Is Contemporary Resort Too Tacky

[artbell2]

I don't mean to be judgemental about this as I'm going by pictures alone of what I've seen as far as both what the rooms look like (2008) and what the Bay Lake Tower rooms will look like. To me it really looks too tacky. Spending upwards to $400 and up per night in a place like that just looks ridiciculus. The beds might be comfortable, but just the interior design to me looks ugly. I understand it is contemporary no question about it. And maybe that's their selling point. I don't know maybe this is what the hotel of the future will look like. I haven't been in an upscale hotel in more than 10 years so I might be off my rocker. The colors don't do a thing for me.

Mike

 

[tirian]

I considered buying into the BLT (I already own points in Saratoga Springs), but I agree about the rooms. They look like tacky, 1960s versions of the future with cardboard furniture. I love modern interior design, but it's hard to pull off without looking cheap. The BLT rooms look cheap.

By the way, the tower itself looks quite nice. It doesn't overwhelm the original A-frame building at all.

 

[ryguy]

I guess the problem with the word contemporary is that we all have a slightly different idea of what contemporary is. I think the resort is "stuffy". It has a identity complex. Its been transformed into a hotel designed for business travelers and convention goers. In a place that markets fantasy and pixie dust. To me that doesn't work. For Disney it works because it's profitable, but as person on vacation I think it stinks. Imagine this if you will. You are staying at the Contemporary with your family. You just came from the pool and of course your man enough to wear your speedo that day. When you walk towards the elevators there are 10 turds in business suits just getting out of a seminar. Do you feel comfortable or awkward?? Another scenario; (this is the old layout so maybe things will change a little) You bring your kids to chef mickeys and of course they're amped up and are little out of control. They tell you it will be a few minutes so you wait on the concourse. Well across from you is a bar room full of suits. Also there is a restaurant that caters to suits (concourse steakhouse). How do you feel?? See what I am saying. The other convention hotels blend in better because the buildings are separated which makes them less intrusive to those on vacation. Now they are building a building that caters to family vacations, its just weird. For me the idea of hanging around a bunch of suits is depressing. Thats what I am trying to get away from when on vacation. I expect this in Manhattan, not Disney World. I wish the Contemporary never built the convention center, I miss the way it was before it was built.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Not for me...It still has the Nostalgic 1970's WDW feeling to me.

But Poly is better anyway.

 

[elabron]

I don't mean to be judgemental about this as I'm going by pictures alone of what I've seen as far as both what the rooms look like (2008) and what the Bay Lake Tower rooms will look like. To me it really looks too tacky. Spending upwards to $400 and up per night in a place like that just looks ridiciculus. The beds might be comfortable, but just the interior design to me looks ugly. I understand it is contemporary no question about it. And maybe that's their selling point. I don't know maybe this is what the hotel of the future will look like. I haven't been in an upscale hotel in more than 10 years so I might be off my rocker. The colors don't do a thing for me.

Mike

Just out of curiosity.......have you SEEN the rooms, etc. since the remodel a few yrs. ago?
Pretty nice actually.....the "blue zebra stripe" headboards and spaceship lamps are gone, as are the bright blues, purples and sea-foam greens.

 

[marni1971]

Regarding the new tower, personally I think the flaws are more the premium rooms with an even better view of the Tomorrowland parking lot and the backside of Main St, plus a feature pool that will be in shade most of the time.

Each to their own I guess.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Regarding the new tower, personally I think the flaws are more the premium rooms with an even better view of the Tomorrowland parking lot and the backside of Main St, plus a feature pool that will be in shade most of the time.

Each to their own I guess.

I'm guessing that DVC figures people with the premier views won't be in their rooms during the day to see those great views of the Tomorrowland parking lot or the back of Main Street. After all, the draw is, IMHO, a view of Wishes! or sunset over Seven Seas Lagoon.

I do agree, also, that the pool is in a curious spot, to say the least. I want to be in the sun when using the pool, normally. I hope that we're wrong and the pool will get more sun that we're figuring it will.

 

[YankeeMouse]

Link to Bay Tower room photos?

 

[Mick G.]

You should have seen the 1971 room decor... or the metal and glass trees in the Grand Canyon Concourse... or the jackets worn by the staff... It was uber-tacky. Then again, a room in the tower cost $32/night.

And at the moment, I do prefer the Poly. The Contemporary feels like a construction zone.

Mick

 

[elabron]

You should have seen the 1971 room decor... or the metal and glass trees in the Grand Canyon Concourse... or the jackets worn by the staff... It was uber-tacky. Then again, a room in the tower cost $32/night.

And at the moment, I do prefer the Poly. The Contemporary feels like a construction zone.

Mick

Of the 3 monorail resorts, I'd go:

1. Poly
2. Contemporary
3. GF

I just wasn't real impressed with the GF this past May....for what I paid, I guess I expected more........and cleaner. :lookaroun

 

[Sam02]

I think it is all in the eyes of the beholder. I personally love the design of the new rooms and can't wait to stay there next June. The room looks so warm and inviting. I don't mind the suits either. I figure that if people choose to schedule a conference at WDW then they are bound to see people on vacation and they need to deal with me not the other way around.

On the other hand the hotels with all the "theming" throw me off. They seem "tacky" to me. There's just too much going on in the rooms. I personally couldn't relax in those rooms.

I love how WDW has many different types of resorts to appease to all their guests. That's what makes WDW so great.

 

[ConstanceIrene]

I guess the old saying, "That's why there's vanilla and chocolate" comes into play here.

