LIVE from the Contemporary

[Genieswife]

We are on the second floor ...(there is no 4th floor) and yes I can confirm along with CR Resort Fan 4 Life that this is where the laundry room is ...No coins needed. You just swipe your room key to operate the dryer and washers, as well as to purchase soaps! Very convenient! They have about 7 dryers and 7 washers. We have never found them to be all full, always plenty of space. there is a TV in the laundry room with closed captioning turned on

Hope this helps someone.

We will be at CR in Feb and this will be our 1st time there. Quick question, when you swipe your card, is it charging your room? What if you don't want it to? One more question. Have you walked to MK yet? Just wondering how long of a walk it was. We also booked a GW/GV room

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We are on the second floor ...(there is no 4th floor) and yes I can confirm along with CR Resort Fan 4 Life that this is where the laundry room is ...No coins needed. You just swipe your room key to operate the dryer and washers, as well as to purchase soaps! Very convenient! They have about 7 dryers and 7 washers. We have never found them to be all full, always plenty of space. there is a TV in the laundry room with closed captioning turned on

Hope this helps someone.

Then there have been updates to the laundry room since last December when we were there! OMG! This is like a huuuuge thing for me! Last year the machines were still the regular coin operated ones. The dryers had some serious issues and the room in general was so poorly ventilated. We normally can dry our clothes in those types of commercial dryers in 1 maybe 1 and a half of the 30 minute cycles. Last year it was taking more than 2 restarts just to get everything semi-dry. Once we got all the dryers running it would heat up that little room so much. It was like a freakin' sauna. We made our boys stand in the hall holding the door open just to try and get some air in there. I hope what you said means they've done something about the machines. I don't like to pack a ton of clothes and our trips are 9 nights. I generally do laundry at least once if not twice. Thanks!!!!

 

[Echo queen]

Hmm - Let me see....Keep in mind..we are in a standard garden view room so the config of the Tower rooms might be different.

When you enter there are two closets in the hall to your right....I suppose you could hang your over the door hanger there. The doors in the bathroom are sliding doors so you would not be able to hang it there. However there IS a towel hanger on the wall that goes all the way up to the ceiling. Its like a ladder...made out of chrome (for that contemp look) I suppose you could hang your over the door hanger there in the bathroom as well.

Hope that helps!

We will be staying in garden wing prefferd so it should be the same config as your room. The closet door sounds fine. I am packing right now, so excited. Have you seen the dream team yet?

 

[mikkiwikki]

We will be staying in garden wing prefferd so it should be the same config as your room. The closet door sounds fine. I am packing right now, so excited. Have you seen the dream team yet?

We have not seen the dream team yet!

Oh well..tomorrow we fly Home and I will start uploading the over 900+ pics and food reviews! stay tuned!

We went to the MK today it was awesome...they were supposed to be taping regis and cathy lee...but it didnt start until around 3pm...so we had the park empty until that time...it was really great! we walked onto all the rides with no wait! I guess they start the full taping tomorrow...but we will be gone by then..that is when they open it up to florida residents for free. We experienced that last year... no thanks glad we will be missing that!

More tomorrow...if I make it home haha

 

[mikkiwikki]

We will be at CR in Feb and this will be our 1st time there. Quick question, when you swipe your card, is it charging your room? What if you don't want it to? One more question. Have you walked to MK yet? Just wondering how long of a walk it was. We also booked a GW/GV room

Yes it is charging your room.. I dont know what other option you could have?

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Cool!
I was live last time around that I went to disney. It was really fun to post on sites what I did that day

 

[WDWmemories]

Thank you for mentioning that the Contemporary has internet access. I always wonder if Disney resorts have internet, so it is good to know at least this one does. A good excuse to post your Disney World pictures in your live trip report Ah, but you can always do that from home. While you are there, enjoy the magic!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Ok Im back and its SOOO sad.



Im having a little bit of a hard time getting starting on my trip report due to my post partum disneyitis....so please be patient!

Ive updated the first post of this thread with the relevant details of my trip that I previously left out when I was toooo busy having fun at Disney.

Here come the Pics! No really I mean it this time!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Ok - so I had some technical difficulties. Im ready! finally - and NOW it looks like all my readers have abandonded me - WELLl FINE!! Be that way!!!....I don't require readers anyways...I will just sit over here, and pout, and write my very own little trip report just for myself.

