Is the Contemporary Kid-Friendly?

[Wendy31]

DH & I have been trying to decide between the garden wing at the Contemporary & a FW cabin.

I've been leaning toward the FW cabin, & DH has been leaning toward the Contemporary.

Well, today, I went ahead & booked a garden wing room at the Contemporary since I know those particular rooms fill up quickly.

We LOVE the Wilderness Lodge - that's our favorite! But, since our youngest DS will be 3 when we go, we can only stay in a deluxe room at the WL.

We've also previously stayed in a FW cabin, & I just think the themeing of Fort Wilderness is so family-friendly & fun.

DH has wanted to stay at the Contemporary for years, & he likes the convenience of its location to the MK. We spend the majority of our time there.

But I'm afraid I'm going to miss "fun themeing" at the Contemporary. If it were just going to be me & my DH, I would stay there in a heartbeat! I think the rooms are gorgeous!

I'm just worried that there's not as much for kids at the Contemporary. They're used to the Wilderness Lodge w/ all the different kids' activities. Additionally, the themeing is more kid friendly. And, at Fort Wilderness, it just feels so "vintage" & old-timey campground to me...

Honestly, I'm just really, really going to miss the WL!!

But DH reminds me that we really don't spend a lot of time at our resort anyway.

So please reassure me that our kids will like the Contemporary!

 

[ParrotBill]

I wonder if YOU are worried you will miss theming or if you are worried your kids will miss it! (nothing wrong with that.)

The CR was my first onsite and although I love WL, BYC, OKW and BWV I still have a soft spot for the Contemporary. Why? because I am a 50 year old kid when I am there.

- Cool factor - the monorail station INSIDE the hotel!
- Chef Mickey's
- Views of the Magic Kingdom (walk out the end of one of the tower floors or at the end of level 4)
- Take the Monorail lots of places!
- Boats if you get tired of the Monorail
- Bigger rooms most places
- Just get on and ride the monorail
- Big arcade if the kids are into that
- Did I say get tired of the monorail? Shame on me

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The Contemporary is very kid friendly. For example there is the arcade which is the only one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts where kids can win prizes, Chef Mickey's being located right there, seeing the Monorail go through and they have kids activties everyday by their pool.

 

[Wendy31]

I wonder if YOU are worried you will miss theming or if you are worried your kids will miss it! (nothing wrong with that.)

The CR was my first onsite and although I love WL, BYC, OKW and BWV I still have a soft spot for the Contemporary. Why? because I am a 50 year old kid when I am there.

- Cool factor - the monorail station INSIDE the hotel!
- Chef Mickey's
- Views of the Magic Kingdom (walk out the end of one of the tower floors or at the end of level 4)
- Take the Monorail lots of places!
- Boats if you get tired of the Monorail
- Bigger rooms most places
- Just get on and ride the monorail
- Big arcade if the kids are into that
- Did I say get tired of the monorail? Shame on me

Yes, I think part of it is that *I* am going to miss the Wilderness Lodge!

Part of it, too, though is I feel kinda like, while the kids are younger, we should be looking for kid-friendly & kid-appealing themes. There will be plenty of time later when they're older to stay in more adult-themed resorts, if that makes sense! However, as my DH points out, "We'll be in Disney!! How much more kid-friendly can we get?!" LOL

The kids do love the monorail.

And 1 of our "must do" meals is always breakfast at Chef Mickey's!

And our older DS loves video games, so he'll be thrilled w/ a larger arcade. The one at the WL is a little small.

The Contemporary is very kid friendly. For example there is the arcade which is the only one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts where kids can win prizes, Chef Mickey's being located right there, seeing the Monorail go through and they have kids activties everyday by their pool.

So there are kids' activities by the pool? That is a HUGE relief to me! I didn't think there were any kids' activities by the pool at the Contemporary. There are activities at the WL, & I knew the kids would miss that.

Thank you, both! I am feeling better.

I've looked at pics, & the rooms are really nice. As DH also points out, at FW, we'll need a golf cart to get to any activity. Plus, the quick-service at the Contemporary is better than the quick-service at FW.

The easy access to the MK will be wonderful. Plus, we spend a lot of time at EPCOT, so the easy access to the monorail will be great as well.

