Just back from contemporary

[crazy4wdw]

I'm really getting concerned about all of these negitive comments about the CR. I have reservations for the first week of December. I stayed there last year (late Nov. through early Dec.) and didn't have any major problems with the exeception of the bus ride to DD - it was at least a 45 minute ride with stops at the WL, Poly, Grand Flo., and then Typhoon Lagoon. I decided to drive this year so I wouldn't have to depend on bus transportation. I guess I'll wait until 10 days before my arrival date to determine what stage the construction is in before I go.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm really getting concerned about all of these negitive comments about the CR. I have reservations for the first week of December. I stayed there last year (late Nov. through early Dec.) and didn't have any major problems with the exeception of the bus ride to DD - it was at least a 45 minute ride with stops at the WL, Poly, Grand Flo., and then Typhoon Lagoon. I decided to drive this year so I wouldn't have to depend on bus transportation. I guess I'll wait until 10 days before my arrival date to determine what stage the construction is in before I go.

I would have to say the recent negative posts about the Contemporary have to do with the construction going on the 4th floor and how the Food & Fun Center is no longer open. If anyone has kept reading the boards and saw the renovation schedule for the Contemporary they knew what would be going on in terms of renovations. So they either tried to switch Resorts and were not able to, or they decided to keep their reservations and forget what was going on around them. That is not against the OP of this thread or anyone else who has come back with a not so good stay, all I am saying is you had the chance to switch you're reservations however you might have not been able to, or you deciced to keep you're reservations knowing what would be going on.

As for the other issues with housekeeping lacking in service and rude Cast Members there is no excuse for that happening anywhere in WDW, however it is also a problem at the other Resorts and not just at the Contemporary.

Finally it was two months ago when the Polynesian was getting a lot of bad threads about it, however recently there have been a lot more threads about the Polynesian which have been positive. So I am sure the Contemporary will get threw this bad reviews, because there are always going to be fans of it like me who can see there are more positives about it.

 

[cassie714]

I did want to respond due to the fact I am the OP. I have been on these boards for quite a long time and I know this is the best source for information.

But when I made my reservation I was told the only thing that would be closed would be the tennis courts I called about a week before we left and was assured that the temp and go would be equal to the food and fun center. We arrived on Sat the 8th when it was still open and then they closed it the next day.

Disney does have an obligation to be upfront with their guests. If I was not on these boards I would have been absolutely clueless. I will admit I set myself up for disappointment, this was a splurge for our family due to the free dining. I just wanted to let others that did the same thing be aware of the issues.

 

[Mineu]

We're checking into the garden wing on 10/12. Will we have to walk around construction? Will the food & fun center be open by then and if so where will it be? Are the gift shops still open? Thanks!

 

[Spectro is #1]

We now rent a car because if you costed out your vacation by the minute you will be amazed how much the bus will cost you in time.
We only use the bus for MK and use the car to travel to otherparks and other resorts as we mostly eat at the hotels and very raerly eat in the parks.

I remember getting so POed when we first stayed at the WL a deluxe and we had to share busses with other hotels, it took forever!

The busses over at the MK area are the worst!

 

[crazy4wdw]

We're checking into the garden wing on 10/12. Will we have to walk around construction? Will the food & fun center be open by then and if so where will it be? Are the gift shops still open? Thanks!

The Food & Fun Center is closed for good. It's replacement, Tempo Grab & Go, is open on the 4th floor in the Tower. Be aware that its not offering refillable mugs. Bayview gifts on the 4th floor is open. There is a new store which is being constructed in the middle of the concourse which is rumored to open by mid to late November. Here's a link to some recent pics of the activity going on at the CR: http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/allearsteam/2007/09/contemporary_update_1.html

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The Food & Fun Center is closed for good. It's replacement, Tempo Grab & Go, is open on the 4th floor in the Tower.

What you forgot to mention is the location open now on the 4th floor is only temporary, because once the Concourse Steakhouse closes that area will become the brand new counter service location, which would replace the Food & Fun Center.

 

[LoriZH]

Okay the bus situation is about to make me sick I mean we are staying at a deluxe resort with deluxe accomodations, I don't know why Disney is skimping on the buses, the resorts regardless of value season or not, are at capacity due to FD and this should be accomodated.

