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

[mlholster]

Thanks CR Fan I just wonder. I do love that they are doing movies by the pool. How cool.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You're welcome and I agree that it's a cool thing to show movies at the pool.

 

[Joshua_me]

Some more photos of 4915:

Thank you (((SO MUCH))) for these pics, krbq !!!

My Mom is now at the stage where she will need a room like this, and she's convinced that she shouldn't go because it wouldn't be 'nice enough' for the rest of us....

Pics like this will go a long way in convincing her otherwise.

Thanks more than you know....

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Great pictures everyone. Are the movies by the pool a summer thing or will it be a permenant thing? I think it would be so cool to do this with the kids in November. I am getting so excited!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just saw an intresting article on the Orlando Sentinal website which says they might change the name from the Kingdom Tower to the Bay Lake Tower. Here is a link to article for you all to read. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/05/disneys-bay-lak.html

 

[krbq]

Here are some photos of the bridge connecting the 2 towers. We were told it's to be a cable-stayed bridge with cables extending from the tops of the pillars to the gray triangles (the triangles are most easily seen in the first 3 photos). DH talked to some engineers who said the cables are for decoration only. The bridge is actually attached to the pillars as is visible in the last photo.

It didn't look terribly wide. Maybe wide enough for Winnie the Pooh and Piglet to walk side-by-side, but I think Tigger might have to follow behind them.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Once again thanks for posting all those great pictures.

 

[krbq]

Thank you (((SO MUCH))) for these pics, krbq !!!

My Mom is now at the stage where she will need a room like this, and she's convinced that she shouldn't go because it wouldn't be 'nice enough' for the rest of us....

Pics like this will go a long way in convincing her otherwise.

Thanks more than you know....

Your Mom shouldn't let that stop her! Disney is accommodating to people with special needs. My Dad was in a wheelchair before he died, and now my Mom sometimes is, so I understand how little things become a hurdle for them.

I have more photos of the inside of the shower -- if you'd like for me to post them or PM them to you just let me know. Generally, the bathrooms in the wings are even larger than the ones in the tower. I haven't seen an ADA room in the wings, but I suppose they're probably bigger than the ones in the tower.

DH says there's a book called "Walt Disney World with Disabilities" by Stephen Ashley on Amazon that gets 5 stars. Mind you, I haven't read it but it might be helpful to anyone who's worried about getting around WDW with a disability.

Good luck with convincing your Mom!

 

[spaceace510]

DH says there's a book called "Walt Disney World with Disabilities" by Stephen Ashley on Amazon that gets 5 stars. Mind you, I haven't read it but it might be helpful to anyone who's worried about getting around WDW with a disability.

Good luck with convincing your Mom!

There is also another book Passporter's Open Mouse, which was co-authored by Deb Wills of AllEarsNet, which covers a variety of health issues including disabilities to food allergies.

 

[krbq]

I have a question. When they reopen the Concourse to the new dining establishment will it be the same open air type? I love how you can sit there and look at the monorail and up to the top of the hotel.

If you're talking about Mickey's Express (the fast food), DH was told that it will have a roof. The current Grab-n-Go created a noise problem and has had to close at 11 pm. Since Mickey's Express will be open 24 hours, the solution was to put a roof over it to keep the noise from disturbing the guests in the tower at all hours of the night.

The part of the old Concourse Steakhouse that will become part of Chef Mickey's will probably remain open air.

 

[krbq]

KRBQ....
Thanks so much for posting those pictures!! We were in that room last month and took pictures...but haven't even unpacked the camera yet!
Didn't you just love the extra storage, the larger bathroom (the deep sinks) and the extra large balcony? I wish they had just done a "soft rehab" on all the other floors...I miss the storage and the better sinks on the lower floors that they had before the changes.
Glad you had a magical time!!

MrsB, YES! I really like the new rooms but having stayed in a "soft rehab" room made me realize how much more I like the drawer space, the closet with space to hang longer clothes, full length mirrors (the new rooms don't have one!), and a table and chairs instead of that little roll-away table. I'm with you - they should have done the whole hotel the same way.

 

[Disney0010]

Okay- I don't want to get flamed for this-as I too love the Contemporary.But...it seems even less Disneyish to me since they renovated it.Maybe it's the pictures, but I think I liked it better the old way. Mind you, I am still trying to get a ressie for our next trip-but that's just my opinion. Does it seem that way to anyone else? I know it's "contemporary styling" but-where's the mouse?
And I am having a hard time getting a room quote to come up. I guess I should call in, but everything I plug in says unavailable-except the suites & that is not an option. And this is for any time after the end of Oct. -Dec!! It was like this in Jan as well-we really wanted to go back and couldn't work it out!

