Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[roxymama]

Do you know how far in advance from date of arrival you can check in via MDE?

60 days prior to arrival

 

[qbmillar]

Can you add us to the log-o-rail? We are going to be in Atrium CL 11/13-11/19/16, first time in a deluxe and CL!! It will be the first trip for DS and second for DD

 

[Quellman]

We're booked in the CR in a tower room for May. If everything goes smoothly we should be arriving at least an hour or two before check-in time. Assuming we can't get into our room yet (which I'm thinking is pretty likely) is there somewhere in the pool area to change into bathing suits so we can hit the pool?

I saw that BLT has an awesome little locker area, so I was wondering if CR has something along those lines, or if we'll just have to find the nearest bathroom stall to change and stash our clothes poolside somewhere.

I'm sorry if this has been asked a million times before, I'm slowly working my way through this thread from the beginning. Thanks!

Hello all! We are 24 days from checking into CR in Tower Theme Park View. I was just wondering if anyone who has been there lately or is there now has an update on the monorail situation. We love the monorail but it seems to be down a lot lately. Any input is greatly appreciated!

I hope you're having a great time!


You might be pleasantly surprised that your room is ready. CR doesn't have lockers, but it does have a poolside bathroom with a shower:

@WDWKOOK is mostly correct! There are some lockers right across from where the entry to the bathrooms are. They are standard wall lockers seen here. They cost $1.


As for the monorail issues. You would venture to say that they are always breaking down if you read any boards often enough. Our experience in December fine. If the monorail goes down while at the contemporary, they deploy an army of buses. You can catch a bus to the Transportation Center, the other Monorail Resorts, and yes, there is even a bus that will take you to the Magic Kingdom!!! If the EPCOT beam goes down, they then route a bus from the Transportation Center to EPCOT.

If there is an issue with the Resort Monorail line, the Contemporary is the only resort that can stop the Express train, and board it to take you to the Magic Kingdom or to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Crazy I know, but we were the lucky recipients one night when one of the trains was having door problems and we needed get to the Polynesian. It was a MVMCP night so us and a bunch of others ended up taking the express. They got off at the MK and we continued on to the TTC and then walked from there.

 

[Cluelyss]

Staying at Contemporary for the first time this August. Planning on getting to Epcot for rope drop by taking the monorail (would like to get there at 8:30am for a 9:00am open). Will the monorail be operating in time? What time should I get to the monorail station at the Contemporary? I need to transfer to the other monorail, right? TIA for your advice.

The express monorail should start running from TTC an hour before opening (so 8 am) and the resort monorail starts running around 6:30/7:00, so should be fine. As mentioned, I'd give yourself at least an hour, so would be waiting for the resort monorail at CR around 7:30 to ensure you are at the TTC and on the first express monorail at 8. It's about a 15 min direct ride to Epcot from there. Enjoy!!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

The express monorail should start running from TTC an hour before opening (so 8 am) and the resort monorail starts running around 6:30/7:00, so should be fine. As mentioned, I'd give yourself at least an hour, so would be waiting for the resort monorail at CR around 7:30 to ensure you are at the TTC and on the first express monorail at 8. It's about a 15 min direct ride to Epcot from there. Enjoy!!

Thank you very much! One more question, if you don't mind. When I get off the resort monorail, will I see where to go to get onto the express monorail to Epcot? We are totally new to staying on a resort with the monorail Very excited!

 

[Quellman]

Thank you very much! One more question, if you don't mind. When I get off the resort monorail, will I see where to go to get onto the express monorail to Epcot? We are totally new to staying on a resort with the monorail Very excited!

Yes you will see a sign. Once you get off the monorail and go through the litlte exit gates, go to the right and it will connect you to the other monorail line. First you will walk down a ramp, under the monorail lines, and then up the other side. On your return from EPCOT you follow the normal exit and renter the main Resort Monorail line.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I have TPV room booked for April. I requested a king size bed (it works better for us but not an end all, be all) and an odd number room. Is there anything else I should be requesting? I don't want to have a really long walk to elevators or transportation if I can help it. I'm not overly concerned with noise - DS is a good sleeper.

