DISNEY'S CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information Thread!

[kaceyisme]

My very generous BIL and SIL are treating the family (a group of 12 in total) to Christmas at WDW. Their family will be staying at the GF, main building, concierge, but we will be staying at the CR, Bay Lake View. Does anyone have an update as to the room renovations? Are all the tower rooms done, or will they be by December? When we were there in August, I believe they just had one floor done and were starting on the next.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Lucky you, Kacey! We'll be there then too. It's my understanding that all tower rooms will be done well before December.

 

[triplefigs]

We are in a Tower MK room for the end of September. I hope they are all done by then. We put in a request for non-smoking, 11th floor. How do I word my request for near the MK end, not the WL end? When I said it, the CM kept saying you already have MK view guaranteed. She didn't understand I meant the end of the building closest to MK. Would it help if I gave room numbers?

Thanks for any help.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I don't have any new news to report. Just that I will be staying at the CR in 3 weeks for 10 nights. I can't wait!!!! I will report anything I find out when I get back.

 

[amarberry]

We are in a Tower MK room for the end of September. I hope they are all done by then. We put in a request for non-smoking, 11th floor. How do I word my request for near the MK end, not the WL end? When I said it, the CM kept saying you already have MK view guaranteed. She didn't understand I meant the end of the building closest to MK. Would it help if I gave room numbers?

Thanks for any help.

I don't have any suggestion on how to get a room closer to the MK side, but I did want to say that we'll be at CR the same time as you...Sept. 23-Oct. 2. See you there!!!!

 

[lark]

We are in a Tower MK room for the end of September. I hope they are all done by then. We put in a request for non-smoking, 11th floor. How do I word my request for near the MK end, not the WL end? When I said it, the CM kept saying you already have MK view guaranteed. She didn't understand I meant the end of the building closest to MK. Would it help if I gave room numbers?

Thanks for any help.

Just call back and tell the CM very nicely what you'd like them to type into the field for requests. Make it short. The people who actually assign the rooms will know exactly what you mean, even if the CM who takes down the information doesn't. If the CM won't do it, just call back until you find one that will. "High floor on the North/Magic Kingdom end of the tower" is what I might suggest.

 

[triplefigs]

Just call back and tell the CM very nicely what you'd like them to type into the field for requests. Make it short. The people who actually assign the rooms will know exactly what you mean, even if the CM who takes down the information doesn't. If the CM won't do it, just call back until you find one that will. "High floor on the North/Magic Kingdom end of the tower" is what I might suggest.

Thank you very much. That is perfect!

 

[MomPlanner22]

Although I have been many times pre-children, we are making our first (and likely last for a couple of years) trip to WDW and trying to decide where to stay. Love the idea of the Contemporary because of the Monorail and proximity to MK.

So, some questions for you veterans? How is the pool? Do they have a toddler area/shallow pool/spray do dads? Are there hot tubs (I don't even know if the pool should impact my decision as I am not sure we will be using it in December). By the way, how is the playground? A description would be appreciated.

How easy is it to get to MGM, Epcot or AK? I thought Epcot was also on the Monorail line but I guess there are 2? Do you transfer at the transportation center?

We are there for 4 days/3 nights and the Contemporary is $500 more than a Value resort. My husband wants the Contemporary for transportation ease, I just want to make sure it is worth it.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge & experience!

P.S. What Garden Wing has been refurbished? If we stay there, I want to request a refurbished room!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i was wondering the same thing about the room requests. thanks

 

[bigcrit]

Although I have been many times pre-children, we are making our first (and likely last for a couple of years) trip to WDW and trying to decide where to stay. Love the idea of the Contemporary because of the Monorail and proximity to MK.

So, some questions for you veterans? How is the pool? Do they have a toddler area/shallow pool/spray do dads? Are there hot tubs (I don't even know if the pool should impact my decision as I am not sure we will be using it in December). By the way, how is the playground? A description would be appreciated.

