The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (FEB 2010)

[WDWKOOK]

trying to sell my wife on CR vs value family suite
can anyone tell me which side(s) the standard view in the garden building is?

i see there are are 3 buildings that form the basic shape of a capital I
if i look down on them the pool would be to the left side and the lake at the top

so any info on where standard compared to garden views rooms are in the garden buildings would be helpful and help me decide if it is worth the extra money
thanks

The STD/GW rooms face the parking lot and monorail. They are on the complete opposite end to the rooms that face Bay Lake. All of the non-suite/non Tower Club (14th floor) rooms at the CR are identical, so you'll get the same large room (around 420 sf) whether in a STD/GW room or a Tower/TPV room.

Don't forget to mention to your DW that you'll be able to walk to the MK in about 10 mins. and you can take the monorail to the TTC to go to Epcot. You can also take the boat to WL and FTW or monorail over to the Poly and GF for a bite to eat, so you'll have quick access to 4 food courts (WL, CR, Poly, GF) and many table service restaurants. And, everything will be under one roof in the Tower and your laundry is right in the GW and they accept your KTTW card as payment.

If your DW likes the location of the CR, but would also like the features that a Family Suite offers, you might want to also consider a BLT Studio or Suite.

 

[hstrickland]

trying to sell my wife on CR vs value family suite
can anyone tell me which side(s) the standard view in the garden building is?

i see there are are 3 buildings that form the basic shape of a capital I
if i look down on them the pool would be to the left side and the lake at the top

so any info on where standard compared to garden views rooms are in the garden buildings would be helpful and help me decide if it is worth the extra money
thanks

How many are in your party? Is that why your DW wants the value family suite? The CR rooms are very spacious...sleeps 5 comfortably.

The STD/GW rooms face the parking lot and monorail. They are on the complete opposite end to the rooms that face Bay Lake. All of the non-suite/non Tower Club (14th floor) rooms at the CR are identical, so you'll get the same large room (around 420 sf) whether in a STD/GW room or a Tower/TPV room.

Don't forget to mention to your DW that you'll be able to walk to the MK in about 10 mins. and you can take the monorail to the TTC to go to Epcot. You can also take the boat to WL and FTW or monorail over to the Poly and GR for a bite to eat, so you'll have quick access to 4 food courts (WL, CR, Poly, GF) and many table service restaurants. And, everything will be under one roof in the Tower and your laundry is right in the GW and they accept your KTTW card as payment.

If your DW likes the location of the CR, but would also like the features that a Family Suite offers, you might want to also consider a BLT Studio or Suite.

Ditto to all of this. We just returned from the CR and the walkway was terrific!!! We utilized the boat, also, going to and from the FW Campgrounds. I'm not much of a bus person, so the monorail resorts work great for my family. Pushing a stroller on the monorail vs. collapsing it down on the bus??? Of course if you have no strollers, then that makes no difference, does it? We have 2 strollers You will hear differing opinions on the monorail...some love it...some hate it. We have never had any major issues...maybe that's why we love it. By the way...the queen beds are super comfortable at the CR!!! And in my opinion more comfortable than the other deluxe resorts we've stayed in. I really don't think you will regret giving the CR a try!

 

[dmband]

thanks guys

my party is 6 people
2 adults
3 kids and baby under 3
so i need a room that holds 5+ - thats why i am looking at CR or family suite (por is out - to tight with all the stuff i need to bring for the baby)

it is good news to me if we face the parking lot/monorail, close to laundry, and stuff.
seems like it a faster walk from there then out farther near the lake and since we don't spend lots of time in the room view is not high on my list

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

it is good news to me if we face the parking lot/monorail, close to laundry, and stuff.
seems like it a faster walk from there then out farther near the lake and since we don't spend lots of time in the room view is not high on my list

No matter what view you end up with in the Garden Wing I think there is only one entrance to the building, so it's the same distance no matter if your leaving or going back.

