Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[GADisneyDad14]

Has anyone tried to upgrade at time of check in? If allowed, do they charge you the differende in rate at your time of booking or will it be much more (maybe based on a last minute non discounted rate)? We extended our stay by a night when the less expensive garden wing room became available but wondering if we will regret and want to move back to a tower room- if available, of course. We will be there the last weekend in February.

With the caveat that anything is possible, if you try to tinker with your room type at check-in chances are you may have to pay rack rate. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they apply the same discount you had, but I’d keep expectations low.

Granted that’s how it would often work in normal times when occupancies were pretty much always high. With occupancies so low, perhaps you’ll find Disney being a little more flexible.

Let us know how it goes, always great to see experience reports on this topic.

 

[closetmickey]

With the caveat that anything is possible, if you try to tinker with your room type at check-in chances are you may have to pay rack rate. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they apply the same discount you had, but I’d keep expectations low.

Granted that’s how it would often work in normal times when occupancies were pretty much always high. With occupancies so low, perhaps you’ll find Disney being a little more flexible.

Let us know how it goes, always great to see experience reports on this topic.

Will do! And thanks

 

[Pucks104]

For those of you who have stayed at the Contemporary Resort, what are your most favorite and least favorite things about this resort?

 

[bcuinohio]

For those of you who have stayed at the Contemporary Resort, what are your most favorite and least favorite things about this resort?

I enjoy sitting on the 4th floor outside deck looking at MK and watching the monorail come in.
Least favorite was the reduced hours on everything. That is everywhere though. Contempo Cafe is not my favorite QS location. We were there in August and menu was limited. I’ll have to give them another chance on our next trip but I prefer Captain Cooks at the Poly.

 

[sj3mark]

For those of you who have stayed at the Contemporary Resort, what are your most favorite and least favorite things about this resort?

We stayed here for the first time a few weeks ago. We loved so many things about the resort, to pick just one favorite thing is so difficult. I think my favorite is simply being in the atrium of the main building and watching the monorail come through.

Hands down my least favorite thing right now is the shortened hours of MK, meaning all of the food options at the other monorail resorts are so much harder to access without a vehicle. Also, not having monorail access to Epcot right now is a huge minus (though the bus service was great when we were there).

 

[iujen94]

Is the boat between Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge operating these days?

 

[CJK]

Is the boat between Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge operating these days?

No, not yet. That boat route hasn't returned since WDW reopened.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For those of you who have stayed at the Contemporary Resort, what are your most favorite and least favorite things about this resort?

Most favorite:
California Grill
The bar at The Wave
The Wave To Go has been a great addition
The pool is very relaxing and a beautiful setting; rarely crowded; no worries about finding chairs
The monorail goes through the freakin’ building
Incredible views from both sides of the tower
Walking to MK
Contemporary Grounds coffee (I used to not like this place but changed my tune last trip - great cup of coffee every morning)
A day on Bay Lake is better than any day at home
CR CL has a special place in our hearts
The rooms are nearly all identical and you pretty much know your balcony situation based on your room type (
Nice compact layout
The two gift shops are well stocked

Least favorite:
Worst pool bar on property
Worst kids splash pad on property
No zero entry pool
Feature pool lacks a wow factor that most other Disney pools offer
Contempo Cafe is just OK
Running trail between CR/BLT is short - lot of repetition if you need to get any distance in

Probably more than you wanted, sorry!

 

[bcuinohio]

Most favorite:
California Grill
The bar at The Wave
The Wave To Go has been a great addition
The pool is very relaxing and a beautiful setting; rarely crowded; no worries about finding chairs
The monorail goes through the freakin’ building
Incredible views from both sides of the tower
Walking to MK
Contemporary Grounds coffee (I used to not like this place but changed my tune last trip - great cup of coffee every morning)
A day on Bay Lake is better than any day at home
CR CL has a special place in our hearts
The rooms are nearly all identical and you pretty much know your balcony situation based on your room type (
Nice compact layout
The two gift shops are well stocked

Least favorite:
Worst pool bar on property
Worst kids splash pad on property
No zero entry pool
Feature pool lacks a wow factor that most other Disney pools offer
Contempo Cafe is just OK
Running trail between CR/BLT is short - lot of repetition if you need to get any distance in

Probably more than you wanted, sorry!

