Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[WDWKOOK]

I posted this week that the DISboards would be converting its forum hosting software from vBulletin to XenForo. The date for the migration has been changed to 2/1. Expect the DISboards to be down for part/most of Sunday. When it's back online, there will be some tweaking that will need to be done. Everything will be formatted a bit differently and there will be some editing that I'll need to do to the information at the beginning of the thread. Signature blocks should remain the same as well as user-selected avatars. DISboard-provided avatars will have to be re-posted by the user and post counts will be calculated based on actual number of posts. Smilies will also be disabled until they are all manually re-entered into the new software.

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Trying to visualize what they're planning on doing, here.

Will the resort monorail do TTC-Poly-GF-MK, then reverse direction? (And stop at every stop, going the other way?).

Or will it leave MK, then go through Contemporary, and just not stop?

(Fortunately, our Contemporary trip isn't till 3/15. So hopefully done by then.

Looks like the Resort monorail won't be stopping at CR, but the Express monorail will now stop at CR after MK before arriving at TTC. I guess they'll be working on the CR portion of the Resort beam so that would mean the Resort monorail couldn't make the loop around.

We're finally here!!!!!! It's so nice, my husband said its the best room we've stayed in in Disney so far!!!! So excited!

When DH is a happy Disney camper, everyone is. Better book that BB!

Oh thanks Kook!!

Are you re-arranging all your kitchen stuff at 3 AM?

 

[akmills]

I've been trying to book a MK view tower room for the week before Thanksgiving. None are available. What are the chances of one opening up?

 

[jstbcuz]

Just as I finished reading page 131 of the Contemporary Thread last night, the DIS shut down for maintenance, etc. Wow! Was that good timing!!??!!

We were tentatively planning a trip to WDW in Nov/Dec tho we hadnt had anything set in stone. Long story short, my husband came home several days ago and said there was a convention he and his partner needed to attend & that it would be in Disney. As someone who LOVES Disney and has been before, I have never had much desire to stay at the Contemporary, but after reading this thread.........I have to say I cant wait. But I have a couple questions.

1. I read where convention guests rooms arent reserved & that they can be put anywhere. Our reservation says Tower, Bay Lake View. Do I need to call to verify this?

2. If I have a Bay Lake View, I realize it is on the east side of the building. Has anyone had any problem with it being bright in the room at sunrise or do the curtains do a good job of making it dark in the room?

3. How bad is the noise from Chef Mickey's? Would it be bad if I asked for a room on the North End of the Bldg when my husband has to go to the COnvention Center?

4. I keep reading about "the C"........."inside/outside"............I'm a bit confused as what they are talking about here.

Thanks for all your help. I can't wait to go! It's almost time to reserve our Fastpasses

 

[Trekkie]

Just as I finished reading page 131 of the Contemporary Thread last night, the DIS shut down for maintenance, etc. Wow! Was that good timing!!??!!

We were tentatively planning a trip to WDW in Nov/Dec tho we hadnt had anything set in stone. Long story short, my husband came home several days ago and said there was a convention he and his partner needed to attend & that it would be in Disney. As someone who LOVES Disney and has been before, I have never had much desire to stay at the Contemporary, but after reading this thread.........I have to say I cant wait. But I have a couple questions.

1. I read where convention guests rooms arent reserved & that they can be put anywhere. Our reservation says Tower, Bay Lake View. Do I need to call to verify this?

2. If I have a Bay Lake View, I realize it is on the east side of the building. Has anyone had any problem with it being bright in the room at sunrise or do the curtains do a good job of making it dark in the room?

3. How bad is the noise from Chef Mickey's? Would it be bad if I asked for a room on the North End of the Bldg when my husband has to go to the COnvention Center?

4. I keep reading about "the C"........."inside/outside"............I'm a bit confused as what they are talking about here.

Thanks for all your help. I can't wait to go! It's almost time to reserve our Fastpasses

1). If that's the type of room you've booked, then that's the type of room you'll get. (Well, barring some kind of major problem. No doubt there have been cases where they simply don't gave that kind of room, that day. But I'm sure it's very rare.).

2). I've always stayed on the kingdom view side, but I stay with a person who has to sleep all day, and the sun hits our side in the afternoon/evening.

Yes, the Florida sun is some serious sun. The curtains are very dark, and do an excellent job. They aren't perfect. If you're awake, then you can tell that there's sunshine outside there. But my mom has never had trouble sleeping through it. (And she has the bed nearest the balcony).

