Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[Lala2112]

Can a guest use the BayLake pool if the guest is staying in the CR Garden Wing?
Are guests able to visit the pools from other Deluxe resorts?

 

[AliceIn]

Can a guest use the BayLake pool if the guest is staying in the CR Garden Wing?
Are guests able to visit the pools from other Deluxe resorts?

All your answers are here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/us...s-faq-and-questions-thread-no-debate.2450438/

 

[mommyrosa2]

I have one booked for next Friday for a full day. I didn't think we needed a full day but others in my group disagreed. I'd be more than happy to report back after next weekend.

Please do share...I ended up calling and reserving one for our first day !

Hello hello!!

Why did I not realize CR had cabanas??? I wonder if it would be too late to get one for a half day?? That would be perfect with the baby and keeping him out of the sun!!

Hi Mousemommy !

The cabanas looked very nice when DH & I were there last October and I left wishing we had reserved one and having a DD who can't take the sun for very long....well, it just made sense . If they're available and you're planning some pool time, I think they'd be perfect, especially with the baby.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Please do share...I ended up calling and reserving one for our first day !



Hi Mousemommy !

The cabanas looked very nice when DH & I were there last October and I left wishing we had reserved one and having a DD who can't take the sun for very long....well, it just made sense . If they're available and you're planning some pool time, I think they'd be perfect, especially with the baby.

Awesome!!! Do you know if you have to pay upfront for the cabanas?
I think it would be great for a few hours on our arrival day!

 

[mommyrosa2]

Awesome!!! Do you know if you have to pay upfront for the cabanas?
I think it would be great for a few hours on our arrival day!

You don't have to pay upfront, just a credit card to guarantee.

 

[Delilah1310]

hi all. I did online checkin today and thought the room request would be fill-in-the-blank, but of course it was not.
We are in the GW and would like to be as close to the main building as possible.
What do you think would be my best two options to try to get this?
TIA

 

[Mousemommy1]

2 weeks from today, we'll be starting our descent into Orlando!! Then off to the CR!! Can't wait!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We left CR on Easter after a wonderful week. In an attempt to overcome some of the harsh affects of returning to reality, I booked a trip with DD for August. Since this is her last summer vacation before she graduates, I let her choose any resort and she chose Poly. I posted some photos to the Poly thread.

Our Tower BLV room was on the 11th floor. It was in very good condition and cleaned very well everyday and upon check-in. I had requested "high floor, no connecting door, away from Chef Mickey's." We received two of our requests, but unfortunately, we were right above CM. The first night it wasn't an issue, perhaps because we were tired and just thrilled to be there, but after Day One, the Celebrate Mickey song got to be too much along with the clanking of dishes before opening and after closing. The clanking started around 5:00 AM and I could hear it from our room, but DD and DH said they never noticed it. We did have the fan running all the time, but the fan is pretty quiet and didn't really drown out the noise. CM closes at 10:00, but guests remain after that time and one night the last Celebrate Mickey song was at 10:30 PM, proceeded by the clean-up clanking of dishes and occasional dropping of items that goes on well after 11:00 PM. I think I'm extra sensitive to noise because again, DH and DD weren't bothered at all by the noises, but DD was bothered by the Celebrate Mickey song about every 45 minutes.

After this experience, I would next time replace "high floor" with "away from CM" and limit my request to two things to possibly better assure that we're at the north end of the Tower. I would also make sure to ask at check-in if we are in fact at the north end. Regarding check-in, I had noted on OCI that our arrival estimate was 10:30 AM and at 10:00 I received a text that our room was not ready and that another text would be sent with our room number when it was ready. When we arrived around 10:30, I went to the check-in just in case our room was ready, but it wasn't. I was told that the room number would be texted. A few hours later, while at DHS, I received a text asking me to please come to the resort check-in desk regarding our room. I did not receive a room number. A few hours later, I stopped at the check-in and was given a room number. I asked why the text asked me to come to the check-in desk and I was told that, "About 50% of the time that text is sent out by mistake and they don't know why." The "straight to room" system, in my case, didn't work at all and I still had to go to the front desk twice.

