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

[pwmitch237]

Hello all,

In March I'll be heading down to the Contemporary for a week, and I'm a big fan of the monorail. 3 Questions:

1. What are the good locations to take pictures of the monorail from the Contemporary?

2. Can you go out onto the observatory deck on the fourth floor to take pictures, and how do you get back inside? Then, can you stand underneath the monorail beams or is that gated off?

3. Can you go up the emergency exit stairs to get pictures? Then, if you can, how do you get back in the building?

I've been reading this thread but I'm only on the 7th page, so I apologize if this has been asked before.

Also, any advice would be appreciated because I certainly wouldn't want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.....

Thanks in advance

~pwmitch237

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hello all,

In March I'll be heading down to the Contemporary for a week, and I'm a big fan of the monorail. 3 Questions:

1. What are the good locations to take pictures of the monorail from the Contemporary?

2. Can you go out onto the observatory deck on the fourth floor to take pictures, and how do you get back inside? Then, can you stand underneath the monorail beams or is that gated off?

3. Can you go up the emergency exit stairs to get pictures? Then, if you can, how do you get back in the building?

I've been reading this thread but I'm only on the 7th page, so I apologize if this has been asked before.

Also, any advice would be appreciated because I certainly wouldn't want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.....

Thanks in advance

~pwmitch237

1) One location inside the 4th floor would be to stand in front of the Fantasia Market where the Express Monorail exits the Tower.

2) Yes you can go out onto the 4th floor observation deck and it's very easy because the doors to it are always opened, so you can get it back inside.

3) I don't think they will want you walking up the emergency stairs. So if you want to go as high as possible take the elevator to the 11th floor since it's the last regular floor in the Tower, then go out on the observation deck up there.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

I am curious if anyone has perceived an increased strain on the CR's "on demand" facilities (the quick service restaurant, the monorail station) since BLT opened up? Last time I was at CR was just before BLT opened.

 

[jandkmom]

We tried The Wave for the first time this last trip. We may be in the minority on this one but we actually liked it better than the California Grill. Both the food and the ambience.

That's great to hear. We have a ressie for our first night there!

 

[sjs314]

1) One location inside the 4th floor would be to stand in front of the Fantasia Market where the Express Monorail exits the Tower.

2) Yes you can go out onto the 4th floor observation deck and it's very easy because the doors to it are always opened, so you can get it back inside.

3) I don't think they will want you walking up the emergency stairs. So if you want to go as high as possible take the elevator to the 11th floor since it's the last regular floor in the Tower, then go out on the observation deck up there.

I did not know there was an observation deck on the 11th floor this is the first time I have heard that mentioned, only knew about the one on the 4th floor.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I did not know there was an observation deck on the 11th floor this is the first time I have heard that mentioned, only knew about the one on the 4th floor.

It's not really an observation deck, it's the fire exit and sometimes people go on them to watch Wishes since they are on all the Tower floors.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am curious if anyone has perceived an increased strain on the CR's "on demand" facilities (the quick service restaurant, the monorail station) since BLT opened up? Last time I was at CR was just before BLT opened.

Honestly I haven't noticed a difference since Bay Lake Tower opened, because there is always those guests not staying at either location who would use the Resort Monorail or eat at the Contempo Cafe.

 

[sjs314]

In anticipation of Mondays release of the new room discounts, I have been playing around on the Disney Web site with various dates/room catogories so when I call Monday and they tell me what is available I can make an imformed choice and not need to make any more changes to my reservation.

Anyway just need to confirm a couple of things.....

Atrium CL is the 12th floor?

Standard Atrium CL is BLV? (the web site says it can be mk or blv, which does not make sense)

We are currently booked with DxDP but I am thinking if we should be lucky and be able to get the discount on CL that the DDP might be enough since we can grab a bite to eat in the CL lounge in the mornings before heading out and afternoons when we come back for a break from the parks?

We were upgraded years ago at YC to CL(concierge) but DH and I never even used the lounge, only my 2 DS took advantage of it, since DH and I had enough to eat without it and I had had TS breakfast and dinners planned for everyday before knowing about the upgrade.

TIA

 

[Pjimmeyer]

It's not really an observation deck, it's the fire exit and sometimes people go on them to watch Wishes since they are on all the Tower floors.

Not a bad spot at all for fireworks, but no re-entry on that floor. You have to go down to the first floor to get back in.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

In anticipation of Mondays release of the new room discounts, I have been playing around on the Disney Web site with various dates/room catogories so when I call Monday and they tell me what is available I can make an imformed choice and not need to make any more changes to my reservation.

Anyway just need to confirm a couple of things.....

Atrium CL is the 12th floor?

Standard Atrium CL is BLV? (the web site says it can be mk or blv, which does not make sense)

We are currently booked with DxDP but I am thinking if we should be lucky and be able to get the discount on CL that the DDP might be enough since we can grab a bite to eat in the CL lounge in the mornings before heading out and afternoons when we come back for a break from the parks?

We were upgraded years ago at YC to CL(concierge) but DH and I never even used the lounge, only my 2 DS took advantage of it, since DH and I had enough to eat without it and I had had TS breakfast and dinners planned for everyday before knowing about the upgrade.

