Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[Kristin3021]

Hoping to do a split stay at CR in March of next year. We'd prefer a standard view and I was curious if it would be better,to book now rather than waiting for possible discounts? Are there many standard rooms in the garden tower? Thx!

 

[Babsy]

Due to the pool closure at WL, looks like we will instead stay at CR 11/15-11/22. It's DH (who hasn't been to WDW since 1987 where he stayed at POR), me (who hasn't been to WDW since 1990 and has never stayed onsite), and our kids, DS7 and DD4, who have never been to WDW. After much research we booked WL Courtyard View in Feb and were very excited. Kids have seen pictures of Lodge, wanted to be a flag family, and were excited about the bunk beds (although with 2 queens and a daybed, which I assume is a twin, we do still have 3 beds at CR). I wanted to rent surrey bikes to ride to and around FW. But it was not meant to be.

We will still be at Disney so even thought it is costing us more money and not what we had our hearts set on, I'm trying to be optomistic. First world problems, right?

So all you CR lovers, point out the advantages to our staying at CR-Tower-Bay View so we can all get excited again. So far I have:

1) can walk to MK, where we have 2 days scheduled, including CRT breakfast, BOG dinner and MVMCP; we also have Wishes Dessert party a 3rd night
2) easier transportation...in addition to skipping boat ride to get to all the MK activities, we skip the boat ride to monorail to get to Ohana breakfast and EPCOT
3) bigger room will be appreciated, especially because we will rent a stroller

Thanks!!

The most comfortable beds on WDW property are those in the CR.
Rooms are among the largest in WDW.
the view over Bay Lake is beautiful.
You can walk to the MK bus stop for direct transportation to any WDW resort.
Chef Mickey's is right downstairs for a great character breakfast
The pool is simple but never crowded.
Contempo Cafe has great QS.
You can boat directly to WL or FW (Hoop Dee Doo revue)
Fun to watch the monorail glide through your resort from just outside your room.
You can WALK back to your resort after Wishes, Paraades, park closing or anytime in 5 - 10 minutes!! You are in your room while everyone else is still waiting for the bus, boat or monorail! You just smile and walk right on past the lines.

Theme: The theme here is based on the original Tomorrowland theme. It was part of the original MK resorts and was part of Walt's plan. There doesn't get any more 'Disney' themed than that!! For a resort that is retro futuristic in design it is amazing to me how 'contemporary' the CR is today! Yet it is still the CR of yesterday - as much a part of WDW as Cinderella's castle and the Poly.

The CR tower is amazing!! You will LOVE IT!!!

 

[MamaBear58]

the most comfortable beds on wdw property are those in the cr.
Rooms are among the largest in wdw.
The view over bay lake is beautiful.
You can walk to the mk bus stop for direct transportation to any wdw resort. didn't know this. Excellent! See, this is why i posted!!chef mickey's is right downstairs for a great character breakfast
the pool is simple but never crowded. might be given they will let wl guests use itcontempo cafe has great qs. also very good to know!you can boat directly to wl or fw (hoop dee doo revue)
fun to watch the monorail glide through your resort from just outside your room.
You can walk back to your resort after wishes, paraades, park closing or anytime in 5 - 10 minutes!! You are in your room while everyone else is still waiting for the bus, boat or monorail! You just smile and walk right on past the lines.

Theme: The theme here is based on the original tomorrowland theme. It was part of the original mk resorts and was part of walt's plan. There doesn't get any more 'disney' themed than that!! For a resort that is retro futuristic in design it is amazing to me how 'contemporary' the cr is today! Yet it is still the cr of yesterday - as much a part of wdw as cinderella's castle and the poly.

The cr tower is amazing!! You will love it!!!

thanks!

 

[TheEmpress]

WHOO HOO!! I am soo glad I found this thread!! My Future Husband and I have decided to have the most Magical 10 Day Honeymoon (11-29 to 12-8) EVER!! Wish we could have gotten a Theme Park View, but we are staying in the Garden Rooms. I am a little bummed, but we figured we stay in the parks non-stop, so who cares where we lay our heads down at night RIGHT!!

