My review of the Contemporary

[Tinks]

This review started to get long so I'll sum it up here and you can read if you want!

Pros: 1. We walked to the MK. It's a great walk both
ways. Much nicer than waiting for buses, monorails
or boats!
2. The view form our room.
3. The bathroom layout.

Cons: 1. This one I could not get over. The resort is dirty!
The floors were constantly dirty and never looked
like they vacuumed. The walls were worn and dinged.
It really needs an improvement.
2. The resort is busy and loud.(see below)
3. The room. (see below)



We stayed at the Contemporary Friday Jan 9 - Wednesday Jan 14th. We arrived to check-in around 8:00 Friday night. The lobby is not impressive at all. I had to stop and look around at first to make sure I was in the lobby because it was that non-descript. We've stayed at the CBR, Wilderness Lodge, GF, and Poly. That's what I have to compare against. The ceiling is low for a lobby and the colors are pretty bland. (I do realize it is an older resort! I'm just trying to describe it!) There is a statue of Walt and Mickey...but not grand. The check in line was long! We waited for a good 20 minutes before we were able to check-in. Our room was on the 11th floor facing Bay Lake. I was glad to be up so high. The view was very nice. I also thought the bathroom layout was good. Beyond that I didn't like our room.

The room doesn't have a tv armoire like some other resorts...it has a low, long dresser with about 6 small drawers to put your stuff away and one cabinet with 2 shelves for ???? We put our camcorder in it. My husband was laughing because there was no place to put our keys out of reach of our 21 month old except on top of our tv which sits on top of the dresser piece.

The resort was also busy and loud. The quickie food center was smack dab with the arcade. To enter the arcade you have to go through the Food'n'Fun center.... which is fine if you're going to the arcade...but if you want a nice quick sit down breakfast you have to listen to the sounds of the arcade and the sounds of your kids wanting to go to the arcade...ugh! It gave me a headache!

Overall I did not care for this resort and won't stay here again. I prefer something a bit more relaxing and a LOT more clean.
Don't let this report frighten you away...many people seem to love the Contemporary. I think overall it is not my style or taste! Hope this helps someone choose for their trip!

 

[jaguar9748]

I so agree. Our stay at the Contemporary has been our worst to date. I highly recommend the Yacht Club. We stayed there over Christmas and everything was wonderful!!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We did not like the CR either. Just wasn't for us. The lobby had a funny smell that we talked about every time we went through it.

 

[2minny]

I stayed at the Contemporary on business and was not impressed at all, I was glad it wasn't MY money

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy it. We stayed there a few years ago, and I really loved the resort.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

That's too bad. But this is why Disney has created so many different places to stay. I LOVE the Contemporary but unlike so many people on this board you could not pay me to stay at POR again, absolutley hated it. You'll find your Disney home.

 

[Simba0319]

I used to stay at the CR when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of it there I keep trying to get back there but for 1 reason or another we always end up staying somewhere else. I was planning on staying there for our November trip but frankly I am not so sure. The pictures show the tower rooms are downright ugly but can you beat the MK view at night?

 

[Tinks]

I am so glad someone else noticed the smell! The whole resort smelled like pizza to me....all the time....it got old real fast! As a matter of fact I hated coming back to this resort after a day in the parks because of the smell! I thought I was crazy

I do have a "disney" favorite resort: the Polynesian I won't be trying another one for along time!!!

 

[2minny]

still searching for my disney "home", can't wait to find it...haven't tried enough to know, but I'll know when I find it I'm sure!

 

[BambiTamby]

Here I just changed my ressies from AAA rate for Poly GV concierge for AP rate for the CR Tower!!!!

We've done all the deluxes except for the CR, and I thought this would be a neat treat!

Now....what do I do??????

 

[epcotfan]

I quite enjoyed my stay at the Contemporary. It is the one resort I felt was worth every penny. The location can't be beat and the mousekeeping was excellent. In my experience I thought it was one of the tidiest resorts and most relaxing resorts I've stayed at. If you do a search on any Disney resort you are bound to find pros and cons.

 

[cinmell]

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Contemporary. We've always had wonderful stays at this resort. We were last there in May and the resort was clean and we didn't notice any smells at all, except the smell of the food from Chef Mickeys. We love the size of the rooms and they've always been clean. The view from the MK tower room is unbelievable and the location is unbeatable. Noise wasn't a factor at all being in the tower. As soon as we entered our room, we couldn't hear any noise coming from below in the concourse.

Have a good day everyone and keep warm!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
Here I just changed my ressies from AAA rate for Poly GV concierge for AP rate for the CR Tower!!!!

We've done all the deluxes except for the CR, and I thought this would be a neat treat!

Now....what do I do??????

How many days will you be there? If it's not long then give CR a chance because maybe you will have a different opinion. If you're staying at least 4-5 nights how about trying CR for the first 2 nights and then moving over to another resort? Other than packing up your stuff, it's not hard to move to another onsite resort.

