DISNEY'S CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information Thread!

[RCBlackburn]

Hi - we were in the south wing and its almost all been completely redone. We were on the third floor - big no-smoking sign on the door so I would assume they're all non-smoking on that floor. Great room - not a lot of drawer space but I just lined the suitcases up on the sofa in the room and we lived out of the suitcases. Not really a view except of the Tower bay side - the trees are so mature that you couldn't see anything in particular.

The Food&Fun Center was great - we had the dining plan - so I felt like we were eating all the time - good breakfast choices from eggs to pancakes to little boxes of cereal - they even had hot oatmeal. They have all kinds of snacks so I don't think you'll have a problem - fruit, granola bars, rice krispie treats, pudding, jello, etc...

Be warned though - we found out the hard way - Disney doesn't sell gum anywhere and neither do the stores in the airport - my daughter had a major meltdown when we arrived due to the pressure in the cabin and I was a BAD MOM for not having any gum for her to chew on. On the way back, there was a nice mom in the waiting area who shared her gum with me so that I wouldn't have to worry about it!

 

[RCBlackburn]

I'd say the North wing bay side or the south wing bay side (on the end where it "T's" off and goes in two different directions.

Most people I saw would just go out on the sand at night and watch the parade from there - it was very peaceful.

 

[RCBlackburn]

You have to press the "down" arrow and then press the power button at the same time. The display will change to "OR" so that you know you have over-ridden the unit. However, they're tricky and have placed motion sensors in the bathroom - so it still will cut off in the night but not as hot as it would normally be. We bought two balloons and let them "loose" in the bathroom so that they kept moving around and keeping the sensors on at night. There's nothing worse than being hot at night!

BTW - no towel animals our entire stay...

 

[Mom2R&D]

You have to press the "down" arrow and then press the power button at the same time. The display will change to "OR" so that you know you have over-ridden the unit. However, they're tricky and have placed motion sensors in the bathroom - so it still will cut off in the night but not as hot as it would normally be. We bought two balloons and let them "loose" in the bathroom so that they kept moving around and keeping the sensors on at night. There's nothing worse than being hot at night!

BTW - no towel animals our entire stay...

I think our AC unit actually read "bP" when overridden. I could be wrong, I was only successful once.

We didn't get any towel animals either.

 

[momimouse27]

I posted this on another thread, but I thought I should post it here as several people seemed interested.

Last week I called to make my ADR's for our free dining, and got a really nice and chatty CM. He asked where we were staying, and I said it would be our very first visit at Contemporary. He then said, "Oh, then you'll be glad to know that the room renovation is 100% complete, and the rooms are beautiful!" He also informed me that now the Contemporary is completely non-smoking. I know I heard him correctly because he made a joke about how all the smokers would be puffing it up outside.

 

[krbq]

I posted this on another thread, but I thought I should post it here as several people seemed interested.

Last week I called to make my ADR's for our free dining, and got a really nice and chatty CM. He asked where we were staying, and I said it would be our very first visit at Contemporary. He then said, "Oh, then you'll be glad to know that the room renovation is 100% complete, and the rooms are beautiful!" He also informed me that now the Contemporary is completely non-smoking. I know I heard him correctly because he made a joke about how all the smokers would be puffing it up outside.

I reported the following in another thread, and apologize for the duplication if I have already reported it on this one:

When we checked out on June 5, there were a few rooms in the south wing still under construction. In the tower, the 5th and 6th floors of the Bay Lake side and the 6th floor of the MK side were still curtained off for renovation. The 12th floor looked to be done from the inside, but from the outside there were no chairs on the balconies so they were probably still working on those rooms. The 14th floor still had the old balcony rails and I've heard that they will be the last to be renovated. There was no sign of any renovation on the north wing. We were also told that all rooms at the CR are now non-smoking, but smoking is permitted on the balconies.

