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

[dizkneedreamers]

We have 14 people going to bay lake in september!!!

Is it worth it to drive off property to get groceries? or should we use a delivery service?

Also, how busy are the contemporary quick service places for breakfast and lunch?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also, how busy are the contemporary quick service places for breakfast and lunch?

I have never been to the Contempo Cafe for breakfast since I stay Club Level and get breakfast in the lounge. However I have been there for lunch multiple times and the only time I have ever seen them busy was in December a few days before Christmas.

 

[psac]

We were just there over the weekend, and the Contempo Cafe (the only quick service besides the coffee bar) always had seats... But not for 14!! Don't expect to sit together, and there may be times not everyone would be able to sit at all. It was a holiday weekend, but it's just not that big, to be honest. Looking from above, there is a lot o wasted space from the Chef Mickey's two greeting and waiting areas that could've been used to make the Cafe bigger.

 

[DrMomof3]

Yay!! Congrats on getting a room with a great discount!! We love the BLT!!
I think both slides are awesome....tho the BLT slide has more twists and turns...we decide which one to go to depending on how busy they look. The CR pool is larger, but the BLT pool has a zero entry. So my opinion? Both are awesome!

We rely on Disney transportation, so I can't advise whether to take the monorail or drive...I imagine driving would be faster. Also, the parking lot to the BLT is right in front of it, so not a far walk to your car I imagine.

Not sure of the Bay Lake view...we are MK view fans! I'm sure you will enjoy your view!!

Have a great time!!

Thank you for your opinion! I think my kids will like have choices. Unfortunately with 3 kids they sometimes disagree on which choice we should do! I like the idea of checking out the crowds and deciding which pool based on that. I wouldn't have thought of that. And zero-entry will be good for my youngest. Hmmm....
We've never rented a car before. On our last trip we had a few issues with buses and I thought we'd give it a try. Someone on the DIS gave me a great discount code for renting a minivan. If I didn't get a good rate, we wouldn't have done it.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

We have 14 people going to bay lake in september!!!

Is it worth it to drive off property to get groceries? or should we use a delivery service?

Also, how busy are the contemporary quick service places for breakfast and lunch?

If you'll have a car anyway, driving for groceries shouldn't be a huge deal. On the other hand we've had great experiences with Garden Grocer on multiple trips. The prices are definitely higher than if you go to the store but it's very convenient.
We haven't stayed at the Contemporary since 2009 but we had several breakfasts at Contempo and it was always pretty quick and easy. We're a family of 5 and we always found seats. Then again my kids are pretty early risers so it might get crowded later.

Amanda

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We were just there over the weekend, and the Contempo Cafe (the only quick service besides the coffee bar) always had seats... But not for 14!! Don't expect to sit together, and there may be times not everyone would be able to sit at all. It was a holiday weekend, but it's just not that big, to be honest. Looking from above, there is a lot o wasted space from the Chef Mickey's two greeting and waiting areas that could've been used to make the Cafe bigger.

I think had you not been there during a major holiday weekend you would have had a better of chance of all sitting together, even with a total of 14 in people in your group. The only time I have ever seen it busy was before Christmas, however other times of the year it was never like that. Plus when you compre the Contempo Cafe to the other Quick Service locations among the other ones located in the Deluxe Resorts, it's the biggest one with the most space and tables available.

 

[soarinup]

I am curious to know if the standard club level rooms will be affected by the renovation, or is it just the suites level. BTW, what ARE the floors? I think the standard CL is floor 12?

PS,,,is this affecting the standard CL room availability? If anyone knows

 

[WDWKOOK]

I am curious to know if the standard club level rooms will be affected by the renovation, or is it just the suites level. BTW, what ARE the floors? I think the standard CL is floor 12?

PS,,,is this affecting the standard CL room availability? If anyone knows

The Atrium Club is on the 12th floor, the Tower Club is on the 14th floor. I've noticed that since they started the 14th floor renovation, the 12th floor rooms are not appearing as being bookable until after the 14th floor renovation is due to be finished in the fall.

BTW, you don't ever have to apologize for posting a question here

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am curious to know if the standard club level rooms will be affected by the renovation, or is it just the suites level. BTW, what ARE the floors? I think the standard CL is floor 12?

PS,,,is this affecting the standard CL room availability? If anyone knows

Well there are 4 Standard Club Level rooms located on the Tower Club 14th floor which are effected.

Now when it comes to the Standard Club Level Rooms on the Atrium Club 12th floor I haven't seen them become available since March 2011. For example I tried looking up dates up there from August 17th - August 31st, 2011 when I will be at the Boardwalk and from August 31st - September 4th, 2011 when I will be at the Beach Club, well it's always been sold out.

