For those who have stayes at the Contemporary

cheeringmom

<font color=teal>Out of the mouth of babes<br><fon
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Sep 27, 2001
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did you like it? Was it worth the $? and can it hole 2 adults and 3 kids pretty comforatably? Thanks
 
Hi Cheeringmom!

We have stayed at the Contemporary 3 times and yes, we felt it was worth the extra money. As a matter of fact, to us, it was even worth the extra money to stay in the tower instead of the garden wing.

We spent one stay in a garden wing because we got a fantastic price. We were very disappointed and we wished we had spent the extra money for the tower. Our two stays in the tower were before that stay and it just wasn't the same.

The rooms are the largest on property and our family of 5 felt we had plenty of room. Our garden wing room felt smaller than the tower room even though many people have repeatedly told me that all the rooms are the same size. I'm chalking it up to the new furniture that was put in the rooms on the last renovation. It seems a bit larger and chunkier so maybe that is why the room seemed smaller. (It's probably just me though!)

The convenience and the views from the tower rooms as well as the interior tower views (I love to people watch) and the magic of the monorail gliding through are all things that make it worth the extra cost for us. We also like the restaurants, the Food N Fun center and the shops in the Grand Concourse. We've stayed in several other resorts but the Contemporary really has everything right in one place.

Kelly
 
I've stayed at the Contemporary at least a half-dozen times in the past, the last time being in March, 2000. It holds a special place in my heart because it was the first place I stayed when I began my trips to Disney World in 1981.

I am now a DVC member, so I very rarely stay at the on-site hotels. However, I wanted to go in March 2000 when space was tight everywhere, so I used my DVC points for the Contemporary.

The rooms are quite large, as are the bathrooms. There are two queen beds and a pretty comfortable sleep sofa. The rooms in the tower have balconies, which seem to add a little more space, even if only visually. I am not too wild about the new decor which was in the room I last stayed in - VERY colorful, with many contrasting patterns and different colors. I must admit it did seem to make a large room appear significantly smaller. I know the resort rooms have been re-done a few times since it first opened; I found the mauve/celery shades to be much more relaxing.

I've always stayed in the wing rooms, chiefly because they were less expensive and I dislike depending on elevators. The tower rooms are a hop, skip and jump to the monorail. It is very quiet in the wings, but the walk to the main building is a long one, particularly if you are on the far end of the wing. But the North Wing has a baby pool and little play area/sandbox nearby and the South Wing is a pretty quick walk to the pool and beach areas.

Depending on ages of your kids, I think you'll be perfectly comfortable, particularly if one can use the sleep sofa. The pool area has been re-done which makes this hotel much more attractive, as it seemed to be resting a little on its laurels as a monorail hotel before. It's also a fairly quick boat ride away from Fort Wilderness, if you are planning on going to the Hoop-De-Doo Revue.

The restaurants include the fast-food type area near the lobby, Chef Mickey's on the 4th Floor (which has buffet-type meals), another full-service restaurant on the 4th floor (whose name I can't remember right now) and the California Grille on the 14th floor. The California Grille is wonderful, but pricey. The view can't be beat, though. In my early Disney/Contemporary days, it was called the Top of the World and I ate there all the time.....they had awesome Ice Cream Pie! :-D But time marches on....

I hope this helps a bit...have a great trip!!
 
We stayed at the Contemporary the first trip we took as a family and absolutely loved it. We stayed in a garden wing and had lots of room. They are very spacious with 2 queen beds and a nice sofa bed. They also have a table and chairs and an awesome bathroom! It had 2 sinks with black and white marble in the same room as the bathtub and behind another door is the toilet with yet another mirror.

We also liked the fact that you could walk to the Magic Kingdom in less than 10 minutes. It's a nice little walk and my children then 3 & 4 enjoyed seeing the rabbits, squirrels and birds on the way there. Also, it's very convenient to be able to go to the Grand Canyon Concourse to catch the monorail.
 

There are a lot of reasons that I love the CR, but the primary one is nostalgia. When I was a kid and my parents would take us to WDW to camp at FW, my brother and I would always ride our bikes down the FW exercise trail to what is now the WL. We would look out across Bay Lake, and would be mesmerized by the site of the monorails slipping silently into that cavernous hotel. In those days, there was no pool at FW (beach swimming only), but pool hopping was allowed. While my sisters preferred to take the green flagged boat to the Polynesian to swim in the old volcano pool, my brother and I always wanted to take the blue flagged boat to Discovery Island, and then on to the CR. It had nothing to do with any kind of themed pool (though the round pool directly on bay lake was pretty cool), but instead we were drawn by some boyhood fascination with the massive hotel. We would take a pocket full of quarters and play in the large arcade (with a shooting gallery) and then we'd pay $1 a person to see movies in the Disney Theater.