 

[hstrickland]

thanks guys

my party is 6 people
2 adults
3 kids and baby under 3
so i need a room that holds 5+ - thats why i am looking at CR or family suite (por is out - to tight with all the stuff i need to bring for the baby)

it is good news to me if we face the parking lot/monorail, close to laundry, and stuff.
seems like it a faster walk from there then out farther near the lake and since we don't spend lots of time in the room view is not high on my list

Now I understand why you wanted the family suite...6 people...and the suites have 2 rooms, correct? Have you thought about BLT, a 1 bd room? That would give you a little more space. Or maybe FW cabins??

 

[dmband]

Well I just booked a garden view room for next summer
Pretty happy right now

Fwiw a lot of the rooms that will hold my family are out of my price range
So that's why I had it narrowed down to a normal room or family site at a value resort

 

[Pjimmeyer]

Well I just booked a garden view room for next summer
Pretty happy right now

Fwiw a lot of the rooms that will hold my family are out of my price range
So that's why I had it narrowed down to a normal room or family site at a value resort

Congrats!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well I just booked a garden view room for next summer
Pretty happy right now

Fwiw a lot of the rooms that will hold my family are out of my price range
So that's why I had it narrowed down to a normal room or family site at a value resort

Yippee! Time for a ticker!

So you booked a Garden View instead of a STD? If you did, I recommend adding to your reservation (if you haven't already) the request: "Room facing Bay Lake." Also, since there aren't balconies in the GW, if you want to have a patio, request a ground floor room.

We once had an end room on the ground floor facing Bay Lake and it was amazing. We were just steps from the beach and the view was just of the lake. An incredible room for a GW rate

 

[hstrickland]

Well I just booked a garden view room for next summer
Pretty happy right now

Fwiw a lot of the rooms that will hold my family are out of my price range
So that's why I had it narrowed down to a normal room or family site at a value resort

You will love it! You will especially love the convenience...that's worth a lot, right?!! I'm in your same boat...we have a family of 5, so that narrows our choices with resorts! I keep hoping for a 40% off pin to the villas so we can grab a 2 bedroom at BLT!! No pin, no 2 bedroom!

Yippee! Time for a ticker!

So you booked a Garden View instead of a STD? If you did, I recommend adding to your reservation (if you haven't already) the request: "Room facing Bay Lake." Also, since there aren't balconies in the GW, if you want to have a patio, request a ground floor room.

We once had an end room on the ground floor facing Bay Lake and it was amazing. We were just steps from the beach and the view was just of the lake. An incredible room for a GW rate

Good suggestion! The patio, in my opinion, is great! Last year at the Poly we had one...was terrific for the kids. It almost felt like we had extra space in our room...AND when the 3 year old was napping, we could go in and out of room without making too much noise.

WDWKOOK, don't you have a picture of your garden view somewhere on this thread? I can't remember if that was you or someone else...was a great picture!

 

[psac]

Since bookings are always cancellable, you might want to look into renting a 1- or 2-bedroom at Bay Lake Tower from a DVC member. Check out the DVC boards for details. I've never rented (from or to anyone), but people love it.

 

[dmband]

Just set a ticker up

I did request first floor and connecing/adjoining rooms (3 rooms in the res)
But didn't request anything else
Maybe I'll call back but I rather have the other requests over the view and getting all 3 might be tough ???

 

[hstrickland]

Since bookings are always cancellable, you might want to look into renting a 1- or 2-bedroom at Bay Lake Tower from a DVC member. Check out the DVC boards for details. I've never rented (from or to anyone), but people love it.

Not a bad idea, either!

Just set a ticker up

I did request first floor and connecing/adjoining rooms (3 rooms in the res)
But didn't request anything else
Maybe I'll call back but I rather have the other requests over the view and getting all 3 might be tough ???

We've always been very fortunate with our request...WDW has always granted them. I really think they try to be accommodating when at all possible. If it's a high traffic time, your request may or may not be awarded. So here's a little to get your wish granted. I may be wrong, but it seems like the CR is a busy hotel...maybe because of the convention center...always seems to be lots of people. Still a great place, though...just an observation.

 

[WDWKOOK]

WDWKOOK, don't you have a picture of your garden view somewhere on this thread? I can't remember if that was you or someone else...was a great picture!

Well, don't you have a great memory, Heather!

