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

[gometros]

The following conferences are taking place during that timeframe:

18th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning is at the Swan and Dolphin on October 10-12, 2012

SMTA International at the Dolphin October 14-18

CTAM Conferences October 14-16 at the Swan and Dolphin

American College Counseling Association October 3-6 at the Contemporary Inn

Echo Florida October 6-10 at the Contemporary Inn

Kenexa World Conference October 17-18 at the Contemporary Inn

That's all I found for early October.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Bay Cove Pool Slide at BLT will be closed 2/20/12 - 3/16/12 for refurbishment, but the pool will remain open.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also know that convetion-goers may not need all the CR rooms that have been blocked off, so as the convention gets closer they could release some rooms from the block to the public. I hope you find the room you're looking for, CR is amazing!

That's a very good point. However assuming those rooms get re-released how many of them would be used for a pin code discount like moljammom has. The reason is they can only be reserved until a specifc date, so I think by the time some people on the convention won't need them it would be to late and chances are they go into the rack rate category.

 

[jenneth79]

Just spent a long weekend at the Contemporary on CL. We had a Bay Lake View room but I noticed large tarps/ painters fabric covering at least two rows of the MK View side of the Tower. Anyone know what was going on there?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just spent a long weekend at the Contemporary on CL. We had a Bay Lake View room but I noticed large tarps/ painters fabric covering at least two rows of the MK View side of the Tower. Anyone know what was going on there?

I remember seeing the same thing this past December when I went to the Magic Kingdom. However a couple of days a later when I went there again those tarps were gone, so now you got me wondering why they brought them back.

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

Hello! My name is Nicole and I am a newbee to DISboards. I sure hope I am posting this on the correct thread as I posted this on a different thread and someone nicely recommended I post on the CR thread. I apologize if I am doing this wrong!

As I was researching resorts for my next WDW vacay, I came across DISboards and I don't understand how I never came across this site before! I love it and I am addicted! Please forgive me, as I am still learning to navigate the site and forums and trying to figure all the abbreviations, but I love reading all the tips and tricks and I especially love seeing everyone's previous resort stays! And how cool are all the smiley's! Just fun!

I was hoping I could get some advice on booking my next Disney vacay package from all the experts here on DISboards! My son Matthew (18) and I had a Mom-Son WDW trip last June and we stayed at AKL with the QS dining plan and loved it. We are doing it again 6/1/12 - 6/7/12. I have only purchased the plane tickets so far.

And now the hard part! The resort choice! Matthew and I are Magic Kingdom freaks so we thought, let's stay at The Contemporary. As I am reading the many reviews out there for The Contemporary, it seems almost everyone recommends the upgrade from the Garden View to the Tower - MK view. That adds $847 to my already $4000+ package, which I will most likely suck up and pay because in WDW, money is no object! Last year, I booked a standard room at AKL and when we checked in, I took a chance and asked if we can have a complimentary upgrade to a Safari View Room. To our surprise, they said sure! We were beyond thrilled! I don't think I will have that kinda luck 2 years in a row, so I was wondering if anyone that has had any experience staying at The Contemporary (in either the Garden Wing or a MK View - Tower Room) and can throw some tips at me on if to upgrade or not at this resort? Any kind of advice, tips, chatter, anything is appreciated!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hello! My name is Nicole and I am a newbee to DISboards. I sure hope I am posting this on the correct thread as I posted this on a different thread and someone nicely recommended I post on the CR thread. I apologize if I am doing this wrong!

As I was researching resorts for my next WDW vacay, I came across DISboards and I don't understand how I never came across this site before! I love it and I am addicted! Please forgive me, as I am still learning to navigate the site and forums and trying to figure all the abbreviations, but I love reading all the tips and tricks and I especially love seeing everyone's previous resort stays! And how cool are all the smiley's! Just fun!

I was hoping I could get some advice on booking my next Disney vacay package from all the experts here on DISboards! My son Matthew (18) and I had a Mom-Son WDW trip last June and we stayed at AKL with the QS dining plan and loved it. We are doing it again 6/1/12 - 6/7/12. I have only purchased the plane tickets so far.

