Disney's CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information & Questions

[Dave006]

Does anyone know if bottled water can be purchased in any of the shops?

The Fantasia Market has 8 packs of Dasani Water 12oz bottles for $4.79 they may be on the shelf and if not they always have more in the back just ask a CM.

Dave

 

[JoanneAZ]

I know the answer must be here somewhere but I have searched and just can’t find it and a Google search gives conflicting information. I am staying at BLT next week on a cash reservation. I’ve never stayed here before so I’m not sure of all the details. Where does DME drop you off, at the main tower or BLT? Also do I check in at the main tower or BLT? If I need my bags held before check-in or before leaving is there a bag check at BLT or do I use the one at the main tower?
Thanks in advance!

 

[monorailmom]

We stayed at BLT in January. DME dropped us off right at BLT. You check in at the lobby desk. They have bell services there that can hold your luggage. So basically everything you need is at BLT. We own DVC points there and it is among our favorites. If you have a nice weather day and want a great quick service lunch, stop by the Sand Bar at the Contemporary and eat sitting at one of the umbrella tables looking out over Bay Lake. Typically very few people there, so it's quiet and you have an amazing view. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[JoanneAZ]

We stayed at BLT in January. DME dropped us off right at BLT. You check in at the lobby desk. They have bell services there that can hold your luggage. So basically everything you need is at BLT. We own DVC points there and it is among our favorites. If you have a nice weather day and want a great quick service lunch, stop by the Sand Bar at the Contemporary and eat sitting at one of the umbrella tables looking out over Bay Lake. Typically very few people there, so it's quiet and you have an amazing view. Enjoy your trip!!

Thank you so much for the information and the heads up on the Sand Bar!

 

[trishadono]

@yaksack

Maybe order a custom cake? There is a cake chatter sticky on restaurants board.

I wish the tea room @ gf would open, that would be good too.

Lots of girls get tiaras. There are legit gorgeous ones in Epcot .

Etsy has great tshirts , pins , ears etc you can order for any birthday or sweet 16 etc.

 

[Frozen2014]

Hi. A few questions about contemporary (regular building and Bay Lake Tower). I'm looking at this resort for Aug 2022 as I love the convenience but we have a few concerns/questions:

1. Are the rooms noisy due to the monorail? Or rooms to avoid?
2. If we want a view of the fireworks, then do we need to select "Theme Park View" or can other rooms see them too?
3. We watched a couple videos and have concerns of the bathroom. Do all rooms have the "cloudy" door (i.e. semi see through) that just slides closed (as opposed to closing normally with a lock

Thanks.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi. A few questions about contemporary (regular building and Bay Lake Tower). I'm looking at this resort for Aug 2022 as I love the convenience but we have a few concerns/questions:

1. Are the rooms noisy due to the monorail? Or rooms to avoid?
2. If we want a view of the fireworks, then do we need to select "Theme Park View" or can other rooms see them too?
3. We watched a couple videos and have concerns of the bathroom. Do all rooms have the "cloudy" door (i.e. semi see through) that just slides closed (as opposed to closing normally with a lock

Thanks.

I will answer for the hotel tower (not BLT)....

1). I have had times when I had a TPV room that I could “feel” a slight vibration/hear some slight noise when the monorail passes through. Think late at night/early in AM when there is less ambient noise around, the A/C may be off, etc. But this is a really minor comment - you could stay there for weeks and easily not hear/feel anything. It is nothing I would worry about when booking. I do recommend requesting an “upper floor” though - but that is due to better views, not noise.

2) Yes, you need a TPV room to watch fireworks from your room. There are places like the 4th floor observation deck and the fire exit stairwell landings where you can watch fireworks if you don’t have a TPV room.

3) CR Tower hotel rooms are currently being fully renovated and we don’t know what the new rooms will look like. That being said, the general style/trend for many of Disney’s recent room renovations has been a sliding door for the bathroom.

Hope that helps.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Good to know that for the most part, the monorail noise/vibrations aren't an issue. The one deal breaker may be the bathroom door. We had that in a hotel once in NYC and really disliked it. Wonder why they would do such a design.

 

[Dave006]

The one deal breaker may be the bathroom door. We had that in a hotel once in NYC and really disliked it. Wonder why they would do such a design.

We don't want to start rumors so we don't know if there will be a "Barn" door style sliding door for the Contemporary rooms. This is a current in door stye that originated from Lofts with a vague history in some old barns from the last century. I really think it is run it's course in 2021 and beyond.

They are normally used to cover larger opening to provide the ability to provide private spaces for bathroom areas. The layout of the Contemporary rooms don't really lend themselves to this option. There is not large open space for the sinks / mirror area directly viewable in the hotel room space and then a smaller space for a toilet and a sink.

Disney has used this "Barn" door features in some resent resort refreshes that historically had had a wide area in the bathroom area to provide some isolation and privacy for guests.

