Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[dmetcalfrn]

So would an odd room number for atrium club level TPV room be a valid request for DSS? We are booked in December and not sure what room requests to put in as this is our first CR stay. We thought December would be the best time to try out CR when the pool was not such a major part of the visit for the kids.

 

[MiracleCream]

So would an odd room number for atrium club level TPV room be a valid request for DSS? We are booked in December and not sure what room requests to put in as this is our first CR stay. We thought December would be the best time to try out CR when the pool was not such a major part of the visit for the kids.

I'm planning to do this myself for my next visit It's not for 18 months so you're probably going before me. Please report back if you do this with success

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So would an odd room number for atrium club level TPV room be a valid request for DSS? We are booked in December and not sure what room requests to put in as this is our first CR stay. We thought December would be the best time to try out CR when the pool was not such a major part of the visit for the kids.

FWIW, that pic I posted above is from the Atrium Club floor, room 4843 which is about half-way down the northwest 'wing' of the floor.

I was at first going to recommend that your only request should be to not be on the Chef Mickey's side and not use a request on the odd numbered room thing. But I went back to the e-mail I sent DSS (then IPO) when I stayed there last fall, and here's what I sent them:

I'd like to....."request a room on the north side of the floor, away from Chef Mickey’s (first priority) and an odd numbered room (secondary priority)."

So for that trip, both requests were granted (bonus!). If I were to do this again, I would probably either send the exact same thing or just do the away from Chef Mickey's request.

I had the second to last room on the southwest side of the floor once and it wasn't necessarily my favorite due to 1) being directly over CM's and the associated restaurant noise/buzz that comes with it, and 2) you're further away from the MK on that end. Although I should caveat, DD was like 9 months old on that trip, so I was probably more sensitive to CM's noise than an average guest.

Hope that helps!

 

[dmetcalfrn]

I'm planning to do this myself for my next visit It's not for 18 months so you're probably going before me. Please report back if you do this with success

Will do

 

[dmetcalfrn]

FWIW, that pic I posted above is from the Atrium Club floor, room 4843 which is about half-way down the northwest 'wing' of the floor.

I was at first going to recommend that your only request should be to not be on the Chef Mickey's side and not use a request on the odd numbered room thing. But I went back to the e-mail I sent DSS (then IPO) when I stayed there last fall, and here's what I sent them:

I'd like to....."request a room on the north side of the floor, away from Chef Mickey’s (first priority) and an odd numbered room (secondary priority)."

So for that trip, both requests were granted (bonus!). If I were to do this again, I would probably either send the exact same thing or just do the away from Chef Mickey's request.

I had the second to last room on the southwest side of the floor once and it wasn't necessarily my favorite due to 1) being directly over CM's and the associated restaurant noise/buzz that comes with it, and 2) you're further away from the MK on that end. Although I should caveat, DD was like 9 months old on that trip, so I was probably more sensitive to CM's noise than an average guest.

Hope that helps!

Thank you!! I will send them that exact request. Glad I asked...totally did not even think about Chef Mickey's!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you!! I will send them that exact request. Glad I asked...totally did not even think about Chef Mickey's!!

Although I probably should have noted, YMMV! I'm sure you know requests aren't guranteed, but I have found they tend to do what they can to accommodate. I wouldn't be too bummed if I was over Chef Mickey's again, it's WDW and the CR after all!

 

[wdhinn89]

What is the e-mail you are using to put in special requests? I thought you had to call.

 

[tinkb]

Does anyone know what exactly the Contemporary has going on October 31st for Halloween? I read something about trick or treating but wasn't sure if it was accurate. We'll be in Disney at that time and I'm not sure if MNSSHP is in the budget but I really don't want the kids (age 6 and under) to miss out on trick or treating all together.

 

[TXPyroMom]

We are considering Express Transportation, if it's still available in November.

We will have a toddler and most afternoons at least some of our party will be going back to BLT for a nap in the afternoon. Is using the Express option to get us to MK and then walk to BLT a good time saver?

 

[FredtheDuck]

If you're walking at a fairly good clip, it's about a 6 or 7 minute walk from the gates of the MK to the lobby of CR. I was just there with a toddler, though, and one thing I would caution is not to underestimate what a pain it is to take all your stuff out of your stroller, fold it, climb on to a bus or van with the stroller, the stuff, and your kid, and then unfold/repack/buckle the kid back in when you get to where you're going. And buses (except DME) don't have a designated place to put folded strollers, so I found myself awkwardly holding stroller and "stuff" while my husband wrangled our kid. For that reason, I vastly preferred either monorail or walking.

