CR~are we crazy to pass it up?

[Jynohn]

Hi there-

I'm new to this forum and have already learned so much from reading everyone's posts. Thanks!

I'd like your opinions on what we should do for our upcoming January trip. My husband is a Marine, so we had originally planned to stay at SOG again and were really looking forward to seeing the new renovations. When we got our letter telling us that the opening had been delayed and offering us the Contemporary instead for the same rate ($70/night + tax) I know we should have been thrilled, but instead we're really disappointed. I've looked at many of the pictures online, and it's just not my taste AT ALL.

We've always wanted to stay at the Wilderness Lodge but have never had the chance because the rates at SOG are so great. We booked at the WL instead, but the rates are much higher ($188.60/night---still hoping for an AP rate!) My question is this...are we insane to pass up the CR at such a great rate, even if the atmosphere just doesn't do it for us? We really like the theming of the WL, but I'm starting to worry that I'm being foolish to spend so much more money, especially since I've seen so many complimentary reviews of the CR on this forum. Has anyone stayed there and NOT liked it? Suggestions?
Thanks for your help!

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

hi there,

the contemporary at $70 a night is a REAL bargain! True, the theme at the Contemporary might not be to everyone's taste -- but the resort is sooooooooooo convenient -- and the cm's are great. Walking to the Magic Kingdom is a real treat! The monorail is right there! THe pools are great! And the electric water parade is there too! The view of the fireworks is great too! And the rooms are much larger than at the Fort Wilderness. There isn't much not to like.

Maybe you could do the Contemporary this time -- just to try it for such a low cost .... and next time when Contempoary won't be an option through SOG try the Wilderness Lodge. I've stayed at Wilderness Lodge and like it very much ... but still think the Contemporary is more convenient.

Are you going with kids? Most kids love the contemporary -- it has something for all ages.

Hope that helps!

 

[crzy4dsny]

I always said that we would never stay at the Contemporary. For the same reasons you stated. We just did not like the way it looked. It seems like every where you look all you see is cement. We parked there one night last week and walked to the Magic Kingdom. That was great. It was so nice not having to deal with a bus, boat or monorail. We spend most of our time at the MK. This alone now has us considering a stay there in the future.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Yes you are crazy.

I would go for the Contemporary for $70 per night in a blink. I believe that SOG gets the Northern wing...but...location, location, location. I am NOT crazy about the decor of the CR either but the conviences are totally worth it.

1. being able to walk to the MK !! think about night after fireworks
2. being on the Monorail (this is hard to beat, trust me)
3. on Bay lake...lots of boating activities.
4. you can ride the boat to the WL and have dinner or to FW and go to Hoop de doo.
5. the pool has a slide
6. the rooms are HUGE
7. the remote chance you get upgraded to a tower room !!

Take the chance and have fun !!! these reasons would outweigh the ugly factor for me !!! good luck with your decision !!

 

[nasmith]

I've stayed CR thru SOG 3 times, even though it's themeing isn't my favorite either- the rates are too good to pass up! I agree with the other posters though- it has a much better location than WL (yes, you can take the boat to the MK from Wl, but it takes at least 30 + minutes); plus you can hop the monorail to Epcot- No bus! (You have to transfer monorails at the TTC).

Don't count on an upgrade to a Tower room however - The CMs can't do it because of the contract that SOG has with Disney. I'd say save the money and go eat at Artist Point and soak up the WL astmosphere that way (you can take a boat from the CR to WL).

Also- If you are going to WDW during value season- then you might be able to get a better rate at WL thru SOG overbook program - it should be about $120/night....I'd call SOG and ask about availability for that (Don't tell them you already have a ressie until they give you a yeah/nay on the overbook rate)(Usually the Overbook rates are about the same as AP rates)..

 

[XStAnt]

Are you crazy? Yes, but we're all a little crazy.

In all honesty, if the difference in price was only aroung $25.00/night I would probably say go with the resort you think you'd love. But at those prices? Give the CR a try. You've heard others extol the CR's positives, so I won't go into them. It sounds like the only thing you don't like is the theming. Maybe you'll like it after all (I love the fact that the monorail goes through the hotel--and kids love it too).

