Just back from Contemporary Tower

[cfewell]

this is great, I am starting to really get excited about our stay here. We stayed at the WL last time and it was beautiful, but I have always wanted to stay in the tower since I was a little girl. Thanks for the info!

 

[JudicialTyranny]

Susan, we just got back today from the CR tower also! We were on the 11th floor, facing MK.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Thanks, Susan, for the positive comments re: CRtower. We're staying there next month and I agonized over whether the tower is worth the extra money. Now I'm so excited that I splurged on it. Thanks again!

 

[JudicialTyranny]

I know these questions were directed at Susan, but we just got back from the CR today also.

When did you arrive at the resort and how was your check-in experience?

It was OK. When we got there (off the ME bus, after 4 PM) there were 3 people ahead of us checking in and only one person working the desk. Then someone else came and things moved pretty quickly.

Were all, some, or none of your room requests honored? Which ones were and which ones were not?

The only request we made (after reading it on another site) was an odd numbered room facing MK, and we got both.

Did you have a Bay Lake or MK view? Which Floor were you on?

MK view, 11th floor.

DId you have a king bed room or two queens?

Two queens (and a flip-over sofa).

What amenities are available in the bathrooms of the non-concierge floor bathrooms?

Standard stuff and a hair dryer.

Was the non-concierge floor Guest services/concierge helpful at all in helping you get things or do special things?

I only used Guest Services to change some PS's and didn't have a problem.

How was the pool? Was it clean? The Spa?

I am not a pool person, but my kids are and they liked it, especially the water slide. We went to the pool late a few times (after 8 PM) and there were times when there were only about 3 or 4 other people there. One night I had one of the two jacuzzi's all to myself for a few hours. I watched the kids in the pool from there.

The water slide is only open from 9 or 10 am until 8 pm, which is when the lifeguards go off duty. But the pools and jacuzzis are open 24 hrs.

DId you do any watercraft activities? How was the rental desk?

No, but I really wanted to, I just didn't have time. The small speedboats look pretty cool. None of my kids wanted to go with me (I don't think they trusted that I could drive a boat.) The cost is $22 for a half hour (that's all that I recall - there are varying prices for different times and boat sizes). The rental desk did not look busy at all during the times I was near it.

If you book your trip through AAA and get a AAA Diamond Card, you get 10% off the rentals.

 

[minijeanie]

oooohhh..
can't get enough info on CR tower...going in 5 weeks...
1st time in CR

requested MK view but now won't be so upset if get lagoon view...

should I request 11th flooor and odd numbers?

hoping we have beautiful view.
DD 15, DS 14 and believe this will be our last trip all together before

omg???? college.....
YIKES!!

my only hope is that they get into a FLORIDA college

 

[Kteacher]

Hi minijeanie Every trip I tell myself this will be the last trip together as a family..... my kids are now almost 13, 15, and 18 ( going to college next year ) and they all still want to come to WDW with mom and dad- and stay in the CR of course. My older 2 still want to get a kiss from Minnie at Chef Mickey's. We stayed in a North Garden wing room our first time in the CR, and we've stayed in the Tower since then. I just love laying in bed and watching the castle change colors

 

[*Susan*]

JudicialTyranny: I bet our paths crossed at the hotel at one point or another! I only met 1 DISer on the monorail one day on the way to Epcot b/c she was wearing a lime green hairband around her wrist. Never got her screen name, but we chatted with her husband & little boy.

 

[vpack05]

Hi minijeanie Every trip I tell myself this will be the last trip together as a family..... my kids are now almost 13, 15, and 18 ( going to college next year ) and they all still want to come to WDW with mom and dad- and stay in the CR of course. My older 2 still want to get a kiss from Minnie at Chef Mickey's. We stayed in a North Garden wing room our first time in the CR, and we've stayed in the Tower since then. I just love laying in bed and watching the castle change colors

KTeacher, you seem to have done A LOT of trips with young children. Are there children's activities at Contemporary? Were your children ever bored at the resort itself? Did the lack of a kid's club affect their resort time? Thank you!!

