Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[jpolak]

Love Bay Lake tower!! Our absolute favorite resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was told that the room switch due to a closed resort is “price protected” on only the first move. If I change it resorts again then the price will be quoted at the current rack or any currently available discounts rates.

Do the BLT elevators suffer the same congestion as CR? I have personally experienced the jams and inconsiderate guest @ CR, and that was with 5 elevators running!

There are six elevators, three towards each end of the building.

 

[disneyfan150]

Contempo Cafe is, well, running. They seem a little short staffed in the kitchen. Mobile orders take 10-15 min. Hardly anybody eating in the restaurant. And it is eerily quiet with Chef Mickey closed after breakfast. The menu has been reduced.

In our experience the morning busses are fine. Getting back is really problematic. For our 2 days at DHS, the busses started running at 8:50 and 9:05. And there were at least 3 busses in quick succession. We got to the bus stop at 8:40 and were on the 2nd and 3rd bus. The lines quickly grew after we arrived. The Epcot bus was timely as well. I didn’t notice the time because we weren’t trying for rope drop there.

FYI for DHS. We arrived both days around 9:30-9:40. If you are a Toy Story fan I recommend going to SDD first. It opened for us at 9:50 and we rode TSMM by 10:05. We secured RofR reservations while in line for TSMM. We tried the other order and it took 20 min longer to ride both.

Thanks for the great information! What time do you need to be at the bus stop to get on one of the first two HS buses? I am usually a belly up RD type person and have no problem getting to the bus stop super early.

If I was in line for SDD and the time to try to sign up for a VQ was approaching, is it possible to step to the side and let people pass? It would be unnerving to be on the ride and miss the sign up. But I don't want to be a problematic person just standing there when others are trying to distance.

 

[Llama mama]

Contempo Cafe is, well, running. They seem a little short staffed in the kitchen. Mobile orders take 10-15 min. Hardly anybody eating in the restaurant. And it is eerily quiet with Chef Mickey closed after breakfast. The menu has been reduced.

In our experience the morning busses are fine. Getting back is really problematic. For our 2 days at DHS, the busses started running at 8:50 and 9:05. And there were at least 3 busses in quick succession. We got to the bus stop at 8:40 and were on the 2nd and 3rd bus. The lines quickly grew after we arrived. The Epcot bus was timely as well. I didn’t notice the time because we weren’t trying for rope drop there.

FYI for DHS. We arrived both days around 9:30-9:40. If you are a Toy Story fan I recommend going to SDD first. It opened for us at 9:50 and we rode TSMM by 10:05. We secured RofR reservations while in line for TSMM. We tried the other order and it took 20 min longer to ride both.

Thank you !!!! Great trip report . Any other info appreciated. Stay safe

 

[TreyQ3]

Thanks for the great information! What time do you need to be at the bus stop to get on one of the first two HS buses? I am usually a belly up RD type person and have no problem getting to the bus stop super early.

If I was in line for SDD and the time to try to sign up for a VQ was approaching, is it possible to step to the side and let people pass? It would be unnerving to be on the ride and miss the sign up. But I don't want to be a problematic person just standing there when others are trying to distance.

Both DHS days we left our room at 8:30 and were at the bus stop at 8:40. We got the 2nd and 3rd bus. To be extra safe - maybe be at the bus stop at 8:30?

We saw people in both the SDD and TSMM que that pulled out of line to get ready for RotR. You definitely can do that.

Some tips for RotR. Force close the Disney app sometime that morning and restart the app. You don’t want the app to hang. Also ignore the notifications over the loudspeakers. Look at the time on your cell phone and click join at 10:00:00. And finally, eliminate any friends and family not on your trip. When you select join it asks you to select your party. There is a select all button which is a lot quicker than choosing people individually. We got BG9 on Thursday and BG5 yesterday. Good luck!

 

[disneyfan150]

Both DHS days we left our room at 8:30 and were at the bus stop at 8:40. We got the 2nd and 3rd bus. To be extra safe - maybe be at the bus stop at 8:30?

We saw people in both the SDD and TSMM que that pulled out of line to get ready for RotR. You definitely can do that.

Some tips for RotR. Force close the Disney app sometime that morning and restart the app. You don’t want the app to hang. Also ignore the notifications over the loudspeakers. Look at the time on your cell phone and click join at 10:00:00. And finally, eliminate any friends and family not on your trip. When you select join it asks you to select your party. There is a select all button which is a lot quicker than choosing people individually. We got BG9 on Thursday and BG5 yesterday. Good luck!

Thank you so much!! Great advice!!

 

[TreyQ3]

Do the BLT elevators suffer the same congestion as CR? I have personally experienced the jams and inconsiderate guest @ CR, and that was with 5 elevators running!

Yes and no. The policy now is 1 party per elevator car. It also says “or 4 people” but I’m not on board with that. Occupancy is so low that we rarely encountered anybody else when calling for an elevator. Maybe 3 times we had to wait for another car. But that is the same as pre-covid.

 

[trishadono]

Nope no CR deluxe room 7/30. Work conflict dd.

Now we are CR TPV 8/19-23.

I’m going without her if she cancels again

 

[Jillianna]

We arrived here in 7/16 and leaving 7/30. Each day the resort seems to be getting busier. Yesterday at EPCOT and crowds were extremely low. Contempo Cafe offerings very limited. Food at Cali Grill and the Wave have been very good. For dinner last night we ate at the Wave. I had a Cesar salad and "Bacon and Eggs" for my main. It was sooooo good. If you have questions I will try to help you. Today is lunch at Sanaa and AK.