How easy is it to get to MGM, Epcot or AK? I thought Epcot was also on the Monorail line but I guess there are 2? Do you transfer at the transportation center?

We are there for 4 days/3 nights and the Contemporary is $500 more than a Value resort. My husband wants the Contemporary for transportation ease, I just want to make sure it is worth it.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge & experience!

P.S. What Garden Wing has been refurbished? If we stay there, I want to request a refurbished room!

The Contemporary pool is very nice, in fact there are 2. They are nice but the lack the theming of other resorts. We loved watching the Electric Water Pageant from the round pool late at night. They do have 2 Jacuzzi's which lack theming but are clean and rarely full. The playground is average sized for Disney. They are similar to normal parks in most communities.

Transportation is probably the best reason to stay at the CR. The MK is a 5 minute walk and it is the first stop on the monorail on the way out of the MK. Transportation to Epcot is easy as well. You need to take the monorail to the Transportation Center then take the monorail to Epcot. This trip usually takes around 10 minutes total. Considering the bus will take at least twice that the monorail is a nice easy way to go. As far as AK and MGM you will need to take a bus.

I think the additional cost of 500 is worth the price. My DD's love the MK so I would lean towards the CR for that reason alone. You didn't mention the resort you are staying at. Is it an All Star? A moderate? That would help me decide if I were tempted to move to a deluxe.

As far as the rennovations. I believe that all the Garden wings are or nearly refurbished. My preference would be the North Wing. For 2 reasons. The North wing is smoke free. It is closer to the food court and bus stops. Due to medical reasons (asthma) we usually get a first fllor room near the main building. I believe we stayed in 7104 when we were there.

In closing I think the Contemporary is a beautiful resort. Great location and 3 of the best restaurants in Disney.

The Concourse Steakhouse (our favorite) Also a great deal if you are on the dining plan.

The California Grill is an upscale restaurant with views of the MK and Wishes if you can get a late seating for dinner. They also have an observation deck to watch Wishes /w music piped in from the MK.

Chef Mickey's is a must for our family whenever we go to Disney.

Have fun! in the immortal words of Napolean Dynamite...........LUCKY!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

We are considering staying at the Contemporary in August with my DD4 and DD7 because of the ability to walk to MK. A few questions:
-Is it really worth $1000 more than a value (based on a 6-night stay)?
-How do you get to AK and MGM, do you have to take the Monorail to the TTC and then bus from there or are there bus stops at the resort?
-I do not want to pay even more for a MK view but what is a good, general room request that I should make consindering walkgin to bus/parks, pool,etc

Thank you so much for any help you can give!

 

[lark]

We are considering staying at the Contemporary in August with my DD4 and DD7 because of the ability to walk to MK. A few questions:
-Is it really worth $1000 more than a value (based on a 6-night stay)?
-How do you get to AK and MGM, do you have to take the Monorail to the TTC and then bus from there or are there bus stops at the resort?
-I do not want to pay even more for a MK view but what is a good, general room request that I should make consindering walkgin to bus/parks, pool,etc

Thank you so much for any help you can give!

I'll try to take these on. Whether the $1000 is worth it is really subjective. I think it depends on what you'd do with that $1000 if you saved it. If it would be for food or necessaries, then no, but if it would be for slot machines, then maybe yes. It's very had to say. $1000 is a lot of money; maybe it depends whether this will be a once in a blue moon trip or whether you plan to return. Only you can really answer. The contemporary is a significant step up from values, but both are in the world.

I believe there are direct buses from the contemporary to all of the theme parks except MK.

If you're in the tower, the walking is all pretty much the same. You could request to be close to the elevator, but that will save you only a few feet. It's just one big building with elevators in the middle. The main difference in walking is between the tower and the garden wings, which require you to go outside to get to the food court or the monorail, etc.

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

Although I have been many times pre-children, we are making our first (and likely last for a couple of years) trip to WDW and trying to decide where to stay. Love the idea of the Contemporary because of the Monorail and proximity to MK.