 

[kjustice]

First let me say that I think your fiance is one lucky girl! It's fabulous that you are trying to make it so special!

I have a couple fo questions too:

Were the water squirters/fountains working at the pool for the kids?

What's with the odd numbers?

I'll be there this weekend.

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[sdlipton]

I know these questions were directed at Susan, but we just got back from the CR today also.

Nah.. they were just at Susan cause she got got back... i really wanted as MUCH info as possible!

It was OK. When we got there (off the ME bus, after 4 PM) there were 3 people ahead of us checking in and only one person working the desk. Then someone else came and things moved pretty quickly..

Were they friendly.. did you immediately get the sense of magic. I ask because we are not getting off our plane until 4:15 and likely, even with a towncar won't be getting to teh hotel until close to 5:30. I just want everything to be so perfect because she is my princess!

was an odd numbered room facing MK,..

Whats up with the odd number room?

Two queens (and a flip-over sofa)

DOES ANYONE GET JUST A KING ANYMORE... ? pLEASE... SOMEONE HELP!



Everyone has been SOO helpful..I wish the contemporary faq thread was this helpful. I have subscribed since i joined and read all 50+ pages... never got this much this well put together. Susan and Judicial, you both ROCK

 

[JudicialTyranny]

Were they friendly.. did you immediately get the sense of magic. I ask because we are not getting off our plane until 4:15 and likely, even with a towncar won't be getting to teh hotel until close to 5:30. I just want everything to be so perfect because she is my princess!

I had no complaints. There was one small issue that they did take care of. When I booked my reservation with AAA, the travel agent got a quote from Disney and I gave the OK on it. But later she called me back and said that Disney quoted 5 nights instead of 6, so if I wanted 6 nights, the price was higher. I decided to go with the 6 nights, but to make up for it, I was supposed to get a special Fastpass, which I could use at any time on any ride.

When I checked in, I didn't get that, and they had no record of it. I asked about it, and the person at the desk spoke with someone in the back for a few minutes and she came back and assigned two of the passes to us (each for all 5 of us). When I got to my room a few minutes later, there was a message on my phone explaining in detail how I should get the passes (by going to Guest Services at MK and picking them up).

So I was pleased with that. But it turns out that I really didn't need the passes - the crowds were pretty light and I really didn't need Fastpass.

Whats up with the odd number room?

I found that suggestion on another site. Apparently, in the odd numbered rooms, the beds are facing in the direction of MK, so you could lay in bed and watch the fireworks.

DOES ANYONE GET JUST A KING ANYMORE... ? pLEASE... SOMEONE HELP!

Not with 3 kids and a pregnant wife....

 

[JudicialTyranny]

oooohhh..
should I request 11th flooor and odd numbers?

I don't think the floor matters all that much, although I like the higher floors. We didn't request the 11th, that's just what we got.

The odd numbered rooms are just a suggestion I found on another site - the beds face MK, so you could watch the fireworks in bed. This turned out to be no big deal to me.

 

[Kteacher]

Not sure if I can help with the kids activities question. My kids enjoy the parks, swimming at the pool, and eating in the restaurants, so this is what we've always done at WDW. Whenever we've come back from the parks to the Cr it's to take a break and swim in the pool. We've been on either the 9th or 11th floor during our tower stays, and the view is incredible We're staying on the 12th floor this trip, sometimes referred to as " concierge light ". All my experiences with the staff at the CR have been excellent. Make sure you make a PS for the California Grill - this is our favorite restaurant in WDW. The food is amazing, great staff, and the view is probably one of the best in WDW

 

[kjustice]

Just wanted to update that I was there this weekend and the "renovations" seemed contained to the 2 forementioned rooms 4225 and 4226. The decor looks nice though. Almost "contemporary"!

What is the schedule for refurbishments throughout the tower?

