Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[CMNJ]

Thank you for the link for the rooms! Now to decide if a ground floor request would be nicer than another view. And we are renting. I've read the guidelines for Top of the World and it states DVC, but then also read reviews that some renters gain access. It's a MNSSHP weeknight - we might ask just to see, or head to the Poly beach instead.

That's why I said assuming they follow policy-per DVC policy you can't go but I have read reports of people being allowed up without showing their membership card. So you could try it and get lucky but you may very well be turned away as they aren't actually supposed to allow you.

 

[STLstone]

During our stay, 5/31 - 6/9, every night (as far as I remember), they had a CM operating the furthest elevator and checking for membership cards before people were allowed on.

 

[FoodieFriend]

Hello! Our first stay at BLT is coming up on October. We were lucky enough to get two nights in a one bedroom standard view room off wait list from a DVC member. I have just a few questions since this is our first stay here and have been unable to find some answers...
What is a standard view, really? View of CR? Low floor?
And for Top of the World, is that just for DVC owners with ID or anyone staying in a DVC room?

In late Sept/early Oct '15, we stayed at BLT on points as an owner in a standard view 1 bedroom villa (I think most standard view rooms are 5th floor & lower). I requested the 5th floor near concourse & got 1st floor, outside C, closer to CR. View was of Bay Lake boat dock. If we had been in the room at the right time, I'm sure we could've watched the Electric Water parade thingy from our living room/bedroom. At first I was disappointed with being on the 1st floor. We didn't leave our curtains open because lots of ppl would be walking by glancing in all the time, but the ease of not having to wait for elevators to head to the bus stop or walk to MK was incredible! We usually chose to ride the monorail when it was less busy & only experienced a monorail shutdown once, so the elevator wait times were negligible. We just took a bus instead. My group really appreciated how easy it was to get around using Disney Transporation to/from BLT. We weren't "in the know" about the boat transportation, but we hope to try it next time!

From what I experienced going up to ToTW, the check in desk on the ground floor requires you to swipe your DVC membership card & enter your pin number on a keypad before allowing your group up to the lounge. We went there to see Wishes from their balcony. It was packed with ppl about 2 rows deep along the railing. We could see a large group standing outside of California Grill in CR as well. it was a great show with the music piped in thru the lounge. We only went up there once, so I don't know if the entry method is different when it's not a busy time. We didn't stay to have any food or drinks, but it's definitely an experience to go up there & we would return for a longer stay next time.

 

[yellowfish78]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I didn't think of "no waiting for an elevator" as a benefit of ground floor. I just assume a higher floor would be nice - and cross my fingers for a parking lot view! LOL. We are there for two nights only with one day at MK so ground floor might be a good option for us.

 

[outahere]

Anyone stay CL at CR lately?

We're staying Atrium CL at the CR next week and received the usual welcome email. It stated that evening turn-down with chocolates and cordials in the lounge were included. Did they bring those things back, or is that message out of date?

Thanks.

PS - also posted on the CL thread

Ok..... I'll answer my own question, in case anyone else is interested. We just returned from a two night CL stay at CR, and yes they do turn-down with chocolates and do have cordials in the lounge in the evening. Unlike most of the other CL lounges, the wine, beer and cordials were self-serve. We stayed CL at the CR about a year ago, and the experience this time was excellent and pretty much identical to last year, including being greeted curbside when we arrived (we drove), and escorted up to the lounge to check in.

 

[plbreeze]

Is there a place to use a microwave?

 

[Cluelyss]

Is there a place to use a microwave?

Contemp Cafe has a microwave.

 

[lilmomma00]

Bumping this as I'm looking for them too!!!

curious what these look like?

 

[dreamseeker9]

Very excited - for our September trip, I upgraded from a garden wing garden view to a tower TPV with the back-to-school discount! I decided the extra price was worth it for me and my parents, they are celebrating their 45th anniversary - they got married the same year as the Contemporary opened!