Thank you to the moderator for posting all of that information about the resort. We are absolutely excited and are counting down the days until our plane takes off!

Wishing Everyone a Safe and Happy Trip!!!

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

I wish I knew the answer about ordering for you but I've never been there myself. We are staying for the first time because of construction on the pool at the Poly. (I think you and I discussed longhouse requests on that thread!)
I did google photos and it looks like the touch screens are lined up against a wall away from the serving line. SURELY they can help your husband somehow though. Maybe someone else who's actually been there can provide some insight. I'm so sorry you're frustrated! Good luck!

Yes I remember talking with you about the Poly...that was for our trip for 2015.

Thank you for looking for me! I think someone would help him. I hope!

We still aren't sure what we are doing.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Adults can order anything, if you're paying out of pocket. I'm not sure if the DDP has restrictions, as I never use it.

There are people at the Contempo cafe, although I never attempted to place an order with them, I don't see why you couldn't. after you walk past the touch screen kiosks, there is a counter where there are some grab and go items, and the people who serve the food are behind that counter. I'm sure he could walk up and order directly with them, or he could always ask the people working the check out for assistance.

Thanks for your response! Yes, that is what I am hoping.

We have a dining plan but something tells me they don't restrict you from ordering off the kids menu since technically your are getting less for the same $$$.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi all! We are planning a stay at the contemporary resort in late Jan./early Feb. After much deliberation, we plan to book a garden wing room. Any thoughts on the best location in this section? I'm thinking closest to the main building with monorails.

We've stayed at the Poly and I'm thinking that the garden wing to main building will be a similar walk? (We stayed next to the volcano pool at the Poly.)

Welcome. There is only one Garden Wing as the other was removed to build BLT. The Standard View rooms are closest to the Tower, however, none of the GW rooms are very far from the Tower. There is a covered walkway from the GW to the Tower.

Hi! I'm looking into switching over here from WL as a result of the pool construction.

I'm going to have a million questions, but to start - about the Contempo Cafe. My husband is blind and I see their is touch screen ordering. Are there people available to take orders for someone who can't use this service (if I'm not with him?).

Also, can adults order anything off the kids' menu, such as chicken nuggets?

Thanks

Welcome. A great place to start your research on CR is the first two pages of the thread. WDW seems to be very conscious of ADA requirements, so I'm certain your DH will be fully accommodated. There are CMs available throughout CR and CC as well as Braille menus and other services I'm not familiar with. There is a DISabilities forum here on the DIS that might also be helpful to you.

Are you able to request a Garden Wing room close to the main building? How far is the walk to the main building?

We would be checking in the 14th and staying til the 20th...any idea if the Christmas decorations/tree would be up by then?

Thank you!

You can make any requests you'd like, however, requests can never be guaranteed. The Standard View rooms are closest to the tower, but no GW room is very far from the Tower. The furthest GW room is less than a 5 minute walk to the entrance of the Tower.

The decorations might be up by the end of your visit. The WL tree went up on 11/19 last year so they might not be up yet before you leave.

I don't know yet. I'm worried about my husband who is blind - I need to have these questions answered first. Also there is no availability under BB for the 14th-20th so we would have to wait for RO. I'm pretty frustrated.

Have you called or emailed Disney directly to ask specifically about accommodations for the blind? They would be able to give you a very specific answer.

Due to the pool closure at WL, looks like we will instead stay at CR 11/15-11/22. It's DH (who hasn't been to WDW since 1987 where he stayed at POR), me (who hasn't been to WDW since 1990 and has never stayed onsite), and our kids, DS7 and DD4, who have never been to WDW. After much research we booked WL Courtyard View in Feb and were very excited. Kids have seen pictures of Lodge, wanted to be a flag family, and were excited about the bunk beds (although with 2 queens and a daybed, which I assume is a twin, we do still have 3 beds at CR). I wanted to rent surrey bikes to ride to and around FW. But it was not meant to be.

