WHICH CONTEMPORARY TOWER?

[Minuet888]

OK before you come for me I did look through the other CR threads to try to find my answer but they are all like 500 pages!
I am NOT familiar with the CR. Me, my husband and our 19 year old will be 20 at the time of trip) son (he is autistic but moderately function) are going on the trip. We are celebrating out 25th wedding anniversary.
What tower am I looking for?
I do NOT want the Garden wing I have heard that is far away from the main tower where the restaurants and monorail is.
So there is Bay Lake Tower and Main Tower correct?
Is there a tower where I could view both fireworks AND the water pageant parade?
Is Bay Lake Tower far away from the main tower?
In the main tower really loud with the monorail and open high ceilings and everything being in the center?
Does the monorail just go to Magic Kingdom or does it go to other parks too? (I am used to DL where it is one monorail on a loop, I know that DW monorails are more advanced)
I do realize that certain towers are more expensive, we are saving a lot for this trip because it is the 25th anniversary and special.
Is there a late checkout?
I appreciate anyone's help in advance.

 

[focusondisney]

OK before you come for me I did look through the other CR threads to try to find my answer but they are all like 500 pages!
I am NOT familiar with the CR. Me, my husband and our 19 year old will be 20 at the time of trip) son (he is autistic but moderately function) are going on the trip. We are celebrating out 25th wedding anniversary.
What tower am I looking for?
I do NOT want the Garden wing I have heard that is far away from the main tower where the restaurants and monorail is.
So there is Bay Lake Tower and Main Tower correct?
Is there a tower where I could view both fireworks AND the water pageant parade?
Is Bay Lake Tower far away from the main tower?
In the main tower really loud with the monorail and open high ceilings and everything being in the center?
Does the monorail just go to Magic Kingdom or does it go to other parks too? (I am used to DL where it is one monorail on a loop, I know that DW monorails are more advanced)
I do realize that certain towers are more expensive, we are saving a lot for this trip because it is the 25th anniversary and special.
Is there a late checkout?
I appreciate anyone's help in advance.

Bay Lake Tower is a DVC resort. That resort is being renovated now going into next year. The rooms there are studios or 1 or 2 bedroom villas. The studios are regular hotel rooms with a microwave & small kitchen counter area.

Contemporary Resort has the main tower & the garden wing. The garden wing is only steps away from the main tower, closer than Bay Lake Tower if you’re walking outside, IMO.There is a connecting walk from BLT to CR. The garden wing has no views of the theme park. Both Bay Lake & CR tower have theme park, water & resort view rooms. The water view rooms look out at the pools or lake. The resort view rooms look out over gardens or parking lots. You can see the Electric Water Pageant from a distance as it passes MK from theme park view rooms. To see it from Bay Lake Tower or Contemporary Resort, you’d need a resort view room with a view of the boat dock area.

We have stayed in the garden wing several times & don’t find it inconvenient to the main tower. It is only about 3 minutes to the main tower from the furthest garden wing room. We think the garden wing is quiet & peaceful with some pretty lake or garden views. The 1st floor rooms have a patio, but the 2nd & 3rd floor rooms only have a sliding door, no balcony. Tower rooms do all have balconies. We have only,stayed in the Tower Club level rooms in the main tower. That floor does not have the open atrium so I can’t speak to the noise level in the main tower rooms.

The elevators in the tower can be busy & might have a wait at certain times. One of the advantages to the garden wing is not having to use those main building elevators. You can take the escalator to the 4th floor for quick service, shops & the monorail. And walk directly to the bus stop or MK thru the lobby.

I’ve never asked for late check out but have read reports from posters who asked. I think 1 pm is as late as you’d get & it’s not guaranteed. You’ll have to ask at check in & the day before checkout to see if it’s granted.

The monorail from CR goes to the transportation & ticket center (TTC ) Polynesian resort, Grand Floridian, & Magic Kingdom in that order. There is a separate monorail that goes to Epcot. So you’ll get on at CR, get off at TTC & board the Epcot monorail. You take buses to Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs & Hollywood Studios.

 

[Dug720]

I believe that the fireworks are one side of the tower and water pageant is the other side. I don't think there would be a room where you could see both.

 

[jtopp]

Both are viewable from the rooftop viewing area.

 

[focusondisney]

I believe that the fireworks are one side of the tower and water pageant is the other side. I don't think there would be a room where you could see both.

No, from theme park view rooms you can see it as it passes Magic Kingdom. It isn’t as good or as close up as when it’s at CR. I don’t remember how well you can hear the music. These were taken from 4911, a theme park view room. They are zoomed in, so it definitely is not as close as it looks from my pictures.

 

[Dave006]

I believe that the fireworks are one side of the tower and water pageant is the other side. I don't think there would be a room where you could see both.

On nights where the MK is open later the ELWP passes near the MK boar dock and is quite visible from the Contemporary Tower TPV side room balconies.

Dave

 

[DL1WDW2]

Both are viewable from the rooftop viewing area.

I think more info would be helpful.
Are you recommending the roof top on the Contemporary or the rooftop at BLT ?

 

[Minuet888]

No, from theme park view rooms you can see it as it passes Magic Kingdom. It isn’t as good or as close up as when it’s at CR. I don’t remember how well you can hear the music. These were taken from 4911, a theme park view room. They are zoomed in, so it definitely is not as close as it looks from my pictures.

View attachment 924909View attachment 924910

So this is theme park room view at the main tower? Can you see the fireworks too?

On nights where the MK is open later the ELWP passes near the MK boar dock and is quite visible from the Contemporary Tower TPV side room balconies.

Dave

I'm sorry TPV? side rom balconies? Contemporary Tower which view?

