Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[bcuinohio]

We were able to get a room in the BLT in June, but it is a 2BR lock-off. Is it possible to be put on a waitlist for a normal 2BR?

Is this a cash reservation or DVC points? I know you can go on a waiting using points.

 

[yaksack]

Just called and go on the waitlist. DD2 was mad that she wouldn't have her own bed in a lock off.

 

[Sarahslay]

Stupid question alert: my husband needs (NEEDS) his early morning coffee, and since we wil be at CR in about 4 days I thought I'd check and make sure contemporary grounds is actually open. I had heard in the beginning it didn't open with the resort, but it is listed now under dining, just want to double check before I get the guys hopes up (he's never stayed at CR, and we were supposed to have CL for all his fancy coffee needs this trip, but alas it was not meant to be)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Stupid question alert: my husband needs (NEEDS) his early morning coffee, and since we wil be at CR in about 4 days I thought I'd check and make sure contemporary grounds is actually open. I had heard in the beginning it didn't open with the resort, but it is listed now under dining, just want to double check before I get the guys hopes up (he's never stayed at CR, and we were supposed to have CL for all his fancy coffee needs this trip, but alas it was not meant to be)

HAHA! Yeah, it’s open. 6am.

FWIW, I may have snooty coffee tendencies and I don’t really love Contemporary Grounds all that much. It’s passable, but that’s about it for me. But of course, YMMV and he may love it!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Sarahslay]

HAHA! Yeah, it’s open. 6am.

FWIW, I may have snooty coffee tendencies and I don’t really love Contemporary Grounds all that much. It’s passable, but that’s about it for me. But of course, YMMV and he may love it!

Enjoy your trip!

He really isn't snooty, but the 7am opening of the QS won't be to his liking (especially with AK opening at 7) He really hates the in-room coffee, he realized this over Thanksgiving where he went and got a resort mug so he could get coffee right at 7 from the QS. He just needs coffee, and I've had contemporary grounds before so I know it'll pass for him (I, on the other hand, AM snooty and I'll wait for Starbucks )

 

[bcuinohio]

He really isn't snooty, but the 7am opening of the QS won't be to his liking (especially with AK opening at 7) He really hates the in-room coffee, he realized this over Thanksgiving where he went and got a resort mug so he could get coffee right at 7 from the QS. He just needs coffee, and I've had contemporary grounds before so I know it'll pass for him (I, on the other hand, AM snooty and I'll wait for Starbucks )

I have heard people say that the in room coffee is much better if you use bottled water.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

He really isn't snooty, but the 7am opening of the QS won't be to his liking (especially with AK opening at 7) He really hates the in-room coffee, he realized this over Thanksgiving where he went and got a resort mug so he could get coffee right at 7 from the QS. He just needs coffee, and I've had contemporary grounds before so I know it'll pass for him (I, on the other hand, AM snooty and I'll wait for Starbucks )

Ha! Too funny.

It’s weird, I never really gave the in room coffee a shot since we’d usually be CL, but it’s become my go to now. I do use bottled water like @bcuinohio says. I actually really like it.

Like your DH, I can’t wait until the park for Starbucks!

 

[nw6675]

We liked the coffee, too. The tap water was so pungently sulfuric smelling at times when we were there, it was awful! I didn't notice it all the time and don't recall it from other stays, so maybe just a fluke or time of year?

 

[aboveH20]

Your opinion, please.

As a family we used to go to Caribbean Beach every year, Now that I go solo I'm working my way through the resorts. The list is getting shorter of resorts still to visit. I've been looking at stays in April assuming I'll be vaccinated by then (and avoiding Easter, which fortunately is early this year). Geez oh petes is it expensive! Don' know if that's how Disney is coping with covid or if it's just that I usually travel earlier in the year.

Here's my question. Garden wing rooms at the Contemporary are appreciably less costly than main tower rooms. Will I feel as though it's "close but not a cigar" or is garden wing good enough. I'm tempted to go back to CBR but I really like the balcony in the morning and evening.

What say ye? Garden wing or suck it up and stay in the tower?

 

[Mzpalmtree]

Your opinion, please.

As a family we used to go to Caribbean Beach every year, Now that I go solo I'm working my way through the resorts. The list is getting shorter of resorts still to visit. I've been looking at stays in April assuming I'll be vaccinated by then (and avoiding Easter, which fortunately is early this year). Geez oh petes is it expensive! Don' know if that's how Disney is coping with covid or if it's just that I usually travel earlier in the year.

Here's my question. Garden wing rooms at the Contemporary are appreciably less costly than main tower rooms. Will I feel as though it's "close but not a cigar" or is garden wing good enough. I'm tempted to go back to CBR but I really like the balcony in the morning and evening.

What say ye? Garden wing or suck it up and stay in the tower?

It’s hard to say what you personally will feel as I’ve heard people say tower or nothing, but we really enjoy both. For us the tower feels a bit magical, but the elevators can be busy and annoying. The garden wing rooms are quiet and not at all far from the tower—plus you can avoid the elevators altogether by using the escalator. We really do like them both.

ETA: I also like how convenient the GW rooms are to the pool.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm tempted to go back to CBR but I really like the balcony in the morning and evening.