So, some questions for you veterans? How is the pool? Do they have a toddler area/shallow pool/spray do dads? Are there hot tubs (I don't even know if the pool should impact my decision as I am not sure we will be using it in December). By the way, how is the playground? A description would be appreciated.

How easy is it to get to MGM, Epcot or AK? I thought Epcot was also on the Monorail line but I guess there are 2? Do you transfer at the transportation center?

We are there for 4 days/3 nights and the Contemporary is $500 more than a Value resort. My husband wants the Contemporary for transportation ease, I just want to make sure it is worth it.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge & experience!

P.S. What Garden Wing has been refurbished? If we stay there, I want to request a refurbished room!

Hi. We've stayed there a handful of times and really enjoy the convenience. With small kids, it's worth the extra money to us, even when that money is 'hard to find'.

I don't recall if there's a very shallow kids pool or pool area. I'm sure going back in this thread can tell you. What I remember is the main pool is about 3ft deep everywhere. With a parent, and a belt, vest, or floaties, the small kids do fine. There are water-sprays, but they are more of a fountain-splash...thicker ropes of water which may splash a little too much water on very young kids. My 3-year-old (3 years ago) liked it as long as he was holding my shoulders. There's a great water-slide, but it was a little too big for my kids until they were 5. Only one can go down the slide at the time, so kids had to go 'solo'. I spent a lot of time at the bottom of the slide catching my kids right as they 'landed' in the water, so the lifeguards allow that if your kids are up to the challange of trying it...but again, until they were 4-5, mine didn't even want to try it since it was so big.

Two hottubs, usually not crowded. There's a beach area, so lots of nice sand for small kids to play in.

re: playground - we go in Sept or early Oct and do the parks in the morning and rest/swim in the early/mid afternoon. That said, the playground was usually too hot for us to want to go on at 3pm in a 90-degree sun. So I don't remember too much about it other than it looks like a nice, quality (but fairly standard) playgound.

Parks - MK is about a 7 or 8-minute walk with kids/strollers ...probably 1/3 mile or so. That gets you to the bag-check and entrance-gate area. Just walk toward the Contemporay security-gate and take the sidewalk to the MK. It's not especially well marked (no giant arrows saying 'MK-path is this way!'), but it is a nice wide sidewalk/brickwalk. The monorail ride to the MK stops at the TTC, the Poly, and the GF before getting to the MK. Coming back from the MK, the CR is the first stop, which is very nice. Also, if you leave after the evening parade or fireworks, and 10,000 other people are filing out too, being able to walk back to your hotel (vs. waiting 25 minutes squashed like sardines waiting for the next monorails) is one of the more convenient aspects of staying at the CR.

Epcot - take monorail one stop to TTC (ticket/transportation center), then change over to Epcot monorail...which I think requires walking a 100-yards or so to get around to the Epcot platform. Once on the Epcot monorail, it's about 10-minutes to Epcot...but sometimes you have to wait about 10 minutes on the monorail to arrive. Due to that wait, you have to leave yourself a good bit of time (40-minutes!) in the schedule to, say, make it back from Epcot to Chef Mickey's or your car for a dinner reservation. Once back at the TTC, you change monorails and have stops at the Poly, GF, and MK before getting back to the CR.

btw, this is the best time to let the kids ride up front (with you) in the first (pilots/captians) monorail car. Great view, and a long ride. Once per trip, we usually let the first monorail go (as someone is always waiting on that first car when we get in line), and then we're first in line for the front-car. This involves 'waisting' about 15 minutes standing there waiting for the next monorail, but it's one of the better rides at WDW!

AK/MGM - Disney buses. Or drive. We always drive, so I don't know much about the buses.

refurbished rooms - not positive of the North Wing refurbishment schedule. It's probably on this thread, not too far back in the posts somewhere. I think the South-Wing is done or almost done...BUT, the South-wing (compared to the North-Wing) is a bit more of a walk to MK. The Tower (vs. the North Wing) is just a wee bit longer walk to MK. Since my kids 'grew up' in the non-reburbished rooms, I'm partial to those. It's just much more kid-oriented (see pict on page 1 of this thread). The new look is pretty, but no so much for kids. Also, the old rooms have a good bit more counter-space around the sinks, and a good bit more drawer space for clothes. If you're going to stay in a wing room and plan on walking to the MK, be sure to stay in the North Wing. Not too many, if any, MK views from the North (or South) Wing though. To get those, you have to stay in the Tower on the MK side.

To me, the Contemporary is the most convenient place to stay, especially for young families with the focus on the MK. If you can stay in the Tower, there simply is no substitute for convenience...in any WDW resort! The elevators are in the middle of each floor, and EVERYTHING (table-service restaurants, counter-service restaurants, lots of shopping choices, best game-room in WDW, pool, playground, monorail, bus-stops, front-desk,etc.) is just a few steps from the elevators. Many mornings, I'd ride down, order some breakfast-combos at the counter-service place, then carry the food quickly to the room. Like easy room service for 'poor' people. (yes, it's tough, I had to go get our own food when staying in the CR Tower... ...even our butler was poor... )

Also, at night or if your kids need naps after a full morning and before a busy evening, we found the CR Tower room's balcony was a nice place to sit and chat while the kids were falling to sleep in the room.

fwiw, when we go (Fall), I'm pretty sure the bay-side has the sunrise view, and the GF/MK side has the sunset view.

As long as the MK is my kids' favorite park (and we have the $$), we'll stay at the CR. This year, we're at PO'R...couldn't quite swing the CR.

One vote for 'it's worth it!'. Anyway, have a great time no matter where you choose.

 

[MomPlanner22]

Thanks so much for the great, detailed info. I appreciate you taking all the time to fill us in!

 

[IandGsmom]

We will be there this December!! I just cant believe it. Booked a room only with the AAA discount. Yippee!!! I just read through soooo many pages on this beautiful hotel. Still need ideas about room requests but so far I am going to request North Wing ground floor, yes?? Sounds good? Let me know if anyone hears more info on the fate of the North Wing

 

[MomPlanner22]

IandGsmom,

Just a fyi that I initially booked the Contemporary using the AAA rate as well and in doing so, learned we weren't eligible for the Disney Dining Plan. However, if I booked through AAA travel, I got a slightly cheaper rate and was able to add the DDP. I am traveling with my husband and 2 children (1 who is under age 3) so for us, the DDP isn't too expensive and will be worth the money (considering we are planning 2 character meals alone).

Just a tip that may (or may not) be helpful. Have a great time! We will be there in December too!

 

[LewisBigD]

Hi first timer here, it is great to see a thread on the resort you are going to stay at for the first time. Me my wife and daughter are going to be there on June 3 and we were wondering how you would up grade if you wanted to? We have asked for a North Garden but we were thinking about the tower is the tower worth the money? Please excuse me if I have posted this in the wrong place. We are getting very excited

 

[Nik's Mom]

What is the view like if you get south wing standard garden view? We won't be going until May 2007, so I know north wing may not be up and running then, right? Any updates on bus service to MGM and AK? Which resort(s) does contemporary share bus service with?

 

[freediverdude]

hi - well a standard view south wing room would have a view of the south parking lot and the monorail going by overhead into the tower. I had like the 2nd or 3rd room from the entrance to the building (coming from the tower), and i thought it was an ok view. the parking lot seemed more like in the distance from that particular room. The monorail is fun to look at- nothing wrong with these rooms. The standard view rooms are fairly close to the main building too. 1st floor rooms have patios with 2 chairs and a table.

Oh, also, Contemporary usually shares the AK and MGM and DTD buses with the Polynesian. Sometimes the GF too, but it depends.

 

[ploto]

I love the contemporary. Thank you!