Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[johnsonet]

When we stayed there a few years ago the key card access was on the BLT side of the bridge. So from the CR, you could get onto the bridge with no key, but then to get off the bridge into BLT on the other side you did need it. But, as others said, it was always so busy with people traffic, most times you just piggy backed the group in front of you and didn't need to take out the card (pre-mb). Nice and secure.

Haha. I see. Thanks. Sounds as though that is still the case.

*Please know that I am not interested in accessing BLT when not a guest there This topic originated in trying to help a poster who was asking about the bridge/walk way for watching the fireworks

 

[jaz0308]

H CR expertsi! I'm wondering how transportation to EPCOT for RD is working now that they have cut back on monorail hours. What is the best way to get there? Also, I have 8 a.m. ADR at EPCOT one morning. I know there is supposed to be an early ADR bus at TTC right? How would I get there without the monorail running and can anyone tell me how to find the correct bus? Also, at what time should I be there to make 8 a.m. at Akershus? Thanks for any help!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Oh yes! Thanks. In fact, I'm sure I will check in live

Looks like we'll be there about the same time. I'll be at ASSp with my DS(13) 8/7 to 8/10. My DH and girls (11 & 15) arrive 8/10 so we'll be at AoA one night before checking into BLT until 8/19 then 3 more nights at AKV before we go home. 15yo is balking about going so this might be the last big family trip for a while.

H CR expertsi! I'm wondering how transportation to EPCOT for RD is working now that they have cut back on monorail hours. What is the best way to get there? Also, I have 8 a.m. ADR at EPCOT one morning. I know there is supposed to be an early ADR bus at TTC right? How would I get there without the monorail running and can anyone tell me how to find the correct bus? Also, at what time should I be there to make 8 a.m. at Akershus? Thanks for any help!

There should be direct Epcot bus service from CR bus stop when monorail is down. I like to be at the bus stop an hour before need to be anywhere so I would try to get there around 7am to be safe.

 

[Kimberle]

So we check in in a few days. (Yeah!) We're staying on 12th floor Club and I've done on-line check in. We've also received our magic bands. Will they automatically text me when our room is ready? We're transferring from the Hard Rock and have a 9:45am Chef Mickey's reservation. Just trying to figure out if we should go up to the lounge first or check our luggage with bell services. If I do check our bags, do they have a locked cage (or similar) if we decide to bring a laptop?

 

[brettcw23]

So we check in in a few days. (Yeah!) We're staying on 12th floor Club and I've done on-line check in. We've also received our magic bands. Will they automatically text me when our room is ready? We're transferring from the Hard Rock and have a 9:45am Chef Mickey's reservation. Just trying to figure out if we should go up to the lounge first or check our luggage with bell services. If I do check our bags, do they have a locked cage (or similar) if we decide to bring a laptop?

I can't say for sure if they will automatically text you. We ALWAYS have done online check-in, but we have always been greeted by someone at the resort. Last time it was a by CM with an iPad. If you check your bags, they take them to a designated area that is monitored and away from the public. I have stored my bags with laptops and tablets numerous times. I have never had an issue.

 

[Julie521]

Has anyone had experience staying at BLT and being able to check in early? We will be arriving to Disney around noon time. We did online check in an mentioned we would be arriving around 12 and noted early check in if possible. I am guessing it is luck of the draw. When we stayed at CSR two years ago our room was ready when we arrived around the same time. I am hoping the online check in will help with that

 

[brettcw23]

Has anyone had experience staying at BLT and being able to check in early? We will be arriving to Disney around noon time. We did online check in an mentioned we would be arriving around 12 and noted early check in if possible. I am guessing it is luck of the draw. When we stayed at CSR two years ago our room was ready when we arrived around the same time. I am hoping the online check in will help with that

We were able to check-in early. We stopped in and they told us they'd text us when the room was ready. being so close to MK, we walked over. By the time we had walked over to Tomorrowland and gotten a snack, we got the text.

It's partial luck of the draw, CM mood and pixie dust, LOL. Generally speaking, if a guest has arrived they do their best to get the room ready. I'm sure Disney has a top secret algorithm for Mousekeeping!

