Contemporary Resort

[lzj21428]

Would appreciate any help regarding Contemporary Resort. Trying to plan a trip to DW and have only stayed at the Poly, which we loved. What can anyone tell me about this resort, rooms, recreation, convenience in getting to parks, etc... I want to hear good and bad. Thanks for your help.

 

[javaj]

Link to CR FAQs and Info Thread on this board:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=417291

 

[Beast fan]

Stayed at CR in Jan, 2002. We weren't there very long (only a 3 night stay) and it was FREEZING that time, so I cannot comment on the recreation. I will say, however, that having the monorail that accessible was wonderful. Since we weren't there long, DW and I needed the monorail to help cram all "have to sees" in.

Dave

 

[ColoradoDis]

We were there for 6 nights during the last week of May. We love it and would always stay in a park-view, tower room if it were possible (mainly cost).

It's easy to get to the MK (walking) and Epcot (Monorail). We used the valet parking to keep our car handy for the other parks and DD. Didn't try the buses.

The rooms are large with 2 Queen beds and a daybed. The bathrooms are also large with 2 sinks. We watched Wishes from our balcony 3 nights and could even hear part of the music. We could also watch the electric water parade and hear that music.

The shops are really nice and have a nice selection.

We ate at all the restaurants and would recommend them all. We had dinner at all three but only ate breakfast in the Food and Fun Center.

We liked the pools and the small boats.

We liked taking the boat the HDDR and Wilderness Lodge.

Laundry was easy and available in both Garden Wings.

Check-in was easy. I went in the morning since we were moving from the Poly. Asked for a room on a high floor with a Park view. Got both (11th floor). Of course, the room wasn't ready, so off we went to AK and came back later to see the room.


The thing we like the most is being "in the magic". You really feel like you are staying in the Parks when you can look out of your room and see the castle and Space Mountain.

 

[luvdzny]

We stayed there last month and we did not like it. We were planning to be there for 6 nights then move to AKL for 3. We decided to head to AKL after 3 nights. We were in the North wing, 1st floor, parking lot view. The size of the room was wonderful! The wing seemed a bit run down. There was just too much concrete for us, no beautiful grounds and palm trees like at the other resorts we have stayed at. The bus service was not that great either. The Food & Fun Center does not have much of a selection, we ate breakfast there one morning and they didn't even have "real" oatmeal, only instant. The CM's weren't rude, but they weren't overly friendly either. There wasn't anything really wrong with the CR, but we were much happier at AKL.

 

[Escapecar]

I was in that same part of the hotel (North Wing, 1st floor, parking lot view) last week. Like everything else in this world, there is good and bad about the CR.


Here's the "problem" with the run-down wings: That carpet in the hallways just doesn't hide stains. What was the designer thinking, putting that stuff down in a high-traffic area? The walls show a number of scuffs from baggage and housekeeping carts. For the money spent, Disney should do something about this, but it's not like this is a dumpy motel. The rooms themselves are really nice, with lots of space for you and your stuff.

Unless you are in the atrium of the tower, the CR feels like a Hyatt, or any nice big-city hotel. Not good, not bad, just the way it is. (FWIW, we stopped by the Poly and the WL for meals, and I was blown away by the theming at those resorts.) The atrium, however, is very cool - very "modern" and zoomy and shiny, like the future we were promised back in the 60s. You don't see monorails passing over head in too many hotels, now do you? The shops in the atrium were also very good. The Food and Fun center could use a little more real estate - it aways seemed crowded.

Wing rooms can be a looooooooong way away from the tower. We were in 7163, and while it was convenient for when we used the car, and for walking over to the MK, I think we were closer to Space Mountain than we were to the monorail stop in the atrium. (Note: That was hyperbole. But it was a loooong walk to the room.)