 

[mushumadness]

hey

we have booked the 14th floor concierge for october 2007, will the rooms be renovated by then?

thanx anna

 

[csaribay]

hey

we have booked the 14th floor concierge for october 2007, will the rooms be renovated by then?

thanx anna

Unless a major catastrophe happens, all Tower rooms should be completed within the next few months. The 14th floor will be long ready before next October .

 

[mushumadness]

oh good I love the look of the new ones really dont like the look of the old ones

 

[mushumadness]

Hiya

sorry to ask another question,

we have booked the 14th floor concierge, for oct 07 do annual pass rates ever come out for the contemporary 14th floor? I have already booked so would just be adding the discount if and when they come out

 

[zippnby]

That's great that the CR is totally non-smoking. As an asthmatic, I can certainly breathe better now knowing I wouldn't have to contend with smoke.

 

[krbq]

That's great that the CR is totally non-smoking. As an asthmatic, I can certainly breathe better now knowing I wouldn't have to contend with smoke.

Not totally . . . the rooms are all non-smoking, but smoking is still permitted on the balconies (although most of the wing rooms don't have balconies). There were also several people smoking on the patio outside the tower, so you'll still need to be aware.

 

[mushumadness]

Hiya

what can I look forward to on the 14th floor and the contemporary, I have never been there before. I cant wait though

anna

 

[D&R love Disney]

Mushu when we stayed 14th floor last year an AP rate became available but it wasn't as good as the AAA rate I already had so we kept that.

We loved the exclusivity of staying 14th floor. Even though all 16 rooms and suites were full the lounge only had a few guests at a time. The concierge staff was the best we've encountered and they always called us by name. The view of the MK we had was just incredible, I could sit on that balcony all night long. Actually we had a lounge chair so I could have slept there if I wanted to LOL.

 

[jaycns]

Weird! Maybe we're long long Disney twins?

In all honesty, I don't think I can compare CR with ASMo. My DH and I commented several times that this vacation was totally different from any other Disney vacation we've taken before. For starters, the rooms are much bigger and will hold a family of four much easier. That being said, other posters aren't kidding when they say that drawer space is minimal. Three of us were able to unpack while my oldest DS lived out of his suitcase.

I love the level of activity in and around the hotel but it's not overwhelming. There was always plenty of room wherever we went, rather it be the pool or the Food Center (even though it's small).

My two DS's (10 and 8) LOVED the pool. We went swimming every afternoon and they had no problems finding other kids to play with. And the pool is guarded by no less than three lifeguards at once. My DH and I could actually lounge on the pool deck and not watch the boys every single nano-second they were in the pool. Of course, they both loved the slide, too. And a couple of times while we were there, the lifeguards got in the pool and played with the kids. And every morning there would be two or three ducks swimming in the pool. The boys loved sitting on the balcony watching them.

We also took them out on the dock where there's a telescope (25¢ required). They got a kick out of that.

We had breakfast at Chef Mickey's our first morning and my youngest DS wanted to go back every morning because he could hear the music and activity down below. We happened to be on the fourth floor one morning when they played the "Celebrate" song and were tickled to see all of Housekeeping leaning over the inside balconies waving washcloths with the music.

They also loved watching the monorail go through the resort.

And I know that there's a special kids' night for pin trading every Friday night from 7PM til 10PM.

More than anything, I was impressed with the transportation. The first two busses we caught to MGM were empty--and stayed that way! Every other bus was timely and never full, we were always the first stop. Granted, people picked up after us might have to stand but we never did unless we offered our seats to someone else. And the longest we had to wait for a bus was from MGM back to the CR. The first bus was full (I think we shared the stop with the Poly) and it took 15-20 minutes for the next bus. Which, when you've been spoiled the whole week, seems like FOREVER!

All in all, my only beefs are these:

1. More drawer space!
2. Those stupid AC sensors (which can be overridden).
3. Housekeeping was somewhat lacking. One morning we woke up to no coffee cups (*gasp*) and no bath mat. One phone call (to a very nice housekeeping CM) fixed it.

We will definitely stay here on our next trip as the Pro's FAR outweigh the Con's. We're CR converts, all the way!

