Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[Jfsag123]

Hiya. Rooms are assigned a week to ten days in advance, so it wouldn't affect assignment. BUT, if you actually got a "bad" room, you might have a better chance of getting a switch if you were earlier in the day, since they can't switch if someone is already physically in the other room. Of course someone else will get the bad room, but better them than you.

How early is early though? If it's too early, they may not tell you the room number until it's ready.

Thanks for the reply! Not super early, but like 10/11am. I'm liking the idea of having a better chance at switching if need be...

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

2 weeks from today I will be waking up with a castle view

 

[courtneybeth]

Our Incredible Vacation package arrived today in the mail! It feels official now - so excited.

.. or it may be excitement over the flashdrive that comes in the package. I needed a flashdrive for a project and was able to copy my file on to there and delete the file Disney put on there. When plugged in it reminds me of the Magic Band acceptance light and I smile. Just 343 days to go!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks…I was about to ask the same thing…a friend of mine just came back and was upgraded from garden wing to tower with no charge just by asking…if I am booked in a bay lake view room is there any point to ask for an upgrade??

Upgrades can and do happen at every resort. Some occur before arrival when the room is assigned. In these cases, the CM checking you in may not even realize you've been upgraded. Some upgrades can occur after check-in, but they are the exception. If you ask about being upgraded at check-in, most of the time, if there's availability, the CM will quote you the difference in price between the two rooms.

My only request when staying there with that view is a higher floor; but that's a request I make at any hotel anywhere. I guess I just like being higher up. I never really concerned myself with the noise from Chef Mickey's because most of the time we'll be in the parks when the song would be playing. But if you plan on sleeping in, then that might be a concern for you.

Some who have children who go to bed early prefer to be away from CM because they're open till 9:30 for dinner and I think the last Celebration song is around 10. However, the EWP goes by at 10:10 so if you're in a BLV room and the child can sleep through that, then they can definitely sleep through the Celebration song once an hour!

Just curious - does this happen often that people get upgraded from garden wing to tower? We're booked for garden wing, which is fine for us, but I wouldn't say no to an upgrade!

No, guests aren't often upgraded for free from the GW to the Tower, but like with upgrades at any resort, it can happen. If you have a convention booking, you're not booked into any category and are instead assigned a room by the Room Assignor. Those with convention reservations can be assigned to any room at CR, including Tower Club rooms.

Hiya. Rooms are assigned a week to ten days in advance, so it wouldn't affect assignment. BUT, if you actually got a "bad" room, you might have a better chance of getting a switch if you were earlier in the day, since they can't switch if someone is already physically in the other room. Of course someone else will get the bad room, but better them than you.

How early is early though? If it's too early, they may not tell you the room number until it's ready.

The rooms are assigned about 3-5 days prior to arrival, after the reservation has dropped into the Resort's system. ITA, that arriving earlier is better in case you're unhappy with your assigned room, the likelihood is greater that they'll be other room options available to you, if the resort isn't at 100% occupancy.

None of the resorts are supposed to tell you what room you're in, until its available. But, CR will tell you the floor and show you on the map a general location, if you ask.

I like your quotation marks around "bad." That's pretty subjective, isn't it? For example, we hate being anywhere near an elevator and others request it.

2 weeks from today I will be waking up with a castle view

Our Incredible Vacation package arrived today in the mail! It feels official now - so excited.

.. or it may be excitement over the flashdrive that comes in the package. I needed a flashdrive for a project and was able to copy my file on to there and delete the file Disney put on there. When plugged in it reminds me of the Magic Band acceptance light and I smile. Just 343 days to go!

 

[mindystar]

So excited! I'm having the travel agent move us from POR to CR-Bay Lake View for the majority of our girls' trip as a surprise for my mom I let my sister in on it---mostly so she could help me make the decision which deluxe to upgrade to
It's been awhile since I've been back to the CR and I've never been Bay Lake side. I would have gone TPV, but all that is left for the AP rate is BL--so it will be a new experience
Can't wait to be back!!!
We'll check in really late on 1/22 and check out to transfer to Poly on 1/25.
So excited

 

[Trekkie]

Remember you can watch fireworks from the 4th floor balcony.