 

[Minuet888]

Bay Lake Tower is a DVC resort. That resort is being renovated now going into next year. The rooms there are studios or 1 or 2 bedroom villas. The studios are regular hotel rooms with a microwave & small kitchen counter area.

Contemporary Resort has the main tower & the garden wing. The garden wing is only steps away from the main tower, closer than Bay Lake Tower if you’re walking outside, IMO.There is a connecting walk from BLT to CR. The garden wing has no views of the theme park. Both Bay Lake & CR tower have theme park, water & resort view rooms. The water view rooms look out at the pools or lake. The resort view rooms look out over gardens or parking lots. You can see the Electric Water Pageant from a distance as it passes MK from theme park view rooms. To see it from Bay Lake Tower or Contemporary Resort, you’d need a resort view room with a view of the boat dock area.

We have stayed in the garden wing several times & don’t find it inconvenient to the main tower. It is only about 3 minutes to the main tower from the furthest garden wing room. We think the garden wing is quiet & peaceful with some pretty lake or garden views. The 1st floor rooms have a patio, but the 2nd & 3rd floor rooms only have a sliding door, no balcony. Tower rooms do all have balconies. We have only,stayed in the Tower Club level rooms in the main tower. That floor does not have the open atrium so I can’t speak to the noise level in the main tower rooms.

The elevators in the tower can be busy & might have a wait at certain times. One of the advantages to the garden wing is not having to use those main building elevators. You can take the escalator to the 4th floor for quick service, shops & the monorail. And walk directly to the bus stop or MK thru the lobby.

I’ve never asked for late check out but have read reports from posters who asked. I think 1 pm is as late as you’d get & it’s not guaranteed. You’ll have to ask at check in & the day before checkout to see if it’s granted.

The monorail from CR goes to the transportation & ticket center (TTC ) Polynesian resort, Grand Floridian, & Magic Kingdom in that order. There is a separate monorail that goes to Epcot. So you’ll get on at CR, get off at TTC & board the Epcot monorail. You take buses to Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs & Hollywood Studios.

Sorry so does that mean if I don't belong to DVC I can't stay in the Bay Lake Tower? Why do they offer it as an option then? Perhaps I am confused or not understanding?

 

[Dave006]

So this is theme park room view at the main tower? Can you see the fireworks too?

Yes the entire west side of the Contemporary tower faces the Seven Seas Lagoon and the MK. They are all Theme Park View (TPV). Floor 6 and up there are no rooms on the floors below 6 on that side of the building.

The East side of the Contemporary Tower overlooks the pools and Bay Lake. Rooms on the East side start on Floor 5.

I'm sorry TPV? side rom balconies? Contemporary Tower which view?

It is TPV side of the tower and from the balconies you can hear and enjoy the ELWP.

Sorry so does that mean if I don't belong to DVC I can't stay in the Bay Lake Tower? Why do they offer it as an option then? Perhaps I am confused or not understanding?

No you can stay in Bay Lake Tower. You can rent from an Owner, an DVC Rental agency or make a Disney reservation directly.

Dave

 

[elvispursley]

I don’t know how your DS does with noise but when we’ve stayed in the main tower, it is quite noisy, especially if your room is closer to/above chest Mickey’s. It’s not as bad when you’re in your room but there is a little bit of noise tjay comes through the door. It hasn’t bothered us except for early morning. Personally, I’d try and rent points from a DVC rental company/owner and stay in the Bay Lake Tower. As an aside, nothing beats that short walk to the MK!

 

[Minuet888]

Hi,
SO since it doesn't look like I can get a resort room with both water pageant and fireworks view, how about a fireworks cruise instead? Is the water pageant thing even worth it? Is it better to view that somewhere else and get the firework view room from the contemporary?

 

[Dave006]

SO since it doesn't look like I can get a resort room with both water pageant and fireworks view, how about a fireworks cruise instead?

I am not sure you need a view of both from your room. My personal choice would be to view the Fireworks from MK and be able to enjoy the projections that are shown on the Castle, these are not viewable from outside of MK, and view the ELWP from the boat dock area at the CR or BLT.

Do you have small children that would be geeing ready for bed in the evening?

Dave

 

[80sTerraceCafeFan]

FYI - Bay Lake Tower rooms were just refurbed and look great IMO if you are a classic Disney parks fan.

 

[Dave006]

FYI - Bay Lake Tower rooms were just refurbed and look great IMO if you are a classic Disney parks fan.

Actually only the first block of BLT rooms have been redone. The entire building is not scheduled to be done until September, 2025.

Dave

 

[Minuet888]

I am not sure you need a view of both from your room. My personal choice would be to view the Fireworks from MK and be able to enjoy the projections that are shown on the Castle, these are not viewable from outside of MK, and view the ELWP from the boat dock area at the CR or BLT.

Do you have small children that would be geeing ready for bed in the evening?

Dave

No I have a (will be 20) year old son who is autistic but wants to see both. I just get concerned about the crowd of people for fireworks. If there is a upcharge special dining or seating area for fireworks we would pay it. I just can't find anything about it. Are we able to use the dining plan with dining fireworks seating packages?

 

[Dave006]

If there is a upcharge special dining or seating area for fireworks we would pay it. I just can't find anything about it. Are we able to use the dining plan with dining fireworks seating packages?

There are no Fireworks Dining packages at MK. However there is a Dessert Party before the Fireworks and also one after the Fireworks that provide a reserved area to watch the Fireworks for prices that vary from $99 to $109 depending on date.

Here is info on the Dessert Package before the Fireworks
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/fireworks-dessert-pre-party/

Here is info on Dessert Party Package after the Fireworks
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/fireworks-dessert-after-party/

Dave