I was worried about staying in the CR a few years ago when bringing my DS, DDIL and two DGD's to WDW. The Poly was my first choice and was under construction at the time, DS wasn't interested in the GF, so the CR was nominated as the MK resort on the monorail that we were all OK with. the CR wasn't WOWing me at all. It felt a bit like I was going to stay in an airport hotel.
Well, all that changed when we stepped into our 12th floor TPV room!!! You don't get what it is like to stay at the CR until you have stayed there! It is entirely different to stay here vs visiting the resort. No, it isn't for everyone, but WOW! it was great for us. I liked it so much that I booked our next two trips staying here again (I had never stayed two trips in a row in the same resort before that). The view over the MK area was incredible! A real mountain top experience!
Yes the decor is simple in the room, but it is elegant and tasteful and doesn't detract from the incredible view out the patio doors to your balcony. Plus the design of the CR building is such that everything is close with no long winding corridors. Convenience is key to a stay here: 1. Unless you are in the (very close) garden wing, everything is under one roof, 2. you have some of the best restaurants in WDW right there with you, 3. you have the easiest access overall to all of WDW (IMO) with the MK bus stop to all the resorts that aren't on the monorail or a direct boat ride away.....and 4. you can walk to/from the MK.
YES, walking distance to the MK, unique among all the resorts. Being able to walk to the MK with small children is WONDERFUL!!! It can't be overstated how convenient that is - it truly puts the CR in a class by itself, IMO.
Then all the tower rooms have huge comfortable balconies with beautiful views regardless of which direction you face - I have stayed in rooms with both views and I am not certain which I prefer. They are both fantastic!
The pool area is simple and the pool needs updating, it's true. However, we have found the view over the lake relaxing and never have had a problem getting loungers or having the area overcrowded. We enjoy our pool time more than we had originally anticipated.
Others have mentioned the nostalgia and the Disney theming and I agree with them that the CG is indeed the epitome of authentic Disney theming. Most of the resorts are themed to places other than WDW, such as Victorian England, Polynesian islands, New England, Africa, etc. Even the value resorts, which illustrate the Disney animation in films, only show that aspect of Disney. The CR IS iconic Disney in and of itself. AND The CR is an original that seems to really live up to its name - it still feels as Contemporary to me today as it has in the past. Yet, at the same time, a stay here always transports me back in time to that day when the MK first opened its doors. It is exciting, fun and nostalgic - totally Disney!
.....and I have to mention:
The priceless memories of watching the MK fireworks with my little grand daughters in their PJ's on the balcony at the CR are engraved in my heart forever! Enjoy creating your own special memories with your little one!
We LOVE the CR!!! I hope that you will too! It truly is a special place.