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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The water in the main pool was much too cold for my taste today but the water in the bay pool was nice and warm - and I had it all to myself.

That must have been very nice having it all to yourself.

 

[TroyE]

How often do they change pools at DW? That just seems very strange.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

How often do they change pools at DW? That just seems very strange.

I think their pool renovations have to do with the fact all their rooms, 4th floor concourse level and the lobby got renovated, so it makes sense to renovate the pool.

 

[spaceace510]

i believe the pool we are talking about is the one on the right side of the pier

photo taken 2003 from room 4713

 

[Dawn68PA]

Yep, that's the quiet pool. I saw it listed on a map of the CR.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

Wow, sounds like a lot of us are going to be either down there or leaving to return in the next 5 days. We will be slumming it down in the garden wing, see you all then!

 

[Dawn68PA]

I wouldn't call the garden rooms slumming it by any means. That was my first choice of where to stay at CR. Right by the lake and pool. Ducks around. Beautiful landscape and quiet.

But DH wanted to try CL and have an MK view so in the tower we go.

After scouring pictures and reading experiences about CR, I truly don't think there's a bad room in the place.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Wow, sounds like a lot of us are going to be either down there or leaving to return in the next 5 days. We will be slumming it down in the garden wing, see you all then!

That's usually what happens around this time of year.

After scouring pictures and reading experiences about CR, I truly don't think there's a bad room in the place.

I would agree with that because all the rooms in the Tower and Garden Wing have the same design which looks great. The only difference is their locations and nothing more.

 

[MaryAz]

Great thread and info

We are thinking of staying at the CR next Nov for 2 nights before our Disney Cruise. We are curretnly booked at CBR but my mom has decided to join us and I think CBR is to spread out for her. She will be using an electric scooter. I have a few ??s

Which rooms are closest to monorail and restraunts. We will probably eat at the cafe the night we arrive and are planning the character breakfast for the morning we leave for the cruise.

What is the possiblity of adjoining rooms??

I currently have the rooms added on to my DC which is booked through Costco. Should I stay with them or book on my own? Which would be a lower rate?? How much approx a night should I plan to spend??

I appreciate any and all feedback!

 

[spaceace510]

Which rooms are closest to monorail and restraunts. We will probably eat at the cafe the night we arrive and are planning the character breakfast for the morning we leave for the cruise.

I can give you some help. Well if and when you book stay in the tower. I would request rooms close to the main elevator. I honesty don't think the floor matters. And the view shouldn't matter much either (Bay Lake or MK). So then you get off the elevator on the fourth floor and you are right in the heart of all the action.
On the previous page in post 2558 there is a map of the CR, and you can get a better picture.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Which rooms are closest to monorail and restraunts. We will probably eat at the cafe the night we arrive and are planning the character breakfast for the morning we leave for the cruise.

Any floor in the Tower would be ok, so it's just a matter of wanting the Magic Kingdom View or Bay Lake View. Also once your in the elevator if it does stop at any other floors, it's a very fast ride to the 4th floor and to the lobby.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

crazy4wdw,
If you see this I got one more question for you. I am not sure if you have rented a car or came back on the Disney buses just before the MVMCP fireworks, but incase you have was there Disney security in the middle of the road before you arrive at the Contemporary stopping the cars? In the past that has always happened right before the fireworks and they asked to see our KTTW cards, so I was wondering is that still going on because I see there is a party scheduled for this Sunday.

 

[NJBILL]

Great thread and info

We are thinking of staying at the CR next Nov for 2 nights before our Disney Cruise.

You may already know this, but the CR is not a "cruise hotel" if you are taking Disney transportation to the Port. We wanted to do the same thing a few years back,so unless it's changed, you will have to get to a hotel where the bus stops,or use your own transportaition to port..

 

[crazy4wdw]

crazy4wdw,
If you see this I got one more question for you. I am not sure if you have rented a car or came back on the Disney buses just before the MVMCP fireworks, but incase you have was there Disney security in the middle of the road before you arrive at the Contemporary stopping the cars? In the past that has always happened right before the fireworks and they asked to see our KTTW cards, so I was wondering is that still going on because I see there is a party scheduled for this Sunday.

I flew down this time and used Magical Express so I don't have access to a vehicle. I have watched Holiday Wishes from my balcony on two occasions and did not notice anyone stopping vechicles in front of the resort. I don't know if this has been mentioned on this thread but the CR has resumed playing the soundtrack to Wishes fireworks on channel 20. They are also playing the soundtrack to Holiday Wishes on nights its shown on the same channel - way cool!