We will still be at Disney so even thought it is costing us more money and not what we had our hearts set on, I'm trying to be optomistic. First world problems, right?

So all you CR lovers, point out the advantages to our staying at CR-Tower-Bay View so we can all get excited again. So far I have:

1) can walk to MK, where we have 2 days scheduled, including CRT breakfast, BOG dinner and MVMCP; we also have Wishes Dessert party a 3rd night
2) easier transportation...in addition to skipping boat ride to get to all the MK activities, we skip the boat ride to monorail to get to Ohana breakfast and EPCOT
3) bigger room will be appreciated, especially because we will rent a stroller

Thanks!!

WL guests affected by the pool closure will have transportation available and use of the CR and FW pools. So you could keep your reservation, do all the things your family is looking forward to and use the CR pool.

Hoping to do a split stay at CR in March of next year. We'd prefer a standard view and I was curious if it would be better,to book now rather than waiting for possible discounts? Are there many standard rooms in the garden tower? Thx!

Welcome! The Garden Wing has Standard View rooms that overlook the parking lot and monorail. A Standard View booking in the Tower is actually a Tower Bay Lake View. You can always add an applicable discount later to a reservation, so it doesn't hurt to book early. Disney also has very gracious cancelation/change policies if you change your mind later.

WHOO HOO!! I am soo glad I found this thread!! My Future Husband and I have decided to have the most Magical 10 Day Honeymoon (11-29 to 12-8) EVER!! Wish we could have gotten a Theme Park View, but we are staying in the Garden Rooms. I am a little bummed, but we figured we stay in the parks non-stop, so who cares where we lay our heads down at night RIGHT!!

Thank you to the moderator for posting all of that information about the resort. We are absolutely excited and are counting down the days until our plane takes off!

Wishing Everyone a Safe and Happy Trip!!!

Welcome and congratulations! I'll add your dates to the Log-orail. Don't give up on trying to get a Tower room as people cancel all the time. Also, in the GW are fantastic Deluxe rooms that would be perfect for you and DH. Were any available?

I hope you have a wonderful Disneymoon

 

[TheEmpress]

Welcome. There is only one Garden Wing as the other was removed to build BLT. The Standard View rooms are closest to the Tower, however, none of the GW rooms are very far from the Tower. There is a covered walkway from the GW to the Tower.


Welcome. A great place to start your research on CR is the first two pages of the thread. WDW seems to be very conscious of ADA requirements, so I'm certain your DH will be fully accommodated. There are CMs available throughout CR and CC as well as Braille menus and other services I'm not familiar with. There is a DISabilities forum here on the DIS that might also be helpful to you.


You can make any requests you'd like, however, requests can never be guaranteed. The Standard View rooms are closest to the tower, but no GW room is very far from the Tower. The furthest GW room is less than a 5 minute walk to the entrance of the Tower.

The decorations might be up by the end of your visit. The WL tree went up on 11/19 last year so they might not be up yet before you leave.


Have you called or emailed Disney directly to ask specifically about accommodations for the blind? They would be able to give you a very specific answer.


WL guests affected by the pool closure will have transportation available and use of the CR and FW pools. So you could keep your reservation, do all the things your family is looking forward to and use the CR pool.


Welcome! The Garden Wing has Standard View rooms that overlook the parking lot and monorail. A Standard View booking in the Tower is actually a Tower Bay Lake View. You can always add an applicable discount later to a reservation, so it doesn't hurt to book early. Disney also has very gracious cancelation/change policies if you change your mind later.


Welcome and congratulations! I'll add your dates to the Log-orail. Don't give up on trying to get a Tower room as people cancel all the time. Also, in the GW are fantastic Deluxe rooms that would be perfect for you and DH. Were any available?

I hope you have a wonderful Disneymoon

Thank You soo much for the warm welcome! Unfortunately none of the Deluxe Rooms were available at the time for booking. I will agree with you that they do look FANTASTIC! I will take your advice and keep checking back in hopes of upgrading to one of those! Thank You again for all of the information!