3). Similarly, yes, if I'm awake and I listen, I can hear the party music from chef Mickey's. But it's never been even annoying to me. The rooms are laid out so that your bathroom and closets are between the bedroom and the hallway, and they do a good job of blocking sound.

4). References to "the C", and the inside or outside, are references to Bay Lake Tower, the DVC time share building, next door to Contemporary, which is shaped like a "C", seen from above.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Ok, my BFF's boyfriend is now going on the trip with us. My BFF has the WBC condo so we are staying the big portion of our trip with her, but since we were going to stay at CR a little early we had invited her too. Now with her boyfriend going we will be over the limit for a regular tower room, plus we are already a family of 5 (one infant) .
Also if we leave home Thursday after ODS get out of school we will get to MCO around 11pm, so now I'm thinking early morning flight on Friday, September 18th and maybe changing to a bigger room/suite to make us legal. Looks like we can stay club level in the tower or BLT for one night around the same cost as the regular room for 2 nights. My question is if we get to WDW at noon and take the Magical Express, do we let them know we are there early then go enjoy the parks/resort until our room is ready? This might even work better than arriving so late.. Thought, advice greatly appreciated

 

[Trekkie]

Observing that from what I've read here, I think that a child under age 3 doesn't count as a person, for occupancy purposes. (But only one such child. If you have two, one of them counts).

So, if I'm reading your post correctly, you might still technically qualify for a 5 person room. (But I can certainly understand if you want something bigger).

But, as to your arrival plans, . . .

As I understand it, magical express won't take you to the park. They'll take you to your resort.

Me, I've had very good luck checking in to Contemporary at Noon or 1:00. I'd say that odds are very good that your room will be ready. (And I would assume that the club level rooms have priority, so your odds are probably better than my experiences.).

And, even if your room isn't ready, you can still hit the club for a drink or something, before you hop the monorail to the park.

 

[AliceIn]

Ok, my BFF's boyfriend is now going on the trip with us. My BFF has the WBC condo so we are staying the big portion of our trip with her, but since we were going to stay at CR a little early we had invited her too. Now with her boyfriend going we will be over the limit for a regular tower room, plus we are already a family of 5 (one infant) .
Also if we leave home Thursday after ODS get out of school we will get to MCO around 11pm, so now I'm thinking early morning flight on Friday, September 18th and maybe changing to a bigger room/suite to make us legal. Looks like we can stay club level in the tower or BLT for one night around the same cost as the regular room for 2 nights. My question is if we get to WDW at noon and take the Magical Express, do we let them know we are there early then go enjoy the parks/resort until our room is ready? This might even work better than arriving so late.. Thought, advice greatly appreciated

Let me make sure I understand. Your family has 4 people and 1 infant. You invited your BFF to stay with you at the Contemporary, which would have brought your total to be 5 people and 1 infant, which is within the maximum occupancy. Now that your BFF is bringing her boyfriend, you no longer fit in the CR tower room.

The CL standard rooms in the tower have the same occupancy as the rest of the rooms. You'd need to move up to a one bedroom suite at the minimum if you want to stay at the CR tower. You have more options at BLT for 6 people plus an infant.

If you get to WDW early, you can still check in and drop off your luggage even if your room is not ready. You can enjoy the pools and other resort amenities, or you can go to the parks. The Magical Express is going to drop you off at the hotel anyway.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Let me make sure I understand. Your family has 4 people and 1 infant. You invited your BFF to stay with you at the Contemporary, which would have brought your total to be 5 people and 1 infant, which is within the maximum occupancy. Now that your BFF is bringing her boyfriend, you no longer fit in the CR tower room.

The CL standard rooms in the tower have the same occupancy as the rest of the rooms. You'd need to move up to a one bedroom suite at the minimum if you want to stay at the CR tower. You have more options at BLT for 6 people plus an infant.

If you get to WDW early, you can still check in and drop off your luggage even if your room is not ready. You can enjoy the pools and other resort amenities, or you can go to the parks. The Magical Express is going to drop you off at the hotel anyway.

Yes thank you. I had initial thought Friday would be better when I saw the predicted flight schedules, but I wanted to be able to enjoy as much of Friday as possible at WDW so I went ahead and booked Thursday and Friday nights so we could have the whole day Friday. After reading other posts about getting in early and then the boyfriend now coming I think a suite or villa for one night will be better.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I've been trying to book a MK view tower room for the week before Thanksgiving. None are available. What are the chances of one opening up?

