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

[momtwoboys]

Until we check in to the CR! Is the only self service laundry in the wing? We have Tower bay lake view booked. Also is there a coffee station still in the lobby? Do they take the dining plan (snack credit)? Thanks for all pictures that everyone has posted!

Jenny

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

jcb-I guess it might be because we are looking to do 8 nights. but I had considered doing a split stay and do the first 4 elsewhere-still couldn't get anything to come available for us(fam. of 5) except a garden suite. I don't know!! I will have to keep messing with it! I might even wait and try Jan 09 dates, but I like to see it at Christmas as well!! We always have a harder time deciding when to go than where to stay!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I are thinking about staying here next April and I could use a little help w/a room request. We have never stayed here before so which room would you recommend for a first time visitor? I will be staying w/my dd(6) and mom(73) and would like a nice view.

If you make a reservation for a Tower Magic Kingdom view or a Tower Bay Lake view, you will be guaranteed either view. If you were to make a reservation for a Standard Garden Wing room I believe you might have a view of the parking lot or the convention center and if you made a reservation for a Garden View location I believe that comes with a Bay Lake view.

3 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!

You won't get any flames from me because I find your comments to be very respectful, compared to others who don't like the Contemporary and like to trash it because of it's theme. You still found some positives to say about it, because as you said your trying to get a reservation there.

Until we check in to the CR! Is the only self service laundry in the wing? We have Tower bay lake view booked. Also is there a coffee station still in the lobby? Do they take the dining plan (snack credit)? Thanks for all pictures that everyone has posted!

Yes the only laundry service area is in the Garden Wing and I believe the Contemporary Grounds has temporally moved to the doors in the lobby that lead out to the covention center. The only thing I can't answer is if they take the DDP.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

krbq,
Great pictures of 4915. I remember in May 2000 my family and I got a free upgrade to the 14th floor and were given that room, so it's amazing how it's changed over the past few years.

 

[krbq]

Here's something I hadn't seen mentioned about the CR before. They were running nightly "Movies Under the Stars" for the kids out on the beach every night. An inflatable screen was put up out on the sand and a feature movie (such as "Cars", the "Incredibles", etc.) was shown. DH and I had gone out after dark expecting to have the beach to ourselves but instead there was the movie playing out on the sand, Peter Pan signing autographs and posing for photos on the dock, and kids playing in the pool in considerable numbers. Who said the CR isn't kid-friendly?

BTW, I was surprised to see Peter Pan. It's the only time in recent years I've seen a character at a resort who wasn't part of a character meal.

Anyway, here are some photos of the movie screen on the beach right after it was set up in the late afternoon:

 

[krbq]

Here are some photos of the new tower construction. We took about 100 so I'll try to pick out the best.

In the first photo the low-roofed structure to the left of the tower is the porte cochere for the main entrance.

 

[krbq]

Some photos from the Bay Lake side (taken from the boat dock).

The first shows the offset of the two towers, which should convince those worried about seeing the construction from the MK side of the main tower that it isn't visible from that side. I would guess that the small structure might be some kind of poolside snack bar or community hall if, in fact, the structure is designated a DVC.

 

[spaceace510]

GREAT shots!! I just wish Disney would hurry up and say something... this is killing me

 

[triplefigs]

Love the Movie Under the Stars! That is an awesome addition. I'll be adding lots of your info to the 1st page when I have a chance. The end of the year for teaching is kicking my rear and we are BUSY!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

krbq,
Once again you have posted some amazing pictures and I also agree that the Movie Under the Stars is a great idea.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Krbq, great photos! Thanks for posting them.

Denise, I can't wait to see more of your photos. I can hardly believe that your vacation is over.

 

[triplefigs]

I know. They are all on my camera... I am slammed at work trying to finish up all the end of the year school stuff and my kids stuff. We only have 2 weeks left until summer break, so it is crazy right now. I am actually looking forward to returning to the hospital as a NICU nurse in August to avoid the end of the year crunch! And that's more $$ for Disney!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Orlando Sentinel article about The Wave:

Wine at new Disney restaurant to be served in screw-top bottles
Scott Joseph | Sentinel Staff Writer
May 13, 2008

When The Wave, a new full-service restaurant at Disney's Contemporary Resort, opens next month, it will boast an unusual wine cellar.

Besides stocking no California labels -- those wines are available upstairs at the California Grill -- the ground-floor restaurant will feature wines of the Southern Hemisphere, including vintages from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Argentina.

But that's not the most unusual aspect. The Wave will offer only wines that have screw caps; no wines with corks will be available. One exception will be sparkling wines, which are not yet available with screw caps.

John Blazon, master sommelier and manager of wine sales and standards for Walt Disney World Resort, said he wants "to show middle America that you can enjoy a great bottle of wine despite how it's sealed."

Blazon said he has collected 80 wines of various varietals and price points to present at the restaurant's opening, which is scheduled for June 7.

Once considered an indicator of low quality, screw caps, also known as Stelvin closures, have been gaining popularity among premium wine producers for several years as a more reliable means of sealing a bottle of wine.

Scott Joseph can be reached at sjoseph@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5514.

 

[nemofans]

Do they do the Movies under the Stars year round or only certain parts of the year?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

crazy4wdw,
Thanks for posting that article.

 

[themcgoos]

We recently got back from 9 days at POR in April and loved it. However, the CR is still our favorite resort - first full vacation with the kids, free upgrade to MK tower view and just a fantastic vacation - so we stop be there whenever we are at Disney just to check it out again. We'll return there to stay someday soon. Anyway, we spent several hours there last month and loved what they are doing with the renovations. Now, we didn't see the inside of a room, but we saw everything else, ate in the Concourse Restaurant, shopped, rode the monorail and just absolutely loved it, again. We always get a very "Disney-esque" feeling at the Contemporary, not sure why others don't. Not sure if it's due to it being our first great trip to Disney, but for whatever reason, we get a real "Disney feeling" from it every time we return, even just for a visit....The new building looks incredible up close too....we love the CR.....

 

[mandy200587]

The planning email has changed to

Contemporary.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The planning email has changed to

Contemporary.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com

Thanks for posting that.

 

[mlholster]

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.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

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.

I have always assumed it would stay like that.