need help on resort

[christa2766]

This is our first visit to DW. We have been going to DL my entire life and this is the first venture to the other side. I am so confused about resorts. After numerous changes we settled on CR with a garden view. After reading all the reviews I am getting very nervous. When in DL we always stay at GC or DH. I just looked up my dates and see that for a few hundred more we can stay at WL at club level. WHAT DO WE DO? I want my husband to be impressed so he will be willing to come back. My kids will be happy wherever but I am getting worried about all the bad reviews for CR. Any help or suggestions are appriciated.

 

[pam775]

We stayed at WL in April/May of 06 and I thought it was amazing. It is a beautiful setting and we only want to stay there when we go back to Disney. We saw the actual lodge in Yellowstone last summer and Disney did a great job recreating it. As far as the rooms, it's fine. A hotel room for us is somewhere to sleep and get ready.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I have never stayed club level or at Contemporary. BUT my best friend tells me all the time that the Contemporary w/ a theme park view either club level or not is always their preferred place to stay.

Hope that helps

 

[mickeynut1]

We've never stayed at the CR, but we love the WL . We stayed WL club level (4 years ago but it has been updated since) and we loved it . The resort itself is beautiful; I think it's well worth the extra money . You can't go wrong staying there, IMO

 

[bleeps]

Are you traveling with any children? IMHO, the two biggest pluses for CR are that you can walk to MK (and so with little ones this can be a big help) and that the California Grill (seems similar to Napa Rose at DL, but I'm basing that on a tv show and not direct experience at NR!) is right in the building. OK, the third and fourth advantages are the monorail right in the resort (the easiest of all WDW transportation options) and indeed the rooms with the MK view.

All that being said, if you aren't traveling with kids, WL is a much more "Disney Experience" kind of resort -- really and truly a destination in and of itself. Artists Point restaurant is lovely (but not as special as CG) and the boat transportation here is the nice touch.

I've stayed at and loved both resorts for different reasons (also been to Poly and returning for second time to Yacht Club in oct.), but if it is an adults' trip and the point is to fall in love with WDW, then that would tip it in favor of WL.

 

[2vets]

Hi, Christa -

I have stayed at both DH and GC in DL. As you probably already know, WL and AKL are both quite similar to GC in layout - they are both amazing. Since you have stayed at GC, I might opt to stay somewhere that doesn't remind you of DL!! It would be a shame to be in the WL comparing it to the GC!

Since you are looking at CR or WL, I am assuming that the extra transportation (aside from buses alone) is a factor in your decision, and you've mentioned cost, so that seems to be, as well. I think that CR is a nice hotel, and the access to MK is unparalleled - you can walk there. Plus, the monorail running through the resort is pretty neat! That said, the theming is not my favorite, I prefer Poly (I have yet to stay at the GF b/c my husband isn't into it), but it tends to be a bit more $.

It's been a little while since I've stayed at the CR, but... it is very nice, sounds like even more so since the refurbishment. UOG's descriptions of the new rooms sound amazing!! It kind of makes me think of DH a bit - in that this hotel to me represents an old-time Disney hotel. This is where we used to stay as little kids when my parents would take us to WDW. The rooms are bigger than the DH (and GC, I think), and the bathrooms are comparatively huge. The only thing I'd say is - if you can, you might consider getting a MK view!! Regardless, I think you will enjoy it. And I suspect your husband will be quite impressed.

Don't forget that there are always going to be bad reviews for any hotel you choose - sometimes the hotels just plain stink, but I think that at WDW, big issues tend to be more of a one-off/individual thing.

You are going to have an absolute blast - I am an East Coast-er who moved to CA, and I love DL, but WDW is unbelievably huge in comparison - really an amazing thing to see. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts when you get back the the "left" coast.

 

[christa2766]

Thanks to all of you for the reply. I have heard good reviews on both hotels but most say the at CR the magic kingdom view is the way to go. Views don't matter to me so I don't want to spend the xtra money. I guess my real concern is that it is that in all the rating th CR is last while the WL is first. I just don't want to go with high hopes just to be let down. We are going to the pirate party the night we arrive and that was another reason I chose the CR, so that we would be close. Is the pool there nice? Again, any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[TJA]

CR and WL are very different resorts, so maybe make a priority list of what is most important to your family (easiest access to MK? pool? restaurants? relaxing resort or "in the middle of it all") and also look at a lot of pictures of both resorts and you'll see how different they are. CR is busy, magical, has the "middle of it all" feeling to it. WL is very relaxing and "lodgy." If you are set on the monorail but unsure about CR, then take a look at Poly. Poly has a relaxed feeling to it like WL does.