 

[Julie521]

We were able to check-in early. We stopped in and they told us they'd text us when the room was ready. being so close to MK, we walked over. By the time we had walked over to Tomorrowland and gotten a snack, we got the text.

It's partial luck of the draw, CM mood and pixie dust, LOL. Generally speaking, if a guest has arrived they do their best to get the room ready. I'm sure Disney has a top secret algorithm for Mousekeeping!

Oh I am sure there are algorithms for everything they do!!!! Keeping our fingers crossed. It won't be a huge deal because we will be driving and have our car so we can keep our luggage there if need be, but we would prefer to be able to have check in done so we can head to the parks and be out for the night. Fingers crossed

Getting way too anxious for this trip. It has been two years since DH and I have been on a vacation. LOOOONG overdue

 

[brettcw23]

Oh I am sure there are algorithms for everything they do!!!! Keeping our fingers crossed. It won't be a huge deal because we will be driving and have our car so we can keep our luggage there if need be, but we would prefer to be able to have check in done so we can head to the parks and be out for the night. Fingers crossed

Getting way too anxious for this trip. It has been two years since DH and I have been on a vacation. LOOOONG overdue

Then this is well deserved!
We are the same way. We like to get our roon situated and then hit the ground running!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Has anyone had experience staying at BLT and being able to check in early? We will be arriving to Disney around noon time. We did online check in an mentioned we would be arriving around 12 and noted early check in if possible. I am guessing it is luck of the draw. When we stayed at CSR two years ago our room was ready when we arrived around the same time. I am hoping the online check in will help with that

I'll let you know how it goes for us in a few days!! Half of us will be arriving on Magical Express around noon and the other half will be arriving via car around 2:00. So excited!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Has anyone had experience staying at BLT and being able to check in early? We will be arriving to Disney around noon time. We did online check in an mentioned we would be arriving around 12 and noted early check in if possible. I am guessing it is luck of the draw. When we stayed at CSR two years ago our room was ready when we arrived around the same time. I am hoping the online check in will help with that

I've found DVC resorts tend to be ready later. My stays in 1BR units at OKW, BWV & AKV were always ready right around 4pm. I stayed in a studio at BLT in Dec. It was a split stay with OKW. I checked in around 11:30. I got the text that the room was ready at 2:06.

 

[johnsonet]

Looks like we'll be there about the same time. I'll be at ASSp with my DS(13) 8/7 to 8/10. My DH and girls (11 & 15) arrive 8/10 so we'll be at AoA one night before checking into BLT until 8/19 then 3 more nights at AKV before we go home. 15yo is balking about going so this might be the last big family trip for a while.

woohoo! yes, we will be there at the same time. However I have to go home MUCH sooner Sounds like a really fun split stay

There should be direct Epcot bus service from CR bus stop when monorail is down. I like to be at the bus stop an hour before need to be anywhere so I would try to get there around 7am to be safe.

ditto

Has anyone had experience staying at BLT and being able to check in early? We will be arriving to Disney around noon time. We did online check in and mentioned we would be arriving around 12 and noted early check in if possible. I am guessing it is luck of the draw. When we stayed at CSR two years ago our room was ready when we arrived around the same time. I am hoping the online check in will help with that

I think you've done everything you can do. Did you check the box that having your room ready was more important than any requests you may have made? Other than that, you're all set. Hopefully your room will be ready.
If you're going in a month, I would not recommend leaving your luggage in the car very long (unless it is free of chocolate, plastic, and candles!)

 

[Lou1982]

Hi!

I've just switched my February 2015 reservation from CBR to the Contemporary! V excited as I've always wanted to stay here but had a few questions and thought this would be the best place to ask!

We're currently booked into a garden wing garden view room for 14 nights. I'm contemplating switching to a TPV tower room but wondered if that was a good idea?

The pros as I see them are:

Closer to dining
Closer to monorail
Just generally more central feeling
View of MK!!

Cons

Cost (this is quite a big one!)
Possibly noisier? ( we will have DS1 and DS2 who will be 4 and 2 with us)
Elevators

I've read/heard that the elevators can be extremely busy and you often need to wait for them. We're going in the low season (last week of feb/first week of march) so this might not be so much of a problem?


Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

From WDWKOOK's recreation page at the beginning of this FAQ, I found this info:

"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"


I also found this on the DVC forum:



Hopefully the observation deck will have the music. I'm there in August too and don't have an MK view this time.
Outer Rim is the bar in CR and you won't be able to see the fireworks from there.
Bridge over to BLT I think they discourage people from using for f/w but I have no experience with that. You might ask if you're allowed to do that on the DVC forum: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=187

good luck.

I know this is a few days old, but I'm not sure if it was ever answered. Yes, music is piped in to the observation deck of the Contemporary. Not sure about the skybridge BUT the place I enjoyed watching the fireworks was from the 8th floor of the Contemporary tower...I took the elevator up there, walked to the end of the building closest to the MK, and stood on the decks of the Contemporary's outside (emergency?) staircase out there. I could hear the music from the observation deck, had a great view of the fireworks...and I was all alone. The door will close and lock behind you if you let it, but if you close it slowly, you can stop it from latching. Of course, if it does lock on you, you can just take the stairs down to ground level. There were people on a few different levels doing this and I'd definitely do it again.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

HiI've read/heard that the elevators can be extremely busy and you often need to wait for them. We're going in the low season (last week of feb/first week of march) so this might not be so much of a problem?

I wouldn't call this low season...more average season. We've been there during similar average crowd times and the elevators have been busy. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a problem, but just something to be aware of. The Contemporary is pretty much always busy, especially with Chef Mickey's, which causes some of the elevator back ups. That being said, we've never had to wait more than 5 minutes for an elevator, so it's not that big of an issue. Just be aware that you likely won't fit on the first elevator that arrives, especially if you have a stroller.

 

[oct2014]

We are DVC members and would like to show our friend TOWL while we are staying there in a few weeks. The only problem is that (although my husband is awesome with kids) her kids will have just met him at dinner and it would be unfair all around to leave him with four little boys for long under the circumstances.

If the two moms just run up to get a drink at the bar, do you think we could order them to go? (I've found one mention here of drinks to go, but that party's evening was cut short.)

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[johnsonet]

I know this is a few days old, but I'm not sure if it was ever answered. Yes, music is piped in to the observation deck of the Contemporary. Not sure about the skybridge BUT the place I enjoyed watching the fireworks was from the 8th floor of the Contemporary tower...I took the elevator up there, walked to the end of the building closest to the MK, and stood on the decks of the Contemporary's outside (emergency?) staircase out there. I could hear the music from the observation deck, had a great view of the fireworks...and I was all alone. The door will close and lock behind you if you let it, but if you close it slowly, you can stop it from latching. Of course, if it does lock on you, you can just take the stairs down to ground level. There were people on a few different levels doing this and I'd definitely do it again.

Thank you for sharing your experience

 

[brettcw23]

We are DVC members and would like to show our friend TOWL while we are staying there in a few weeks. The only problem is that (although my husband is awesome with kids) her kids will have just met him at dinner and it would be unfair all around to leave him with four little boys for long under the circumstances.

If the two moms just run up to get a drink at the bar, do you think we could order them to go? (I've found one mention here of drinks to go, but that party's evening was cut short.)

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Why can't you all go up together?

 

[oct2014]

We are DVC members and would like to show our friend TOWL while we are staying there in a few weeks. The only problem is that (although my husband is awesome with kids) her kids will have just met him at dinner and it would be unfair all around to leave him with four little boys for long under the circumstances.

If the two moms just run up to get a drink at the bar, do you think we could order them to go? (I've found one mention here of drinks to go, but that party's evening was cut short.)

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Why can't you all go up together?

Yikes! The thought scares me. They are ages 2-6. Loud and on the move!

 

[brettcw23]

Yikes! The thought scares me. They are ages 2-6. Loud and on the move!

LOL. Understood.
The TOTWL is FILLED with small children, so I'm not sure they'd be noticed.

But aside from carryout drinks, they have a nightly movie playing in between CR and BLT. Perhaps your DH could take them over to that for a little bit.