One night enough for us at the CR!

[bolgers love wdw]

We stayed at the Contemporary on Friday night due to change of travel plans, and it was by far the most un-disney stay ever for us. (We stayed at the WL CL from Dec 8-13 and there were no rooms left when we decided to get to Disney a day earlier) So we decide to give the CR a try since it has been about 4 years since we last stayed there.

Don't get me wrong, the new rooms are nice, but I couldn't even tell I was at Disney unless I turned on the TV and saw Stacy counting down the Top 7.

And the 4th floor concourse is now a crazy and loud zoo. I used to love walking around through the stores and watching the monorail go by, and listening to all the action coming from Chef Mickey's. Well those days are long gone. I used to LOVE going over there and browsing through my favorite store, Bay View Gifts. We lasted maybe 10 minutes and I had to go back to the room. With the arcade, new store and the tempo grab and go all there, it is now a nuthouse!!

 

[AJKMOM]

We stayed there once just because we could. Some LOVE it more than anything, but the thrill is gone for me. I do still love to ride the monorail through the building. The beauty of WDW is that there is something for every one. If I had to pick one and only one, I would stay at the Boardwalk.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Hopefully, our room will be a little more Disney if we get a Tower Magic Kingdom View. Being able to see Cinderella's castle should bring some Disney feel.

I'll be sure to ask for a higher floor in my room request, to lessen the noise.

Glad you enjoyed the WL

 

[ducklite]

I have to agree, we've only stayed once at the CR, and our room felt like the Hilton at DTD. In fact the Hilton was in better shape with more amenities when we stayed there. The CR is by far our least favorite of all of the deluxes.

I'm not saying it was a bad stay by any means, but it certainly didn't have any charm, and we felt that the theme was basically a big old business hotel, and could never figure out the attraction some people have to it.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am sorry you're stay there was not that magical. As you can see by my user name it's my favorite WDW Resort and I enjoy everything about it. One thing you got to realize a big reason for it being busy at night on the 4th floor, is the guests who are coming from other Resorts to eat there. So that will make things more busy, however during the day the 4th floor is a lot more quiet.

As for the comment about it being a business hotel, I have always said and I will say it again. If the Contemporary had a better theme like the Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Coronado Springs more people would not care about that. The reason I mention those Resorts is because they all have convention centers like the Contemporary does and I never read any one who claims they are business hotels. I am also sure they host a fair number of conventions per year. So because the theme of those Resorts is seen a lot better, so I personally think that is an un fair statement.

 

[ducklite]

I am sorry you're stay there was not that magical. As you can see by my user name it's my favorite WDW Resort and I enjoy everything about it. One thing you got to realize a big reason for it being busy at night on the 4th floor, is the guests who are coming from other Resorts to eat there. So that will make things more busy, however during the day the 4th floor is a lot more quiet.

As for the comment about it being a business hotel, I have always said and I will say it again. If the Contemporary had a better theme like the Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Coronado Springs more people would not care about that. The reason I mention those Resorts is because they all have convention centers like the Contemporary does and I never read any one who claims they are business hotels. I am also sure they host a fair number of conventions per year. So because the theme of those Resorts is seen a lot better, so I personally think that is an un fair statement.

I'm going to assume that outside of WDW, you haven't done a lot of traveling. Hotels generally fall into three categories. Budget type places that are no frills and a place to lay your head; business hotels that have a fairly generic and sterile environment, and cater to business travelers; and resorts that cater to liesure travelers. It's not just the amenities that make a hotel have one feel or another, it's also decor and layout.

The Contemporary comes closer to a business hotel in amenities and feel than any of the other WDW resorts. It lacks the warmth and charm of most of the other resorts.

The other WDW resorts with business and convention facilities manage to feel more like a resort and less like a business hotel. They are less sterile, less cavernous--even in the business facility areas.

It's hard to explain, but those who have spent countless nights in Hilton's, Hyatt's, Marriotts, etc. will know exactly what I'm saying.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm going to assume that outside of WDW, you haven't done a lot of traveling. Hotels generally fall into three categories. Budget type places that are no frills and a place to lay your head; business hotels that have a fairly generic and sterile environment, and cater to business travelers; and resorts that cater to liesure travelers. It's not just the amenities that make a hotel have one feel or another, it's also decor and layout.

