One night enough for us at the CR!

[Selket]

We stayed at the CR a few years ago (north wing which is gone) and our kids STILL - no matter where we stay on property - when we go by the CR they wish we were staying there. The CR worked some kind of magic on them I guess!

I think much of the magic for us was just the proximity to the MK and being able to watch the fireworks every night, etc. Just to be able to walk to the MK is something else! That was magic to me. I love the other resorts too but the CR will always have that *wow* factor for me just because I feel like I'm practically staying inside the Magic Kingdom.

 

[peyjax]

Agreed. It's Brutalist architecture in my opinion. I think the theme is "concrete and conventions". If the CR was located in Vegas, it would have been imploded over a decade ago. I'd rather stay at GF or Poly if I wanted to stay at an MK area Deluxe, or perhaps the new Contemporary villas depending on how they look once complete.

C Resort Fan, don't take my opinion personally. If you don't like my favorite resort, The Yacht Club, for whatever reason, it won't hurt my feelings! Just curious, what other Disney resorts have you stayed at in the past that makes the C Resort your favorite?

I think if that were to be true then the POLY would be right behind it! I am sure it is a nice hotel, however it is just as dated as the CR resort.Please don't get me wrong I would love to stay at both resorts!

 

[dburg30]

I think if that were to be true then the POLY would be right behind it! I am sure it is a nice hotel, however it is just as dated as the CR resort.Please don't get me wrong I would love to stay at both resorts!

I just dont get the 'theme' of the CR. Like I said, maybe in 71 it was contemporary.. Someone just needs to explain it to me..

 

[bavaria]

Back in 1971, the Contemporary was to be the 'revolution' in hotel construction. Each room was a pod which was slid into place. The theory was that when renovations were due, a pod would be slid out and a new pod slid in its place. Unfortunately, the pods swelled and were stuck in place, never to be removed.

(there is actually a youtube video showing the intended process)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJNzmydrivI

Several hotels were constructed with a similar frame, and they too look sorely outdated.

Someone once outlined the interior theme, which tied the 'Grand Canyon Concourse' with Mary Blair's mosaic and other elements of the original hotel. Unfortunately, as the years passed, the Contemporary suffered the same fate as past Tomorrowlands - they all became outdated views of a future which never was.

Now so many renovations later, the Contemporary lacks any cohesive theme, and has strayed far from the original vision.

 

[bavaria]

Look familiar?

http://www.eventective.com/USA/Colorado/Denver/1686/Renaissance-Denver-Hotel.html

 

[G8r4evr]

Back in 1971, the Contemporary was to be the 'revolution' in hotel construction. Each room was a pod which was slid into place. The theory was that when renovations were due, a pod would be slid out and a new pod slid in its place. Unfortunately, the pods swelled and were stuck in place, never to be removed.

(there is actually a youtube video showing the intended process)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJNzmydrivI

Several hotels were constructed with a similar frame, and they too look sorely outdated.

Someone once outlined the interior theme, which tied the 'Grand Canyon Concourse' with Mary Blair's mosaic and other elements of the original hotel. Unfortunately, as the years passed, the Contemporary suffered the same fate as past Tomorrowlands - they all became outdated views of a future which never was.

Now so many renovations later, the Contemporary lacks any cohesive theme, and has strayed far from the original vision.

Pods? Interesting....

 

[fla4fun]

Well, not pods, but pre-fabricated rooms. The Poly original longhouses and the Contemporary were both built with the pre-fab rooms. But from what I understand, they were never intended to be removed and replaced. It was just a different method of construction.

 

[G8r4evr]

Well, not pods, but pre-fabricated rooms. The Poly original longhouses and the Contemporary were both built with the pre-fab rooms. But from what I understand, they were never intended to be removed and replaced. It was just a different method of construction.

Ahh. With technology today, if Disney wanted to spruce up the exterior of the CR, they could, right? It seems to me that they are perfectly happy the way it is.

Definitely seems dated to me, but hey, different strokes....

 

[bavaria]

G8r4er, did you click on the youtube link? The CM uniform, room decor, and exterior and interior of the building all matched back in 1972

What is interesting is that somehow the Contemporary also had a Grand Canyon/Southwest America theme back in the early 1970's - Grand Canyon concourse, Mesa Grande lounge, Pueblo Room, and Mary Blair's mosaic all tied into that theme. I don't really understand how THAT was 'contemporary' even then - but at least the theme was somewhat cohesive.

I think that in the era of the 'clown vomit' room decor (mid 1990's) the Contemporary really lost any sort of cohesive theme.

