Contemporary VS. VWL

[berkfam22]

Hi Everyone! Please help me decide between Contemporary and VWL. There are 5 of us with an infant. We are doing a split stay with 2 days deluxe and 7 CBR. Wanting to at least experience a deluxe while we our youngest "doesn't count" and we can still afford it. Not looking to stay anywhere else other than these two. What do you all like about each? I have read about the Contemporary being dated and not for younger kids. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!! Also, is $527 for 2 nights a decent price? Price includes tax.

 

[Babsy]

Contemporary!!!

Why:

No construction
walk to MK
monorail to GF and POLY
huge comfortable rooms
monorail to Epcot (transfer at TTC)
Chef Mickey's
California Grille
boat to WL and FW
MK buses to all other resorts
Contempo Cafe QS
monorail goes through the resort!!!

We stayed first with a two YO and a four YO. They LOVED the CR!

 

[Little E]

I have never stayed at VWL, but we recently stayed at CR, and it was amazing! I agree with everything Babsy said. The ability to walk to and from the MK is amazing! It was so great to know at the end of the night that we would be snug in our beds at the CR before others waiting for busses, boats, and monorails would even get back to their resorts!

 

[Shanti]

Hi Everyone! Please help me decide between Contemporary and VWL. There are 5 of us with an infant. We are doing a split stay with 2 days deluxe and 7 CBR. Wanting to at least experience a deluxe while we our youngest "doesn't count" and we can still afford it. Not looking to stay anywhere else other than these two. What do you all like about each? I have read about the Contemporary being dated and not for younger kids. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!! Also, is $527 for 2 nights a decent price? Price includes tax.

My son loves the Contemporary. The rooms are not dated at all- they have an understated sophistication & are in good condition. Maybe the "dated" comments you heard were from people who stayed there before its latest refurb.

The monorail running through the resort is fun for the kids to watch, and of course, uber convenient for transportation.

Being able to walk to MK rocks. Book CR!

 

[cheshirealliekat]

The Contemporary has a more sterile, modern aesthetic. It's not that it's not made for kids, it's just...not as appealing to little ones perhaps with the minimalist decorations and clean lines? Although the monorail going straight through the hotel probably makes up for some of that!

 

[MrInfinity]

Both are great. If you have two trips sometime, I'd stay at one now and the other later! For this trip just depends if you want the walking distance to the MK and the monorail loop, or the more wilderness / better themed pool areas. Would you use any of the features along the monorail? Poly? Luau? Anything? If not and it's just transportation, then I'd do the WL since you can boat to the MK. And do the HDDR one night then.

I'd say the Contemporary is better as a central base of operations on a longer trip because it's so easy to get to from everything else. For 2 days, you're not utilizing it for that hub aspect. You'll have just enough time to take in the greatness of the WL, which I would not choose for a longer stay because it's more out of the way. Hope that helps!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you view deluxe as a splurge, the construction at VWL make it a poor choice. CR has large rooms and would be better for the group you have, if comparing a CR Standard room to a VWL studio.

 

[Silvermist999]

We've stayed at Bay Lake Tower (at Contemporary Resort) three times. My kids loved the resort. We loved the convenience of it, everything that others have already mentioned. For us, it's all about the monorail.

Last week, we did a split stay at VWL then PVB. When our kids found out we were staying at VWL, the first thing they asked was is there a monorail, lol. It was our first time at both resorts. Although we enjoyed the peacefulness of WL and found it to be enjoyable to take the boat to MK, it just wasn't as convenient to us. We found ourselves longing for our stay at PVB the second half of our trip, just to be back on the monorail!

 

[berkfam22]

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions. I think we will do Contemporary, now just have to book it. So excited, have always wanted to stay at Monorail resort!

 

[Babsy]

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions. I think we will do Contemporary, now just have to book it. So excited, have always wanted to stay at Monorail resort!

You will LOVE the convenience of being able to walk to and from the MK! With a young family, that matters a lot! BTW, are you in the tower or in the Garden wing? If you are in the GW request the ground floor in order to have a patio.

Enjoy!

 

[Aurora0427]

I definitely think you've made the right choice by picking the CR. Save VWL for when the construction is complete.

I don't understand the feedback that CR isn't appealing to small children... There's a monorail running through the middle, Chef Mickey, and two extremely kid friendly shops plus an arcade on the main concourse. I'm not really sure what people are looking for.....

Our 5 year old has requested to stay here next trip!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FWIW, a VWL Studio = 356 square feet, and includes a kitchenette that uses the space somewhat inefficiently.
A typical CR room ranges from 394-437 square feet.

 

[Micca]

Totally agree with CR! I will say that one of the cool aspects of VWL is the main building. Awesome is an over-used word, but it's a pretty apt description for the VWL lobby building. No reason you couldn't take a boat from MK over to have a look around, maybe get something to eat and stroll the grounds. But CR is a great choice for your time and your party.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

CR is a must do for us, we've been staying there DD was 5. MK view is worth every penny when you are sitting on your balcony and watching the fireworks in your jammies! We tried GF a few years ago and regretted it. We love that if you stay in the tower everything is just an elevator ride away. We always walk back from MK - only 5 minutes. My DD loves the pool and waterslide - there is even a splash pad. Only DD complaint this year was that the arcade did away the prize tickets.

 

[Babsy]

CR is a must do for us, we've been staying there DD was 5. MK view is worth every penny when you are sitting on your balcony and watching the fireworks in your jammies! We tried GF a few years ago and regretted it. We love that if you stay in the tower everything is just an elevator ride away. We always walk back from MK - only 5 minutes. My DD loves the pool and waterslide - there is even a splash pad. Only DD complaint this year was that the arcade did away the prize tickets.

This is so true!!!

Our all time favourite WDW memory is sitting on our CR balcony in our jammies with our two Grand daughters watching the Wishes fireworks and drinking hot chocolate!! The view from the CR is the absolute best! I have watched from rooms in the Poly and the GF as well, but nothing tops watching from your CR balcony. So magical, so precious! The kind of moment that warms your heart for a lifetime.

 

[miracledaughter]

Hi Everyone! Please help me decide between Contemporary and VWL. There are 5 of us with an infant. We are doing a split stay with 2 days deluxe and 7 CBR. Wanting to at least experience a deluxe while we our youngest "doesn't count" and we can still afford it. Not looking to stay anywhere else other than these two. What do you all like about each? I have read about the Contemporary being dated and not for younger kids. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!! Also, is $527 for 2 nights a decent price? Price includes tax.

I'm so jealous! The cheapest rates I can find for our trip to the Contemporary is $429/night!