The ALL NEW Disney's Contemporary Resort FAQ with PICTURES! (APR 2009)

[nevercook]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

Yes, you could hang that in the closet that doesn't have the drawers and safe.

Thanks. I think it will provide drawer type storage as well as shoe or small item storage.

[Cinderumbrella]

Originally Posted by CR Resort Fan 4 Life

You're welcome and the bus order is one of the major factors about the Contemporary which does not get enough credit.

Also when going to Epcot you take the Resort Monorail one stop to the TTC and then switch over to the Epcot Monorail which is very easy, since they have signs saying which way to go. However when coming back from Epcot you will need to take the Resort Monorail and it will stop at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom before arriving back at the Contemporary. Personally I don't mind the extra stops since I find the Monorail system to be better then taking any bus.

ITA!! That is why we upgraded from Pop to CR yesterday!! Once you stay on the monorail a few times, you NEVER want to go back!

[WDWKOOK]

Originally Posted by nevercook

Thanks. I think it will provide drawer type storage as well as shoe or small item storage.

You're welcome. I think you've provided a good idea to many people.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by tinkerbellmagic

1. Is the South Wing connected to the main building in any way, or do you walk outside first to get there?

In the past for fun I have walked towards the South Garden Wing and when I walked back to the Tower it was always less then a 5 minute walk going in both directions.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by Cinderumbrella

ITA!! That is why we upgraded from Pop to CR yesterday!! Once you stay on the monorail a few times, you NEVER want to go back!

Congragulations on getting a reservation and have a great time.

I also agree once you stay at a Resort on the Monorail line it's hard to stay somewhere without it.

[Cinderumbrella]

Originally Posted by CR Resort Fan 4 Life

Congragulations on getting a reservation and have a great time.

I also agree once you stay at a Resort on the Monorail line it's hard to stay somewhere without it.

To say that I was surprised that there was availability less than 2 months out is the understatement of the century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were booked on the 4/3 deal and guest services was able to make the upgrade happen (Even though that promo had expired). But if you look at WDW.com for rack rates, the whole resort had availabilty (except standard garden wing rooms) I was STUNNED!

[brergnat]

The toilet is in a separate little room with a sliding door that closes (separate from where the sinks and shower/bath are located. There USED to be an additional sink in there, but it was removed. There is just a big empty space in front of the toilet now. There's a hook up on the wall (we used it to hang wet workout clothes), and you can put your suitcases on the floor there without compromising any space in that room that you need.

[Dawn68PA]

That is awesome! Good deal they let you keep the 4/3 too!

[Cinderumbrella]

Originally Posted by brergnat

The toilet is in a separate little room with a sliding door that closes (separate from where the sinks and shower/bath are located. There USED to be an additional sink in there, but it was removed. There is just a big empty space in front of the toilet now. There's a hook up on the wall (we used it to hang wet workout clothes), and you can put your suitcases on the floor there without compromising any space in that room that you need.

Gotcha!! Thanks for clearing that up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cinderumbrella]

Originally Posted by Dawn68PA

That is awesome! Good deal they let you keep the 4/3 too!

I know!!! We are going for 8 nights though, so I am paying rack rate for the final night. I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting AP rates, but since my package is due Saturday, I didn't want to risk missing out in case they aren't out this week (although they are rumored to come out tomorrow )

[brergnat]

The coffee in the "pods" in the room is NOT Nescafe. It's another brand (Cafe Valet, maybe?). Anyway, it's not that bad *IF* you make the coffee with bottled water. One pod is really only good for ONE cup of coffee. If you try to get more than one cup out of it, it will taste watered down and nasty. I like my coffee strong, though. They provide enough coffee, and if you use it and leave the coffee pot out somewhere obvious (I put it on the computer desk, and left the empty coffee envelope in plain sight), along with a basic note to the housekeeper to "please leave more coffee", you should be fine. I did that and got LOTS of coffee and "supplies" (the packet that has a napkin, stirrer, splenda, and powdered creamer). After the first day, the housekeeper was good about restocking the coffee if I used one. I always washed out the coffee pot myself, though. I brought some dish soap from home to do so, because I wanted it to be CLEAN!

HOWEVER, with that said, I went downstairs to Joffrey's (the coffee stand in the lobby) more than I made coffee in the room. The "plain" coffee is only $2.75/cup and it's GOOD. I also wanted some specialty coffees a couple of times (mochas, lattes, etc) and they were really good as well. Plus, being in the tower and just being able to take the elevator down and then back up to my room was FASTER than waiting for the coffee pot to make coffee in the room...

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by Cinderumbrella

To say that I was surprised that there was availability less than 2 months out is the understatement of the century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were booked on the 4/3 deal and guest services was able to make the upgrade happen (Even though that promo had expired). But if you look at WDW.com for rack rates, the whole resort had availabilty (except standard garden wing rooms) I was STUNNED!

Well there is a great example of being able to switch resorts even though the 4/3 deal reservation window has ended, because if you don't ask you never know and I would think a lot people who want to swtich think it can't be done and don't bother trying to call.

[tinkerbellmagic]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

The wing is not connected to the tower. There is a short, covered walkway closest to the tower. BLT is connected to the tower by a covered bridge.

Google maps: http://maps.google.com/
provides great overhead imagery of the CR (and all of WDW).

Thank you for the info! I was able to see CR very well on the google map. And thanks also to the other person who mentioned the walk is very short.

Now I am wondering what criteria Disney used to knock down the North Tower instead of the South Tower? Not having stayed at CR before, the answer may be obvious, but I don't know what the answer would be, in case anyone knows? If I'm looking at the map right, it looks like the North Tower provided more space to work with? Thanks for any help.

[Cinderumbrella]

Originally Posted by CR Resort Fan 4 Life

Well there is a great example of being able to switch resorts even though the 4/3 deal reservation window has ended, because if you don't ask you never know and I would think a lot people who want to swtich think it can't be done and don't bother trying to call.

I can't take credit for the switch, my superduper TA worked it for me

brergnat, thank you so much for the 411 on coffee!! We are in a wing, but I can always swing past Joffrey's on my way to the bus stop, right? (can you tell I NEVER go down there! My only experience ever at the CR is Chef Mickey's and Cali Grille, so I am still learning the ropes about what floor everything is on )

One more question, is Contempo Cafe 24 hours, like Gasparillas??
(OK, 2 more questions) Has anyone tried the Wave for breakfast I am still up in the air about whether or not to keep that ADR...

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by tinkerbellmagic

Now I am wondering what criteria Disney used to knock down the North Tower instead of the South Tower? Not having stayed at CR before, the answer may be obvious, but I don't know what the answer would be, in case anyone knows? If I'm looking at the map right, it looks like the North Tower provided more space to work with? Thanks for any help.

I am guessing they picked the North Garden Wing because it's closer to the Magic Kingdom, so those staying in Bay Lake Tower with a Magic Kingdom View will make it look very good. Also the walkway from Bay Lake Tower to the 4th floor of the Contemporay will be located by the back of the Bay View Gifts store, so I am guessing they could not put it on the other side because of Chef Mickey's.