The NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort FAQ with PICTURES! (Feb 2008)

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We were there at the beginning of April and we had booked a MK view room in the tower and when we checked in they "asked " us if we would mind switching to a Bay Lake view and I said politely that we would rather not due to this being my step son's 13th Birthday. She picked up the phone and talked to someone and said that we said no and was put in a MK view room. I think they were having a convention though so maybe they had rooms sold out for this view but we had booked far in advance and I could tell I was getting mad that they asked but they were very understanding of why we wanted to keep the room. We received a birthday card, chocolates and balloons the next morning in the room and also had a chocolate monorail that evening. I guess they could tell I was upset. I still LOVE the CR!!

At least they asked you and did say sorry no Magic Kingdom view so here is a Bay Lake view. Plus why should you have to give up your room when they made a mistake, or could not fill the rooms for the guests on conventions. Plus convention guests don't get to make a reservation a specific room, so another reason why you should not have had to give up your room. Of course if they would upgrade you to a Club Level room on the 12th floor with the Magic Kingdom view, or a suite I am sure it would be a different story.

 

[northriver]

We were just at CR a few weeks ago and had two rooms "Standard View, Garden Wing". Both were upgraded to Garden View, we were in room 6205 with a lovely courtyard view and my sister was in 6150 with a canal view. I know the garden wing isn't for everyone, but personally I really like it out there. It is super close to the pool and the Sand Bar is a great place to grab a snack, a light meal, or a drink. I love walking around on the beach, and love watching the boats.

We had some service issues at the Poly in '07, room wasn't all that clean to begin with and wasn't cleaned well during out stay. Service just wasn't up to par overall, nothing awful, but for what we paid it wasn't good enough. So this year we decided to try CR for the first time and I really loved CR. Love the room design and the service was exceptional.

My final note was that I have been calling to book CR for 09 and they kept telling me all they had were suites and Club level rooms for mid March and I couldn't believe that they were practically full 10 months out. I booked at the Poly last week, even though we'd like to go back to CR. Anyway, today I called again and got Garden Wing Garden View. So some rooms have opened up this week. I think large blocks of rooms are booked at CR well in advance for conventions and you never know when those will be released.

 

[jcb]

Northriver,

I completely agree with you about the garden wing. I really hesitated before booking my first stay in the garden wing. I thought I would be very disappointed not to be in a tower room. Even if it doesn't have the views of the Tower, it has a charm of its own.

You are really making me "CR sick"!

 

[NJRRK]

We enjoyed our stay in the CR Wing in August.

This year tho it's tower.

 

[sotoalf]

I agree with CR4L that there is no lobby seating area in the Garden Wing itself.

Actually, there is! If you enter the wing through the main entrance you'll find a very small lobby with a couple of chairs.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My final note was that I have been calling to book CR for 09 and they kept telling me all they had were suites and Club level rooms for mid March and I couldn't believe that they were practically full 10 months out. I booked at the Poly last week, even though we'd like to go back to CR. Anyway, today I called again and got Garden Wing Garden View. So some rooms have opened up this week. I think large blocks of rooms are booked at CR well in advance for conventions and you never know when those will be released.

Congragulations on getting a reservation at the Contemporary and it just shows if you keep checking a room would eventually become available. I also agree that them being sold for 2009 had something to do with a convention that had blocked some rooms, which is why you should not feel discouraged if you can't a reservation even though your calling or doing it online many months away.

 

[lumpy08]

Can you tell us a little bit about the Sandbar snack bar? and the pool area?

We were just at CR a few weeks ago and had two rooms "Standard View, Garden Wing". Both were upgraded to Garden View, we were in room 6205 with a lovely courtyard view and my sister was in 6150 with a canal view. I know the garden wing isn't for everyone, but personally I really like it out there. It is super close to the pool and the Sand Bar is a great place to grab a snack, a light meal, or a drink. I love walking around on the beach, and love watching the boats.

We had some service issues at the Poly in '07, room wasn't all that clean to begin with and wasn't cleaned well during out stay. Service just wasn't up to par overall, nothing awful, but for what we paid it wasn't good enough. So this year we decided to try CR for the first time and I really loved CR. Love the room design and the service was exceptional.

My final note was that I have been calling to book CR for 09 and they kept telling me all they had were suites and Club level rooms for mid March and I couldn't believe that they were practically full 10 months out. I booked at the Poly last week, even though we'd like to go back to CR. Anyway, today I called again and got Garden Wing Garden View. So some rooms have opened up this week. I think large blocks of rooms are booked at CR well in advance for conventions and you never know when those will be released.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Can you tell us a little bit about the Sandbar snack bar? and the pool area?

The Sand Bar is basically a counter service location, with a smaller menu then what the Food & Fun Center use to have. However it's got your basic items and etc, so here is a link to their menu. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=402

As for their pool it's not a fancy as the Volcano pool at the Polynesian, or SAB which is at the Yacht Club, Beach Club and the Beach Club Villas. However I think it's a nice pool and don't see anything wrong with it. So here is a link to various pictures from wdwinfo and you will see some of the pool. http://www.wdwinfo.com/photos/contemporary/index.htm

 

[krbq]

The Outer Rim will close in January and will re-open in the space now occupied by the Grab-n-Go. The Grab-n-Go will move to part of the space now occupied by the Concourse Steakhouse after renovation and become Mickey’s Express.

The other part of the Concourse Steakhouse will become the reception desk for Chef Mickey’s. The current desk at Chef Mickey’s will become the desk to report to when guests are summoned by the beepers to be seated. The old Outer Rim space will be converted to a waiting area for Chef Mickey’s (which is pretty much what is gets used for now).

