The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower FAQ with PICs! (July 2011)

[Lulu'sMom]

I've been interested in going back to CR and staying on the 14th floor again and experiencing on of my favorite CLs, the Tower Club.
Haven't been able to book it though since booking has opened up!
Finally, I did an online chat and thought I'd post it here.

(the red is ME)

Thank you for contacting Disney. Please hold while we route your chat to a Disney Cast Member who will help you with your question.
Welcome to Disney! My name is Gideon. How may I help you today?
you: Is the 14th floor Contempory Resort available to book in 2012?
you: Tower Club
Gideon: Hello and welcome! Yes, guests have been booking 2012 travel dates since early this summer. How far have you gotten in your search for availability at Disney's Contemporary Resort?
you: Yes, but I am looking for the 14th floor. The Tower club rooms and suites in May 2012.
Gideon: Yes, the Tower Club Level Rooms are located on the 14th floor at Disney's Contemporary Resort. If they are available for you our dates, they will be listed under "Room Type" on the "Customize Your Trip" page when you find availability at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
you: I have tried many different dates. Are they still under contruction?
Gideon: One moment please. (waited 12 minutes, thought he left me! LOL)
you: ok
Gideon: They were available to book, however are very popular and sell out quickly. The suites however are not available here online and can only be booked by calling the Disney Reservation Center at 407-560-CHAT (2428).
you: Thank you!
Gideon: You are very welcome! Thank you for choosing Walt Disney World® as your vacation destination! Have a Magical Evening!
you: OK, thank yu
Gideon: Is there anything else I can assist you with?
you: So, did the rehab get completed?
Gideon: The proposed new suites have not been started as of yet, and a date has not been established.
you: Oh, alright. Thank you then,

The NEW SUITES haven't been started? What?
that's why I was looking forward to booking one of them.
Of course, we've stayed in them and they are wonderful but they do need a rehab. Sigh. What to do, what to do.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The NEW SUITES haven't been started? What?

A couple of months ago others reoprted that and it got me wondering what was the point of moving others who had reservations on the Atrium Club 12th floor? This was also happening around the time I was staying at the Boardwalk Inn this past August/September and at that time you couldn't reserve the Atrium Club for months. Everyone assumed they were being moved because of possible noises coming from the 14th floor during the renovations which made sense, but to not start the renovations you got to wonder what was the point of moving all those guests?

 

[WDWKOOK]

I would like to find large wall maps of WDW and/or the parks. I have found smaller maps but I would like to find some around 3 X 5 like the map of the US I have.
Thank you

You probably already know about the free WDW customizable maps found here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/maps/

I can't post the link here, but William Gardner's map site has many WDW maps and perhaps he could point you in the right direction?

I've been interested in going back to CR and staying on the 14th floor again and experiencing on of my favorite CLs, the Tower Club.
Haven't been able to book it though since booking has opened up!
Finally, I did an online chat and thought I'd post it here.

(the red is ME)


The NEW SUITES haven't been started? What?
that's why I was looking forward to booking one of them.
Of course, we've stayed in them and they are wonderful but they do need a rehab. Sigh. What to do, what to do.

Thanks for posting your chat. It confirmed what I had always thought - that you can't book the Tower Club level online. I recall mentioning this years back that I had never seen it available for online booking, so thanks for the confirmation.

Back in July, I stopped by the CR so that my DH could have a tour of the Atrium Club. I asked the Manager about the Tower Club renovation and he said that it had been put on hold for an undetermined amount of time.

As CRRF4L mentioned, they had moved some bookings from the 14th floor to the Poly and GF back in the early summer. I asked the mgr. if they were still doing that and he said that the 14th floor is open for business and bookable. So it seems that between that conversation I had in July and the chat you had, the Health and Wellness Suites are back in concept mode.

A couple of months ago others reoprted that and it got me wondering what was the point of moving others who had reservations on the Atrium Club 12th floor? This was also happening around the time I was staying at the Boardwalk Inn this past August/September and at that time you couldn't reserve the Atrium Club for months. Everyone assumed they were being moved because of possible noises coming from the 14th floor during the renovations which made sense, but to not start the renovations you got to wonder what was the point of moving all those guests?

No point at all, probably just bad planning. and I bet it made for some very unhappy guests who really wanted to stay on the 14th floor. And, it seems they could have because I got the impression that nothing at all was actually done to the 14th floor that would have prevented a guest from staying there, but I could be wrong.

 

[PolynesianLilly]

Hi all!

