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

[MommyTo5]

Mugs can only be refilled at the Contempo Cafe (CR's QS) which is on the 4th floor next to the Outer Rim Lounge and CM's.

Bay Lake Tower guests may also refill mugs at the (poolside) Cove Bar!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Bay Lake Tower guests may also refill mugs at the (poolside) Cove Bar!

Thank you for posting this, MommyTo6!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you

You're welcome. I think instead of apple juice there is Minute Maid lemonade. Maybe someone will post the Cove Bar beverage selection for you.

 

[Nicole721]

Thank you for the review!! We will be staying at the CR in February and doing the deluxe plan and will also be eating at the Wave, Chef Mickey, Cali Grill and Contempo Cafe! I cant wait to see your pics and hear more about your trip. Are you doing a Trip Report?

Yep...it'll be up on my blog I came home with a nasty sinus infection (100+ degrees of wet heat in FL, I think it was in the 60s this morning in Chicago...my sinuses don't like the drastic change LOL) but I'll probably start writing this weekend and I'll post the link here when I start it up. As of now, it only has cruise reports on it.

Thank you for posting and we'll be on the look-out for you photo link. Would you stay at BLT on your next trip? It's already time to start planning

Yes, yes yes!!! A million times yes! I can't imagine staying anywhere else, really...and that's kind of hard for me to say because I *love* the Grand Floridian. On shorter trips (two or three days), we still might do the Grand, but I can't imagine staying anywhere else on longer trips now. The BLT has absolutely ruined me!

We're not owners of BLT or DVC, and we're unlikely to become DVC owners (I have other real estate goals), but really, for the four of us (me- 24, my sister- 23, my mom and my grandma), it was the perfect amount of space and it was GREAT having two bathrooms with four women sharing a room. It really came to feel like home for us

And it had new hotel smell. You know about new car smell? BLT has new hotel smell

Nicole721, how did deluxe dining work for in room dining at CRT. Were you able to order from the restaurants?

Did you enjoy your 1 BR? How did it compare to other DVC 1 BRs if you've stayed at any? TIA.

Unfortunately, no. People have posted that they've called the CR and were told that you can order from the restaurants via private dining, but both private dining and concierge told us this was not possible. Concierge did tell us to check with The Wave because they might do carry out, but we never checked.

We ordered breakfast via private dining on our last morning because we had a ton of credits left over (grandma came with us and she's in her late-80s and with the heat, she didn't spend much time in the parks and made better use of the kitchen than her meal credits) and it was very good.

We enjoyed our 1BR very much. I can't imagine staying in a regular room for longer than a few nights anymore. It was the perfect amount of space for us (it reminded me of my sister's luxury apartment when she was in college) and it was very functional for us while still retaining much of that Disney magic. My only gripe is that the Contemporary and BLT have become the home to many crows and larger birds and by the third day, there were so many droppings on our balcony that we just couldn't step out there anymore. It wasn't even like normal little bird droppings, but big gross ones. Bleh. Didn't experience this at our stay at the Contemporary last year or any of our stays at the GF.

And we had a great view of Illuminations from our room every night

I can't compare it to any other DVC resorts, though, because we aren't DVC owners and haven't stayed at any other DVC resorts.

can't wait to see your pics...we have a BL view in Dec and can't wait

I think I like BL view over MK view (we were upgraded to an MK view room at the CR last year). The MK view was nice, but there's so much more to see from a BL view (especially if you're on a higher floor). We could see Epcot (and Illuminations), DHS, DTD, BB, WL and the Swolphin. Lots to look at and see and I feel we got the double whammy of fireworks: we could see Illuminations from our room at 9:00 and had an AMAZING view of Wishes from the bridge at 10:00. We actually didn't see any fireworks live at the parks all week because we either had late dinner with fireworks views (Yachtsman, Cali Grill) or we had good enough views from the BLT that it wasn't worth the crowds and heat Not typical behavior for us, but it as hot and we were tired and nothing beats a great view of two fireworks shows while you're in your PJ's.