Hope I don’t short circuit your question but just FYI, second & third floor Garden Wing rooms don’t have a balcony (just a sliding glass door with the railing right there). First floor rooms do have a patio. So, you’re not guaranteed an outdoor space if you stay in the Garden Wing.

 

[bcuinohio]

Your opinion, please.

As a family we used to go to Caribbean Beach every year, Now that I go solo I'm working my way through the resorts. The list is getting shorter of resorts still to visit. I've been looking at stays in April assuming I'll be vaccinated by then (and avoiding Easter, which fortunately is early this year). Geez oh petes is it expensive! Don' know if that's how Disney is coping with covid or if it's just that I usually travel earlier in the year.

Here's my question. Garden wing rooms at the Contemporary are appreciably less costly than main tower rooms. Will I feel as though it's "close but not a cigar" or is garden wing good enough. I'm tempted to go back to CBR but I really like the balcony in the morning and evening.

What say ye? Garden wing or suck it up and stay in the tower?

What about a studio at Bay Lake Tower?

 

[Sarahslay]

Ha! Too funny.

It’s weird, I never really gave the in room coffee a shot since we’d usually be CL, but it’s become my go to now. I do use bottled water like @bcuinohio says. I actually really like it.

Like your DH, I can’t wait until the park for Starbucks!

I have heard people say that the in room coffee is much better if you use bottled water.

Oh, I told him to used some bottled water and he was like “nah, that won’t help” so I gave up. Much like when I told him his bag was so hard to get on because his straps were cinched (kept popping off his MB because he has to squeeze his arm in), he kept telling me it helps with carrying weight so he wouldn’t loosen them. Cut to our last day, he finally loosened them, and I hear “wow, that’s better! Wish I had known to do that earlier” I give up with him. I’ve always loathed the kcups though, even when we ourselves had a Keurig, so I’ll just pass.

 

[aboveH20]

It’s hard to say what you personally will feel as I’ve heard people say tower or nothing, but we really enjoy both. For us the tower feels a bit magical, but the elevators can be busy and annoying. The garden wing rooms are quiet and not at all far from the tower—plus you can avoid the elevators altogether by using the escalator. We really do like them both.

ETA: I also like how convenient the GW rooms are to the pool.

Thank you. It's so hard to justify the cost of a tower room for one person. I'm glad to hear that you've enjoyed both.

Hope I don’t short circuit your question but just FYI, second & third floor Garden Wing rooms don’t have a balcony (just a sliding glass door with the railing right there). First floor rooms do have a patio. So, you’re not guaranteed an outdoor space if you stay in the Garden Wing.

I did not know that. Thank you for filling in that piece of information. The sliding glass door is better than nothing. One of the things that bothers me about non-deluxe rooms is since they're "motel style" with a walkway right by the window I usually have the curtain pulled when I'm in the room. Thus the desire for a balcony.

What about a studio at Bay Lake Tower?

Hmmmm. Can I count that as staying at the Contemporary in my resort countdown? I'll have to check Robert"s Rules of Order

 

[disneyfan150]

Thank you. It's so hard to justify the cost of a tower room for one person. I'm glad to hear that you've enjoyed both. I can justify most anything I want to do at WDW. That said, if this is a "one and done" for you, it might be "worth it" for the experience of staying in the tower. There is just something special about staying at one of the "originals" and walking out of my room and watching the monorail travel through the hotel. I am sure the garden wing is great, too. However, I am all about a hotel balcony.



Hmmmm. Can I count that as staying at the Contemporary in my resort countdown? I'll have to check Robert"s Rules of Order When I have checked prices, the CR Tower is less expensive that the BLT studio. But I think a studio would be great for a solo trip. I am not Robert, but I think BLT should count. BLT and CR are connected by a walkway.

 

[aboveH20]

You're right about Disney math justifying just about anything. To be socially responsible I should stay at the cheapest value resort and donate the rest, but that's too heavy of a topic to get into.

If I'm only going to stay once, as you point out, I'm leaning toward a tower room. Maybe I should wait until next year and go during the colder, cheaper months.

One time when I stayed at the Grand Californian at Disneyland the monorail went by my balcony, that was cool!

 

[Flynnismine]

We leave Friday morning for Disney, and our fav resort, so I'm in full on packing mode this week. Could someone please tell me if CR has switched over to the full size mounted bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the bathrooms? I'll need to bring extra if they only provide the small travel sized bottles because DD has hair to her waist and mine is super thick so we use a substantial amount of shampoo/conditioner each day : ) Thanks so much in advance.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We leave Friday morning for Disney, and our fav resort, so I'm in full on packing mode this week. Could someone please tell me if CR has switched over to the full size mounted bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the bathrooms? I'll need to bring extra if they only provide the small travel sized bottles because DD has hair to her waist and mine is super thick so we use a substantial amount of shampoo/conditioner each day : ) Thanks so much in advance.

It’s still the small individual bottles at CR.

You can always call housekeeping (or use the text feature in the app) and they’ll bring you extras. I have found when I call to ask for extra coffee, shampoo, etc, they bring a truck load.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Flynnismine]

It’s still the small individual bottles at CR.

You can always call housekeeping (or use the text feature in the app) and they’ll bring you extras. I have found when I call to ask for extra coffee, shampoo, etc, they bring a truck load.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks so very much for the info and suggestion.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Official Name of BLT is Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.