Is the Comtemporary still contemporary?

[Troy08]

I remember the first time I saw the CR back in 78 on my honeymoon, I was amazed at how futuristic it looked. Now I think it looks dated and ordinary. I know its hard to keep ahead of the times, but of all the DW resorts, I think CR is most in need of a new identity.

 

[WendyinNC]

I spoke to a CM in October who stated the CR is getting a complete makeover. New colors, bath fixtures, etc. It almost sounded like a futuristic Japanese theme with big pillows on the floor. I wish I could remember more. He said they would renovate one floor at a time. I have no idea when it will start. Has anybody else heard about this?

 

[Micca]

The Contemporary really isn't contemporary at all. That doesn't mean you wouldn't like it, but it hasn't changed much since it was built.

 

[luckyforlife]

It's a great place. But without updates, the name is getting a little silly.

 

[missypie]

I see it as "Contemporary" in the same light as Tomorrowland in Disneyland...retro kitchy modern.

 

[cmonroe]

I see it as "Contemporary" in the same light as Tomorrowland in Disneyland...retro kitchy modern.

Exactly!!!!

 

[mikesluss]

I see it as "Contemporary" in the same light as Tomorrowland in Disneyland...retro kitchy modern.

But call me crazy but when I was a kid this was futuristic

 

[erinz]

In terms of the CR rehab....I looked at the Calender for all Rehab for WDW (including resorts) in the year 2005. CR was not mentioned.

 

[sters]

I've heard rumors, too, about a complete re-do with some new technological gadgets that actually made it sound like a fun place to say. As it stands now, it looks like a toaster to me with a very dated, and not in a retro sort of way.

 

[DebbieB]

As Contemporary as the baseball/football stadiums built in the early 1970's (same kind of construction). Oh wait, they are gone!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Location, location, location! I know it looks outdated now but I can't wait to stay there this October! For $387 a night in the Tower the location better at least be worth it...

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Amy&Dan,

One of reason's I'm staying at CR-standard wingroom is because of how close it is to MK and the monorail to Epcot. Since I'm going Memorial Day weekend and will be crowded anyways, the last thing I want to do either in the morning or right after MK or Epcot closes is wait an hour for a bus.

 

[*Fantasia*]

If they are going to completely redo.. I think they should just reconstruct. Tear down the bldg and build a new one. Sorry CR lovers. I mean actually make the bldg to look like the one from the Jetsons. The one that looks like a flying saucer and it's on a long cylindrical post. And that post is your elevator that will take you to your resort. This resort is actually way up from the ground. The floor has a moving walkway just like the one you see at the airport. The mousekeepers and the staff would dress up as robots. Everything in your room is automatic...such as the toilet, faucet...etc.

 

[swilphil]

When they do the rehab, which is still unscheduled, maybe they could just change the name. They changed Dixie Landings to Port Orleans Riverside, so changing the Contemporary's name wouldn't be unprecedented. The January DIS newsletter had some info about the upcoming rehab. The decor is going to be blond wood and neutral colors. They are going to move the food court into the Concourse Steakhouse and put a new sitdown restaurant where the current food court is. Now it seems the newsletter disappeared after a couple of weeks, so maybe this wasn't accurate to begin with. There have been rumors that they are going to build DVC where the wings are, but I don't know if that's really in the works or not.

 

[MandaPerry]

We are all so quick to use lines refering to Walt Disney the man and what his dream was, and how costs would not be so high if Walt was still running things...but we forget that the CR was his baby. When we moan about changes that are made that wewe don't like or things we miss we refer to Walt. Well I for one say the original CR buildiing is Walt..as far as refurbishments to the inside fine, but don't touch the original building!

Manda's mom

 

[peter11435]

In terms of the CR rehab....I looked at the Calender for all Rehab for WDW (including resorts) in the year 2005. CR was not mentioned.

Just so you know there is no calander available to the public that lists ALL rehabs. Even the rehabs listed on the WDW site are only partial.

 

[JeffnFl]

Some of the negative comments here nearly made me cancel my three day stay at the CR last week and head over to the Poly but, as the Poly does not have king beds and I didn't want an extra bed taking up space, plus I wanted the romantic view of the castle, I stuck with the CR. I was glad I did! I thought the resort looked great and I was not at all put off by the "wild" colors in the room. The bed sheets were bright, but the room was big, relatively subdued, and with the cold and rain on Wednesday, the interior monorail saved a bit of discomfort. Had we been at the Poly, we would have to have raced in the rain to get the to monorail though, I admit, in the overal scheme of things, an extra few hundred yards of walking outside would not have made that much difference to how wet we ended up!

I did walk around the Poly grounds and they were nice and certainly more romantic for taking walks with your SO, so you have to decide which experience you want.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

The CR would cost Disney a fortune to rebuild. In my mind disney has 3 options

1. Lower Price and Do Minor Updating

2. Keep same price do tons of updating

3. Take down, build a new area similar to Boardwalk along the lake

In my mind the only thing CR's got going for it is being on the Monorail Line.

 

[step4now]

Tearing down the CR to build anything new in it's place would be a terrible idea!!!! Just as I don't think you'll ever see rides such as Small World be removed from the parks for being outdated....CR is also a classic Disney icon. I have no problem with upgrades or redecorating though. I've been through the resort many times, but never actually stayed there. We're going in just a couple months and I can't wait to get the full experience.

 

[Waggy182]

con·tem·po·rar·y adj.

Current; modern: contemporary trends in design.


For those of us who remember the Grand Opening of Walt Disney World, the Contemporary Resort will always be an icon that, at the time, envisioned the futurist thinking with which Walt was so passionately gifted. Looking at it today brings back wonderful memories of a time when WDW was new and exciting; so many adventures that await and memories to be made.

It is easy for those who look at it as ‘outdated’ to suggest rehabbing or, even worse, complete destruction, mainly due to how ‘ordinary’ it appears. These well-meaning folks may not realize that this construction was cutting-edge at the time, and was trail-blazing in style and thought. It is only after 35+ years of imitations that make it look less than it is.

The history alone is phenomenal.