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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That makes sense...thanks for the replies. My biggest problem now is, I know we will both fall in love with the CR and will want to go back every year! Last time I stayed there was in 1981 when I was 3, so I am so excited to be going back.

Well I don't see anything wrong with that because the Contemporary is a great Resort. Last December when my family and I stayed at the Polynesian after visiting the Contemporary a few times I realized how I missed staying there. Plus seeing it from our room also helped me realize that.

 

[SuzeyCruisey]

Well I don't see anything wrong with that because the Contemporary is a great Resort.

Only downside is figuring out how to pay for it... DH and I like to cruise once or twice a year as well, so not sure CR will be an option every year. I should not be complaining if our biggest problem is too many vacations...

Last December when my family and I stayed at the Polynesian after visiting the Contemporary a few times I realized how I missed staying there. Plus seeing it from our room also helped me realize that.

Kinda like coming home, right? Sounds like you have a lot of nice memories there...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Only downside is figuring out how to pay for it... DH and I like to cruise once or twice a year as well, so not sure CR will be an option every year. I should not be complaining if our biggest problem is too many vacations...

I am sure a lot of people would love to have that type of problem.

Kinda like coming home, right? Sounds like you have a lot of nice memories there...

That's exactly how I would put it.

 

[northriver]

All,
I am trying to upgrade my room for our stay. Currently we have a garden wing room booked from 12/6-12/14. Sunday 12/7, Monday 12/8 and Tuesday 12/9 are the days that I cannot get into the tower. All other nights have rooms available in the Tower. Does anybody know why a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday area full??? I would understand Friday, Saturday, Sunday being full, but not this combination. I can only surmize that this is a convention of some sort, but I cannot figure out what. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Peter

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that with room reservations, whenever someone cancels, the rooms aren't actually "released" until first thing the next morning. (Unlike dining reservations which are available immediately for another caller.) So my advice is to call every morning, early. The more often you call, the better your chance of picking up someone elses cancellation. Personally, I'd be calling every single morning until I got what I wanted, even up until my departure day, and if I still didn't get the room I wanted, I'd make sure to ask at check in, too!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that with room reservations, whenever someone cancels, the rooms aren't actually "released" until first thing the next morning. (Unlike dining reservations which are available immediately for another caller.) So my advice is to call every morning, early. The more often you call, the better your chance of picking up someone elses cancellation. Personally, I'd be calling every single morning until I got what I wanted, even up until my departure day, and if I still didn't get the room I wanted, I'd make sure to ask at check in, too!

Yes you are correct. I have read on various threads that when someone cancels a Resort reservation that it goes back into the computer system the next day at 7:00 AM EST, when CRO opens that day.

 

[melk]

I would call for a reservation now and when the 2009 rates are released, they will adjust your rate. Also when making a room only reservation it requires a 1 night deposit which can be paid off right away when you make the reservation, or be paid off monthly or something. When my family and I make a room only reservation we pay the whole thing over the phone so it's one less thing to worry about.

Thanks for the answer. So if I book it today, do I pay the full price and then they would refund me the difference if I'm able to get a AAA rate later on?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the answer. So if I book it today, do I pay the full price and then they would refund me the difference if I'm able to get a AAA rate later on?

Based on what I have read if you book the reservation now they will charge you the highest rate possible and when the 2009 rates are released, they will adjust your rate to the season you will be staying at the Contemporary. As for getting the AAA rate I am not sure how that works, so hopefully someon else can answer that for you.

 

[krbq]

Thanks for the answer. So if I book it today, do I pay the full price and then they would refund me the difference if I'm able to get a AAA rate later on?

The difference will just be applied to your reservation. Less to pay at check-out time.

 

[Terry36]

Okay guys I am veering toward reserving the Garden Wing Hospitality Suite. Can you direct me to a link of how these look? The Disney website indicates it is next to the Tower so how likely are we to see MK in this suite?

Thanks

 

[spaceace510]

Okay guys I am veering toward reserving the Garden Wing Hospitality Suite. Can you direct me to a link of how these look? The Disney website indicates it is next to the Tower so how likely are we to see MK in this suite?

Thanks

Not very likely at all because garden wing rooms either have a view of Bay Lake or a parking lot / convention center. I don't know how tall the convention center is, but i would bet, that you couldn't see over it even from the top floor. That view is very very unlikely

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Okay guys I am veering toward reserving the Garden Wing Hospitality Suite. Can you direct me to a link of how these look? The Disney website indicates it is next to the Tower so how likely are we to see MK in this suite?

Thanks

Here is a link to post #88 which is pictures of what it looks like. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=23122195&postcount=88

 

[melk]

The difference will just be applied to your reservation. Less to pay at check-out time.