 

[disneyfan150]

We arrived here in 7/16 and leaving 7/30. Each day the resort seems to be getting busier. Yesterday at EPCOT and crowds were extremely low. Contempo Cafe offerings very limited. Food at Cali Grill and the Wave have been very good. For dinner last night we ate at the Wave. I had a Cesar salad and "Bacon and Eggs" for my main. It was sooooo good. If you have questions I will try to help you. Today is lunch at Sanaa and AK.

Are you in the tower or garden? We have a tower room starting Aug. 3. I am starting to worry about the elevator situation. Did I understand correctly that you are not able to use the stairs to go up?

 

[Jillianna]

Are you in the tower or garden? We have a tower room starting Aug. 3. I am starting to worry about the elevator situation. Did I understand correctly that you are not able to use the stairs to go up?

We are in a Garden/Garden View room on the first floor. However we have taken the elevator often to the fourth floor. Wait has only been an issue after MK closer, and that was no more than 5 minutes. There are four elevators.

 

[disneyfan150]

We are in a Garden/Garden View room on the first floor. However we have taken the elevator often to the fourth floor. Wait has only been an issue after MK closer, and that was no more than 5 minutes. There are four elevators.

Thank you so much for all the information! If you have time for any park/resort updates, they would be appreciated! Have a great time!

 

[Dave006]

Did I understand correctly that you are not able to use the stairs to go up?

Correct in the Tower the external stairs are locked for reentry. They are designated as Emergency Exits so that is the reason.

As @Jillianna indicated above the elevator delays are primarily in the early evening when guests are exiting from the MK. Many guests stop at the Contemporary for food or to look around the resort. There can also be slight delays in the morning when it sometimes seems like everyone is trying to head out at the same time.

It is not like you have a 20 minute wait, you just can't walk up & push the button since the elevator capacity is reduced due to social distancing. Once the Monorails stop for the evening the elevators are not an issue.

Dave

 

[disneyfan150]

Correct in the Tower the external stairs are locked for reentry. They are designated as Emergency Exits so that is the reason.

As @Jillianna indicated above the elevator delays are primarily in the early evening when guests are exiting from the MK. Many guests stop at the Contemporary for food or to look around the resort. There can also be slight delays in the morning when it sometimes seems like everyone is trying to head out at the same time.

It is not like you have a 20 minute wait, you just can't walk up & push the button since the elevator capacity is reduced due to social distancing. Once the Monorails stop for the evening the elevators are not an issue.

Dave

Many thanks! I am going to stop worrying about the elevator after just ONE more elevator question. In the morning, is it possible to go down the steps and use the entrance to the CR that is the entry from BLT walkway?

 

[bcuinohio]

We arrived here in 7/16 and leaving 7/30. Each day the resort seems to be getting busier. Yesterday at EPCOT and crowds were extremely low. Contempo Cafe offerings very limited. Food at Cali Grill and the Wave have been very good. For dinner last night we ate at the Wave. I had a Cesar salad and "Bacon and Eggs" for my main. It was sooooo good. If you have questions I will try to help you. Today is lunch at Sanaa and AK.

We have lunch ADR at Sanaa next month. I hope they are doing the bread at lunchtime.

 

[Dave006]

Many thanks! I am going to stop worrying about the elevator after just ONE more elevator question. In the morning, is it possible to go down the steps and use the entrance to the CR that is the entry from BLT walkway?

Not sure if you mean on the 1st floor or the 4th floor by the sky bridge to BLT.

I do know that you could re-enter from the outside stairs on the 4th floor on the north side of the building (where the sky bridge is to BLT). The north TPV side is where the seating area is to watch MK Fireworks and the Bay Lake side of the tower is where the sky bridge is located.

I have never used the stairs on the south side of the tower by the Chef Mickey's.

Dave

 

[trishadono]

We arrived here in 7/16 and leaving 7/30. Each day the resort seems to be getting busier. Yesterday at EPCOT and crowds were extremely low. Contempo Cafe offerings very limited. Food at Cali Grill and the Wave have been very good. For dinner last night we ate at the Wave. I had a Cesar salad and "Bacon and Eggs" for my main. It was sooooo good. If you have questions I will try to help you. Today is lunch at Sanaa and AK.

Thanks for the info!

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[disneyfan150]

Not sure if you mean on the 1st floor or the 4th floor by the sky bridge to BLT.

I do know that you could re-enter from the outside stairs on the 4th floor on the north side of the building (where the sky bridge is to BLT). The north TPV side is where the seating area is to watch MK Fireworks and the Bay Lake side of the tower is where the sky bridge is located.

I have never used the stairs on the south side of the tower by the Chef Mickey's.

Dave

Yes, I meant the sky bridge/4th floor. Thank you thank you!

 

[rj9555]

In the morning, is it possible to go down the steps and use the entrance to the CR that is the entry from BLT walkway?

Yes, I was there last year and I was able to go down the steps and use the 4th floor entrance that meets up with the BLT walkway.

I was on the 5th floor and for most of the time I was there, someone else (not me) had propped open the door from the north external stairwell to the 5th floor hallway, so I was actually able to walk up to my room and avoid the crowded elevators. Of course, propping the door open is probably not something that is encouraged by Disney, so I'm not condoning it.

 

[Jillianna]

We have lunch ADR at Sanaa next month. I hope they are doing the bread at lunchtime.

From lunch today.