Sounds good to me. The bank of elevators is in the middle of each floor, so very easy access. The monorail and bus stop are closest to the Tower rooms so you wouldn't need to request that.

We ended up staying in #7630 (2 bedroom villa) which is not on the room view link yet so I will be sure to update with our view once I get those off my hubby's camera this week. We booked a standard view and did not expect much but did request a high floor knowing that standard view rooms only go so high up.

We did not get a room until right before 4pm and although not having a room right away when we got off MDE was slightly annoying (realizing early room is not a guarantee of course) it was nice that I got the room text after the parade in MK and googled the floor chart and realized we had an MK view room!

When we got there we were as close to bridge that connects the tower as you could be...just one floor above it. BUT the VIEW!!!
Also I am a people watcher and I was quite happy to watch all the marathon runners in their crazy costumes and medals coming down the bridge. our view was of the Contemporary (monorails and all), you could see all of the Grand Floridian, and you could see ALL of the Magic Kingdom...Splash Mountain, the castle, the train, astro orbitor, the people mover space mountain! We could see the fireworks from our room too.

One note...you can hear the people (the loud ones at least) coming on and off the elevator. That may annoy people who are sensitive to that. We were not and we liked not having to walk far once off the elevator. Just something to keep in mind.

Thanks for reporting about your recent BLT stay

Can you add us to the log-o-rail? We are going to be in Atrium CL 11/13-11/19/16, first time in a deluxe and CL!! It will be the first trip for DS and second for DD

Of course I'll add you. I think once you try a Deluxe and CL, it's hard staying anywhere else.

@WDWKOOK is mostly correct! There are some lockers right across from where the entry to the bathrooms are. They are standard wall lockers seen here. They cost $1.

Totally purged that image from my memory @Quellman - thanks for correcting me!

 

[Kiren]

Hi! My husband and I are going to be staying at the CR from 24 May to 31 May! We are so excited for our honeymoon!

 

[JaimeK]

Monorail refurb closure schedule

1/13/2016- 3/20/2016
Epcot Beam Overnight Closures- 11:00 PM Sundays- 9:00 Mondays,
11:00 PM Mondays- 9:00 AM Tuesdays
Express Beam Overnight Closures- 11:30 PM Sundays- 9:30 AM Mondays, 11:30 PM Mondays- 9:30 AM Tuesdays
Monorail Shutdown- 11:30 AM- 6:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Resort Beam Overnight Closures - 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM Mondays, 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

 

[albertamom]

Monorail refurb closure schedule

1/13/2016- 3/20/2016
Epcot Beam Overnight Closures- 11:00 PM Sundays- 9:00 Mondays,
11:00 PM Mondays- 9:00 AM Tuesdays
Express Beam Overnight Closures- 11:30 PM Sundays- 9:30 AM Mondays, 11:30 PM Mondays- 9:30 AM Tuesdays
Monorail Shutdown- 11:30 AM- 6:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Resort Beam Overnight Closures - 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM Mondays, 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Yikes! Even with all the warnings about the unreliability of the monorail, we were willing to take a chance on our first WDW trip this February, just to experience it. I guess we're out of luck.