Okay, I called tonight and booked one night for a standard view garden wing room. They charged me $350 and told me to call back in August for 2009 rates, plus if there is any AAA rate. I am going to pay for this night by check (I'm surprising DH and don't want him to see it on the charge bill). The CM told me they would either issue me a check for the refund difference (if there is one, I'm hoping!!), or they would apply it to my room card. Question: since we will be paid in full already (we're only staying one night remember), do you think I could have a meal at Chef Mickey's, charge it to the room, and use part of that refund money for it? I hope this made sense.

Also, are there any pictures posted anywhere of garden wing rooms?

Thanks!

 

[spaceace510]

Okay, I called tonight and booked one night for a standard view garden wing room. They charged me $350 and told me to call back in August for 2009 rates, plus if there is any AAA rate. I am going to pay for this night by check (I'm surprising DH and don't want him to see it on the charge bill). The CM told me they would either issue me a check for the refund difference (if there is one, I'm hoping!!), or they would apply it to my room card. Question: since we will be paid in full already (we're only staying one night remember), do you think I could have a meal at Chef Mickey's, charge it to the room, and use part of that refund money for it? I hope this made sense.

Also, are there any pictures posted anywhere of garden wing rooms?

Thanks!

That made perfect sense I don't see any reason why that won't work. And for garden wing room pics look in the post above yours. CR Resort Fan posted a link to some pics. The rooms are exactly like the ones in the Tower

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Okay, I called tonight and booked one night for a standard view garden wing room. They charged me $350 and told me to call back in August for 2009 rates, plus if there is any AAA rate. I am going to pay for this night by check (I'm surprising DH and don't want him to see it on the charge bill). The CM told me they would either issue me a check for the refund difference (if there is one, I'm hoping!!), or they would apply it to my room card. Question: since we will be paid in full already (we're only staying one night remember), do you think I could have a meal at Chef Mickey's, charge it to the room, and use part of that refund money for it? I hope this made sense.

Also, are there any pictures posted anywhere of garden wing rooms?

Thanks!

I don't see why you could not do that.

 

[krbq]

Okay, I called tonight and booked one night for a standard view garden wing room. They charged me $350 and told me to call back in August for 2009 rates, plus if there is any AAA rate. I am going to pay for this night by check (I'm surprising DH and don't want him to see it on the charge bill). The CM told me they would either issue me a check for the refund difference (if there is one, I'm hoping!!), or they would apply it to my room card. Question: since we will be paid in full already (we're only staying one night remember), do you think I could have a meal at Chef Mickey's, charge it to the room, and use part of that refund money for it? I hope this made sense.

Also, are there any pictures posted anywhere of garden wing rooms?

Thanks!

Absolutely, if you have an overpayment on your room it can be applied to any room charges you might make during your stay, including Chef Mickey's (you can charge to your room card just as you can in a DVC unit).

If you don't get a AAA discount on the first try (I think they become available in August), keep trying! I've often called back after not getting a discount on the first try only to find a few months later that they've become available. I suppose people grab them when they first come out and then cancel later. I mean, that's happened to me many times, so don't give up.

As to Chef Mickey's, I hear it's tough to get reservations on short notice so you might want to book that as soon as your 180-day window opens.

There are some photos of the rooms on the first page of this thread and lots on the Photo Only thread (link is on the first page). The wing rooms, as I recall, are a little larger than the tower rooms and the atmosphere is more relaxed. They don't have the space of a DVC unit, but there are a lot more amenities. Enjoy your stay!

 

[CalvaryMike]

All,
I am trying to upgrade my room for our stay. Currently we have a garden wing room booked from 12/6-12/14. Sunday 12/7, Monday 12/8 and Tuesday 12/9 are the days that I cannot get into the tower. All other nights have rooms available in the Tower. Does anybody know why a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday area full??? I would understand Friday, Saturday, Sunday being full, but not this combination. I can only surmize that this is a convention of some sort, but I cannot figure out what. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Peter

I booked the CR Tower MK view at the AAA rate a few weeks ago for the 12/5-12/15. I was told that the rooms were filling up quick for that period. I asked the CM, if she knew why and she said the first two weeks of December are getting really popular.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I booked the CR Tower MK view at the AAA rate a few weeks ago for the 12/5-12/15. I was told that the rooms were filling up quick for that period. I asked the CM, if she knew why and she said the first two weeks of December are getting really popular.

That does not surprise me and I am also sure the other reason is how popular the Magic Kingdom View is.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I booked the CR Tower MK view at the AAA rate a few weeks ago for the 12/5-12/15. I was told that the rooms were filling up quick for that period. I asked the CM, if she knew why and she said the first two weeks of December are getting really popular.

Oh I didn't want to read that. DH & I are hoping to go to WDW the first full week of December in '09 and get that exact type of room.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Denise over on mousesteps has posted some pics of the new Contemporary Grounds.

Link: http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=65

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Denise over on mousesteps has posted some pics of the new Contemporary Grounds.

Link: http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=65

I saw those pictures before and they look great.