I don't need any readers. Hmm... Seriously I hope someone reads this.

Ok but otherwise I will just post for my own guilty pleasure...

So here i go (finally)

Our family has been traveling to WDW on Thanksgiving for the past 3 years.
2008 makes it the fourth (and last) year in a row - Not because we didnt have a blast - because we did - but because my Husband's work schedule is going to change which will no longer permit the Turkey day trek to Disney - boo hoo!

Anyways - Onwards and Forwards...

Day one - Arrival Day! 11/25/08

We left a COLD wintery NewEngland to arrive at MCO...fairly overcast....enroute to >>> Pop Century !!!! <<<

First after our uneventful NONStop - JetBlue plane ride -
(note intent daughter sporting the kewl JetBlue headphones)

We jump on our Magical Express Bus a few pics - Note my sons exceptionally artistic Pop shirt.... I made it myself...He's checking out the pixie dust on the ME seats. Sparkly!!

Looking at video

Magical Express Whisks us to Pop with such ease - (as they have on the past three trips) that I find myself wondering why anyone would pay to travel from MCO. but I digress.

We as a family have NEVER stayed at a value resort before and this is our first attempt AND WE ARE VERY NERVOUS. Let me just say that this resort eliminated any worry of us ever NOT choosing this category of hotels again. We LOVED POP.

We find our room

 

[OhMari]

I didn't know you stayed at POP.
We stayed there one nite, and my dh told me it was "sensory overload".
I actually thought POP rooms were cleaner than POR.

And, I'm here.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Great pictures so far, I can't wait to see the rest of them.

 

[mikkiwikki]

We decide to take a cab over to CAli Grill for my wonderfully planned 5:30pm
dinner ressie (they open at 5:30)...its a perfect time with younger children.

So we go to the 14th floor and meet the receptionist - who checks her list to ensure that we are not great big FAKERS - imposters - posers...- insert some other hip word here. We are NOT - I say to her - we made this ressie like a YEAR ago...ring us in please! And thankfully she finds our ressie with ease...and is very pleasant and kind, and shows us up to our floor - floor 15!! Did I mention its gorgeous up there.

And whilst they are getting our table ready we are shown to the lounge for a drink - this is our view

Hubby perusing the menu.

What will we order - what wonderous deserts await? I have lots of pics of this meal but am at work and will post when I get home
(wanted to post something before I lost any and all readship!) Stay tuned.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We decide to take a cab over to CAli Grill for my wonderfully planned 5:30pm
dinner ressie (they open at 5:30)...its a perfect time with younger children.

So we go to the 14th floor and meet the receptionist - who checks her list to ensure that we are not great big FAKERS - imposters - posers...- insert some other hip word here. We are NOT - I say to her - we made this ressie like a YEAR ago...ring us in please! And thankfully she finds our ressie with ease...and is very pleasant and kind, and shows us up to our floor - floor 15!! Did I mention its gorgeous up there.

And whilst they are getting our table ready we are shown to the lounge for a drink - this is our view

Hubby perusing the menu.

Those pictures look amazing.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Those pictures look amazing.

WOW! I just posted those pics!

You are super speeeedy!


We start out this trip at pop then transfer to Contemp in 5 days....I have some great CR room pics coming up...but Im trying to stay in sequence. this meal gives us a flavor of what is to come though at the contemporary!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Ugh - I TELL YOU! Work really gets in the way of my DISSIN

NOW - where was I ?!?!

Oh yes - Daughter & son are loving the view.

I tried to take a picture of the menu but failed miserably

So here is the menu from allears
http://allears.net/menu/menu_cg.htm

Then the waiter came over and spread a little pixie dust
Hubby thought this was very cute.

We are quickly shown to our table and the food starts to arrive...Hooray!
There was bread and Olive Oil to start - which we thought the oil was a bit tangy tasting. Not bad, just tangy.

FIRST COURSE
I ordered "Hearts of Romaine with Roasted Garlic Dressing, Marinated Anchovies, Olives, Aged Parmesan and Croutons $9" This was very good, the olives were salty but not overly so. a nice compliment. to the dressing.