With that lesson learned, our next trip will be a split stay, AK for our AK day(s) and CR for Epcot and MK, since we can monorail/walk.

 

[LisaCM614]

If you're walking at a fairly good clip, it's about a 6 or 7 minute walk from the gates of the MK to the lobby of CR. I was just there with a toddler, though, and one thing I would caution is not to underestimate what a pain it is to take all your stuff out of your stroller, fold it, climb on to a bus or van with the stroller, the stuff, and your kid, and then unfold/repack/buckle the kid back in when you get to where you're going. And buses (except DME) don't have a designated place to put folded strollers, so I found myself awkwardly holding stroller and "stuff" while my husband wrangled our kid. For that reason, I vastly preferred either monorail or walking.

With that lesson learned, our next trip will be a split stay, AK for our AK day(s) and CR for Epcot and MK, since we can monorail/walk.

We like split stays because we like to walk and have that freedom of not depending on transportation. BLT for MK and BW or BC for Epcot and DHS. AK we'll have to deal with the bus but I bet we'll end up using a taxi!

 

[aussietravellers]

We are doing a split stay (a triple split stay actually) on our upcoming trip. CR for 4 nights, 6 nights at AKL and 9 nights BC. My son's favourite resort is AKL so hence choosing there again and I love BC (or YC), the location to the large number of restaurants within EPCOT, HS and the resorts in the area and we like to eat. This trip I really wanted to try a MK area resort as we always tend to stay in the same areas. We love the idea of the monorail going through the hotel, so have chosen CR with a theme park view.

We know room requests we like at the other resorts (BC/YC, balcony, close to reception), AKL (low floor, and a certain savannah and trail). But for CR I really have no idea. I don't know the resort or area well at all. We haven't added any requests as yet to the CR reservation as I am not sure what, if anything, to request. I was going to ask for a high floor? Thought that may be good for the view, but the view may be good from any floor? Does anyone have any advise on room requests for a theme park view? Would love some advise, some suggestions, to hear what you like or don't like about certain TPV locations.

Super excited about our first trip to CR.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Here's a link to the CL thread where I started posting, use whatever you need! Tower Club - April 2017

If I remember correctly, you didn't enjoy your Tower Club experience that much? Granted we only had two nights but we really enjoyed our brief time there. What a totally different room/CL experience than anywhere else.

Thank you for the link, @GADisneyDad14

You had more nights than I did! I asked to be moved the evening I arrived. It is a very small floor and lounge and a very large group was there and it was chaotic, loud and crowded. Unfortunately, guests were treating the lounge as their own personal extension of their room and the behavior wasn't stellar. I won't go into all the details again, but I figured it was only going to get worse and louder as the night went on, so I cut my losses and asked to be moved to a non-CL floor.

Obviously, another stay might have yielded an entirely different experience. But, the room was gorgeous as was the balcony. But, I did have a connecting door, which I didn't want, and that transmitted a lot of noise from the next room. I've had other Tower rooms with a connecting door and never heard anything, but this particular September evening, the Tower Club floor was in full party mode.

We are doing a split stay (a triple split stay actually) on our upcoming trip. CR for 4 nights, 6 nights at AKL and 9 nights BC. My son's favourite resort is AKL so hence choosing there again and I love BC (or YC), the location to the large number of restaurants within EPCOT, HS and the resorts in the area and we like to eat. This trip I really wanted to try a MK area resort as we always tend to stay in the same areas. We love the idea of the monorail going through the hotel, so have chosen CR with a theme park view.

We know room requests we like at the other resorts (BC/YC, balcony, close to reception), AKL (low floor, and a certain savannah and trail). But for CR I really have no idea. I don't know the resort or area well at all. We haven't added any requests as yet to the CR reservation as I am not sure what, if anything, to request. I was going to ask for a high floor? Thought that may be good for the view, but the view may be good from any floor? Does anyone have any advise on room requests for a theme park view? Would love some advise, some suggestions, to hear what you like or don't like about certain TPV locations.

Super excited about our first trip to CR.

Congratulations on booking! The most popular Tower TPV request is an odd numbered room. In those rooms, the beds face toward the MK/castle.