Despite going to the front desk twice, I was never informed that when our room charging neared $1,500 (no matter what your credit card limit is), our charging privileges would be suspended, without any notice, unless we physically came to the front desk to inform them to charge our credit card. This has never happened to us at any other resort ever and we always charge everything to the room with the same credit card on file in our MDX account every visit. According to a manager I know, a CM is supposed to charge the credit card on file when the account nears $1,500 so that the charging privilege will remain active. This is a seamless process that the guest normally wouldn't even know about. But, in our case, we were unable to charge anything to our room while at AK. When we attempted to charge lunch, we were told that our charging privilege had reached its limit and we must go back to our resort to resolve this. Luckily, I had brought one credit card with me that we were able to use. Ironically, it was the same credit card on file for charging.

Later, DH had to go to the CR front desk after returning from AK so they could charge our credit card on file which then started the $1,500 limit over again. I wanted to know why this happened and how to prevent it from happening again in the future so I later went back to inquire. It took a long time for a manager to finally admit that this was their fault. He tried to make me feel as if I should have known this would happen and told me that I was supposed to know when I was nearing the limit and come to the front desk to have my card charged. It wasn't until I informed him that a manager I know had told me that this was not supposed to happen and that a CM is supposed to do this that he admitted that is how it's supposed to happen. He then admitted it was their mistake, but still insisted that the guest needs to know when they're nearing $1,500 and come to the front desk. He offered some FPs and a lunch reimbursement, but I turned him down, explaining that I was only there to get an honest explanation and ensure that it won't happen again.

This was the only negative experience we had and minor at that, other than the front desk staff who always seem indifferent and unenthusiastic at CR. When I asked for a printout of our invoice and explained that I was checking-out, the CM did not ask about our stay. She silently printed out the invoice, handed me the loose sheets of paper and said, "Here you go." Everyone else at the resort was very friendly and helpful. Especially the Recreation Manager, Randy, who is one of the friendliest CMs at WDW. If you know him from WL-CL, make sure to ask for him and say hello!

I have many photos to post so let's get to some of those and later I will do some multi-quoting.

Let's start off with the NEW CR resort-branded merchandise. I spoke with Angie who is the Merchandise Area Manager. I told her that guests/fans have been waiting a very long time for some CR merchandise and it was great to finally see some. She said that this is the first in over 5 years and they hope to get more. She said that some BLT/DVC merch. is next in the rollout and she said that hopefully they will be getting some CR clothing. She asked what color t-shirt I'd prefer and I told her that "we" would be thrilled with any clothing at all. As of now, the hat is the only clothing. I purchased the mug which did not indicate whether it was dishwasher safe. I explained that the last WL mug I bought completely faded and the logo is no longer visible. She said that she stands by everything they sell and if that should happen to the CR mug, I can bring it back at any time. Just mention to any CM at BVG that Angie said to return anything that fails to meet expectations.

 

[johnsonet]

hi all. I did online checkin today and thought the room request would be fill-in-the-blank, but of course it was not.
We are in the GW and would like to be as close to the main building as possible.
What do you think would be my best two options to try to get this?
TIA

I would check off "Ground Floor" (so that you'll have a patio) and "Near Transportation"

 

[huntconn]

Hey kook, thanks for the great update on the contemporary resort merch. Long overdue IMO. What is that pictured in the 3rd to last photo, magnet or pin? I collect magnets for our obnoxious Disney magnet filled refrigerator and will be devastated if we cant get a contemporary one during our first stay there this summer.

 

[Trinity88]

Just got my Bay Lake 1 bedroom booked through rented dvc points! So excited!!

Im loving all the updates Kook, thank you!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Monorail-themed merchandise:

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'll be back later to multi-quote everything I missed on vacation and update the Log-orail…and post more photos!

