Contemp Garden Wing

[mikegiordano0]

I was originally planning a vist for Sep 24-30 at the new Bay Lake Tower, but because of some work related issues I had to reschedule it for August 24-28. Mind you I already paid over 500 deposit to Disney and bought my Jet Blue tickets and now have to pay 300 to change them for my wife, daughter and myself.

So because of the much sooner date, the not so ideal time and the money I am going to have to waste on changing the tickets I have changed over to the Contemporary Garden Wing. I checked All Ears and the review for the Garden Wing is pretty mixed, some people hated it, some didnt mind but one thing I noticed was that many, many people were upgraded to the Tower without even asking. Why is that, and should I just wait till I get there to see, or if my budget affords it make the upgrade at a later date?

Also what can I expect going Aug 24-28 instead of Sep 24-30? Is it much hotter, more hurricanes, crowded, etc..?

Last year I came down Sep 9 to the 16 and stayed at AKL, but had to worry about several hurricanes in the area, and thought the hotel was way to far from the kingdom. Other than that we loved the trip.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I was originally planning a vist for Sep 24-30 at the new Bay Lake Tower, but because of some work related issues I had to reschedule it for August 24-28. Mind you I already paid over 500 deposit to Disney and bought my Jet Blue tickets and now have to pay 300 to change them for my wife, daughter and myself.

So because of the much sooner date, the not so ideal time and the money I am going to have to waste on changing the tickets I have changed over to the Contemporary Garden Wing. I checked All Ears and the review for the Garden Wing is pretty mixed, some people hated it, some didnt mind but one thing I noticed was that many, many people were upgraded to the Tower without even asking. Why is that, and should I just wait till I get there to see, or if my budget affords it make the upgrade at a later date?

Also what can I expect going Aug 24-28 instead of Sep 24-30? Is it much hotter, more hurricanes, crowded, etc..?

Last year I came down Sep 9 to the 16 and stayed at AKL, but had to worry about several hurricanes in the area, and thought the hotel was way to far from the kingdom. Other than that we loved the trip.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

We enjoyed the garden wing. We loved the Contemporary, and it's location, in general. Of course a tower room would have been amazing, but not in our budget.

If you have your heart set on the tower room, pay for the upgrade. There's just no way to count on an upgrade. If you'll be happy in either one, then just wait and see.

It will be hotter in August, but it shouldn't be too big of a difference. August and September are both hot. They're also both firmly in hurricane season, so that's just a roll of the dice.

 

[CatsMeow]

We are long-time CR fans and when we stayed there, we always stayed in one of the wings (now of course, there is only one). I have to say we were never upgraded to the Tower - I think it was always too crowded to expect that! - but we really did enjoy our wing room. And I have to say we chose the wing rooms because of budgetary concerns, but never felt we missed out by staying there. There is not much - if any - difference in size. And the tower rooms with the MK view are pretty expensive. The wing rooms are very large and were recently renovated, so they should be very welcoming and up-to-date.

We are now DVC members and are planning a stay at BLT in late August for two nights. It is a shame you missed out on your original plans.

August weather is not much different from that of September and it is still hurricane season. It will be hot and sticky (sorry!).

 

[mikegiordano0]

That's what it is the $500 more it costs to stay in the Tower seems out of our budget now since the trip is moved up a month (less time to save) and I have to pay $300 plus pay for any increase in tickets for the airline changes.

What I was wondering was if you feel left out that your not in the tower, also if the rooms were just as nice as the ones in the tower.

Not to worried about the weather as it was pretty hot last time.

Thanks for the responses

 

[Disneyfalcon]

That's what it is the $500 more it costs to stay in the Tower seems out of our budget now since the trip is moved up a month (less time to save) and I have to pay $300 plus pay for any increase in tickets for the airline changes.

What I was wondering was if you feel left out that your not in the tower, also if the rooms were just as nice as the ones in the tower.

Not to worried about the weather as it was pretty hot last time.

Thanks for the responses

I definitely didn't feeel left out in the garden wing.

 

[CatsMeow]

We did not feel left out either. Actually, it is much, much quieter in the wing and it is kind of a nice change from all the hustle/bustle of the parks and all the traffic coming into and out of the Tower. I love the CR, but it is very busy and, especially on the 4th floor with all the restaurants and shops and the monorail, it can get to be too much sometimes. We found the wing to be a nice oasis from that.

 

[mikegiordano0]

We did not feel left out either. Actually, it is much, much quieter in the wing and it is kind of a nice change from all the hustle/bustle of the parks and all the traffic coming into and out of the Tower. I love the CR, but it is very busy and, especially on the 4th floor with all the restaurants and shops and the monorail, it can get to be too much sometimes. We found the wing to be a nice oasis from that.

Thats good for me Im fine with the quietness just wanted to make sure. I cant wait to go really.

