Contemporary....Worth the $$$?

[srgibbs]

In a lighter season say Fall what kind of Discount can you get staying there? Just a ball park figure would do. We always stay at Riverside or POFQ but would like to try something different next year. We are not that picky so we could do without the castle view. Just the price of a standard room and what if any discounts they offer. We usually do Free dining but will not be able to next year.

 

[thptrek]

Check out my Trip Report to read about our great stay at the CR.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We, personally have never stayed at CR, but when we are at WDW we spend a lot of time there between eating at all the restaurants, shopping, and renting water craft. CR is my DH and both my DDs favorite resort and would like to stay there some day. Eventhough I think CR is nice and love visiting it, I personally like the Poly better. With that said, on our next vaca to Disney (which won't be until 2010), we decided to do our "dream vacation" and stay at the Poly in one of their 1 bdrm suites and just go all out. Don't get me wrong, it was either going to be Poly or CR, but chose Poly only because Poly's price for a 1 bdrm suite was a lot cheaper than the CRs. If my kids and DH really wanted to stay at CR I would of been happy with a 12 or 14 floor concierge but it is my DH's decision to stay in a suite. Since staying at CR is a dream of yours, I would say you should try to do it. Look into the value prices because that is when they come down a lot. Also, isn't making our dreams come true what Disney is all about?

 

[amycishere]

Look at these comfy beds!

The pool is nostalgic, and it has a beach.

The view can't be beat.

Are the castle views really that close or is that zoom? From which floor?

 

[Mickeyfla]

I think it is well worth the price. Where else can you sit in your room and either watch the fireworks or the electric light water parade. The monorail certainly makes you know you are not at home anymore Dorothy!

 

[Pamjr]

Does CR have suites or just hotel rooms?

 

[grimley1968]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the value in CR. I think it's cheesy-looking and very out of date. Maybe the rooms are nice, but the pics I see of the rooms don't look any nicer than the Poly, GF or even WL, which is much less expensive than CR, yet still has boats to MK. I actually prefer boats to the monorail. Poly, GF and WL are much better-themed resorts, IMO, with nicer pools and just about everything else. I suppose it's cool that the monorail goes through CR, rather than outside it like at Poly or GF, but I don't need to spend my money at CR to experience that. I just hop on the monorail to see it, then go back to WL or Poly.

In my opinion, Disney should revamp the pricing structure. The CR should be by far the least expensive of the Deluxes. You're just not getting as much for the dollar there as at just about any other MK area resort. Sure, you can get killer views of MK by spending even more money at CR, but would you rather be looking at MK from your room, or actually in MK?

 

[grimley1968]

Where else can you sit in your room and either watch the fireworks or the electric light water parade.

- Poly
- GF
- Some rooms at WL (for far less money)
- The pool/beach areas at any of the MK area resorts.

 

[sonny]

I stayed at CR a few years back and had the feeling I was in a bus station when the mono roared thru. This place doesn't do anything for me, it just doesn't have that "mickey-themey" atmosphere that I go to Disney for. I like the fun of the architectural styles and gawdy colors of resorts like CBR, CSR and even Poly (altho never stayed there). I felt like I should wear makeup thru the lobby and have had my briefcase to attend a meeting at CR. I go to Disney to relax and have fun.

 

[disneyjammin]

Grimely1968,I totally agree with you. We are currently at CR now, staying in the garden wing and this surely does not feel deluxe to me. Infact, we stayed at Wilderness lodge for 2 nights before coming to CR and let me tell you it was a magical stay. We were very sad when we got over to CR. The 2 just can't be compared. Even with the refurbished room it still feels lousy being here. Will post more when we get back.

 

[3for Me]

We stayed at the CR in February. We had a MK view in the tower and my kids LOVED it! You certainly feel right in the middle of all the action. It was a great stay and I am glad we did it.

That said, I will return to my old favorite, the GF this February, for the more relaxed atmosphere. I never really felt like I got to truly "relax" and get away from the action at the CR. Even at the pool.