Hey kook, thanks for the great update on the contemporary resort merch. Long overdue IMO. What is that pictured in the 3rd to last photo, magnet or pin? I collect magnets for our obnoxious Disney magnet filled refrigerator and will be devastated if we cant get a contemporary one during our first stay there this summer.

It is a magnet

Just got my Bay Lake 1 bedroom booked through rented dvc points! So excited!!

Im loving all the updates Kook, thank you!

Congratulations! The One Bedroom is beautiful and so roomy.

 

[rcraw45425]

Hooray for new merchandise! I still have my old refillable mug from there somewhere!

 

[mickeynut1]

We left CR on Easter after a wonderful week. In an attempt to overcome some of the harsh affects of returning to reality, I booked a trip with DD for August. Since this is her last summer vacation before she graduates, I let her choose any resort and she chose Poly. I posted some photos to the Poly thread.

Let's start off with the NEW CR resort-branded merchandise.

Thanks for your review .

Glad you had another great stay at the CR, aside from the few hiccups. Yay for going back in August, I'm sure you and DD will have a great time at the Poly .

Just got my Bay Lake 1 bedroom booked through rented dvc points! So excited!!

.

I'll be back later to multi-quote everything I missed on vacation and update the Log-orail…and post more photos!

Thanks for all of the great pics you've shared already . No rush on the rest, whenever you get a chance as we all know what it's like getting back to reality.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Just switched our reservations (third time!) from Grand Floridian (initially Polynesian) to Theme Park View at Contemporary (May 15-18). This is the room I originally wanted but it was not available when I first booked our package. This is the hotel I remember visiting as a kid--the monorail enthralled me. It only took 40 years for me to finally get to stay there! lol

It's never too late to stay at CR! I'll log your dates and congratulations on getting your dream room.

Sorry KOOK. We ended up switching our stay from the CR to the BC/YC. I'm so sad I won't be able to try CL at the CR, but there's always next time. I'm thinking of booking there for December for my birthday instead. Hopefully we get to try it sooner than later. I just love the CR and am sad I'm going to skip it this time.

I understand and CR will be there for a future visit. Enjoy SAB!

Does BLT (or any DVC resort) normally have a BB offer in the rooms like other resorts that are non-DVC? We're staying @ BLT in October with rented points but I'm already in the planning phase of our March 2016 trip as well. I"m undecided about a resort for that visit but thinking ahead in case there's a BB offer during our October trip. Thanks for any insight.

All rooms have the BB in them, but it's now hidden in the middle of the Be Our Guest booklet that comes in your packet of resort information. Frankly, I have no idea why Disney now "hides" this where most guests will never even realize what or where it is.

This is what the current BB looks like and this is the booklet you will find it in. The BOG guide will be inside the folder you are given at check-in or it will be in your room inside the folder.





It got cut off, but DVC is -35%:

I am a little nervous to do on-line check in. I definitely want to be as far away as possible from Chef Mickey and I am afraid if I do not check in in person this may not happen. I want to be able to change the room immediately. What do you all think? What is the benefit of checking in on-line vs. in person?

I always do both and just ask at check-in, too.

Hey guys, me and my girl plan on doing Sammy Duvalls parasailing, sea racers and jetskis when we get to the Contemporary in October. We want to take some pics for when we're parasailing, what accessory would I need to keep my phone in place while we're up a few hundred feet in the air?

Bumping your question.

to Randy! I'm guessing he prefers shorts and a tan over a suit??? WL CL sure misses him tho.

Glad u seem to be having a great time, Kook!

He much prefers the shorts, sneakers and polo over the hot suit and tie.

What? I've been busy and missed so much here! Randy is no longer at WL CL but at CR CL?
Yes! He is such an asset wherever he goes. so awesome!
And Kook, you are there now, and I'm loving ALL of the pics, even ones on the phone!

Yes, Randy re-trained last summer into Recreation. He then worked at POR-FQ and is now happily managing Recreation at BLT/CR.