 

[Big Es Mom]

Longtime lurker of disboards and this thread! Planning a trip with my daughter, husband, and his parents to WDW and staying at contemporary. They think we are staying in the garden wing but I bumped us up to a tower room. We are going for my daughters 5th birthday and want to make all the magic I can! We check in dec 14 and will be there until the 18th. So fairly short trip! Reading this thread makes me that much more excited!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Welcome. There is only one Garden Wing as the other was removed to build BLT. The Standard View rooms are closest to the Tower, however, none of the GW rooms are very far from the Tower. There is a covered walkway from the GW to the Tower.


Welcome. A great place to start your research on CR is the first two pages of the thread. WDW seems to be very conscious of ADA requirements, so I'm certain your DH will be fully accommodated. There are CMs available throughout CR and CC as well as Braille menus and other services I'm not familiar with. There is a DISabilities forum here on the DIS that might also be helpful to you.


You can make any requests you'd like, however, requests can never be guaranteed. The Standard View rooms are closest to the tower, but no GW room is very far from the Tower. The furthest GW room is less than a 5 minute walk to the entrance of the Tower.

The decorations might be up by the end of your visit. The WL tree went up on 11/19 last year so they might not be up yet before you leave.


Have you called or emailed Disney directly to ask specifically about accommodations for the blind? They would be able to give you a very specific answer.


WL guests affected by the pool closure will have transportation available and use of the CR and FW pools. So you could keep your reservation, do all the things your family is looking forward to and use the CR pool.


Welcome! The Garden Wing has Standard View rooms that overlook the parking lot and monorail. A Standard View booking in the Tower is actually a Tower Bay Lake View. You can always add an applicable discount later to a reservation, so it doesn't hurt to book early. Disney also has very gracious cancelation/change policies if you change your mind later.


Welcome and congratulations! I'll add your dates to the Log-orail. Don't give up on trying to get a Tower room as people cancel all the time. Also, in the GW are fantastic Deluxe rooms that would be perfect for you and DH. Were any available?

I hope you have a wonderful Disneymoon

Yes, I have inquired over the phone about accommodations for him and they always seem to be really confused about what there is to offer. They even described services for the hearing impaired once! Lol. I am happy to hear about the Braille menus...does WL have them? I thought we asked about that but I honestly can't remember.

I do know the parks have audio guides but we have yet to use them because he is with me.

That is good to know about the walk. I always hear people complaining about it.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank You soo much for the warm welcome! Unfortunately none of the Deluxe Rooms were available at the time for booking. I will agree with you that they do look FANTASTIC! I will take your advice and keep checking back in hopes of upgrading to one of those! Thank You again for all of the information!

You're welcome and I apologize for not welcoming you to the DIS

Will you be posting a PTR (Pre-Trip Report) or TR? We'd love to see a wedding photo.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Longtime lurker of disboards and this thread! Planning a trip with my daughter, husband, and his parents to WDW and staying at contemporary. They think we are staying in the garden wing but I bumped us up to a tower room. We are going for my daughters 5th birthday and want to make all the magic I can! We check in dec 14 and will be there until the 18th. So fairly short trip! Reading this thread makes me that much more excited!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

to the DIS and the CR/BLT thread! What a wonderful upgrade surprise. Are you BLV or TPV? Can't go wrong with either one! I'll log your dates.

Yes, I have inquired over the phone about accommodations for him and they always seem to be really confused about what there is to offer. They even described services for the hearing impaired once! Lol. I am happy to hear about the Braille menus...does WL have them? I thought we asked about that but I honestly can't remember.

I do know the parks have audio guides but we have yet to use them because he is with me.

That is good to know about the walk. I always hear people complaining about it.

No way a call to Disney could be met with CM confusion. Try the DISabilities forum. I just assumed all ADA compliant eateries offer Braille menus. Have you not been able to get them at WDW?

I've never really noticed posts complaining about the walk from the GW to the Tower, but realistically, it's less than 5 minutes and the covered portion outside is about one minute.

