Decisions Decisions, CR Garden Wing Deluxe or WL Courtyard View

[NemoLeo]

So, here is my situation that I’m hoping you might be able to help me out with. We are currently booked at the Contemporary in a Garden Wing Deluxe room for my April 20-26, 2013 trip. I was excited to score this room obviously due to rarity of it, the size of the room, convenience of the monorail and of course the walking distance to Magic Kingdom. The trip is just DH and I (34 & 32 respectively), no kids. We have never stayed at CR before – after I booked though I started to read very mixed things about CR, especially the garden wing. This of course made me doubt my decision and I started looking at other resorts – I was excited to see that they are in the process of rehabbing rooms at Wilderness Lodge. We have stayed at WL on a previous trip and really enjoyed it – it was however during August 2009 – we also took my younger sisters on this trip, so all around it was a different type of trip. I was all set to change resorts and move to WL, but then started to over analyze (In my defense I am an analyst by profession!).

I feel that my biggest concern is giving up that location – and the ease of the monorail – but should it be?

Generally speaking how late does the monorail even run, would we be able to take it to the poly or GF after say 9:00 p.m.?

In regards to WL I don’t know how late the boat to and from MK as well as to the other resorts runs – same question – is that boat available later in the evening?

How is transportation for both of these resorts, with the exception of the monorail or boat is one of these resorts consistently better or worse with regards to bus transportation to other parks & DTD?

Is the garden wing of CR that bad?

Will the construction that is supposed to be taking place at CR next year potentially affect the monorail?

I realize that the theming of WL is much better than that of CR, and that has been a bit of a concern as well, it doesn’t seem that the CR has very much Disney to it (If that makes any sense!)

Anything else I should consider? Pros or Cons?

To give a bit more background, we do spend most of our time at the parks; we are very much on the go on vacation, not really into sitting poolside all day. The price difference between the two is about $600 less at WL for a Courtyard view as opposed to the category we have reserved at CR – it’s not a huge amount of money, but would likely pay for our food for the trip.

I know that we ultimately have to make the decision, but I’m just wondering if there is any piece that I’m not thinking about that I should be, and what everyone else might do in our situation.


Thanks in advance for your help
Jennifer

 

[NHKristy76]

In my opinion, I would choose the WL over the Contemporary every day of the week. The only time I could justify the extra expense is if there are very small children involved. Even then, for us, we stayed at the WL with our toddler because the boat ride really was just a quick jump over to the MK.

When considering ambiance, cost, and location, the WL wins every time.

My husband does want to stay at CR at some point but honestly, I have no interest. Everything about the place seems boring and holds no appeal for me.

I hope your trip is magical wherever you choose to stay!

 

[Mousemommy1]

So, here is my situation that I’m hoping you might be able to help me out with. We are currently booked at the Contemporary in a Garden Wing Deluxe room for my April 20-26, 2013 trip. I was excited to score this room obviously due to rarity of it, the size of the room, convenience of the monorail and of course the walking distance to Magic Kingdom. The trip is just DH and I (34 & 32 respectively), no kids. We have never stayed at CR before – after I booked though I started to read very mixed things about CR, especially the garden wing. This of course made me doubt my decision and I started looking at other resorts – I was excited to see that they are in the process of rehabbing rooms at Wilderness Lodge. We have stayed at WL on a previous trip and really enjoyed it – it was however during August 2009 – we also took my younger sisters on this trip, so all around it was a different type of trip. I was all set to change resorts and move to WL, but then started to over analyze (In my defense I am an analyst by profession!).

I feel that my biggest concern is giving up that location – and the ease of the monorail – but should it be?

Generally speaking how late does the monorail even run, would we be able to take it to the poly or GF after say 9:00 p.m.?

In regards to WL I don’t know how late the boat to and from MK as well as to the other resorts runs – same question – is that boat available later in the evening?

How is transportation for both of these resorts, with the exception of the monorail or boat is one of these resorts consistently better or worse with regards to bus transportation to other parks & DTD?

Is the garden wing of CR that bad?

Will the construction that is supposed to be taking place at CR next year potentially affect the monorail?

I realize that the theming of WL is much better than that of CR, and that has been a bit of a concern as well, it doesn’t seem that the CR has very much Disney to it (If that makes any sense!)