It sounds like your family is on something of a budget, which may be why you've never been able to stay at WL before (we can all relate to that). You may never get another chance to try a deluxe like CR at these rates. If you don't like it you can try WL next time ($188/night is no bargain for this trip).

If money is no object than stay where you want. But if money is a concern I can't justify spending 150% more for a resort with smaller rooms, etc. If you stay 5 nights that's an extra $500 to spend on your vacation (meals, gifts, shows, etc.).

My vote: try the CR and then let us know what you thought after your trip.

 

[AmyA]

Hi Jynohn,
I was in your position early last year. We had booked our SoG ressies for 9/02 at exactly 53 weeks out and were so pumped about staying there. When wegot the letter saying we had been moved to the CR, I was less than thrilled. I also didn't think I'd like the theming or the hotel at all, but we decided what the heck. At least we'd get to say we'd stayed at "Walt's" hotel.

I'll tell ya--we were so incredibly and pleasantly surprised. I won't reiterate all the good stuff people have already told you except to say that I totally agree 100% with everyone. We LOVE the CR now! We had a fabulous time on that 10 day trip in September, and we loved it so much we went back in January. We're also heading there for s short vacation in December. Finally, we did have ressies for March 5-17, 2004, but when I found out SoG was extrending their contract w/ the CR through Feb, it helped make our decision to go back to WDW in late January as opposed to March. So, that hotel we thought we'd despise, we'll have actually ended up staying there 4 times in 16 months .

One suggestion--it is so worth it to pay the $10/night extra to get a groundfloor lake view room. We love it!! I hate parking lot views, but I am too cheap to pay significantly more per night to avoid them. $10/night is more than worth it to us, though!

All that being said, I think you'll have a great time at either the CR or WL . Have a great trip and let us know what you decide!

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by Jynohn
My question is this...are we insane to pass up the CR at such a great rate, even if the atmosphere just doesn't do it for us?

In a word. Yes. You are insane . The CR is one of my absolute favorite hotels. Then again, I love 1970's kitch. I have stayed at the WL and I have stayed at the CR and for the same price I would pick the CR each and every time. You are very lucky to get such a great rate.

 

[Jynohn]

OK everyone....you've convinced me!

I'm going to try calling SOG today for the overflow rates, but if not...Contemporary here we come!

Transportation isn't as much of an issue for us since we're driving down and we'll have our own car, but you've all got me to thinking. We're staying for 12 nights, so that $1,000+ extra we'd spend at WL could be better spent in the restaurants and gift shops!

I'll let you know our thoughts on the CR when we return, and thanks for the advice!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We have stayed at WL with overflow for $119 plus tax for a woodsview in Dec 01. We stayed at CR for $95 plus tax(rates went up a few dollars after we went) late May. We enjoyed and reallly loved both places. WL was perfect with the Christmas Decor and CR was so exciting and fun! Our favorite resort is actually CR right now(trying AKL in Nov)! Kids enjoyed the pool, the refillable mug icees, the Fun Center was their favorite, and the walk to MK and monorail from MK and to Epcot makes it a perfect choice. The rooms and bathrooms are HUGE, and we could see the fireworks from our lakeside window(we wanted an upper floor quiet area). Mousekeeping was the best we had-they did neat things with the kids stuffed animals too. DD got a queen bed and DS took the daybed here. At WL we got bunkbeds for them. We just LOVED sitting by the pool as they swam, looking from the lake to the CR with the monorail whisking through. A perfect 5 night vacation.
We actually did not want SOG and specifically booked it when we heard it would be CR . Never again will we get it for such a bargain. I'll have to take a FL , AP, or overflow rate next time we want to stay here.
PS- we used our car for AK and MGM, monorail was quickest for Epcot!

 

[Kallison]

Dh took me to CR for my 40th birthday, I LOVED it. Of course I wanted to stay there since I was 10. Wilderness is prettier but for us convenience is more important. We loved the ease of getting to MK and Epcot. Only used the bus once to come back from MGM. Now the slow boat from WL would drive DH nuts! We are trying BC in 2 weeks, but I wouldn't mind doing CR again. I'm sure your trip will be magical for you. Sometimes WDW seems too stressful for a vacation doesn't it?

BTW tell Marine DH Thank YOU! God Bless America!!

 

[Kimberle]

We really loved staying at CR & we paid $600/night for a garden wing. We were on the MK side of the north wing. We could see the fireworks from our window.