 

[momtobrynncess]

Thanks to all of you for the reply. I have heard good reviews on both hotels but most say the at CR the magic kingdom view is the way to go. Views don't matter to me so I don't want to spend the xtra money. I guess my real concern is that it is that in all the rating th CR is last while the WL is first. I just don't want to go with high hopes just to be let down. We are going to the pirate party the night we arrive and that was another reason I chose the CR, so that we would be close. Is the pool there nice? Again, any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated!

Having stayed at both, I would agree with the last posting person and make a list of what matters most to you. CR is our fav, but each has "pro's and con's IMHO. (Although CR has fewer cons IMO).

Convenience of CR (being on the monorail and being able to walk to MK) is HUGE for us, and we are very much "view" people, and convenience people. We enjoy the convenience of being on the monorail. The atmosphere at CR, and as the previous post said, the feeling of being in the middle of it all is really there for us at CR.
Pool - At CR, not anything amazing, just okay. But we spend most of our time in the parks anyway. The little time we spend in the pool, CR pool is fine for us. I will say though, having spent time in the WL pool, it is VERY NICE>.

CR has undergone some MAJOR renovations. The rooms are WONDERFUL, and the lobby is gorgeous. But, so is WL. Very different themes though. We are glad we tried WL, but still prefer CR. That said, at CR, we prefer the tower, either view. MK view or Bay Lake View. The tower costs more money, but to us, it is well worth being in the main building.

Hope this helps, and doesn't serve to create more questions.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The Contemporary rooms are amazing no matter if it's in the Tower or Garden Wing. As for the pool others may not like it because it does not have a huge theme like the Volcano poool at the Polynesian, or SAB at the Yacht Club, Beach Club and Beach Club Villas. However my family and I don't rank how a pool looks at the top of our priority list when choosing a WDW Resort.

Also not sure if this would make a difference in your decision but all the guest rooms at the Contemporary come with a computer and a thing called Online Concierge. It's a program where you can request things from housekeeping, get bell services and etc. Plus it also comes with free internet access, so no needing to pay the $9.99 for 24 hours.

 

[lats118]

We've stayed at both CR and WL and much prefer the WL for its atmosphere and theme. Also I'd have to agree with previous posts that compare the CR with DH and the WL with GC. So, even though the WL is our preferred hotel, I'm going to suggest the Poly for your trip. You'll still have the convenience of the being on the monorail, but you'd have an entirely different experience from what you've previously had at DL. The theme of the Poly just doesn't exist in any DL resort, so if I were you, I'd try something completely different and explore staying at the Polynesian.

 

[mmmears]

If you really like the GC, the WL is the way to go (except that you lose a bit on the transportation side). The theming of the CR is more like the DH in CA. I think the WL is even prettier than the GC (which is where we usually stay at DL) because the views from the hotel and pool area make you feel you are really "away from it all" compared to the busy LA views from the GC. In WDW, we haven't stayed at the WL because we wanted to be on the monorail, but we wanted a "themed" resort and stayed at the GF (unfortunately it is pricier).

If you prefer theming and dont mind a little more inconvenience with travelling around the world, then a club-level WL room would be great -- and you get some extra perks that way. Otherwise, the rooms at the CR do look beautiful and I have heard that they are larger than most rooms in WDW.

These 2 resorts are so different to me -- one is modern and in the center of the action and the other is woodsy and remote. I would choose whatever theme you prefer.

Good luck deciding -- we have such a hard time that we usually end up staying in 2 resorts instead of one.

 

[stacy6552]

psst. Don't forget, there is massive construction going on at the CR.

Its been a million years since we've stayed at the Disneyland hotel, but fromt what i remember, I'd equate that to the CR and the WL to the GC, which have more wow factor IMHO. Of the 2 I'd recommend the WL.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

psst. Don't forget, there is massive construction going on at the CR.

If the OP is planning to vist WDW between June 1st and August 13th, the only thing that might effect a stay at the Contemporary will be the renovation of the Concourse Steakhouse into Chef Mickey's Express. If it's after August 14th which is when Chef Mickey's Express is set to open the construction happening outside where the North Garden Wing use to be, has 100% no effect on anyone who stays at the Contemporary.

 

[Atchley]

I would look into the Poly. Monorail and boat to MK, great pool, Great view across the lake. We are staying at WL in July. It looks amazing too. I don't think either way you could go wrong. CR with a tower room with MK view I think is the only way I would like to stay at CR. Pool is just a regular pool basically.