Help me choose a resort

[Sven1990]

I am planning my first Disney world vacation followed by a Disney cruise for November 2016. I am torn between port Orleans riverside and the contemporary resort. Does Disney geneurally offer the free dining in November and in what other ways could I be savvy for this trip. Travel agent advice and any other suggestions is greatly appreciated.

 

[minnie mum]

. Use this site to find out when FD has been offered in previous years. Nov will have blackout dates. There are no dates officially announced yet for this year: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

. Usually there is also a room offer discount for the same time period. Depending on the makeup of your group and your dining preferences, the RO offer may work better.

. If you choose to use a TA, choose wisely. Because of the complexity of Disney vacations, only use a Disney Specialist TA.

As for helping you select a resort, I can't. We usually let our budget determine which resort we will stay at. We are very happy staying at any of the mod resorts. We usually only stay at a deluxe resort on special occasions or for short stays. We can't otherwise justify the cost, compared to the Mods.

 

[emory2001]

Big price difference between POR and Contemporary. I have stayed at a handful of Disney resorts, and given how well the bus system runs, I can't justify the cost of monorail resorts. I have eaten at all of the monorail resorts and walked around them, which is enough for me to experience them.

We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside earlier this month and it is very well themed and enjoyable, but it is also an enormous resort (many buildings), which I had known before going and I was still a bit surprised at how vast it was. We wanted beignets for breakfast one morning, which are only found at PO-French Quarter, and it was a 20 minute walk from our POR room. However, it was a BEAUTIFUL walk. The resort is gorgeous. The French Quarter side is not as huge to get around, if that matters to you.

 

[jvattes]

You're talking apples to oranges, I think. To me there is zero appeal too CR save proximity to MK. I find it a very cold resort (mood, not temp) lacking in theming. It does absolutely nothing for me, and for the cost it would have to be far more appealing. Given the choice between these two, I would choose POR

 

[PeytonNAddiesMom]

POR was my first choice for out trip coming up but it's full so we're doing Coronado instead. I love both of the Port Orleans resorts!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

First off, hope you enjoy your time! I agree with what many have said - these are two very different resorts, price points, etc. A little tough to compare. You may want to splurge for a first trip. But, then you may set the bar a bit high accordingly. And, know that the lower level (standard) rooms at Contemporary are in a 3 story building - not the tower.

One thing I often recommend - if you will be there for several days - is to split your stay. It wouldn't necessarily work with free dining. But, it's a way to see both resorts. If you take your luggage to the front desk of hotel 1, they will take it to hotel 2 for you during the day.

One other note, if you will be doing early November, know that is Food and Wine at Epcot. That's a really great opportunity for a LOT of food vs. using the traditional dining plan and/or dining options. May be something to factor in!

 

[Sue M]

I'm another that CR doesn't appeal to. That and Boardwalk hold little appeal. I've stayed at all the other deluxe.
Comparing a moderate and a deluxe resort is like Apples & Oranges.
I'm not sure how many are in your room, but if it's 5, you may find a deluxe room more comfortable.
For us, with a deluxe stay free fining is never the best deal. It's usually just me and oldest daughter.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I am planning my first Disney world vacation followed by a Disney cruise for November 2016. I am torn between port Orleans riverside and the contemporary resort. Does Disney geneurally offer the free dining in November and in what other ways could I be savvy for this trip. Travel agent advice and any other suggestions is greatly appreciated.

why those two hotels?

 

[Babsy]

I am planning my first Disney world vacation followed by a Disney cruise for November 2016. I am torn between port Orleans riverside and the contemporary resort. Does Disney geneurally offer the free dining in November and in what other ways could I be savvy for this trip. Travel agent advice and any other suggestions is greatly appreciated.

First of all, welcome to the DIs!!

There are two major factors that I would consider if I were choosing between POR and CR:
(1) What is your budget? There is a huge difference between these two resorts. If money isn't an issue, I would definitely choose the CR, although POR is lovely as well. If budget is a concern, then I would choose POR.
(2) How many people are going and what are their ages? If you have a larger group (of four or five people) than again I would definitely choose the CR. You can sleep 5 at POR, but i think that it would be more comfortable in the larger rooms at the CR. If you have children in a stroller, then I would choose CR because you will likely be spending a lot of time in the MK and CR is on the monorail and within walking distance of the MK. If it is only one or two people in your party, then you can choose based on other factors such as which theme appeals to you the most.

Although I like both resorts, I like the CR more than POR, and I have stayed at both. Here are some reasons why I prefer CR:

The View!!! Wow! If you are willing to pay the high price tag, the tower theme park view (TPV) rooms are stunning! There is NO other view at WDW that compares to it, IMO. You can see out over the entire MK area! You are looking at the Magic Kingdom (MK), Seven Seas lagoon (the lake in front of the MK, the GF, The Poly and the monorail loop! When you walk into your room and see out through your balcony doors (basically the entire wall facing you is glass) it is a mind blowing moment! Watching Wishes from my CR balcony is one of my all time favourite things to do in WDW. You can get TPV rooms at the Poly or the GF (yes, I've stayed in those as well) and while they are also very nice, the view from the CR is closer and more spectacular, IMO.

The rooms! POR rooms are cozy in the bayou and lovely in the mansions, but they do not compare in comfort or amenities to those in the CR. Also, POR rooms are much smaller than the CR rooms. Oh, and did I mention the balconies? Love sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee early in the morning watching the MK wake up!

Type of resort. The CR is a hotel style with interior corridors and room all have balconies (in the tower, not in the garden wing) or sliding doors opening to a rail (GW). At POR you have a motel style set up with exterior corridors that open up from your room to the outdoors.