 

[akclayton]

Hi! Can someone give me ideas on things we can do at the contemporary during our "resort day"?

We won't be utilizing the pools.

At Poly we walked around the grounds, sat on the beach, roasted marshmallows, and rented a small water craft.

I know that we can also rent a boat at CR, but am not familiar with anything else.. Any tips would be appreciated!

Staying at CR for the first time in December but we are familiar with WL and Ft Wilderness. I would suggest taking the boat from CR, head to Ft Wilderness. They have a neat area around the boat dock area. Plus, you can rent a bike and there's a good trail between there and WL that is nice to ride.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Playing catch-up after DD's graduation and vacation...Happy trips and planning to everyone!​

We just returned home last night from our trip. We stayed in a garden view room in the garden wing (#5310) for 4 nights as part of a triple split stay. It was the last leg of our trip and felt so luxurious when coming from CBR and POR, our first two legs. We had stayed in a tower room 2 years ago, but garden wing was just as nice, and like most people say, pretty peaceful and quiet. The TVs have been upgraded since 2 years ago, ours was huge! And we did receive those complimentary toiletries as seen in the pictures above. The 1L water bottles were a really nice addition, too. Out of the 4 nights, we received 1 bottle twice, 2 bottles once, and one day they didn't give us any.

We love the Contemporary and would definitely stay again if the budget allows. I've felt very fortunate to have stayed here for 2 trips in a row!

Thank you for posting about your stay and reporting about the toiletries/water, @ErinF. I hope you get to book a return trip soon

Anyone know where I can find a current list of best transportation options to and from BLT?

I also have information in the TRANSPORTATION chapter of this thread.

This might only help a very few people, but I had some tips on driving in (it was my first time).

- Even if you've checked in on-line, you will not have magic band access to the parking lot... yet. You have to use the left lane at the guard shack where you'll be given a parking pass for the length of your stay. Make sure it has your name and the right checkout date on it. He tried to give me the wrong one, first.

- If you approach the hotel through the Main Disney World Gate from the south, stay to the right for the resorts (the signs are pretty clear about this). Entering from this direction, you'll be able to turn right, into the parking lot at CR.

- If you approach from the North (the "back way") and you take the "clockwise" route around the Magic Kingdom, on World Drive, directly to the CR, you'll need to turn left into the CR parking lot - but a left turn is not allowed here. You may be better off taking the "counter-clockwise" route around the Magic Kingdom or you'll need to find a spot to turn around - we used the Wilderness Lodge Cast Member driveway for this )

We stayed 9 nights in Bay Lake Tower. It was fantastic in just about any way I can think of. One thing I thought was exceptional was how quiet it was. In our rooms, you couldn't hear another soul on the premises. This feature probably benefited the other guests more than us - we had a 2 year old with us.

Great information, @STLstone, which I'm going to add to the TRANSPORTATION chapter of the thread.

Only matters if you are staying TPV in the Tower.

You're right that it matters most there, but we also request it for BLV because we prefer our beds not face towards BLT. We prefer they face toward FW, Epcot and WL. Not sure why they'd have it as a GW request other than the OCI choices have nothing to do with the category you book

For those at CR/BLT, have they put up fencing along the small beach areas ?

Bumping your question...

Hi @WDWKOOK can you add me to the log-o-rail please?
We are thrilled to be staying in CR, garden wing, garden view with FD 11/27-12/2. Thanks for all of the great info on this thread!

Congratulations on booking, @rere101399. I'd be happy to add your dates.

Hi, @WDWKOOK please add me to the log.
We are going 9/4 - 9/7 CR GW
Our first time at this resort. Will be celebrating my birthday!!!
Thanks

What a great way to celebrate and I'll log your dates

Didn't want to jinx it until it was booked, but after a little 8 AM website stress we are set. January 20-25, 2017 at BLT. Have been looking forward to returning to the Contemporary for 15 years!