And now the hard part! The resort choice! Matthew and I are Magic Kingdom freaks so we thought, let's stay at The Contemporary. As I am reading the many reviews out there for The Contemporary, it seems almost everyone recommends the upgrade from the Garden View to the Tower - MK view. That adds $847 to my already $4000+ package, which I will most likely suck up and pay because in WDW, money is no object! Last year, I booked a standard room at AKL and when we checked in, I took a chance and asked if we can have a complimentary upgrade to a Safari View Room. To our surprise, they said sure! We were beyond thrilled! I don't think I will have that kinda luck 2 years in a row, so I was wondering if anyone that has had any experience staying at The Contemporary (in either the Garden Wing or a MK View - Tower Room) and can throw some tips at me on if to upgrade or not at this resort? Any kind of advice, tips, chatter, anything is appreciated!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

The only time I ever got a free upgrade at the Contemporary was in May 2000, when the Cast Member at check-in said I got upgraded from the Atrium Club Level 12th floor to the Tower Club Level 14th floor.

Now others have posted when you ask for a complimentary upgrade 99% of the time the Cast Members won't do anything because they don't like it when the guest is not willing to pay for it. So I would say you were very lucky to get it at the Animal Kingdom Lodge after asking for one.

So my advice is that it's best you either change your reservations in advance and pay for the Tower - Magic Kingdom View room before you arrive or when you check-in tell the Cast Member you are willing to pay for it. They might then give it to you for free because you asked how much it would cost and etc.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hello! My name is Nicole and I am a newbee to DISboards. I sure hope I am posting this on the correct thread as I posted this on a different thread and someone nicely recommended I post on the CR thread. I apologize if I am doing this wrong!

As I was researching resorts for my next WDW vacay, I came across DISboards and I don't understand how I never came across this site before! I love it and I am addicted! Please forgive me, as I am still learning to navigate the site and forums and trying to figure all the abbreviations, but I love reading all the tips and tricks and I especially love seeing everyone's previous resort stays! And how cool are all the smiley's! Just fun!

I was hoping I could get some advice on booking my next Disney vacay package from all the experts here on DISboards! My son Matthew (18) and I had a Mom-Son WDW trip last June and we stayed at AKL with the QS dining plan and loved it. We are doing it again 6/1/12 - 6/7/12. I have only purchased the plane tickets so far.

And now the hard part! The resort choice! Matthew and I are Magic Kingdom freaks so we thought, let's stay at The Contemporary. As I am reading the many reviews out there for The Contemporary, it seems almost everyone recommends the upgrade from the Garden View to the Tower - MK view. That adds $847 to my already $4000+ package, which I will most likely suck up and pay because in WDW, money is no object! Last year, I booked a standard room at AKL and when we checked in, I took a chance and asked if we can have a complimentary upgrade to a Safari View Room. To our surprise, they said sure! We were beyond thrilled! I don't think I will have that kinda luck 2 years in a row, so I was wondering if anyone that has had any experience staying at The Contemporary (in either the Garden Wing or a MK View - Tower Room) and can throw some tips at me on if to upgrade or not at this resort? Any kind of advice, tips, chatter, anything is appreciated!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

to the CR (Contemporary Resort) thread and the DIS! Those smilies are lots of fun, aren't they?

The CR sounds like a great pick for you and DS (Dear/Disney Son) since you both love the MK. There is a walkway to the MK from the CR which is very convenient and only takes about 10 minutes. While I highly recommend a Tower room, our personal preference is always for a Bay Lake View and they are a bit cheaper than the TPV (Theme Park View) rooms.

There are great dining choices at the CR such as The Wave. We love their breakfast buffet. The Contempo Cafe is a great quick serve with a kiosk that you place your order from. CA Grill has expansive 360 degree views and is a must at least once, especially if you love sushi. Of course, the CR has boats and the monorail and two pools, an arcade, health club, massages and fun water recreation. The shops on the 4th floor Concourse are great, too.

Let us know if you have any questions!

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

The only time I ever got a free upgrade at the Contemporary was in May 2000, when the Cast Member at check-in said I got upgraded from the Atrium Club Level 12th floor to the Tower Club Level 14th floor.

Now others have posted when you ask for a complimentary upgrade 99% of the time the Cast Members won't do anything because they don't like it when the guest is not willing to pay for it. So I would say you were very lucky to get it at the Animal Kingdom Lodge after asking for one.

So my advice is that it's best you either change your reservations in advance and pay for the Tower - Magic Kingdom View room before you arrive or when you check-in tell the Cast Member you are willing to pay for it. They might then give it to you for free because you asked how much it would cost and etc.