I'm not sure if anyone will know this, but does anyone know what the hours are for the Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar?

Thank you!!

 

[nklooz]

Hi all!

I'm not sure if anyone will know this, but does anyone know what the hours are for the Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar?

Thank you!!

There's a coffee shop at CR?? Awesome!!!! So, question, can you use snack credits to get coffee there? Do refillable mugs work there? Thanks!

I've been interested in going back to CR and staying on the 14th floor again and experiencing on of my favorite CLs, the Tower Club.
Haven't been able to book it though since booking has opened up!
Finally, I did an online chat and thought I'd post it here.

(the red is ME)


The NEW SUITES haven't been started? What?
that's why I was looking forward to booking one of them.
Of course, we've stayed in them and they are wonderful but they do need a rehab. Sigh. What to do, what to do.

Ok, what is the difference between the 12th floor and the 14th floor concierge? Tower and Atrium Club?

 

[Turk February]

This question is for anyone who has stayed at CR with a TPV in the last few months. We'll be at CR in 44 short (excruciatingly long) days and I'm curious if the Fantasyland expansion has taken away from view. Specifically I'm wondering about cranes and such in the distance making the view a little less magical.

If anyone has any input, I'd love to hear! Thanks!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi all!

I'm not sure if anyone will know this, but does anyone know what the hours are for the Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar?

Thank you!!

I believe the hours are 7AM - 10PM

There's a coffee shop at CR?? Awesome!!!! So, question, can you use snack credits to get coffee there? Do refillable mugs work there? Thanks!



Ok, what is the difference between the 12th floor and the 14th floor concierge? Tower and Atrium Club?

No, they don't accept the DDP and they only sell coffee and some pastries. Here is the menu from AllEars:

Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar Menu
Contemporary Resort

Menu Date: March 2011

Coffee $2.79; $3.29; $3.79

Double Espresso $2.99

Hot Tea $2.79; $3.29; $3.79

Hot Chocolate $3.29; $3.79; $4.29

Latte $4.29; $4.79; $5.29

Mocha $4.79; $5.29; $5.79

Cappuccino $4.29; $4.79; $5.29

Assorted Pastries $2.99


Iced Coffee $2.79; $3.29; $3.79

Iced Tea $2.79; $3.29; $3.79

Iced Latte $4.29; $4.79; $5.29

Iced Mocha $4.79; $5.29; $5.79

Flavored Latte: $4.79; $5.29; $5.79

Frozen Cappuchino $4.29; $4.79; $5.29

Smoothies $4.79; $5.29; $5.79

Bottled Water $2.50



The main difference between the 12th and 14th CL floors is that the 14th floor has mostly suites and is more expensive. Also, you can not look down and see the 4th floor concourse level from the 14th floor as it is closed off. I believe that the view, MK or BL, is not bookable, but I'm not certain if they've changed this. There is also a higher CM to guest ratio on the 14th floor. Hopefully, someone who has stayed on the Tower Club level can add to this for me!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

No point at all, probably just bad planning. and I bet it made for some very unhappy guests who really wanted to stay on the 14th floor. And, it seems they could have because I got the impression that nothing at all was actually done to the 14th floor that would have prevented a guest from staying there, but I could be wrong.

How about those guests who also got moved from the 12th floor to another resort when that whole time they could have stayed there.

The main difference between the 12th and 14th CL floors is that the 14th floor has mostly suites and is more expensive. Also, you can not look down and see the 4th floor concourse level from the 14th floor as it is closed off. I believe that the view, MK or BL, is not bookable, but I'm not certain if they've changed this. There is also a higher CM to guest ratio on the 14th floor. Hopefully, someone who has stayed on the Tower Club level can add to this for me!

The Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake Views can be reserved when reserving their various suites, since those are listed in the room descriptions. Now for the 5 Standard Rooms up there I know that in the past you just reserved the room category and you wouldn't know your view until you check-in. However I can't remember if that changed and I don't see their Standard Rooms for the 14th floor rates. The lounge is smaller then the 12th floor, although that's because they only have a total of 16 rooms and I think they have bigger balconies where their lounge is located.

 

[Lulu'sMom]

The main difference between the 12th and 14th CL floors is that the 14th floor has mostly suites and is more expensive. Also, you can not look down and see the 4th floor concourse level from the 14th floor as it is closed off. I believe that the view, MK or BL, is not bookable, but I'm not certain if they've changed this. There is also a higher CM to guest ratio on the 14th floor. Hopefully, someone who has stayed on the Tower Club level can add to this for me!