Just set a ticker up

I did request first floor and connecing/adjoining rooms (3 rooms in the res)
But didn't request anything else
Maybe I'll call back but I rather have the other requests over the view and getting all 3 might be tough ???

You might get lucky and get a room facing BL, so just for fun, here's a photo of the view we had from our ground floor end room facing Bay Lake:

And facing the room:

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well I just booked a garden view room for next summer
Pretty happy right now

Fwiw a lot of the rooms that will hold my family are out of my price range
So that's why I had it narrowed down to a normal room or family site at a value resort

Congratulations and I hope you have a great time.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We are back!!! Had another magnificent stay at CR!!! We arrived about midnight on June 4th for five nights before moving over to the BCV for the final four nights of our trip.

I just cannot say enough good things about the CR. I truly love it. Love the room and resort decor, love that it is basically all under one roof, love the Contempo Cafe, love the kind CMs, and LOVE LOVE LOVE that easy, quick walk to the MK and the quick walk or monorail ride back when finished at MK. It's the best! We were blessed to stay MKView once again, but now that we've done it twice, I know we'd be just as happy with the lake view or even staying in the garden wing.

It still amazes me when people say the theming of CR does nothing for them. I really feel like LOADS of people are missing out on such a fantastic resort. I love the huge bathroom and all that space in the commode area. And also love the two flat sinks -- one of them is perfect for me to lay out my make-up bag and all of our toiletries and then we just used the other sink for brushing teeth, etc. The white and black marble looks very classy and upscale in my opinion. And I don't recall anyone mentioning the sensor that comes on when you walk into the bathroom in the middle of the night which emits a teeny tiny drop of light so that you can see where you are walking -- fabulous! We also love the long glass desk and the glass table on wheels that you can move around. The room lighting is fantastic as well -- lots of options available for dimming or brightness.

We really enjoyed our stay at BCV, too, and being able to walk to EPCOT. This was our second split stay at DW resorts and they work very, very well for us. I still feel like the CR is "it" and we will probably always stay there on future trips. We may try BLT because the space of a villa is very nice. The CR rooms are quite large, though.

I'd be happy to answer any and all questions. I feel so blessed we were able to visit DW again and stay for five nights at CR. It was pure magic!! I truly felt at home there.

 

[hstrickland]

Glad you had a great trip, Carrie in AZ!!! The day you were arriving at the CR, we were leaving the CR We had a wonderful trip, too! Love it! I've started doing my TR...basically so I can relive my trip through a thread! The BCVs are on my list of places to stay...so different than the CR, huh? But different in a good way, no less! Glad you had a nice time there, too!

 

[Sinderelly]

You will love it! You will especially love the convenience...that's worth a lot, right?!! I'm in your same boat...we have a family of 5, so that narrows our choices with resorts! I keep hoping for a 40% off pin to the villas so we can grab a 2 bedroom at BLT!! No pin, no 2 bedroom!



Good suggestion! The patio, in my opinion, is great! Last year at the Poly we had one...was terrific for the kids. It almost felt like we had extra space in our room...AND when the 3 year old was napping, we could go in and out of room without making too much noise.

WDWKOOK, don't you have a picture of your garden view somewhere on this thread? I can't remember if that was you or someone else...was a great picture!

We are a family of five booked in a 1BR at BLT. We have never stayed at the Contemporary but loved it when we went to Calif Grill on our last trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We are back!!! Had another magnificent stay at CR!!! We arrived about midnight on June 4th for five nights before moving over to the BCV for the final four nights of our trip.

I just cannot say enough good things about the CR. I truly love it. Love the room and resort decor, love that it is basically all under one roof, love the Contempo Cafe, love the kind CMs, and LOVE LOVE LOVE that easy, quick walk to the MK and the quick walk or monorail ride back when finished at MK. It's the best! We were blessed to stay MKView once again, but now that we've done it twice, I know we'd be just as happy with the lake view or even staying in the garden wing.