Thank you for responding! I was really surprised that we received the free upgrade too. I kind of said it jokingly not thinking it would work, but he said let me check and then said yes, we do have one available. We really appreciated it and it really made our whole vacation

Thank you for the excellent advice. Do you think a Tower - MK View will be available if I wait until we arrive? I just don't want them to be all booked up by the time we get there. We are arriving on a Friday so maybe others will be checking out.

Thanks again!

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

to the CR (Contemporary Resort) thread and the DIS! Those smilies are lots of fun, aren't they?

The CR sounds like a great pick for you and DS (Dear/Disney Son) since you both love the MK. There is a walkway to the MK from the CR which is very convenient and only takes about 10 minutes. While I highly recommend a Tower room, our personal preference is always for a Bay Lake View and they are a bit cheaper than the TPV (Theme Park View) rooms.

There are great dining choices at the CR such as The Wave. We love their breakfast buffet. The Contempo Cafe is a great quick serve with a kiosk that you place your order from. CA Grill has expansive 360 degree views and is a must at least once, especially if you love sushi. Of course, the CR has boats and the monorail and two pools, an arcade, health club, massages and fun water recreation. The shops on the 4th floor Concourse are great, too.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you! I am very happy to be here! Oh and thank you for letting me know what DS was! I see DH, DW etc. on all the threads and I am like, what do these mean? Thank you for clarifying that! I am going to have to re-do my signature!

Thank you for your advice. We thought about a Bay Lake View but we were so excited to find out that you can sit on a balcony and watch Wishes from our own room that we have our hearts set on a MK View! I think we may be doing the Disney QS dining plan again too although I know we are going to miss that extra snack! And we are going to Parasail!

Thank you!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you for responding! I was really surprised that we received the free upgrade too. I kind of said it jokingly not thinking it would work, but he said let me check and then said yes, we do have one available. We really appreciated it and it really made our whole vacation

Thank you for the excellent advice. Do you think a Tower - MK View will be available if I wait until we arrive? I just don't want them to be all booked up by the time we get there. We are arriving on a Friday so maybe others will be checking out.

Thanks again!

A Tower Magic Kingdom View room being available will depend on a few things. If there are any major conventions taking place and how many of their rooms were already reserved with various discounts. The best way to find out is to look online or call WDW Reservations before you leave to know for sure.

 

[psac]

Thank you for responding! I was really surprised that we received the free upgrade too. I kind of said it jokingly not thinking it would work, but he said let me check and then said yes, we do have one available. We really appreciated it and it really made our whole vacation

Thank you for the excellent advice. Do you think a Tower - MK View will be available if I wait until we arrive? I just don't want them to be all booked up by the time we get there. We are arriving on a Friday so maybe others will be checking out.

Thanks again!

It looks like from your sig you'll be going in June, which is usually a fairly busy time I believe. If you really have your mind set on the MK view, then I would book it. Also I would say you would have zero chance of the upgrade from the Garden Wing to the MK view. In between is the Tower Lake View, so that would be a two step upgrade. I could see an upgrade from one side of the tower to the other, or the Garden Wing to the Tower LV, but not both steps.

If you can afford it (which is entirely subjective), I would say the MK view is worth it. I think there are other views in Disney World that may be "better" in a traditional sense (like a Boardwalk View at the Boardwalk), but there is something unbeatably "magical" and unique about the MK view (the castle, the fireworks, the Seven Seas Lagoon with the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian) that I would put it up there as maybe my favorite I've had anywhere, and I travel a good deal.

 

[zima-cheryl]

We are celebrating my birthday in October. I can not wait! We have never been to the Halloween party and my kids will love it.

Unrelated, but did you know with the party they will let you in @ 4p, even though the party starts @ 7p. Take the day off, sleep in, have a nice breakfast & hang @ the pool then head in @ 4p. Will make for a nice day & saves you a ticket for the day.

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

A Tower Magic Kingdom View room being available will depend on a few things. If there are any major conventions taking place and how many of their rooms were already reserved with various discounts. The best way to find out is to look online or call WDW Reservations before you leave to know for sure.

