New spin on the Contemporary rumor

[Doctor P]

I just got back from a lengthy business trip several thousand miles from WDW and ended up having a very interesting conversation with someone on the trip. I noticed a staff member at my hotel was wearing what appeared to be a really cool Disney pin. So, I made the off hand comment that I thought the pin was really cool and that I was a Disney pin collector. Well, it turns out that this staff member had been a management CM recently at the Contemporary (the person had also worked at several of the other resorts). I mentioned that we were DVC members and the person promptly and without any encouragement said that the word was that the North wing was going to be DVC. I said that rumor had been around for a long time and that I would believe it when I saw it. The response: the CR has been having increasing problems with people trying to "game the system" by getting the cheapest room possible at the CR and then insisting at check-in that they had been promised a tower room. The former CM said that they were really/are really having some guest relations problems with the Garden Wing rooms and that the thought is that if they convert one or both garden wings to DVC then the guest relations problems will be greatly alleviated as the guest will clearly understand that their room will be in a "remote" wing. It will also allow them to keep the resort at higher capacity consistently. Don't know if it will come to fruition, but I thought this was an interesting inside spin.

 

[jnrrt]

That is interesting. I would never have thought of them having that particular problem, but now I can see how that might be. It would have to be really bad, though, for it to influence a decision on whether or not to build a DVC there, I'd think!

 

[Scoootch]

Hmm....that is interesting.

I guess only time will tell

 

[erikthewise]

While I've come to believe there is a lot of truth in the DVC-at-Contemporary rumor, that's the worst reason I've heard yet for doing it!
Thanks for the info though.

 

[beccasmom]

That is interesting! We always stayed in one of the wings on our Contemporary stays back in the 80's and 90's. We preferred them, actually, although it seems to be a minority opinion. As DVC members, this will be an interesting story to watch!

 

[fkj2]

It's been years since I stayed in one of the garden wing rooms and while everyone would be excited for the CR to be a DVC on the monorail, it would be a real hike just to get from the garden wing to the monorail. You could almost leave one of the north wings and walk to the MK by the time you walk to get to the monorail to get to the MK.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Very interesting. It would be great to have DVC at CR. But I love the Tower so I think to be there and not be in the Tower might be disappointing. Hope it happens though. It's nice to have lots of options!

Thanks for sharing.

Mandy

 

[Mickmse2002]

I wonder what the "theme" would be given that the CR isn't all that "contemporary" anymore?

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

What about the rest of the story...did you get the pin?

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's been years since I stayed in one of the garden wing rooms and while everyone would be excited for the CR to be a DVC on the monorail, it would be a real hike just to get from the garden wing to the monorail. You could almost leave one of the north wings and walk to the MK by the time you walk to get to the monorail to get to the MK.

I too think you would be better off walking from the garden wing to MK rather than the monorail!

 

[jennypenny]

Can you imagine being able to walk to the MK from a DVC resort?? And I thought walking to Epcot was cool.

Maybe that's what today's meeting is about at MS.

I *really* hope this rumor turns out to be true.
Jenny

 

[NMW]

Very interesting. I can see the appeal of the monorail and the walking into MK. I really think that the garden wings are dumpy looking and should either be completely refurbished or torn down. If Disney gave/sold one or both of them to DVC, then they could just focus on the tower.

I think guests booking the garden wings and then demanding the tower happens. In fact, I think I even read somewhere tips for doing this!? I also don't see why DVC would have to sell SSR first before doing this. They have sold more than one resort at a time before. Why would this be a big deal? Yes, sales at SSR may slow down while the garden wing DVC is for sale, but I'm sure they'd pick up again once all garden wing points are sold.

 

[TwingleMum]

I like many others would love a DVC monorail resort. My first wish would be the Poly but I also really enjoy the CR. Its nice to ponder the possibilities.

 

[MiaSRN62]

the CR has been having increasing problems with people trying to "game the system" by getting the cheapest room possible at the CR and then insisting at check-in that they had been promised a tower room.

In '98 I had reservered a Garden Wing room at an AP rate of $155/night. I was pleasently shocked to get an upgrade to the 14th floor Tower upon check-in ! Couldn't even imagine trying to weasel my way into one of these rooms with a made-up story though.
Thanks for the insight Doc. I think if the Wings did become DVC it would sell well. Even though it is a hike to the monorail, just to be that close to the MK would be a plus for many. Sounds like we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Dean]

It sounds like a hotel chain when they change the branding to a lower rated one to reduce expectations. It sure doesn't make me want to buy there.

 

[rascalmom]

We stayed in a garden wing room at the CR in 2001. The room was in really bad shape - water stains on the ceiling, mold in the shower, filthy carpets & a broken latch on the sliding patio door. Housekeeping also was lacking - when we checked in there were the remains of someone's fingernail clippings on the nightstand & a half eaten cookie under the edge of the daybed. Yuck! We were in the South Wing & found the location to be very convenient and the room size and layout very nice. But the room condition simply was not acceptable - I would have complained at a Motel 6 with a room that bad!

We had split our stay with a visit to Universal & had just checked out of a brand-new shiny room with beautiful linens & amenities at the Hard Rock. Disney can do much better in their standards - the only thing "deluxe" about the room we were in was the size. I really think they would have to demolish the wings & start over to bring the buildings up to DVC standards.

 

[rocketriter]

I really think they would have to demolish the wings & start over to bring the buildings up to DVC standards.

In order to add kitchens, jacuzzis and so forth, that's exactly what they'd have to do.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

If the base foundation and roof were farily sound, tearing out walls between rooms wouldn't be such a big deal. But more important...I have a great idea for bringing the Contemporary 'up to future world' and making the North Wing more easily accessible to the monorail.

use of moving walkways like in Las Vegas would be entertaining to the kids and make the 'wings' more futuristic (well, retro futuristic) themed.

What do you think?

 

[jbwolffiv]

I will believe this when I hear it officially. I would love to se DVC at CR, and I love to hear all the rumors. Maybe we will hear about this on the 5th of May. It was last year at the Grand Opening of SSR that Phase III was announced and the 5th will be a big deal. Only time will tell.

 

[Plus4206]

On other boards & websites there is great discussion about the loss of "Magic" under the reign of ME. I'll concede that ME doesn't "get it" when it comes to Walts vision but he's not the only one. You can always count on an abundance of low life parasites to screw up the works for everyone else.