I'll just also really miss the ducks in the pool at the WL!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I'll just also really miss the ducks in the pool at the WL!

CR has ducks in the pool too!

My family loves CR. The rooms are huge, there are 2 pools, quick walk to/from MK. I think you and your family will love it!

 

[momto2honeypots]

I have never stayed at the Contemporary but it seems very kid friendly. My favorite is WL too but I would definitely consider the CR. What is cooler than the monorail that goes right through the middle of the hotel? They have a fun pool - the slide is bigger than the WL one. It has an arcade and all the other amenities that the other resorts have.

I bet it will be great.

 

[dmband]

Can anyone give me an idea of pool side activities for kids?
Or if there is a link somewhere.
I'll be there in July with 5 kids from 7 months to almost 8yrs
Thanks

 

[minniebeth]

Can anyone give me an idea of pool side activities for kids?
Or if there is a link somewhere.
I'll be there in July with 5 kids from 7 months to almost 8yrs
Thanks

Goofy Bingo, Dance Party, Do You Know Disney Trivia, Beach Relays, Name That Tune, Mickey Memory, Giant Beach Bowling, Are You Smarter, Contemporary Crafts, Balloon Twisting Competition, Giant Board Games, Disney Charades, What's In Your Beach Bag, Chalk Art....

These were the activities listed in the Contemporary Activities Guide we received when we stayed this past January. Hope that gives you some ideas. We also stayed in Bay Lake Tower this past summer and there were a lot of activities IN the pool with the kids, plus hula hoop contests and several of the ones listed above.

 

[dmband]

Goofy Bingo, Dance Party, Do You Know Disney Trivia, Beach Relays, Name That Tune, Mickey Memory, Giant Beach Bowling, Are You Smarter, Contemporary Crafts, Balloon Twisting Competition, Giant Board Games, Disney Charades, What's In Your Beach Bag, Chalk Art....

These were the activities listed in the Contemporary Activities Guide we received when we stayed this past January. Hope that gives you some ideas. We also stayed in Bay Lake Tower this past summer and there were a lot of activities IN the pool with the kids, plus hula hoop contests and several of the ones listed above.

Oh wow, awesome
Thanks

 

[Mamato3Princes]

I wonder if YOU are worried you will miss theming or if you are worried your kids will miss it! (nothing wrong with that.)

The CR was my first onsite and although I love WL, BYC, OKW and BWV I still have a soft spot for the Contemporary. Why? because I am a 50 year old kid when I am there.

- Cool factor - the monorail station INSIDE the hotel!
- Chef Mickey's
- Views of the Magic Kingdom (walk out the end of one of the tower floors or at the end of level 4)
- Take the Monorail lots of places!
- Boats if you get tired of the Monorail
- Bigger rooms most places
- Just get on and ride the monorail
- Big arcade if the kids are into that
- Did I say get tired of the monorail? Shame on me

I agree with everything ParrotBill said! My sons loved the monorail going through the hotel. They still talk about it and they love playing monorail w/their monorail toys, they even make the ding dong noise when the doors are closing and they copy the announcers voice, lol. Also, just like mentioned above- Chef Mickey's is there! We ate their twice during the 1st half of our split stay and my sons loved it. The location is awesome too.

 

[DanPadavona]

All of the WDW luxury resorts are kid friendly, and that includes the Grand Floridian.

The kids will have a blast at the Contemporary Resort. Great pool, an arcade, shopping, 10 minute walk to MK. And oh yeah, a monorail runs through the middle of the resort. How can it not be kid friendly? Seriously it's great for kids.

Here's an article I wrote about it, and a picture of my son hanging out in from of the CR. He seems pretty happy to be there, lol.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

 

[jedi jen]

We love the Contemporary. My kids went twice when they were young. After the first time, they did not want to stay anywhere else. We have also stayed at Poly. DD 9's fav is still the Contemporary.

 

[Wendy31]

CR has ducks in the pool too!

My family loves CR. The rooms are huge, there are 2 pools, quick walk to/from MK. I think you and your family will love it!

That's very good to know about the ducks!!

I have never stayed at the Contemporary but it seems very kid friendly. My favorite is WL too but I would definitely consider the CR. What is cooler than the monorail that goes right through the middle of the hotel? They have a fun pool - the slide is bigger than the WL one. It has an arcade and all the other amenities that the other resorts have.

