Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[dansdad]

I'm hoping someone will have an answer for me. I'm not staying here (plan to again someday!) but we have the Pirates & Pals Voyage booked. We will have our car & would like to drive there - would we be able to park there without a fee? If so, for how long? We have to check in for the cruise at 8:45 and it gets back after the 10pm Wishes. I'd hate to have to valet for a few hours.

It all depends on how full the lot is. You "should" be able to park there for a few hours but I would be prepared just in case you have to Valet. In the past we had an ADR for Chef Mickeys and had to pay for valet due to the lot being full.

 

[DisneySOS]

It all depends on how full the lot is. You "should" be able to park there for a few hours but I would be prepared just in case you have to Valet. In the past we had an ADR for Chef Mickeys and had to pay for valet due to the lot being full.

Thanks, I'm hoping it won't be too crowded on a Monday night in early May. I'm not being cheap, it's just that after paying close to $400 for the cruise it would be nice to not have to pay to park!

 

[WDWKOOK]

In 2 weeks I'll be waking up in my CR TPV room!!! So excited.

I've been following the toiletries information carefully. Is the Grapefruit scent all gone from the CR now? And it's just the Sea Salt scent?

Thanks everyone for keeping us up to date on this thread. I am so beyond excited to hopefully get my odd numbered room this year!!

I believe the last report we received confirms your suspicion and that's what we had at Poly and GF in August.

I've looked everywhere to an answer to this, but I can't find it. Can BLT guests reserve pool cabanas? If so, can they get ones at the CR pool or just the quiet pool?

Since BLT guests can use the CR pool, you can reserve a cabana. You can request either feature or quiet pool location, but I don't believe they can guarantee it.

Just booked our CR tower TPV room for early October! Headed down for a long weekend for our first MNSSHP. This will be the shortest trip we have ever taken. Only 3 nights. But since we plan on doing MNSSHP and then another MK day, we thought this would be the perfect time to try the contemporary since it's been my DH's childhood dream to stay there, even though it doesn't really appeal to me!

Congratulations! I think you might be pleasantly surprised

Very excited we've booked a trip for 1/5/2017 thru 1/8/2017 during Marathon week. We'll be staying in a studio at Bay Lake Tower! We can walk to the MK...........and a short monorail ride away from Trader Sam's in the Poly!!!!

Congrats, Doug! I'll add your dates to the Log-o-Rail and happy resort hopping

 

[cinderkelly]

HI Kook! First, thanks for another great thread!

Second, could you add my dates to the Log-o-Rail please? My son and I will be staying in a CR TPV June 2-6! We originally were booked at WL but migrated to the Contemporary.

We're very excited for our first Deluxe stay!

 

[WDWKOOK]

HI Kook! First, thanks for another great thread!

Second, could you add my dates to the Log-o-Rail please? My son and I will be staying in a CR TPV June 2-6! We originally were booked at WL but migrated to the Contemporary.

We're very excited for our first Deluxe stay!

Aww, thanks and of course I'll add you. With all the construction next door, I think you made a wise migration north. You're going to love walking to the MK and your room view will be fabulous.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Bay Lake Tower will have a soft goods refurbishment April 2 - October 14, 2016. Soft goods typically consist of design materials including bedding, wall, window and floor coverings and upholstery.

~AllEars 2/2/16​

Thank you for that info!! Can't wait to see the new look! It'll be right between our two trips!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you for that info!! Can't wait to see the new look! It'll be right between our two trips!!

Very cool and I hope you'll post some photos of the new BLT décor

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

We are looking at a Garden Wing room for two nights prior to our cruise, unless an awesome discount comes out that gets me back to the tower (my favorite). 2 AD / 1 13 yo boy. Any opinions on Garden Wing rooms?
This would be the night before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving night, no parks. Hoping to get an ADR for CM for Tgiving night.

 

[skuttle]

So what is everyone's thoughts on Chef Mickey's? I feel this need to go there since we are staying at the Contemporary. The last time we went was probably almost 10 years ago. It seems it has gone really down hill since then. We do not like buffets for lunch or dinner (exceptions being Boma and Tusker House, which is our favorite). If we do a character meal buffet, it's normally for breakfast.

My kids will be 13, 5.5 and 4. We all still enjoy character meals and normally try to do at least one for the little ones. We also enjoy checking out the restaurants when we stay at different resorts. However, if Chef Mickey's is really as awful as I've read, I'll skip it.