The Grab-n-Go is no longer open 24 hours because some guests were getting sloshed on the beer and wine available there. They made so much noise in the wee hours of the morning that Tower guests began complaining and the solution was to close the Grab-n-Go at 11 pm. The new Mickey’s Express will include a roof for noise reduction.

With no 24-hour restaurant, there is no place to get a cup of coffee before 6 am. While DH was searching for someplace to get coffee at 5 am our first morning here, he ran into Paris Hilton in the lobby.

 

[spaceace510]

The Outer Rim will close in January and will re-open in the space now occupied by the Grab-n-Go. The Grab-n-Go will move to part of the space now occupied by the Concourse Steakhouse after renovation and become Mickey’s Express.

The other part of the Concourse Steakhouse will become the reception desk for Chef Mickey’s. The current desk at Chef Mickey’s will become the desk to report to when guests are summoned by the beepers to be seated. The old Outer Rim space will be converted to a waiting area for Chef Mickey’s (which is pretty much what is gets used for now).

The Grab-n-Go is no longer open 24 hours because some guests were getting sloshed on the beer and wine available there. They made so much noise in the wee hours of the morning that Tower guests began complaining and the solution was to close the Grab-n-Go at 11 pm. The new Mickey’s Express will include a roof for noise reduction.

With no 24-hour restaurant, there is no place to get a cup of coffee before 6 am. While DH was searching for someplace to get coffee at 5 am our first morning here, he ran into Paris Hilton in the lobby.

Thanks for the update! The Paris Hilton part is hilarious.

 

[krbq]

DH has been doing lots of snooping. The new tower has 2 more floors to be added before topping out. The glaziers are working on the outside windows. The bridge between the towers is under construction and will connect with the old tower on the east end of the Concourse level outside. Previous speculation was that it might connect at the monorail or at the Concourse level at the new Fantasia shop, but it is just about to be connected at the opposite side. The markings are on the platform, and new markings were made today (5/7). The bridge itself is curved around 4 tall pillars. The pillars will be connected with a heavy cable, with smaller cables extending down to support the bridge. (It will be easier to envision when I get a chance to post photos.)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The Outer Rim will close in January and will re-open in the space now occupied by the Grab-n-Go. The Grab-n-Go will move to part of the space now occupied by the Concourse Steakhouse after renovation and become Mickey’s Express.

The other part of the Concourse Steakhouse will become the reception desk for Chef Mickey’s. The current desk at Chef Mickey’s will become the desk to report to when guests are summoned by the beepers to be seated. The old Outer Rim space will be converted to a waiting area for Chef Mickey’s (which is pretty much what is gets used for now).

The Grab-n-Go is no longer open 24 hours because some guests were getting sloshed on the beer and wine available there. They made so much noise in the wee hours of the morning that Tower guests began complaining and the solution was to close the Grab-n-Go at 11 pm. The new Mickey’s Express will include a roof for noise reduction.

With no 24-hour restaurant, there is no place to get a cup of coffee before 6 am. While DH was searching for someplace to get coffee at 5 am our first morning here, he ran into Paris Hilton in the lobby.

Thanks for that update.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

DH has been doing lots of snooping. The new tower has 2 more floors to be added before topping out. The glaziers are working on the outside windows. The bridge between the towers is under construction and will connect with the old tower on the east end of the Concourse level outside. Previous speculation was that it might connect at the monorail or at the Concourse level at the new Fantasia shop, but it is just about to be connected at the opposite side. The markings are on the platform, and new markings were made today (5/7). The bridge itself is curved around 4 tall pillars. The pillars will be connected with a heavy cable, with smaller cables extending down to support the bridge. (It will be easier to envision when I get a chance to post photos.)

Thanks again.

 

[spaceace510]

DH has been doing lots of snooping. The new tower has 2 more floors to be added before topping out. The glaziers are working on the outside windows. The bridge between the towers is under construction and will connect with the old tower on the east end of the Concourse level outside. Previous speculation was that it might connect at the monorail or at the Concourse level at the new Fantasia shop, but it is just about to be connected at the opposite side. The markings are on the platform, and new markings were made today (5/7). The bridge itself is curved around 4 tall pillars. The pillars will be connected with a heavy cable, with smaller cables extending down to support the bridge. (It will be easier to envision when I get a chance to post photos.)

very interesting! thanks!

 

[krbq]

The Concourse Steakhouse will close May 31 and the Wave will open after 1 week. The lag is to give the staff time to train for the new restaurant. In the interim, there will be no table service restaurant at the CR other than the California Grill. The menu is still being experimented with and tested on diners at the Steakhouse, but we didn’t try any of the new dishes. Try though he might, DH hasn’t been able to sneak a peak inside the new restaurant.

 

[krbq]

Thanks for the update! The Paris Hilton part is hilarious.

She actually spoke to him! Now he thinks he's Mr. Cool

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The Concourse Steakhouse will close May 31 and the Wave will open after 1 week. The lag is to give the staff time to train for the new restaurant. In the interim, there will be no table service restaurant at the CR other than the California Grill. The menu is still being experimented with and tested on diners at the Steakhouse, but we didn’t try any of the new dishes. Try though he might, DH hasn’t been able to sneak a peak inside the new restaurant.

Have you heard anything about The Wave having a soft opening on June 1st, before their official opening on June 30th? Someone heard that might happen so obviously it's just a rumour.

 

[wdhinn89]

Did you get any solid date for the opening of Chef Mickey Express and what their offerings will be?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Did you get any solid date for the opening of Chef Mickey Express and what their offerings will be?

It's been posted on here that they want Chef Mickey's Express to open on August 14, so we just got to wait and see if that happens.

 

[lumpy08]

Can anyone tell me what they have in the Grab-n-Go? We are not taking a car so any info on what they have that I don't have to bring or stash in my suitcase. What kinds of alcoholic beverages do they sell as well.