And don't forget to at least try to get reservations for Chef Mickey's. you might get lucky.

 

[godoftheWorld]

Just got back from the Contemporary for one night. We arrived at 3:30 pm and asked for an upgrade politely, after waiting 15 minutes, we were upgraded from a GV to a MK Tower view. So yes, of course it happens, but I would check in later versus earlier. Virtually no chance if your early.

 

[wdhinn89]

We have a May stay booked at the CR with a BLV, our last visit to the CR was July 2013, have any changes been made? Also,do they still have fridges and coffee pots? Excited to be back home at the CR and this year we will be attending SWW so we are ultra excited

 

[Trekkie]

Yes to fridge and coffee maker.

Only change I'm aware of is that after years, they finally got around to putting signs in the elevator to the monorail telling people which button to push.

 

[wdhinn89]

lol thanks!

 

[WDWKOOK]

So excited! I'm having the travel agent move us from POR to CR-Bay Lake View for the majority of our girls' trip as a surprise for my mom I let my sister in on it---mostly so she could help me make the decision which deluxe to upgrade to

It's been awhile since I've been back to the CR and I've never been Bay Lake side. I would have gone TPV, but all that is left for the AP rate is BL--so it will be a new experience

Can't wait to be back!!!
We'll check in really late on 1/22 and check out to transfer to Poly on 1/25.
So excited

That sounds like a great surprise. BLV is our favorite - it's so tranquil and picturesque. I'll add your dates to the log-orail.

Just got back from the Contemporary for one night. We arrived at 3:30 pm and asked for an upgrade politely, after waiting 15 minutes, we were upgraded from a GV to a MK Tower view. So yes, of course it happens, but I would check in later versus earlier. Virtually no chance if your early.

Upgrades can occur anytime of the day. The key to your upgrade was probably due to the fact you were only staying one night. Most, but not all, free upgrades occur with very short stays. Blocking out a more expensive/more in demand room for a longer stay is more difficult for the Room Assignor and less likely unless you're paying the difference and the room hasn't already been blocked.

We have a May stay booked at the CR with a BLV, our last visit to the CR was July 2013, have any changes been made? Also,do they still have fridges and coffee pots? Excited to be back home at the CR and this year we will be attending SWW so we are ultra excited

Only BLT has coffee pots and CR has coffee pods:

The rooms received a soft goods rehab in 2013, but all of them may not have been finished prior to your last stay. The GW rooms were last to be completed in July 2013. HERE is the link to the new room decor and picture of the fridge.

 

[princessap]

Just got back from the Contemporary for one night. We arrived at 3:30 pm and asked for an upgrade politely, after waiting 15 minutes, we were upgraded from a GV to a MK Tower view. So yes, of course it happens, but I would check in later versus earlier. Virtually no chance if your early.

we are staying here two nights in March and I was going to ask for an upgrade but have no idea what to say?!?! what did you say to them when asking for it??
thanks

 

[Koh1977]

If you book a standard view garden wing room, can you request water view at all? And how likely would it be that you get it?

Also, 1st floor has patio and the upper rooms have no real balcony, right?

Where's the laundry located?

And is there any height restriction on the splash area?


Trying to decide between WL and CR right now for our June SWW trip...how are the buses to HS?

 

[Trekkie]

Where's the laundry located?

Garden wing, second floor, I suspect it's about the middle of the building.

(And something they did that I really like: It uses your magic band. No need to go get a roll or quarters or anything. (Although it does charge to your room.))

 

[Cluelyss]

If you book a standard view garden wing room, can you request water view at all? And how likely would it be that you get it? Also, 1st floor has patio and the upper rooms have no real balcony, right? Where's the laundry located? And is there any height restriction on the splash area? Trying to decide between WL and CR right now for our June SWW trip...how are the buses to HS?