Well, I am expecting it to be busy, but I am hoping we don't get skimped on the perks we have paid over $400 bucks a night for. We've always had a great stay at the CR, but did have a problem with the buses once before, sorry to hear they haven't done anything about it.

What did you say to the transporation manager, did he say he would rectify the situation? Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Okay the bus situation is about to make me sick I mean we are staying at a deluxe resort with deluxe accomodations, I don't know why Disney is skimping on the buses, the resorts regardless of value season or not, are at capacity due to FD and this should be accomodated.

Well, I am expecting it to be busy, but I am hoping we don't get skimped on the perks we have paid over $400 bucks a night for. We've always had a great stay at the CR, but did have a problem with the buses once before, sorry to hear they haven't done anything about it.

What did you say to the transporation manager, did he say he would rectify the situation? Thanks!

Well one good thing about bus transportation from the Contemporary they are always going to be the 1st Resort to have their guests picked up and dropped off at, so when getting on at the Contemporary you have a good chance of getting seats and going back if you're tired you know that the Contemporary is always the 1st stop.

 

[miler1600]

We were there 8/26 to 8/31. We never took the bus because we had a rental car but we did ride the monorail a lot to magic kingdom and epcot.

The monorail got crowded at times and our stroller is huge but the wait was never long. Also, after the park closed and the monorail and bus lines were really long at the magic kingdom we could just walk back. You can't beat the walk back.

With how much nicer the rooms are plus being able to walk to the magic kingdom we don't feel you can beat the contemporary.

While in town we also stayed at the Portofino (which was awful), the Nick Hotel (great for kids, holiday in rooms with cool walls), and the Grand Hyatt (a really really nice hotel, amazing pool). The Contemporary was still our favorite and that is where we plan on staying when we go back.

I will say though that we ate dinner at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge and the feeling in the lobby of those hotels was so much neater.

Also, the contemporary pool is not that neat. Anyone know if they are going to remodel it?

 

[DebbieTN]

We also just got back from the Contemporary. We got upgraded to the tower since my cousin's scooter wasn't there and she couldn't walk over to the other building. Carl was really great in doing this for us. The room was beautiful and we did watch the fireworks one night from the balcony. We were very dissapointed in the grab and go food. They knew they would be closing the other food court and they should be made better arrangements for a deluxe hotel. The only hot food was a flatbread pizza, which was pretty good. The egg scramble for breakfast was horrible. It was some kind of crust, which was tough and chewy and filled with average scrambled eggs and cheese-you could also get bacon and onion. The only other things they had were pastries, doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies, cold turkey sandwiches, a few salads, fruit cups, candy, small bags of chips, plain bagels, white bread(2 slices in a baggie), and a limited kind of bottled drinks.We also hated that they didn't have the refillable mugs. That's one of our favorite things about the hotels. We did seem to have to wait a long time for buses we went to MGM or AK. It was a nightmare getting back to the hotel one night when there was a bad storm and the Monorail lost power. Everyone at a Monorail hotel had to go to the bus station in the pouring rain and go to the TTC. The electricity was back on by the time we got to the TTC, but it took us 2 hours to get back to the hotel. This trip was a retirement gift for my cousin and she took me. After all is said and done, it was a very nice trip, but I wish we had picked another hotel.

 

[jmkrat]

Sorry about your CR trip, at least they did a little something for you to try and make up for the bad experience. I don't know of any resorts (except maybe AKL) that do not share busses. I believe it is a problem, but I wonder how many people actually complain about the busses to Disney. If no one complains, Disney will assume their system if just fine. I am guilty of never saying anything. It is good you spoke up about what is wrong, it is the only way to get things fixed.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you look at the Resorts which do not share buses with other Resorts it's the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Corondao Springs and Caribbean Beach. I guess you could also include the All Star Resorts, POR/POFQ and Pop Century because if they share it would only be between their own Resorts. Anyway in the case of Animal Kingdom Lodge and Corondao Springs my guess is they don't share because both of them are located away from everything else in a remote location, so WDW must think it's easier to have them not sharing between other Resorts. As for the Caribbean Beach even though it's located in more central area, I think they don't share because they pick up guests at a few locations around the Resort.

As for why the other Deluxe Resorts may share buses I guess since they are located very close to each other WDW thinks by sharing it may cut costs down, so they do it to save money.