My GF friends all recommend it so I was trying to make her happy. I am hoping to check out the CBR when I go down next time.
Ya'll should enjoy it, don't get me wrong. But, I've heard it put at such a high standard, that I think I went in with my expectations too high. I would rather have stayed in the new suites at PORS.
Here's a rundown...(and, hopefully some of this has changed over the past year since my trip)...
1) My room was ok. Larger than Pop, but still felt like a Value room. The furniture was horribly run down, and the bottom drawer was even missing handles. That didn't get fixed during my 13 day stay, even though I called it in.
2) The WORST bus service I've ever had at Disney. Absolute WORST. (the best was Pop, because you could do Pop or AoA to get home). The reason for this is, even though there is only 1 bus stop...there is only 1 bus stop. (try to get into building 4, it's literally right next to the stops, as a tip). However, what makes it especially annoying is that, while FQ sometimes runs dedicated busses, sometimes it doesn't. So, going to the parks? Well, it could be a 15 minute ride, or you may have to cycle all the way through PORS. And, you won't know until you hit the turn at the PORS main gate.
3) The food court was CONSTANTLY filthy. I don't mean powdered sugar on the tables from beneights, or nitpicking. No. I mean tables that would be dirty when I'd go down to snag coffee in the morning, and would be in the same condition when I'd go down at night for dinner. I mean overflowing trash cans that appeared to never be emptied. A filthy beverage par that I swear only got cleaned once a day (and, I don't know if this was due to me, but I did complain about the ice buildup to a CM and mentioned "You know, I worked 11 years in a restaurant...the easiest way to clean that is just to pour a bucket of hot water in the drain"...because, after I mentioned that (on day 3 or so), I noticed them doing just that the other nights. Again, dunno if it was my suggestion, but it would be sad if it was. Oh, and the roached. That's right, dead and living roaches. Not in the outside eating area (which is bad, but forgivable). Oh no. In the inside area as well. On a regular basis.
Now, the pros.
1) The main building itself is gorgeous, as are the exterior and garden features of the rest of the resort.
2) The boat to DTD is neat, but not as convenient as people would have you think due to limited hours of operation (doesn't operate after dark, for example).
3) The carriage ride is a must do.
4) It's a rather short and pleasant walk to PORS, and their food court is vastly superior.
5) The bars (both of them) are very nice and the bartenders some of the friendliest and best I experienced on any of my stays.
6) It's got a GREAT pool.
I recommend the Contemporary but that could because it's where I grew up, When My grand-parent went in 73 that's where they stayed, and then my parents and finally all my childhood trips.