Thank you for sharing, I was concerned about the bus but you said it was not crowded. I can't wait for my first CR stay in Dec with the deluxe dinning. I can't wait to see pictures. Where did you use your refill mugs?

Nope, not crowded for us. That said, we never did any rope drops. We usually had an 8:00ish breakfast and then headed to the parks after breakfast.

We refilled our mugs at the Contempo Cafe. We could have used the poolside machine, but we had a room right near the elevator to the bridge and it was so quick to just hop over and refill. We didn't use the mugs much, though, since we had many beverages in the room (we went to Wal-Mart on our first day to stock up on Vitamin Water, water bottles, milk, juice, etc).

Thanks, can you please let me know the selections...can I use it for coffee? Can my son get apple juice or milk? Thanks again

Coffee, yes. Apple juice or milk, no.

I actually have a picture of the machine, so I can tell you the selections are coffee and then from the fountain: Coke, Barq's Root Beer, Fanta Orange, Red Powerade, Minute Maid Light Lemonade, Sprite, Diet Coke and another Coke pump.

The offerings seem to vary from resort to resort. At the GF last year, they had Hi-C fruit punch.

 

[WDWKOOK]

And it had new hotel smell. You know about new car smell? BLT has new hotel smell

That's the best! I wonder how long that will last?!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi everyone my family and I are actually getting home tomorrow, so I am posting my Contemporary review from a Hampton Inn location in Lima, Ohio. I figured with all the un packing and all other things we need to do now would be the best time to post my review so here it is.

Before we were at WDW my family and I were in Clearwater Beach, so from there we drove to WDW. Anyway while driving there along Interstate 4 we stopped off at a McDonald's in Dover, Florida and just as we got back into my dad's Jeep it would not start. So we waited an hour and a half for a tow truck who took us to the Contemporary, then later that day my dad got another tow truck which took him to the Magic Kingdom Car Care Center. The problem was his battery, which got fixed the very next day and it could have been a lot worse.

Anyway as for our actual stay once again we had an amazing time. Our room number was 4817 which had an amazing view of Bay Lake, Epcot and Bay Lake Tower. The Cast Members were very friendly, especially some of the experienced Cast Members from the Atrium Club who would all go out of their way to help us with anything we needed. When it came to the extra guests from Bay Lake Tower I honestly didn't think they impacted the 4th floor and etc being a lot more busy and there was just one time when we had to wait for another Monorail because of a huge line. Just like in December the Contempo Cafe was great so I went multiple times.

Here are two new Club Level facts I found out.

Travellers Cheques can now be cashed on either the 12th or 14th floor, so no more doing that in the lobby.

When insterting your car for the 12th or 14th floors, if it does not light up then just press the button for your specific floor.

Also Wishes music is played on Contemporary info channel, which is channel 20.

Finally I took a grand total of 42 new pictures which I will upload tomorrow once I get home.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi everyone my family and I are actually getting home tomorrow, so I am posting my Contemporary review from a Hampton Inn location in Lima, Ohio. I figured with all the un packing and all other things we need to do now would be the best time to post my review so here it is.

Before we were at WDW my family and I were in Clearwater Beach, so from there we drove to WDW. Anyway while driving there along Interstate 4 we stopped off at a McDonald's in Dover, Florida and just as we got back into my dad's Jeep it would not start. So we waited an hour and a half for a tow truck who took us to the Contemporary, then later that day my dad got another tow truck which took him to the Magic Kingdom Car Care Center. The problem was his battery, which got fixed the very next day and it could have been a lot worse.

Anyway as for our actual stay once again we had an amazing time. Our room number was 4817 which had an amazing view of Bay Lake, Epcot and Bay Lake Tower. The Cast Members were very friendly, especially some of the experienced Cast Members from the Atrium Club who would all go out of their way to help us with anything we needed. When it came to the extra guests from Bay Lake Tower I honestly didn't think they impacted the 4th floor and etc being a lot more busy and there was just one time when we had to wait for another Monorail because of a huge line. Just like in December the Contempo Cafe was great so I went multiple times.

