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

[StratMan]

My wife and I are taking our 3yo daughter to DW for the first time. Neither of us have ever stayed on the property before and we're booked in a Garden View room. I may still be able to upgrade to a Bay Lake View room in the Tower. Is this worth doing or should I save the $200-$300 for expenses?

Also, my daughter (like pretty much every 3yo girl) is princess-crazy. What should we be planning in order to maximize her exposure to princess characters?

 

[triplefigs]

We are booked for Xmas at the CR in a concierge room. This will be our 4th xmas in a row. I am so excited about staying at the CR.

Hi, Kelley! You will love it!

 

[triplefigs]

My wife and I are taking our 3yo daughter to DW for the first time. Neither of us have ever stayed on the property before and we're booked in a Garden View room. I may still be able to upgrade to a Bay Lake View room in the Tower. Is this worth doing or should I save the $200-$300 for expenses?

Also, my daughter (like pretty much every 3yo girl) is princess-crazy. What should we be planning in order to maximize her exposure to princess characters?

Bay Lake view would be very nice, and the Tower is great. See the first page for info about the Tower. Only you can make the decision if it would be worth the money.

As far as Princesses, there are 3 character meals with the Princesses: Cinderella's Royal Table at the Castle in the MK, Princess Storybook Dining in Epcot as Askershus (Norway), and 1900 Park Fare DINNER at the Grand Floridian. You need to book these reservations 180 days in advance or ASAP. There is also Princesses in Toontown in the MK at the Judges' tent. Some Princesses are out in Epcot in their respective countries (Snow White in Germany, Belle and Princess Aurora in France, Mulan in China, Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland at England. They are not there all the time. HTH!

 

[triplefigs]

Hey CR fans. On my trip in December, I actually discovered something kind of cool. Everyone probably already knows this, but on the Convention Center level of the Tower (2nd floor) there is a vending machine with REALLY cheap food items as if you were using one at home. The ones on the room floors are VERY pricey, but not this one! I'm assuming they do this for the conventioneers.

Great info! I'm adding it to the first post.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Okay, we've now officially decided on the CR for our holiday trip this year because our teenage son has always wanted to stay there (got a AAA rate on an MK Tower room!). My question is this: we've been able to have a microwave brought to the room at the Poly and the GF. Are they available at the CR?

TIA!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Okay, we've now officially decided on the CR for our holiday trip this year because our teenage son has always wanted to stay there (got a AAA rate on an MK Tower room!). My question is this: we've been able to have a microwave brought to the room at the Poly and the GF. Are they available at the CR?

TIA!

I can't say 100% if they are available at the Contemporary, however if you have had them at the Poly and GF I can't see why this can't be done at the Contemporary. On the off chance you can not get it I am sure Chef Mickey's Express will be open and I am sure they will have a microwave you can use.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My wife and I are taking our 3yo daughter to DW for the first time. Neither of us have ever stayed on the property before and we're booked in a Garden View room. I may still be able to upgrade to a Bay Lake View room in the Tower. Is this worth doing or should I save the $200-$300 for expenses?

Also, my daughter (like pretty much every 3yo girl) is princess-crazy. What should we be planning in order to maximize her exposure to princess characters?

In the end only you can decide if it's worth the extra $ to upgrade for the Bay Lake view. I can say if you do change your reservation it will be a short elevator ride when you want to visit the stores and etc on the 4th floor and when you need to go to the lobby.

 

[triplefigs]

Garden Building - Junior Suite (pictures from Dreams Unlimited) http://www.wdwinfo.com/photos/contemporary/room2/index.htm

 

[triplefigs]

TOWER MK VIEW ROOMS (from Dreams Unlimited) http://www.wdwinfo.com/photos/contemporary/room/index.htm

 

[DiznEeyore]

I can't say 100% if they are available at the Contemporary, however if you have had them at the Poly and GF I can't see why this can't be done at the Contemporary. On the off chance you can not get it I am sure Chef Mickey's Express will be open and I am sure they will have a microwave you can use.

