Question for Contemporary experts

[CleveRocks]

I'll be doing a split stay, the 2nd half of which will be at Contemporary. This will be our first time there, and in fact our first time at a WDW Deluxe resort.

We reserved a tower room - theme park view.

Ideally, I'd like to make the whole split-stay thing as little an inconvenience as possible. My plan is to check-out of POFQ in the morning on our way out to the bus for whatever park, arranging for Bell Services to transfer our luggage. We would enjoy whatever park just like any other day, and then not "return" to Contemporary until evening.

My question is, will there be any advantage to get to Contemporary as early as possible to check-in (even if my room won't be ready) so that I can get the best possible room selection? I guess my more specific question is, is there such a thing as a more-desirable MK view room and a less-desirable MK view room? If I check-in at night, will I potentially miss out on a better room that I could have gotten earlier in the day?

We will be checking-in to CR on the Wednesday prior to Presidents Day weekend ... just in case that detail helps any.

Thanks for your expertise!

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have styed twice in the last year and half at Contemp, MK view, and at a discount. So I was always expecting "the worse" MK view room.
Most likely there is no such thing. So far, we have stayed right down the middle of the resort.
The only rooms I can think of being a downside would be those right over Chef Mickey's, due to the noise.
The only loud noise we heard in our room was when they had a hard ticket event at MK. (Loud thumping bass music from Tomorrowland.)

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Perditamarie]

If you plan an MK day for your check-in, it could be pretty easy to check in first thing. If you check in first thing, you can arrange for room-charging priveleges and dining to be on your kttw as well. It is an easy walk to/from MK to the Contemporary. Not to sound cynical, but it has been my experience that the baggage transfer takes hours, which is okay, but when staying deluxe, they seem to wait until you call for the bags so they can collect a tip.

 

[mericletwins]

If you plan an MK day for your check-in, it could be pretty easy to check in first thing. If you check in first thing, you can arrange for room-charging priveleges and dining to be on your kttw as well. It is an easy walk to/from MK to the Contemporary. Not to sound cynical, but it has been my experience that the baggage transfer takes hours, which is okay, but when staying deluxe, they seem to wait until you call for the bags so they can collect a tip.

When we were there in January, we moved twice and the transferring of luggage was fine, but they told us both times that luggage is not transferred until the afternoon, no matter what time you have bell services pick it up in the a.m. We were told that it wouldn't be to our new resort until about 4:00. We were also told that we needed to be in our room to have it delivered. When we got to our room, we called and they brought it up within a half hour.

 

[simonkodousek]

I would pack a carry-on type bag with some essentials (park clothes, swim clothes, pajamas, hygeine products, guidebook, camera, cell phone, etc.) and bring it to the CR via bus to the MK then either monorail or walking to the CR. Check in (you would leave your larger luggage with bell services) and even if you don't have your room ready, you'll still have extra clothes and the like to enjoy the parks and pools.

If you think this would be too much of a hassle, request a taxi to pick you up at POFQ and bring you (and your luggage) directly to the CR. Personally, this is what I would do because my time in the parks is valuable and in my opinion, getting a taxi transfer is absolutely worth the cost.

~Simon

 

[CleveRocks]

If you plan an MK day for your check-in, it could be pretty easy to check in first thing. If you check in first thing, you can arrange for room-charging priveleges and dining to be on your kttw as well. It is an easy walk to/from MK to the Contemporary. Not to sound cynical, but it has been my experience that the baggage transfer takes hours, which is okay, but when staying deluxe, they seem to wait until you call for the bags so they can collect a tip.

Although I gather as much information ahead of time as humanly possible, my wife and I are ALLERGIC to planning things like meals and which park on which day. Generally, we decide what park to go by asking our kids that morning or at very earliest at bedtime the night before. On vacation anywhere (not just WDW), we tend to prefer counter-service to table-service. [Luckily for us, WDW has some excellent counter-service options ... the last time we were there (Nov. 2006), we were training for our first-ever half marathon and we knew where to get healthy AND yummy counter-service food ... can't fuel a marathon on cheeseburgers and chicken fingers!]

So in other words, we can't rely on planning to do MK that morning.

As far as room charging privileges, I'll still have it on my POFQ KTTW card ... charging privileges end at the end of check-out day, not at the moment of check-out. Same with DDP credits (even though we never do the DDP, just thought I'd add that).

I thank everyone for their suggestions on the mechanics of it all, but I know that stuff and have it down-pat. What I'm asking is ... is there such as thing as a more-desirable MK view room versus a less-desirable MK room? Because if there's no difference, I don't want to take the time checking-in at CR until we're ready to go to our room that evening.

If we aren't heading to MK that morning, then detouring to go to CR, and waiting in line at the front desk, and going through the checking-in procedure, and then getting to the park I want to be at ... that could easily take at least one hour. I'm willing to do it if it means getting a better room (or more to the point, avoiding a BAD room), but if it doesn't matter, then I'd be happy not to bother.

Know what I mean? Any more room-specific advice???

 

[nurse.darcy]

Although I gather as much information ahead of time as humanly possible, my wife and I are ALLERGIC to planning things like meals and which park on which day. Generally, we decide what park to go by asking our kids that morning or at very earliest at bedtime the night before. On vacation anywhere (not just WDW), we tend to prefer counter-service to table-service. [Luckily for us, WDW has some excellent counter-service options ... the last time we were there (Nov. 2006), we were training for our first-ever half marathon and we knew where to get healthy AND yummy counter-service food ... can't fuel a marathon on cheeseburgers and chicken fingers!]

