Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[GADisneyDad14]

Some random pics from my Labor Day CR trip....

Feature pool current hours (accurate as of 9/3)....


A beautiful evening on the shores of Bay Lake....


Always so pretty....



New water bottle cases/pricing in the gift shop. $3.99 for an 8-pack.




We rented one of those sea racer things this trip. It was so much fun!




This was the first day of our trip. Hopefully fixing this thing, as it has never fully worked in my CR history....


This was the status by our last night. Probably open by now I suspect....

 

[FelisLachesis]

nice picutres @GADisneyDad14 ! I still find it amusing that even at this makeshift movie theater, no one is sitting in the front row

That last couple of pictures, what is that thing?

 

[Cluelyss]

nice picutres @GADisneyDad14 ! I still find it amusing that even at this makeshift movie theater, no one is sitting in the front row

That last couple of pictures, what is that thing?

Kids splash area by the pool

 

[alliecat523]

Stayed at the CR last weekend. Second time staying there this year and also the second time I did not get an automatic check in/room number. Card was on file and online check in completed. The CM wrote my balance on a piece of paper and asked if it was ok to charge my card. I shed her why they were doing this since all was on file and online check in completed. She said that they like to ensure guests are ok with the payment option. I thought that was weird. Anyone else experience this? I've never had this at other resorts.

On the up side, we were upgraded from garden wing to the tower so that was nice.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Stayed at the CR last weekend. Second time staying there this year and also the second time I did not get an automatic check in/room number. Card was on file and online check in completed. The CM wrote my balance on a piece of paper and asked if it was ok to charge my card. I shed her why they were doing this since all was on file and online check in completed. She said that they like to ensure guests are ok with the payment option. I thought that was weird. Anyone else experience this? I've never had this at other resorts.

On the up side, we were upgraded from garden wing to the tower so that was nice.

When did you do online check-in? The only time that has happened to me is when I did online check-in very late... like the day or two before arrival. Most times I've done it much further in advance and have not had to mess with payment at the time.

 

[alliecat523]

This time I did it late (booked Tuesday, arrived Friday). Previous time had more advance warning (although I can't remember the exact dates). Good to know that if I'm more of a planner I won't have to stop at the desk.

 

[dansdad]

This time I did it late (booked Tuesday, arrived Friday). Previous time had more advance warning (although I can't remember the exact dates). Good to know that if I'm more of a planner I won't have to stop at the desk.

You MIGHT be able to Bypass The Front Desk. Even if even if you do Online Check In earlier you still might have to go to the front desk.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yes, I should have clarified above. The only time I've been asked to confirm payment/shown the balance due even though I had already done online check-in was the time I did online check-in very, very close to the the arrival date.

As PP said, getting the room ready text/e-mail can be hit or miss. Mostly hit, but sometimes nothing.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Photo courtesy Johnny B DisneyFoodBlog.com

 

[Roxyfire]

I've checked other places and the first post but I want to be 100% sure on these so my expectations are in check:

1. When we arrive via DME, will we be taken directly to Bay Lake Tower to check in?

2. At BLT, do they have their own Bell Services desk where I can retrieve my Owners Locker?

3. When using the buses is it quicker to walk outside directly to the buses at Contemporary or should we use the skybridge over to the Contemporary?

 

[WDWKOOK]

I was able to grab a last minute reservation for Atrium CL Sept 30 - Oct 4. I have never stayed at this resort before and am excited for our new adventure. Have stayed CL at AKL and GF (a few times at both) and am looking forward to checking out a "new" place. I have been binge reading this thread trying to absorb as much info as I can. Thanks for all the advice!

@Lovinallthingsdisney, you're going to love the lounge and view. I'll add your dates to our log.

Last minute change and we are now going to be in a Garden View room here instead of Art of Animation. It is going to be our first resort loop stay and we leave in 15 days Any help, tips or tricks beyond the first few pages (which I have read) would be very much appreciated. Also I am using touring plans is there any rooms on an upper floor which I could/should request to maybe have a chance of seeing fireworks? Thank you for any help

Congratulations on your nice upgrade, @vallygirl0221. Since the top floor in the Garden Wing is the third and there aren't any balconies, you can't really see the fireworks with BLT and the CR Tower in the way.

I 'think' you do, although not 100% sure about that.

You are correct!

Some random pics from my Labor Day CR trip....

Feature pool current hours (accurate as of 9/3)....
View attachment 267529

A beautiful evening on the shores of Bay Lake....
View attachment 267531

Always so pretty....
View attachment 267532


New water bottle cases/pricing in the gift shop. $3.99 for an 8-pack.
View attachment 267533

View attachment 267534

We rented one of those sea racer things this trip. It was so much fun!
View attachment 267535

View attachment 267536

This was the first day of our trip. Hopefully fixing this thing, as it has never fully worked in my CR history....
View attachment 267537

This was the status by our last night. Probably open by now I suspect....
View attachment 267530

Thank you so much, @GADisneyDad14 for taking more photos! I'm going to add some of them to the first page

 

[HadesTX]

We'll be at the Contemporary for the second time this December 14-17. We're doing Tower TPV again. Can't wait! Time to refresh my memory & read through all the tips & info in this thread. It helped a lot last time we were there!

 

[vallygirl0221]

We arrive on Sunday still. Is anyone there now? How did the resort hold up through Irma any first hand reports about CR?