I bet it will be great.

I think older DS & DD are going to love the slide!! And I know DS will enjoy the arcade!

Can anyone give me an idea of pool side activities for kids?
Or if there is a link somewhere.
I'll be there in July with 5 kids from 7 months to almost 8yrs
Thanks

5 kids!! You will have so much fun!

Goofy Bingo, Dance Party, Do You Know Disney Trivia, Beach Relays, Name That Tune, Mickey Memory, Giant Beach Bowling, Are You Smarter, Contemporary Crafts, Balloon Twisting Competition, Giant Board Games, Disney Charades, What's In Your Beach Bag, Chalk Art....

These were the activities listed in the Contemporary Activities Guide we received when we stayed this past January. Hope that gives you some ideas. We also stayed in Bay Lake Tower this past summer and there were a lot of activities IN the pool with the kids, plus hula hoop contests and several of the ones listed above.

I'm so glad to know that there are kids' activities. I don't know why I thought that there wasn't! (I think it's because somewhere I read that the Contemporary doesn't have a kids' club like the other deluxe resorts, &, in my head, I took that to mean that there were no kids' activities at all!)

I texted DH at work last night to tell him that there were, indeed, kids' activities at the Contemporary. He, of course, was all smug - "I knew there would be. It's Disney!"

I agree with everything ParrotBill said! My sons loved the monorail going through the hotel. They still talk about it and they love playing monorail w/their monorail toys, they even make the ding dong noise when the doors are closing and they copy the announcers voice, lol. Also, just like mentioned above- Chef Mickey's is there! We ate their twice during the 1st half of our split stay and my sons loved it. The location is awesome too.

I think our younger DS is going to love watching the monorail! And I've always felt the Contemporary is very "Disney" - the architecture, the monorail, Chef Mickey's, etc. Whenever I'm recommending restaurants to anyone, I always recommend Chef Mickey's as a "must do" because it's just perfectly Disney to me!

I've just been worried that kids wouldn't have as much fun... but I'm starting to worry less about that now! LOL!

All of the WDW luxury resorts are kid friendly, and that includes the Grand Floridian.

The kids will have a blast at the Contemporary Resort. Great pool, an arcade, shopping, 10 minute walk to MK. And oh yeah, a monorail runs through the middle of the resort. How can it not be kid friendly? Seriously it's great for kids.

Here's an article I wrote about it, and a picture of my son hanging out in from of the CR. He seems pretty happy to be there, lol.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Thank you for the article! It reminded me of why I really like the Contemporary... it's so much a part of WDW history! It really will be cool to stay there!

We love the Contemporary. My kids went twice when they were young. After the first time, they did not want to stay anywhere else. We have also stayed at Poly. DD 9's fav is still the Contemporary.

Another recommendation from a kid!! Yay!

Thanks, everyone! I really am feeling better about the Contemporary now! And I'm getting excited too! I think our kids will have lots of fun as well!

Now the problem is... on Monday, our AAA travel agent is going to try to get the Free Dining attached to our reservation. Because it's a garden wing room, I don't hold out much hope for that. DH & I had decided, if we couldn't get the free dining, we'd go back to FW. However, now I really do want to try the Contemporary! And I'm ready to move from the garden wing to the tower!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

And I'm ready to move from the garden wing to the tower!

We have stayed in the garden wing many times and enjoyed it, but the tower, oh how we LOVE the tower! Both MKV and BLV are great! MKV, looking at the castle and fireworks = fantastic! BLV, very relaxing watching the boats and looking at the water. No matter what type of room you get, you will enjoy CR.

 

[Kimi313]

The only bad part about staying at the Cont is that once you stay there you won't want to stay anywhere else! We LOVE the garden wing rooms, first floor. We use to sit out and feed the ducks and sometimes the duck will even wake you up, probably cause I use to feed them every morning.
You guys will love the pool, especially the slide, the arcade, taking the monorail around to eat at other resorts or shop there, and the shops at the cont is my favorite! My DD is 21 now and the cont is still her favorite place to stay also we stayed at FW last year and we did love it but I agree with OP that the counter service at FW can be far away and at Cont its just right there! Have a great time. (Now re-thinking of where we are staying)