So in other words, we can't rely on planning to do MK that morning.

As far as room charging privileges, I'll still have it on my POFQ KTTW card ... charging privileges end at the end of check-out day, not at the moment of check-out. Same with DDP credits (even though we never do the DDP, just thought I'd add that).

I thank everyone for their suggestions on the mechanics of it all, but I know that stuff and have it down-pat. What I'm asking is ... is there such as thing as a more-desirable MK view room versus a less-desirable MK room? Because if there's no difference, I don't want to take the time checking-in at CR until we're ready to go to our room that evening.

If we aren't heading to MK that morning, then detouring to go to CR, and waiting in line at the front desk, and going through the checking-in procedure, and then getting to the park I want to be at ... that could easily take at least one hour. I'm willing to do it if it means getting a better room (or more to the point, avoiding a BAD room), but if it doesn't matter, then I'd be happy not to bother.

Know what I mean? Any more room-specific advice???

For me personally I would NOT bother checking in till I felt like it. . .cause its very likely that the best MK view rooms would be available later (after people check out at 11) cause they have to be cleaned and ready for the new batch of customers. . .lol. Having said that I have never shown up late for a check in. . .always got what I wanted and never waited for availability. . .of course, I am NOT picky so that could be an issue. . .

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I personally think there are no bad Magic Kingdom View rooms at the Contemporary. My family and I have had that view on the 6th floor which is the lowest floor you can get and we thought the view from there did not look any different then a room on a higher floor. For the record there are no Magic Kingdom View rooms on the 5th floor because of the Monorail station, so that floor only has the Bay Lake View rooms. So I don't think you will be disappointed no matter what floor you will stay on, since it will be anywhere from the 6th floor - 11th floor. Finally because the 12th and 14th floors are Club Level you won't have a room on either of those floors.

 

[CleveRocks]

I've been waiting all day for your response! And thanks for living up to your DIS name.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've been waiting all day for your response! And thanks for living up to your DIS name.

You're welcome and have a great time staying at the Contemporary.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I'll be doing a split stay, the 2nd half of which will be at Contemporary. This will be our first time there, and in fact our first time at a WDW Deluxe resort.

We reserved a tower room - theme park view.

Ideally, I'd like to make the whole split-stay thing as little an inconvenience as possible. My plan is to check-out of POFQ in the morning on our way out to the bus for whatever park, arranging for Bell Services to transfer our luggage. We would enjoy whatever park just like any other day, and then not "return" to Contemporary until evening.

My question is, will there be any advantage to get to Contemporary as early as possible to check-in (even if my room won't be ready) so that I can get the best possible room selection? I guess my more specific question is, is there such a thing as a more-desirable MK view room and a less-desirable MK view room? If I check-in at night, will I potentially miss out on a better room that I could have gotten earlier in the day?

We will be checking-in to CR on the Wednesday prior to Presidents Day weekend ... just in case that detail helps any.

Thanks for your expertise!

I would do an early check-in at 7 a.m. if possible. This way you will avoid the lines later on in the day. The CMs know what rooms are coming available, and if you get a nice CM they will try to sprinkle a little pixie dust your way.

Fax or email your room requests before you get there.

You are paying for a MK view so the only thing you can request is a higher floor. The higher the floor, the better the view.

If you get a room in the middle of the floor and a little to the left, from your balcony you can see the 7 Seas Lagoon, GF, Poly and the WL.

We have always lucked out and have gotten rooms on the 10th or 11th floor. The higher floors have the Conciege Level rooms and the California Grill.

We love the Contemporary. It's magical watching the MK come to life early every morning.

I have a video of my kids on the Astro-Orbitor taken from our room! (They called from their cell phone to let us know when they were riding.)

Enjoy your stay.

 

[Statler]

If you get a room in the middle of the floor and a little to the left, from your balcony you can see the 7 Seas Lagoon, GF, Poly and the WL.

I kinda assumed all MK views had a view of 7 seas lagoon and the hotels. Is that wrong?

 

[CleveRocks]

So far I get the feeling there's no such thing as a BAD MK view room; higher is better, but lower isn't bad. In that case, I'll just check-in when I get around to it.

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

If there are any other opinions I'd love to hear them, but unless I'm jumping the gun, it seems I have my answer, thanks to you DISers out there.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I kinda assumed all MK views had a view of 7 seas lagoon and the hotels. Is that wrong?

With the MK view you'll face the MK, parking lots and streets. Seven Seas is to the left. We've only had rooms that were in the middle of the corridor and to the left, so I don't know how well you can see the lagoon if your room was located all the way to the right.

I hope you can follow what I'm trying to say.

Of course if you are on the other side of the Contemporary, you'll have an excellent view of the lagoon from all the rooms.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I kinda assumed all MK views had a view of 7 seas lagoon and the hotels. Is that wrong?

That is correct.

If anyone wants to see some pictures here is one I took of the Grand Floridian from room #4840 which is on the 12th floor and it is one of the middle rooms on that floor. So by looking at it you can clearly see the water for 7 Seas Lagoon in the backround.

Here is another one I took on the Resort Monorail going to the Magic Kingdom and as you can see in the backround all the Tower rooms at the Contemporary are facing 7 Seas Lagoon.