CR, everything is under one roof (tower) or right next door connected by a covered walkway (GW). At the POR you can have a fair walk (up to 10 - 15 minutes from remote rooms) to dining, shops, etc. If the weather is fine, not a problem, but in inclement weather it isn't as pleasant.

transportation/access to theme parks: At POR you have buses. At the CR you are at the ONLY resort within walking distance of the MK. Once you have stayed there you will love the convenience! Also, from the CR you can easily travel to any other resort with boats and monorail connecting the CR directly to other MK are resorts and with the MK parking lot just a few steps away (~ 5 minutes walk) you can hop on the MK bus to that resort.

Dining: CR has Chef Mickey's (buffet with Mickey Mouse) and the California Grill (great restaurant) as well as the Wave (healthy) and the Contempo Cafe (quick service). All are excellent! POR has a food court and Boatwrights (table service). Both at POR are good, but they aren't destination dining like the restaurants at the CR.


Good luck choosing!

 

[Sven1990]

I have a lot of medical issues and will be using a mobility scooter when I travel. The reason I chose these two resorts is because I like the theme of POR and the amenities of the CR seem to better fit in with my needs. That being I get tired out easily and need an afternoon nap and if I'm having a flare up with the chronic pain I could get back to the room quicker. I read here on dis boards that POR is at least a 20 min bus ride to the parks with all the stops but being on the monorail is under 5 mins. The only downside to the CR is I've heard people say it lacks theme, which I'm trying to figure out does view of MK and all the other amenities make up for that. Whereas POR has a great theme but fewer amenities.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We will be on the Fantasy 11/26-12/3.
Have a Theme park view room booked at the Contemporary 12/3-12/7.
This is why I chose CR for this trip- typically Orlando is cold after October. (I know last year was unusually warm, but I can't count on that again), and we won't be utilizing the pools. If it was a warmer month I would have chosen Poly.
The convenience to MK, especially since we are also doing MVMCP, the fact that you can take the elevator to the monorail..or that you can walk to MK, combined with the dining options of GF, Poly, and WL, and last but not least- the view of the castle. In my opinion it's a perfect cruise combo for the winter.

Have a wonderful time!!

 

[Babsy]

I have a lot of medical issues and will be using a mobility scooter when I travel. The reason I chose these two resorts is because I like the theme of POR and the amenities of the CR seem to better fit in with my needs. That being I get tired out easily and need an afternoon nap and if I'm having a flare up with the chronic pain I could get back to the room quicker. I read here on dis boards that POR is at least a 20 min bus ride to the parks with all the stops but being on the monorail is under 5 mins. The only downside to the CR is I've heard people say it lacks theme, which I'm trying to figure out does view of MK and all the other amenities make up for that. Whereas POR has a great theme but fewer amenities.

It doesn't lack theme, but the theme is common or 'contemporary' for a resort. As a result it is very much like staying in any contemporary nice hotel and doesn't feel 'unique' in a way that most of the resorts feel. You often hear people say that CSR has no 'theme' as well that is because it is themed after the southwestern US which is common to many people from these areas, I think. For me coming from eastern Canada, the theme in CSR is awesome! It is so different from anything we have up here. For me, the WL, while beautiful, seems like it has no theme because it looks just like a nice hotel could in Newfoundland. Hence not a compelling 'theme' for us. (I still love WL, though, but it looks like home)

CR was themed to go along with the Tomorrowland atmosphere in the MK. It is actually amazing that this hotel that was built to be 'contemporary'/futuristic in the 1970's looks so much like it could have been built today. Also, when you see the CR as an extension of Tomorrowland then it is easier to enjoy the 'theming' there. To my mind a resort designed after a section of the MK is much more 'Disney' themed than a place designed to look like the french quarter in New Orleans, for example.

I didn't want to stay at the CR at first. In fact it was the last of all the WDW resorts that I chose to stay in. I didn't like the theme either. The thing is, until you stay at the CR you cannot understand the benefits of staying there. Of course, the CR isn't for everyone, but once I tried it, I LOVED it.
I booked another trip almost right away to go back to the CR because I didn't want to leave.

I still like POR as well, though. But for convenience, it doesn't hold a candle to CR.

Good luck!

 

[Sue M]

I have a lot of medical issues and will be using a mobility scooter when I travel. The reason I chose these two resorts is because I like the theme of POR and the amenities of the CR seem to better fit in with my needs. That being I get tired out easily and need an afternoon nap and if I'm having a flare up with the chronic pain I could get back to the room quicker. I read here on dis boards that POR is at least a 20 min bus ride to the parks with all the stops but being on the monorail is under 5 mins. The only downside to the CR is I've heard people say it lacks theme, which I'm trying to figure out does view of MK and all the other amenities make up for that. Whereas POR has a great theme but fewer amenities.

In this case I can see how CR would be very convienent for you, with everything in one building it woukd be easy for you to get what you need, and monorail to 2 parks. It's also easy to get to MK, there's a sidewalk from CR to MK so you wouldn't even need the monorail to MK.

 

[HapaDuniani]

My children's father is handicapped with MS. We traveled to WDW many times before his illness. His last trip there, he used a scooter. I fully understand your desire to have things be as easy as possible. The CR is not my first choice for monorail hotels, for all the reasons mentioned in other posts.However, for your situation, CR is the best choice. The CR is one building, as opposed to staying at the Polynesian Resort (my favorite) which is spread out over many buildings. Getting on and off the monorail is much quicker and easier than the bus and it will give you the indepence to leave the park when you need a break.
Be sure to stop at Guest services to get a Disability Access Service card, which can be used in addition to your FP's.

Have fun!!