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

[WDWKOOK]

Question: We will be staying in the Contemporary Garden Wing, I requested 1st floor so we would have the patio to walk out on. Is there a specific Room I should be hopeful to get

A room facing Bay Lake is IMHO the best GW room. We had one once and loved the location and being able to walk right out to our patio and to the beach a few steps away.

Just finished paying off our Disney trip Feels great!!! Now...we just have to wait 3 more months. I'm trying to convince DH that we need to add another day to the end of our trip. He really wasn't excited about the CR at first, but he seems to be coming around. He made the comment that it will be sooooo nice to be able to walk to the MK. After he looked at pictures of the CR balconies, he commented on the terrific view he'll have each morning....it's going to be a great trip....can't wait!!!!!

Maybe you could tell him that you are going to book the extra day "just in case" and that you can always cancel that extra day up to 45 days before arrival (or 5 days for a RO reservation) if he changes his mind down the line. It's always prudent to plan ahead since if you wait, that extra day might not be available

Only a suggestion though, I don't want to get blamed if this scheme goes bad. Good luck!

 

[DisDadDoc]

Subscribing!

 

[Lillian Gracey]

If you are booking a room/tickets package, you might visit the website for MouseFan Travel. I saw them on AllEars travel, and out of curiosity wandered over to their website. Lucky me, I found out that they were offering a group rate for the weekend of the D23 event. Though I'm not participating in that event, I was still able to get a GREAT package rate which extended over into the dates I'm staying before the event starts. Not sure how many days they'll allow you to add on, however. Our room was VERY low (about $211/night for Garden View), plus discounted park tickets. Since it's a group package, they may have rooms still available you can't access from WDW.com.

HOWEVER, b/c it's a group rate, there are a few stipulations that might be a deal breaker for some people:

*Tickets are group tickets, so though discounted, they are nonrefundable once paid for, and expire after a year from purchase even if you don't use them (but they do include a visit to either a water park or DisneyQuest)

*You can't add the dining plan

*Deposit was one nights stay. My trips PIF date is April 1. You can cancel after that, but you lose your deposit and of course the cost of the tickets if you don't use them within the years expiration date.

Not sure if they do have any CR left, and if they do have any left, what room types are available. But it's one heck of a deal if they do. Overall, I think I saved about 50% over the same package booked directly with WDW.

Thank you very much for the suggestion! We are not getting tickets prior to the trip nor are we doing a package so they might not be of help to us. My gramma will be paying for the room, while I will write her a check for my half. I'm glad you saved so much money! I will have to think about going through them on my next trip.

 

[disneysuncat]

We changed our plans once again, and I actually booked the reservation this time and refuse to change again! Originally we were opting for 9 days Poly, 3 at POFQ. I was online messing with the late summer offer on the Disney website, and found that the Contemporary Garden Wing Garden View was available. So now we are booked for 13 nights (why not?) from 9/6-9/16. One night will be spent at a MNSSHP, and we'll have one down day (maybe the day we arrive.)

I know the lower floor has patios, and the 2nd and 3rd have basically a railing, with maybe a one-foot step out. (at least I think that, I read it somewhere, is that correct?) Of course I'd love a full balcony, but we'd have to be in the tower to do that, and the budget calls for the garden wing. So, here is a question...should I make any requests? I don't know other than "ground floor patio" or "top floor" what request options there may be. If I don't make a request am I chancing getting a very undesirable room? Is there a really undesirable room in the Garden Wing?

I have seen people mention requesting the patio, so that they'll be able to easily go to the beach/pool. If you do this, is there a way to lock the sliding doors from the outside as you exit that way?

I guess all in all we don't really mind, I sort of think maybe the top floor just so no one is thumping over me, but then again I don't see many complaints about hearing people above you. ANY direction/advice would be appreciated!

We also have to really decide which dining plan, if any, that we want, but that is for another thread.

ETA: I forgot to mention, I don't like those connecting room doors. Is there a way to request a room without connecting doors, or is that a really hard request? (or a stupid request?) I was really irritated by connecting doors (and some kids that constantly banged on them) at Saratoga once. Maybe that was an isolated thing. I am sure it wouldn't ruin my vacation, though!

 

[Momtomouselover]

What are the garden wing garden view rooms like? I mean do they overlook a true garden or courtyard? Pool views? Is there a specific area that is nice to be in. I think we would like to be closer to the tower if possible (wish it could be the tower but trying not to blow the bank entirely on this trip!).

Help me please in my decision making. We have never stayed at the CR and I am considering a split stay with the BC (currently booked at AKL for AKL/BC split). Are the rooms in good condition at the CR? My last stay at the Poly our room was a bit run down so that is why I ask. Are there hidden Mickeys in the room (like bedspread, wallpaper, etc.)? My son loves those sort of things.