It still amazes me when people say the theming of CR does nothing for them. I really feel like LOADS of people are missing out on such a fantastic resort. I love the huge bathroom and all that space in the commode area. And also love the two flat sinks -- one of them is perfect for me to lay out my make-up bag and all of our toiletries and then we just used the other sink for brushing teeth, etc. The white and black marble looks very classy and upscale in my opinion. And I don't recall anyone mentioning the sensor that comes on when you walk into the bathroom in the middle of the night which emits a teeny tiny drop of light so that you can see where you are walking -- fabulous! We also love the long glass desk and the glass table on wheels that you can move around. The room lighting is fantastic as well -- lots of options available for dimming or brightness.

We really enjoyed our stay at BCV, too, and being able to walk to EPCOT. This was our second split stay at DW resorts and they work very, very well for us. I still feel like the CR is "it" and we will probably always stay there on future trips. We may try BLT because the space of a villa is very nice. The CR rooms are quite large, though.

I'd be happy to answer any and all questions. I feel so blessed we were able to visit DW again and stay for five nights at CR. It was pure magic!! I truly felt at home there.

Thanks for posting your review and I say to those who don't like it because of their theme great, more room for those who like to stay there and appreciate it.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We are back!!! Had another magnificent stay at CR!!! We arrived about midnight on June 4th for five nights before moving over to the BCV for the final four nights of our trip.

I just cannot say enough good things about the CR. I truly love it. Love the room and resort decor, love that it is basically all under one roof, love the Contempo Cafe, love the kind CMs, and LOVE LOVE LOVE that easy, quick walk to the MK and the quick walk or monorail ride back when finished at MK. It's the best! We were blessed to stay MKView once again, but now that we've done it twice, I know we'd be just as happy with the lake view or even staying in the garden wing.

It still amazes me when people say the theming of CR does nothing for them. I really feel like LOADS of people are missing out on such a fantastic resort. I love the huge bathroom and all that space in the commode area. And also love the two flat sinks -- one of them is perfect for me to lay out my make-up bag and all of our toiletries and then we just used the other sink for brushing teeth, etc. The white and black marble looks very classy and upscale in my opinion. And I don't recall anyone mentioning the sensor that comes on when you walk into the bathroom in the middle of the night which emits a teeny tiny drop of light so that you can see where you are walking -- fabulous! We also love the long glass desk and the glass table on wheels that you can move around. The room lighting is fantastic as well -- lots of options available for dimming or brightness.

We really enjoyed our stay at BCV, too, and being able to walk to EPCOT. This was our second split stay at DW resorts and they work very, very well for us. I still feel like the CR is "it" and we will probably always stay there on future trips. We may try BLT because the space of a villa is very nice. The CR rooms are quite large, though.

I'd be happy to answer any and all questions. I feel so blessed we were able to visit DW again and stay for five nights at CR. It was pure magic!! I truly felt at home there.

You summed-up nicely all the reasons to love the CR and you're such an appreciative CR guest.

I do the same thing with the other sink (and hope that no one mistakenly turns the water on in it). I love that little sensor light, but sometimes it can be a little fussy and not go on right away. And, yes, that brown and white marble is beautiful IMHO, too.

I think a MK/Epcot split is a great idea. Would you do it in that order again with the CR first? So have you booked a bounceback? Was there one in your room?

Did you notice if there is still free WIFi being offered as a "test?" It was supposed to last only 30 days in public areas, but you know how sometimes these things get extended.

We are a family of five booked in a 1BR at BLT. We have never stayed at the Contemporary but loved it when we went to Calif Grill on our last trip.

I think the CA Grill has the best views at WDW and I love their sushi. Do you have an ADR there for your next trip? (BTW, I'm originally from Bloomington.)

 

[hstrickland]

We are a family of five booked in a 1BR at BLT. We have never stayed at the Contemporary but loved it when we went to Calif Grill on our last trip.

I wanted the 2br simpley because my parents would be with us...no luck! Oh well...For our last trip, I actually book 2br BCV, the switched to AKL CL, then finally switched to the CR!! I realized that most of our ADRs were near the monorail resorts, and the more I thought about not being close to MK, the more I KNEW I had to change.

Thanks for posting your review and I say to those who don't like it because of their theme great, more room for those who like to stay there and appreciate it.

...as the old saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Thank goodness WDW gives us sooooo many resort choices.