I would warn anyone that wants to request these rooms specifically that they are located right above Chef Mickey's and that place is pretty lively day and night. They are on the MK side.

 

[sdlipton]

Disers,

This was posted on the mouseplanet WDW Update site today re: CR.

I thought I would share

Contemporary Resort refurbishment news
We've heard from another insider about the refurbishment at the Contemporary Resort. It seems that there is indeed a plan in place to convert the South Garden Wing in the a Disney Vacation Club resort, but no one is certain until the first worker knocks down the first wall. However, construction delays are occurring because of a lack of labor due to continuing hurricane repairs in Central Florida. Renovations will continue through the rest of the resort (which is current expected to remain a regular hotel) with an overall completion date of June 2007 for the entire resort.

Our source was able to view one of the two showrooms already completed at the resort, and describes the room:

The rooms are done in beiges and browns, with a matching bedding and carpeting. There are two separate double sinks with a very modern feel to them. There is a 16-inch by 9-inch format High Definition TV (looks to be flat panel) mounted in the wall. This is accompanied by a sophisticated remote. The marble flooring in the bathroom and toilet are the same, but the door to the toilet been replaced with a sliding door. It all has a very modern, Pier One feel to it. If you look up to the sixth floor from the Portico at the far right you will see two rooms with new brown railings replacing the old green ones. These are the showrooms. From the outside hallway you can see samples of the new carpet.

I was very impressed with the look of the new rooms. Gone are all of the garish art deco features and feel. While I am sure many will miss the feel of the old rooms, the new decor is far superior. The only downside I see is that the Contemporary will once again become a hot ticket and I will not be able to stay there at a reasonable price.

 

[dreamflight99]

My only complaint (and it's not specific to the CR I'm sure) is what is the deal with the toilet paper and tissue? I'd get better quality in prison LOL! My allergies were bothering me and the tissue was so rough on my nose. You'd think for the $$ they'd provide some Angel Soft or something. Next time we'll bring our own.

LOL...this is too funny! It's truly the ONLY shortcoming I can recall from our week-long stay in a 1BR in the summer of 2003. Although I've never been to prison, I would suspect they use the same exact style!! (I'll bet Martha Stewart went BONKERS over this lacking amenity!). The non-brand type used is HORRIBLE, especially the "tissues", I could actually SEE the shaved "wood" FIBERS!!!

I love Charmin brand ...and will definitely remember to "BOOTP" (Bring our own toilet paper) on our next visit to the CR 14th floor!! Thanks for making me laugh, and bringing a RAY of SUNSHINE to this overcast monday morning!

DF99

 

[*Susan*]

dreamflight99: LOL! BOOTP should be on the list of approved DIS acronyms!

sdlipton: I'm right down the road from you in Fairfield. DH & I both graduated from Sac State.

 

[sdlipton]

sdlipton: I'm right down the road from you in Fairfield. DH & I both graduated from Sac State.

Susan,
Thats awesome. My future DF-inlaw graduated from Sac State and My DF(fiance) is starting there next fall after she finishes at ARC. DId you fly from Sacramento? WHich Airline? Did you fly through Dallas or direct? How was the flight? Golly.. this is awesome.

 

[Stiff]

"My allergies were bothering me and the tissue was so rough on my nose."


be thankful you are complaining about your nose...I had a stomach flu the first couple days

 

[*Susan*]

stiff: yes I know it could have been worse! Stomach flu would just be awful on vacation.

sdlipton: We flew American out of Sac and stopped in Dallas both ways. The flight was OK, but I really hate wasting an entire day traveling so we decided that next time we are going to take a non stop (we'd likely have to leave out of SFO or San Jose, but it might be worth it). We left for Sac Airport at 5am but didn't get into the CR until after 9 pm! It's really too long of a day when you are anxious to get your vacation started!

We have traveled there both from SFO and Oakland before, but never a non stop. On our honeymoon we did a red eye to Miami followed by a puddle jumper to Orlando - never again!