I love the new rooms at the Contemporary BLT. I've spoken with other Disney fans in my neck of the woods and they agree. Conversely, I do not care for the decor at WL. While I can appreciate the fact that it is a deluxe resort, it's not a place where I feel comfortable. So, there you go!
Luckily for all of us, WDW has resorts to suit every taste.

 

[yankspy]

Link to Bay Tower room photos?

Here is a link to a youtube video that shows the rooms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1DV6r1Nk54

You should have seen the 1971 room decor... or the metal and glass trees in the Grand Canyon Concourse... or the jackets worn by the staff... It was uber-tacky. Then again, a room in the tower cost $32/night.

And at the moment, I do prefer the Poly. The Contemporary feels like a construction zone.

Mick

You mean these?

As for me, I have never liked the "Contemporary" style. That is not to say that I would not stay there but I have always liked an old fashioned look.

 

[scottnj1966]

Dont worry everyone, it is always booked far in advance so its hard to get a room anyway.
That means many people do like it, just because you may not.

 

[surfsupdon]

I always thought the Contemporary was a sort of rip, especially on the MK side. Mostly b/c the grounds are highly made up of parking lots, and MK views offer Guests more views of parking lots and the backside of buildings, shops, and storage, and some more parking lots. I have seen Wishes at night from a room, and much prefer the view from the Poly.

I agree that a shaded feature pool is another fault at the new Tower.

And in the same accord, Beach Club Villas are in a terrible location too. Most rooms overlook service roads, skinny canals, or Beach Club rooves. But, yes, the Villa location is very nice, but the views are awfully weak.

 

[sbkline]

I guess the problem with the word contemporary is that we all have a slightly different idea of what contemporary is. I think the resort is "stuffy". It has a identity complex. Its been transformed into a hotel designed for business travelers and convention goers. In a place that markets fantasy and pixie dust. To me that doesn't work. For Disney it works because it's profitable, but as person on vacation I think it stinks. Imagine this if you will. You are staying at the Contemporary with your family. You just came from the pool and of course your man enough to wear your speedo that day. When you walk towards the elevators there are 10 turds in business suits just getting out of a seminar. Do you feel comfortable or awkward?? Another scenario; (this is the old layout so maybe things will change a little) You bring your kids to chef mickeys and of course they're amped up and are little out of control. They tell you it will be a few minutes so you wait on the concourse. Well across from you is a bar room full of suits. Also there is a restaurant that caters to suits (concourse steakhouse). How do you feel?? See what I am saying. The other convention hotels blend in better because the buildings are separated which makes them less intrusive to those on vacation. Now they are building a building that caters to family vacations, its just weird. For me the idea of hanging around a bunch of suits is depressing. Thats what I am trying to get away from when on vacation. I expect this in Manhattan, not Disney World. I wish the Contemporary never built the convention center, I miss the way it was before it was built.

Everything you just said about the Contemporary sounds almost exactly what my wife and I say about the Yacht Club. :lol: That resort seems so formal and stuffy, and the kind of place you would expect to see rich snobs on business conventions, and doesn't seem like what you would expect as a family, vacation hotel.

As far as the Contemporary, my wife thinks it is very tacky as well and I agree, although probably to a lesser extent than my wife. As someone else said, there's really no grounds to enjoy...just a parking lot, then the MK a walk away. And the resort itself doesn't seem to have a whole lot of theming. Yes, I know it's supposed to be retro futuristic and kind of compliment TommorowLand, but I'm not sure they do a great job succeeding in that. It's almost more like just a plain old hotel with no theme.

 

[Philo]

I would say it's far from tacky although it's not really my type of resort. It feels a little more like a business resort more than anything else - the last think I want on vacation is to act formally!

I know this isn't really the reality and wherever I visit the contemporary for a meal I'm imporessed by the whole place but I don't think I'll ever pay the high price to stay there whilst places like WL still exist

 

[disneydiva72]

I have never been a fan of the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian, I like looking at them from afar, I like watching the monorail going through the Contemp and I love looking over bay lake at the GF, its very pretty. But staying there....no thanks, neither is my cup of tea for many of the same reasons above.

Im a AKL/Poly gal myself.

 

[Vernonpush]

As far as "tacky" is concerned, I would say the Value Resorts are the tacky ones in terms of design.

 

[justducky78]

Although the Contemporary is not my favorite hotel at WDW, I still love it! It might have had that "modern feel" back in the 70's when it opened, but it did grow outdated. I'm glad to see them updating it, although I'm not happy with ALL of the changes. I actually like the look of the updated rooms in the main tower and think they did a good job. The DVC (which I was originally against) also looks pretty good, although I'm still not happy with the building itself -- it just doesn't look good sitting next to the main Tower. Based on location and the monorail, Disney figures they can charge whatever they want and people WILL pay for it.

I agree with the other poster who said the value resorts are more tacky than the contemporary. I know, I know - they're supposed to be kitschy but I feel they could have done a better job. Even with the "motel-like" rooms, I feel they could have given the property a more upscale feeling. Disney is not just for kids -- and if you are taking kids, the adults are paying, so it should be geared somewhat towards adult taste. I don't get that feeling from the values. Never stayed there but also not impressed.

And I disagree with the "stuffy, snobby" feel of the Yacht Club. We don't get that feeling at all. This is probably one of our favorite Disney hotels.

I guess this just proves they have different hotels for different people with different likes/dislikes. Something for everyone! Nothing wrong with that.