We had standard view, GW in October. "Water view" is not an option when doing online check in, but I called about 3 days before our stay and asked them to add a water view to our reservation. We checked in at about one and were granted a room with a view of Bay Lake, but not sure if we just got lucky? Being there early probably helped. And yes, 1st floor rooms have a patio while 2nd and 3rd floor rooms only have Juliet balconies.

 

[Fºoºz]

Hi ... just had a few questions ...

• When was the last room refurb done on the Contemporary? Are the photos on the WDW website really indicative of the current state of the rooms?
• Are the Bay Lake Towers worth the upgrade?

Thanks

 

[Trekkie]

I just went through the WDW pictures for the tower, kingdom view, room. (Those are the ones we always stay in). And they sure seem accurate, to me.

 

[Koh1977]

Yeah!! Add me to the log! DH decided he wanted to try a new resort and we can get a Garden Wing room for the same price as WL. The extra space, splash pad area for the kids, and easy monorail access won him over. Besides, he loves the modern look, SO...

May 30-June 5



How are the buses to HS?

 

[Cluelyss]

Hi ... just had a few questions ... [*]When was the last room refurb done on the Contemporary? Are the photos on the WDW website really indicative of the current state of the rooms? [*]Are the Bay Lake Towers worth the upgrade? Thanks

Last refurb was 2013 I believe? It was recent. Pictures online are accurate with the exception of the thumbnail shown for GW-GV when you view the room rates. That's the pre-rehab decor. However, all GW rooms have been updated and look like the GW-SW thumbnail. If you click the "view photos" link you can see the updates.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We had standard view, GW in October. "Water view" is not an option when doing online check in, but I called about 3 days before our stay and asked them to add a water view to our reservation. We checked in at about one and were granted a room with a view of Bay Lake, but not sure if we just got lucky? Being there early probably helped. And yes, 1st floor rooms have a patio while 2nd and 3rd floor rooms only have Juliet balconies.

If you book a GW/Garden View room, there is a 3/3 chance of having a room facing some water and a 2/3 chance of facing fresh water. There are three possible GV views:

Rooms that front Bay Lake, like you had, (those are the best).
Rooms that front the canal, (though some views are obstructed by trees).
And, rooms that front the pool area. This is more of a "grassy" GV if you're on a lower floor.

Hi ... just had a few questions ...

• When was the last room refurb done on the Contemporary? Are the photos on the WDW website really indicative of the current state of the rooms?
• Are the Bay Lake Towers worth the upgrade?

Thanks

Welcome to the thread. At the end of post 1802 above, I mention that the last soft goods rehab was completed in July 2013. Photos of the new room decor are in the ROOM chapter of this thread - POST 5.

Bay Lake Tower only has DVC villas: Studios, One Bedroom and Two Bedroom and Grand Villas. There are lots of photos and information in the BLT chapter of this thread. The hyperlinks to the chapters are in POST 1.

We love BLT because for just a bit more than a Tower BLV room, you get almost twice the square footage, a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, master bedroom with king bed, a queen sleeper in the living room, two balconies, washer/dryer and two full bathrooms! You can book a cash reservation and apply applicable discounts to your reservation. We like to use the Military 40% off rate. Some prefer to rent points and the DVC forum has more information on this.

Yeah!! Add me to the log! DH decided he wanted to try a new resort and we can get a Garden Wing room for the same price as WL. The extra space, splash pad area for the kids, and easy monorail access won him over. Besides, he loves the modern look, SO...

May 30-June 5



How are the buses to HS?

Congratulations on booking! I always find the DHS, AK and DtD buses to be a bit tedious from all the Deluxe resorts, but the one from CR stops at both Poly and GF after CR, so it takes at least 30 mins. It's faster to just walk right over to the MK and take the DHS bus from there. The bus ride itself is about half the time and less crowded. The quickest is staying at BWI or BWV and walking from there.