 

[Sammyjo199]

I am not looking for compensation or anything but I'm really upset that I am spending all this money staying at Contemporary only to be told a week before we leave that the monorail will be completely shut down from 11:30-6. 4 of the 8 days we are there! (Wed,Thur,Wed, Thur). Is there anything they at Contemporary will do such as more frequent buses or anything. Otherwise I am going to have to switch a bunch of dining since I planned dining at the Monorail resorts for convenience

 

[dansdad]

I am not looking for compensation or anything but I'm really upset that I am spending all this money staying at Contemporary only to be told a week before we leave that the monorail will be completely shut down from 11:30-6. 4 of the 8 days we are there! (Wed,Thur,Wed, Thur). Is there anything they at Contemporary will do such as more frequent buses or anything. Otherwise I am going to have to switch a bunch of dining since I planned dining at the Monorail resorts for convenience

I would be upset too. But I personally wouldn't change any ADRs I've made. I would walk over to MK and boat to Poly and GF as needed. I understand it's not as convenient, but I've learned from past experiences I cannot trust the monorail. Over the years we've probably wasted a full 24 hours either stuck on a stalled monorail or waiting for one to arrive not realizing it's stuck somewhere on the beam. We use the boats 100% of the time now, much more relaxing IMHO.

 

[skuttle]

I have TPV room booked for April. I requested a king size bed (it works better for us but not an end all, be all) and an odd number room. Is there anything else I should be requesting? I don't want to have a really long walk to elevators or transportation if I can help it. I'm not overly concerned with noise - DS is a good sleeper.

I'm sorry but I didn't read the entire thread! Why would you request an odd number room? We are planning on booking TPV for a quick October trip so I'm taking notes!

NEVER MIND! I googled it!

 

[Jan1114]

I'm sorry but I didn't read the entire thread! Why would you request an odd number room? We are planning on booking TPV for a quick October trip so I'm taking notes!

NEVER MIND! I googled it!

I've learned so much from the folks here...they are the reason I knew to request the odd number!

 

[Eastern]

Monorail refurb closure schedule

1/13/2016- 3/20/2016
Epcot Beam Overnight Closures- 11:00 PM Sundays- 9:00 Mondays,
11:00 PM Mondays- 9:00 AM Tuesdays
Express Beam Overnight Closures- 11:30 PM Sundays- 9:30 AM Mondays, 11:30 PM Mondays- 9:30 AM Tuesdays
Monorail Shutdown- 11:30 AM- 6:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Resort Beam Overnight Closures - 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM Mondays, 12:00 AM- 8:30 AM
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

I am here now and the only thing I noticed was that when you got off the Epcot monorail they had you taking a ferry to MK. Resort monorail was working yesterday and today as was Epcot monorail.

 

[Sammyjo199]

I thought someone asked this before but I can't find the post. Sorry if this is a repeat. Does anyone know what type of coffee pot is provided in the rooms? Trying to decide what kind of coffee to pack.

 

[dansdad]

I thought someone asked this before but I can't find the post. Sorry if this is a repeat. Does anyone know what type of coffee pot is provided in the rooms? Trying to decide what kind of coffee to pack.

Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower?

 

[mickeynut1]

Can you add us to the log-o-rail? We are going to be in Atrium CL 11/13-11/19/16, first time in a deluxe and CL!! It will be the first trip for DS and second for DD

Sounds like a great trip!

Hi! My husband and I are going to be staying at the CR from 24 May to 31 May! We are so excited for our honeymoon!

Hope you have a great honeymoon trip .

I would be upset too. But I personally wouldn't change any ADRs I've made. I would walk over to MK and boat to Poly and GF as needed. I understand it's not as convenient, but I've learned from past experiences I cannot trust the monorail. Over the years we've probably wasted a full 24 hours either stuck on a stalled monorail or waiting for one to arrive not realizing it's stuck somewhere on the beam. We use the boats 100% of the time now, much more relaxing IMHO.

I agree. I'd keep your ADRs and take the boat to the Poly and GF .

I've learned so much from the folks here...they are the reason I knew to request the odd number!

Me too.....love the friendly (and very knowledgeable) posters on this thread .

 

[Sammyjo199]

Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower?

Garden Wing standard

 

[dansdad]

Garden Wing standard

It's the 2 cup Cuisinart that uses the coffee pods that are flat and round. They look like flat round Tea Bags. The brand is Joffrey's and is worlds better than the old Nescafe they used to have.