No jinxing around here, it's a done deal! I'll add your dates to the Log-o-Rail.

For those who stayed in both BLT and CR... does BLT feel like the "contemporary experience"?

In some respects, it may have even felt more contemporary. The outdoor area in the back is very contemporary and so is the lobby. There's much less hustle and bustle compared with CR. We stayed in a one bedroom which is quite large and the floor to ceiling windows offer amazing views.

Ok..... I'll answer my own question, in case anyone else is interested. We just returned from a two night CL stay at CR, and yes they do turn-down with chocolates and do have cordials in the lounge in the evening. Unlike most of the other CL lounges, the wine, beer and cordials were self-serve. We stayed CL at the CR about a year ago, and the experience this time was excellent and pretty much identical to last year, including being greeted curbside when we arrived (we drove), and escorted up to the lounge to check in.

I had multi-quoted your question to bump it, but now I don't need to. Thank you for letting everyone know it hasn't yet been discontinued for those staying CL.

Contemp Cafe has a microwave.

curious what these look like?

Very excited - for our September trip, I upgraded from a garden wing garden view to a tower TPV with the back-to-school discount! I decided the extra price was worth it for me and my parents, they are celebrating their 45th anniversary - they got married the same year as the Contemporary opened!

What a wonderful upgrade and special anniversary! You're obviously their favorite child

 

[glvsav37]

Can you add us to the list? Getting to WDW on Aug 2 but not checking into BLT until Aug 6. After many BLT stays, we are stepping outside our bubble and hanging at AKL for the first few days of the trip. We have officially outgrown the BLT studio and will now be in a 1 bdrm. Also part of why the ALK stay, we're saving a few points by staying studio there—while we were fresh and still actually like being around each other. Save the bigger room for when we are hot, tired and cranky lol.

So Aug 6-14 for us. 1 Bdrm Standard view. Thanks!! Can't wait to be 'home'

 

[lilmomma00]

sorry for the confusion. Im curious to see what the vintage posters look like that someone posted about a few pages back.

 

[WDW Freak]

For those at CR/BLT, have they put up fencing along the small beach areas ?

They have fencing up along the water of the beach by the CR pool and signs saying the beach is closed.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I am sorry if this has been posted (205 pages is a lot to look through). We are staying at Bay Lake Tower in Feb. I have read that BLT rooms are getting a soft rehab. Does anyone know if this has started, and when all rooms are expected to be finished? Also, can anyone direct me to pictures of the new rooms (if this has even started yet). Thanks so much!

 

[STLstone]

I am sorry if this has been posted (205 pages is a lot to look through). We are staying at Bay Lake Tower in Feb. I have read that BLT rooms are getting a soft rehab. Does anyone know if this has started, and when all rooms are expected to be finished? Also, can anyone direct me to pictures of the new rooms (if this has even started yet). Thanks so much!

A few months ago, before our stay, when we received the "warning letter" about the rehab, the CM on the phone told us the "soft rehab" amounted to replacing/cleaning all the carpets and drapes. I don't know if I totally believe that, but we stayed on the 5th floor and I never heard a single sound of any kind - let alone construction. There wasn't any dust in the air anywhere, either. We stayed the first 2 weeks of June.

I do not know what the rehab looks like. I can't believe there is anything major to update with such a new property.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Anyone have any advice on when to leave the BLT pool area to watch MNSSHP fireworks and where to watch them from?

 

[gluestickgirl]

Just got back from a quick weekend + our first Contemporary stay. Absolutely worth it. =) Loved the MK access, and really can't complain about this view....

 

[Skywise]

Just got back from a quick weekend + our first Contemporary stay. Absolutely worth it. =) Loved the MK access, and really can't complain about this view....

Most expensive parking lot view in the world!

 

[gluestickgirl]

Most expensive parking lot view in the world!

Somehow it's easy not to notice the parking lot.