Contemporary - Tower or Garden Building?

[QueenofScott]

HI! Our last trip (just hubs and me) was in December 2019. We are finally planning another trip for January 2023 and we are so excited! We'll spend our first night at the Hilton by Disney Springs and then check into a WDW resort for 4 nights. We fell in love with the Epcot resort area years ago, so most of our stays have been over there. We've not stayed at the Contemporary before, and are considering it for the upcoming trip. I was trying to wait until I could book online, but I got tired of waiting and decided to call this afternoon. I got the following quote:

Garden Wing, Garden View $2238.75
Tower, Lake View $3096.00

We always thought that when we finally decided to stay at the Contemporary, we'd HAVE to book a Tower room in order to really have the real experience. Now that I'm ready to book, I'm really questioning whether it's worth nearly $900 extra to be in the tower. We could do lots of other stuff for that amount of money From what I've read, it looks like the rooms for the entire resort have already been renovated, so I know we won't be concerned about getting a tired, worn out room in either of the building choices. Do ya'll have any advice? What would be your pros and cons for Tower and for Garden Wing?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

 

[k5xs]

Yikes, that’s expensive!

Tower: More “part of the action.” Theme park view can be great for fireworks. Lake view can have a cool view too if far up. Either side has nice view of Electric Water Pageant. Very convenient access to eateries and monorail. Easy access to bus stop. Tower can be noisy from goings on down at Chef Mickey’s.

Garden Wing: Quieter. Moderate walking distance to Tower for eateries and transportation. Not much of a view (nice enough, but not a grand “vista”).

Both have convenient access to MK by walking path.

As much as we love(d) the Contemporary, I think the Incredibles theming has seriously cheapened it, so we’ve been staying elsewhere since that was done.

 

[QueenofScott]

Yikes, that’s expensive!

Tower: More “part of the action.” Theme park view can be great for fireworks. Lake view can have a cool view too if far up. Either side has nice view of Electric Water Pageant. Very convenient access to eateries and monorail. Easy access to bus stop. Tower can be noisy from goings on down at Chef Mickey’s.

Garden Wing: Quieter. Moderate walking distance to Tower for eateries and transportation. Not much of a view (nice enough, but not a grand “vista”).

Both have convenient access to MK by walking path.

As much as we love(d) the Contemporary, I think the Incredibles theming has seriously cheapened it, so we’ve been staying elsewhere since that was done.

Yes, I was expecting the price tag to be a little lower, considering the season. Thank you for your insights. It's nice to hear some opinions from someone who has stayed there! You've given me some things to talk over with my husband. Good thing we have time to plan and consider our options. Thanks again

 

[Marthasor]

HI! Our last trip (just hubs and me) was in December 2019. We are finally planning another trip for January 2023 and we are so excited! We'll spend our first night at the Hilton by Disney Springs and then check into a WDW resort for 4 nights. We fell in love with the Epcot resort area years ago, so most of our stays have been over there. We've not stayed at the Contemporary before, and are considering it for the upcoming trip. I was trying to wait until I could book online, but I got tired of waiting and decided to call this afternoon. I got the following quote:

Garden Wing, Garden View $2238.75
Tower, Lake View $3096.00

We always thought that when we finally decided to stay at the Contemporary, we'd HAVE to book a Tower room in order to really have the real experience. Now that I'm ready to book, I'm really questioning whether it's worth nearly $900 extra to be in the tower. We could do lots of other stuff for that amount of money From what I've read, it looks like the rooms for the entire resort have already been renovated, so I know we won't be concerned about getting a tired, worn out room in either of the building choices. Do ya'll have any advice? What would be your pros and cons for Tower and for Garden Wing?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

I would stay in the garden wing. I've stayed in both (was just in the tower in a renovated room in December) and I really don't see the appeal. I felt like I was staying in a concrete office building and, even though I was on a high floor, I could still hear the resort music in my room early in the morning. The garden wing is much quieter and the rooms are virtually (if not literally) identical. You will also have a shorter walk to the lobby, walking path and Steakhouse 71 from the garden wing - plus you won't have to use the, typically, very crowded tower elevators. I would save your money.

 

[Royal Consort]

There's no way known I would be happy in the garden wing. Tower all the way. I personally think the extra $ is worth it as I dislike the garden wing strongly. Your mileage may vary.

Tower IS the Contemporary. Views are great. Balconies are great. You feel in the middle of the magic rather than off to the side. There's the access to the grand concourse which is amazing.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’d happily choose the Garden Wing, but I like ground floor, so the tower has no appeal to me.

 

[DL1WDW2]

If You are investing this money for something special.. I would say Tower . As a matter of fact I would choose Tower over the Steakhouse 71 cause that place is a ripoff… unless you sit at the Bar and have the onion rings!
But if you must save money and believe me , Edna Mode , does not understand that concept , darling … then choose the wing.
I was the same as you and chose the Tower cause the price tag was already halfway to crazy. It was a once in a lifetime and I am glad I chose the Tower. But I admit it was only for one night. I’m not that crazy!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

No right or wrong answer here and you already see several perspectives, but personally I’d go with the Tower. For a first time/never been to CR/Epcot resort person at heart kind of guest, to me you might as well go with the “full” Tower experience. If for some reason you find yourself wanting to go back to CR in the future you’ll have been there/done that and can go Garden Wing then, if you choose.

One nit for me about the Garden Wing is that only the first floor rooms have patios, the second and third floor rooms don’t have balconies. All of us have weird preference quirks about hotel rooms and to me, a patio or balcony is one of them. Lol.

So I say go for the Tower. The Lake View side has amazing views, BTW… IMHO.

