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

[katrocity]

Hi Friends-

We are headed to CR in December and have booked a Garden room. Has anyone tried to ask for an upgrade to a Tower room at check-in? What are the chances of the front desk giving us a Tower room?

We would like to stay in the tower, but the upgrade is $500, to book the room, which is a bit much for us.

Of people who have stayed in Garden wing, do you really want a first floor room so you get the patio? Are the second and third floor rooms smaller?

All comments are greatly appreciated! Traveling with DH and twin 7 year old boys who are train freaks and are going to lose their minds about the Monorail in the building!

Thanks!

Kate

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi Friends-

We are headed to CR in December and have booked a Garden room. Has anyone tried to ask for an upgrade to a Tower room at check-in? What are the chances of the front desk giving us a Tower room?

We would like to stay in the tower, but the upgrade is $500, to book the room, which is a bit much for us.

Of people who have stayed in Garden wing, do you really want a first floor room so you get the patio? Are the second and third floor rooms smaller?

All comments are greatly appreciated! Traveling with DH and twin 7 year old boys who are train freaks and are going to lose their minds about the Monorail in the building!

Thanks!

Kate

I am not sure what the difference would be to uprade at check-in assuming a Tower is available. However here is a link for the 2009 rates so you can get a sense of how much more the Tower rooms cost.
http://www.mousesavers.com/contemporary2009.html

Finally if you keep you're Garden Wing reservation all the rooms are exactly the same size, so it does not matter what floor they would give you.

 

[katrocity]

I am not sure what the difference would be to uprade at check-in assuming a Tower is available. However here is a link for the 2009 rates so you can get a sense of how much more the Tower rooms cost.


Finally if you keep you're Garden Wing reservation all the rooms are exactly the same size, so it does not matter what floor they would give you.

Thanks so much for your quick response. Is there any chance they would give you the Tower room if available for free or does that not happen. I have read you can ask for a free upgrade, but does that ever happen at CR?

Kate

 

[csaribay]

Thanks so much for your quick response. Is there any chance they would give you the Tower room if available for free or does that not happen. I have read you can ask for a free upgrade, but does that ever happen at CR?

Kate

If you really want a Tower room, it is what you should book. The reasoning is simple: yes, complimentary upgrades can and do happen. In almost all cases however, they are for occupancy reasons and have been done days ahead of arrival (selection for these upgrades is based upon utilizing available rooms to the fullest, and generally speaking, are seemingly random). Asking at check-in may yield you some return, but as in most cases, you get what you pay for.

Asking for a free room upgrade is much like asking for an upgrade at the airport. Chances are smidge better in this scenario, but not by much. Never hurts to ask, and being as nice as possible about it definitely helps. At the end of the day though, expecting what you paid for (and nothing more) avoids disappointment.

By the way, if you're up for a slightly longer walk from the main tower building, you can request a lake view. These are on the end of the South Garden Building (in the 6000's - which leads to the longer walk, maybe a mintue), but the view is fantastic.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you really want a Tower room, it is what you should book. The reasoning is simple: yes, complimentary upgrades can and do happen. In almost all cases however, they are for occupancy reasons and have been done days ahead of arrival (selection for these upgrades is based upon utilizing available rooms to the fullest, and generally speaking, are seemingly random). Asking at check-in may yield you some return, but as in most cases, you get what you pay for.

Plus when free upgrades are done it's always made by the Cast Member doing room assignments a few days before. So that's what makes them random when checking in, because after the Cast Member types your name into the computer a message will come up saying that guest has a free upgrade.

 

[mdrob214]

Thanks so much for your quick response. Is there any chance they would give you the Tower room if available for free or does that not happen. I have read you can ask for a free upgrade, but does that ever happen at CR?

Kate

We had a GW room in July. Upon check-in, the CM offered to find us a room in the tower. (We didn't ask or expect it.) It wasn't to be, however, as they didn't have one available for all of our nights. It was no problem to be in the Garden Wing--the rooms are the same size and decor(beautiful!) The view was nice(garden view) and we had absolutely no problems. If you really want to be in the tower, book it. If you'd rather wait and see what happens, do that. But don't let it disappoint you if you can't get in the tower.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If anyone with an upcoming stay at Bay Lake Tower would like to see the menu for the Cove Bar which is located by their pool, I added it to the 1st page in the Bay Lake Tower section.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=560

 

[Nicole721]

Hey all! I got all of the pics of our 1BR villa at BLT up!

http://sunglassesandumbrelladrinks....how-many-days-in-row-will-we-wear-tie_15.html

I also posted the amenity list for 1- and 2-BR villas.

Enjoy!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hey all! I got all of the pics of our 1BR villa at BLT up!

http://sunglassesandumbrelladrinks....how-many-days-in-row-will-we-wear-tie_15.html

I also posted the amenity list for 1- and 2-BR villas.

Enjoy!

Very nice assortment of photos and listing of amenities; perfect for the OC planner! Would you stay at BLT on your next trip?

 

[CanadianPaco]

I have been meaning to find this thread! We booked CR for next August for the first time and am so excited!!!

 

[twoplustwins]

Ok, so I am asking this question here for all you CR fans.

We're booked for a split stay between POR and CR. I am thinking of changing the entire resv to CR. I have a 40% pin which will help with the room cost.
I've always wanted to stay at CR. We could go in a few years and stay at CR, but with a family of six, we will have to pay for two rooms or a suite, which can be rather expensive.