The Contemporary comes closer to a business hotel in amenities and feel than any of the other WDW resorts. It lacks the warmth and charm of most of the other resorts.

The other WDW resorts with business and convention facilities manage to feel more like a resort and less like a business hotel. They are less sterile, less cavernous--even in the business facility areas.

It's hard to explain, but those who have spent countless nights in Hilton's, Hyatt's, Marriotts, etc. will know exactly what I'm saying.

I realize what you are trying to say, however the Contemporary is not like a Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott in terms of a standard hotel. It's located in Walt Disney World and is right by the Magic Kingdom, so you can't say that about those other hotels. Yes it may have the feel of those hotels with the business part, however it's still located in the #1 tourist destination and in my opinion that is a huge difference factor.

 

[bavaria]

I realize what you are trying to say, however the Contemporary is not like a Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott in terms of a standard hotel. .

Yes, you are correct - the Disney Deluxe hotels generally are not on par with the brands you mentioned above; they tend to fall below them in terms of ammenities and services - both product and quality. They are pleasant hotels, certainly, but not luxury or even deluxe hotels.

The Contemporary's claim to fame is the proximity to an amusement park. It has better guest rooms now than many of the other Disney resorts, but still not on par with 3 star hotels outside of WDW.

It's a pleasant hotel, but take away the views and the theme park and it is the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta

 

[rcraw45425]

Ducklite, I see what you're saying. The old CR had a certain charm with the whimsical decor and garish colors in the rooms. The new rooms are really just like a bland business hotel anywhere. If you check out our signature you'll see that we have several CR stays under our belt, both tower and garden wings. The last one was the first since the renovation was complete and DH was very disappointed. That's why we're back at the YC again.

 

[bavaria]

And here is one more thought about proximity to an amusement park - I recently stayed at one of the Europa Park hotels in Germany. My room overlooked the monorail, I had full view of the fireworks every night, I could see one of the water rides from my window, etc etc.

On check out, I was asked about my stay. I told the desk agent 'well, to be honest...' and she cringed. I then told her that I stay in high end hotels about 300 nights a year, and that hotel excelled in all areas - product, service, quality of food, value for price paid.

If you took away the amusement park next door, that hotel would still rank near the top in terms of product and service.

I have never said that or felt that about any WDW resort. Pleasant, yes. Deluxe, no.

 

[rcraw45425]

Yes, you are correct - the Disney Deluxe hotels generally are not on par with the brands you mentioned above; they tend to fall below them in terms of ammenities and services - both product and quality. They are pleasant hotels, certainly, but not luxury or even deluxe hotels.

The Contemporary's claim to fame is the proximity to an amusement park. It has better guest rooms now than many of the other Disney resorts, but still not on par with 3 star hotels outside of WDW.

It's a pleasant hotel, but take away the views and the theme park and it is the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta

That is funny bavaria, we have stayed there twice and DDs remarked that the inside of the Renaissance was just like the CR! Too funny!

 

[cara loves the poly]

I have often thought to myself, if it were myself and my husband only, or another adult, I might want to try the Contemporary. Never with the family though.

 

[nklooz]

I found this an interesting convo, just because I had always thought it would be neat to stay at CR, w/a MK view, my friend said they loved the view and the convenience of it. But, when we went to eat at CM, my DH said, oh no, I never want to stay here, you don't feel like you're in DW at all. So, for our family, I don't think the convenience or wow factor of the MK views will outweight the fact that it does feel like the Marriotts that DH & I spend too many of our nights alone in on business!

 

[cmonroe]

I'd like to weigh in if I might.

I'm in my mid 30's. As you can see from my signature, I've stayed in the CR since the late 70's. We were spoiled. My family was not rich, my Dad just worked extremely hard to take us on vacation each year. We didn't see him much, usually working late at night.

You might ask, "why are you telling us this?". Because I agree with most of you. The CR is by far, not the most themed resort at WDW. But sometimes loving a place like that involves more than theming. I don't think that the amount of travelling you've done, necessarily matters in these cases. I've travelled across the U.S. , to Canada and Europe.