You are so right about Contempo. Granted the only time I ate there was during Covid. I’d would gladly hop around m the monorail to grab something at Captain Cook’s.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

You are so right about Contempo. Granted the only time I ate there was during Covid. I’d would gladly hop around m the monorail to grab something at Captain Cook’s.

Lol!

Frankly, through a few trips now we’ve been using the To Go option from places like The Wave, Kona Cafe, etc as the quick service. Bad for my wallet and waist line!

 

[bcuinohio]

Lol!

Frankly, through a few trips now we’ve been using the To Go option from places like The Wave, Kona Cafe, etc as the quick service. Bad for my wallet and waist line!

I got the flat bread at Contempo and was not impressed. My wife and son got the Hot Turkey Sandwich. She gave me a bite and it was very good. I was hoping to try the Italian Beef but it is not currently on the menu. I’m not sure if take out at the TS restaurants was available when we were there in August.

 

[Leigh L]

I got the flat bread at Contempo and was not impressed. My wife and son got the Hot Turkey Sandwich. She gave me a bite and it was very good. I was hoping to try the Italian Beef but it is not currently on the menu. I’m not sure if take out at the TS restaurants was available when we were there in August.

DH loved the Hot Turkey Sandwich and attempted to make it a few days after we got home.
(Shhhhh, wasn't as good, lol.)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Guess it’s website updating day for Disney...

Posted on Disney’s CR page:

Starting in April 2021, Disney's Contemporary Resort will begin a refurbishment to reimagine Guest rooms. While some Main Tower rooms will be unavailable during the refurbishment, most resort areas and amenities will still be available for Guests to enjoy.

Source: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/contemporary-resort/

 

[JM_97]

For those that have stayed in the garden wing, did you feel really separated from the main tower? Like was it a huge deal being in a separate wing? I’d like to stay at the CR but the tower rooms are a little out of budget

 

[RunWI1265]

For those that have stayed in the garden wing, did you feel really separated from the main tower? Like was it a huge deal being in a separate wing? I’d like to stay at the CR but the tower rooms are a little out of budget

We’ve stayed there twice during Covid. We love it. It’s a very short walk to the main tower and we never had to wait for an elevator.

 

[JM_97]

We’ve stayed there twice during Covid. We love it. It’s a very short walk to the main tower and we never had to wait for an elevator.

It seems like a good compromise given the prices of the tower and the fact that they’re doing tower room renovations soon. Plus, I can imagine it’ll be super quiet.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Least favorite:
Worst pool bar on property
Worst kids splash pad on property
No zero entry pool
Feature pool lacks a wow factor that most other Disney pools offer
Contempo Cafe is just OK
Running trail between CR/BLT is short - lot of repetition if you need to get any distance in

Sinks in rooms

 

[TikiRob]

I’ve dreamt of staying here since I first saw it as a young lad in the 80s.

Super excited to stay a couple nights at BLT in a lake view one bedroom this March. We had a studio booked for our family of four but I decided to splurge since I don’t know when we will be back.

 

[bcuinohio]

I’ve dreamt of staying here since I first saw it as a young lad in the 80s.

Super excited to stay a couple nights at BLT in a lake view one bedroom this March. We had a studio booked for our family of four but I decided to splurge since I don’t know when we will be back.

You won’t regret the splurge. The extra room is so nice plus you have a kitchen, washer/dryer and an extra bathroom. Below is the lake view we had in August. I think it was room 8035

 

[RunWI1265]

It seems like a good compromise given the prices of the tower and the fact that they’re doing tower room renovations soon. Plus, I can imagine it’ll be super quiet.

Absolutely - We've never stayed in the tower so I cannot compare it to that. It is quite a bit more to stay there and I'm not sure if it's worth the price difference unless you'd be staying in a theme park room (during normal times). GW is very quite, which I love, and you can't beat the walk to MK!

Sinks in rooms

The sinks are THE WORST! I was feeling some kind of way about them after the last couple of stays. We had most of our meals in our room and trying to rinse dishes in those sinks was...