What do you think? (I may need some advice to sway DH!!)

 

[WDWKOOK]

I have been meaning to find this thread! We booked CR for next August for the first time and am so excited!!!

Welcome - glad you finally found us. You'll love the CR!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ok, so I am asking this question here for all you CR fans.

We're booked for a split stay between POR and CR. I am thinking of changing the entire resv to CR. I have a 40% pin which will help with the room cost.
I've always wanted to stay at CR. We could go in a few years and stay at CR, but with a family of six, we will have to pay for two rooms or a suite, which can be rather expensive.

What do you think? (I may need some advice to sway DH!!)

I remember you asking about the WL - I guess you changed your mind?

I would emphasize with DH the following:

The convenience of transportation at the CR over POR. Tell him about the walkway to the MK that takes only about 10 minutes and is so convenient with your stroller(s).

And, of course there's the monorail to the TTC/Epcot and to the Poly and GF. You would be more conveniently located to more dining options.

And, it would be so much easier to stay the whole time at the CR rather than having to move from POR with the kids and luggage. On "switching" day, there isn't a guarantee that your CR room will be available in time for the kids' nap time so not doing the split stay would be much more relaxing.

Another way to look at it:

Run the numbers and take the difference between the split POR/CR stay and the CR-only stay (the GW is cheaper than the Tower, but the rooms are identical) and divide that number out into the number of days you are staying. It's probably not that much more per day when you look at it from that perspective

Good luck!

 

[twoplustwins]

I remember you asking about the WL - I guess you changed your mind?

I would emphasize with DH the following:

The convenience of transportation at the CR over POR. Tell him about the walkway to the MK that takes only about 10 minutes and is so convenient with your stroller(s).

And, of course there's the monorail to the TTC/Epcot and to the Poly and GF. You would be more conveniently located to more dining options.

And, it would be so much easier to stay the whole time at the CR rather than having to move from POR with the kids and luggage. On "switching" day, there isn't a guarantee that your CR room will be available in time for the kids' nap time so not doing the split stay would be much more relaxing.

Another way to look at it:

Run the numbers and take the difference between the split POR/CR stay and the CR-only stay (the GW is cheaper than the Tower, but the rooms are identical) and divide that number out into the number of days you are staying. It's probably not that much more per day when you look at it from that perspective

Good luck!

I was looking at WL for next vacation, but I did try to see if they had any rooms for this vacation, no luck. I could do two rooms, but the deluxe room for six was unavailable.


I am glad to mentioned the cost per day. I will get those numbers and I would bet that you are right.
thanks so much!

 

[BetsyRNBSN]

Ok, so I am asking this question here for all you CR fans.

with a family of six, we will have to pay for two rooms or a suite, which can be rather expensive.

What do you think? (I may need some advice to sway DH!!)

One thing to consider is trying BLT 2 BR villa. When our party was originally at 7, that is what we had booked, and I am almost positive that the cost for this was still less than the suite in the CR, and less than 2 standard rooms in CR. Not positive, but another option that would still keep you at the CR, just in BLT..
We are now scheduled to be in a 1 BR at BLT in December, can't wait!

 

[twoplustwins]

One thing to consider is trying BLT 2 BR villa. When our party was originally at 7, that is what we had booked, and I am almost positive that the cost for this was still less than the suite in the CR, and less than 2 standard rooms in CR. Not positive, but another option that would still keep you at the CR, just in BLT..
We are now scheduled to be in a 1 BR at BLT in December, can't wait!

Right now since the twins are two, we can stay in a regular room at CR. Next time we go we would have to do something else.
We received a DVC packet in the mail, so BLT may be an option in the future. thanks

 

[WDWKOOK]

Right now since the twins are two, we can stay in a regular room at CR. Next time we go we would have to do something else.
We received a DVC packet in the mail, so BLT may be an option in the future. thanks

Just in case you didn't know, you don't have to be DVC to stay at BLT. You can stay on a "cash reservation," and unlike staying on points, you can apply any applicable savings codes and you will receive daily housekeeping.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hey all! I got all of the pics of our 1BR villa at BLT up!

http://sunglassesandumbrelladrinks.b...ar-tie_15.html

I also posted the amenity list for 1- and 2-BR villas.

Enjoy!

Thanks the link and you're pictures look amazing.

I have been meaning to find this thread! We booked CR for next August for the first time and am so excited!!!

Have a great time.

I would emphasize with DH the following:

The convenience of transportation at the CR over POR. Tell him about the walkway to the MK that takes only about 10 minutes and is so convenient with your stroller(s).

And, of course there's the monorail to the TTC/Epcot and to the Poly and GF. You would be more conveniently located to more dining options.

And, it would be so much easier to stay the whole time at the CR rather than having to move from POR with the kids and luggage. On "switching" day, there isn't a guarantee that your CR room will be available in time for the kids' nap time so not doing the split stay would be much more relaxing.

I agree with everything you said.

Just in case you didn't know, you don't have to be DVC to stay at BLT. You can stay on a "cash reservation," and unlike staying on points, you can apply any applicable savings codes and you will receive daily housekeeping.

Don't forget that the only thing they can not get when staying there on a cash reservation is access to the Top Of The World Lounge, because it's only for DVC members staying on points at Bay Lake Tower.

 

[PolynesianAlex]

Just wondering if your stayin at BLT on points can u pay extra for housekeeping???

 

[mdrob214]

Yes, you can pay for daily housekeeping if you're staying on points.