New Contemporary renovations?

[mitros]

OK, found this elsewhere on a different Disney website. Anyone else hear about it? They are supposed to be giving the Contemporary resort a major makeover. Some sort of a new look with white, blonde wood and glass being major components which would include all public areas, rest rooms, and convention space. It also said that the game room/snack bar was going to be moved to the concourse, and the Concourse Steak house was going down stairs. This would supposedly have taken 3 years, but Eisner liked the idea and wants it done in a quicker time frame, like about a year. Is this another one of those rumors that has been kicking around for years, and all of a sudden resurfaced, or is this some new information? Or some more total BS?

 

[mochabean]

Saw this blurb on orlandosentinel.com:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-calchow07_dnch010705jan07,1,3491923.story

The Hound has learned that Disney's Contemporary Resort is headed for a complete overhaul, including the top floor, top-notch California Grill. New York designer Jeffery Beers has been tapped to do the redo. Designs are still in the wishful-thinking phase, so nothing has been sketched out. You can, however, say good-bye to the Jetsons-era lobby -- that was so last century. And I hear that besides doing the existing restaurants, which also include Concourse Steakhouse and Chef Mickey's don't-call-it-a-buffet buffet, Disney's culineers are planning a new restaurant to join the dinner lineup. Think something more for adults but without Paris Hilton attached. More details later.

 

[Lebjwb]

It is getting a much needed overhaul. I was there in November.

It was awful.

The staff...great.

The resort...hideous.

The decor of the rooms and the public space was ghastly. Outdated and worn. The color and design combos was something out of a bad acid trip.

 

[mochabean]

I just hope they don't remove the Mary Blair mural, although I'm worried. It's the last large-scale one left since DL partially destroyed their two.

A redesign of the lobby and the concourse area, including the monorail station, would be welcome. Because of the way the monorail station is situated, the concourse is effectively cut in half, and there is lots of wasted space that surely could be better utilized.

 

[MPLsDad]

Sadly, my opinion is that the mural will be history. I hope that I am wrong though as I always love looking for the goat with 5 legs...

 

[WDWHound]

I was forturnate enough to spend one night on the concierge level of the Contemp at the end of November. The guy manning the Concierge desk told us about these plans, but I decided not to post it here at the time, knowing how unreliable rumors from Disney cast members can be.

What he told me was that they were going for a very sleek, technological look like that now seen in Japan and some parts of Europe. He mentioned there would be flat screens built into the walls and a remote to control the room's features (curtains, temperature, etc) . The goal is to make the Contempory contemporary again. He said they would close one side of the tower at a time while the work was being done. This means it may be very hard to get a tower Ressie at the Contemp over the next few years since it will be at 50% capacity

He also said that the rumors were true about a Contemporry DVC and to expect at least some of the garden wings to be torn down to make room for it.

 

[hAm53]

maybe the new dining place will be similar to the old "top of world" with some lounge acts while you eat. if i remember there use to be some big time acts there.

 

[Theultimateparkhoppe]

maybe the new dining place will be similar to the old "top of world" with some lounge acts while you eat. if i remember there use to be some big time acts there.

Hey Cal.. Grill is my favorite rest in Disney

Yes I remember the top of the world (only for the character breakfasts though)

So I hope it stays in it current location

DVC for me

 

[wdw4us2]

I just hope they don't remove the Mary Blair mural, although I'm worried. It's the last large-scale one left since DL partially destroyed their two.

I am also very concerned about this. It seems that when Disney updates the Theme Parks now, no consideration is given to the historical significance of what is being replaced. Just look what they did to Mary's mural at DL.

 

[Luv2Roam]

What is the tent for that is in front of the Cont now?
At first I thought it had something to do with the marathon. But that would have been removed by now I would think.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Anyone know when all this work is due to start? We have Tower ressies for September.

Thanks
Mandy

 

[sotoalf]

I am also very concerned about this. It seems that when Disney updates the Theme Parks now, no consideration is given to the historical significance of what is being replaced. Just look what they did to Mary's mural at DL.

I couldn't agree more. There's a big chunk of Disney history (and a big chunk of my childhood) represented by the Contemporary. Disney has a real talent for effacing its own history. Witness the closing of the Walt Disney Story.

 

[DrBond007]

The contemporary really needs to be updated, historical significance or not.



"May God Bless this wonderful day for democracy."

 

[amybowles9]

The Cont. really needs a new look my DH thought it was a bad Holiday Inn.

Of course I can not afford to stay there anyway, but the way it looks now I don't know that I would really want to--kind of depressing.

 

[phillybeth]

What is the tent for that is in front of the Cont now?
At first I thought it had something to do with the marathon. But that would have been removed by now I would think.

Convention groups use it. One night last week they had pool tables, dart boards etc in there.

 

[freediverdude]

They better not remove the Mary Blair mural. And I want the character voices back in the elevators too. But if they want to make the rooms high-tech, and redo the lobby and restaurants again, that's fine.

 

[TwingleMum]

I hope the DVC rumors are true. I better start saving now!!!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I couldn't agree more. There's a big chunk of Disney history (and a big chunk of my childhood) represented by the Contemporary. Disney has a real talent for effacing its own history. Witness the closing of the Walt Disney Story.

Didn't they move the Walt Disney Story to MGM? I walked through an attraction that showcased Walt Disney's life and his career. Wasn't that it? Or has it been closed since October?

 

[Jamesbyr]

The exhibit at MGM is different from what used to be in MK. It has more material than the earlier presentation. I had thought it was a temporary thing, but it is still there. Good thing too, as you need to go through it several times, or go really slowly to resist being moved from one section to the next before you have absorbed all the details.

 

[TSR6]

The contemporary renovation is going to be spread out over a couple years. As of when I was there, they had two rooms done up as the "model rooms." I think it was in the north wing?

When your walking down the hall, all of a sudden you have two rooms that the doors look totally different than the rest - Those are the model rooms.

I can't remember the dates I was given about the renovation, but I do remember that it's gunna be a somewhat slower process.