Anything else I should consider? Pros or Cons?

To give a bit more background, we do spend most of our time at the parks; we are very much on the go on vacation, not really into sitting poolside all day. The price difference between the two is about $600 less at WL for a Courtyard view as opposed to the category we have reserved at CR – it’s not a huge amount of money, but would likely pay for our food for the trip.

I know that we ultimately have to make the decision, but I’m just wondering if there is any piece that I’m not thinking about that I should be, and what everyone else might do in our situation.


Thanks in advance for your help
Jennifer

Ok, first....I am going to extend an invitation over to you to join us on the RC (resort changers) thread! I think you'd be a wonderful candidate!

Weren't you booked at YC??? So was I.... Remember???

Anywho...I personally have no interest in staying at CR (despite starting a thread to try to persuade me otherwise). If the theme appeals to you, you will probably love it though.

That being said, we spent 11 days at WL CL last month, and it was nothing short of AWESOME!!! We were in a newly refurbished room, which was gorgeous!
The transportation we found to be great! Not only do you have the option to bus to all four parks (we don't mind the buses), but you also have the boat to the MK, and the boat to CR which gives you access to the monorail.

The boats ran until 1 hour after EMH hours, so you should have no issue there. I would pick WL over CR any day. The only way I'd stay at CR is with a TPV, the garden wing just doesn't do it for me.

 

[mariamouse]

So, here is my situation that I’m hoping you might be able to help me out with. We are currently booked at the Contemporary in a Garden Wing Deluxe room for my April 20-26, 2013 trip. I was excited to score this room obviously due to rarity of it, the size of the room, convenience of the monorail and of course the walking distance to Magic Kingdom. The trip is just DH and I (34 & 32 respectively), no kids. We have never stayed at CR before – after I booked though I started to read very mixed things about CR, especially the garden wing. This of course made me doubt my decision and I started looking at other resorts – I was excited to see that they are in the process of rehabbing rooms at Wilderness Lodge. We have stayed at WL on a previous trip and really enjoyed it – it was however during August 2009 – we also took my younger sisters on this trip, so all around it was a different type of trip. I was all set to change resorts and move to WL, but then started to over analyze (In my defense I am an analyst by profession!).

I feel that my biggest concern is giving up that location – and the ease of the monorail – but should it be?
Only you can answer that question! Given that it is just the two of you, how important is it to literally be right next to the MK? Will not having that ability to walk to the MK and see it from your resort negatively impact your stay? My inclination is that it will not since you are without cranky kids/strollers, but this is really your call!

Generally speaking how late does the monorail even run, would we be able to take it to the poly or GF after say 9:00 p.m.?
The monorail typically only runs an hour after park closing-- so if the MK is open until 9 (or later), you should be fine... especially in a month like April when hours are usually fairly long. Definitely be careful with this, though, since you do not want to get stranded!

In regards to WL I don’t know how late the boat to and from MK as well as to the other resorts runs – same question – is that boat available later in the evening?
I believe the boat also runs until an hour after park closing, so it is dependent on how late the park is open.

How is transportation for both of these resorts, with the exception of the monorail or boat is one of these resorts consistently better or worse with regards to bus transportation to other parks & DTD?
I cannot speak for bus transportation at the CR since it has been a long time since we stayed there, but I would definitely give the CR the edge for transportation since you can easily take the monorail over one stop to the TTC to transfer to Epcot. From the WL, on the other hand, you would definitely want to take the bus instead. I am also sure that you are aware of the fact that walking to the MK from the CR takes much less time than the WL boat. Hopefully someone else can chime in to compare the bus transportation to/from the AKL and DHS. Typically, though, any resort's bus transportation can be good or bad during a particular stay... you just never know!

Is the garden wing of CR that bad?
No, I guess not. The garden wing rooms are the same size and have the same decor as those in the tower, so you will love the garden wing if all you care about is the room itself. The views from the garden wing are also fairly nice-- you will definitely not be looking at a parking lot or roof, for example. The problem we had with staying in a garden wing last time is that we did not feel like we were in the "middle of the action." It just had a different feel than waking up in and staying in the tower. You may not mind this, but it was enough to make us say that we would never stay at the CR again unless it was in the tower in a MK view room.