Thanks. I'd forgotten about CMExpress opening -- I'm assuming it will be 24 hrs like the quick service at the Poly and the GF?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks. I'd forgotten about CMExpress opening -- I'm assuming it will be 24 hrs like the quick service at the Poly and the GF?

I would also assume it would be open 24 hours.

 

[crosstheborder]

Hi to all you CR Fans! We just returned from our very first trip to the world and stayed at Pop Century. Although we loved the resort, transportation drove us crazy! For our next trip (hopefully 2010 ) we are looking at staying at the Contemporary because of the monorail and boat services that are offered. In your opinions is it worth paying the deluxe prices for diff. forms of transportation to the parks? Pop buses were always extremely full and we were constantly waiting everywhere we went. Is this going to be the same at every resort? Maybe we were expecting too much. I'm just not sure. Thanks everyone!

 

[triplefigs]

Hi to all you CR Fans! We just returned from our very first trip to the world and stayed at Pop Century. Although we loved the resort, transportation drove us crazy! For our next trip (hopefully 2010 ) we are looking at staying at the Contemporary because of the monorail and boat services that are offered. In your opinions is it worth paying the deluxe prices for diff. forms of transportation to the parks? Pop buses were always extremely full and we were constantly waiting everywhere we went. Is this going to be the same at every resort? Maybe we were expecting too much. I'm just not sure. Thanks everyone!

I think so, especially if you have strollers or wheelchairs. Regardless, the monorail is wonderful and walking to MK is great. Have fun!

 

[triplefigs]

DISer, nbodyhome, has given me permission to use her CR photos on this thread from her website. She has tons of the lobby and construction. She's going this week and taking some of the pools/hot tub, 3rd floor salon and fitness center, and the new shop for me. I know we all are so appreciative of her help! I'll have them up soon!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi to all you CR Fans! We just returned from our very first trip to the world and stayed at Pop Century. Although we loved the resort, transportation drove us crazy! For our next trip (hopefully 2010 ) we are looking at staying at the Contemporary because of the monorail and boat services that are offered. In your opinions is it worth paying the deluxe prices for diff. forms of transportation to the parks? Pop buses were always extremely full and we were constantly waiting everywhere we went. Is this going to be the same at every resort? Maybe we were expecting too much. I'm just not sure. Thanks everyone!

In terms of the Monorail and the walkway to the Magic Kingdom, that solves any problems going to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. To arrive at Epcot you take the Monorail to the TTC and then go over to the Epcot Monorail. As for Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney the buses that go there also share with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, so you will also be sharing bus service with guests from those Resorts. However the Contemporary is where the buses will always stop at 1st, so you will have the best chance to get seats.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I know we all are so appreciative of her help! I'll have them up soon!

Thank you nbodyhome for letting us use pictures from your site and for any future pictures of the Contemporary that you will be taking.

 

[StrwLady]

What is CM Express and when will it be open? Assuming it's a counter service, will it have hot foods?

Also what is the difference between the 12th floor concierge and the 14th floor concierge?

Thanks

 

[triplefigs]

What is CM Express and when will it be open? Assuming it's a counter service, will it have hot foods?

Also what is the difference between the 12th floor concierge and the 14th floor concierge?

Thanks

Yes, it will have hot foods, although nobody knows the menu.

Please see the very first post in this thread for a detailed explanation of the difference in the 2 concierge levels, as well as many pictures including the lounges.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

What is CM Express and when will it be open? Assuming it's a counter service, will it have hot foods?

I would assume the menu for Chef Mickey's Express will be just like the one from the Food & Fun Center, or very close to what it use to be.

 

[krbq]

Can anyone tell me if The Wave will be open by 08/15? I am arriving on 08/15 at around noon and I wanted a nice place to eat inside The CR so we can spend time at the pool and then go to eat at night Hoop Dee Doo Review..Is The Wave going to serve lunch? Thanks

I have on my Disney planning calendar a note that the Concourse Steakhouse will close at the end of the day on May 10 and the Wave will open the morning of May 11. The Wave is supposed to replace the Concourse as a table service restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.