Anything else? I'm more than happy to answer!

A very belated THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of that information! I just loved hearing all of it. Hearing about the telescope is JUST the perfect thing for my boys. I will be sure to bring quarters!! It's something just like that which I can see being the most magical for our family. Just a little off the beaten path kind of thing. We love those!

Did you ever come back to find mousekeeping had arranged your toys?
Do you know where that Mickey Mouse head sculpture things is located?
How did the playgrounds measure up?
Did you take the monorail to MK? If so how long there? Back?
Did you ever walk the path to MK? If so, how long was the walk (timewise)?

 

[FINFAN]

Just a tip for CR guests...you may just time it right to be on the dock when Cap'n Hook, Mr. Smee and Co. head down for a pirate cruise...while we have never actually booked a cruise, we were waiting for a launch to WL and Cap'n Hook snuck up behind DS and DD and scared the "croc" out of 'em! It was hilarious! I saw him coming and he gave me a thumbs up, as in if it was O.K. to sneak up on the kids...then the characters posed with guests for a few before boarding their Ship...It was GREAT! Now, I am not suggesting folks stake out the dock, or hold up characters for photos when those who have paid for a cruise are anxious to get going...just mentioning that the magic at CR happens when you least expect it!
JAYCNS: When we stayed a few years back, toys were arranged, but no towel animals...no prblem, toys were so cute
Mouse sculpture is right outside the back entrance of the Tower just to the left side before heading to pool /dock area. You can't miss it.
Playground is basic, nothing to wow over, but kids have fun. Walk to MK is about 10 minutes from N wing, or the front exit by the bus stop, it is marked, but do be careful by the N parking lot and crossing the street, there is a light, but cars can come flying by. You basically just follow along the monorail track ( how cool is that?) The monorail to MK is about 15 minutes...just beacuse it stops at TTC, POLY, GF and then to MK. HOWEVER, WHAT A WAY TO TRAVEL. We like to walk back to CR from MK tho...no waits, no crowds, just a pleasant walk and time to talk about all the fun we had!

Pam

 

[Alicnwondrln]

anyone know who the IPO manager is for the CR?

 

[triplefigs]

anyone know who the IPO manager is for the CR?

GF and CR share an IPO dept. Post on the GF thread to get his name. I have it at home, but we're at the beach for my triplets b'day which is today!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

happy bday adorable triplets !!
thanks!!

 

[Mom2R&D]

Did you ever come back to find mousekeeping had arranged your toys?
I will admit that our housekeeping was less than stellar. Now, don't get me wrong, our rooms were cleaned everyday, we only had one issue where they neglected to leave us clean coffee cups scared1: ) and a bath mat. They never left us any towel animals BUT that might be because it wasn't obvious that we had kids staying in our room. My DS's didn't bring any stuffed animals or other toys so there was nothing to tip off housekeeping.
Do you know where that Mickey Mouse head sculpture things is located?
Right out of the back entrance of the Tower. You can't miss it! And be sure to check it out at night, it's lined with tube lighting that changes color! Almost hypnotic.
How did the playgrounds measure up?
We didn't utilize any of the playgrounds but I can tell you that there is a splash pad *right* next to the pool and a nice, clean sand beach with hammocks to play on and/or around.
Did you take the monorail to MK? If so how long there? Back?
We divided our time between walking and the monorail. I would say that it would take ten minutes or so by monorail. It was seldom crowded in the morning. We took it back at night a couple of times, usually it looked more crowded so we would walk instead. But if you were to get on the first monorail leaving the MK at night you would be at the CR lickety-split!
Did you ever walk the path to MK? If so, how long was the walk (timewise)?
The walk was only ten minutes, too. We were lucky and had fantastic weather while we were there (not too hot if you can believe it!) and really enjoyed the walk over. You have to cross one main street where you are supposed to wait for a crosswalk sign, other than that it's a lovely walk. We encountered bunnies and ducks in the early morning. And not of the 5' variety.