Contemporary. Yay or Nay.....

[CatNipRules]

Okay, so after talking to my son, I've been doing some serious thinking. He has always wanted to stay at the Contemporary. Mostly because when he was little on his first trip there, he was in awe of the fact that the monorail went through the hotel. I can still remember the look on his face when he was three years old. The look of absolute awe and the fact that he couldn't believe there was a train going through a building.

So, my question is this. Is it worth staying at the Contemporary? Even if it's only for a few nights? Or should I bite the bullet and stay there the entire trip? Or would you take the money we could save by staying someplace else and use it for other things.

A little bit of back story. My husband passed away last month and we are planning on taking the trip that we planned to take next year.

We've always stayed at either a moderate or value. So this is new territory for me. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Shanti]

Okay, so after talking to my son, I've been doing some serious thinking. He has always wanted to stay at the Contemporary. Mostly because when he was little on his first trip there, he was in awe of the fact that the monorail went through the hotel. I can still remember the look on his face when he was three years old. The look of absolute awe and the fact that he couldn't believe there was a train going through a building.

So, my question is this. Is it worth staying at the Contemporary? Even if it's only for a few nights? Or should I bite the bullet and stay there the entire trip? Or would you take the money we could save by staying someplace else and use it for other things.

A little bit of back story. My husband passed away last month and we are planning on taking the trip that we planned to take next year.

We've always stayed at either a moderate or value. So this is new territory for me. Any help is greatly appreciated.

We love the Contemporary and wouldn't hesitiate to stay there for any length of time. If you want to save money, a gerden wing room is a good value.

 

[2forMe]

If it is affordable for you I would do a split stay but that is because I would prefer to spend my money on other things.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

We are staying at the CR for the first time in August. We are usually moderate resort people, but are trying 4 nights at CR in a garden wing room (less $). We figure 4 nights (splitting our stay) is enough to get the feel of the CR and by using a garden wing room, we aren't breaking the bank. I'd rather stay in a cheaper resort for part of our trip if it means I can stay longer at WDW, and that might mean staying part of our vacation at a value or deluxe.
I am sorry for your loss and wishing you a magical vacation with your son.

 

[Babsy]

Yes, the CR is a great resort and well worth a stay. I would split the stay to reduce the cost. The garden wing is a less expensive alternative, but it lacks the WOW! factor of staying in the tower where the monorail glides right through it. Depending upon your son's age that may (or may not) be a factor in whether or not the CR is 'worth it' to you and your son. Personally, if I could afford it, I would stay in the tower. The MK view is the best, but the Bay lake view is also extremely nice. Either way, you can look down from the hallway outside your room and watch the monorail drive through the grand concourse. With the MK view, you can watch the monorail go the entire circuit around the MK area. Also, you can watch the "wishes' fireworks at night from your balcony. My fondest memory in many trips to WDW is sitting on our CR balcony in our PJ's with my two grand daughters watching wishes. Just priceless!

I would suggest saving the CR for the last days of your vacation. That way you end on a high note. Perhaps you could start with your favourite value or moderate and save the last three or so nights for the CR.

Some Advantages of staying in the CR:

walk to the MK (this is a huge advantage!)
monorail goes through the hotel! Way cool!
easy direct transportation to everywhere in WDW (including resorts)
huge comfortable rooms
great balconies and views (tower rooms)
best value for on the monorail (garden wing)
quick service Contempo Cafe is great
Chef Mickey's downstairs
watch wishes from your room (Tower TPV rooms only) or viewing area (4th floor)
monorail to the Poly or GF for access to their great restaurants and grounds
everything is under one roof (or adjacent building with a covered walkway)

We Loved the Contemporary! My two grand daughters still call it 'OUR' hotel. It is their favourite (and they have stayed in the GF, Yacht Club, beach Club,
Dolphin and POR RR so far).

Good luck!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

First - I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. We love the CR. We would definitely stay there. I would stay there the whole time if you can - if you want you can do a split stay but leave the CR for the last few nights. Enjoy the time with your son.

 

[Sue M]

I am so sorry for your loss. Depending on your finances I'd either stay the entire trip at CR or split stay with a mod or value. Your trip is still pretty far away so you have lots of time to figure it out. I'd wait to see what discounts come out for your dates. Maybe enlist the help of a Disney specialized TA. They will watch for discounts and book you the best rate. Without you having to be on hold for 2 hours or dealing with crashing web site when discounts are released.

 

[betrent75]

I am sorry for your loss. My daughter and i did this exact thing when my husband died four years ago. We went to Disney 4 months after he died on the trip he had planned and booked for us 11 months before his death and stayed at the CR. I would say it's worth it even if you do a split stay and spend a few nights at the CR and stay a few nights at a moderate resort. New memories are helpful right now.

 

[Grand Admiral]

All these posts and no photos!

How about being able to have this view while sitting on your bed?

