Maybe changing my mind about contemporary! other Resorts?

[tjp78]

I have had my mind set on statying at the contemporary for basically 2 reasons (1. i have always wanted to since i went as a kid (2. it just seems so handy to get on the monrail to go to the parks.

I am now starting to wonder if it is not worth the extra $$$ of dollars. If i am to get the far a way garden rooms then i will be walking just to get to the main building anyway. I might as well pay less $$ & stay at another one. I have been looking for discount codes & other discount none available for me yet. We are not members of AAA, or don't have an annual pass neither. I have been reading mousesavers.com daily as well. As well as reading as much as i can on this board also ( you people are the greatest)

What other resorts are okay for a family of 3 with child being 5 years old. I have looked at the pictures & read the listed information about them, but it doesn't seem to give me enough to make a decision. These are some things i am sorta looking for if any of you nice people could give me some ideas i would greatly appreciate it.
1. would like to get room stay & tickets less than $2,500 (a little more would be okay though)
2. Short distance from parks, hoping for walking, or boat preferably would consider small car drive
3. Clean hotel, with friendly service that will help with all disney ??
4. Nice pool, just in case we decide to take a swim


thanks for any help

 

[nygrl]

The walk from the wings to the main buikding takes about a minute dont let that stop you from staying at the cr . it is a great hotel with a great location.i didnt stay in the wings but i know the rooms are exactly the same as the tower the only thing you dont get is a balcony. if you could get a good price i say stay with the cr you wont be sorry!

 

[swilphil]

We have a garden wing reserved for March, and I've read so many great reviews. We've requested a ground floor room, where we will have a patio, which is better with our little ones than a balcony. The North Wing puts you closer to the walkway to MK, which is one of the main reasons we are staying there. You are also close to the pool and playground.

 

[Kimberle]

Look into WL. It's just accross from CR. Our 5 yo (then 4.5) LOVED it (as did we). It is so easy to get to MK. It's also so easy to take the small boat right over to CR & FW. The pools are wonderful. I have pictures of both CR & WL in my links below.

 

[4mykids]

We have stayed at the CR twice; once in the garden wing and once in the tower. Our stay in the tower was shortly after they had remodeled the rooms. I know some think the decor is tacky looking, but we loved them! The rooms are big. Of course the tower was our favorite. We faced the MK and were on the floor just above the monorail. Excellent in terms of short walk. I know a previous post said the garden wings are a short walk to the monorail. We were at the end of the wing closest to the lobby and it was a short walk. However, if you are at the opposite end, it is a trek. I know it is only a matter of minutes, but at the end of a long day in the parks every footstep counts!

We have also stayed at the AKL, BC, BW, Dolphin, SOG, POR, and POFQ. You can save $$ at another resort, but with a 5 year old, you will probably spend much time in MK. The CR is wonderful for that!

Hope some of this helped! Enjoy your trip!

 

[tjp78]

If you don't mind me asking what is your rate on your room, I have been to the disney.com website it keeps telling me about $2100.00 for basic garden room. Does that sound right & what are my chances of getting it cheaper later on.

Also what do you mean the north garden wing is right next to the mk walkway is it real short distance to walk there.

What other hotels are within short walking distance of magic kingdom or even epcot.

 

[rcraw45425]

I was quoted a rate with a code, which you can get from here and mousesavers.com of ~230 a night for April 1, which is peak season. That was for a garden wing room. Also without tax. I don't know where you are located or when you plan to go but last year they ran a special for June for GA residents, I got a garden room for $149 a night. I agree with the above posters abou this resort and Wilderness Lodge being great with kids, we have stayed at CR numerous times and stayed at WL last October. I'd recommend both. As for walking, CR is the only Magic Kingdom one you could walk to. EPCOT has many choices. All of the boardwalk resorts are walkable. The Swan and Dolphin, while not disney owned hotels, have almost all of the Disney amenities (Early entry, transportation to parks) but not the ability to charge everything back to your room on your room card. Great location though and great rates through Dreams Unlimited which is a board sponsor. Let me know if I can give you any advice. I feel like an old pro, kids have been to the world so much!

 

[nygrl]

$2100 for how many nights?? cr is the only resort that you can walk to the mk from. i dont think you can walk to epcot from any resorts but the swan dolphin boardwalk yaht and beach clup is a short boat ride.

 

[4mykids]

You can walk to Epcot from BC, YC, BW, and S/D. We had a wonderful room at the BC where it was quicker to walk to Epcot than to the boat dock!

 

[tjp78]

$2100 for 6 nights, I have been looking for a code but have not saw one yet. Gee i wish i could get it for less that averages out to be about $350 a night thats alot

 

[nygrl]

$350 a night is alot for a wing room. i love the cr but would not pay that for a wing we payed that for a tower concierge room last oct. when are you going if its not for a while i would hold off and see if any specials come out

 

[MommyBoo!]

I saved ten percent at the CR with the AAA membership, it worked out to over $300.00 saved! That more than payed for the membership. But, the discount is not always available. It just worked out for the room we wanted (tower) and the time we're going (Oct.).

 

[tjp78]

we are going june 26-july 2, I thought it seemed alot higher than all the other post i had read,

 

[MommyBoo!]

Oh, and we stayed in the wings before and the walk was not that long. Hope you enjoy your stay wherever you decide on!

 

[nygrl]

i woul look for discounts and specials we booked on a fall special just a month before we were going we just couldnt pass up the rate. maybe they will run a summer special but i think those dates are prime time brecause the schools are already out. good luck if you are flexable with dates maYBE that would help.

 

[eeyore0062]

The Garden wing rooms are no further away than if you stayed in a moderate and had to walk to a bus stop, or food court--- we were staying in the South Garden wing overlooking Bay Lake (great view) and the walk took about 5 minutes, and that included waiting for the elevator to go downstairs. We stayed there a few years back, and to answer your question----YES! It is definitely worth the extra $$$$!

 

[swilphil]

We got a CR garden wing room for $199/night on an AP rate in March, which is peak season. It was worth it to buy one AP to get the discount. Any of the other monorail resorts would probably be more than CR, as would the Disney Epcot area resorts. The Wilderness Lodge would be slightly cheaper than CR, but I found the boat to be too slow, and the woodsy theme doesn't appeal to me.

The most recent code for Feb-April had a wing room at $235. If you go at less crowded times of the year, it will be even cheaper.

 

[swilphil]

Also what do you mean the north garden wing is right next to the mk walkway is it real short distance to walk there.

What other hotels are within short walking distance of magic kingdom or even epcot.

I'm told the walk from CR to MK is 15 minutes. The North Wing may even be a little closer. Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, and Swan/Dolphin are within walking distance from Epcot. Swan/Dolphin may have a good AAA discount for the time you are going.

 

[SamanthaL]

I would continue to watch for discounts as summer codes have not been released. I would recommend the French Quarter for a moderate but there are no moderates where you can walk to the parks. Look into the WL. There is a boat to MK and it is a deluxe that can be less expensive.

 

[LSUDis]

TJP, I understand your dilemma. I stayed at the C.R. my first trip and loved it, but I wanted to stay at Disney longer, so I had to find a cheaper resort.

I got a code the last two years for June that was around $300 a night for a Tower room. If this is something that you have had your heart set on since a child, I would recommend that you make your reservations for the Tower and hope for a code. Seeing the monorail go through is spectacular!

If you do want something cheaper and good for kids, what about the C.B.R.? Each village has its own pool, so that is good for kids. I was skeptical about the buses, too, if that is a worry for you, but they are really good. We never waited very long and they were not crowded. We had a 4 year old and a 6 year. They love the the C.B.R.