These and your other pictures are fantastic! I think you mentioned CAli Grill but didn't give a report. Was it okay? I remember your last time didn't go so well. We're trying it for the first time post-refurb on July 4th. Glad you're enjoying the trip so far, even if it's a little crazy.

Spoiler alert: This was our last time at CA Grill - we won't be returning.

We had to try it one more time after our bad Christmas Day '13 experience, but we all agreed that we have no desire to return. We had better service this time, but the menu just isn't to our liking anymore.

The sushi still isn't up to what it was when Chef Yoshie worked there. She was a sushi artist who truly cared about her art. It used to be such a treat to order sushi there when it was a main culinary focus. The sushi is still served, but it is a generic sampling that is now uninspired, but at even higher rates than when Chef Yoshie worked there. The other offerings are odd concoctions that you sense are trying to be edgy and give a unique spin to an old favorite. But, the attempts fall short and I was left wishing that the old favorite was in front of me rather than the edgy version. The desserts are a good example of this:

~Chocolate Pudding Cake. Why not a nice chocolate cake or torte like they used to serve? This chocolate Pudding cake is made with Nutella. I like pudding and Nutella, but not combined in my cake.

~Breakfast for Dessert. This is a pecan-cinnamon roll with candied bacon, Kahlua-latte anglaise, and cream cheese ice cream, yes, cream cheese. I might put this in the Breakfast for Breakfast category, but not dessert after a fancy meal.

~Sundae Sampler. Frangelico toffee, reverse root beer float, and banana split. Again, they are trying way too hard to make this the same, yet different.

I had the squash and mascarpone ravioli. It was very tasty, but again, I wondered why mascarpone, traditionally used in desserts, was being commingled with my squash entree and then served next to tiny baby carrots. My entire plate was orange.

I think CA Grill has "outgrown" us and we prefer the old CA Grill over the edgy revamp so we won't be returning and I can't even recommend it.

Can a guest use the BayLake pool if the guest is staying in the CR Garden Wing?
Are guests able to visit the pools from other Deluxe resorts?

If by Bay Lake you mean the Bay Lake pool at CR, then yes. The pool nearest Bay Lake at CR is called the Bay Lake pool. But, if you mean the Bay Lake Tower pool at the DVC next door, then no, CR guests cannot use that pool.

Only DVC members may "pool hop" and only at select resorts. BLT guests may use the CR pool. The BLT pool has a secured entry/gate and your MB/KTTW card will not work there if you are a CR guest.

hi all. I did online checkin today and thought the room request would be fill-in-the-blank, but of course it was not.
We are in the GW and would like to be as close to the main building as possible.
What do you think would be my best two options to try to get this?
TIA

Add your request to be "close to CR" to your reservation by calling your TA or the WDTC. The Standard View GW rooms are closest. The closest GV rooms are the ones that face the CR pool.

2 weeks from today, we'll be starting our descent into Orlando!! Then off to the CR!! Can't wait!

I know you're going to love the convenience. Don't forget about the elevator to the monorail. You can use this with your stroller. It's located across from the escalator and next to the arcade.

 

[Oswin]

Quick question about the rapid refill mugs. We'll be on the dining plan so we'll be getting one. Is the only place to refill it in the Contempo Cafe? We're hoping the pool bar might have a refill station too.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Quick question about the rapid refill mugs. We'll be on the dining plan so we'll be getting one. Is the only place to refill it in the Contempo Cafe? We're hoping the pool bar might have a refill station too.

CC is the only self-service location at CR. In the past, (I didn't do it this trip), you could go to any pool's QS/bar location with your mug and the CM would pour a beverage into a cup and hand it to you to put in your mug. For hygiene reasons they couldn't accept your mug for refills. Now with RR, I suspect this isn't possible because of the use of the RFID chip to indicate whether your mug is eligible for a refill.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Can someone direct me to the April movie schedule?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can someone direct me to the April movie schedule?

POST 2: NEWS at top of page has the hyperlink.