Why the lack of love for the CR?

[Mousemommy1]

So, we know that people like to extoll the virtues of the monorail resorts, but it appears that the CR gets the least amount of love (at least on these boards).

I mean, I get it...it's a cement A-Frame building. The surroundings are not very lush. It's pretty corporate, I guess.

But, as a child, I remember the CR (and Poly, and GF) vividly as being symbols of Disney, CR most of all.

What are some of the reasons you LOVE CR?

Just trying to drum up interest in staying there someday.

 

[Missoutandabout]

Walking to MK!

Thinking about event nights and EMH, that's a HUGE perk.

(I've only stayed there for business... but we almost stayed there for a couple nights on this coming trip. You know how that goes though. )

 

[gtpoohbear]

We were very close to staying at CR for our upcoming 2013 trip, at the last minute DH decided he wanted to be close to Epcot to eat at all his favorite restaurants instead of on the MR. So we switched to YC, but part of me is still sad that I "lost" our Contemporary trip.

I never considered it one of my favorites until we did a fireworks cruise from there in 2010 - something about walking around, both in the building at out by the poo,l at night totally sold me! And being within walking distance of MK would be awesome too. So it's definitely on my "next time" list, if we can pull ourselves away from Epcot.

I also remember as a kid that being "the Disney hotel". I think the Poly and GF were there too, but I never really noticed them, and always dreamed of being able to stay right at Disney World. Thought it was the coolest thing ever that the monorail went right through the building! Definitely some nostalgia...

 

[Mama Moose]

That's where we are going to stay on our upcoming trip. We booked a theme park view, so I'm excited that we will be able to see the fireworks from our room!
J have also read a lot of differing reviews and have a few concerns.
I am a little concerned about the quick service options with two picky kids.
Are the elevators that bad of a wait?

 

[Merandab4]

My very first stay at WDW was at at the CR. Of course I was only a child and didnt know any other resorts, but as an adult I have never had the desire to stay there. I agree, it is more corporate looking and gives off less of the Disney feel.
Although I haven't stayed there as an adult, I have visted the resort. If you book a Wishes Cruise, the CR Marina is where you will meet your boat. We've done that and I highly reccommend it.
Also, there are great restaurants in the CR with great views.
Probably one of the best Character breakfasts is Chef Mickey's in the CR.
And of course, the monorail! I think thats why we stayed here as children. Less hassel for my parents, especially when the youngest was still in a stroller!

 

[Mousemommy1]

That's where we are going to stay on our upcoming trip. We booked a theme park view, so I'm excited that we will be able to see the fireworks from our room!
J have also read a lot of differing reviews and have a few concerns.
I am a little concerned about the quick service options with two picky kids.
Are the elevators that bad of a wait?

The elevator complaint I have never understand. We've been to the CR (not stayed there) many times for meals and have never experienced an overly long wait for the elevator....

 

[pepe of ohio]

We were once huge fans of CR...back in the Kate 70's and 80's.....we did many a trip in the north garden wings.....

We lost interest when the changes began to the resort.... Back when we enjoyed the Pueblo Room restaurant, Concourse Steakhouse.... Outer Rim, Monorail Club.... Then they moved the awesome game room upstairs and made it smaller.... and then the topper, tearing down the north wing....

Just too many unnecessary changes not to our liking took away the ambiance we were so used too... We visit but it isn't the same and never will be... We've moved on, best resort now is the WL.... We still prefer the MK area but like the cheaper rate WL provides over CR, Poly and GF....

 

[buzznina]

That's where we are going to stay on our upcoming trip. We booked a theme park view, so I'm excited that we will be able to see the fireworks from our room!
J have also read a lot of differing reviews and have a few concerns.
I am a little concerned about the quick service options with two picky kids.
Are the elevators that bad of a wait?

I have found that QS at all deluxes really lack a lot of options, they would rather you use their TS restuarants, especially since they started the dining packages.

 

[amberpi]

When I was little we always stayed at the CR (we stayed at the Poly once for a conference for my dad, he did not dig it), then we stayed at the GF when it opened. When the Epcot resorts opened around the time of DHS we started staying at the S/D or the YC/BC; I don't think my folks have been back to monorail resorts since, but they LOVE their Epcot and D&W especially. I've been back to the CR and GF since depending on pricing (the S/D can be more pricey depending on conferences and F/W festival) and the CR remains my favorite monorail hotel. If I want the best pool on property I'll go to SAB. For MK convenience, I'll do CR very time. I LIKE the less Disney feel but I don't want Mickey and friends to follow me home. I LOVE them, but I want a more adult feel to a hotel (it may have to do with traveling so much professionally). That's my opinion. I love the CR. It was the original flagship!!!

 

[BebopBaloo]

Stayed there once as a kid and really loved the fact that it was so close to the Magic Kingdom. The monorail and the short walk to Magic Kingdom were nice perks. I also remember some of the characters swimming in the pool - Pluto and Goofy. Also, we could see the castle from the pool, which was great.