Thanks for any advice/info. Currently I'm trying to look through the threads but they are long!

 

[mdrob214]

GW Garden views can be views of Bay Lake, the pool, the courtyard area (with a view of the lake in the distance), etc. They're pretty decent views, imo. The 2nd/3rd floors have a rail. Not even a 1 ft. step out. Just a sliding door(a really big window). We stayed on the 2nd floor and thought it was fine. It was July and we probably wouldn't have spent much time on the balcony (and we were offered a ground floor room--if we were willing to wait).

The only requests I would make would be ground floor, if that's important to you, and close to the main building, if that's a factor. The fewer requests you make, the more likely that you'll get them.

ETA: Some of our view from 2009 (they were working on the shoreline in the distance, but it wasn't an issue.)

We were on the side opposite the pool--overlooking the waterway between Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon (the waterbridge)and could see the nightly water parade.

 

[disneysuncat]

Well I have already lied, I said I refused to change the reservation, and I just did. We went ahead and moved into the tower, bay lake view! We did cut it down to 11 days (from 13), but that is fine, as we'll have 10 day tickets and one MNSSHP party day, the other days were down days. I know I'd love being there no matter what, but I'll love it even more being in the tower, as I really did want a balcony.

Also to make myself feel better, I can think that it's two less days that I'll be paying for the rental car AND the cat sitter.

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi everyone!

It's been less than 48 hours since my husband said "We're thinking of getting back to Disney in 2012, right??" Since then I've been obsessed with planning... no big shock to anyone who knows me.

As you can tell from my signature, we LOVE the Poly. I love the feeling of being a million miles from the energy of the parks.

But I played with this summer's numbers (since of course it's too early for next summer's.) We can save almost $600 by staying in the Garden Wing. That's an AWFUL lot of tutoring.

I last stayed at the Contemporary in 1976, as a recent high school graduate, so for all intents and purposes, I'm a newbie. I'm trying to pin down my reasons for not jumping at the chance to stay at the Contemporary. Here's what I have:

a. The pool. Is it better than it looks? It just looks so HOT, surrounded by all that concrete.

b. I'm not sure how I feel about the decor.

On the other hand, I LOVE the idea of walking to and from the MK, especially at the end of the evening.

Anyone want to fell me in on the reasons you love the Contemporary?

 

[bean bunny]

Thanks everyone for the information! We are so excited about our first stay at the CR! I'll be eagerly reading all the posts on this thread until May!!

 

[hstrickland]

Maybe you could tell him that you are going to book the extra day "just in case" and that you can always cancel that extra day up to 45 days before arrival (or 5 days for a RO reservation) if he changes his mind down the line. It's always prudent to plan ahead since if you wait, that extra day might not be available

Only a suggestion though, I don't want to get blamed if this scheme goes bad. Good luck!

You're a genius!!! I should know this...I'm a super planner...always plan ahead Think I will go ahead and book the extra night. If DH has a fit...I'll cancel. He should be expecting it anyway. Last year at the Poly, I added 2 extra nights when the 40% off came out.

Thanks, WDWKOOK

 

[jeanylaser]

where is the outdoor movies in CR located at I can't find it in the map please help me! Does the CR has standard view?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

where is the outdoor movies in CR located at I can't find it in the map please help me! Does the CR has standard view?

The movies are shown somewhere between the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower, however I can't remember exactly where.

The Contemporary does have a Standard View and it's the Garden Garden Wing - Standard (Parking Lot) View. A new category was added for 2011 and it's called the Tower Standard (Parking Lot) View King, however you will also see the Magic Kingdom from that type of room and not just the parking lot.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi everyone!

It's been less than 48 hours since my husband said "We're thinking of getting back to Disney in 2012, right??" Since then I've been obsessed with planning... no big shock to anyone who knows me.

As you can tell from my signature, we LOVE the Poly. I love the feeling of being a million miles from the energy of the parks.

But I played with this summer's numbers (since of course it's too early for next summer's.) We can save almost $600 by staying in the Garden Wing. That's an AWFUL lot of tutoring.

I last stayed at the Contemporary in 1976, as a recent high school graduate, so for all intents and purposes, I'm a newbie. I'm trying to pin down my reasons for not jumping at the chance to stay at the Contemporary. Here's what I have:

a. The pool. Is it better than it looks? It just looks so HOT, surrounded by all that concrete.

b. I'm not sure how I feel about the decor.

On the other hand, I LOVE the idea of walking to and from the MK, especially at the end of the evening.

Anyone want to fell me in on the reasons you love the Contemporary?

