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

[Cinderumbrella]

Our only CL experience is RPC at the GF and we didn't have an issue with it. The lounge ladies there are terrific and the food was always being refilled. I don't recall seeing any PJs, but we didn't eat there too early.

Where are the GV rooms at the YC in relation to the lounge? You could always grab the food and eat in the room (we did that a couple of times too).

 

[of the seas]

I love the Epcot resorts, but that darn boat is so sloooooooow! We did a Contemporary/Boardwalk split last year because we wanted to stay in both areas. But we wouldn't walk to MGM and hated the boats-no air on them either, so we didn't find it convenient. If the BC/YC were in the MK area, that would be perfect!

We are finally booked at the Contemporary Bay Lake view CL for after our cruise this summer! Can't wait.

 

[rcraw45425]

Our first CL stay was at YC (upgraded at check in). We had standard view, which was okay, we're used to water view so it was a bit of a change, but not bad. CL offerings were decent, the attendants were pretty good about replenishing. No help with ADR changes but we were there right after New Years so it was understandable. We frequently took stuff back to the room for later/to eat in comfort. YC is very spread out, but one thing we like is finding a stairwell and using it instead of going all the way back to the lobby. We have stayed wv twice and have our "hidden staircase" as we call it that comes out close to the marina/boat dock. The theme, to us is "quiet elegance", so much calmer than the chaotic BC! Breakast offerings in all the lounges are pretty good, our DD13 is a breakfast fiend, she loves to go down and get cereal, fruit, maybe a danish or muffin. THey also have yogurt and croissants and bagels. The YC used to have Krispy Kreme doughnuts but I believe that the discontinued them as we did not see them in November. I booked CR Atrium Club Bay Lake for our upcoming visit, was able to upgrade to TPView earlier this week for ~$50 per day extra! Looking forward to CR CL, we love having water/sodas and snacks available so we don't have to carry them from home (we drive), plus DH likes to hit the dessert offerings nightly on the way to the room. I agree with others about split stay with YC and another deluxe CL. DH also refuses to stay at AKL due to the remoteness, so we'll never try that unless they get monorail access! One other advantage of the EPCOT resorts is the convenience of walking the Boardwalk at night or reentering EPCOT through International Gateway in the evening for dinner/dessert. If you get water view at YC you can also see the fireworks from Illuminations from your balcony.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I do have a -40% off pin (wouldn't book without one) so we're lucky that everything is under consideration. I just asked DD if she would like staying at the CR if we were CL and she said, "Maybe, I'll think about it", so it's not completely off the table anymore - thanks for the suggestion. (But truly, would you have suggested anything but CR/CL).

Well I only suggested staying Club Level over there as an extra incentive because you mentioned your daughter not wanting to stay there, so would she have said yes to just the regular Tower - Bay Lake View?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Where are the GV rooms at the YC in relation to the lounge?

The lounge is on the fifth floor, but I've read that the club level rooms are spread-out, I think some are even on other floors

I love the Epcot resorts, but that darn boat is so sloooooooow! We did a Contemporary/Boardwalk split last year because we wanted to stay in both areas. But we wouldn't walk to MGM and hated the boats-no air on them either, so we didn't find it convenient. If the BC/YC were in the MK area, that would be perfect!

We are finally booked at the Contemporary Bay Lake view CL for after our cruise this summer! Can't wait.

You're right, they are hot and slow I've read that it can be faster to walk rather than boat to DHS. I hope you have a great land/cruise combo!

Our first CL stay was at YC (upgraded at check in). We had standard view, which was okay, we're used to water view so it was a bit of a change, but not bad. CL offerings were decent, the attendants were pretty good about replenishing. No help with ADR changes but we were there right after New Years so it was understandable. We frequently took stuff back to the room for later/to eat in comfort. YC is very spread out, but one thing we like is finding a stairwell and using it instead of going all the way back to the lobby. We have stayed wv twice and have our "hidden staircase" as we call it that comes out close to the marina/boat dock. The theme, to us is "quiet elegance", so much calmer than the chaotic BC! Breakast offerings in all the lounges are pretty good, our DD13 is a breakfast fiend, she loves to go down and get cereal, fruit, maybe a danish or muffin. THey also have yogurt and croissants and bagels. The YC used to have Krispy Kreme doughnuts but I believe that the discontinued them as we did not see them in November. I booked CR Atrium Club Bay Lake for our upcoming visit, was able to upgrade to TPView earlier this week for ~$50 per day extra! Looking forward to CR CL, we love having water/sodas and snacks available so we don't have to carry them from home (we drive), plus DH likes to hit the dessert offerings nightly on the way to the room. I agree with others about split stay with YC and another deluxe CL. DH also refuses to stay at AKL due to the remoteness, so we'll never try that unless they get monorail access! One other advantage of the EPCOT resorts is the convenience of walking the Boardwalk at night or reentering EPCOT through International Gateway in the evening for dinner/dessert. If you get water view at YC you can also see the fireworks from Illuminations from your balcony.