We've never been to the Wave. DH and I did California Grill a couple of times before kids. Not sure I want to do that one with our kids yet.

We're only going to be at WDW for a long weekend for MNSSHP. Doing the party, a resort day, and a full MK day.

Forgot to add my dates for the Log-o-Rail! October 6-9, 2016. CR TPV.

 

[Cluelyss]

We are looking at a Garden Wing room for two nights prior to our cruise, unless an awesome discount comes out that gets me back to the tower (my favorite). 2 AD / 1 13 yo boy. Any opinions on Garden Wing rooms?
This would be the night before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving night, no parks. Hoping to get an ADR for CM for Tgiving night.

We love the GW - all the benefits of CR at a fraction of the cost!! What view category do you have booked? If garden, add a water view to your room request. If standard, not much to see from any of the rooms (besides the monorail). Also, only the first floor has outdoor space (patio) so request that if it's important to you. No balconies on 2 or 3.

 

[AinsleyLM]

Thanks for all the information you guys have! We are going the week before Thanksgiving (my mom, sister, 6 yo nephew, 2 yo twin nieces, and me). The girls turn 3 in December, so we want to take advantage of them being free before they are 3. I am seriously considering booking the Contemporary for our stay if I can just get over the price. I have always stayed at CBR when I have paid my way. I would be the one making up the difference between the two if we stay at CR. I think it would be great for the girls to be in walking distance to Magic Kingdom and to limit the amount of buses with 3 strollers.
The room would be in the Garden Wing. Is the walk ok between there and the main building? Is it really noisy being that close to the parks? Worried about them being able to nap.

 

[Cluelyss]

Thanks for all the information you guys have! We are going the week before Thanksgiving (my mom, sister, 6 yo nephew, 2 yo twin nieces, and me). The girls turn 3 in December, so we want to take advantage of them being free before they are 3. I am seriously considering booking the Contemporary for our stay if I can just get over the price. I have always stayed at CBR when I have paid my way. I would be the one making up the difference between the two if we stay at CR. I think it would be great for the girls to be in walking distance to Magic Kingdom and to limit the amount of buses with 3 strollers.
The room would be in the Garden Wing. Is the walk ok between there and the main building? Is it really noisy being that close to the parks? Worried about them being able to nap.

Not noisy at all, we have always taken a midday nap with no problem. Even from the farthest room in the GW you are no more than 5 minutes from the tower....and the whole walk is covered. Plus the proximity to MK cannot be beat, especially with littles and a stroller!!!

 

[DJFan88]

We have reservations at both Whispering Canyon and Trails End during our stay at CR. Just wondering how much time I should allow for taking the boat from CR for these, is it usually heavily used? My times are 210 pm and then again 8 am. I saw that they start operating at 655 am.

 

[Happyjen27]

So what is everyone's thoughts on Chef Mickey's? I feel this need to go there since we are staying at the Contemporary. The last time we went was probably almost 10 years ago. It seems it has gone really down hill since then. We do not like buffets for lunch or dinner (exceptions being Boma and Tusker House, which is our favorite). If we do a character meal buffet, it's normally for breakfast.

My kids will be 13, 5.5 and 4. We all still enjoy character meals and normally try to do at least one for the little ones. We also enjoy checking out the restaurants when we stay at different resorts. However, if Chef Mickey's is really as awful as I've read, I'll skip it.

I have one of the non-pickiest kids on the planet. She would enjoy meals at Friendly's and Applebees even (my DS, not so much, he thinks that food is icky). I'm not slamming those places necessarily, just kind of framing her opinion. She asked that we never eat at CM again. She has only said that about one other place on the planet, Panda Express, which, when we went, was truly awful.

I found all of the dinner food at CM inedible. I ate granola bars and cheese and crackers in the room after dinner.

Even so, the characters with young kids make it worth it. So, if they wanted to go back next week, I would pony up the cash and choke down what I could, knowing I had snacks in my room.

Edited to Add: We ate dinner both times. We are usually in the parks or sleeping in a breakfast time, but I hear breakfast food is better.

 

[AinsleyLM]

My kids will be 13, 5.5 and 4. We all still enjoy character meals and normally try to do at least one for the little ones. We also enjoy checking out the restaurants when we stay at different resorts. However, if Chef Mickey's is really as awful as I've read, I'll skip it.