Rooms become available everyday - don't give-up! Sometimes Disney also fools around with inventory a bit, and conventions can impact availability. Keep looking at the Disney booking site often. I'm sure something will open up.

Just as I finished reading page 131 of the Contemporary Thread last night, the DIS shut down for maintenance, etc. Wow! Was that good timing!!??!!

We were tentatively planning a trip to WDW in Nov/Dec tho we hadnt had anything set in stone. Long story short, my husband came home several days ago and said there was a convention he and his partner needed to attend & that it would be in Disney. As someone who LOVES Disney and has been before, I have never had much desire to stay at the Contemporary, but after reading this thread.........I have to say I cant wait. But I have a couple questions.

1. I read where convention guests rooms arent reserved & that they can be put anywhere. Our reservation says Tower, Bay Lake View. Do I need to call to verify this?

2. If I have a Bay Lake View, I realize it is on the east side of the building. Has anyone had any problem with it being bright in the room at sunrise or do the curtains do a good job of making it dark in the room?

3. How bad is the noise from Chef Mickey's? Would it be bad if I asked for a room on the North End of the Bldg when my husband has to go to the COnvention Center?

4. I keep reading about "the C"........."inside/outside"............I'm a bit confused as what they are talking about here.

Thanks for all your help. I can't wait to go! It's almost time to reserve our Fastpasses

1. Maybe yours wasn't a "traditional" convention booking? I don't know if they've changed the way they assign convention rooms or if you have a non-standard convention booking. But, like Trekkie posted, if it says that on your confirmation, then that should be where you're staying.

2. Curtains work really well. Just bring a bag clip to clip the middle.

3. The elevators are in the middle of each floor so no need to request that if you're doing it to be closer to an elevator. None of the rooms are far from the mid-resort elevators.

3. "Inside" refers to INNER rooms that face other rooms, the pool area and Bay Lake. "Outside" refers to OUTER rooms that face out toward Bay Lake/MK and not to any other BLT rooms. We prefer the OUTER Bay Lake View rooms at BLT.

 

[babyberger]

Haven't been on here in a long time, but wanted to stop in and say hi to the one and only KOOK We are booked at AKL for Spring Break, but keep checking for a CR room to pop up

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Ok, my BFF's boyfriend is now going on the trip with us. My BFF has the WBC condo so we are staying the big portion of our trip with her, but since we were going to stay at CR a little early we had invited her too. Now with her boyfriend going we will be over the limit for a regular tower room, plus we are already a family of 5 (one infant) .
Also if we leave home Thursday after ODS get out of school we will get to MCO around 11pm, so now I'm thinking early morning flight on Friday, September 18th and maybe changing to a bigger room/suite to make us legal. Looks like we can stay club level in the tower or BLT for one night around the same cost as the regular room for 2 nights. My question is if we get to WDW at noon and take the Magical Express, do we let them know we are there early then go enjoy the parks/resort until our room is ready? This might even work better than arriving so late.. Thought, advice greatly appreciated

Yes thank you. I had initial thought Friday would be better when I saw the predicted flight schedules, but I wanted to be able to enjoy as much of Friday as possible at WDW so I went ahead and booked Thursday and Friday nights so we could have the whole day Friday. After reading other posts about getting in early and then the boyfriend now coming I think a suite or villa for one night will be better.

I've been struggling with this situation and looking at too many options and my sweet husband finally suggested 2 TPV rooms (I need a face palm smiley for myself). That's cheaper than a 1 bedroom Club level suite and still gets us in the tower (where I really want to be). I will need to call to modify my existing reservation I suppose, any tips about requesting two rooms? Both rooms would have to be TPV for us to be close together right?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Haven't been on here in a long time, but wanted to stop in and say hi to the one and only KOOK We are booked at AKL for Spring Break, but keep checking for a CR room to pop up

You've been missed

When is your spring break? Keep checking for availability - don't give up!

I've been struggling with this situation and looking at too many options and my sweet husband finally suggested 2 TPV rooms (I need a face palm smiley for myself). That's cheaper than a 1 bedroom Club level suite and still gets us in the tower (where I really want to be). I will need to call to modify my existing reservation I suppose, any tips about requesting two rooms? Both rooms would have to be TPV for us to be close together right?