Yes, KOOK, is right except that you can book the suites for MK or BL views.
The rooms you cannot book for views.

BEST service on property! Almost like having a butler!
Plus, we'd have private dining set up from the California Grill for our dinners in our suites. Just wonderful!

Microwaves, fully stocked butler's pantry on request, the size of the bathrooms and bedrooms are fabulous!
Floral arrangements everyday, ahhh, can't think of anything else at this moment. Big difference to me.
Oh yes, the balconies are the size of some of the rooms on WDW property. I kid you not! HUGE BALCONIES!!!!!

 

[Lulu'sMom]

Also, for the rooms, there is a King bed that is a tad smaller, MK view.
A 2 queen (4 person only max on the 14th floor, standard, BTW) MK view, one with HCA and one not.

And there is a BV one that has 2 queens.

 

[nklooz]

Thanks for all of the info!

 

[psac]

Hi all!

I'm not sure if anyone will know this, but does anyone know what the hours are for the Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar?

Thank you!!

WDWKOOK posted the hours, but just vouching for the quality of the coffee, when we went in July, we bough coffee/iced coffee/lattes/iced lattes/iced mochas, and all were good! Not quite Starbucks (I'm a SB junkie), but it fulfilled the joneses very well.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There's a coffee shop at CR?? Awesome!!!! So, question, can you use snack credits to get coffee there? Do refillable mugs work there? Thanks!

They don't sell the refillable mugs there and that means you can't any refills there since you purchased them at the Contempo Cafe.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Tomorrow I'll be checking in to a Tower TPV!!! We're going to eat In-Room Dining for Dinner so I"ll make sure to report back on that!!

 

[heatherenae71]

We'll be checking in at the Contemporary next Tuesday It has been my *dream* since I was 13 to stay at this resort...I can't wait!

and now for a question...

We have an ADR at WCC one night at 7:45 p.m. Would we have better luck walking to MK and hopping on a boat to take to WL, or do the boats that run from the CR to WL reliable? Should we plan to be at a boat dock at 7:00...does that give us enough time? Thanks!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

We'll be checking in at the Contemporary next Tuesday It has been my *dream* since I was 13 to stay at this resort...I can't wait!

and now for a question...

We have an ADR at WCC one night at 7:45 p.m. Would we have better luck walking to MK and hopping on a boat to take to WL, or do the boats that run from the CR to WL reliable? Should we plan to be at a boat dock at 7:00...does that give us enough time? Thanks!

We took the CR/WL boat in May and waited no longer than 15 minutes! It was so easy!! I didn't even know it was there. We were there exploring the resort, saw the boat dock and decided to go explore WL and eat at WCC for lunch!

 

[wdhinn89]

Our first night is at Universal and then we will be at the Contemporarty on Friday. One night TPV and 3 nights BLV (our favorite).!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Tomorrow I'll be checking in to a Tower TPV!!! We're going to eat In-Room Dining for Dinner so I"ll make sure to report back on that!!

I can't believe the day is almost here! We can't wait to hear about your trip

We'll be checking in at the Contemporary next Tuesday It has been my *dream* since I was 13 to stay at this resort...I can't wait!

and now for a question...

We have an ADR at WCC one night at 7:45 p.m. Would we have better luck walking to MK and hopping on a boat to take to WL, or do the boats that run from the CR to WL reliable? Should we plan to be at a boat dock at 7:00...does that give us enough time? Thanks!

They haven't always been reliable for us. In July, we walked from the MK to the CR and tried to take the Blue Flag back to the WL where we were staying. We waited almost 30 mins. and decided to walk back to the MK and take the WL bus back. When we got up to the CL lounge, I looked down and saw a man who had been waiting at the CR dock with us just then walking from the boat dock. The bus from the MK was actually faster than the boat from the CR that day.

Our first night is at Universal and then we will be at the Contemporarty on Friday. One night TPV and 3 nights BLV (our favorite).!!!

How exciting! I hope you have a wonderful vacation

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Tomorrow I'll be checking in to a Tower TPV!!! We're going to eat In-Room Dining for Dinner so I"ll make sure to report back on that!!

I hope you have a great time.

Our first night is at Universal and then we will be at the Contemporarty on Friday. One night TPV and 3 nights BLV (our favorite).!!!

I also hope you enjoy your stay there.

 

[dmband]

Well I am stuck going to cr now, booked the flights tonight
258 tax included, jet blue nonstop
Can't beat that at my airport