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

[dvczerfs]

There has been a lot of talk about BLT lately and it has me thinking again about DVC. The only reason I have been holding back is that I just really like staying at the CR itself with daily maid service and being in the same actual building with the monorail, restaurants and stores. The BLT (and from what I understand other DVC properties) don't have quite this level of convenience. Otherwise I would be all over DVC offers. Am I off base with my thinking or am I missing something?

Also, just out of idle curiosity, why no online check-in CR Resort Fan? Do you think it might affect your flexibility for requests when you get there?

-Jimbo

hi jimbo, here is how the dvc numbers worked for my family in 1999 when we purchased 400 points. 400 points at $56.00 per point plus ann.dues gave me a total investment for 42 years of $85k. which comes to $2033.33 per year for 42 years. for march, 2bedroom unit at blt is $1085 per night cash. get your pin code and wheel and deal and you can get down to $650 per night plus tax which will give you $715 per night. i can stay at blt in a two bedroom mk view in march for 7 nights for 400 points. your discounted price for 7 nights is $5000.00 for the same room. if i wanted, i could pay aprox $150 for mouse keeping for the length of my stay to make my bed for me. thats how it worked for us. we go every year for 14 nights in a two bedroom at okw. we just love okw, for 400 points per year. there are alot of factors in buying into dvc, its not for eveyone. everyone vacations differently. we like the full kitchen for breakfast and lunch and we love all the room we have.our dd is going to be a sen. in high school on our next trip. she will be going off to coll. and family vacations as a kid are coming to an end. we asked her,were do you want to stay, she said okw, it feels like a grew up there. she was 6 when we first started staying there. dw and i couldnt afford 5k for one week for a room at wdw when she was a kid and dvc gave me that way to make my dd dream of going to wdw a reality as many time as she has. we have had alot of fun and good times growing up at okw that she or we will never forget. was i nuts for buying in when we did and spend that kind of money? i made more on my vacation investment than i have in the stock market the last few years! so thats my story,do your homework and the numbers before you buy!!

 

[havaneselover]

There's a Disney Christmas special currently showing on the Home & Gardens Channel (HGTV). There is a segment on the show which shows CM's assembling the giant wreath for the CR and it also has a segment on the new gingerbread display in the Grand Canyon Concourse. Here're the days/times that the special, behind the magic: disney holidays, will be showing during the rest of the month -

December 11, 2009, 8:00 PM e/p
December 11, 2009, 3:00 AM e/p
December 20, 2009, 5:00 PM e/p
December 24, 2009, 4:00 PM e/p
December 25, 2009, 8:00 PM e/p
December 25, 2009, 3:00 AM e/p

We actually missed this because we were at WDW and I was wondering when it would be on again. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also, just out of idle curiosity, why no online check-in CR Resort Fan? Do you think it might affect your flexibility for requests when you get there?

Since were staying Club Level we like checking in up on the Atrium Club floor. Plus when we arrive we will have a bellman take our luggage when we step out of the car and a Cast Member will escort us up to the 12th floor. So we think it's a lot easier and who knows if something might go wrong with the WDW website when checking in online, because I have read various posts about it not working.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Some more pictures and info on the new giant Mickey at the CR:

http://www.disneyeveryday.com/contemporary-resort-hangs-gigantic-mickey-christmas-wreath/

Those photos look great and thanks for posting the link.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Jimbo,
When going from Bay Lake Tower to the 4th floor of the Contemporary all you do is take the skybridge, which should be very easy. Also the one difference you will notice is check-in for Bay Lake Tower happens at the Contemporary, however depending on how many guests check-in online then they won't be standing in the regular line to check-in. So it doesn't sound as bad like others thought when they found out that news.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Don't forget that you don't have to be a DVC member to stay at the BLT. They accept cash reservations AND, unlike DVC, you can use pin code discounts such as the 40% off; general public promos such as free dining or 4/3, and you WILL receive daily mousekeeping on a cash ressie.

This is absolutely correct. We received a code, used it for BLT for next year and we are a cash ressie as well. Speaking with another DISer, she told me that we do receive daily mousekeeping. We were originally booked at the CR then at BC then at the Poly back to the CR and now at BLT. We made our way around Disney without even being there. We finally decided on BLT for more room. With two teenage boys, more room was a deal breaker for us.

CR Resort Fan, Have a fabulous trip. Can't wait to hear all about it when you return. Safe travels.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Resort Fan, Have a fabulous trip. Can't wait to hear all about it when you return. Safe travels.

Thank you and I will be writting my full trip report from Clearwater Beach, since we will be going there right after WDW. However I won't be able to post any photos until we get home on the 31st, so that's when I will be posting them.

