Do I NEED to go to the Contemporary ?

[aristo_cat]

So I have had a bee in my bonnet about going to the Contemporary for like a year now. Every time I look to see how much it's going to cost, I get freaked out and I don't pull the tigger.

I just really want to stay at the hotel with the monorail going through it! I might do it this September if there's a good deal!

What do you guys think? Is going to the Contempo a "must do" experience? Also, is Garden Wing as good as staying in the Tower itself?

 

[PREMiERdrum]

So I have had a bee in my bonnet about going to the Contemporary for like a year now. Every time I look to see how much it's going to cost, I get freaked out and I don't pull the tigger.

I just really want to stay at the hotel with the monorail going through it! I might do it this September if there's a good deal!

What do you guys think? Is going to the Contempo a "must do" experience? Also, is Garden Wing as good as staying in the Tower itself?

Having stayed there myself, I don't really consider it a "must do". With the other Deluxe Resorts, you get opulence (Grand Floridian), beauty and immersion (Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge), or gorgeous scenery (DBC / EYC). With the Contemporary, you get the novelty of the monorail passing through and little else.

It's neat, and the hotel itself is nice, but of all the Deluxe Resorts the Contemporary is the one where I see the least justification of the price.

IF you do it, you have to stay in the main building, IMHO.

 

[coachwnh]

my kids love this place. i had no desire to stay there until, like you, we just booked it. i have to say its now one of my favorites!!! im one of the few who actually enjoy the bay view more than the MK view (we have done both). i just love watching the boats come around at sunrise as the sun comes up and shines on the water. just sitting on the deck and drinking coffee as the birds gathered on discovery island in the morning fog was amazing!!!

 

[RickP330]

I think everybody needs it!!!! I stayed in the garden wing and it was a disappointment. After all the Monorail passing right through the main building is a large attraction, you can stay in a much cheaper garden wing at a moderate resort I think...
RP

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I think it's all personal preference. I love the Contemporary and decided to at least try out the Garden Wing back in 2011 and decided I loved it even more. While I'm giving WDW a rest for a while, DH and I have decided future stays will likely be split and involve some time at the Contemporary...maybe even splurging for the tower.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I love the Contemporary, IMHO the Garden Wing is nice if you stay at the end of the "T" facing the lake but not if you are on the side facing the channel bewtween Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Contempo Cafe is not a must for us California Grill and at times Chef Mickey's are. The Wilderness and the Animal Kingdom Lodge are both deluxe and less expensive than the Contemporary. Again IHMO I would consider one of those resorts first.

 

[awoogala]

So I have had a bee in my bonnet about going to the Contemporary for like a year now. Every time I look to see how much it's going to cost, I get freaked out and I don't pull the tigger.

I just really want to stay at the hotel with the monorail going through it! I might do it this September if there's a good deal!

What do you guys think? Is going to the Contempo a "must do" experience? Also, is Garden Wing as good as staying in the Tower itself?

we have stayed at Bay lake and garden wing, never in the tower. I would stay at the garden wing again happily. The room is larger, more peaceful, and is a short walk to the tower. It is closer to the pool and beach, an easy walk to the parking lot, and you can park mere feet from your room. the sliding doors with a view to the pool and beach were lovely, too.
The thing is, will it always bug you if you don't try it? if the cost is too much, maybe a split stay with just a night or two in the tower so you can do it? We are having the same discussion about the poly- I would like to stay there before they tear down the gch, but we go and eat and drink there, add I'm not sure the rooms are worth the cost! (if they had a room IN the gch,though! lol)

 

[rsoxguy]

I do not stay at Disney resorts often in comparison to the amount of times that I go to WDW because I often go for single day trips. Additionally, I think that their resorts are overpriced for what they are. With this said, I would stay at the Contemporary in a heartbeat. I have always wanted to stay in the "monorail resort". It's one of those fascinations in life that I can not explain.

aristo_cat, go if it's what you want. This is something that transcends practicality. It's called splurging because life is too short.

 

[BigRedDad]

At the right price, I would probably do a split stay there. Start off at Pop, then hop over to the Tower for the 2nd leg.

 

[Master Yoda]

I would rank it up there with a "must do". I have been going to WDW since the early 70's and staying at the Contemporary was always a dream of mine. That dream did not come true until around 2004 and it was so worth it when it did.

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

Yes, at least try it for a night or two. And go for broke and stay in the tower. There's nothing like sitting on your balconey at night with a cold beer in your hand catching the Electrical Water Parade, and watching Wishes with the castle changing colors. Worth every penny.

 

[bgraham34]

As a kid I always wanted to stay there, and that is because the Monorail went through it and I was fascinated by that. Today I would stay there but I dont want to pay for it. I am not a fan of modern looking rooms.

 

[Redhawk]

I have always wanted to stay in the "monorail resort". It's one of those fascinations in life that I can not explain.

Same here. We usually stay at the Dolphin or Swan because we can get free rooms with our Starwood points (and we love those resorts), but one day I will fulfill my childhood dream to stay to the Contemporary and watch that monorail go gliding through.

