Contemporary - Is it Worth It?

[Goofy36]

I am planning to visit WDW in May 2006 and was thinking of staying at the Contemporary. I was thinking that it would be nice to grab the monorail and zip over to MK or Epcot but other than that is it really worth it? Should I look at staying somewhere else and save some money and take the buses everywhere?

Thanks for your input.

 

[maelstrom]

If you plan on staying in the tower, then yes, it is worth it. The view is spectacular. If you plan on staying in a garden wing there's nothing really special unless you just like the atmosphere at the Contemporary.

 

[Number_6]

I got some great photos off of the balcony of my room there of Wishes. It's really a nice place. If you wanted, you can always spend a couple of nights there and transfer to another hotel, or vice-versa. Stay someplace that's not as expensive and then finish up your trip with two nights there. That way, you still save some money and have the experience of staying there as well. Bell Services will see to it that your bags make it from one resort to the other while you go out and have fun, then you just check-in when you're done and have them send the bags up to the room. I've done it myself, and also used to work Bell Services at Boardwalk so I've done the transfers as well. They get the bags to your new resort by 3PM.

 

[UncleScrooge]

Yes, it is defiantly worth it, even if you stay in the wings, you will have a beautiful view of bay lake, and in the mornings if you go out on the balcony of your room you can hear the "wolf howl" from the haunted mansion in the still morning air- just a little touch of Disney atmosphere. The Grand Canyon Concourse is awe inspiring and you really feel like you are in the middle of the action. Also the monorail service to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace><st1laceName>Magic</st1laceName> <st1laceType>Kingdom</st1laceType></st1lace> and Epcot are very convenient.

 

[Robfasto]

After staying a Magic Kingdom Deluxe for the first time in 4 years (Polynesian Resort) I would say yes, it is for my as the Magic Kingdom is my favorite park followed by Epcot. And Monorail access to both of those is really nice to have.

For me it would also depend on the number of guest in the party. The Contemporary has the largest rooms on property (422 sq. ft.).

 

[MKCP 1985]

I've noticed that in this forum, if you ask about a specific resort, you will always get a majority of responders in favor of the resort, no matter what resort - on site or off site. It is kind of funny that way.

If you read the All Stars threads, you might think they were the finest hotels on the planet. :lol:

Whether the Contemporary is worth it really depends on who you are travelling with, your budget and what kind of sacrifice (if any) is required in order to pay the room rate. I have stayed in the Contemporary once, but have enjoyed the resort many, many times by monorail service and by just driving over and parking in the lot.

As long as I am visiting with a family and am paying the freight, I will probably stay somewhere else at less than half the price and will occasionally come over for breakfast at Chef Mickeys, drinks at the bar at the top of the resort, dinner at the California Grill or wherever else may entice. The room was nice, but there are many, many nice hotel rooms at Walt Disney World and in Orlando, nicer than the Contemporary. I think it may be easier to justify the Contemporary for a romantic getaway without kids, because with kids you are going to be spending a lot of cash on food, drinks and souveniers, so . . .



Would it be cool to have a hotel room with a view of Cinderella's Castle? Absolutely. Is that view worth the extra $$ from my budget that would be spent on other things? Ummmm, probably not.

 

[LaughingGravy]

Another positive response

My first stay with my family as a kid was at the Contemporary Garden wing. It was great. Most other times, we stayed in the tower. That was before the mega hotel expansion when there were just the first three resorts and the prices were a little high, but doable. You had to book almost a year in advance then, just to get into the hotel. The Contemporary will always be home to me. The woosh of the monorail inside is the most magical sound to me. If I time it right $$, maybe rumors of DVC being in a garden wing will pan out and I'll be able to do it. Heaven!

 

[mousermerf]

I think by May 2006 the Contemporary will be worth it as it finishes its rehab. Prior to that? Nope.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I hink that if you are in a garden wing, you are better off looking elsewhere. I also think that if you want to stay at the contemporary, you are better off waiting until the rehab is finished with. The resort will probably be a lot nicer for what you get.

Plus...taking busses everywhere really isn't a bad thing. They run frequently and usually get you where you need to be quicky. The monorails are fun, but don't forget that you do need to change monorails when you go to epcot and you are also farthest away from the Magic Kingdom (it is a better idea to walk).

 

[phase90]

depends on the room rate

Being D.O.D. employee we had it made when they were doing the Shades of Green rehab. The North Garden wing was loaned to Shades during this time and we were getting rooms in the North Garden wing for as low as $89.00 per night. If you requested a parking lot view you could see the fireworks from your bed! This was the greatest! Now I just cancelled my reservation for the fall because they wanted $362.00 per night for the same room I was paying $89.00 just 2 years ago. Remembering that this is a 30 + year old room I couldn't justify spending that much so now I'm back to staying at Shades but
the Contemporary is still my favorite. I would spend $149.00 / night for a garden wing room but no more than that. And sometimes we do split our vacations like mentioned in the other reply - 4 to 5 nights at Shades and 4 to 5 nights at the Contemporary depending on the budget at the time.



phase90

 

[Sharon L]

While it was a little pricey, nothing beats the convenience. Being able to walk to the MK in the morning and evening was great. No waiting in line for the ferry or the monorail. We also like being able to take the monorail to Epcot. We stayed in the North Wing, which was convenient to the path to the MK, the bus stop and the Food and Fun Center. The rooms are pretty big. We didn't have the great view you get in the tower rooms, but we did have a nice view of the lake. I think the place will be much better after the rehab. It was definitely looking a bit shabby when we stayed there last November. We even had a waterfall come from the ceiling right by the bathroom door one morning.

 

[dvm]

I will be there in 2 weeks, tower, and will post a review upon returning, for you.

 

[DisneyMedic]

This is a nice hotel. The view area awasome and you do have the monorail right there. Disney has great benifits for its guest. One of the coolest is no matter what park you go to if you buy anything in the park like mugs/shirts/gifts ect.. They deliver it right to your hotel so you do not have to carry anything. I think this is awasome. However..

The hotels on the property are very pricey. For example a tower room at the contemperary is going to run you a min of $200 a night. Depending on when you go. You have to ask yourself what is important to you. For me as much as I would love to stay there I really do not spend that much time in the room. So I opt to sepnd less money at a hotel in lake Buena vista and spend the money that I save on other fun things. For an example I have stayed at the lake Buena Vista Raddison for $60 a night. It is not a five star hotel but it is clean/safe and has everything I need. $140 savings a night is a big difference to me. But it might be different for you.

In anycase have fun and enjoy your trip. Oh and BTW..Keep in mind that the Monorail dosn't go strieght to the park from the Contempary. It goes clock wise back to the ticket center and stops at the other two hotels before dropping you off at the park.

Have Fun

 

[Ringo8n24]

I think by May 2006 the Contemporary will be worth it as it finishes its rehab. Prior to that? Nope.

I agree. The old decor is sickening to my head and eyes. Too "out there" for me. I really like the new decor and would stay there after that is completed.

 

[lamarvenoy]

The tower view of the Magic Kingdom is as good as it gets anywhere on property.My fond memories of waking up at 3AM and from my bed watching the castle change colors. I also enjoy watching the fireworks from my private balcony. Then you have the Outer Rim lounge with a great view and atmosphere and of course the California Grill is just an elevator trip away.If you can afford it,do it.