You can link your reservations by calling Reservations. You can also book a Bay Lake View Tower room which is cheaper. Any room on the same floor of the Tower is pretty close to each other. So even if you booked different Tower views, you could have your reservations linked and request to be on the same floor, but adjoining rooms can't be guaranteed, even if you book the same view. You will, however, be guaranteed the same floor and same side of the Tower if you book an Atrium Club room with the same view.

 

[Trekkie]

I've been struggling with this situation and looking at too many options and my sweet husband finally suggested 2 TPV rooms (I need a face palm smiley for myself). That's cheaper than a 1 bedroom Club level suite and still gets us in the tower (where I really want to be). I will need to call to modify my existing reservation I suppose, any tips about requesting two rooms? Both rooms would have to be TPV for us to be close together right?

Well, kinda depends on your definition of "close".

In the tower, all of the rooms on the west side are theme park view, all the rooms in the east side are lake view. So, two different-view rooms cannot be on the same hallway, let alone next door.

However, pretty much any room in the tower is within 150 yards or so, walking distance, (and maybe an elevator), from any other tower room.

So, if your rooms are not both theme park view, then they are guaranteed not to be adjacent. But they will be within 150 yards or so.

(Me, I'd suggest booking two theme park view rooms, and requesting adjacent rooms. In fact, there are some connecting rooms in the tower.). ("Connecting" means there are doors you can open up, between the two rooms, so you can go from one to the other, without going out into the hallway).

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

You can link your reservations by calling Reservations. You can also book a Bay Lake View Tower room which is cheaper. Any room on the same floor of the Tower is pretty close to each other. So even if you booked different Tower views, you could have your reservations linked and request to be on the same floor, but adjoining rooms can't be guaranteed, even if you book the same view. You will, however, be guaranteed the same floor and same side of the Tower if you book an Atrium Club room with the same view.

Well, kinda depends on your definition of "close".

In the tower, all of the rooms on the west side are theme park view, all the rooms in the east side are lake view. So, two different-view rooms cannot be on the same hallway, let alone next door.

However, pretty much any room in the tower is within 150 yards or so, walking distance, (and maybe an elevator), from any other tower room.

So, if your rooms are not both theme park view, then they are guaranteed not to be adjacent. But they will be within 150 yards or so.

(Me, I'd suggest booking two theme park view rooms, and requesting adjacent rooms. In fact, there are some connecting rooms in the tower.). ("Connecting" means there are doors you can open up, between the two rooms, so you can go from one to the other, without going out into the hallway).

Thanks! I wasn't sure if Bay Lake View rooms and TPV rooms shared a hallway or if you had to go to the lobby and take different elevators to get to the other sides. I've only been in CR once and it was years ago. I checked priced and there is really minimal difference so I think I'll do 2 TPV rooms and hope we can be connecting. Being in the Tower and seeing MK is what we've decided is the most important for our group.

 

[gwynne]

Hiya Kook and friends,
Guess what popped up on the reservations site today??? We and are so happy to be going to the Contemporary. This is our first time to stay at a monorail resort!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hiya Kook and friends,
Guess what popped up on the reservations site today??? We and are so happy to be going to the Contemporary. This is our first time to stay at a monorail resort!

You're going to be there in 4 days?! That's wonderful news! I think you and DH will love the convenience and did you book BLV? That's our favorite view, but all the Tower views are fabulous. And, the shops should have some nice resort branded merchandise finally. Hope there's still some there for us at spring break. Happy travels, Ginny.

 

[goofy friend]

I have a lake view room ( Bay Lake Tower) booked for the first 7 nights in May, are some of the room locations better than others? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[gwynne]

Haven't been on here in a long time, but wanted to stop in and say hi to the one and only KOOK We are booked at AKL for Spring Break, but keep checking for a CR room to pop up

I hope a room opens for you.

You're going to be there in 4 days?! That's wonderful news! I think you and DH will love the convenience and did you book BLV? That's our favorite view, but all the Tower views are fabulous. And, the shops should have some nice resort branded merchandise finally. Hope there's still some there for us at spring break. Happy travels, Ginny.

We booked BLV. I sent a quick email to the IPO today. Thanks for the good wishes. I'll check in when we return.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I hope a room opens for you.



We booked BLV. I sent a quick email to the IPO today. Thanks for the good wishes. I'll check in when we return.

Can't wait to hear about your stay!

 

[gwynne]

Can't wait to hear about your stay!

Thank you! Congrats to you and yours on your sweet new mouseketeer!