Contemporary???

[sasha]

Well, it looks like my dh & I are leaning towards the Contemporary. This will be our very 1st time to WDW, we're traveling alone, and there's a VERY GOOD chance I'll be pregnant by the time we go. Here's my question:

I've heard mixed reviews about the Contemporary, so I would really like honest opinions. If we get a garden wing room, is that totally not worth the price? Should we only stay in the main tower and is that worth the price? We like the Monorail access, variety in restaurants, room service, gift shops, Mickeys, etc. Is this the best hotel for us? Before we were leaning towards Riverside, but if I am pregnant it might be too much walking in the heat (early September). Also, we don't want to spend an obscene amount of money.

Your complete honesty is totally appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[Dvcm1997]

The Contempory was my favorite resort for many years before I joined the Vacation Club. For your first trip to WDW I strongly suggest that you stay on the monorail line (CR or Poly or GF) if it is in your budget. I like to stay in the tower rooms but have also stayed in the garden wings. The garden rooms are a short walk to the main building and you can walk to the MK faster than taking the monorail. I have also stayed at Riverside and this is also a wonder ful resort. What ever you decide you will have a great time.

 

[vacationwoman]

If you can get a good price on the Contempory I would stay there. This was where we stayed the 1st time we went and we loved it. Stayed in the garden wings (later stayed in the towers) The wings are less expensive and I actually liked them better because the are closer to the pool and don't have as much "people traffic" as the tower does. However they don't have balconies like the tower where you can have a great view of the MK.
When Dixie (oops Riverside) opened in 92 we stayed there and have been staying there ever since. The rooms are a little smaller but the atmosphere is so much nicer (IMHO) The landscaping is beautiful. They have several "quiet pools" and a main pool. A great sit down restuarant and the best food court. The only room service they have is pizza delivery.
Walking around the resort is very relaxing (and will be good for you "in your condition" advance congradulations) It's the parks that will have you walking forever. There are 4 bus stops around Riverside and none are a long walk.
Lodges 14, 15, 18 ( in the bayou) are the closest to the main building where everything is and none of the buildings are more than a 5 minute walk away.
If you are in a garden wing at the Contempory the walk to the monorail is longer.
A big plus is that Riverside costs almost half the price.
So actually I love them both, but Riverside seems to me to be more relaxing.
Have a great time!!!!!!!!

 

[LKS]

The Contemporary is our favorite and we will stay again in June. I was there in '97 in a standard wing room (North). We had a 2 and 5 year old and I was Oh, 5 months or so pregnant. The dreaded walk from the wings is NOTHING. The wings are quite nice, the rooms are large and the location can't be beat. Can't remember what we paid, but less than the tower, for sure.

In '98 we stayed in the tower with 5 yo, 3yo and infant. Again, great room, great view that time, etc.... We only paid 199 plus tax for the tower that time, so thought it was not SO unreasonable. Of course, we never pay these kinds of rates anywhere else.

We will be paying 219 plus tax this time, but staying longer. It's a huge splurge for our 15th Anniv. and DHs 40th BD that week. We started out doing standard for less money when the tower was prohibitive, but with the SOG using the north wing, I was getting nervous and we decided to go tower once it dropped to 219. If budget is tight, go wing - it's great!, if you can afford some extra bucks, the view from the tower is awesome, at least once.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I stayed at the Contemporary over New Years. We were on the Tower Club (12th floor). Though it was expensive (ouch!) it was worth the price. I really enjoyed the Contemporary, and liked staying on the Tower Club (we had the MK view). I would definetly stay in the tower again, it is an awesome experience.

 

[halfway there]

I hear people either love or hate the Contemporary so you may get a lot of conflicting opinions. I happen to be one who loves it! We also stayed in the North wing in '97 (maybe we passed in the hall LKS??). The wings are very quiet and peaceful. The North wing is closest to the bus stop and the MK. We had a view of the castle and watched the fireworks every night from our slider and lean rail(no balconies ).
Chef Mickey's is one of the best buffets around. We've had both breakfast and dinner there. Also, definitely try California Grille on the top floor - a must for a special occasion - the views are wonderful and the food is great!
I hear Riverside is a really nice place (we are considering it for our next trip) but for your first time, I think the Contemporary is your best bet!

Hey,vacationwoman, where were you for my thread about the moderate resorts? Glad to hear some more positive things about Riverside!

 

[Nolcrest]

I agree with everything vacationwoman had to say. Stayed at Contemporary when I was pregnant. Nice, but it didn't really wow us. Stayed at Riverside and loved it. Riverside just suits our taste more. Loved the selection of pools and it is a beauty of a resort to stroll around. I had reservations for CR for this July. I thought the kids would like to stay there and I found I just wasn't getting too excited about the trip and "all" the money we were going to spend. Ended up switching ressies to CBR for less than half of what we would spend at CR and I'm now very excited to go. If you've never been before, you'll love anyplace you stay. The magic will take over.

 

[Snow Shoe]

The Contemp is a great place to stay at. We've stayed in both the garden and tower rooms. The rooms are decorated in bold colors and modernistic designs. The rooms are also the largest of the resorts 435 sq/ft. They have also just released their summer discounts for the resorts. Goto http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#july and see what the Contemp is available for. Hope you have a great time.

 

[Neeter]

I have stayed at both CR and DxL (now Riverside). We loved CR. You cannot beat the convience of the monorail and the short walk to the MK! We also loved the Tower room we had and also thought the Food Court and other Restaurants were very good.

As far as our opinion on DxL... we hated it. Our room felt run-down, we hated the layout, and hated the bus service and long walks from the bus stops at night. DxL would be my last choice. We much prefer an All Stars to Riverside.

Hope you have a great trip, wherever you decide to stay!

 

[RobinLyn]

Hate to say it but we were not that impressed with the Contemporary. We had a club room in the tower facing MK which was nice. But for the money, there are 2 better choices; the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. These two Resorts are romantic, beautiful inside and out, and for a couple who may be expecting thier first child (Congratulations!!), IMHO, either one would be a better choice. Have a great trip!

RobinLyn

 

[eeyore0062]

We LOVED the Contemporary. We had a wing room in the South Wing, with a great view of Bay Lake. Request that... it was great! We were on the 3rd floor, and could see the Electrical Water Pageant lying in bed at night! The view was very nice! We didn't find the walk to the main tower to be bad, at all! We felt the grounds were beautiful and the energy of this resort amazing. We would love to stay there again!

 

[Kallison]

We've stayed at Riverside and Contemporary. I would hands down choose the Contemp, for the convenience factor and size of the rooms alone. Have a great trip, congrats on your new arrival.