Here are two new Club Level facts I found out.

Travellers Cheques can now be cashed on either the 12th or 14th floor, so no more doing that in the lobby.

When insterting your car for the 12th or 14th floors, if it does not light up then just press the button for your specific floor.

Also Wishes music is played on Contemporary info channel, which is channel 20.

Finally I took a grand total of 42 new pictures which I will upload tomorrow once I get home.

We'll be on the look-out for your photos.

Have a safe trip.

 

[loperella]

We just switched resorts today to CR and am trying to get all the info I can before our upcoming trip in Oct. It's our 1st time to Disney & obviously our 1st stay at Contemporary. We're SO looking forward to the whole experience!!!

It'll take a while to read thru all these posts, but one page at a time....until then...

Thanx for all the info everyone and I look forward to contributing and posting pics after my upcoming trip!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We just switched resorts today to CR and am trying to get all the info I can before our upcoming trip in Oct. It's our 1st time to Disney & obviously our 1st stay at Contemporary. We're SO looking forward to the whole experience!!!

It'll take a while to read thru all these posts, but one page at a time....until then...

Thanx for all the info everyone and I look forward to contributing and posting pics after my upcoming trip!

Congratulations on switching! It's exciting when you get your e-mail confirmation, isn't it? Are you in the GW or Tower? Here is a link to more great CR info:

www.contemporaryresort.net

 

[BCV23]

Nicole721, thanks so much for your response. Too bad about the restaurants and private dining but very good to know in advance.

CR Resort Fan 4 Life, it sounds like another great stay for your family. Too bad about your car but glad it worked out. Safe travels home.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We just switched resorts today to CR and am trying to get all the info I can before our upcoming trip in Oct. It's our 1st time to Disney & obviously our 1st stay at Contemporary. We're SO looking forward to the whole experience!!!

It'll take a while to read thru all these posts, but one page at a time....until then...

Thanx for all the info everyone and I look forward to contributing and posting pics after my upcoming trip!

I would say you made a great decision switching to the Contemporary, so have a great time staying there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention in my review that all the talk about the Contemporary being a major convention resort is not really true. Obviously I am not denying that meetings and conventions don't take place, however I never noticed any people on conventions unless I was walking on the 2nd floor of the Tower. I never noticed them in the lobby or on the 4th floor and there was a convention with KPMG taking place when I was there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

One more thing, I am not exactly sure what was done to it but this past Thursday the bus station re-opened, because it was being renovated. So for a few days when getting on a bus for Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard and Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon, you needed to wait for them where the Magical Express buses arrive.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If anyone is intrested to know the Business Center is open everyday from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

According to what I was told the Tennis Courts have re-opened, however there are no plans to bring back the playground.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I just added Club Level tip #10 to the 1st page and here it is.

Just incase either lounge runs out of a specific hot food item it will be replaced by an item from the old menu which was used by the old menu. For example on a Thursday night the Atrium Club lounge ran out of the Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta, so it was replaced by the Beef Wellington that was on the old menu.

 

[windan]

Hey CR Gang! We're staying at the CR for the first time this September and was wondering if the Cali Grill has food service in the lounge or at the counter area. We have an ADR for that week but were wondering if we wanted to have some appetizers and such at the lounge if that's possible.

TIA Danny

 

[nemofans]

No playground, huh? That stinks.

 

[loperella]

According to what I was told the Tennis Courts have re-opened, however there are no plans to bring back the playground.

Awww, disappointing but oh-well. Don't they have some sort of kid's water/squirty area thingy around the pool area that is fairly new?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Awww, disappointing but oh-well. Don't they have some sort of kid's water/squirty area thingy around the pool area that is fairly new?

Yes the brand new kids splash play area is opened.