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 weeks 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 Alberts 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 dont 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 Duvals Water sports is the best on property. And even though Im 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 Contemporarys 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 Mickeys, and the shops. Speaking of shops, there are 3 shops (they almost function like 2) that feature sundries, souvenirs, and mens and womens designer apparel.
To me, the CR offers everything you could want in a deluxe hotel. It is Walts 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 cant tell, I love this resort as much today as I ever did as a kid. I now that some people dont care for it, but to me its 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.