 

[CT Mom of 3]

We've been to WDW many times and my kids always bug me to stay at the CR but since we typically make our plans with short notice, it's usually booked. We did stay there for 2 nights in July after our cruise and we all agreed - Never Again! What a huge disappointment. The elevators were horrible - we walked both UP and DOWN several times (on the 9th floor!)
It's so cold and just - I don't know - Any City USA Marriott - feeling. The whole place smells like syrup and fried food (from Chef Mickeys).

Wish we loved it. Or even liked it. But I guess we are just meant to hang at the Poly or Beach Club!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We've been to WDW many times and my kids always bug me to stay at the CR but since we typically make our plans with short notice, it's usually booked. We did stay there for 2 nights in July after our cruise and we all agreed - Never Again! What a huge disappointment. The elevators were horrible - we walked both UP and DOWN several times (on the 9th floor!)
It's so cold and just - I don't know - Any City USA Marriott - feeling. The whole place smells like syrup and fried food (from Chef Mickeys).

Wish we loved it. Or even liked it. But I guess we are just meant to hang at the Poly or Beach Club!

Syrup and fried food....

Have to agree with you on that one.

My DH and girls have no interest in staying there at all. I think it would be cool to have the TPV in the tower, but that's about it.

And, honestly, Chef Mickey's is probably our least favorite restaurant on property (alongside Hollywood and Vine) so that's not a draw for us....

I just figured that maybe I'm missing something...

 

[GATORinaZ28]

The Contemporary is a sentimental favorite of mine. My Grandparents always stayed there when I was growing up...sometimes Bay Lake side and sometimes MK side.

Now that I have supposedly grown up, though, I stay in the moderates since I just cant justify paying that much for a resort when my daughter and I hit the parks from open-close. I did stay once in the Contemporary in 2007, though.

Anyway...it can look like a cement building that belongs in North Korea, but I would still love it.

 

[GingerJay]

We stayed at the CR in 2010 and loved it I can see why it doesn't get a lot of love, though. It's not super-themed like some of the other resorts. We stayed in the ground floor of the garden wing so we didn't have any issues with the elevator. Transportation was a breeze with the monorail and busses. I liked the look of the rooms, too.

 

[mariamouse]

Syrup and fried food....

Have to agree with you on that one.

My DH and girls have no interest in staying there at all. I think it would be cool to have the TPV in the tower, but that's about it.

And, honestly, Chef Mickey's is probably our least favorite restaurant on property (alongside Hollywood and Vine) so that's not a draw for us....

I just figured that maybe I'm missing something...

Nope, probably not missing anything.

I agree with you that, if I were ever to stay at the CR again, it would only be in a TPV room. We stayed in the north wing once (pre-BLT) and, while we liked it, just did not feel that the CR's grounds and theme could compare to the other deluxe resorts. Plus, we prefer feeling like we are always in the middle of the action. For that reason, the only thing that could compel me to go back to the CR is an exceptional view in the tower. But, even then, those rooms are going to cost just as much as those at the Poly and GF-- for me, it's pretty hard to turn down those beautiful resorts just for the CR view.

I will say, though, that I still do love the CR for nostalgic reasons. I love the view of the resort lit up at night from a distance and still enjoy zipping through the tower on the monorail. And we love California Grill too.

I guess for me it is more of a must-visit resort than a must-stay resort.

 

[PoohsFan1]

CR is DH's favorite resort and he had always wanted to stay there ever since he was little. So in 2010 his dream came true, we stayed in a Bay Lake View Tower room and it was awesome. My favorite thing to do at night was to sit out on the balcony and watch the high flying fireworks from Epcot, it was also great to see Epcot at night from there.

We also loved walking to and from MK, that is such a great perk while staying there because having to wait in long lines for a bus or monorail after a long day at the parks can be nerve racking. Also, since this was the first time that we had stayed at a monorail resort (well, I used to stay at the Poly when I was a kid so that doesn't count for me), it was really nice not having to worry about taking the bus to every park.

We really liked our stay at CR, in fact we liked it so much that we became DVC members on that trip and our home resort that we chose was BLT. We will be having our first BLT stay on our upcoming trip, therefore we will be spending a lot of time at the CR to shop, eat, or just hang out and we cannot wait .

 

[spiceycat]

that place has 6 elevators - so none of them work properly anymore??

stay at BLT - but it is part of CR. Love BLT. the pool at CR is not fancy or well themed - but it is nice. like watching the EWP from the beach. the fireworks from the room or on the 4th floor at CR (tow at blt).

looking down and seeing water - which you can from most of the rooms at both places.

now I actually like the QS - have allergies and these CM go out of their way to address my problems.

have not eaten at Chef Mickey in a few years. that say Wave is pretty good.

now agree about the arcade - it was great. Now it seems like the Polyn has a bigger arcade than CR. when did that happen....

really wish CR's gym looked outside like most of the others.

 

[staceymarie]

We just left CR on the 17th. Not 1 problem at all!! It's my DD's favorite resort!

I'm gonna post some pics tonight!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I don't care for the theme or lack of. If CR was priced as the moderate, then maybe I would stay there.

 

[Kimberle]

As it's now one of the most expensive resorts on property, I wouldn't say there was a "lack of love".