The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort FAQ with PICTURES! (APR 2009)

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Wow! So happy to hear this! My kids love Thomas's Bagels (they are just not fond of the WDW bagels, regardless if they are free in the CL lounge ) So we usually trek over to the WL or BWI to purchase them and pick up a half gallon of milk. This is great that the CR will now offer these items! DH also can't resist picking up Entermann's Donuts

It's also worth mentioning that DVC resorts have the BEST sundries store! My son got sick one trip and we forgot hand sanitizer, our doc said to make sure we sanitize more than ever. Well, NOWHERE on property do they sell Purell! You'll find it on the counter next to every register, but not for sale. We finally realized that the BWI had a mega general store and they just had to have it. They did!! Sanitizing wipes. So if you need something and a regular gift shop doesn't have it, always seek out the DVC shops!!! They have so much stuff!!!

After reading what you said how the DVC Resorts have these great shops with more items it's a little weird that the Fantasia Market was not built inside Bay Lake Tower, since the Contemporary is not a DVC Resort. I didn't think the Sundries store needed to be changed, however it does look a lot better from the pictures I have seen and I like the name change since it's now located by the huge Fantasia store. Although I guess with the renovations to the 4th floor they thought it was time for a change and they must realize with the walkway from Bay Lake Tower to the 4th floor it won't be so hard for Bay Lake Tower guests to go there and purchase anything they would need.

 

[soccer-mom29e]

I read somewhere that you can see Spaceship Earth if you have a bay lake view from the CR tower. Is this true? If so, I'd love to see a picture. I'm assuming it would have to be zoomed quite a bit. I don't know how far it actually is from there. We always stay in the MK view rooms.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I read somewhere that you can see Spaceship Earth if you have a bay lake view from the CR tower. Is this true? If so, I'd love to see a picture. I'm assuming it would have to be zoomed quite a bit. I don't know how far it actually is from there. We always stay in the MK view rooms.

Yes that's true and it's something I saw this past December when my family and I had the Bay Lake View. Like I said on the 1st page in the room tips you need to be looking out to the right and I would also say the closer your room is to Chef Mickey's the better the chance you have of seeing it, since those rooms are located a bit closer to Epcot.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Well I am happy the Blackhawks won because I don't like the Canucks.

That makes two of us

hey everyone, just about to leave for the airport hotel.
i'll be at the Contemporary resort tomorrow night.
will take lots of pics and let you know about my trip when i get back.

Have a great time!!! Any further pool updates will be much appreciated!!

 

[oasispaul]

I read somewhere that you can see Spaceship Earth if you have a bay lake view from the CR tower. Is this true? If so, I'd love to see a picture. I'm assuming it would have to be zoomed quite a bit. I don't know how far it actually is from there. We always stay in the MK view rooms.

You can actually see it pretty easily from the balconies on the Bay Lake side of the tower. You can also see the Swan & Dolphin, Downtown Disney (including the new Characters in Flight balloon) and the Wilderness Lodge. Oh, and you can see the Tree of Life @ AK, but it's a little harder to spot than the others...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You can actually see it pretty easily from the balconies on the Bay Lake side of the tower. You can also see the Swan & Dolphin, Downtown Disney (including the new Characters in Flight balloon) and the Wilderness Lodge. Oh, and you can see the Tree of Life @ AK, but it's a little harder to spot than the others...

Because the rest of the information you posted is very good I am going to add it to the 1st page with the room tips and give you the credit for posting it.

 

[PopArtGal]

hey everyone, just about to leave for the airport hotel.
i'll be at the Contemporary resort tomorrow night.
will take lots of pics and let you know about my trip when i get back.

Have a nice trip.

Do you think it's stressful to sleep at the airport and be sure not to forget anything before you leave?

 

[Finally08]

You can see all kinds of things from the Bay Lake View.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks for my favorite CR tower view! It's so strange seeing that balloon...

 

[brergnat]

After reading what you said how the DVC Resorts have these great shops with more items it's a little weird that the Fantasia Market was not built inside Bay Lake Tower, since the Contemporary is not a DVC Resort. I didn't think the Sundries store needed to be changed, however it does look a lot better from the pictures I have seen and I like the name change since it's now located by the huge Fantasia store. Although I guess with the renovations to the 4th floor they thought it was time for a change and they must realize with the walkway from Bay Lake Tower to the 4th floor it won't be so hard for Bay Lake Tower guests to go there and purchase anything they would need.

Every WDW resort with a DVC attached to it has an "expanded" grocery/sundry section in their gift shop. Beach Club Marketplace, WL Mercantile, BW General Store, etc. All of these gift shops have freezer sections that sell everything from ice cream to frozen dinners. They also sell entire loaves of bread, full sized boxes of cereal and gallon sizes of milk as well as 1/2 gallons of juice. The "stand alone" DVC's (Old Key West, Saratoga Springs) obviously have their stores attached.

There is no reason to build a separate store inside the DVC buildings, if there is already a store in the WDW resort that the DVC is attached to. All they have to do is add some extra refrigerator/freezer space and some more shelves. The added bonus is that the resort guests in these hotels can also have easy access to these grocery/sundry items as well. It's a win win.

And, just for the record, as of August 4th, the Contemporary WILL be a DVC resort. They just did the renovation of Fantasia Market a bit ahead of schedule, that's all.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Every WDW resort with a DVC attached to it has an "expanded" grocery/sundry section in their gift shop. Beach Club Marketplace, WL Mercantile, BW General Store, etc. All of these gift shops have freezer sections that sell everything from ice cream to frozen dinners. They also sell entire loaves of bread, full sized boxes of cereal and gallon sizes of milk as well as 1/2 gallons of juice. The "stand alone" DVC's (Old Key West, Saratoga Springs) obviously have their stores attached.

There is no reason to build a separate store inside the DVC buildings, if there is already a store in the WDW resort that the DVC is attached to. All they have to do is add some extra refrigerator/freezer space and some more shelves. The added bonus is that the resort guests in these hotels can also have easy access to these grocery/sundry items as well. It's a win win.

And, just for the record, as of August 4th, the Contemporary WILL be a DVC resort. They just did the renovation of Fantasia Market a bit ahead of schedule, that's all.

I just thought since Bay Lake Tower is techincally a stand alone building, despite their walkway to the 4th floor it would make more sense to build it there. However I do agree that is great for Contemporary guests who can also have easy access to the Fantasia Market, so it is a win win situation.

Alhough since the Sundries store was there along time before Bay Lake Tower and the need to renovate it to accomodate the extra foods and etc, it wouldn't be fair to not keep it in the Tower on the 4th floor. So if someone has had many stays at the Contemporary it's something they have come to use to having. Anyway the more I think about it moving the store to Bay Lake Tower would not be fair because Contemporary guests won't have access to the walkway which goes there, so they would need to enter the main entrance making it harder to get there.

 

[MPHARJ]

I just wanted to let everyone know I had inquired with IPO about a cabana rental and the prices are higher than those listed in the link on the first page. They are now $100 for a half day and $185 for a full day.

 

[oasispaul]

Because the rest of the information you posted is very good I am going to add it to the 1st page with the room tips and give you the credit for posting it.

Aw, thanks, CR Fan! You can also see a bunch of high-rises straight across Bay Lake, off in the distance (I'm not sure if that's downtown Orlando, the convention area or something else, but I'm sure someone else can answer that for us)...

You can see all kinds of things from the Bay Lake View.

Out of curiosity, what floor are those pics taken from? We had a room on the 9th floor on our recent trip, and from our vantage point, we were able to view most of Spaceship Earth and nearly all the Swan & Dolphin. However, the one day that we were on the 4th floor, we couldn't see ANY of those landmarks, since we were too low.

So obviously, the higher up you are, the more you'll see off in the distance.

As a matter of fact, the view from our 9th floor balcony (toward Epcot & Downtown Disney) kind of reminded me of the view we had from the top of the Wilderness Lodge when we were Flag Family.

 

[pixie921]

I just wanted to let everyone know I had inquired with IPO about a cabana rental and the prices are higher than those listed in the link on the first page. They are now $100 for a half day and $185 for a full day.

Yeah, they've actually been that price since the cabanas became available at the CR. The old price was for the original ones at the Grand Floridian, and they've increased to the new rate as well.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Aw, thanks, CR Fan! You can also see a bunch of high-rises straight across Bay Lake, off in the distance (I'm not sure if that's downtown Orlando, the convention area or something else, but I'm sure someone else can answer that for us)...

You're welcome and I believe if you look straight across you can see one of the hotels on International Drive. I don't remember the name of it, however whenever we drive past it I know which one it is.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, I have an all important question... where can I find the homemade potato chips I heard about?

edited to answer my own question: at the Contempo Cafe

 

[Finally08]

Aw, thanks, CR Fan! You can also see a bunch of high-rises straight across Bay Lake, off in the distance (I'm not sure if that's downtown Orlando, the convention area or something else, but I'm sure someone else can answer that for us)...




Out of curiosity, what floor are those pics taken from? We had a room on the 9th floor on our recent trip, and from our vantage point, we were able to view most of Spaceship Earth and nearly all the Swan & Dolphin. However, the one day that we were on the 4th floor, we couldn't see ANY of those landmarks, since we were too low.

So obviously, the higher up you are, the more you'll see off in the distance.

As a matter of fact, the view from our 9th floor balcony (toward Epcot & Downtown Disney) kind of reminded me of the view we had from the top of the Wilderness Lodge when we were Flag Family.

We were on the 7th floor in the verrrry last room all the way by BLT.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I just wanted to let everyone know I had inquired with IPO about a cabana rental and the prices are higher than those listed in the link on the first page. They are now $100 for a half day and $185 for a full day.

This is from an email from a CR/IPO:

..."We now offer pool cabanas at the Contemporary resort exclusively for Contemporary Resort Guests. Four hour rentals (10 am to 2 pm - morning or 3 pm to 7 pm - afternoon) are $100 plus tax per session, or you may rent a full day (7 hours
continuous) for $185 plus tax. Rentals include chairs and lounges,
towels, complimentary sodas and water, complimentary fruit basket, 32
inch LCD television, DVD player on request, and iPod docking station."

 

[BlueSkies]

This is from an email from a CR/IPO:

..."We now offer pool cabanas at the Contemporary resort exclusively for Contemporary Resort Guests. Four hour rentals (10 am to 2 pm - morning or 3 pm to 7 pm - afternoon) are $100 plus tax per session, or you may rent a full day (7 hours
continuous) for $185 plus tax. Rentals include chairs and lounges,
towels, complimentary sodas and water, complimentary fruit basket, 32
inch LCD television, DVD player on request, and iPod docking station."

WDWKOOK Its the same as at the GF...the price increase is recent...they have cabana attendants there too that are so helpful...what a relaxing way to spend the day at the pool and feel a little pampered too... I highly recommend this on a down day...so nice!!!

 

[3"Mouse"keteers]

We'll be at Contemporary in 10 days! Does anyone know how many days out they do the room assignments? Also, does anyone have a fax number where I can fax my room requests to and do you think it helps to do that as well as have them noted on reservation? We did both with our stay at Pop last fall and we got exactly what we requested!