Contemporary....Worth the $$$?

[Artoo]

We're planning on going back in late 2008 and I would LOVE to stay at the Contemporary (it's always been a dream of mine), but am really scared about the high prices. I've read mixed reviews of the resort, but it seems so convenient and elegant to me. Is it really worth the money?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since I am a huge Contemporary fan as you can see by my user name, of course the Contemporary is worth the $$$. I mean how can you not beat staying at the Resort which is the closest to the Magic Kingdom and the only one where you can walk to it.

 

[Aisling]

I think the CR has the coolest rooms on property, looking very much like chic modern hotels here in NYC.
The rooms are so large, when compared to other resorts.
The beds are very comfortable with soft bedding, unlike the stiff bedspreads they use at other hotels.
The CR has the BEST views of the Castle and the Magic Kingdom in general. Not even the flagship Grand Floridian can boast of better views.
The atmosphere is alive, vibrant, fun, and hip.
The rooms have computers!
The pool is plain, with an old-school slide, but there's nothing like swimming at night with the open sky over your head and Bay Lake right next to you.
Having the monorail right there is a major plus.

I loved every Disney hotel we've stayed in (even AKL and the bedbugs!), but the CR to me and my family really is worth the extra expense for being the most comfortable and beautiful place on property.

 

[Aisling]

Look at these comfy beds!

The pool is nostalgic, and it has a beach.

The view can't be beat.

 

[disneyholic family]

and as an opposing view, the CR is our least favorite of the disney resorts...

 

[Aisling]

and as an opposing view, the CR is our least favorite of the disney resorts...

Would you tell us why? No debating...just wondering what you didn't like.

 

[disneyholic family]

Would you tell us why? No debating...just wondering what you didn't like.

personal preference....
we've stayed at many of the WDW resorts and, while we've enjoyed all of them in their own way, we have our preferences - which i'm sure is true of everyone...

let's see if i can rank order them....

of the resorts we've stayed at:

deluxes (by order of preference, starting with our favorite)..
1. GF - we adore the GF
2. WL - we adore the WL
3. YC
4. Poly
5. AKL
6. BC
7. BWI
8. CR

Did i miss any?

Moderates:
1. POR - the only moderate we've stayed in and we loved it there....i would rank it above the BC, BWI and CR in terms of our preference

Value:
1. All Star Music
2. All Star Sports
(they're both nice, we preferred the Music)

Home away from Home:
1. OKW - we've only stayed at the OKW and we LOVE it there. I would rank the OKW above the POR, YC, AKL, Poly, BC, BWI and CR.

That really doesn't answer your question. But i don't know whether i can put into words what i like and don't like about resorts. It's more of a feeling of being at home somewhere. The CR isn't very homey for one thing. It lacked the magic for me. I dunno. It isn't our favorite. On the other hand, it's definitely convenient.

 

[susieq76]

Its my favorite resort! Maybe its the New Yorker in me too. I also love the WL- but it is completely different!

 

[G8RFAN]

deluxes (by order of preference, starting with our favorite)..
1. GF - we adore the GF
2. WL - we adore the WL
3. YC
4. Poly
5. AKL
6. BC
7. BWI
8. CR

Not surprising that my list is almost completely reverse of yours as certain resorts give you that "connection". While I wouldn't put CR at the top, it would be certainly ahead of BC.

We just stayed a few days at CR for the first time since the room remodel a couple weeks ago and while we don't go to MK as much as we used to, being a monorail resort with a rail platform under air gives it conveniences that is nearly unrivaled. The rooms are beautiful and the complimentary internet is really nice. I still think they need to do a lot to the exterior of the building to bring it to a more modern level, but as far as value, it ranks up there.

 

[momtobrynncess]

We're planning on going back in late 2008 and I would LOVE to stay at the Contemporary (it's always been a dream of mine), but am really scared about the high prices. I've read mixed reviews of the resort, but it seems so convenient and elegant to me. Is it really worth the money?

In a word?


YES!!!!!!

But I couldn't have said it any better than the rest of the CR fans.....Did I mention one of the original Disney Resorts first built when Walt created Disney World?????

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Look at these comfy beds!

The pool is nostalgic, and it has a beach.

The view can't be beat.

Wow! I always wanted to try that resort! You convinced me!!!

And you say there's computers in every room? Never heard of that!!!

I think we will try it on our next trip!!!!

Thanks for the nice pictures!

 

[lustergirl]

I am considering staying here next year as well. Are the rooms really big enough for 5 people- let's say 4 adults and one teenager. The beds are queens- correct?? Is the a daybed as well. I like the convenience of being on the monorail and right next to MK.

 

[alicenwonder99]

I am considering staying here next year as well. Are the rooms really big enough for 5 people- let's say 4 adults and one teenager. The beds are queens- correct?? Is the a daybed as well. I like the convenience of being on the monorail and right next to MK.