DD loves to eat in the parks/resorts so she isn't really buying the CL idea. And, for less we could stay water view, which as you point out, would give us a view of illuminations. The CR Atrium/BLV actually costs more than the BLT one bedroom we booked (when DH was going) and the AllEars reviews are pretty bad.

DD has proclaimed that she'd do a YC/CR split (non-CL). She still wants to throw AK in there for 2 nights (which won't be an option when DH is with us), but I'm having second thoughts about 3 resorts in 10 days and I still dislike the meager (non-CL) breakfast choices at the YC/BC.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well I only suggested staying Club Level over there as an extra incentive because you mentioned your daughter not wanting to stay there, so would she have said yes to just the regular Tower - Bay Lake View?

Only to an 11-year-old would that not be an incentive, in fact, she doesn't even want to try a MKV. But she says (as of now, so this could all change) that she wants to do our usual Tower/BLV instead of Poly - phew

 

[of the seas]

DD has proclaimed that she'd do a YC/CR split (non-CL). She still wants to throw AK in there for 2 nights (which won't be an option when DH is with us), but I'm having second thoughts about 3 resorts in 10 days and I still dislike the meager (non-CL) breakfast choices at the YC/BC.

Why don't you do a split stay between 2 resorts-1 you get to pick, the other she gets to pick and no one can complain about the other's choice!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

DD loves to eat in the parks/resorts so she isn't really buying the CL idea. And, for less we could stay water view, which as you point out, would give us a view of illuminations. The CR Atrium/BLV actually costs more than the BLT one bedroom we booked (when DH was going) and the AllEars reviews are pretty bad.

Personally I wouldn't put to much into those reviews from there or any other websites, because your going to have great ones and not so good ones. Plus if people have a bad time then chances are they will want post that if they had a great time.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Only to an 11-year-old would that not be an incentive, in fact, she doesn't even want to try a MKV. But she says (as of now, so this could all change) that she wants to do our usual Tower/BLV instead of Poly - phew

Well at least she is starting to come around to her senses.

 

[cheesemouse]

All CR rooms are spacious, you could probably put it between the tv and the wall where you come in (where the door is on connecting rooms). I know a huge suitcase will lay there with room to spare on either side. BAck when we needed one they still had cribs and I believe that 's where they put it.

Exactly! This is where we put the PnP last summer. Just slide it right next to the connecting room door and you'll be all set.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Why don't you do a split stay between 2 resorts-1 you get to pick, the other she gets to pick and no one can complain about the other's choice!

It looks like that's where we're headed - YC/CR split. I'm lucky to have all of these choices, but I keep second guessing myself (and driving DD crazy) thinking I'll regret my choice. I have some serious commitment issues

 

[WDWKOOK]

Personally I wouldn't put to much into those reviews from there or any other websites, because your going to have great ones and not so good ones. Plus if people have a bad time then chances are they will want post that if they had a great time.

That's what my family says, too (DD warns me never to look at them again because they just upset me.) But I still look at all those reviews anyway I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess or maybe I'm looking for an excuse to change my mind

Well at least she is starting to come around to her senses.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

So right now it is YC water view and CR MKV split?

If you do the split, I would do the YC first, that way you end up at CR at the end and avoid remorse. If you do CR first, then move (and hate it over there) you will second guess why you ever moved in the first place!)

As for poor breakfast choices over there, ITA, which is one of the reasons that we don't stay over there anymore. (That and the fact that too many resorts share buses over there....it feels like it always takes close to an hour to get to MK from over there ) Can you eat in the parks those days? Sometimes we stop at MK Bakery on our way out for the night and grab some muffins etc for the next morning in the room...

And, as for AKL, I would just skip it outright to avoid the 3 way split, but make an ADR there (and keep it this time ) We like to dine at Jiko and never have a car. We just monorail to MK and then hop on the AKL bus. Piece of cake!

ETA: And give her a big 'atta girl for saying no to the Poly!! lol

 

[WDWKOOK]

So right now it is YC water view and CR MKV split?