Thank you. You are full of informative resort info! To be safe, I just booked the Tower - MK view so we don't hear "Sorry, no MK views available" when we check in Very excited! Thanks for all your advice!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you. You are full of informative resort info! To be safe, I just booked the Tower - MK view so we don't hear "Sorry, no MK views available" when we check in Very excited! Thanks for all your advice!

Congratulations on getting that reservation and I hope you have a great time.

 

[DISNEY CHICKIE]

It looks like from your sig you'll be going in June, which is usually a fairly busy time I believe. If you really have your mind set on the MK view, then I would book it. Also I would say you would have zero chance of the upgrade from the Garden Wing to the MK view. In between is the Tower Lake View, so that would be a two step upgrade. I could see an upgrade from one side of the tower to the other, or the Garden Wing to the Tower LV, but not both steps.

If you can afford it (which is entirely subjective), I would say the MK view is worth it. I think there are other views in Disney World that may be "better" in a traditional sense (like a Boardwalk View at the Boardwalk), but there is something unbeatably "magical" and unique about the MK view (the castle, the fireworks, the Seven Seas Lagoon with the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian) that I would put it up there as maybe my favorite I've had anywhere, and I travel a good deal.

Your right. I didn't even think about how it would be a two step upgrade. I decided to just go for the Tower - MK view so there are no worries when we check-in. Thanks for your tips!

 

[mickeynut1]

To be safe, I just booked the Tower - MK view so we don't hear "Sorry, no MK views available" when we check in Very excited!

Congrats on booking a MK view . We are booked for our first CR stay for the end of this year and I also booked a Tower MK view . While the CR has never been on our list of resorts to try, I am getting excited to stay there, especially with a MK view . Have a great trip and I hope you'll report back about your stay .

 

[wdwnut61]

So I did some tweaking to our June reservation yesterday. We were booked at CR BLV 6/8 - 6/17. Unfortunately the last 2 nights aren't covered by the Spring discount so......

I changed our dates at CR to 6/8 -6/15 and upgraded to MKV

Still saved over $1000.00 and booked our last 2 nights at our other favorite POFQ. Works out even better since we are going to Cirque de Soleil on 6/15 and will be able to take the boat back to POFQ.

Always great to save some money but even better to be able to watch the fireworks from our balcony and lay in bed watching the castle change colors

While I love the BLV we had this past November for $400.00 difference with the Spring discount it was so worth it to upgrade to MKV

 

[WDWKOOK]

Congrats on booking a MK view . We are booked for our first CR stay for the end of this year and I also booked a Tower MK view . While the CR has never been on our list of resorts to try, I am getting excited to stay there, especially with a MK view . Have a great trip and I hope you'll report back about your stay .

I can't wait to see where the CR ends-up on your resort rankings list!

So I did some tweaking to our June reservation yesterday. We were booked at CR BLV 6/8 - 6/17. Unfortunately the last 2 nights aren't covered by the Spring discount so......

I changed our dates at CR to 6/8 -6/15 and upgraded to MKV

Still saved over $1000.00 and booked our last 2 nights at our other favorite POFQ. Works out even better since we are going to Cirque de Soleil on 6/15 and will be able to take the boat back to POFQ.

Always great to save some money but even better to be able to watch the fireworks from our balcony and lay in bed watching the castle change colors

While I love the BLV we had this past November for $400.00 difference with the Spring discount it was so worth it to upgrade to MKV

Good call on the date tweaking. POFQ now has all queen beds and you can have those yummy beignets! Sounds like a great vacation

Did you request an odd-numbered room? That way, your beds will face toward the MK so you can watch the castle while you're in bed.

 

[mickeynut1]

So I did some tweaking to our June reservation yesterday. We were booked at CR BLV 6/8 - 6/17. Unfortunately the last 2 nights aren't covered by the Spring discount so......

I changed our dates at CR to 6/8 -6/15 and upgraded to MKV

Still saved over $1000.00 and booked our last 2 nights at our other favorite POFQ. Works out even better since we are going to Cirque de Soleil on 6/15 and will be able to take the boat back to POFQ.

Always great to save some money but even better to be able to watch the fireworks from our balcony and lay in bed watching the castle change colors

While I love the BLV we had this past November for $400.00 difference with the Spring discount it was so worth it to upgrade to MKV

Congrats on upgrading . Before I booked our trip, I compared a BLV to MKV and the difference was minimal, so we decided it would be worth the extra cost to be able to see the fireworks from our balcony .