstobb]

Here's the view from the 12th floor looking out over the lake:

Any questions about the best choice?

 

[freediverdude]

Well actually, to me, I liked the view across the lake and the trees looking larger from my patio on the ground floor in the wings. I had a great yard in front of my patio, and a great view of the beach, lake, and trees. But, it's a matter of taste too, whatever you prefer. And also whether the view is important to you or not. Some people choose a room because of the view, and other people don't care at all- they'll be in the theme parks all day and won't be spending time on a balcony or patio. The wings are connected to the main building by a covered walkway that's just a few steps really, so I don't consider that much of an issue. The time you might spend waiting for the elevator in the tower might be about the same time it would take you to walk into the tower from the wings. The elevator is cool, however, with the characters speaking to you and announcing the floors. There is something to stepping outside your door and seeing the concourse down below and the monorail, but the standard view wing rooms are also monorail view LOL, with the monorail beam going overhead right above those rooms. I don't think you can go wrong with any room in the Contemporary, it just depends on if you have a preference of view or not, and whether that's worth more money to you.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Do the TOWER is you can swing the cost!

You said this is probably your last big family trip and staying in the tower will make it extra special! We just got back from the CR and stayed in a wing room, it was nice but I kept wishing we were in the tower instead but we went through SOG(military) and couldn't pass up the very low wing room rate we got.

I think if you don't stay in the tower once you're there, you'll end up regretting it. I say go for it!!