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

[WDWKOOK]

Earl of Sandwich, Contempo Cafe, Gasparilla's Grill & Games, Kona Island Sushi Bar, Cheese Cake Factory and Bonefish Grill.


Where is the Kona Island Sushi Bar located?

At the Poly, but it's only open in the evening. When you get off the monorail and come into the GCH, it's to your left next to Kona.

Keep in mind that the CCF and BG aren't on Disney property. Personally, I can't handle Gasparillas because the arcade is in the same room. It can get very noisy and distracting eating/chatting while all those bells and buzzers are going off. You can also walk to the MK from the CR and eat at Columbia Harbor House - it's our favorite QS in the MK. They have great, fairly healthy sandwiches and we love those window seats upstairs where you can look down on Fantasyland and people-watch.

We also love Tokyo Dining - great sushi and tempura and we think, the best service in Epcot. You could also take the boat over to the WL and have B, L or D at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's an "interactive" meal with the servers - lots of fun and great food.

Here is a link to the AllEars menus for WDW:

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

In a PP you mentioned not knowing where the Yachtsman's Steakhouse is, it's at the Yacht Club and Fultons Crab House is in DTD/Marketplace. It can be a bit of a trek to get out there just for an ADR, unless you're already at Epcot or DTD prior to your meal

 

[Cinderumbrella]

LUMPY08

While I am a GF lover at heart, I'm not a Gasparilla fan either (too small). But there are a lot of tables outside (with umbrellas) to sit at as well, with a lovely view of the marina and the castle. Just beware of the birds.... don't leave a tray unattended, they will swoop down on it (which is the case for most outdoor seating at WDW, unfortunately)

Yachtsman Steakhouse is at the YC. Easiest way to get there from the CR is a cab. Or you can walk to the MK bus stop and get on the YC bus (beware, it shares with anywhere from 1 to 4 other resorts, so this might take awhile). We like to eat here, but tend to do it on an EPCOT or DHS day so we can just walk to the resort from the park.

Jiko is at AKL and is one of our very favorites!!! We just walk from the CR to the MK bus stop and get on the AKL bus. This bus only shares with AKV (and you will stop there first) but is still alot easeier, IMHO, then the trek to YC.

Fulton's is in DTD, between the Marketplace and the West Side. We used to love to eat there back in the 90's/early 2000s, but it really went downhill after that. Check the restaurant board here on the DIS to see if it has improved. Also, it is not on the DDP, if that is a factor.

If its not to late to snag an ADR at Cali Grille at the CR, do so. It is FANTASTIC! And the view cannot be beat. We like to go early (like 5:30) since we have a better chance of scoring a window seat. We save the fireworks viewing for the balcony of our room rather than a restaurant.

HTH!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Personally, I can't handle Gasparillas because the arcade is in the same room. It can get very noisy and distracting eating/chatting while all those bells and buzzers are going off.

I personally think the noise there has got better because they got rid of that boxing game where that bell would go off every few minutes, even when someone was not playing it. As for the pager buzzers I never found those to be distracting.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I personally think the noise there has got better because they got rid of that boxing game where that bell would go off every few minutes, even when someone was not playing it. As for the pager buzzers I never found those to be distracting.

Pager buzzers? I meant the video game buzzers. I haven't stepped foot in there in a few years, so if that awful boxing game is gone, maybe it's more tolerable. I still find it an unrelaxed atmosphere, but outside is pleasant, if it's not raining.

 

[micandminforever]

We are driving to Disney and we have reservations at BLT this year. I know I check in at the contemporary lobby but do I leave my luggage with bell service there to be delivered to the suite.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We are driving to Disney and we have reservations at BLT this year. I know I check in at the contemporary lobby but do I leave my luggage with bell service there to be delivered to the suite.

Yes, bell services is located next to the check-in at the CR. You can also transport your luggage yourself if you'd like.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We are driving to Disney and we have reservations at BLT this year. I know I check in at the contemporary lobby but do I leave my luggage with bell service there to be delivered to the suite.

Basically all the services are located at the Contemporary which includes the transportation options, bell services, dining locations and etc.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I mentioned this on another topic because of something that got said and I am asking on here is anyone else notices this. On some nights when the line up at the Contemporary Monorail station is very busy has anyone else noticed the Cast Members working there don't wait for those guests getting off before they let other guests get on, so then it kind of creates a bigger problem of everyone trying to get through. However when I have waited for the Monorail at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian they usually wait until everyone getting off has left and I have seen lines at those stations also get very long. Now this past December one of the Monorail Cast Members told me part of the problem is the Contemporary is the busiest Monorail station among the Monorail Resorts and they try to get all the guests in and out as fast as possible and to keep the line up moving, so do you think that's the reason why they move guests around very fast?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

CR Fan, I have noticed this more than once and it drives me CRAZY!!!! Especially when you are trying to navigate with a stroller (which, thankfully, I no longer am )

The only reason I can think of is a time issue. They might be really pushing to get those monorails out of the MK and on to the TTC as quickly as possible as not to cause a backup elsewhere on the line.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Fan, I have noticed this more than once and it drives me CRAZY!!!! Especially when you are trying to navigate with a stroller (which, thankfully, I no longer am )

The only reason I can think of is a time issue. They might be really pushing to get those monorails out of the MK and on to the TTC as quickly as possible as not to cause a backup elsewhere on the line.

