DISNEY'S CONTEMPORARY RESORT Information Thread!

[MinnieFan4ever]

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

Your family will have a wonderful time at the CR. If there is a room available, you can upgrade at check-in. I have not stayed in the wings yet but have in the tower. We had a MK view and it was wonderful. We could lay in bed and watch the castle turn colors. Just magical. That being said, the tower costs alot more. No matter where you choose, wing or tower, you will still have a fantastic time.

 

[Nik's Mom]

o.k., here's another question. If we take the monorail to Epcot, we'd have to transfer monorails, right? When we stayed at the Poly, we walked to the TTC. If staying at the Contemporary, do you take the monorail to the Poly, then walk to TTC? Or is there a monorail to the TTC?

 

[ktink]

We are considering staying on the monorail. I'll be honest the CR has never really appealled to me before. But I just got off of the phone w/ CRO and I was under the impression, before my call, that CR was just as expensive as Poly. Well there is around a $500 difference in the 2, CR being the lesser of the 2, so all of a sudden this looks great. For those who have stayed here before is it just the location and price range that brings you back or is there something really special about this resort?

 

[lark]

o.k., here's another question. If we take the monorail to Epcot, we'd have to transfer monorails, right? When we stayed at the Poly, we walked to the TTC. If staying at the Contemporary, do you take the monorail to the Poly, then walk to TTC? Or is there a monorail to the TTC?

The monorail stops at the TTC. It's the first stop after the contemporary. It takes just a few minutes.

 

[cindyfan]

o.k., here's another question. If we take the monorail to Epcot, we'd have to transfer monorails, right? When we stayed at the Poly, we walked to the TTC. If staying at the Contemporary, do you take the monorail to the Poly, then walk to TTC? Or is there a monorail to the TTC?

You would take the "resort" monorail to the TTC, then transfer to the "Epcot" monorail.
FYI... the "resort" monorail does the loop..... Cont, TTC, Poly, Grand Flor, MK, then back to Cont.
another option.....
You can walk to MK (maybe happen to be planning to go in for a bit) then take the "express" monorail to the TTC, then transfer to the "Epcot" monorail.
The "express" from MK goes straight from MK to TTC.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks for the quick responses, everyone!

 

[Disney grandma]

I was interested in all that is being said since we are going to the CR for the first time in September. I didn't know that you have to go outside from the garden rooms to get to the monorail and restaurants. Is there any cover from the weather in case of rain to get to these and how inconvenient is it?

 

[maciec]

I have a question also ..... my ds who is 3 is absolutley infatuated with trains and absolutely loves riding on the monorail. We went to WDW during the first week of December last year and he hasn't stopped talking about it since.

Anyway, we have decided to suprise him by staying one night at the end of our vacation in October of this year at the CR.

So my question is ..... if I want to see that he gets to see the monorail from our room where should I request that we be placed? We have a lagoon view room booked right now. If I could justify the expense, I would put us in a tower room, but there is no way I could get the cost past hubby.

 

[jaycns]

bump...hoping to see an answer to the question directly above! Thanks!

 

[ash&abby'smom]

So my question is ..... if I want to see that he gets to see the monorail from our room where should I request that we be placed? We have a lagoon view room booked right now. If I could justify the expense, I would put us in a tower room, but there is no way I could get the cost past hubby.

We stayed in a standard view room in the north wing and could see the monorail coming from the MK and going into the tower from our room. This is a parking lot view, so I would not think that a lagoon view room would give you a view of the monorail.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Anyone know which rooms have definitely been renovated? I would like to request a "new" room for our Aug trip because I heard the old ones were really run-down.
TIA

 

[krbq]

..... if I want to see that he gets to see the monorail from our room where should I request that we be placed? We have a lagoon view room booked right now. If I could justify the expense, I would put us in a tower room, but there is no way I could get the cost past hubby.

If you stay in a tower room, he won't really be able to see the monorail enter the tower, although on the lagoon view side he'll be able to watch the monorail run all around the circuit to the other resorts and the MK. If he wants to watch the monorail enter/exit the tower, it might be best to reserve a standard room in the garden wings and at check-in explain to the CM what you're trying to accomplish for DS. Those rooms would be parking lot view and are the least expensive and easiest to get, so you would probably be able to get exactly what you want, especially since it's only for one night. It's probably a good idea to make that request when you reserve as well, although the CM at check-in will probably be better able to help you. Here's hoping your DS gets a great view!

 

[Gabe's Mom]

Is it possible to see the MK from the parking lot view in the North Wing? Would those be the rooms closest to the tower and/or walking trail to the MK?

 

[amarberry]

Is there any update on the North Wing renovation?

Question for the Contemporary experts for our trip in Sept. Does CR share buses with any other resorts for AK and MGM? I've seen some references to bus sharing, but haven't been able to confirm it.

Thanks!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Is there any update on the North Wing renovation?

Question for the Contemporary experts for our trip in Sept. Does CR share buses with any other resorts for AK and MGM? I've seen some references to bus sharing, but haven't been able to confirm it.

Thanks!

We just got back from the CR on Saturday. They are not doing any renovations on the North wing. We stayed in the South wing (rm#5337), middle section facing the waterway. We had a renovated room (they are very nice) and from our balcony I could see they are renovating the wing closest to the tower on the waterway side. Also I could see in the tower that they are working on the 6th and 12th floors on the side opposite the monorail.

The CR does share bus service with the WL but CR is the first pick-up so you get an empty bus. I felt bad for the WL guests b/c many of them had to stand as the seating was already taken.

 

[Disneylvr]

Amanda, did you have a standard view or a garden view reserved. I just upgraded our package from POR to the Contermporary Garden Wing but we have a standard (parking lot) view. We will hope for (but not expect) an upgrade.

I also have a questions for anyone that might now the answer to. We have a 3 year old who prefers small beds (she has autism) and I am hoping a bedrail will fit the daybed. Does anyone know if this is true?

 

[amarberry]

The CR does share bus service with the WL but CR is the first pick-up so you get an empty bus. I felt bad for the WL guests b/c many of them had to stand as the seating was already taken.

Thanks for this info. How long is the bus ride from CR to MGM and AK (including the stop at WL)?

 

[disneywithfive]

Can someone guide me to where there are some pictures of the newly renovated rooms? We're planning a stay there in August and have not been there since 1996. Thanks!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Amanda, did you have a standard view or a garden view reserved. I just upgraded our package from POR to the Contermporary Garden Wing but we have a standard (parking lot) view. We will hope for (but not expect) an upgrade.

I also have a questions for anyone that might now the answer to. We have a 3 year old who prefers small beds (she has autism) and I am hoping a bedrail will fit the daybed. Does anyone know if this is true?

Hi Michelle We had a garden view-variable room reserved.

I would guess the bedrails would fit the daybed but I would not suggest using it unless it is a last resort. It seemed pretty hard. We just used it to put some of our luggage on it. My DD(5) is high-functioning autistic and did just fine in the big bed with her sister. We put the bedrail on one side and put pillows around her(they have like 5 or 6 big, cushy pillows on each bed and an upholstered bedroll pillow.) She would just snuggle up between the pillow and her sister. The first night it took the girls a while to fall asleep b/c they were giggling and hyper but by night 2 they were ASKING to go to bed and just fell asleep almost instantly and that continued for the rest of our stay.

I also wanted to let you know how WONDERFUL the monorail is for transportation w/autistic child. You can keep your DD in her stroller on the monorail so she feels "safe" and "secure"----it is a Godsend. Our DD had meltdowns on the buses to MGM and AK and started screaming "help" and "the sky is falling" while flailing and getting panicky....as you can bet....we got a few stares. We decided that on next trip we will probably skip MGM and possibly just get a taxi to AK to minimize meltdowns. Funny though, she loved the ME bus rides to/from the airport b/c they have a TV screen which plays a taped WDW ad video and it has large, plush seats which made her feel more secure.

CR also has a great pool and kiddie fountain. Your family will love it.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Thanks for this info. How long is the bus ride from CR to MGM and AK (including the stop at WL)?

I'd say the whole bus ride to MGM took a solid 20 minutes(maybe even a few more minutes). The bus ride to AK took a little longer, 25-30 minutes b/c it also stops at Blizzard Beach to let people off.

The return bus rides were slightly shorter b/c CR was the first bus stop.(except for blizzard beach pick-up on AK ride back) They seem to have the FIFO going...first in--first off BTW, the return bus rides paired with GF or Poly instead of WL...don't know why