My parents, who were of humble means, would take the family out to one big meal during each week’s visit. I remember dressing up for "Broadway at the Top" in the Top of the World restaurant that is now occupied by the California Grill. Once in a while, we'd eat at the Concourse Steakhouse. Back then the CR had a definite theme (that was abandoned years ago for some reason). The resort had a southwestern theme, and the rooms, restaurants, video arcade and Grand Canyon Concourse all were decorated in accordingly.

It was always the dream of my brother and I to stay in the CR, but even as kids, we realized that the money just wasn't there. We weren't disappointed; we loved our annual sojourn to the world, even if it meant sleeping in a musty old pop-up camper. But one year, my Dad surprised us all. He had us pack up the camper a day early. We were incredibly let down as we went about our chores and spent time packing and closing up our old Coleman camper. There was no sadder feeling then than that of leaving my beloved Disney World behind me. I still remember rolling out of Fort Wilderness down towards the Polynesian, knowing that we would take the exit loop out to I-4. And then, Dad surprised us all. Instead of heading toward the exit, he turned right toward the CR. As we drove up, he said he wanted to take a few pictures with us at the topiaries that were planted in front of the resort. But when we approached the guard booth, he informed the attendant that we were checking in! My brother and I could hardly contain ourselves. To say we were excited is like saying "the Yankees play baseball." It was so much more than that. In my little 8 year old mind, Dad had cemented in me the idea that at Disney World, dreams come true. My dream, as silly as it sounds, had come true that day.

I tell you all of that to tell you this: A few years ago, I took my wife to stay at the CR. While we had experienced excellent pre-trip service from the concierge, I wondered if this new experience would live up to the fond memories I had formed as a child. I was not disappointed. Apart from having the best concierge service on property (IMHO), the resort was everything I had imagined as a child. The California Grill is the best restaurant at Disney; it is much better, in fact, than Victoria and Albert’s IMO. We enjoyed the Concourse Steakhouse on two or three occasions during our week there (and I rarely eat at the same restaurant twice). We found the transportation to be unsurpassed by any other MK resort area resort. With the walk to or from MK, we never waited at the end of our days there, and the monorail to Epcot was only one stop from the resort (admittedly, the return trip seemed to take forever). Also, the busses, now that they don’t share with the WL, are very efficient to other WDW destinations. Not only did we enjoy easy access to both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian but we also had a quick boat launch to Fort Wilderness and the WL. FW features the best value buffet on property and the Hoop-Dee-Do. The WL is beautiful with fantastic dining options. Since we enjoyed easy access to FW, the recreational options there were at our fingertips, including the nightly campfire sing-a-long and movie.

The pools at the CR have been updated since I was a kid, and they now feature two whirlpools. The courtyard surrounding the area has been demolished and reinstalled with paver bricks and new landscaping. The large, free form pool features a slide and fountains. Of course, the electrical water pageant still makes its way by the resort each night about 9:45. If you play tennis, there is no better place in all of WDW for tennis enthusiasts than the CR. And if you like to go boating, the marina, with Sammy Duval’s Water sports is the best on property. And even though I’m no longer 8, and they took out the shooting arcade:(, I still found time to spend a few quarters in the Food and Fun Center.

We were on the 14th floor, and had a 1 bedroom suite. The décor there is slightly different than that of the rest of the hotel. It was actually quite nice. I have seen the rooms on the other floors, and while it is nothing I would decorate my home in, it still is fun and whimsical. The standard rooms are huge, plenty big for the 5 of you, with a W.C. with its own sink separate from the tub and vanity area. The Tower rooms feature large balconies with great views of either the Magic Kingdom or Bay Lake (believe it or not, we prefer the Bay Lake view). The public areas are decorated with contemporary (read: uncomfortable) furniture, stainless steel, glass, purple, blue and aqua are everywhere. The large Grand Canyon Concourse rises from the fourth or fifth floor to the 12th. There is a large tile mosaic which is the only throwback to the Contemporary’s original southwestern theme (look for the 5-legged goat). Of course, to the little boy inside me, the most thrilling part of this hotel is watching the monorail glide through the lobby above the Concourse Steakhouse, Chef Mickey’s, and the shops. Speaking of shops, there are 3 shops (they almost function like 2) that feature sundries, souvenirs, and men’s and women’s designer apparel.

To me, the CR offers everything you could want in a deluxe hotel. It is Walt’s vision of the flagship resort. It offers more recreation and more access to recreation than most other resorts on property. It has the largest rooms at WDW. It has some of the best transportation on there as well. And to top it all off, not only is the dining fantastic, but access to other restaurants in the MK resort is easier from the CR than any other resort. In case you can’t tell, I love this resort as much today as I ever did as a kid. I now that some people don’t care for it, but to me it’s quintessential Disney. And I still look forward each trip to watching the monorail disappear into this fantastic place, taking guests back to what I consider my WDW “home.”
 