It was either in 2009 or 2010 but the Contemporary did add more trees around their pool area to give it more a tropical feel to it. Besides that it's also designed like Mickey Mouse ears and you can't get more Disney then that, plus I don't think any of the other resort pools have that design.

 

[Aliceacc]

OH, good, I was hoping you would weigh in!

I know you're a huge CR fan... could you tell me some of the reasons you like it so much?

I'm hoping you'll convince me to try it. That way I could still be on the monorail, and the $600 difference between CR and the Poly could go towards airfare.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

OH, good, I was hoping you would weigh in!

I know you're a huge CR fan... could you tell me some of the reasons you like it so much?

I'm hoping you'll convince me to try it. That way I could still be on the monorail, and the $600 difference between CR and the Poly could go towards airfare.

The very 1st year my family and I went to WDW which was in July 1996 so that's going back a long time and we stayed offsite at a Hampton Inn on 192. Anyway on the day we went to the Magic Kingdom for the 1st time I remember going on the Monorail through the Contemporary and liked it from the start. Now after a couple of more offsite stays we decided to finally stay onsite at the Contemporary in May 1998 and the rest is history. I still remember us going up the elevator to our room and Pluto was pretending to steal my luggage, seriously that actually happened. and if your wondering I am not sure why he was in the lobby. We also like it because of the Resort Monorail access, the walkway to the Magic Kingdom and we have meet a lot of great Cast Members there over the years.

 

[jeanylaser]

The movies are shown somewhere between the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower, however I can't remember exactly where.

The Contemporary does have a Standard View and it's the Garden Garden Wing - Standard (Parking Lot) View. A new category was added for 2011 and it's called the Tower Standard (Parking Lot) View King, however you will also see the Magic Kingdom from that type of room and not just the parking lot.

thanks for the info I love Contemporary!

 

[WDWKOOK]

where is the outdoor movies in CR located at I can't find it in the map please help me! Does the CR has standard view?

Your kids are sure to enjoy this wonderful free activity at the Contemporary Resort Hotel. This program is open to all guests of Walt Disney World, not just to those staying at the resort. Refreshment stand and restrooms available. Check with a Cast Member for show times (usually around 7:30pm). These movies are projected on to a large portable screen under the sky bridge between the towers. You also might enjoy the Jammin' Pool Party 1:30-2:30 every day. Disney has changed their policy, the schedule can change weekly, so check back before you leave.

http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/activity-outdoormovie.php#contemporary

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well I have already lied, I said I refused to change the reservation, and I just did. We went ahead and moved into the tower, bay lake view! We did cut it down to 11 days (from 13), but that is fine, as we'll have 10 day tickets and one MNSSHP party day, the other days were down days. I know I'd love being there no matter what, but I'll love it even more being in the tower, as I really did want a balcony.

Also to make myself feel better, I can think that it's two less days that I'll be paying for the rental car AND the cat sitter.

Your cat will appreciate you not being gone as long. That's it! You're staying in the Tower instead of the GW because it's in the best interests of your cat! (Purrrrfect rationalization)

You're going to love being in the Tower. If the noise from Chef Mickey's might bother you, you can request to be far away from Chef Mickey's. For the bed to face away from BLT and toward Epcot, FTW and the WL, you should request an odd numbered room.

Have a great vacation!

You're a genius!!! I should know this...I'm a super planner...always plan ahead Think I will go ahead and book the extra night. If DH has a fit...I'll cancel. He should be expecting it anyway. Last year at the Poly, I added 2 extra nights when the 40% off came out.

Thanks, WDWKOOK

You're welcome. It's always better to plan ahead and avoid potential disappointment - just in case. Let us know how this all turns out.

 

[branv]

I asked this earlier, but guess it was too soon for anyone to know

Anyone know if they've decided to continue doing the Wave buffet for breakfast? And if so, can you chose to order from the regular breakfast menu a la carte instead of doing the buffet, or is it buffet only in the mornings now?

Thanks!

 

[disneysuncat]

Your cat will appreciate you not being gone as long. That's it! You're staying in the Tower instead of the GW because it's in the best interests of your cat! (Purrrrfect rationalization)

You're going to love being in the Tower. If the noise from Chef Mickey's might bother you, you can request to be far away from Chef Mickey's. For the bed to face away from BLT and toward Epcot, FTW and the WL, you should request an odd numbered room.

Have a great vacation!

Oh my goodness, YES, it's in the best interest of the cat(s) that I stay in the tower! I love that! I called my Mom and repeated that to her, and she said "that makes perfect (purrfect) sense!" When all else fails, blame the cats!

I did request "highest floor possible" (of course I know that's just a request) but I didn't even think about facing away from BLT and such. Thanks so much for the information!