Contemporary Tower vs. Contemporary Tower Club

[tinkerrn]

Just wanted some advise from those of you who have stayed at the Contemporary. Can't make up our minds if it is worth the extra money to stay on the 12th floor/Club level*** NOT the 14 th conceirge level. We are wanting to stay in a king room with a view of Magic Kingdom. I have stayed in the reg. Tower rooms so many times as a kid and it was fantastic!!!! Are the rooms different? Balconies any bigger? Better view from the Club level rooms. Want to be able to sit out on balcony and watch fireworks if possible.
I usually take care of the PS myself.
Appreciate any input!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!

 

[mommykds]

What are the Concierge rooms like?

The Concierge Floors - 12 and 14 - have two types of rooms - standard and suites. The standard rooms are identical to the Tower rooms below, only with a larger balcony area. Standard rooms are available on the 12th floor only. The 14th floor has both standard and suite rooms.
There is a BIG difference in the concierge services between the two floors. The 12th floor is called the Tower Club, which is basically Contemporary Concierge Light. Concierge services are available from 7am to 4pm on the 12th floor. Special services on the 12th floor include: complimentary continental breakfast, and concierge services during 7-4pm.

Now, the 14th floor concierge is a full service concierge. There is a FULL continental breakfast (much bigger than the 12th floor), daily appetizers catered by the California Grill, and nightly desserts catered by the California Grill. There is a nightly turndown service, and they leave a little chocolate Mickey (solid chocolate) on your pillow every night. The concierge is available from 7am to 10pm to make dining reservations, plan outings, answer questions, everything.

Concierge Castle View Lounge - 14th Floor (March 2004)

7:00am - 10:30am Continental Breakfast
11:30am - 3:00pm Snacks (chips, pretzels, coffee, soda)
3:00pm - 4:30pm Afternoon Tea (and cookies)
5:00pm - 7:00pm Wine and Cheese
5:30pm - 7:00pm Hot hor d'oeuvres
8:00pm - 10:00pm - Cordial and dessers
6:00pm - 10:00pm - Evening Turn Down Service

The concierge lounge on the 14th floor ONLY has free beer, wine, soda, and bottled water all day. Each 14th floor level room has a refrigerator stocked with free soda and juice. Room rates are double the average tower room, so you can determine if the service is worth the added expense. Discounts are sometimes offered on the 12th floor rooms, such as Annual Passholder discounts. Discounts are rare for the 14th floor suite rooms.

Use the Concierge! They can sometimes perform miracles for you. No reservations available at Chef Mickey's you say? Call the concierge! They can also assist in making your Priority Seatings before you arrive at WDW. Remember you are paying for their services so utilize them.



Hope this helps...

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks for all the info!!!! The concerige level on the 14th floor sounds unbelievable! Unfortunately it is not available during the time of our trip, they only have the 12th floor and the reg. Tower rooms available:-(
Since the service on the 12th floor is so limited, is it worth it? Or would I be better off to book a reg Tower room?!~sooo confused! How much bigger are the balconies on the 12 th floor than the reg. floors? Thanks for all the info!!

 

[nygrl]

Thanks for all the info!!!! The concerige level on the 14th floor sounds unbelievable! Unfortunately it is not available during the time of our trip, they only have the 12th floor and the reg. Tower rooms available:-(
Since the service on the 12th floor is so limited, is it worth it? Or would I be better off to book a reg Tower room?!~sooo confused! How much bigger are the balconies on the 12 th floor than the reg. floors? Thanks for all the info!!

we stayed on the 12th floor this past oct and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. the rooms are the same as are the balconies but the service imo is worth the extra money.the food was perfect for us .. breakfast and afternoon snacks...we didnt need dinner or booze. we did use the concierge for ps.. we had made our own but when we got there the times i had booked just didnt fit into our days so they were able to change them for us to prime times for california grill and chef mickeys. and we were also seated right away with ALOT of people waiting. turndown service every night tickets for mnsshp last minute.basically anything we asked for we got. i have to say go for it you wont be dissapointed!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I stayed on the 14th floor in a one bedroom suite and it was not fantastic at all. We have stayed on the 12th floor MANY times and LOVED it. I did not feel that the 14th floor was worth the $$$$ AT ALL. The concierge is available on the 12th floor until 10pm also. You get turn down/chocolates on the 12th floor also. There are no "stocked" fridges on the 14th. If the concierge staff are not at their desks on the 12th, they can be reached by a push of a phone button. You will get the same treatment on either floor - the breakfast was the same on the 12th/14th floor. Actually the 14th floor's was a bit skimpier. I would stay 12th again - not 14th. I have also enjoyed the regular tower rooms - before I discovered club floor!! It is just convenient for our family to have the bfast offering and nice to have the concierge available for priority seatings. In the past, they have worked miracles for us.

Enjoy!

Lives4Disney

 

[Janet2k]

Better view from the Club level rooms. Want to be able to sit out on balcony and watch fireworks if possible.

Here's a link to my 12th floor room: click here. I have some balcony view photos in there.

 

[Martha7]

Janet2k, thanks so much for posting those excellent pictures! We'll be there in about a week and a half, (although in a Garden wing room, not up high like you were!) I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful views you had!

 

[Kteacher]

I have been going back and forth about Tower Club since I booked a tower room for our trip this summer. I want to do something special as a surprise for my kids ( my youngest turns 13 , and my oldest graduates H.S. this June ). Wish me luck- I'm planning on calling today to switch to a 12th floor room-I hope there is still something available for the week we are there!

