Question About the Contemporary...

ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
So, I have a question...my mother, grandparents, and I will be going to Disney World for my birthday in May, 2014 to do the backstage tour for the first time. We will probably fly down Wed/Thurs night and leave Sunday (first week of May). We have a timeshare at Mystic Dunes Resort about 5 minutes (at the most) from WDW, we stay there EVERY time. Since it is my birthday, I would like to stay at a deluxe resort for the first time. I would prefer the Grand Floridan, but I have been told it and the Polynesian were too expensive right away. However, I would also like to stay at the Contemporary. My grandma wants to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (I would be totally OK with that too!). Which do you prefer. We would probably go to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT/DHS, and do the backstage tour. We have only stayed in value resorts (All Star Sports and POP Century). So what do you prefer? Is the AKL better than the Contemporary. I would love to stay near MK, my FAVORITE theme park EVER! AKL is a bit cheaper, but what do you think?
 
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Tinkerbell397

Tinkerbell397

Well-Known Member
You pay for convenience when you stay at the Contemporary. Since you said you would be going to the MK, you have the convenience of the monorail.....it loops by the Poly, the GF and the MK so it is easy to have breakfast in either hotel. Epcot is also a monorail ride with a change at the TTC. DHS is a bus ride. The Contemporary is my all time favorite and I have stayed at the Poly, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans and Shade of Green. Stay in the tower if you can....MK view is the best as high in the tower as you can. I think that having the monorail whizz though the tower more than makes up for what some people consider the "lack of disney theme". The AKL is a bus ride to all parks and it is quite far. It is beautiful, but I prefer to be closer to the parks. You can walk to the MK from the CR. Good luck!
 
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DonChi

DonChi

Member
I have stayed in the Contemporary, Poly and GF, for me, the Contempo is the best. As Tinkerbell397 said, having the MK at walking distance and having the Monorail "in house" is priceless.
 
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Kingdom Konsultant

Kingdom Konsultant

WDWMAGIC Board Sponsor
Premium Member
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I've stayed in all of the deluxes but my all time favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I actually just wrote a blog about the concierge level there. I love AKL. disney did such a phenominal job on the theming and the wood smell from the fire pit when you walk in the front door is wonderful.
the standard and pool view rooms are the most economical for a deluxe resort.

I say stay where Grandma wants to stay....

Pam
 
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dvcnut

dvcnut

Member
I've stayed at Bay Lake Towers and loved it and I've stayed at AKL and loved it. :) Personally speaking, I prefer Jambo House at AKL since it doesn't feel like you are at an amusement park. It's much more relaxing and feels like a resort. The pool and hot tub here (Jambo House) are amazing as well since they are huge and are partially shaded. Kidani Village's pool is pretty blah. I found the bus transportation to be exceptional and at times...more convenient than the monorail.

BLT/ The Contemporary definitely have the convenience factor due to the monorail and short walk to MK, but if you're going to Epcot...the transfer to the other monorail at the beginning and end of your day is a killer. The other thing is you never really escape the park at the end of the night...since it's right there. I think that the pool gets a bit overcrowded and it's in the open sun with no real shady spots. With that said, I love the modern decor in BLT/ The Contemporary, the water pageant, and California Grille!

If I was bringing my grandma, I would stay at AKL (Jambo House). If I were bringing children, I would stay at BLT/ The Contemporary.
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
It's a tough question b/c there are perks to each one. With the Contemporary, you'll get convenience and larger rooms. Those are both huge perks to us. On the flip side, with AKL you'll get a top notch theme and it does leave more $ in your wallet. We stayed at WL back in 2010, but my brother and SIL stayed at AKL on that same trip and their accomodations were pretty much the same as ours (i.e. same room and similar resort layout- just different theme)...when considering all of this (even knowing the kids might love the animals)...Contemporary still won. I liked the rooms even if the theme doesn't feel more than a nice modern hotel, we LOOOOVED being able to walk to MK, and being 1 stop from the TTC on the monorail was a breeze when we went to Epcot.
 
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bethymouse

bethymouse

Well-Known Member
I haven't stayed @ AKL, but I'd say whatever fits your budget best. I have heard wonderful things about AKL! I feel that no matter where you stay @ DISNEY, it's still magical, but especially if you're going deluxe!;)
 
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ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Okay, thanks for the info everyone! I'm still leaning for the Contemporary, just for the proven convenience with MK...now, one more question. Which tour is better: Keys to the Kingdom or Backstage Magic? Keys to the Kingdom is MUCH cheaper, so if we stay at the Contemporary, we may do that. But with AKL, we could do the other tour...or KttK and do something else! What do you think?
 
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D

Disneyboy17

Active Member
Very Cool I work in creative entertainment for WDW i work daily with Imagineering :) I suggest you go to school to become a structural engineer like Erin Wallace did I worked with about 3 years ago unfortunately she's not one but has always wanted to be one. There are tons of opportunities at Disney I personally think you should look into the Disney College Program :)
 
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ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Disneyboy17 said:
Very Cool I work in creative entertainment for WDW i work daily with Imagineering :) I suggest you go to school to become a structural engineer like Erin Wallace did I worked with about 3 years ago unfortunately she's not one but has always wanted to be one. There are tons of opportunities at Disney I personally think you should look into the Disney College Program :)
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Wow...that's super awesome! Yes, I was looking at the College Program. What exactly does a structural engineer do? I am looking towards Theatrical Design to design rides. What do you do in creative entertainment? Any numbers or people you know of that could really help in about 4 years??? :rolleyes: Message me? :D
 
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D

Disneyboy17

Active Member
Okay first off I started about 20 years ago working for a company by the name of Nestlé in marketing in New York. I had a friend over in Orlando who I went to UNC with who was working for Disney in WDI i Worked in marketing for a while an then looked a spot that was became available around I want to say 1996 for animal kingdom my friend still at WDI today I worked on some of the concepts seen at the park today in entertainment. My last big bang I helped develop was the living Character concept I'm done with that project an onto something else I can't disclose. My personal favorite was working on concept design on tapestry of nations. Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants. Their work takes account mainly of safety, technical, economic and environmental concerns, but they may also consider aesthetic and social factors. My day to day things vary one day I'll be observing performances an parades one day talking to someone in china or Paris another dealing with ordering lightbulbs for the electrical parade the next using dimensional analysis an stoichometry to brainstorm solutions. Theres tons of math in anything here at WDI unless your into producing an such yes message me since idk how 2 I'm new :)
 
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ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Disneyboy17 said:
Okay first off I started about 20 years ago working for a company by the name of Nestlé in marketing in New York. I had a friend over in Orlando who I went to UNC with who was working for Disney in WDI i Worked in marketing for a while an then looked a spot that was became available around I want to say 1996 for animal kingdom my friend still at WDI today I worked on some of the concepts seen at the park today in entertainment. My last big bang I helped develop was the living Character concept I'm done with that project an onto something else I can't disclose. My personal favorite was working on concept design on tapestry of nations. Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants. Their work takes account mainly of safety, technical, economic and environmental concerns, but they may also consider aesthetic and social factors. My day to day things vary one day I'll be observing performances an parades one day talking to someone in china or Paris another dealing with ordering lightbulbs for the electrical parade the next using dimensional analysis an stoichometry to brainstorm solutions. Theres tons of math in anything here at WDI unless your into producing an such yes message me since idk how 2 I'm new :)
Click to expand...
Wow cool!
 
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