 

[Kjbbach1]

How is the BLT pool bathroom? Does it have showers and a changing area? We will be there early and want to swim before and head to an early dinner before our room will be ready.

 

[Ambehnke]

Getting very excited for our first stay at the Contemporary! We'll be there Aug 6-12!

 

[Nathan629]

We booked our first trip ever yesterday and plan on staying in the CR. My question is (and I apologize if this has been discussed ad nauseam) but when we booked I opted for the Bay Lake View as I was afraid of the description on the TPV which has "Parking Areas". I really do not want to get to the resort and have a view of a parking lot! Is this a reasonable concern or is the view mostly of the theme parks? Thank you for any help you can share as my wife and I want our children (7 and 5) to have a very memorable trip!

 

[melana]

I have a question about the poolside Cabanas. Can you call and book them before your stay or do you have to wait until you get there? If you can book beforehand..how long beforehand??

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We booked our first trip ever yesterday and plan on staying in the CR. My question is (and I apologize if this has been discussed ad nauseam) but when we booked I opted for the Bay Lake View as I was afraid of the description on the TPV which has "Parking Areas". I really do not want to get to the resort and have a view of a parking lot! Is this a reasonable concern or is the view mostly of the theme parks? Thank you for any help you can share as my wife and I want our children (7 and 5) to have a very memorable trip!

No need to apologize!

I would recommend checking out aerial pics of CR from something like Google Maps. With the map oriented north, all Bay Lake View rooms are on the east (or right) side of the building. All Theme Park View rooms are on the west (or left) side of the building.

Personally I think both views are great in different ways, although I give the slight edge to the Bay Lake side for the serenity / peacefulness of the view. On the other hand, nothing beats being able to see the MK from a TPV room and feel the buzz of the 7 Seas Lagoon.

A few pics may help:

Here's the view from a TPV room. This is from a higher floor, but all TPV rooms are generally going to be similar. Some people don't like the fact that you have the parking lot in the foreground. To me, it looks worse in the photo than it feels in real life. When I see this view, my eyes are all on the MK!


View from same room looking straight....


With an odd numbered TPV room, you can be in bed and see the MK...


TPV rooms have the benefit of being able to watch MK fireworks from your balcony.... there is a TV station that plays the music.


On the other hand, things on the Bay Lake side are very peacefull, in a really good way.


Looking left....


Looking right...(that is Epcot and HS in that distance)


The whole perspective....


And a wonderful view of the nightly Electrical Water Pageant (you can't see this from the TPV side)...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have a question about the poolside Cabanas. Can you call and book them before your stay or do you have to wait until you get there? If you can book beforehand..how long beforehand??

You can book before hand. I would actually recommend it, best not to wait. Call 407-WDW-PLAY. I think you can reserve relatively far in advance, even before the 180 day mark (although not certain about that).

 

[Nathan629]

No need to apologize!

I would recommend checking out aerial pics of CR from something like Google Maps. With the map oriented north, all Bay Lake View rooms are on the east (or right) side of the building. All Theme Park View rooms are on the west (or left) side of the building.

Personally I think both views are great in different ways, although I give the slite edge to the Bay Lake side for the serenity / peacefulness of the view. On the other hand, nothing beats being able to see the MK from a TPV room and feel the buzz of the 7 Seas Lagoon.

A few pics may help:

Here's the view from a TPV room. This is from a higher floor, but all TPV rooms are generally going to be similar. Some people don't like the fact that you have the parking lot in the foreground. To me, it looks worse in the photo than it feels in real life. When I see this view, my eyes are all on the MK!
View attachment 247771

View from same room looking straight....
View attachment 247773

With an odd numbered TPV room, you can be in bed and see the MK...
View attachment 247775

TPV rooms have the benefit of being able to watch MK fireworks from your balcony.... there is a TV station that plays the music.
View attachment 247776

On the other hand, things on the Bay Lake side are very peacefull, in a really good way.
View attachment 247777

Looking left....
View attachment 247779

Looking right...(that is Epcot and HS in that distance)
View attachment 247780

The whole perspective....
View attachment 247781

And a wonderful view of the nightly Electrical Water Pageant (you can't see this from the TPV side)...
View attachment 247782

Thank you for your help! It is greatly appreciated and I think I will be changing our reservation for the TPV. I agree that the serenity of Bay Lake would be nice, but this is our first trip to WDW and might as well collect as many views of the MK as possible.

Thanks again for the help and the pics!