A quick pic of the bread/oil

My husband started with the
Yellowfin Tuna Three Ways - Poki, Tartare, and Tataki $20

My husband said this was amazing. He loved it.
The wasabi was super fresh and had "a great dry heat" as my husband put it and we love sushi, and know good wasabi. He mentioned the 'Poki'? The Tuna with the green caviar on top....he said was so good - " I could have eaten a bucketload of it" His words not mine ":laugh:. The tuna tartare was a first for him, on the upper right in this pic. He said it was ok would try it again. He liked the Tataki at the bottom better than the tartare.

Overall a smashing success.

the kids were just drawing at this point and hadn't received any food.

MAIN COURSE
I had the Yoshie's Deluxe Sushi Platter - Maki and Nigiri $24
I really loved the salmon - super fresh, and tuna. The white fish was my least favorite. The sushi wrapped with rice paper was a nice change as well.
Everything was excellent.

My husband had the
Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Boniato Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Haricot Vert and Teriyaki Barbeque Sauce $41

(however it wasnt haricot Vert - it was brocollini - we saw this everywhere down there)

My daughter ordered the steak from the kids meal -
"Oak Fired Rib Steak with Yukon gold potatoes and seasonal vegetables $11.00" This was the only thing we did not like about this - it tasted burnt - charcoal flavored, and charred in places. My daughter really didnt like it. We probably should have mentioned it to the waiter, but she was happy with the green beans and potatoes.

My son got the mac and cheese - He REALLY liked this and ate almost all of it. I was worried when it came out that It might be too dry ...or he might not like the texture of the noodles, but he scarfed it down. Excuse the piece of sushi on the side...He wanted to try some of mine and then decided it wasnt for him.

Then for desert - They surprised us by bringing this out for free for my daughter@! It was excellent so it way made up for the kinda overcooked inedible kids steak (which I guess I really should have sent back- i think i was focused on my excellent sushi)

Hubby got "The Original" - The California Grill's legendary butterscotch creme brulee with a duo of banana cakes, and caramelized bananas $10.00
He said it was perfect- sweet but not overly so. very tasty - kinda blurry pic.

I got the Apple TArt - I remember it being very warm and just fabulous. It was a pastry with apple /cinnamon and sugary syrup ...just great.

My son got vanilla ice cream

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

All that food looks so good.

 

[Dawn68PA]

What a wonderful glimpse into the California Grill! We are very excited to eat here on our next trip!

 

[mikkiwikki]

What a wonderful glimpse into the California Grill! We are very excited to eat here on our next trip!

Thanks Dawn - You will LOVE it there
It was hands down one of the best meals of our trip!

We took a cab back to Pop after dinner.

(I promise Ill get to the Contemp review soon )

We were so happy that we had no neighbors at POP and it was really quiet, so we got a great nights sleep. We went to bed early because we were wiped, out. Tomorrow is EPCOT with the Flying Fish Cafe for dinner!!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Now I spend a fair amount of time planning our trips...after multiple changes around where we were going to travel on this date, we finally settled on Epcot, because my kids - after 3 trips decided that the big golf ball park was kinda special, and wanted to go there first! Much to my surprise.

My daughter was DYING to go on soaring again, and had been pleading for weeks - while my son just wanted to go on spaceship earth. Little did he know that it had been completely remodeled since the last time he went.

Now my kids were so excited they were up before the sunrise. Literally. It was 5am...iM NOT KIDDING. My daughter was so excited there was no calming her down.

I tried to take pity on my husband, and somehow got my son to go back to sleep. But I decided I too couldnt sleep, so I dressed threw on a baseball cap and head out the door with dear daughter and our recently purchased YOMD muggs to get the room coffee and some breakfast goodies. So I drag dear daughter out into the darkened night (much to her delight)

HOWEVER I was to discover that the food court doesnt open until 6:00am.

SIgh...WHAT TO DO....I decided to head to the lobby, where I found other guests in a similar predicament :smile: Luckily the TV room was open - so we hung out there until the food court opened. here are some pics. Note the BLACK sky outside the windows. yes it was that early.

I just loved this cartoon room so bright and cheery. The kids loved it!

You can see my YOAMD mugs on the floor as I stumble around trying not to fall asleep.

Check out the cool decorations!

We get to the food court get the breakfast goodies - back to the room ...all the while daughter slowing my down pointing out all the things that catch her eye (and there are a ton at pop) We dress - and bus it...off to EPCOT...blurry pic leaving POP for Epcot.

 

[Echo queen]

How's the weather? thanks