 

[WDWKOOK]

This is absolutely correct. We received a code, used it for BLT for next year and we are a cash ressie as well. Speaking with another DISer, she told me that we do receive daily mousekeeping. We were originally booked at the CR then at BC then at the Poly back to the CR and now at BLT. We made our way around Disney without even being there. We finally decided on BLT for more room. With two teenage boys, more room was a deal breaker for us.

CR Resort Fan, Have a fabulous trip. Can't wait to hear all about it when you return. Safe travels.

I refuse to admit how many times I changed this years' WDW vacation. Let's just say that I REALLY appreciate the fact that there is never a charge

The first step to a resort changers' recovery is admitting you have a problem - do I have THE thread for you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1983807&highlight=resort+changers

 

[nemofans]

When you check in, do you get schedules for all the parks' hours & shows or do you have to get those at the actual parks? For some reason I can't remember.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Thank you and I will be writting my full trip report from Clearwater Beach, since we will be going there right after WDW. However I won't be able to post any photos until we get home on the 31st, so that's when I will be posting them.

Definitely looking forward to the report and the photo's.

I refuse to admit how many times I changed this years' WDW vacation. Let's just say that I REALLY appreciate the fact that there is never a charge

The first step to a resort changers' recovery is admitting you have a problem - do I have THE thread for you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1983807&highlight=resort+changers

I am so glad that there isn't a charge before the 45 days to change reservations as well. Normally, I would say that thread wasn't for me but this upcoming trip, I could be the poster child for that thread. If it was just the three of us, me, DH and DS than we would have stayed with the CR and never have changed. But since we invited our DS's BF (which this is his first time ever to WDW) to join us, this made for different plans. Like a bigger space for all of us. We are all looking forward to staying at BLT.

 

[suebedo]

UUUUUgh...I posted a few days back about wanting to upgrade via the 4/3 deal to a MK view tower room for dates 12/12-12/19. Well, a little bit ago I looked online and the MK view tower room showed up under the 4/3 deal. So, I immed. got on the phone and called. The agent told me it would be $470 more. So, I figured I better check with my DH. I hung up and went upstairs to talk it over with him. He said sure...go for it. So I called back and by the time an agent got to the phone (about 9 minutes) it WAS GONE!!! It is no longer showing up in the system. I could cry.

I wonder if it was a glitch of some sort or if someone really booked it ahead of me. I had no idea it would only be ONE room. I figured they had released some MK view rooms for the 4/3 since that category of room is still available at the regular rate.

I am going to keep trying though. Wish me luck!

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

Wow, yes, it did - congratulations! You are a shining example to all who wish for a different room category

 

[lissiesmum]

Only 10 more days until my family and I are back at the Contemporary and today really hit me that it's upcoming, because when I went to view our reservation online it said we can check-in online starting today. However we are choosing not to use the online check-in. Now we just need to start packing in a few days which we will start doing on the weekend.

Have a great trip! I am so jealous you only have a little over a week! I can't wait to hear your trip report and see your latest pictures!

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

Congratulations! You must be so excited!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When you check in, do you get schedules for all the parks' hours & shows or do you have to get those at the actual parks? For some reason I can't remember.

When you check-in they will give you a times and information gude for that week up to a specific day that lists the hours for the 4 parks, water parks, Downtown Disney and etc. However if you want hours for specific shows those are available at their specific parks on the same type of paper.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

Congragulations.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Have a great trip! I am so jealous you only have a little over a week! I can't wait to hear your trip report and see your latest pictures!

Thank you.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

Wow, how exciting for you. That's absolutely fabulous.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

I finally got it! I have been checking every day and a MK view room finally showed up again on the 4/3 deal!


Persistence pays off!

 

[f15robyn]

Sooooooooooo excited!!

9 days until our first stay ever at CR.

And I'm even more proud of myself that I've been able to keep the fact that we're staying club level a secret from my husband for the last 100 days. Only 9 days to go (I'm not good at keeping secrets).

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this tread (and the old one, and the photo one ). I've been through all of them getting ready for our trip. They have been very helpful.

And thanks to my TA for getting us one of the two king bed, MK view rooms on the 14th floor (yes I know they're smaller, but MK view and king bed is all I need).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Sooooooooooo excited!!

9 days until our first stay ever at CR.

And I'm even more proud of myself that I've been able to keep the fact that we're staying club level a secret from my husband for the last 100 days. Only 9 days to go (I'm not good at keeping secrets).

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this tread (and the old one, and the photo one ). I've been through all of them getting ready for our trip. They have been very helpful.

And thanks to my TA for getting us one of the two king bed, MK view rooms on the 14th floor (yes I know they're smaller, but MK view and king bed is all I need).

Since will be both there around the same time maybe I will see around somewhere in the hotel?