Others have posted that they had Club Level reservations upcoming for the Contemporary and WDW called them and said they got switched over to the Grand Floridian. Some of those guests were staying on the 14th floor, however I can't remember if others were staying on the 12th floor.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've noticed that since they started the 14th floor renovation, the 12th floor rooms are not appearing as being bookable until after the 14th floor renovation is due to be finished in the fall.

You would think that WDW would come out with a press statement or something confirming that the 12th floor is not available during this time, because during the previous Contemporary renovations they had a schedule of when various things would be done and what things would be closed.

 

[WDWKOOK]

You would think that WDW would come out with a press statement or something confirming that the 12th floor is not available during this time, because during the previous Contemporary renovations they had a schedule of when various things would be done and what things would be closed.

It is strange. Maybe because it's only a floor or two and not the entire resort?

All the sites I've looked at that post current WDW rehabs and closures seem to only list SSR and I've even gone back a few months. AllEars has this blurb:

Renovation has begun on 23 health and fitness suites on the club level 14th floor. The suites are scheduled to be available in the fall of 2011.

 

[Lisa S.]

Well there are 4 Standard Club Level rooms located on the Tower Club 14th floor which are effected.

Now when it comes to the Standard Club Level Rooms on the Atrium Club 12th floor I haven't seen them become available since March 2011. For example I tried looking up dates up there from August 17th - August 31st, 2011 when I will be at the Boardwalk and from August 31st - September 4th, 2011 when I will be at the Beach Club, well it's always been sold out.

Others have posted that they had Club Level reservations upcoming for the Contemporary and WDW called them and said they got switched over to the Grand Floridian. Some of those guests were staying on the 14th floor, however I can't remember if others were staying on the 12th floor.

I was one of the ones switched to the GF - and I was booked on the 12th floor.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It is strange. Maybe because it's only a floor or two and not the entire resort?

All the sites I've looked at that post current WDW rehabs and closures seem to only list SSR and I've even gone back a few months. AllEars has this blurb:

Renovation has begun on 23 health and fitness suites on the club level 14th floor. The suites are scheduled to be available in the fall of 2011.

The fact it's only one floor being renovated could be a reason why, however when their other Club Level floor is not available that seems like it deserves being mentioned.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I was one of the ones switched to the GF - and I was booked on the 12th floor.

Thanks for confirming that and at least it's the only proof we have of the 12th floor not being available during the 14th floor renovation.

 

[WDWKOOK]

This confirms that we will definitely not be able to upgrade to CL when we check-in. I wonder if it's the entire 12th floor that's closed or just one side at a time. It seems like it's a peak vacation/convention period to completely shut down all CLs at one resort. This would also explain why the GF is fully booked for our dates.

 

[hstrickland]

CR CL and GF CL are booked??! Wow! What in the world is going on during that time?? I thought August was the off season.

 

[WDWKOOK]

CR CL and GF CL are booked??! Wow! What in the world is going on during that time?? I thought August was the off season.

No, not booked, closed. The renovations on the 14th floor Tower Club level have closed both CLs until the fall. Perhaps they'll open the Atirum Club up earlier than that though. I'm going to ask in 18 days when we check-in to see if they have a re-opening estimate that I can pass along.

 

[soarinup]

No, not booked, closed. The renovations on the 14th floor Tower Club level have closed both CLs until the fall. Perhaps they'll open the Atirum Club up earlier than that though. I'm going to ask in 18 days when we check-in to see if they have a re-opening estimate that I can pass along.

Thank you! I would appreciate hearing that news! We are going September 22nd through 30th, you never know, they may finish early!

 

[Lisa S.]

Thanks for confirming that and at least it's the only proof we have of the 12th floor not being available during the 14th floor renovation.

No problem. At first I thought it weird since I know the renovation is on the 14th floor, but then I figured that they didn't want to disturb the 12th floor with construction noise or something. Either way, although my first love is the Contemporary I'm excited to stay at the GF for the first time.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

No problem. At first I thought it weird since I know the renovation is on the 14th floor, but then I figured that they didn't want to disturb the 12th floor with construction noise or something. Either way, although my first love is the Contemporary I'm excited to stay at the GF for the first time.

I was wondering what days are you scheduled to be at the Grand Floridian? I am curious to know if it's around the time I am staying at the Boardwalk Inn which is from August 17th - 31st, then from August 31st - Setember 4th I am at the Beach Club. The reason I ask is the Atrium Club floor has not been available for either set of dates since this past March and was wondering if the construction on the 14th floor is the reason why.

Also back when the renovations to the 14th floor was announced I didn't think it would effect the guests staying on the 12th floor, because unlike the other Tower floors you can't look and see it because it's enclosed and etc.