Will the construction that is supposed to be taking place at CR next year potentially affect the monorail?
I am not aware of any construction happening next year, so cannot comment on this. Is the construction indoors or outdoors? If it is indoors, I highly doubt that it would have any impact. If it is outdoors, it may or may not matter. I am inclined to say that it will not be a huge issue, though.

I realize that the theming of WL is much better than that of CR, and that has been a bit of a concern as well, it doesn’t seem that the CR has very much Disney to it (If that makes any sense!)
I think the CR is very Disney in the sense that it is one of the oldest WDW resorts (if not the oldest... have to amp up my Disney history knowledge). Many guests are nostalgic about the resort because it is so "classic" with the monorail running through it and, IMO, looks pretty magical lit up at night. That being said, the CR theme and grounds do leave something to be desired in comparison to the WL (and pretty much every other deluxe resort). If you are the type of couple that loves strolling around your resort grounds every night, you may not enjoy the CR too much. The pool area is sort of blah and the grounds are just not that exciting, which I believe is what you are referring to. The CR is definitely not that different looking from a typical airport-esque hotel.

Anything else I should consider? Pros or Cons?
How important is the pool area to you? Do you much prefer the look of one pool to another? Do you much prefer the restaurants at one resort to another and, if so, will you actually take much advantage of them? I would not worry too much about CS options at either since both seem to be good. Truthfully, I would just trust your gut. When you look at pictures of both resorts, which excite you more? Where do you want to be checking in today?

To give a bit more background, we do spend most of our time at the parks; we are very much on the go on vacation, not really into sitting poolside all day. The price difference between the two is about $600 less at WL for a Courtyard view as opposed to the category we have reserved at CR – it’s not a huge amount of money, but would likely pay for our food for the trip.
Given that you will not be traveling to and from your resort that often, perhaps this makes the CR location a bit less necessary? I find it more easily justified when you are coming back to your resort for mid-day breaks and then back out to the parks, etc. If you prefer the vibe at the WL, that $600 difference is definitely nothing to balk at!

I know that we ultimately have to make the decision, but I’m just wondering if there is any piece that I’m not thinking about that I should be, and what everyone else might do in our situation.


Thanks in advance for your help
Jennifer

See my responses in red above... hopefully this helps!

Had you never stayed at either resort, I would opt for the WL since you are two adults and do not really need that prime CR location... plus, you do not seem all that excited about the CR theme. But, that being said, you may enjoy trying a new resort and having a larger room. As I wrote above, I would just trust your instincts as to where you really WANT to be... perhaps you have hesitated to switch from the CR for a reason? Whichever resort you end up at, I would plan a visit to the other resort for dinner or something! Good luck with your decision.

 

[NemoLeo]

Ok, first....I am going to extend an invitation over to you to join us on the RC (resort changers) thread! I think you'd be a wonderful candidate!

Weren't you booked at YC??? So was I.... Remember???

Anywho...I personally have no interest in staying at CR (despite starting a thread to try to persuade me otherwise). If the theme appeals to you, you will probably love it though.

That being said, we spent 11 days at WL CL last month, and it was nothing short of AWESOME!!! We were in a newly refurbished room, which was gorgeous!
The transportation we found to be great! Not only do you have the option to bus to all four parks (we don't mind the buses), but you also have the boat to the MK, and the boat to CR which gives you access to the monorail.

The boats ran until 1 hour after EMH hours, so you should have no issue there. I would pick WL over CR any day. The only way I'd stay at CR is with a TPV, the garden wing just doesn't do it for me.

HAHAH. Yes, I do remember now that you mention it. Yeah, I'm all over the place. I think my problem is that we don't normally plan trips this far ahead - so now I have nothing to do but read it and doubt my decision. Also, I'm not normally the decision maker for vacations. I decided against the YC because of the transportation issues, I keep hearing so much about. Why did you change your mind?

 

[NemoLeo]

See my responses in red above... hopefully this helps!

Had you never stayed at either resort, I would opt for the WL since you are two adults and do not really need that prime CR location... plus, you do not seem all that excited about the CR theme. But, that being said, you may enjoy trying a new resort and having a larger room. As I wrote above, I would just trust your instincts as to where you really WANT to be... perhaps you have hesitated to switch from the CR for a reason? Whichever resort you end up at, I would plan a visit to the other resort for dinner or something! Good luck with your decision.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I appreciate your insight!