TIA

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but there are new room discounts coming out Monday? Are they going to be percentage discounts? I was hoping to get another 40 percent discount bounce-back offer on deluxe resort stays when we were just there 2 weeks ago but the only thing offered at that time was the free dining plan.

Edit: Also, yes and yes to your first 2 questions. =)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In anticipation of Mondays release of the new room discounts, I have been playing around on the Disney Web site with various dates/room catogories so when I call Monday and they tell me what is available I can make an imformed choice and not need to make any more changes to my reservation.

Anyway just need to confirm a couple of things.....

Atrium CL is the 12th floor?

Standard Atrium CL is BLV? (the web site says it can be mk or blv, which does not make sense)

We are currently booked with DxDP but I am thinking if we should be lucky and be able to get the discount on CL that the DDP might be enough since we can grab a bite to eat in the CL lounge in the mornings before heading out and afternoons when we come back for a break from the parks?

We were upgraded years ago at YC to CL(concierge) but DH and I never even used the lounge, only my 2 DS took advantage of it, since DH and I had enough to eat without it and I had had TS breakfast and dinners planned for everyday before knowing about the upgrade.

TIA

Yes the Standard Atrium Club room is the Bay Lake View, since the only other view up there to choose from is the Atrium Club Magic Kingdom View.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I just wanted to wish all the Contemporary fans on here a Happy New Year.

 

[sjs314]

Yes According to this thread there are room discounts coming out Monday http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2623329

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

okay boys and girls.... i need advice.

because we are an indecisive couple, we today have decided to switch our grand floridian reservation in may to the contemporary. i am going in march with my mom, so it was hard to justify the extra cost for a basic garden room at the g-flo.

anywho. i went ahead and switched to garden wing-garden view at the contemporary... and will hopefully add the discount coming on monday.

BUT! i could rent points for a BLT studio for wayyyy less than the garden wing room.

what would you do?? which room do you like better if you've experienced both?? we have a queen at home, so it's not like that's a huge deal... even tho we like a king on vaca.

any advice would be amazing. sometimes we just can't think clearly ourselves.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

okay boys and girls.... i need advice.

because we are an indecisive couple, we today have decided to switch our grand floridian reservation in may to the contemporary. i am going in march with my mom, so it was hard to justify the extra cost for a basic garden room at the g-flo.

anywho. i went ahead and switched to garden wing-garden view at the contemporary... and will hopefully add the discount coming on monday.

BUT! i could rent points for a BLT studio for wayyyy less than the garden wing room.

what would you do?? which room do you like better if you've experienced both?? we have a queen at home, so it's not like that's a huge deal... even tho we like a king on vaca.

any advice would be amazing. sometimes we just can't think clearly ourselves.

Well no matter what with their Garden Wing or Bay Lake Tower you will need to walk over to the Contemporary Tower when going to their stores and restaurants, although they are not long walks. Now from what I have read the Bay Lake Tower Studios are the smallest among the DVC Resorts, so I think the Garden Wing rooms are bigger. So that's the only difference I can see between them.

 

[sjs314]

okay boys and girls.... i need advice.

because we are an indecisive couple, we today have decided to switch our grand floridian reservation in may to the contemporary. i am going in march with my mom, so it was hard to justify the extra cost for a basic garden room at the g-flo.

anywho. i went ahead and switched to garden wing-garden view at the contemporary... and will hopefully add the discount coming on monday.

BUT! i could rent points for a BLT studio for wayyyy less than the garden wing room.

what would you do?? which room do you like better if you've experienced both?? we have a queen at home, so it's not like that's a huge deal... even tho we like a king on vaca.

any advice would be amazing. sometimes we just can't think clearly ourselves.

As CR Resort Fan noted the BLT studios are small according to everything I have read but you can get a TPV and you will have a balcony, two things you can not get with a garden wing room.

I had switched from a tower TPV to the GW Deluxe room for FD, but was able to book a tower TPV with the new discount that came out, I knew I would miss not having a balcony and really wanted the TPV.

 

[Alan_BLT_2009]

Thanks for the information!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Yes According to this thread there are room discounts coming out Monday http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2623329

There is also the Kids Stay and Play Free promo:

http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#dvkidsfree

They just released it to Visa Card holders so it should release to the general public next week.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I just wanted to wish all the Contemporary fans on here a Happy New Year.

Happy 2011 to you, too!

I decided to drive straight through from WDW to NoVA yesterday (14 hours with stops). We welcomed 2011 in the car

When we were leaving WDW yesterday around 11:00, the MK had already been closed and the line of cars to enter was longer than I've ever seen - crazy!

 

[WDWKOOK]

okay boys and girls.... i need advice.

because we are an indecisive couple, we today have decided to switch our grand floridian reservation in may to the contemporary. i am going in march with my mom, so it was hard to justify the extra cost for a basic garden room at the g-flo.

anywho. i went ahead and switched to garden wing-garden view at the contemporary... and will hopefully add the discount coming on monday.

BUT! i could rent points for a BLT studio for wayyyy less than the garden wing room.

what would you do?? which room do you like better if you've experienced both?? we have a queen at home, so it's not like that's a huge deal... even tho we like a king on vaca.

any advice would be amazing. sometimes we just can't think clearly ourselves.

If you rent points, daily housekeeping is not included. It is included, however, if you make a cash reservation. Just something to keep in mind.