 

[YankeeMouse]

If you ask for a room in the garden wing that faces Bay Lake, you'll pay more but not as much as staying in the tower, and with that view, you'll hardly notice you are not in the tower...but it is quite a walk at the end of a long day.

If you face the parking lot, it is kind of a crummy view because it faces the back of the convention center.

 

[scorp111]

Stayed in the Garden Wing facing Bay Lake last Year - Loved it!

 

[Scooter]

My wife and I have stayed in The Contemporary Wing rooms several times and we Love it. The Tower is just a short walk and the bus stop is even a shorter walk.

One thing we have also noticed that no one mentioned here is this: When you stay in a wing room, you avoid the the morning and evening Elevator rush. Between 8 and 10:00AM and during dinner hours, the elevators can be very crowded and some waits are long. We found the short walk to the main building to be relaxing and you are always under cover so weather is never an issue.

 

[yoda_5729]

I have not stayed at the Contemporary ever, but I have visited there a few times, I have a few pictures from it, and the views inside the main tower if that would all help give you an idea of bay lake or something else. As to whether you would feel cheated I would imagine it comes down to what you care most about. If you don't mind not seeing the castle from your patio and all, then I would assume the garden wings would be just like ther rooms, and you'd be in one of the elite resorts on Disney property, and have direct access to Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom via the monorail and Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge via the boat, as I stayed at Fort Wilderness this last Christmas.

Also there is an observation area outside the Contemporary on the fourth floor with the gift shops and all that you can see the fireworks and castle from. I know I have a picture of the castle from that view if you would like that.

I hope this helps, but since I've never stayed there you'd probably have to take it with a grain of salt.

That said if you would like to see the pictures, I can probably figure out how to post them here or e-mail them to you if you pm me. I hope you enjoy your trip though

 

[DougK]

I'm not sure of this has been answered directly yet but the rooms themselves are the same in the Garden Wing as they are in the Tower. Just as nice inside but without the balcony and view.

 

[mikegiordano0]

I'm not sure of this has been answered directly yet but the rooms themselves are the same in the Garden Wing as they are in the Tower. Just as nice inside but without the balcony and view.

No that has not been fully answered and that is one question I forgot to mention. I read that the first floor has a patio, which is fine I guess, but if the rooms are the same as the ones I have seen they are pretty classy, and contemporary!

Like I said earlier originally we were going all out and staying at Bay Lake in September but now that were scaling back some I think we are looking more for comfort, with quick easy access to the MK and Epcot.

Thanks again for all the answers.

 

[CatsMeow]

No that has not been fully answered and that is one question I forgot to mention. I read that the first floor has a patio, which is fine I guess, but if the rooms are the same as the ones I have seen they are pretty classy, and contemporary! -
Like I said earlier originally we were going all out and staying at Bay Lake in September but now that were scaling back some I think we are looking more for comfort, with quick easy access to the MK and Epcot.

Thanks again for all the answers.

we had a first-floor room on our last visit there in 2001. It was quite nice and we enjoyed visiting with the ducks along the water!

As for views, Bay Lake views are wonderful indeed, but so are the garden views. In the Tower, there are wonderful views, but MK room views come with a hefty price tag.

 

[mikegiordano0]

we had a first-floor room on our last visit there in 2001. It was quite nice and we enjoyed visiting with the ducks along the water!

As for views, Bay Lake views are wonderful indeed, but so are the garden views. In the Tower, there are wonderful views, but MK room views come with a hefty price tag.

The price sure is hefty! 496 dollars for a BayLake View and I think 300 more for a MK view. Unless I run into some unexpected money (a trip to AC or playing cards) I think that money is better served somewhere else.

 

[addcogulf]

Rooms in the garden wing often require a lot more walking. Sometimes you can face the pool, but they can be far from the main building where all the food and monorails are located and far from the buses. The rooms in the tower are better located, however they are much more expensive. Rooms in Garden Wings can be very nice if you dont mind the walk because when we stayed there we were closer to to pool and every morning my Grand daughter loved feeding the ducksand birds that sat and ate cereal with her on our patio. We ususally stat in the tower, but the Garden is very nice too. Ive vacationed in both August and Sept. and we never hit a hurricane any time. I guess thats just the luck of the weather.

 

[mikegiordano0]

Rooms in the garden wing often require a lot more walking. Sometimes you can face the pool, but they can be far from the main building where all the food and monorails are located and far from the buses. The rooms in the tower are better located, however they are much more expensive. Rooms in Garden Wings can be very nice if you dont mind the walk because when we stayed there we were closer to to pool and every morning my Grand daughter loved feeding the ducksand birds that sat and ate cereal with her on our patio. We ususally stat in the tower, but the Garden is very nice too. Ive vacationed in both August and Sept. and we never hit a hurricane any time. I guess thats just the luck of the weather.

I'm sure my daughter would love feeding the ducks. Another question how are the pools? Good for a 3 year old?
I'm looking foward to our stay at the contemp and with some reassurance I feel fine about the garden wing.