 

[NemoLeo]

In my opinion, I would choose the WL over the Contemporary every day of the week. The only time I could justify the extra expense is if there are very small children involved. Even then, for us, we stayed at the WL with our toddler because the boat ride really was just a quick jump over to the MK.

When considering ambiance, cost, and location, the WL wins every time.

My husband does want to stay at CR at some point but honestly, I have no interest. Everything about the place seems boring and holds no appeal for me.

I hope your trip is magical wherever you choose to stay!

Thanks for your reply. I feel like I'm leaning more towards WL - just still haven't made up my mind 100%.

 

[mariamouse]

HAHAH. Yes, I do remember now that you mention it. Yeah, I'm all over the place. I think my problem is that we don't normally plan trips this far ahead - so now I have nothing to do but read it and doubt my decision. Also, I'm not normally the decision maker for vacations. I decided against the YC because of the transportation issues, I keep hearing so much about. Why did you change your mind?

Even though I just wrote a book about the CR vs WL, I would urge you to reconsider the Epcot area resorts for an adults-only trip. The bus service can definitely be an issue at these resorts, but keep in mind that you are walking distance to both Epcot and DHS.

If you do not like the theming of the YC/BC/BWI, then forget it and stick with the MK area. I do think, though, that the Epcot resorts are so perfect for two adults due to the proximity to the World Showcase (so romantic at night), fantastic pool areas, and nightlife options at the Boardwalk. I would not let occasional bus issues alone dissuade me from staying at an Epcot resort.

Apologies if this confuses you even more! Certainly not my intent...

 

[Mousemommy1]

HAHAH. Yes, I do remember now that you mention it. Yeah, I'm all over the place. I think my problem is that we don't normally plan trips this far ahead - so now I have nothing to do but read it and doubt my decision. Also, I'm not normally the decision maker for vacations. I decided against the YC because of the transportation issues, I keep hearing so much about. Why did you change your mind?

Well that's a loaded question!!!!

Normally, we aren't so crazy about choosing a resort either. We used to just pick one and go. (used to stay values)

But then for our trip last month (which we booked last July) we decided to stay deluxe and I ended up second, third and fourth guessing my choices...I think mainly because we had had such great trips at values, I didn't know if the extra cost of deluxe would be worth it. I was bouncing back and forth between the Poly, WL and BC...eventually landing at WL...Club Level, which was the best!!! So...we realize that the deluxes are worth it (with a discount - we had 40% off for last months trip and we have 40% off for our upcoming April trip)...

So, now I'm doing the same thing...but one of my main reasons for not choosing the Poly before was fear of really rundown rooms which is often reported...it just so happens that the club level building will undergo refurb in Jan/Feb so that sealed the deal for me with the Poly...

But, I still have just under 8 months to go....so....

 

[spiceycat]

the CR does have a theme - Mickey Mouse - he is in several places both at CR and BLT.

now would have picked goofy myself - but hey disney picked Mickey Mouse.

what do you want for your vacation?

wl is amazing if you like something that thinks it is a mountain lodge - think it is wonderfully in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb - but don't know about april.

cr is a fun place. being able to walk to MK is a big plus. the pool is probably one of the most underused at disney. now you definitley need sun screen at CR.

the garden view rooms are probably the quietest rooms in the MK area. you are next to the lagoon/bridge that goes to the MK. you are almost at the marina - which goes to FW and WL. it makes it easy to rent a boat.


California Grill is right there for a night out. Otherwise the Wave is not horrible.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I would choose WL courtyard view! I love the Northwest Pacific theme! Everything is under one roof! This place is very cozy and very inviting.

 

[GovieMom]

Will the construction that is supposed to be taking place at CR next year potentially affect the monorail?

What construction is that?

 

[DieHardJoe]

My DW and I stayed in the Garden Wing years ago with our 2 daughters. We were excited about our first stay at the Contemporary. We ended up feeling very disappointed. It was like not being there at all, I guess because we weren't in the high-rise A-frame. We've stayed at WL and loved it so I know for us the decision would be easy. Have fun deciding and enjoy your trip.