 

[betrent75]

All these posts and no photos!

How about being able to have this view while sitting on your bed?

best. reason. ever!

 

[Skywise]

Or this! (NYE 2015 just before Holiday Wishes - Those are the fireworks viewing boats heading out on the lagoon) It looks better original size.

OP - The Contemporary is a great resort and it's absolutely worthwhile staying there.
Does it make economic sense? No. But nothing at Disney ever does! As I've said elsewhere I've stayed at the Penthouse at the Bellagio in Las Vegas for half of what I've paid to stay at the Contemporary and there's no comparison to the level of quality and service. But that's not the real point. It's the experience and the magic of staying there (and having the monorail go THROUGH the hotel!!!) If you can afford staying the whole time I'd do that as it's easier on the trip. If you can afford TPV go for it but the lagoon view is just as nice.

 

[amg35]

Fantastic!!!

All these posts and no photos!

How about being able to have this view while sitting on your bed?

 

[CatNipRules]

Thank you for all of the awesome posts. And thank you for all the well wishes on the loss of my husband. It's been the hardest thing we've ever had to go through, but we are somehow managing.

So, after looking at all the pictures and sitting down and thinking about it, we've decided to do at least a split stay at the CR. I'm still working on doing a full stay for the entire trip, but we will have to see what deals come out and go from there.

 

[tink1970]

Michelle,
So truly sorry for the loss of your husband.
I'm happy you've decided to at least stay part (and hopefully all) of your time at the CR. It has great shopping, dining, proximity to MK and the monorail!
Enjoy the planning

 

[AshleeH]

We love the Contemporary area - we usually stay at BLT, but we did stay at the Contemporary for a few days one trip (they were booked the rest of the time, so we had to make it a split-stay). We love the access to MK - I'm taking my daughter for a trip next year and booked the Contemporary for that trip.

 

[Winniebell10]

We love the Contemporary! It's my boys' favorite. I hate to push for spending more money, but have to agree with other's opinions about the main tower. If you can, definitely stay there. The garden wings are quite a walk from the tower, and when we've stayed there before, it feels like some of the Contemporary vibe was lost.

 

[bnhonest]

Digging this back up because I'm kind of doubting whether or not this is the place for me too.

We're doing a split stay, 5 days at POR, last two nights at Contemporary Garden Wing. I originally wanted to stay at FWL, but was hesitant because of the construction (May '17). The phone agent talked me in to Contemporary.

I'm really looking forward to POR. The theming, really everything about it appeals to me. I can't wait! But Ive watched the videos, seen the room pics and all that about the Contemporary, and I'm just not getting that same warm feeling. It just looks like concrete and steel with no atmosphere.

Am I wrong? Am I getting myself worked up unnecessarily?

 

[Churchladychurchlady]

Personally, I think it depends on the person. For us, it's always been a dream to stay at the CR. I LOVE that it's one of the buildings (sort of) that Walt had envisioned - I think it was originally supposed to be a shopping center as part of EPCOT in the plans.
I Love the monorail, the proximity to Magic Kingdom, the history of the building, the monorail, the fact that it's an icon, the monorail.... You get the point. When I was a kid, that was "the" place to stay, so for me, this trip will be a dream come true. To others, it's just another aging hotel with stilted theming and not nearly as exciting as the other options.

It might depend how old one is as well - as a child of the 60s and 70s it's status was undeniable. I think the atmosphere is secondary to the iconic status and what the CR represents. To me the CR represents a small part of Walt's vision - and when I see it, even in pictures, I hear Walt's voice explaining EPCOT and his ideal of the city of the future. I still get chills even thinking about it. Perhaps I'm just a sentimental sap, but to me it's the romance of Disney all wrapped up in a cement and steel bow. (But I'm a confirmed history freak- so take my comment with a grain of salt).

 

[wilkeliza]

My condolences on your lost.

Here is my honest opinion. If you aren't staying in the main building (the most expensive rooms) but instead can only do the standard building then it is in no way worth it. We stayed there and felt kind of let down. Unlike the Grand Floridan and Poly where the rooms still feel grand and full of Disney magic even in the standard rooms and multiple buildings the Contempo felt like just another hotel. It was similar to how I fell about Coronado Springs. It is great when that is the style of room you want but if you want a "Disney" room then the Contempo standard room won't really do it.

If you can spring for one of the main resort rooms then it is totally the whole experience and we would try that.

 

[jordanri]

i am so sorry for your loss.

to echo the others, it isn't worth it to stay garden wing. the perks of the aframe are too hard to beat. i loved my stay at the contemporary. we split stayed there for 4 nights and cbr for 6 nights. i was very fortunate to be a cast member at the time, we stayed concierge. while it was nice, i don't think i'd stay concierge again (ok who am i kidding, wine and cheese hour was the best hour), i would stay there again in a heartbeat.