I don't expect this trend to continue at the Contemporary resort due to the physical layout of the room space. Barn doors need a large space to overlap on a wall and that does not really exist at the Contemporary. Hey it also does not fit with the Contemporary theming.

Now on to noise issues in the Tower from the Monorail and from the restaurants on the 4th floor. There is very little noise from the Monorails sweeping through the Tower. The MK Express does not stop and the Resort line stops and there can be some slight noise and vibrations heard on the lower floors 5-7 but most is only noticeable from the Atrium hallway. Once you are in your room with the door closed it is quite.

Chef Mickey's has historically raised noise reports on the south side of the tower starting a 7 AM and continuing until 10 PM with singing and Characters celebrations of Birthdays. That is not happening since the resort reopened last July. And we don't know when or if these types of celebrations will return any time soon or if at all.

Dave

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Good to know that for the most part, the monorail noise/vibrations aren't an issue. The one deal breaker may be the bathroom door. We had that in a hotel once in NYC and really disliked it. Wonder why they would do such a design.

I know we all have our various views on things, hotel preferences, etc, but just from our perspective (family of four, kids are 10 and 6), the sliding frosted door to the bathroom in CR’s current room design is not something we’ve ever really thought twice about. Frankly I had to go watch a YouTube video just to remind myself what the current door situation actually is (and I’ve stayed at CR a bunch). But I get it, we all have things that work or don’t work for our travel preferences.

On the plus side, CR’s current room design has the toilet in a separate room/area - which is definitely a plus for our family.

Of course, who knows what the future holds for any of that I guess.

 

[Frozen2014]

I know we all have our various views on things, hotel preferences, etc, but just from our perspective (family of four, kids are 10 and 6), the sliding frosted door to the bathroom in CR’s current room design is not something we’ve ever really thought twice about. Frankly I had to go watch a YouTube video just to remind myself what the current door situation actually is (and I’ve stayed at CR a bunch). But I get it, we all have things that work or don’t work for our travel preferences.

On the plus side, CR’s current room design has the toilet in a separate room/area - which is definitely a plus for our family.

Of course, who knows what the future holds for any of that I guess.

Thanks so much for sharing. That makes me feel better and means something if you never thought twice about it. We keep flipping...This trip is actually our DD's 13th birthday gift. She picked Disney as her trip and so she is helping planning (with our input of course). Since my post yesterday we are now leaning back to Contemporary.

Are the Bay Lake Towers closed? There doesn't seem to be any pricing so just want to get an idea (even if I check this summer...or next summer for our trip). I'm guessing they are much more, especially those with 2 bathrooms.

 

[Dave006]

Are the Bay Lake Towers closed?

No the BLT opened back up last June with the rest of the DVC buildings. You only see pricing when Disney has a Cash offer on a DVC room. With all the backlog of DVC members with points that they need to use it is going to be very busy the rest of the year.

That is unless you happen to find points to rent. Also keep checking as guest plans change all the time and some guests have booked multiple resorts for the same period until they make a final decision. "You Know Who You Are"...

Dave

 

[Frozen2014]

No the BLT opened back up last June with the rest of the DVC buildings. You only see pricing when Disney has a Cash offer on a DVC room. With all the backlog of DVC members with points that they need to use it is going to be very busy the rest of the year.

That is unless you happen to find points to rent. Also keep checking as guest plans change all the time and some guests have booked multiple resorts for the same period until they make a final decision. "You Know Who You Are"...

Dave

Is BLT for DVP members only? We don't have a membership...just part of regular public wanting to book a Disney resort.

 

[bcuinohio]

Is BLT for DVP members only? We don't have a membership...just part of regular public wanting to book a Disney resort.

BLT is a Disney Vacation Club resort. You can still stay there though. You can rent points from a member or you can book direct from Disney if available.

 

[Frozen2014]

BLT is a Disney Vacation Club resort. You can still stay there though. You can rent points from a member or you can book direct from Disney if available.

Thank you. I'll just keep an eye then on the Disney site. That's where we book.

 

[bcuinohio]

Thank you. I'll just keep an eye then on the Disney site. That's where we book.

Not sure what room type you are looking for but the studios at BLT are on the small side. Too tight for 4 people IMO.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the note. Most likely we'd book the Garden View or Main Tower of Contemporary (dream is a theme park view but these are pricey). But what caught my eye at BLT are the 1 Bedroom Villa with 2 bathrooms. Guessing these are a lot though (which is why I was curious on pricing). Also we would only book a room that fits 5 with one kid using the day bed and one in the other bed.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Love these old photos and thinking about the way things were on Bay Lake in the original days. Such a different time.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1394742369694756866

 

[Farro]

Love these old photos and thinking about the way things were on Bay Lake in the original days. Such a different time.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1394742369694756866

I slept on that blue couch under that picture!!! My parents have a picture of me on it as a tiny kid, probably 1979.

(I just happened to be following this thread as a possible future stay here in 2023)

 

[yaksack]

I remember swimming there and at River Country about 45 years ago. Was the pool salt water?