 

[wdwfan100]

The Contemporary was like that for me. It was the one place I had wanted to stay at since my visits as a child. So finally we just booked it. It was the first hotel we stayed at on property. I was not disappointed. The hotel has a lot to offer. If it is something the budget can handle. I would say it is a must do. I would also say the tower is the better way to stay. Good luck deciding.

 

[aristo_cat]

Thank you for your responses! I have a lot to mull over. I do want to go, but I think like some of you touched on, it's more about the "oooh monorail!" aspect of the stay. I do also think it would be really cool to basically spend the night at MK. I think I'll be booking for the 3 day weekend in September!

 

[aristo_cat]

I do not stay at Disney resorts often in comparison to the amount of times that I go to WDW because I often go for single day trips. Additionally, I think that their resorts are overpriced for what they are. With this said, I would stay at the Contemporary in a heartbeat. I have always wanted to stay in the "monorail resort". It's one of those fascinations in life that I can not explain.

aristo_cat, go if it's what you want. This is something that transcends practicality. It's called splurging because life is too short.

Yeah, life is short! That's what I say before I buy shoes.

 

[tikiman]

So I have had a bee in my bonnet about going to the Contemporary for like a year now. Every time I look to see how much it's going to cost, I get freaked out and I don't pull the tigger.

I just really want to stay at the hotel with the monorail going through it! I might do it this September if there's a good deal!

What do you guys think? Is going to the Contempo a "must do" experience? Also, is Garden Wing as good as staying in the Tower itself?

So ever since I went to WDW for the first time in 1983 and I rode the monorail through the Contemporary I always said I would stay there. Well my love for the Polynesian has made it hard for me to stay at a hotel that looks at the Polynesian. When we have stayed at the Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin I can’t see the Polynesian. Well during my trip last October I finally decided I would book part of my trip at the Contemporary. Then I had to decide if I wanted to spend the money on staying in the tower. Well it was a lot more and I figured I could ask how much it was to upgrade once I was there but I booked the Garden Wing. It was less than a standard room at the Polynesian but something was strange on my reservation. The room said deluxe Garden wing. I figured because the resort was a deluxe resort. When I got to the Contemporary I figured I would check out the room before trying to upgrade. The first thing I liked is I could drive around and park right outside my building. Then when I got to my room it was HUGE! It had two balconies (one looking at the lake and one looking at the pool). The room had a large sitting area with fold out couch and desk area and around the corner had a king bed with lots of extra room. The bathroom had a tub with shower and an extra shower. I could walk to the pool in less than a minute and back into the Contemporary in about 3 minutes. I thought I would feel isolated but it was a great spot. Some people love the Contemporary and some hate it so I think you really have to try it yourself just like any resort. As much as I still want to try a tower room I think I would book the garden wing room again.

Here are photos from the room in my report.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/news/216-new-things-coming

 

[aristo_cat]

So ever since I went to WDW for the first time in 1983 and I rode the monorail through the Contemporary I always said I would stay there. Well my love for the Polynesian has made it hard for me to stay at a hotel that looks at the Polynesian. When we have stayed at the Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin I can’t see the Polynesian. Well during my trip last October I finally decided I would book part of my trip at the Contemporary. Then I had to decide if I wanted to spend the money on staying in the tower. Well it was a lot more and I figured I could ask how much it was to upgrade once I was there but I booked the Garden Wing. It was less than a standard room at the Polynesian but something was strange on my reservation. The room said deluxe Garden wing. I figured because the resort was a deluxe resort. When I got to the Contemporary I figured I would check out the room before trying to upgrade. The first thing I liked is I could drive around and park right outside my building. Then when I got to my room it was HUGE! It had two balconies (one looking at the lake and one looking at the pool). The room had a large sitting area with fold out couch and desk area and around the corner had a king bed with lots of extra room. The bathroom had a tub with shower and an extra shower. I could walk to the pool in less than a minute and back into the Contemporary in about 3 minutes. I thought I would feel isolated but it was a great spot. Some people love the Contemporary and some hate it so I think you really have to try it yourself just like any resort. As much as I still want to try a tower room I think I would book the garden wing room again.

Here are photos from the room in my report.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/news/216-new-things-coming

Wow Tiki, thanks for the useful info! How did you get the deluxe room? Did you ever find out? Can I ask for it?

 

[tikiman]

Wow Tiki, thanks for the useful info! How did you get the deluxe room? Did you ever find out? Can I ask for it?

I just asked for the lowest price room at the time and that is what I got. I believe that you can book the deluxe garden wing room. There looked like there were suites in that building also because I saw inside a room down from me and it was large also. That deluxe room was much less than a standard room with standard view at the Polynesian.

All I can say is that before I stayed there I never wanted to stay in the garden wing and now with how convenient the location was I would do it again.

 

[aristo_cat]

I just asked for the lowest price room at the time and that is what I got. I believe that you can book the deluxe garden wing room. There looked like there were suites in that building also because I saw inside a room down from me and it was large also. That deluxe room was much less than a standard room with standard view at the Polynesian.

All I can say is that before I stayed there I never wanted to stay in the garden wing and now with how convenient the location was I would do it again.

Yeah I actually just checked it out and Deluxe room was $550 while standard was $390. Of course, there's no deals for that part of the year yet so I'll have to wait. I also really want to check out Polynesian. I've bookmarked your page for future reference!