We had 6 people staying at the CR last year. 2 adults, 1 teen, 2 children, 1 infant. The daybed is really only a twin-sized bed. It was comfortable. I slept on it one night (still trying to figure out how I got stuck on the daybed!!!!!)

We love the CR for the convenience of the monorail. We spend most of our trip at the MK, and it's so easy to get back to the CR using the monorail. Taking the buses back to the hotel is just so time-consuming if you want a break in the afternoon.

Here's what we did on our last WDW trip: we got to MK at opening (did the LOMH or EMH every morning they offered it). Had lunch around noon-1pm. Headed back to the CR for swimming, went back to a different park in the evening. If you have to take the buses, it just seems to take forever to go back in the afternoon. And dealing with a stroller on a bus is such a PIA!

HTH

Mary

 

[MissionMouse]

We're planning on going back in late 2008 and I would LOVE to stay at the Contemporary (it's always been a dream of mine), but am really scared about the high prices. I've read mixed reviews of the resort, but it seems so convenient and elegant to me. Is it really worth the money?

We would have stayed this year, but we avoid construction zones when on vacation, so we opted for another resort this year. After this years trip we will be looking at the CR Tower again. We have stayed before and agree with CR Resort Fan 4 Life and Aisling. We think it is worth it.


- Best location and views of MK.
- If you are interested in diverse water activities this is the place.
- 5-7 minute walk to the MK
- Chef Mickeys, California Grill and Concourse Steakhouse
- Only resort with the monorail running through the building
- The architecure is its theme with what I call a sprinkle of Mickey
- Great resort with small children - monorail, close to MK, walkway to MK, etc

But you should be aware some people find...
- the minimalist environment a little sterile...remember the architecure is the theme
- Conventions can "take over" the lower level of the tower bilding
- the wing building is a little distance from the main building
- the simple pool areas lackin g the pizzazz found in some of the other deluxes built years and years later

 

[tink_lover]

I have not stayed at as many of the Disney hotels as so many on this board. But I have stayed at a number of them, both without kids, with one, two and then three kids in tow. We loved the CR and are staying again next year. I think much of the decision has to do with where you want to spend your money - different people choose different things. For us, it was just a HUGE convenience with the little kids. Plus, we loved it!! When the kids are older, we will try the family suites, but until then, we are a monorail hotel family.

 

[monorailsilver]

Having never stayed there, I'd say yes!

I am a monorail fan and as long as it is on the monorail it is AOK with me!

Plus whenever I look at the tower view rooms, I sigh & tell myself I want to stay there. Actually growing up I always wanted to stay there because the monorail went right thru it.

My favorite parks are the MK & Epcot so it is easy to get to both from there.

 

[LilGMom]

We stayed in the now demolished North Garden Wing a few years ago (prior to the new room renovations) and while the room was big and it was nice being able to walk to the MK we will never stay there again unless for some reason we are given a room for next to nothing. Did not like it but our experience might have been better had we been in the tower, not sure.

 

[Caitsmama]

Those new pics look beautiful with the rooms..

I think i would give it a shot for sure for a trip, i think the closeness to MK is a huge plus!

However, i do have to say, that it looks like they should spend a lil' time and $$ to redo the pool area to bring it more up to par with what you would expect in a deluxe resort atmosphere..

I think i would like to take a walk around the resort when we go in november, since we will be next door at the poly..

 

[skifast22]

We're planning on going back in late 2008 and I would LOVE to stay at the Contemporary (it's always been a dream of mine), but am really scared about the high prices. I've read mixed reviews of the resort, but it seems so convenient and elegant to me. Is it really worth the money?

I'm in a similar boat as you, but say if it's always been your dream, then give it a shot. I usually don't like to spend alot of money on the hotel when I go on vacation. I'm more of a Days Inn or value resort person. But, this year i said why not. I reserved a tower MK view last Novemeber, and have been putting money aside each month for the trip (which is now only 23 days away ) Although it is alot of money, I've never been as excited for a disney trip as I have been for this one. I even found the Disboards due to my excitement One thing to keep in mind, if your going in September, theres a chance you may be able to get free dining if it's offered again. Perhaps you could use that to justify spending a little (well ok, alot) more on the hotel. It's not a guarentee though. Even though I'm there during free dining this year, I was told that offer wasn't available with my room

 

[Aisling]

I am considering staying here next year as well. Are the rooms really big enough for 5 people- let's say 4 adults and one teenager. The beds are queens- correct?? Is the a daybed as well. I like the convenience of being on the monorail and right next to MK.

We stayed with 4 adult sized people: me, DS21, his girlfriend 22, DS15, and nephew 13.
Girlfriend, who is 5 foot 9 slept on the sofabed, and it was long enough and very comfortable.
Since the rooms are so large, 5 people would work very well. We also stayed in AKL deluxe, and even with the extra space, we felt it wasn't big enough for comfort, and compared less favorably to the CR.