 

[_19disnA]

We stayed in the Tower lake view during our last visit to Disney in 2019. While the view of the lake is nice from your balcony, I don't think that makes it worth an extra $200+/night and never felt any more/less magical then the Garden Wing. The theme park view from the tower is even more expensive then the lake view but frankly, you mostly get a view of a parking lot and can see the tops of a few of the taller MK rides so that is certainly not worth it to me.

There is a patio area at one end of the Contemporary where you can sit outside and watch the fireworks. Don't recall the exact floor due to how they are numbered but it is the same floor as Chef Mickey's just at the other end past the gift shops.

We never had the noise issue some were talking about so perhaps it depends on what floor you are on. Getting an elevator to the lobby was never a big deal either. Theming is a matter of personal preference, what some like/others don't. Contemporary is still the only Disney hotel that has the monorail running through the interior, so always a fun feature about staying there.

 

[jods]

I prefer the Tower. I like having a balcony so the garden wing is out for me. We look for balconies wherever we stay. I also like everything in one building. So convenient mobile ordering food and taking a quick elevator to get it. We stayed there because my kids wanted too. I wasn't expecting to like it but I really did. I'm sure you will be happy with either decision.

 

[over50visits]

We really prefer the garden wings, first floor. The patios are awesome, and you have all the perks of the Contemporary at a lower price. You can step out of your room and walk around the nicely landscaped grounds, rather than the hallways to the elevators which dump you into a noisy shopping area.

YMMV of course. Nothing like a balcony overlooking the MK for the best and most comfortable fireworks view ever. But is the huge expense worth the few minutes for the fireworks? Not for us, but I understand the appeal.

 

[QueenofScott]

I would stay in the garden wing. I've stayed in both (was just in the tower in a renovated room in December) and I really don't see the appeal. I felt like I was staying in a concrete office building and, even though I was on a high floor, I could still hear the resort music in my room early in the morning. The garden wing is much quieter and the rooms are virtually (if not literally) identical. You will also have a shorter walk to the lobby, walking path and Steakhouse 71 from the garden wing - plus you won't have to use the, typically, very crowded tower elevators. I would save your money.

Great points! Thank you for your help!

 

[QueenofScott]

There's no way known I would be happy in the garden wing. Tower all the way. I personally think the extra $ is worth it as I dislike the garden wing strongly. Your mileage may vary.

Tower IS the Contemporary. Views are great. Balconies are great. You feel in the middle of the magic rather than off to the side. There's the access to the grand concourse which is amazing.

Thank you! Do all of the tower rooms have balconies? I noticed the Garden Wings don't have them, except for the patios on the first floor.

 

[QueenofScott]

No right or wrong answer here and you already see several perspectives, but personally I’d go with the Tower. For a first time/never been to CR/Epcot resort person at heart kind of guest, to me you might as well go with the “full” Tower experience. If for some reason you find yourself wanting to go back to CR in the future you’ll have been there/done that and can go Garden Wing then, if you choose.

One nit for me about the Garden Wing is that only the first floor rooms have patios, the second and third floor rooms don’t have balconies. All of us have weird preference quirks about hotel rooms and to me, a patio or balcony is one of them. Lol.

So I say go for the Tower. The Lake View side has amazing views, BTW… IMHO.

Thank you! I like to have a balcony, too. I was watching some videos yesterday and saw that the Garden Wing doesn't have them (except the first floor patios shared by two rooms).

 

[QueenofScott]

We stayed in the Tower lake view during our last visit to Disney in 2019. While the view of the lake is nice from your balcony, I don't think that makes it worth an extra $200+/night and never felt any more/less magical then the Garden Wing. The theme park view from the tower is even more expensive then the lake view but frankly, you mostly get a view of a parking lot and can see the tops of a few of the taller MK rides so that is certainly not worth it to me.

There is a patio area at one end of the Contemporary where you can sit outside and watch the fireworks. Don't recall the exact floor due to how they are numbered but it is the same floor as Chef Mickey's just at the other end past the gift shops.

We never had the noise issue some were talking about so perhaps it depends on what floor you are on. Getting an elevator to the lobby was never a big deal either. Theming is a matter of personal preference, what some like/others don't. Contemporary is still the only Disney hotel that has the monorail running through the interior, so always a fun feature about staying there.

Thank you! Love the tip about the place to watch fireworks from!

 

[_19disnA]

I think all of the Tower rooms have balconies.

 

[QueenofScott]

We really prefer the garden wings, first floor. The patios are awesome, and you have all the perks of the Contemporary at a lower price. You can step out of your room and walk around the nicely landscaped grounds, rather than the hallways to the elevators which dump you into a noisy shopping area.

YMMV of course. Nothing like a balcony overlooking the MK for the best and most comfortable fireworks view ever. But is the huge expense worth the few minutes for the fireworks? Not for us, but I understand the appeal.

Thank you! As far as location of a room within the Garden Wing, do you have any recommendations? We like to add those requests to your reservations, knowing that it's never a given.

 

[QueenofScott]

I think all the Tower rooms have balconies.

 

[QueenofScott]

I think all of the Tower rooms have balconies.

thank you!

 

[kboo]

Thank you! As far as location of a room within the Garden Wing, do you have any recommendations? We like to add those requests to your reservations, knowing that it's never a given.

I can't remember what we did when we stayed there but we asked for something close to the tower/main building and that really shortened the walk for us. The other nice thing is that the walk was covered all the way to the main building.

I am also a cheapskate so I would have picked the Garden wing (like we did in 2014). Waiting for the elevators (to the monorail) with a stroller was not really fun, and we did like the peace and quite in the garden wing. That said, not long after we bought at Bay Lake Tower, (DVC) which is like having the peace and quiet of the garden wing with the views of the tower.