That's especially true on a night when one Monorail car might go down and it's something I have seen in person because it backs up the line. So during a time like that they keep moving everyone as fast as possible to make sure the Monorail can leave right away, so it will only stay there for 1 or 2 minutes.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

This will be our first time staying there again during peak season since BLT opened. We didn't have any monorail issues last June (in terms of long lines at the CR). Has anyone noticed a difference??

 

[tbenny]

I just got back from Disney
We stayed one night at CR MK CL and then 3 nights at BLT
Thank you for all your tips/advice

I must say it was one of the best vacations I have ever had.
The MK view was unbelieveable the wishes show was beautiful The CR was great the pool was fun=)
The beds at the CR are so comfortable the food was greaton the CL we were there on a Tuesday and it was chicken and shrimp Yummy
The wine was great at night Someone on here asked if you could take a beer out of the room a man took 2 wine glasses and the whole bottle of wine back to his room and the CM said that was fine.
Dorothy on the CL was really nice and helpful
BLT is really nice spacious and comfortable the walkway to the CR is windy hold your hats.
Lines for the monorail weren't bad.
I will post more later with pictures. Thank you

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I just got back from Disney
We stayed one night at CR MK CL and then 3 nights at BLT
Thank you for all your tips/advice

I must say it was one of the best vacations I have ever had.
The MK view was unbelieveable the wishes show was beautiful The CR was great the pool was fun=)
The beds at the CR are so comfortable the food was greaton the CL we were there on a Tuesday and it was chicken and shrimp Yummy
The wine was great at night Someone on here asked if you could take a beer out of the room a man took 2 wine glasses and the whole bottle of wine back to his room and the CM said that was fine.
Dorothy on the CL was really nice and helpful
BLT is really nice spacious and comfortable the walkway to the CR is windy hold your hats.
Lines for the monorail weren't bad.
I will post more later with pictures. Thank you

Thanks for posting your report and I can not wait to see your pictures.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I just got back from Disney
We stayed one night at CR MK CL and then 3 nights at BLT
Thank you for all your tips/advice

I must say it was one of the best vacations I have ever had.
The MK view was unbelieveable the wishes show was beautiful The CR was great the pool was fun=)
The beds at the CR are so comfortable the food was greaton the CL we were there on a Tuesday and it was chicken and shrimp Yummy
The wine was great at night Someone on here asked if you could take a beer out of the room a man took 2 wine glasses and the whole bottle of wine back to his room and the CM said that was fine.
Dorothy on the CL was really nice and helpful
BLT is really nice spacious and comfortable the walkway to the CR is windy hold your hats.
Lines for the monorail weren't bad.
I will post more later with pictures. Thank you

Thanks, tbenny for reporting back to all of us. Just curious, were you upgraded to CL or did you just want to try it out for one night?

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

I just got back from Disney
We stayed one night at CR MK CL and then 3 nights at BLT
Thank you for all your tips/advice

I must say it was one of the best vacations I have ever had.
The MK view was unbelieveable the wishes show was beautiful The CR was great the pool was fun=)
The beds at the CR are so comfortable the food was greaton the CL we were there on a Tuesday and it was chicken and shrimp Yummy
The wine was great at night Someone on here asked if you could take a beer out of the room a man took 2 wine glasses and the whole bottle of wine back to his room and the CM said that was fine.
Dorothy on the CL was really nice and helpful
BLT is really nice spacious and comfortable the walkway to the CR is windy hold your hats.
Lines for the monorail weren't bad.
I will post more later with pictures. Thank you

So glad you had a great time!! We also just got back (from a 7 night stay) at the BLT!! We LOVED it also!! We usually stay Concierge at the CR, so it was bittersweet as we LOVE our new home but missed the CL staff!!

We also agree with your comment regarding the outside walkway....sheesh...what were they thinking???

The TOTW Lounge was magnificent! Hope you got a chance to visit while you were there!!

 

[tbenny]

We just wanted one special night at CR CL
It was for our 40th bdays 15th anniversary I have never stayed in Disney
I will say that was the way to do it.
How do I attach a picture?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We just wanted one special night at CR CL
It was for our 40th bdays 15th anniversary I have never stayed in Disney
I will say that was the way to do it.
How do I attach a picture?

If you register with a website called Photobucket, you can upload your pictures onto there and post them on here. Plus it's free register for the standard account.
www.photobucket.com

 

[WDWKOOK]

We just wanted one special night at CR CL
It was for our 40th bdays 15th anniversary I have never stayed in Disney
I will say that was the way to do it.
How do I attach a picture?

After you upload them to a photo sharing service, you'll need the "img" code. Copy and paste the "img" code into your post and then preview it.

If you need more help, here is a DIS thread on posting photos:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1947588 (video tutorial)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1760755

 

[cinderella73]

Well my DS just told me that we are ( hes 9 lol) staying here ( monorail fanatic). My DD ( 16 ) only wants to know one thing. Does the arcade have Dance Dance Reveloution in it ? Hopefully someone here whos been in the arcade can help . My other DS is ok as long as it has a pool.And I just dont want to know what it will cost. lol Thank God I have a pin code! BTW they only have Mk view rooms left so I guess I will " have " to take that .

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well my DS just told me that we are ( hes 9 lol) staying here ( monorail fanatic). My DD ( 16 ) only wants to know one thing. Does the arcade have Dance Dance Reveloution in it ? Hopefully someone here whos been in the arcade can help . My other DS is ok as long as it has a pool.And I just dont want to know what it will cost. lol Thank God I have a pin code! BTW they only have Mk view rooms left so I guess I will " have " to take that .

I don't remember seeing Dance Dance Reveloution in their arcade, although I could be wrong so hopefully someone else can tell you for sure.