We've never been to the Wave. DH and I did California Grill a couple of times before kids. Not sure I want to do that one with our kids yet.

I have done Chef Mickey's for both breakfast and supper. We loved it at breakfast. The only reason worth going at supper is for the kids. The interaction was great with my nephew, but my sister and I couldn't stand the food. We are planning on going again this fall, but only if we can get a reservation for breakfast.

 

[skuttle]

Edited to Add: We ate dinner both times. We are usually in the parks or sleeping in a breakfast time, but I hear breakfast food is better.

I have done Chef Mickey's for both breakfast and supper. We loved it at breakfast. The only reason worth going at supper is for the kids. The interaction was great with my nephew, but my sister and I couldn't stand the food. We are planning on going again this fall, but only if we can get a reservation for breakfast.

Thanks. We normally stay away from lunch/dinner buffets. Was wondering if breakfast would be awful too! We aren't going for very long so it may be completely booked for the only one or two days we could do it. I may still try for a mid-morning breakfast at 180 days and then just cancel later on if I chicken out! I just thought this would be the perfect time to bring our younger two to Chef Mickeys. And knock out some characters since this is such a short trip.

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

We love the GW - all the benefits of CR at a fraction of the cost!! What view category do you have booked? If garden, add a water view to your room request. If standard, not much to see from any of the rooms (besides the monorail). Also, only the first floor has outdoor space (patio) so request that if it's important to you. No balconies on 2 or 3.

Thank you so much!!! The TA we booked with only has Standard View available and I always request 2nd or 3rd floor, irregardless of the balcony situation. I'm fine with looking at cars and the monorail. Better than the forest behind my house!!!! I have been spoiled with Tower TPV Atrium Club Levels my first two trips to CR. The first one was booked and a complete splurge the second we were family of the day and were upgraded to that level and view. Who knows maybe I will get some pixie dust and end up in the tower facing Bay Lake this time, although I do not care either way. We are staying at POLY for Labor Day weekend and then going back to POLY for New Years Eve!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We have reservations at both Whispering Canyon and Trails End during our stay at CR. Just wondering how much time I should allow for taking the boat from CR for these, is it usually heavily used? My times are 210 pm and then again 8 am. I saw that they start operating at 655 am.

Your times aren't bad at all. The Blue Flag can get crowded nearing HDDR time at FW, but that's late afternoon-evening. From CR to WL figure less than 10 minutes travel time. CR to FW is about 5 minutes longer. Just get on the right boat as one usually goes to FW first and the other to WL first. They run clockwise until the afternoon and then they usually reverse. If it's a hot day, the dock can get super hot as there isn't shade. You can easily instead walk over to the MK and take the direct WL bus which only takes 5 mins. and is shaded while you wait.

 

[WDWKOOK]

So what is everyone's thoughts on Chef Mickey's? I feel this need to go there since we are staying at the Contemporary. The last time we went was probably almost 10 years ago. It seems it has gone really down hill since then. We do not like buffets for lunch or dinner (exceptions being Boma and Tusker House, which is our favorite). If we do a character meal buffet, it's normally for breakfast.

My kids will be 13, 5.5 and 4. We all still enjoy character meals and normally try to do at least one for the little ones. We also enjoy checking out the restaurants when we stay at different resorts. However, if Chef Mickey's is really as awful as I've read, I'll skip it.

We've never been to the Wave. DH and I did California Grill a couple of times before kids. Not sure I want to do that one with our kids yet.

We're only going to be at WDW for a long weekend for MNSSHP. Doing the party, a resort day, and a full MK day.

Forgot to add my dates for the Log-o-Rail! October 6-9, 2016. CR TPV.

If you aren't buffet fans, you can easily hop on the monorail to 'Ohana at the Poly for their character breakfast served family-style. I do recommend The Wave's breakfast buffet, no characters, but it's delicious. They also have tasty items on the menu. And, I wouldn't worry about taking kids to CA Grill, there are always kids there enjoying the fantastic views and Wishes. It's definitely not a too-quiet-for-kids atmosphere. I'll add your dates

 

[DJFan88]

You can easily instead walk over to the MK and take the direct WL bus which only takes 5 mins. and is shaded while you wait.

Thanks I didn't even think of that! Never stayed here before so wasn't thinking in those terms, but I will now