We stayed at the CR for four nights last week. This was the first time staying here in two years. Overall I think that they did a nice job with the refurbishment. The rooms were very nice and I like the overall decor. Not enough drawer space though. The bathrooms were not that great IHMO. I do not like the new sinks. Because they are flat, they do not drain as well plus they are too low and the hand towel rack is in a bad location. The so called upgraded toiletries left a lot to be desired too. Not that great of quality IMHO. Other than that I like it but the next time we will move to a Epcot resort like the Beach Club. We are more Epcot than MK fans and would get more use out of one of those resorts.

 

[wdhinn89]

krbq-- Do you think the new towers will affect the views for the Bay Lake rooms? If so, which rooms do you think would be most affected?

 

[nemofans]

Is there a way to find out if there are conventions scheduled in Feb? Or any big events that may fill up the resorts or parks. I know Pres day is busy & we'll avoid that. I want to pick the week in Feb we will stay at CR, but I don't want to pick a packed week.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you're talking about Mickey's Express (the fast food), DH was told that it will have a roof. The current Grab-n-Go created a noise problem and has had to close at 11 pm. Since Mickey's Express will be open 24 hours, the solution was to put a roof over it to keep the noise from disturbing the guests in the tower at all hours of the night.

The part of the old Concourse Steakhouse that will become part of Chef Mickey's will probably remain open air.

Thanks for that information about Chef Mickey's Express.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Is there a way to find out if there are conventions scheduled in Feb? Or any big events that may fill up the resorts or parks. I know Pres day is busy & we'll avoid that. I want to pick the week in Feb we will stay at CR, but I don't want to pick a packed week.

Chances are there might be some type of convention going on, however in my experience the guests there on conventions are very respectfull of other guests and sometimes they bring their families down so it becomes a working vacation for them. Also if they are going to be in meetings and etc you won't have to worry about them that much.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We stayed at the CR for four nights last week. This was the first time staying here in two years. Overall I think that they did a nice job with the refurbishment. The rooms were very nice and I like the overall decor. Not enough drawer space though. The bathrooms were not that great IHMO. I do not like the new sinks. Because they are flat, they do not drain as well plus they are too low and the hand towel rack is in a bad location. The so called upgraded toiletries left a lot to be desired too. Not that great of quality IMHO. Other than that I like it but the next time we will move to a Epcot resort like the Beach Club. We are more Epcot than MK fans and would get more use out of one of those resorts.

Thanks for your review and besides the things you did not like which I can agree with, it's great you enjoyed your stay at the Contemporary.

 

[triplefigs]

MrsB, YES! I really like the new rooms but having stayed in a "soft rehab" room made me realize how much more I like the drawer space, the closet with space to hang longer clothes, full length mirrors (the new rooms don't have one!), and a table and chairs instead of that little roll-away table. I'm with you - they should have done the whole hotel the same way.

I agree. DH and I had so many problems with the sink this time that it actually made us not enjoy the CR as much. We much preferred the bathroom design at the other Deluxes. But we still love everything else about the CR and can't wait to have CME and the Kingdom Towers finished. Hopefully, KT will have better bathroom design.

 

[krbq]

krbq-- Do you think the new towers will affect the views for the Bay Lake rooms? If so, which rooms do you think would be most affected?

The new tower will certainly block the view to the northeast of the A-frame tower but there was never much to see there. Disney's backstage marina, where the ferries and watercraft are stored, is back there so Disney doesn't want the guests to see that area anyway. The view straight out onto Bay Lake will not be affected. Photos are probably the best way to answer your questions.

The first was taken from the 14th floor MK side. You can see that the Bay side (where a commercial was being filmed, btw -- never a dull moment at the CR) is well to the south of the new tower and its view is not blocked. With 2 more floors to be added, the view you can see now over the top of the new tower will disappear.

The second was taken from the end of the boat dock looking back. The only part of the new tower that got in the picture is the curvy bridge. (Sorry, I couldn't find any photos looking out toward Bay Lake but this photo still demonstrates the unobstructed view.)

Third, taken on the fourth floor deck, with the monorail zooming overhead, you can see in the background the offset between the 2 towers, further demonstrating that the new tower won't block the direct view of Bay Lake from the A-frame.

Fourth is a dinner party set-up on the plaza in front of the A-frame. It kinda shows how far north of the plaza the new tower sits.

Lastly, taken from Sunset Point, this photo again shows the orientation of the new tower being well north of the A-frame.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Once again your pictures look great, because I am very impressed how you are able to get those shots.