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

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks for posting this...very helpful. We are staying Tower-Bay Lake view...are there any 'bad' floors? I know there are no obstructed views, but was wondering if I should request a higher floor? Not too worried about noise at Chef Mickey's...our kids don't nap anymore. At night, I'm assuming by the time we go to bed, Chef Mickey's will be closed. At other deluxes, I've ALWAYS requested because there is such a variety of rooms that you could get Would NEVER 'NOT REQUEST' at WL, GF or Poly!!! ...still love all of them, but CR seems to be a bit easier on room selection

Thanks! (27 days and counting)

Tower/BLV is our favorite CR view! If you want your bed to face toward FTW/Epcot/WL then you should request an odd numbered room. The even rooms face toward BLT. If you want a room above the 5th you could just request "high floor." Chef Mickey's last "celebration song" is usually around 10, a little before the EWP starts, which you'll be able to see from your balcony every night!

 

[hstrickland]

....We (momentarily) considered the FTW cabins for our next split. Since there isn't a health club and the beds are doubles and not queens, we changed our mind quickly, but I still would like to try them someday. Your TR will probably help sway me in one direction or the other. I think it's a great idea to do them for just a couple of nights. We could certainly survive a couple of nights without a health club and queen beds.

I'm eager to read what you think of the cabins for a short split-stay! We love riding bikes around FTW when we stay at WL. The horseback riding, while not very exciting, is nice, too. We're going to do the archery our next trip. Have you done that yet? It feels like you're on a different vacation when you go to FTW! I think you're going to have a lot of fun. Will you be renting a golf cart? DD12 wanted to stay there just for the golf cart. Can a 12-year-old even legally drive one of those things?

On what thread will you be posting your FTW/CR TR?

We're like you...double beds really aren't our cup of tea. DH is 6'3 and needs a bit more room. We do have a golf cart rented...that was a must do for us. Since we aren't going to the parks and just hanging out at the campgrounds, I thought we would need it. Plus, the kids will love it. Haven't done the archery or horseback riding, yet. DS9 would love that.

I'm going to post my TR on the TR site, but will have a link to the report at the bottom of my signature. We plan on checking out every inch of FW, so I should have plenty of pics for you to see

Tower/BLV is our favorite CR view! If you want your bed to face toward FTW/Epcot/WL then you should request an odd numbered room. The even rooms face toward BLT. If you want a room above the 5th you could just request "high floor." Chef Mickey's last "celebration song" is usually around 10, a little before the EWP starts, which you'll be able to see from your balcony every night!

Great info! I'm going to request a 'high floor'...that should cover it. I've asked for connecting rooms since we are traveling with my parents and one of the kids will be with them...so I guess one of us will get lucky with the bed facing towards FW/EP

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks! I think I will play it safe and request floor 6 or higher...no 5th

Just so you know there is a chance to get a room close to or over Chef Mickey's on their higher floors. Now in the past when that has happened to us we didn't think the music was a problem, however others might think the opposite. So be prepared just incase that happens to you.

 

[hstrickland]

Just so you know there is a chance to get a room close to or over Chef Mickey's on their higher floors. Now in the past when that has happened to us we didn't think the music was a problem, however others might think the opposite. So be prepared just incase that happens to you.

Maybe the music will drown out my kids yelling at each other Thanks for the warning!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Maybe the music will drown out my kids yelling at each other Thanks for the warning!

You're welcome.

 

[Mary2e]

Just so you know there is a chance to get a room close to or over Chef Mickey's on their higher floors. Now in the past when that has happened to us we didn't think the music was a problem, however others might think the opposite. So be prepared just incase that happens to you.

Either side of the building has its pros and cons.

We were recently in a Theme Park view room on a high floor (10 or 11) not too far from the elevators on the CM side and got the Chef Mickey wake up call in the morning. The loudness of the sound was related to how excited the guests were As well, we enjoyed the view and loved sitting outside, but found all the buses driving to the MK (& hotel) was annoying and ruined some of the enjoyment for us.

We'll be staying in a Bay Lake view room this time... while we enjoyed the MK view, well, we paid quite a premium for it, and honestly, did not think it worth it because of the noise from the buses. We can deal with CM, as the sound wasn't that loud, but to pay that much more money to listen to buses when outside just ain't gonna happen again

 

[WDWKOOK]

Either side of the building has its pros and cons.

We were recently in a Theme Park view room on a high floor (10 or 11) not too far from the elevators on the CM side and got the Chef Mickey wake up call in the morning. The loudness of the sound was related to how excited the guests were As well, we enjoyed the view and loved sitting outside, but found all the buses driving to the MK (& hotel) was annoying and ruined some of the enjoyment for us.

We'll be staying in a Bay Lake view room this time... while we enjoyed the MK view, well, we paid quite a premium for it, and honestly, did not think it worth it because of the noise from the buses. We can deal with CM, as the sound wasn't that loud, but to pay that much more money to listen to buses when outside just ain't gonna happen again

We only book Bay Lake view. We prefer to look out at the water, pool, ol' Discovery Island with all those birds, the marina and see the EWP from our balcony or room than look out at the castle and down to a parking lot - just our personal preference.

I think you'll love the Bay Lake view, it's very serene and relaxing. And, if you stay CL, you can always look at the castle or watch Wishes from the lounge or you can book a dinner at the CA Grill or you can watch Wishes from the 4th floor observation deck or beach.

I hope you have a great vacation

 

[branv]

Was wondering if anyone has ever shipped things home from the resort using the CR business center?. We will be picking up souvies over the course of our trip that I'd like to just pack up and have shipped to my home rather than figure out how to haul home with me. Anyone know how much they charge for boxes (or just to pack it up in general) and the rates for shipping (I assume whatever the going rate is via USPS/Fedex/UPS plus a markup?).

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Either side of the building has its pros and cons.

We were recently in a Theme Park view room on a high floor (10 or 11) not too far from the elevators on the CM side and got the Chef Mickey wake up call in the morning. The loudness of the sound was related to how excited the guests were As well, we enjoyed the view and loved sitting outside, but found all the buses driving to the MK (& hotel) was annoying and ruined some of the enjoyment for us.

We'll be staying in a Bay Lake view room this time... while we enjoyed the MK view, well, we paid quite a premium for it, and honestly, did not think it worth it because of the noise from the buses. We can deal with CM, as the sound wasn't that loud, but to pay that much more money to listen to buses when outside just ain't gonna happen again

Personally I never found the noise from the buses to be annoying and etc, so that's just my opinion.

Now the last few times we stayed at the Contemporary it was with the Bay Lake View, although since we also stayed Club Level we could see the Magic Kingdom anytime we wanted from the lounge. So for us it was the best of both worlds.

Finally the last time our room happened to be located in between the Contempo Cafe and Chef Mickey's, which was more over the Contempo Cafe and not once did we hear anything from Chef Mickey's. Plus during that time WDWKOOK was staying in the room next to us, although I am not sure if she thought as I did when it came to that.

 

[WDWKOOK]

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

Movie shown under the Skyway Bridge at 8:30PM.

May 1 -(See our Pirate Page)
May 2 - Ratatouille
May 3 - The Princess & The Frog(See our Princess Page)
May 4 - Toy Story
May 5 - G-Force
May 6 - Lilo & Stitch
May 7 - Sorcerer's Apprentice
May 8 - Toy Story 2
May 9 - Beauty & The Beast
May 10 - UP
May 11 - Alice in Wonderland
May 12 - Cars
May 13 - Robin Hood
May 14 - The Princess & The Frog(See our Princess Page)
May 15 - Sorcerer's Apprentice
May 16 - Enchanted I
May 17 - Wall-E
May 18 - Meet the Robinsons
May 19 - Bambi
May 20 - Race To Witch Mountain
May 21 - Incredibles
May 22 - Tangled
May 23 - The Princess & The Frog
May 24 - Secretariat
May 25 - Beauty & The Beast(See our Princess Page)
May 26 - Finding Nemo
May 27 - Wall-E
May 28 - Toy Story 3
May 29 - Tron Legacy
May 30 - Bambi
May 31 - Tangled

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.

 

[Holly324]

Quick question -does the contemporary still have free wifi? Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Quick question -does the contemporary still have free wifi? Thanks!

I remember reading that they are still doing their test program with the free wifi, so I guess the answer is yes until someone reports that is over with.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Guess who is watching Alice in Wonderland on May 11th? This girl! Thanks WDWKOOK! You totally made my day!

 

[pas130]

Guess who is watching Alice in Wonderland on May 11th? This girl! Thanks WDWKOOK! You totally made my day!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Guess who is watching Alice in Wonderland on May 11th? This girl! Thanks WDWKOOK! You totally made my day!

It made my day that I made your day, Hannah! Someone on the WL thread asked if it was the cartoon or the movie and I made a guess that it was the movie.

Oh, and BTW, I know you were kind of busy and all with your big ol' 21st birthday yesterday, but your ticker needs some serious attention

Speaking of tickers, yours cracks me up: "I may finally get to stay at the GF"? Has DH seen this? The WL is nothing to sneeze at, you know. And, hey, what about the CR someday?

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I love that movie so much. No one likes watching it with me because I can recite every line from that movie while watching it. It better be the 1951 version. I will cry if it's that abomination made by Tim Burton.

And I think that person was asking if it was the 1951 version (animated/cartoon) or the live action movie (Tim Burton/Johnny Depp).

Should I make a ticker for my 22nd birthday then? Or should I get rid of it? My boyfriend has informed me that one of the girls that works in the office of the company he works for is turning 21 today. I thought it was pretty funny.

I kinda wanna watch Alice in Wonderland now. I got the blu-ray/dvd 60th anniversary edition for my birthday. I have almost every version of Alice in Wonderland on DVD and VHS.

 

[curlybop]

Was wondering if anyone has ever shipped things home from the resort using the CR business center?. We will be picking up souvies over the course of our trip that I'd like to just pack up and have shipped to my home rather than figure out how to haul home with me. Anyone know how much they charge for boxes (or just to pack it up in general) and the rates for shipping (I assume whatever the going rate is via USPS/Fedex/UPS plus a markup?). Thanks for any help you can provide!

We did it just a couple of weeks ago. They charged $5.95 for a box/tape if you didn't have it. Then you choose between box sizes. Ours was a 16x16x16 and the total cost was around $17 to ship it. It held a LOT which made coming home much easier. We packed shoes and clothing from an entire suitcase in the box. Our box arrived two days after we came home.

The next time, I will lay a flat box in my suitcase along with tape and print out my own return label and have it billed to my account. But this time around I didn't even think about it. Too excited I guess. For us it was worth it though, not having to worry about packing everything back up and getting it all in the suitcase.

 

[branv]

We did it just a couple of weeks ago. They charged $5.95 for a box/tape if you didn't have it. Then you choose between box sizes. Ours was a 16x16x16 and the total cost was around $17 to ship it. It held a LOT which made coming home much easier. We packed shoes and clothing from an entire suitcase in the box. Our box arrived two days after we came home.

The next time, I will lay a flat box in my suitcase along with tape and print out my own return label and have it billed to my account. But this time around I didn't even think about it. Too excited I guess. For us it was worth it though, not having to worry about packing everything back up and getting it all in the suitcase.

THANK YOU!!!! This is so helpful! I'll definitely also review my suitcase to see if there will be even a spare centimeter of space for a flat box. Though I'm not entirely confident in my ability to not overpack

 

[Invisable89]

If you're renting DVC points to stay in BLT will you still be classed as 'DVC Guest' & not get Mousekeeping everyday? & so i'd have to pay for Mouse Keeping?


Thankyou! x

 

[Invisable89]

Can anyone tell me or give me a link to a full list of CR Club Level food offerings? Especially breakfast?


Thankyou.


- Oh oops, was meant to post this at the end of my last post ^^^