Don't forget, there is a private boat that shuttles between CR & WL. You can take the boat over to WL & have dinner, etc. There is also a boat suttle between CR & the campground (where the petting zoo, horseback/pony rides & hoo dee doo are.)

Plus, you'll have an "excuse" to go back! (wink)

 

[LIFERBABE]

No the Contemporary will never be that low again.

That's one of the reasons we are returning at the end of the month.
We always wanted to try the BC, so we are spending our first 2 nights there and then 5 nights at the CR.
Since you will have a car, maybe you can split your stay and try the WL for a couple of days and still take advantage of the great CR rates.
We will average $102 a night for our 7 night stay this way.

When you compare all the amenities, no other resort compares and it is a "monorail" resort which there are only 3 and we all know how much the Poly and the GF costs!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Kimberle! $600 a night for a wing room?? Was that the standard room or one of the deluxe suites? I think AP and FL rates average around $200, I cannot imagine paying $600 a night for that. CR is wonderful, but not $600 a night! YIKES!

 

[Kimberle]

BibbidiBobbidiBoo

Yes, (blush) rack rate for Aug. We were "Young & stupid". Didn't know you could get a bargin.

 

[PamNC]

for $70 a night I'd pick the contemporary. We've stayed at both CR and WL and although we loved the theming at WL, we liked the CR better due to convenience and just the sheer nostalgic magic of it all. The rooms are way bigger too. We also found WL transportation to be slow.

Heck, for $70 a night I'd stay at the CR and I've vowed to only stay in the Epcot Resort area from here on out.

Seriously though, we liked the Contemporary!

PamNC

 

[*Flower*]

My DH is retired Military, and since SoG closed for renovation/expansion, we've stayed at the CR 12 times. And we'll be there for another 5 trips before SoG reopens for business.

We'd never stayed there before (too expensive), however- our experiences have been nothing short of wonderful. One very minor exception was a shower head that needed replacing/deliming. We got upgraded to the Tower once, and had a suite a few times too!!! And we hadn't asked for any upgrades!!!

The beds are comfy.... we bring our own pillows by choice. Think about how much time you'll be spending in your room- and remember that for the price you're paying, you can use the difference for a nice meal at Artist Point (at Wilderness Lodge) or the California Grill (at the TOP of the CR).

Good luck, and give it a chance!!! It's not like you've decided that this will be the ONLY trip that you ever take to Disney.......

 

[LoriZH]

Good choice, I LOVE CR! You will love it too and if not, well then you only paid $70 bucks a night, less than a value!

We too were young and stupid once and paid $400 a night for a Tower Club, oh well, live and learn, lol.

 

[jaysue]

CR at $70 night is awesome

Go for it!!!

You will love it

Biggest Pool
Nice Beach Boat to WL/Poly/GF
Walk to MK
On the Monorail
Good Restaurants - Chef Mickey's, Concourse Steakhouse, Contemporary Grill etc.......
Decent Bus Transportation

It is a great resort

thanks
jaysue

 

[Jynohn]

Thank you everyone, for your replies so far.

I spoke to DH this morning and told him I thought we should cancel our reservations at WL and stay with the Contemporary. I thought he'd be happy because of all the money we'd be saving, but he's really disappointed

He enjoys Disney once we arrive, but he's one of those who constantly has to remind me that there ARE other places in the world that we could vacation. I'm sure you all have one of those in your lives! Anyway, he really enjoys "outdoorsy" type stuff and he was actually starting to get excited about the trip instead of just tolerating my Disney habit because we were staying at the Lodge.

Now I'm really torn. If money were no object, I'd stay at the WL in a heartbeat, but although things are not as tight as they used to be, it's still a consideration. We'd also considered a Wilderness Cabin since we have two little ones and thought it would be nice to have the room to spread out, but that's out of the question unless we can get a really great AP rate for January.

If you were in my shoes, and the WL was the ONE thing that DH was really excited about, would you spend the extra money for the WL or still go for the savings? Another thing that had me concerned was some comments on other boards about the cleanliness in the CR rooms. I'm a big germaphobe (who isn't?), so that really freaked me out. But going by everyone's recommendations so far, that doesn't really seem to be an issue.

Thanks again for your input, and sorry so long!

Jynohn