 

[brergnat]

We are headed down to the Contemporary March 26-April 2, 2009.

My question is, should we still expect to encounter construction going on INSIDE the hotel at this time, or should it all be done by then? I know the pool refurb should be finishing up around the middle-end of March (that's what the CM from CRO told me), and I know that BLT construction will be ongoing, but I really don't want to deal with construction noise INSIDE the tower while we are there. My best friend has been living in a construction zone (her new condo) for over a year now, and she is so over listening to and seeing construction work going on and she commented that when she goes away on vacation, she does NOT want to be around construction inside her hotel (this was JUST after I switched hotels from Poly to Contemporary to save some $$$ while being able to stay on the monorail...).

Can anyone shed some light? Does construction usually finish on time, or does it typically runneth over?

 

[crazy4wdw]

We are headed down to the Contemporary March 26-April 2, 2009.

My question is, should we still expect to encounter construction going on INSIDE the hotel at this time, or should it all be done by then? I know the pool refurb should be finishing up around the middle-end of March (that's what the CM from CRO told me), and I know that BLT construction will be ongoing, but I really don't want to deal with construction noise INSIDE the tower while we are there. My best friend has been living in a construction zone (her new condo) for over a year now, and she is so over listening to and seeing construction work going on and she commented that when she goes away on vacation, she does NOT want to be around construction inside her hotel (this was JUST after I switched hotels from Poly to Contemporary to save some $$$ while being able to stay on the monorail...).

Can anyone shed some light? Does construction usually finish on time, or does it typically runneth over?

I would certainly think that the construction on the 4th floor would be completed by March. There have been a few days this week, especially Tues and Wed, where the construction noise was quite loud in the Tower and it continued through most of the day. They are working on the expansion of Chef Mickey's and the new lounge. I have not seen a firm date on the completion of the construction. Contempo Cafe was scheduled to be completed in mid-August but wasn't completed until mid-November.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Can you ask if they are expecting to have the church services in the ballroom on Christmas day? Please and thank you!

Sorry it took so long to get back to you regarding your question. I asked a CM at the lobby concierge desk this morning and she said that yes, they were planning to have religious services in the Fantasia Ballroom on Christmas Day. Have fun on your trip!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I flew down this time and used Magical Express so I don't have access to a vehicle. I have watched Holiday Wishes from my balcony on two occasions and did not notice anyone stopping vechicles in front of the resort.

I should have mentioned they are usally standing in the area after you pass the signs saying to turn left towards the Polynesian and right towards the Wilderness Lodge, so I guess that's why you have not seen them. Oh well I guess will find out this Sunday.

There have been a few days this week, especially Tues and Wed, where the construction noise was quite loud in the Tower and it continued through most of the day. They are working on the expansion of Chef Mickey's and the new lounge

That is surprising because I wouldn't think something like this would have so much noise, since the new Outer Rim Lounge would not be the biggest thing to be built when you compare it to the new Fantasia store and the Contempo Cafe. As for the expansion of Chef Mickey's wouldn't they only be working after breakfast and a bit into the afternoon, because I can't see them working there while it's open with the guests eating there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well it's 24 hours until my family and I are back at the Contemporary so I can't wait.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I should have mentioned they are usally standing in the area after you pass the signs saying to turn left towards the Polynesian and right towards the Wilderness Lodge, so I guess that's why you have not seen them. Oh well I guess will find out this Sunday.

That is surprising because I wouldn't think something like this would have so much noise, since the new Outer Rim Lounge would not be the biggest thing to be built when you compare it to the new Fantasia store and the Contempo Cafe. As for the expansion of Chef Mickey's wouldn't they only be working after breakfast and a bit into the afternoon, because I can't see them working there while it's open with the guests eating there.

They typically start the construction around 9:00 am and finsih by 5:00 PM. One of the days when the noise was so loud, they were removing the tiles and a portion of the floor in front of the new lounge. I was down eating at Contempo and the nosie from the saws and jackhammers was so loud, you could barely hear people talking. One the CM's working at Contempo commented that they could not wait to get home becasue they a headache from all of the noise. I hate it for the folks on the 5th floor which are in the rooms directly over the construction. It's been farily quiet today, looks like they're working on the ceiling in both areas.