Ok Demo, you have put a tear in my eye. I too admired the CR from afar as an 8 yr old child at FW!
We leave tomorrow and will be staying at CR for the first time :D !
I hope it lives up to my dreams.:cool:
 
and get beautiful memories!! Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and for your advice. Looks like its a winner. We've always wanted to stay there but now it looks like you've all made up my mind. Now lets hope I can get the dates I want. I originally planned on the first week of Nov but someone said it was New Jersy week and terribly crowded. Not what I was looking for! Again, thank you all for your replys and happy dreams!!:)
 
My first WDW trip was in 1972 and we camped at FW and I also remember wanting to stay at the CR. With the SOG construction relocating us to CR, my dream came true, too.
 
Hi Demo,

Your message is the best I've ever read about WDW! Thanks so much for sharing your childhood memories. Your thoughts captured exactly the way I feel about WDW and the thrills and chills I get each time I go back.

There's something about FW that makes me feel like I'm stepping into some childhood book. And, there's something about it that captures the heart of Disney. The best memories I have of WDW are my husband and I taking our very young kids to the campfire and outdoor movie.

Please write some more about WDW when you get the urge! You have a real gift for capturing the magic in words.

-Gabrielle :D
 
I have to agree with Gabrielle... Demo, you do have a gift for writing nostalgia. That brought a tear to my eye, too! Thank you for sharing.
 
Originally posted by Gabrielle
There's something about FW that makes me feel like I'm stepping into some childhood book. And, there's something about it that captures the heart of Disney.

Thanks for the kind words :o.

I couldn't agree more about FW. To me, a trip to WDW without a day at FW just wouldn't be the same. But really, there is something about the Poly, the CR and FW that just keeps luring me back. I think it's because Walt had a hand in all of them. The magic and nostalgia for those places is so thick, I have to brush it from my eyes each time I even think about them.
 
The CR is my favorite resort and it's worth every penny! We have stayed in the tower and it's been MK view every time. The view is breathtaking! The rooms are large, clean and bright. We never heard any noise from the concourse level while we were in our room. But, it is fun to hear the monorail zipping by and the singing from Chef Mickey's when you open your door!

Being able to walk to the MK is worth every penny to us. It's only a ten minute walk and it's quiet and not crowded at all on the walkway. It's great to be able to walk over to the park and avoid the monorail stops at the TTC, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. It's also a perk to be able to walk back to your room after parades and fireworks and avoid the crowds at the monorail station.

There are 2 pools. The main pool is very fun. It has a slide and water fountains in the pool and "shooting water" around the pool. My 2 year old daughter loved it! She also liked the playground and feeding the ducks on the dock. We also love being able to take the boat to Ft. Wilderness beause we like to eat at Trails End.

The restaurants are great, there is a huge arcade and the stores on the 4th floor are fun to shop in. We stayed at the Grand Floridian in September which was nice, but we missed the Contemporary!!!! We went back to the CR a few weeks ago and it was great. Here is a link to a post about our stay.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=372170
 
I have also always loved the Contemporary, but not as much as I love some of the other hotels on site. While I'm happy to stay there, my family doesn't like it very much :( They felt the look was too modern and the color scheme not to their liking.
 
Demosthenes has it right (and beautifully said). Our family of 5 has stayed at the CR 14 times over the years - and we'll be back!
 
>>To me, a trip to WDW without a day at FW just wouldn't be the same. But really, there is something about the Poly, the CR and FW that just keeps luring me back. I think it's because Walt had a hand in all of them. The magic and nostalgia for those places is so thick, I have to brush it from my eyes each time I even think about them.


I'm right there with you. For me, I've got Walt and my dad (who I lost this year) somehow intertwined in my mind. My father was like a kid the first time he saw WDW. He loved the monorails, the flowers in the Magic Kingdom, the courteous CMS, the marvels of Epcot - he could draw you in with his lyrical enthusiasm for WDW and, in his eyes, everything was wonderful and to be appreciated.

So, when I go to WDW, I'm reminded of summer Sunday nights watching the Disney show with my dad and waiting for Tink to fly around Walt. When I'm at FW, I feel like I'm Hayley Mills in one of the old Disney movies, having adventures. :) When I walk aroung the Poly at night, exclaiming about the tiki torches, my eyes are bigger than my kids' eyes (which tend to roll at me more often, now that they're teenagers). :) But, I don't care if they make fun of me - I've roped their hearts and mind into Disney. :)
 
We are JUST in the door from Disney! The CR DID live up to all I envisioned. Had a perfect view of the fireworks the 3 nights they had them while there(got ALL our room requests). DH and I sat by the pool each day while the kids swam(they loved that slide!) and said this was so perfect. Have stayed in lots of Disney resorts and CR captures the magic of MK right at your doorsteps and the convenience of the monorail makes it perfect. :D Would not hesitate to stay here again and again. :D
 












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