 

[tinkerrn]

The pictures were amazing!!!!!!! I was ready to throw the towel in this morning and just get ressies at the POFQ....those pics saved the day!!!

That is exactly what I wanted to see....the balcony views are beautiful!!!

Were you able to watch the fireworks at night from the balcony????

 

[pearlieq]

Just to clarify--you room won't be any different if you book regular tower or 12th flr. It will just be higher up, which will give you a more expansive view, but you can see see just fine from the lower floors. You can definitely see fireworks from the MK side, and they're gorgeous. We watched them every night and they have the music playing on one of the TV channels so you can hear the soundtrack.

Keep in mind that you may not get an MK view. You can request it, but they won't guarantee it. So you could wind up with a Bay Lake view. Not trying to rain on your parade, just wanted you to be aware.

As for whether 12th floor service is worth it, IMO, no. Especially for the extra $100 or so a night, I can buy my own cereal, chips, cookies, and lemonade and eat them in what is essentially the hallway. We got minimal assistance from the concierge--they made a few PSs, but I could have done that by calling the dining number or going to Guest Services. I think we may have gotten extra toiletries (mickey toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.) but that really was about it. If there's a big cost difference, save your money and book a regular tower room. Request an MK view and cross your fingers!

Hope you have a great time!

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks for the advise! I just put a ressie request for a reg. tower room.
I don't think I'd like to be that high up anyway. Are the balconies very sturdy? I can't wait to go!

 

[pearlieq]

The balconies are plenty sturdy--I felt very safe up there.

One tip for the balconies: They have a bit of a bird problem at the Contemporary. You may have visions of Hitchcock for a little while. The best way to discourage the birds from your balcony is to buy a baloon (one of the shiny mylar ones, not latex) and ask for a few extra ribbons. Tie the baloon securely to your balcony railing--the flash from the mylar and the movement seemed to keep the birds frightened away. Replace as needed.

Be sure to ask Mousekeeping to check/clean the balcony each day. It really is a gorgeous view--there's nothing like watching the morning mist over Seven Seas Lagoon. Sigh...

 

[tinkerrn]

BIRDS!!!!! The mylar sounds like good advise! I have another question....its important to DF; where do you get coffee in AM? He was excited about the idea of the conceirge on 12 th floor. But if we just book reg. tower room, where can we get our caffine at? I remember the arcade in the lobby...but this was 20 years ago! TIA!

 

[pearlieq]

You can either get coffee with a refillable mug at the Food n' Fun Center (right off the lobby, by the arcade, just like you remember) or you can brew it in your room. You will have a coffeemaker and a refrigerator in your room, so you could make your own if you wanted.

 

[nygrl]

Just to clarify--you room won't be any different if you book regular tower or 12th flr. It will just be higher up, which will give you a more expansive view, but you can see see just fine from the lower floors. You can definitely see fireworks from the MK side, and they're gorgeous. We watched them every night and they have the music playing on one of the TV channels so you can hear the soundtrack.

Keep in mind that you may not get an MK view. You can request it, but they won't guarantee it. So you could wind up with a Bay Lake view. Not trying to rain on your parade, just wanted you to be aware.

As for whether 12th floor service is worth it, IMO, no. Especially for the extra $100 or so a night, I can buy my own cereal, chips, cookies, and lemonade and eat them in what is essentially the hallway. We got minimal assistance from the concierge--they made a few PSs, but I could have done that by calling the dining number or going to Guest Services. I think we may have gotten extra toiletries (mickey toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.) but that really was about it. If there's a big cost difference, save your money and book a regular tower room. Request an MK view and cross your fingers!

Hope you have a great time!

wow i couldnt disagree more!! it is so funny to hear such different expierences on here. ours was so wonderful. the concierge did EVERYTHING for us(even toasted my bagel for me) to me it is worth every penny to stay on the 12th floor. we were treated like roality!

 

[erinz]

TINKERRN: I'm pretty sure there is a place in the lobby that serves lattes etc. I'm not sure if it's an esspreso cart, or what, but I have read about it alot in these threads.

When we stay at the CR this December, I'm gong to be camping out there with my mug in my hand!

 

[tinkerrn]

I like the idea of getting lattes...I am on vacation and hate the thought of making the coffee. Sounds crazy....but i'd rather buy it and sit on my balcony and watch people watch. What about the hot tubs...are they crowded? I remember the carricture drawings you could have done in the arcade....my mom has at least 10 of us. Do they still do this?

 

[Kteacher]

Okay- I switched us to 12th floor Tower Club NYgrl- did the concierge staff contact you, or did you contact them regarding PSs? Also, is there a different check-in area for 12th floor? BTW, the coffee bar is near the main floor check-in area and is called Contemporary Grounds I believe

 

[nygrl]

Okay- I switched us to 12th floor Tower Club NYgrl- did the concierge staff contact you, or did you contact them regarding PSs? Also, is there a different check-in area for 12th floor? BTW, the coffee bar is near the main floor check-in area and is called Contemporary Grounds I believe

i contacted them just because i couldnt wait they were so helpfull even before we got down there. we did have check in on the 12th floor which was great.. when we got to the cr we told the vallet that we were staying on the 12th floor . he called up there and we were given a key to get up. when we got off the elevator they were waiting for us . we felt so special.. of course that was just the beginning of a truly magical expierence... have a great time.. if you have any questions feel free to pm me

 

[Kteacher]

Thank you so much Sheri. This trip may be a little bittersweet as my kids are getting older. My oldest graduates HS this June, and I'm not sure how many more family trips to WDW we'll be making all together. I'm hoping to do some special things for my kids this trip I'm sure I'm going to have a lot more questions before our trip!