Apart from the atrium, the best thing about the CR is location, location, location, especially if you are focused on the MK or Epcot. It's ten minutes walk to the MK, and it's the first monorail stop on the way back. The TTC is the first stop after you leave, so going to Epcot is easy. The bus service to MGM was fine, but I only used it a couple of times, so I can't really render an opinion on that.

I didn't use the pool, but my kids were happy with it. There is a whole lot of concrete out there.

On the whole, if immersive resort theming is important to you, the CR may not be your cup of tea. But if you are going to hit the parks hard, and like a big room, deluxe amenities, and convenient access to MK and Epcot, the wing rooms at CR are a decent value. We'd be happy to stay there again, although I'd like to give the Poly or WL a try.

 

[luvdzny]

Escapecar - you had our room!!! We wer there 6/18-6/21. It was quite a hike to the tower, Food & Fun Center, bus stops, pool etc. It sounds like you have the same opinion as we do - not bad but not great. I don't think we would stay there again.

 

[mickeys friend]

We love the Contemporary for alot of reasons.The monorail resorts are all great,but the rooms at the Contemporary are larger than most resorts (the bathroom is set up great and its really big).We are again staying in the tower Sept 19th-Sept26th and love being able to sit out and watch the fireworks from our room.Chef Mickeys is something not to miss,even for adults and teenagers,they have alot of water boats and parasailing.You can take a nice boat ride to Fort Wilderness campgrounds and get a good meal the the buffet place next door to the Hoop De Doo show (I was told they have the same food choices,but not show).There is alot of different kinds of places to eat and alot of shops and is big.We've stayed in the wings and alots loved them as long as you are not faceing the pool (can get loud).We love any and all of the monorail resorts but keep coming back to the Contemporary and its the cheapest of the monorail resorts.

 

[Betsyt82]

I loved being there and as in any resort there can be good and bad points. The best point was the walk to MK. It was fun to be there and I hope if you go you will keep an open mind and have fun.

 

[sotoalf]

Escapecar nailed the hotel's pluses and minuses. I understand when people say that the wing rooms are no better or worse than good room at a Hyatt or Hilton; but if you're lucky enough to get a Bay Lake view, as we were two weeks ao (6/25 -6/28), you're guaranteed a tranquility that no other hotel in WDW offers. In room 8112 our only guests were loons, ducks, and the boat launches from Ft Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge we'd see from our first floor patio.

I never minded the walk to the tower - it was about 5 minutes from the room to the Grand Concourse. However, it might seem like a lot to a handicapped guest or families with small children.

Keep in mind that NO deluxe resort has a big food court. Food courts are biggest in moderate and value hotels; at a deluxe you get more choices for sit-down meals, which might be an inconvenience for families on a budget or with kids.

 

[sotoalf]

I forgot to add a link to my review:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=596528&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

 

[Daisy64]

We loved this resort. I asked my son (5) what his fav part of our holiday was, he said the arcade and monorail. We only did MK this time and knowing after the fireworks we didn't have to wait for a bus was great! (last time we stayed at PC and although we had a great time the walk to the buses was a killer after a long day in the park)
Our room at the Contemporary was huge and very close to everything, (north gardenview I think). We had a view of parking lot but if you kind of overlooked that we also had view of monorail, Castle and Space Mountain. We definitly want to stay here again!

Daisy

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

My husband and I stayed at the CR last November and WE LOVED IT!!! We were lucky and received a MK view and I think we were on the 8th floor. We could lay in bed and watch the castle change and the monorail zoom by. It really was magical. We also enjoyed people watching down by Chef Mickey's. It was just a really fun resort to stay in.

 

[chrisp]

Here are the ratings/comments for the CR on the DISboards (mine is the second one from the top):

Contemporary Resort Ratings

 

[chancellor]

I would post a lengthy reply but I think Escapecar nailed it. That's also why some people love the CR and some people hate it.

 

[lzj21428]

thank you all for the great reviews. I have booked a trip for Aug 9th and got the Poly, lagoon view. I'm happy and kids are happy, too. Thanks again to all who replied.