Please tell me it's ok........

[jillmomto3]

Hi,
I'm Jill and this is my 1st time posting, although I have been lurking here since last December. My family, myself, dh, dd 11, dd 4, and ds 2, have been planning a vacation to the Poly since last January when I was able to obtain the 40% off code. We were supposed to be leaving on Sept 28 returning October 5th. Everything was planned, I did everything I could read about doing, reservations, parties, room requesting, garden grocer, etc.

Well, my husband got hurt and needed emergency surgery last Friday, so we had to cancel the trip . Disney was fantastic trying to help us, I really wanted to keep our discount code, so a cast member worked really hard and was able to get us into the Contemporary Dec 16 - 23, garden view wing room (only room available w/the code). I was able to change our flights and re-schedule almost everything.

So, now as I read, I really concerned about the crowds, the construction at the Contemporary and being in a wing and not tower room.

The is EVERYONE's 1st trip to Disney and I want it to be just perfect. I have dreamed about going since I was a little girl!

If anyone has any tips or advise I would really, really appreciate it!

Jill

 

[WDWMeg311]

I'm sorry about your husband, but happy that Disney was able to accommodate your changes. While I can't comment on the construction, I can say that I twice stayed in the garden wing rooms of the Contemporary as a kid while vacationing with my parents. We loved staying there and had magical vacations both times.

 

[teentoddlermom]

You set yourself up for disappointment when you expect perfection! Go and enjoy! Expect a few problems. But you've already been so lucky to get your vacation changed! How great that you'll be able to go around Christmas..you're so lucky to be able to see the decorations. I think the crowds will be ok too, especially the first few days of the trip. I bet you'll love the Contemporary, the rooms are big, and a good fit for your family size. If you are uneasy about the Contemporary, keep calling back, especially early in the day to see if they get any cancellations around those dates. Check the Contemporary FAQ thread to answer any of your concerns. Have a great trip!

 

[Allison]

Disney at Christmas is wonderful. You will get to see a lot of great things that aren't there during other times of the year.

I have heard very nice things about the garden wings. I know the rooms are big so that will be nice for your family.

If you will be eating at table service restaurants, I recommend you make those reservations as soon as possible.

 

[raven69david]

Everything will be fine. The crowds won't be as bad as you think. Just go have a great time and stop worrying about the hotel. You're at THE CONTEMPORARY RESORT which is just amazing to look at, let alone be staying at that resort. I guarantee your kids will love the room, but even better will be thrilled at just the thought of being in the king dom.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

the construction at the Contemporary and being in a wing and not tower room.

Since you would obviously be staying in a South Garden Wing room, I can say 100% there is no renovation going on over there. As for the other parts of the Contemporary by the time you go the construction on the 4th floor should be on hold since the new store should be open by the 1st week of December, which is what a Cast Member told me and because the Concourse Steakhouse is not set to clsose until April 2008. Once it closes then the renovations on the 4th floor will start up again. The lobby renovation should be finished sometime in November and the area where the Food & Fun Center use to be is covered by a huge wall, so no guests can it being renovated into the Waive. Finally the construction area on the outside where the North Garden Wing building use to be does not effect any guests staying in the Tower or South Garden Wing, so you should have nothing to worry about.

 

[ldo]

that week is MUCH less crowded than starting 12/23. You'll be fine. Just plan for somewhat more crowded than October---but, REALLY, not much. The week of Christmas is crazy--but your week is good. And all the decorations will be up and they will be doing the Christmas parades---it's really a great time to go--and I was just at CR a few weeks ago---you'll be fine there also--enjoy your trip--AND make your ADRS for meals, if you have not already done so!

 

[disnut8]

It's OK. Simple as that. No, you won't be at the Polynesian but you are still on the monorail line with even a bonus. You can walk to Magic Kingdom if you want. You can still enjoy all the things around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, just at a different place. We loved the Contemporary's larger rooms and funky interior.

Christmas time is wonderful at Disney World and if you release the "we could have stayed at the Polynesian" thoughts, you will have a fantastic time. I can't think of a better way for your husband to fully recooperate from emergency surgery. I've had several medical problems in the past year (all emergencies) and the one thing that kept me going was knowing I was going back to Disney World.

 

[jillmomto3]

Thanks...
I know everything will be fine, and I need to stop thinking about the Polynesian. I'm sure the Contemporary will be great, we are Christmas people so I know we will really enjoy the "theming". It's hard to let something go, I think I read every thread on the Poly for almost a year.. haha. So, off to read on the Contemporary, if anyone has any words on wisdom on reque sts for Contemporary Wing I would appreciate it, also are their balconies on the rooms?

Oh.. we did make ARD's, I wasn't able to get my original selections or times, but happy I was able to get these!!
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Coral Reef
1900 Park Fare
Mama Melrose
Concourse Steakhouse
Chef Mickey's
Ohanah
I was unable to get Candlelight or Fantasmic, but hopefully in the beginning of the week we can get in to see both shows.

Also, Disney allowed me to send back my MNNSHP and exchange them for MVMHP, which was also great of Disney. I was actually considering writing an e-mail to Disney thanking them for being so helpful, especially Ace, one of the supervisors(I forget what their official title is) that were allowed to make it happen for us.
Thanks for making me feel a bit better..
Jill

 

[Allison]

Well, it certainly sounds like you have everything in place for a wonderful trip. Have a great time.

