Contemporary Resort..

[JohnDebiErin]

2 years ago we went to WDW and stayed at the POFQ and LOVED it -- but this time I'm going to try and book the Contemporary since it'll be my husband's 50th Birthday in February and that's all I've heard him talk about (he's enamored with the building and monorail that goes through it).

So I've read some complaints about if you're in a MK View Room (which will be the top choice for us since we have a 6 year old daughter who's equally enamored with the Castle) there's a good deal of noise/shaking from the monorail -- and also Chef Mickey's. Is this true??

Also how do we get around to all the various attractions (Epcot/Downtown Disney/Hollywood Studios/AK)? And also the other hotels for the character dining? Last time we booked every character dining available (had the deluxe dining plan) but missed just about everyone because my daughter slept too late and taking the bus to MK and then having to get on the monorail after was just too much of a PITA.

TIA!!

 

[koho]

We just returned from CR about two weeks ago. It was our first time staying there. We did not have a view of MK but we were on the eleventh floor with a view of Bay Lake. I did not think there was very much noise from Chef Mickey's or the monorail. I will admit that if you were very quite and close to the hallway or bathroom you could hear Chef Mickey's. But that being said it was not overly loud. We had room 4605 which was again on the 11th floor on the bay lake side about half way down the Contempo Cafe. So we were not directly above Chef Mickeys.

As far as getting to parks you can either take the monorail to MK or walk there. There is a sidewalk leading form CR to MK and it only takes about 10 minutes. To get to EPCOT you take the monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the EPCOT monorail. To get to DTD, HS and AK you have to take a bus.

We found it quicker to walk to MK than to take the monorail. We walked to MK most every time and what was with our 5 and 7 yo daughters.

The one complaint we had about CR was the elevators. There is a bank of 5 elevators. And every evening it seemed that only two were running. We came to the conclusion that one elevator was being used for the Californa Grill and we knew that one was broken. We started to notice that people would just on an elevator and go which ever way it was going to get to where they wanted to go. We even had to do it once or twice. We would be on the 4th floor trying to get to the 11th and end up going down to the first floor just to go up to our floor.

Also the resort is very busy in the evening. Mainly because of the restaurants and the monorail.

But other than the elevator issue the resort was nice. We enjoyed the view of Bay Lake. We could see the electric water pagent twice every night. It went to the WL first and then lastly CR and we could see it both times. Plus from our balcony we could see the fireworks at EPCOT.

I hope this helps.

 

[spiceycat]

noise is not a big problem - CR does white noise really well - you don't even realize it until you change resorts (which most guests don't do)

as for as high as possible - that helps too.

well for the Polyn and GF you just go to the 4th floor then take the escaltor to the monorail.

to get to Epcot you take the monorail then change at TTC (next stop) to the Epcot monorail.

to get to other parks you take the buses - they are in front of the CR - go out the side door in the lobby.

now only remember BC as having a character meal not in a theme park or the MK area (where CR is located) - if depends upon when you make the reservation - I would go for late as possible - then you walk over to the MK area and take the bus to BC. or you take the monorail to Epcot and walk over - for this you need a park hoppers - so you can go visit another park after you eat - or just go back to Epcot.

any other questions just ask

 

[JohnDebiErin]

Thank you!! Do you know if there are any other hotels (at the risk of breaking my husband/daughter's hearts) that have TTC or monorail service or even boat service to everything? I really hate the buses, they seem to take forever to either come or even get on without standing in a long line.

 

[spiceycat]

WDW is BIG - nothing will have everything. the parks are miles apart.

MK resorts - Polyn, GF, CR/BLT - are on the monorail that goes to MK and Epcot - bus service for everything else

Epcot resorts - BC, YC, BW, D&S - have walking or boating to Epcot and studios.

that is it for the parks.

now DD - OKW, SSR, PO have boats and buses to DD
OKW and SSR also have walking.

decide which park you really want to visit and just go to the others for a day or less

 

[JohnDebiErin]

Thank you so much!! last time we went my daughter wasn't so interested in Epcot or even Animal Kingdom (plus it was sweltering hot the day we went to AK, so I'm sure that didn't help matters). I'm hoping she'll enjoy Epcot more when we go next year but our focus is probably going to be more on MK & HS and wherever the character dining is.

Plus I think I remember reading somewhere that we can make arrangements to go to Sea World for the day.

Thanks again for the input!!

 

[spiceycat]

Plus I think I remember reading somewhere that we can make arrangements to go to Sea World for the day.

this is NOT DL - where you can easily visit the competition. WDW is much bigger - so getting off property to see Seaworld or US is alot harder.

would not do neither this trip. come back and stay at one of the DD hotels -- they make it easy to visit SW or US.

 

[JohnDebiErin]

I wouldn't even be looking to do US this time around - DD is too small still and probably wouldn't meet the height requirement on most of the rides there -- we just thought if it was easy enough to book a day trip to Sea World she would really love that. If it doesn't work, we'll just downsize the trip by a day.

 

[spiceycat]

sorry dd - is downtown disney hotels - forget to put the h.

they are near dd and they do provide buses and tickets to Universal Studio (harry potter) and Seaworld.

 

[JohnDebiErin]

Ah I didn't know that!! Thanks!!

 

[Lillian Gracey]

If you are focused on Epcot and MK, then CR is perfect. It's a wonderful resort. I stayed CL there and it was so wonderful! The MK view is a hit or miss. If you can afford it, I would do CL with a Bay Lake View. The CL Lounge has a perfect view of MK. I loved watching Wishes from it and you can watch the Water Pageant from your room! If you don't want to do CL, you can try and request a room on a higher floor, but of course that isn't guaranteed. Good luck and have fun!

 

[JohnDebiErin]

I'm hoping once I can book the package in August, there will be some kind of promotion shortly thereafter for February to bring the cost down so I can get a CL. While I would love the serenity and quiet of the Bay Lake View (or even Garden View), the view of MK will be a must for my daughter.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I'm hoping once I can book the package in August, there will be some kind of promotion shortly thereafter for February to bring the cost down so I can get a CL. While I would love the serenity and quiet of the Bay Lake View (or even Garden View), the view of MK will be a must for my daughter.

You don't need to spend the extra money to have an MK View if you do CL because you can go to the lounge and view MK. That's why I suggested a BLV.

 

[JohnDebiErin]

Thanks for the tip, we'll probably still go with the MK view room -- getting "presentable" just to give my daughter the view she'll want will get tiring fast. LOL

 

[Alabama Minnie]

Just wanted to say that IMO your daughter is the perfect age for Seaworld. I know you can get picked-up at Disney to go to Universal, I bet they have the same thing for Seaworld (we usually drive so that was never a problem for us). We found that our kids "outgrew" Seaworld quickly, especially since the rides are just duplicates of what are at Disney and US.

We saved US/IOA for later pre-teen/teenage years. They are much more agressive parks.

Also, wanted to mention that Wilderness Lodge offers the boat to MK and you can connect to the Epcot monorail too. Bus to AK and DHS though. It's a beautiful resort too. Poly is our monorail favorite though.

Not sure when you are going but Presidents Day in Feb. is crowded and they want have specials then. I know because we have had to work around it for our anniversary trips in Feb. Also, my BFF and myself spent our 50th at the Contemporary. It was my 1st deluxe stay.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Thanks!! I already check it out (president's day). It falls on 2/18 and since DH's birthday is 2/9 I'm probably going to book our stay for 2/2-2/10, or although it'll kill any chance of discounts, the week after which will at least give us the Presidents Day (and an extra couple of days beyond that for DD) to rest before work/school starts again.

ETA: I couldn't remember my original username and finally got the email reminding me what it was...LOL

 

[Missyrose]

I'm hoping once I can book the package in August, there will be some kind of promotion shortly thereafter for February to bring the cost down so I can get a CL. While I would love the serenity and quiet of the Bay Lake View (or even Garden View), the view of MK will be a must for my daughter.

Just as an FYI Garden View isn't just another view category in the tower. Those rooms are actually in another building, separated from the main tower by a covered walkway. It doesn't sound like that's the kind of trip you're planning, but they're a good way to save money. I'd stick with tower rooms for this trip.

Good tip from PPs on doing a Lake View CL room, best of both worlds! The nice thing about CL is you can escape to the lounge if your daughter is napping in the room.

 

[ErinsMommy]

At age 4, my daughter outlasted both my husband and myself and walked the whole day, every day, from park opening to closing -- only downfall was when we were exiting the park we had to carry her from the entrance to the bus and then to the room -- which we're hoping is the bonus of the Contemporary and its monorail.

So I think she's going to be the one looking for an escape route while my husband and I nap.