 

[Disneyhenry]

Well I just booked our stay Dec 25th - Jan 1st next year! This is a surprise trip for hubby and our son, my sis will be going with us, her daughter turns 10 while we are there and our kids are 5 weeks apart, when our son turned 6 we were at Disney World, and now its my nieces turn to have a Bday when we are there. I booked a Theme park view room with the Deluxe Dining, I figure I have 15 months to pay for it lol why not go all out. I also have 15 months to read everything about CR!!! Fun times!

 

[FelisLachesis]

Well I just booked our stay Dec 25th - Jan 1st next year! This is a surprise trip for hubby and our son, my sis will be going with us, her daughter turns 10 while we are there and our kids are 5 weeks apart, when our son turned 6 we were at Disney World, and now its my nieces turn to have a Bday when we are there. I booked a Theme park view room with the Deluxe Dining, I figure I have 15 months to pay for it lol why not go all out. I also have 15 months to read everything about CR!!! Fun times!

Just also remember to read up on Christmas at Walt Disney World. It's a much different animal than the rest of the year, by far! There's a reason why crowd calendars go to 11. Christmas is why. I love that time of year, but woo, make sure you pack in some patience when you go!

At least on the days you are leaving MK after the fireworks, you don't have to wait an hour for a bus to get back to the resort. You will still have to fight a sea of people getting out of MK.

 

[Buzzed Lightbeer]

Hi all, first time posting though I have come across and read some very helpful information along the way on these forums. We are staying at the Contemporary in a Bay Lake view room in late March 2018. I've never stayed at the Contemporary before and am just now in my initial searches for info, but have not seen much specific to viewing fireworks from this resort (and if it is here and I missed it, my apologies). I'm just wondering if wherever the best view from the resort is can compare to actually being at the parks for viewing them. I've never actually managed to see them in all my visits over the years, and neither have my children yet (they've only been once before). My wife has, but not since she was a child herself. It's not a make or break type thing, but I am thinking that this time around I would like to try it. Just wondering if I'm better off avoiding crowds by staying near the resort which reportedly has good views, or whether it's better to go "all in" and find viewing somewhere in MK. Any insight and advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Cluelyss]

Hi all, first time posting though I have come across and read some very helpful information along the way on these forums. We are staying at the Contemporary in a Bay Lake view room in late March 2018. I've never stayed at the Contemporary before and am just now in my initial searches for info, but have not seen much specific to viewing fireworks from this resort (and if it is here and I missed it, my apologies). I'm just wondering if wherever the best view from the resort is can compare to actually being at the parks for viewing them. I've never actually managed to see them in all my visits over the years, and neither have my children yet (they've only been once before). My wife has, but not since she was a child herself. It's not a make or break type thing, but I am thinking that this time around I would like to try it. Just wondering if I'm better off avoiding crowds by staying near the resort which reportedly has good views, or whether it's better to go "all in" and find viewing somewhere in MK. Any insight and advice is greatly appreciated!

The new nighttime show is very projection-based, so you really need to be in the park, front and center, to appreciate it. There is really nowhere outside the park that compares. However, once you've seen it inside the park, the monorail resorts offer many lovely, non-crowded, viewing locations to relax and enjoy the show. But I would definitely recommend seeing it in the park for the first time. Have a great trip!!

 

[Buzzed Lightbeer]

Thanks so much for the insight, Cluelyss! I really appreciate it. I had started to wonder if that may be the case after reading about the projections on the castle and what-not. Will probably plan to do that, assuming our youngest cooperates and can stay awake long enough. I've been looking at visuals online that seem to rank the better viewing locations, so I guess I'll try to make an informed decision after studying those more. Thanks again!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks so much for the insight, Cluelyss! I really appreciate it. I had started to wonder if that may be the case after reading about the projections on the castle and what-not. Will probably plan to do that, assuming our youngest cooperates and can stay awake long enough. I've been looking at visuals online that seem to rank the better viewing locations, so I guess I'll try to make an informed decision after studying those more. Thanks again!

I agree with everything @Cluelyss said above, spot on. However, I'd add that in addition to the projections, HEA is still a really, really good fireworks show. The out-of-park viewing experience from places like CR, Poly, GF, etc is still a very good show, arguably better than Wishes.

If your kids don't cooperate with your plans of being in the park, watching from CR as a back-up plan is still a good choice, in my humble opinion.

Since you have a Bay Lake view, your options to watch the fireworks include the 4th Floor Observation Deck (which is sometimes used for events, just FYI) or sometimes people will go out on the emergency exit staircase to watch from there.

Pics don't do it justice but here are some views from a few weeks ago. Have fun!

 

[ALegrande]

Hello all!

I'm looking for some input on how hard it actually is to get in to the Cali Grill Lounge (the area that doesn't require reservations). My birthday is on Saturday and I'm realizing (*quite late in the game*) that what I'd really really like to do for my birthday is head up there for some drinks and dessert and watch the fireworks. There are of course no reservations to be found on such short notice, so I'm wondering what our chances would be of getting in to the lounge. We'd just be 3 people, looking to get in around 7 and just mill around til fireworks at 9. In all honesty, what are my chances of making this happen? @lurkyloo any experience here? Previous tips and advice appreciated!