And send that email. They do get read.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

also are their balconies on the rooms?

There are no balconies in the Garden Wing rooms, you can only have one if you stay in a Tower room. Instead 1st floor Garden Wing rooms have a patio, however there is nothing at all on the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms.

 

[antkim]

Thanks...
I know everything will be fine, and I need to stop thinking about the Polynesian. I'm sure the Contemporary will be great, we are Christmas people so I know we will really enjoy the "theming". It's hard to let something go, I think I read every thread on the Poly for almost a year.. haha. So, off to read on the Contemporary, if anyone has any words on wisdom on reque sts for Contemporary Wing I would appreciate it, also are their balconies on the rooms?

Oh.. we did make ARD's, I wasn't able to get my original selections or times, but happy I was able to get these!!
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Coral Reef
1900 Park Fare
Mama Melrose
Concourse Steakhouse
Chef Mickey's
Ohanah
I was unable to get Candlelight or Fantasmic, but hopefully in the beginning of the week we can get in to see both shows.

Also, Disney allowed me to send back my MNNSHP and exchange them for MVMHP, which was also great of Disney. I was actually considering writing an e-mail to Disney thanking them for being so helpful, especially Ace, one of the supervisors(I forget what their official title is) that were allowed to make it happen for us.
Thanks for making me feel a bit better..
Jill

Well Jill let me just start by assuring you that you had one of the BEST "guest sevice" agents working with you. Ace is a great friend of mine and is just plain wonderful. When it comes to "making magic" and applying the "disney difference" there is none above! I can say both professionally and personally that he TRULY cares about each and every guest and wants them to have the trip they are dreaming of!!!

Letters are always welcomed and CM's are recognized for their true efforts...writing letters mean more to them then most think!

Have a wonderful trip....you will be there during the most beautiful time of the year. The CR is a wonderful resort and you can not beat the convenience to the MK!!!

ENJOY!!!!

 

[dunbarfamily]

Oh Jill! You will have a WONDERFUL time! It will be crowded, sure. But you'll still have a super de dooper time. It's Christmas, it's Disney, what could be better? Take a deep breath. Things won't go exactly as planned so be flexible. It'll be great!

Hope your husband is doing ok now!

 

[ldo]

the have a huge gingerbread house--they are on monorail.

 

[3for Me]

My children's first trip to Disney was in a CR Garden Wing room. You can't beat the convenience and for a first timer it's great to be so close to the MK, the monorail, the action and excitement of Chef Mickey's, etc...

At the CR you do really feel like you are in the center of it all!

Now that the kids are older, we enjoy a little more peace and quiet, but there's nothing like the CR for the first time.

We went during a very similar time frame in 2005 and the crowds did not materialize in huge numbers until we were checking out on the 26th. The rest of the week leading up to that time was very manageable. I would subscribe to Tour Guide Mike since it is a busy time, and keep calling to see if someone cancels a Candelight Processional package.

You will have a great time!

 

[atisikitabasket]

Jill, I will be right there with you Dec. 15th thru 21st in the garden wing. We can't wait. This will only be our 2nd stay on site our first stay was at CSR in Feb. and we are just excited as can be about the CR. Ever since I was little I always said I wanted to stay at the CR and now thanks to the same 40% code you got we were able to afford it. We are eating at some of the same places too.

we are doing
'Ohana
1900 Park
Raglan Road
Coral Reef
Kona
Garden Grill
Crystal Palace-Breakfast
Hollywood and Vine-breakfast.

Maybe we will see you there! I will have a DS4 turning 5 on the trip this will be the only time we can go around his Birthday. I figured we loved the CSR and it was just a moderate so I know we will like CR. We will be too busy to care too much about the pool and stuff. Looking at the schedule we might have 3 hours to swim and that is it. I'm a big over planner so that might change. LOL!! You will have a wonderful time and if your like us your only in your room to sleep otherwise you can travel around and check out all the resorts and see all the decorations and start planning for your next trip!!!!

 

[atisikitabasket]

i just noticed it's official I am now a VETERAN!!!

Sorry I hadn't noticed that yet.

Now if I could just get a Tag!

 

[chickenskin]

We love the resorts, it's a very big part of our trip, however just being there is even bigger. I've stayed at the Poly exclusively from 1972 up until a year ago when we decided to try POR due to finances. We found that we had just as great a trip at a moderate as a deluxe, meaning, your going to be at Disney World, it doesn't get any better than that, and you are staying at a deluxe to boot. No, it won't be okay, it will be
FANTASTIC!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Christmas at Disney! Wow!! That is a dream of mine that hasn't come true yet.

Pixie dust your way for a most magical time for you and your family.

 

[rie'smom]

The beginning of your trip is one of the most fantastic times to be at WDW. Low crowds and great weather. The crowds won't pick up a whole lot until the 22nd-23rd.
Even if you can't get a package for the Candlelight Processional, you can see the choir walk to the auditorium. Just get there about 15 minutes before the show starts. You can also hear the program by just standing outside because it's open air.
For Fantasmic, go to the auditorium about 45 minutes before the show. You shouldn't have any problem getting a seat. Also, you may get an even better seat than you would with the package. We've always had wonderful seats and have never had a package.