 

[G8r4evr]

G8r4er, did you click on the youtube link? The CM uniform, room decor, and exterior and interior of the building all matched back in 1972

What is interesting is that somehow the Contemporary also had a Grand Canyon/Southwest America theme back in the early 1970's - Grand Canyon concourse, Mesa Grande lounge, Pueblo Room, and Mary Blair's mosaic all tied into that theme. I don't really understand how THAT was 'contemporary' even then - but at least the theme was somewhat cohesive.

I think that in the era of the 'clown vomit' room decor (mid 1990's) the Contemporary really lost any sort of cohesive theme.

Nope, I havent watched the video, but I was really speaking to the exterior of the CR. The inside of the CR seems okay to me, but the outside, just seems, well, dated. Throw in the huge, unsightly parking lot and IMO, it has little to no curb appeal. LOL

 

[bavaria]

Look familiar?

http://www.eventective.com/USA/Colorado/Denver/1686/Renaissance-Denver-Hotel.html

Like this? Again, I am sure that this was the height of modernity in 1971, but like many buildings it shows its age by the 'futuristic' design.

It's not my taste, although many people have an emotional connection to the building. Obviously you and I don't, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that

 

[fla4fun]

Nope, I havent watched the video, but I was really speaking to the exterior of the CR. The inside of the CR seems okay to me, but the outside, just seems, well, dated. Throw in the huge, unsightly parking lot and IMO, it has little to no curb appeal. LOL

I wonder what they will do with the parking situation when the new "tower" is open? That's a lot of rooms to add to inventory without having to add some parking somewhere. I wonder if they will just move cast parking, or if they will put a garage in somewhere, or what they plan to do?

 

[bavaria]

Sigh.. the new tower IS the parking garage! I've been saying that for almost a year now - they are building parking at the Contemporary because WDW was lurking on all these threads about 'parking at the Contemporary' and decided to add a parking structure... Forget about DVC or family suites - your car will soon be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the MK

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

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.

Ding Ding Ding, We've got a winner. How true is your post and what a wonderful post. It's all about the memories no matter where you stay. I am sure your children will have wonderful memories to share with their children and so on. You made cry.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I've never stayed there but I think it's a cool hotel because it was the FIRST original "old school" Disney hotel. It's where Disney first ran a hotel and worked out all the kinks. I think the history behind it is what gives it charm. That's one reason I love the Polynesian, too.

 

[dizzknee3]

The "theme" of a hotel has never mattered to me, The look of a hotel from the outside has never mattered to me..what matters to me is having a nice room and lying in my bed watching the castle change colors or watching the fireworks from my balcony and feeling like your right in the middle of the magic. What matters to me is the conveniece of being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom, my kids favorite park. I guess that is why The Contemporary will always be my favorite hotel.

 

[cara loves the poly]

The "theme" of a hotel has never mattered to me, The look of a hotel from the outside has never mattered to me..what matters to me is having a nice room and lying in my bed watching the castle change colors or watching the fireworks from my balcony and feeling like your right in the middle of the magic. What matters to me is the conveniece of being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom, my kids favorite park. I guess that is why The Contemporary will always be my favorite hotel.

Watching the castle change colors while lying in bed is important to me too, that's why I love the Poly! Isn't it a dreamy sight!

 

[G8r4evr]

Sigh.. the new tower IS the parking garage! I've been saying that for almost a year now - they are building parking at the Contemporary because WDW was lurking on all these threads about 'parking at the Contemporary' and decided to add a parking structure... Forget about DVC or family suites - your car will soon be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the MK

Now THAT would be funny. I think the new tower probably is DVC, but maybe they will throw several floors of parking into the tower as well.

 

[G8r4evr]

Sigh.. the new tower IS the parking garage! I've been saying that for almost a year now - they are building parking at the Contemporary because WDW was lurking on all these threads about 'parking at the Contemporary' and decided to add a parking structure... Forget about DVC or family suites - your car will soon be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the MK

Now THAT would be funny. I think the new tower probably is DVC, but maybe they will throw several floors of parking into the tower as well.

 

[deej696]

I can appreciate the opinions that everyone has shared here, however I am one in the minority in that I am a CR resort fan as well. For me, it is also about the memories that were made there when I was a kid, and the classic Disney nostalgia that I feel everytime I return.

I was a manager at a top 100 luxury hotel for a few years, and I got out just before it ruined me on hotels forever. When I was in the business, I found that everytime I stayed in a hotel I picked it apart. I noticed every little thing that "would never happen in my hotel." This put a sour taste in my mouth, because hotels were one of the main things I love about vacation, and I hated to lose that. I got in the business because I loved hotels, I got out because I was starting to hate them. I would imagine that those who spend hundreds of nights in hotels a year, often find themselves in the same situation that I did.

I guess my point is, if you put CR under a microscope, then it probably is not the "best" Disney resort for many reasons. But to those of us who hold it dear, its finer than the Burj al Arab...