 

[Big Es Mom]

We are staying theme park view! Couldn't think of anything more wonderful for a princess in training!! Thanks for the welcome! Can't say enough how much information this thread has given

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

to the DIS and the CR/BLT thread! What a wonderful upgrade surprise. Are you BLV or TPV? Can't go wrong with either one! I'll log your dates.


No way a call to Disney could be met with CM confusion. Try the DISabilities forum. I just assumed all ADA compliant eateries offer Braille menus. Have you not been able to get them at WDW?

I've never really noticed posts complaining about the walk from the GW to the Tower, but realistically, it's less than 5 minutes and the covered portion outside is about one minute.

No we never have gotten a Braille menu at Disney..man would that save me from reading! I usually read him the menus. We've been going over menus online too ahead of time which helps but is a pain.

I still have my heart set on WL. I wish we knew if it was only a fence or how much of a mess it will be. We really enjoy it there and the staff was very helpful to my husband. We traveled with me sick last time and someone from the fork actually carried food back to the room so he could have his hands free for his cane.

 

[Kristin3021]

[Welcome! The Garden Wing has Standard View rooms that overlook the parking lot and monorail. A Standard View booking in the Tower is actually a Tower Bay Lake View. You can always add an applicable discount later to a reservation, so it doesn't hurt to book early. :[/QUOTE]
Thank you! I didn't realize that about the standard rooms in the Tower

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Quick Firework Question. Is there anywhere to watch the Wishes Fireworks outside on the CR/BLT grounds. It will be our first night in WDW and we have a long day planned the next day, but we'd prefer to watch outside rather than behind glass.

 

[johnsonet]

Quick Firework Question. Is there anywhere to watch the Wishes Fireworks outside on the CR/BLT grounds. It will be our first night in WDW and we have a long day planned the next day, but we'd prefer to watch outside rather than behind glass.

I searched this thread and found the following, from WDWKOOK:

"THE WISHES NIGHTLY MAGIC KINGDOM FIREWORKS last about 12 minutes. Preferred CR/BLT viewing locations:

~Magic Kingdom/Theme Park View Tower rooms/balconies.

~BLT Magic Kingdom/Theme Park View rooms/balconies and some Bay Lake View rooms on the north side.

~The beach.

~California Grill restaurant and observation deck (exclusively for guests with same-day reservations only).

~Fourth floor observation deck."



and this, from allearsnet:

" If you would like to watch the fireworks from the Contemporary and you’re not dining at the California Grill or have a Magic Kingdom view room, a viewing spot has been set aside for this purpose. On the north end of the fourth floor, a special viewing area is available, complete with chairs. Although not as spectacular as the view from the 15th floor, this is a good spot to watch the nightly display."


http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/08/contemporary_resort_jacks_seco_1.html (here's a link to their photo of the viewing deck - scroll a little over halfway down the page)

Good luck and have fun

 

[bama belle]

Quick Firework Question. Is there anywhere to watch the Wishes Fireworks outside on the CR/BLT grounds. It will be our first night in WDW and we have a long day planned the next day, but we'd prefer to watch outside rather than behind glass.

We enjoyed watching it from the open air walkway between BLT and CR. They pipe in the music and there's plenty of room for people to stand and watch.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We enjoyed watching it from the open air walkway between BLT and CR. They pipe in the music and there's plenty of room for people to stand and watch.

Does it get crowded with all the people choosing to do this? We're staying at BLT, and I'm just wondering if it crowds the bridge to the point that you can't get through. We'll have to plan accordingly, if so.

 

[MamaBear58]

In the middle of November? Switched to CR due to pool rehab at WL. Then learned that WL guests will be permitted to use CR pool. Anyone familiar with the CR pool think this will be a problem, or do you think CR pool can handle the overflow? I can't see too many WL guests using the FR pool...hassle to get there. But I can see folks tossing swimsuits in their bags and swinging by CR for a dip. Where will they change and redress? Will it burden the bathrooms by the pool? Will it burden the QS restaurants, because presumably their rapid refill mugs will be honored as well.

Thanks.