If you do the split, I would do the YC first, that way you end up at CR at the end and avoid remorse. If you do CR first, then move (and hate it over there) you will second guess why you ever moved in the first place!)

As for poor breakfast choices over there, ITA, which is one of the reasons that we don't stay over there anymore. (That and the fact that too many resorts share buses over there....it feels like it always takes close to an hour to get to MK from over there ) Can you eat in the parks those days? Sometimes we stop at MK Bakery on our way out for the night and grab some muffins etc for the next morning in the room...

And, as for AKL, I would just skip it outright to avoid the 3 way split, but make an ADR there (and keep it this time ) We like to dine at Jiko and never have a car. We just monorail to MK and then hop on the AKL bus. Piece of cake!

ETA: And give her a big 'atta girl for saying no to the Poly!! lol

She'll get a kick out of that after school

Only on this thread can you dislike the Poly rooms and AKL's location and not get flamed - you guys are great


YC (WV) first is exactly how I envisioned it and for the same reason. I'm driving so buses aren't an issue. DD actually prefers BLV over MKV and non-CL (strange kid, I know).

You're right, I can avoid the AKL altogether if I just commit to the ADR and don't cancel it. But, when I told DD about the YC/CR split she said, "But what about all the animals?" (I was going to book SV) so I told her she could see them on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride

I can probably deal with the lack of breakfast choices at YC since it's DH who is the big breakfast eater on vacation. DD and I will probably be content with an early lunch. Last summer the BC did experiment with some sort of breakfast at Beaches and Cream, but they stopped it after the summer. The BC Marketplace has a few items and Kouzzina's at the BW and the Swolphin all have breakfast if DD is starving.

Have you (or anyone else) ever eaten at the Captain's Grill for breakfast? And, would you do the split stay right down the middle, or a shorter stay at YC?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Where do you like to spend more time- EPCOT/DHS or MK? For us, we spend about 50% of our time at MK and the other 50% split between the other 3 parks (therefore a longer stay at CR would make more sense). If not, a 50/50 split would work.

Not to make things worse, but what about an AKL/CR split then? 3-4 days at AKL (SV) and the rest at CR BLV? Since you have a car, you don't need to worry about being far away (plus, the remoteness actually adds to the charm of the resort). And save the YC split for when DH is back.

I'm really not helping am I??? I am going to watch Y&R instead and see what kind of trouble Billy and Victoria can get into today instead of causing more of my own

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It looks like that's where we're headed - YC/CR split. I'm lucky to have all of these choices, but I keep second guessing myself (and driving DD crazy) thinking I'll regret my choice. I have some serious commitment issues

Well I guess that's a good decision because as long as you still end up at the Contemporary which is what you must want.

 

[lumpy08]

For those of you who have stayed in the Garden wing Garden view. Is there a preference for room. I am thinking the 1st floor. Which wing is closer to the MK entrance? The North or South?

 

[rcraw45425]

For those of you who have stayed in the Garden wing Garden view. Is there a preference for room. I am thinking the 1st floor. Which wing is closer to the MK entrance? The North or South?

There's only one wing now, the south wing, north was demolished to make way for Bay Lake Towers.

 

[WDWKOOK]

For those of you who have stayed in the Garden wing Garden view. Is there a preference for room. I am thinking the 1st floor. Which wing is closer to the MK entrance? The North or South?

I have stayed in the Wing and for a fantastic view of BL, I recommend requesting a ground floor room facing Bay Lake. You'll be steps from the beach and you'll have a patio. The 2nd and 3rd floors don't have balconies, but also have great BL views.

I hope you get your request!

 

[lumpy08]

Okay that's is why I was driving myself crazy... I was looking at my map from when we stayed at CR in 08 and it wasn't on there. (We were there during construction of BLT). I must have been looking at an old map and was just thinking they added another wing with the BLT.

Has anyone stayed in GW GV in room 05-15 or rooms 16-27. I am thinking 05-15. Just wondering what the noise level with the pool. I am also assuming it is a quicker walk to the tower. Can anyone direct me to any pictures of the outside of South GW GV rooms.


Next Question: I have been making my ADRs and was wondering for people who stay at CR where do you typically go for dinner? So far most of the meals I have booked are at the MK (CRT), CR (Chef Mickey), Poly (Ohana & Kona Cafe) and GF (1900 Park Fare B & D) and Epcot (Teppan Edo & Tutto Italia). I was thinking of adding Jiko or Yaughtmen, Fulton's (NOt sure where Y & F are), but how do you like getting over to AK or the other locations from CR for dinner that are not on the monorail loop?

Thanks!