We also did a short trip to the WL, which I did not love the first time we stayed there. This trip changed my mind! Loved the whole resort (must have been crazy last time!) Part of what I loved was NOT being in the center of it all, but having it close by. (Just what I love about GF)

At the end of the day you will get opinions as to the CR's "worth" as varied as the posters here are. You really need to "dig deep" and decide if you think it is worth it. If you are still unsure, I would suggest a split stay. Fulfill your dream (and your curiosity) while having a "fall back" option.

Good Luck!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I'm not sure what you mean by pricing structure? The CR is the least expensive of the deluxes, at least for a garden wing room. (I am not including WL here; I only priced out resorts that hold 5 people). For our spring break trip the garden wing room is the least expensive option per night. The tower view rooms, though, cost more than BW, YC, BC standard view rooms.
Robin M.

 

[grimley1968]

I'm not sure what you mean by pricing structure? The CR is the least expensive of the deluxes, at least for a garden wing room. (I am not including WL here; I only priced out resorts that hold 5 people). For our spring break trip the garden wing room is the least expensive option per night. The tower view rooms, though, cost more than BW, YC, BC standard view rooms.
Robin M.

WL and AKL are both cheaper than CR.

 

[Armandocme]

We paid $179 a night for tower room facing Magic Kingdom. It was more than worth it!

 

[srgibbs]

Armandocme
Mouseketeer


Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 362 Yes - if you go during value season

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We paid $179 a night for tower room facing Magic Kingdom. It was more than worth it!

Armandocme- may I ask how you got that rate. Was it thru AAA or a special code they were running? We would love to stay there next year if we could get a great rate like that!

 

[3for Me]

We paid $179 a night for tower room facing Magic Kingdom. It was more than worth it!

O.K., now you're just tying to rub it in! We definately didn't get that rate!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Armandocme
Mouseketeer


Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 362 Yes - if you go during value season

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We paid $179 a night for tower room facing Magic Kingdom. It was more than worth it!

Armandocme- may I ask how you got that rate. Was it thru AAA or a special code they were running? We would love to stay there next year if we could get a great rate like that!

That has to be a code or AP rate, because I am going in December and my AAA rate is $405.85/night including tax, but that is with 3 adults (extra $25/night), but is during the value season. Well worth it to make mom's trip more special. I am hoping to still possibly get an AP rate or general public room only discount though. Regular rate for that room during Value season is $395/night, I think. That could possibly be an old quote as well.

Suzanne

 

[Armandocme]

Armandocme- may I ask how you got that rate. Was it thru AAA or a special code they were running? We would love to stay there next year if we could get a great rate like that!

It was actually a convention rate. It was end of June 2006. My wife attended a convention there and we just made it a vacation for the family (dd3, dd5 and me and my wife). We got lucky and got a free upgrade to a tower room Magic Kingdom view. The rest of her convention goers were given a wing room. The room we got was one of the newly refurbished rooms.

If you stay at CR, I would definitely do tower room magic kingdom view. It was great seeing the fireworks from the balcony.

 

[triplefigs]

WL and AKL are both cheaper than CR.

Yes, but cheaper ONLY for a room that holds a maximum of 4 people. If you upgrade to a Deluxe room at the WL or AKL which will accommodate 5 people, you will pay more $$ than the Tower MK room at the CR. For larger families, the CR is a much better deal than either of these resorts.

Disney has resorts for everyone. For us, the CR is our hands-down favorite! Can't wait to go back in February.

 

[DukeBombay]

As you can see from the posts, the views on CR are mixed. I was pool hopping there last week (August 23) since we spent the day in MK and then had a reservation at the California Grill. Both my wife and I were stunned at what a tired and run down hotel the CR was. Location is always a factor as are the restaurants in choosing where to stay, but if you consider the CR as a stand alone hotel it cannot rate. Extensive renovations are being done because extensive renovations need to be done. I have stayed in many hotels in many places and I would be furious if I paid what it costs to stay at the CR.

CR is the original resort and it looks it. The pool area is truly awful. My DD8 thought the entire pool experience was the worst she has had at WDW. Unless someone has stayed there I would suggest that you do not book a reservation. Rather, stay somewhere else and with the money saved (or even if there is no saving) have dinner at the California Grill. That way you can check out the hotel, its grounds, pool area and the convenience. You can also take in the view and the fireworks if you are there late enough. The location is great for MK, but location should not be the only consideration.

Chris.