But people (Disney people) fall in love with a resort because it makes a connection with them. Some people love the Poly because of the Hawaiian theming or the yacht club because of the characteristics. Falling in love with a resort there is subjective.

I love the Contemporary. Judge me if you must, but I usually well-up when I arrive and when I'm leaving. The reason is because the Contemporary is where is spent 7-14 days a year with family, and most notably my father when I was growing up. We spent entire days together doing nothing but laughing and everything Disney.

I have many memories from that time. And none of them are lessened by the fact that the CR didn't have a guitar shaped pool, or a giraffe out the back window. I've stayed at the CBR and ASMu. We plan on trying many others. But none of them will hold a place in my heart like the CR. I hope to pass many days in years to come with my wife and two children. Building those same memories that I was fortunate enough to experience.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The other WDW resorts with business and convention facilities manage to feel more like a resort and less like a business hotel. They are less sterile, less cavernous--even in the business facility areas.

I still say it's unfair to give the Contemporary this stereotype, because in my opinion all WDW Resorts with convention centers still hosts all types of meetings and etc. Take away the themes from the Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Coronado Springs they would be just the Contemporary and the convention guests are a lot more noticeable. So all I am saying is don't single out a WDW Resort based on the conventions they host since they don't have a in your face theme, when other Resorts with conventions centers have that in your face theme.

 

[cara loves the poly]

I'd like to weigh in if I might.

I'm in my mid 30's. As you can see from my signature, I've stayed in the CR since the late 70's. We were spoiled. My family was not rich, my Dad just worked extremely hard to take us on vacation each year. We didn't see him much, usually working late at night.

You might ask, "why are you telling us this?". Because I agree with most of you. The CR is by far, not the most themed resort at WDW. But sometimes loving a place like that involves more than theming. I don't think that the amount of travelling you've done, necessarily matters in these cases. I've travelled across the U.S. , to Canada and Europe.

But people (Disney people) fall in love with a resort because it makes a connection with them. Some people love the Poly because of the Hawaiian theming or the yacht club because of the characteristics. Falling in love with a resort there is subjective.

I love the Contemporary. Judge me if you must, but I usually well-up when I arrive and when I'm leaving. The reason is because the Contemporary is where is spent 7-14 days a year with family, and most notably my father when I was growing up. We spent entire days together doing nothing but laughing and everything Disney.

I have many memories from that time. And none of them are lessened by the fact that the CR didn't have a guitar shaped pool, or a giraffe out the back window. I've stayed at the CBR and ASMu. We plan on trying many others. But none of them will hold a place in my heart like the CR. I hope to pass many days in years to come with my wife and two children. Building those same memories that I was fortunate enough to experience.

What a wonderful point.

 

[Feralpeg]

I've stayed in many of the WDW resorts, but never the CR. It never appealed to me. It just seemed boring. It has nothing to do with whether or not conventions are held there. It just didn't seem fun and it didn't seem very luxurious. I used to travel a lot on business and have stayed in many luxurious hotels. I could tell just by walking through the lobby that the CR was not going to meet those standards. That doesn't mean it isn't a nice hotel. For those that find it appealing, that's great. There are those of us who will never find it appealing. I do enjoy the restaurants at the CR.

 

[ducklite]

I still say it's unfair to give the Contemporary this stereotype, because in my opinion all WDW Resorts with convention centers still hosts all types of meetings and etc. Take away the themes from the Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Coronado Springs they would be just the Contemporary and the convention guests are a lot more noticeable. So all I am saying is don't single out a WDW Resort based on the conventions they host since they don't have a in your face theme, when other Resorts with conventions centers have that in your face theme.

You seem to be missing the entire point. The theme. The other resorts don't feel like a business hotel because they have a theme. I can stay at the Hilton at DTD for 1/4 the cost and get as nice, if not nicer of a room--with a fireworks view.

 

[Allegro]

It's a pleasant hotel, but take away the views and the theme park and it is the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta

That's why we're not staying there.

 

[VacationDad]

I'm going to assume that outside of WDW...

Forgive me for breaking in here, but over 33,000 posts?!? Is that the most on DISboards? Is anyone keeping track?