We stayed at CR once--my husband was on business. I loved the closeness to the MK and I thought the rooms were nice. I can't say that I would stay again, but I'm glad that we tried it out.

T&B

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

It amazes me how this Disney masterpiece is often called "dated, cold and dirty" and things like it. This was WALT'S original! This was basicly his dream, this one resort. It reflected the future as seen is his eyes, and it truly is a great resort. Everyone needs to try this resort once. I'd love to return to the resort, that's how much I enjoyed my stay. Bambi---give the place a try!

 

[Wendi]

I have friends that just stayed there for their "First" trip and loved it. There boys absolutely LOVED the arcade, and the view
from the balcony could not be better.

I think depending on our moods, events that might happen getting there and just all around circumstances but, we could all find "Something" wrong with every Resort. It's like trying on clothes, you keep looking and looking for that right pair of jeans and then when you find them~you keep going to the store and buy more of those jeans. Once we find our little "Nitch" we tend to stay with it. Face it, with the THOUSANDS of people that are in and out of each resort we can always find thing in need of repair or repaint.

I would say TRY IT! You might like it. I have to admit I found the restroom area at Chef Mickey's Dirty and the floor was greasy, but I loved the rest. Just keep trying and each of us will find our own little "Piece" or "Place" of heaven.

Have a great day.

8 1/2 days and I am "Home at the GF"

 

[sotoalf]

To those people who rush to defend the Contemporary, let them pause and think for a second.

Yes, the resort is dated and sterile. It follows an architectural design popular in the early to mid 1970's - the Marriott Marquis in Times Square has always reminded me of the Contemporary, and it was built at the same time. This was Disney's conception of a modern, "contemporary" resort hotel, and while its themelessness might annoy people, I prefer it to the gaudy, vulgar designs of the Pop Century or All Star hotels.

I've stayed at the Contemporary twice and have visited, eaten, and drank at the hotel more times than I can count. It's still a first-class establishment even with the long check-ins. But I will agree that its appeal is basically nostalgia.

I know exactly what smell you mean: you smell it as you dismembark the monorail. Except it's not pizza. I call it a beguiling mix of French toast, carpet shampoo, and monorail exhaust. I don't find it gross at all. Every hotel has its aroma.

I'm not crazy about the Food & Fun Center because it does get loud, but that's the case at every resort's casual restaurant. What makes it worse at the Contemporary is the cavernous architecture, which ensures that the din echoes.

The rooms are the biggest on property, but also the tackiest. It's "contemporary," I suppose, but the clashing colors leave a lot to be desired.

This is a fair, objective review.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
Here I just changed my ressies from AAA rate for Poly GV concierge for AP rate for the CR Tower!!!!

We've done all the deluxes except for the CR, and I thought this would be a neat treat!

Now....what do I do??????:

I have heard very bad reviews on every single Disney resort, and I have heard very good reviews on every single resort.

Do your research & take everything with a "grain of salt". Remember, everybody has different expectations. So don't base your decision on just one (either good or bad) review.

If you check into CR & really don't like it, I'm sure Disney will move you (provided there is room).

You will have a wonderful vacation!!!

 

[PamNC]

at the Contemporary in 1999 was okay - I'd say I'm lukewarm about it. The only thing is we were upgraded to a Jr. Suite so I loved that. But, I understand all your points. It is in need of a good spring cleaning. Overall, I liked it fine but I haven't stayed there since. If I got a really really good rate I might do it again for a quick trip...but not for a week long stay.

Can't beat the convenience though and watching the monorail come through.

PamNC

 

[mkymouse4ever]

We have long been an avivid fan of the CR. Countless trips and for 2 weeks at a time. Stayed in the north, south, tower, and club. Have always enjoyed the "big city" feel of the cr. Its part of its magic. lots of people, kids, business convention people. We liked all of its resturant choices, the pool deck and the boats. The magic kingdom view is unparralled, anywhere.

BUT

Last year after so many great trips, we to were taken aback by the poor or lack of housekeeping, and up keep to our room. we had several problems escalading one after another, with disney remebersing me $ for our problems (which they really don't like to do) that's how bad it was.

BUT

Just last night my sister says "do you think" its safe to try the CR again? all those great trips far out weight lasts year fiasco? Or should we buffer it another year? (we did cancel our dec ressie and stayed at poly, also fav).

Not sure what we will decide to do. I know we will eventually return to the CR. We truely enjoy the tackness of the place, noise, & action. Agree with Cali, everyone needs to try it for themselves and decide!

MKY

 

[missypie]

Tinks, how much of your dislike of the resort do you think is attributable to your dislike of the decor of the room? Many of the negative reviews of the CR have focussed on that, which hasn't worried me...we actualy LIKE that type of decor and are decorating a room in similar fashion. But if the resort is dirty and has a smell... I SURE don't want to pay a lot of $$ for that!