Who loves the Contemporary?

hllb

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 24, 2009
Messages
1,685
I see a lot of love for the other deluxe resorts, but haven't seen much for the Contemporary. We are booked there for January. I debated on the Poly, but it was a bit more expensive. It definitely more themed, but I like modern design so that aspect of the Contemporary is fine with me. We weren't interested in the GF because I find it to be incredibly ugly LOL. And price. I don't know a lot about the other deluxe resorts, though we couldn't stay at all of them as a family of 5 (at least not easily).
 
I fell in love with the Contemporary when we stayed there in 2001. I don't really know how to explain why I love it so much but the design, the feel, the subtle touches of Disney, all come together to make a place where I love to visit. When we went this past January and stayed at BLT I remember the DME bus coming around and getting my first glimpse of it and I got a bit emotional. Other people are welcome to disagree, plenty of resorts for everyone to have their favorite. We intend to stay at Poly next time as it really has grown on us, but I know as much as I enjoy it I will still be looking across the lagoon watching the monorail pass through the tower and picturing my next stay there.

As far as showing the love, perhaps that is just because like the resort we are more subtle about it.
 
We absolutely LOVE the CR!! It is tied for our favourite WDW resort with the GF and the Poly. We can't determine which of the three that we like better, so our favourite switches between them to the one in which we currently have our ressies. LOL!

The CR is awesome for trips where the focus is on the MK, when you will be going to various other resorts during MK operating hours, when you have children in a stroller, if you want the convenience of being able to walk to the MK and if you want to walk down memory lane to when the MK first opened.

The rooms are large and very comfortable, everything is under one roof if you are staying in the tower or just next door via a covered walkway if you are staying in the garden wing. Many people dislike the contemporary theming. However, it is meant to be connected to the theming of nearby Tomorrowland. I think that it does a great job of fulfilling the designers intentions. Whether or not you like the style, it is still a very 'contemporary' looking resort! PLUS: When you are inside looking out, you are amazed a the stunning views and enjoying the convenience. I really like the large balconies and the TPV, IMO, has the best panoramic views of the Magic Kingdom area. LOVE watching the MK fireworks from our balcony in our PJ's with our grandchildren.

Walking to and from the MK is absolutely priceless. The dining is really good, with Chef Mickey's for your character meal, the California grille for a delicious splurge and the Wave as a hidden gem. Even the Contempo Cafe is good for QS. The monorail glides right through, which is really cool and the Poly and GF are just a quick monorail ride away if you want to stroll their grounds or dine in one of their restaurants. Both the WL and FW are a quick boat ride away so you have easy access to their activities and dining as well. Very convenient for the Hoop Dee Doo revue!!!

You made an excellent choice!!! The CR is phenomenal!!!
 
We love the CR. We've stayed here 3x. I think lots of people do as well as discounts for the MK tower views are pretty non-existent! How can you not love one of the original resorts and a resort with a monorail going through the middle!
 
We stayed at CR in 2015. We loved the size of the room. We loved the walk to MK, especially walking back to CR from MK at closing and seeing all of those people at the bus stops. But, as far as theming, I was just meh. Yeah, the monorail runs through it, but wouldn't you know of all the monorail resorts we have stayed at (we've stayed at them all), it was during our stay at CR that the monorail kept going down. Not so super cool.

We would stay there again, but would chose the GF or Poly or even WL (if we could still fit) before the CR.
 
We loved our stay at CR in a TPV room. Every night that we weren't in the parks we had prime seats for the fireworks. Loved the walk to MK. Having the monorail made visits to the other Monorail resorts easy and the boats we're a plus too.

We also found the soundproofing to be awesome. We never heard anything from neighbouring rooms or from the concourse (CM or Monorails or anything else for that matter.)
 
I do! I fulfilled a bucket list item in April by staying at the Contemporary. I remember years ago watching a film on how the hotel was built and I promised myself then that someday I'd stay there with a TPV. So, I decided to splurge and got a TPV room on the 9th floor. The room was lovely and the view from the balcony was amazing, heck, the view down to the fouth floor concourse was great! From the balcony I could hear the train go by and at night I could see the photo flash on Splash and see Tink fly during the fireworks (she was a tiny spot of light, but I could see her!). The walk to the MK was short and the security spot on the path was never crowded.

The first night I stayed there I warched the fireworks from the balcony with the soundtrack playing on the TV. Afterward a little voice from another balcony piped "Goodnight Magic Kindgdom! Goodnight Mickey! See you tomorrow!" Priceless!

I'm sure I'll be back.
 
I don't love the Contemporary for the same reasons I love other resorts, which is the theming. Many other resorts have theming I find more far appealing than the CR. CR is boring in comparison, especially the pool (my kids would rather swim at the Pop Century).

However, I love the CR for its proximity to MK. I love being able to have dinner at Chef Mickey's after a long day of traveling. I love watching the monorail from the 4th floor (or any other floor)! That experience never gets old for me. I love the theme park view rooms because they are amazing, and I love the garden wing because it's a savings for being so close to MK. I also find it quieter in the garden wing than the tower so a better night's sleep.
 
I love the Contemporary for the size of its rooms, ease of access to MK and all the MK resorts, the monorail, and the dining options. California Grill may be my favorite signature and Contempo Cafe is definitely my favorite QS. I also love the pastry team at the Contemporary so when I am celebrating at Disney (who ISN'T celebrating at Disney?) I always work with them for a nice cake or treat :)
 
We stayed last year for the first time at CR, lake view. We chose the lake view over the MK view...Even though the fire works view would have been great, I felt like it was too much concrete with the parking lot right there (I know we are in the minority here). The lake view was so relaxing, and we were up on a higher floor, so when you first walked into the room and looked straight out to the sliding doors to the lake, you kind of felt like the room was built right over the water. We loved the room, the view, the walk to the MK. However, it is true what people say about the elevators...you can have quite a long wait for them (but what a great place to have to wait for an elevator!). That being said, we probably wont stay here again. The lobby is always very very busy and I sort of felt like I was staying in a big city hotel....too busy, and we prefer a little more relaxing scene, and to be in the Epcot area.
 
Glad to know people do like that resort. In all of the "recommend a deluxe resort" threads I've read, no one recommends it. We are staying in the garden wing. I'd like to stay in the tower, but the price difference was a bit too much to sway me. With a family of 5 (and two teenagers), the bigger rooms are a definite plus. We are eating at both Chef Mickey's and California Grill during our stay (and Ohana right next door). How long of a walk is it to MK? It probably makes more sense to walk than take the monorail?
 
Glad to know people do like that resort. In all of the "recommend a deluxe resort" threads I've read, no one recommends it. We are staying in the garden wing. I'd like to stay in the tower, but the price difference was a bit too much to sway me. With a family of 5 (and two teenagers), the bigger rooms are a definite plus. We are eating at both Chef Mickey's and California Grill during our stay (and Ohana right next door). How long of a walk is it to MK? It probably makes more sense to walk than take the monorail?
I'd say it takes about 10 minutes. Maybe 10-15 if you're in a garden room furthest from the main tower. It is not bad at all!
 
I'd say it takes about 10 minutes. Maybe 10-15 if you're in a garden room furthest from the main tower. It is not bad at all!

Wow, yup, that's really close. Would take at least that long to take the monorail probably!
 
I tend to walk TO the MK (SOOOO easy with the dedicated security entrance on the path) and will either 1) take the monorail back because it's only one stop, 2) will walk back if it's a high volume park exit time.
 





Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE









DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom