Disneyworld Contemporary Hotel

Parent Cafe
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<p>Next year will be our 30th anniversary, and we went to Epcot the week it opened for our honeymoon. As I have not been back to Disney since, and husband has only been once more on a father-son trip, I was thinking it would be a nice 30th anniversary celebration destination.</p>

<p>It’s always been our dream to stay on-site at the Contemporary, and remember in the old days, it required a year in advance booking.</p>

<p>Since there are so many more Disney hotels available now, wonder if it’s easier to get a room now.</p>

<p>Also, what kind of price am I looking at per night?</p>

<p>We’re Triple A members, so should we go through Triple A to book the whole thing, admission tickets, hotel, or is there a club to join that would give a good discount?</p>

<p>I also hear there’s a meal plan, but we want to be spontaneous, so may not opt for that.</p>

<p>Toying with this idea as we just celebrated our 29th anniversary, and want to start putting the pennies in the jar and make early reservations if necessary.</p>

<p>We’re of course over 50 now and quite heavy, so I didn’t think this was going to be an option for us, but I hear the park is plus size friendly, so maybe we will get to actually go on some rides. I’m not a roller coaster rider, but I did enjoy Big Thunder Mountain. </p>

<p>If anything, I’m looking forward to seeing all the additions to the park since I was there 29 years ago when Epcot first opened.</p>

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<p>You’ve probably already found this: [Disney</a> World - The Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Disney World, Walt Disney World](<a href=“http://www.wdwinfo.com%5DDisney”>http://www.wdwinfo.com) It’s a great resource for all things Disneyworld. (Check out some of the post counts!) There are separate boards for every aspect of a Disney vacation - resorts, restaurants, attractions, ticket options, etc. Disney has rather brilliantly mastered how to maximize its hold on every traveler’s time and money. The folks on this board have learned how to get the most for that time and money.</p>

<p>We were Disney honeymooners 33 years ago. It did not seem at all lame at the time. :smiley: Today I wish we had gone to Greece instead, but that wasn’t in the budget and we did have a great time in Orlando.</p>

<p>Our family stayed at the Contemporary when the kids were young. I think it has the best location of all the Magic Kingdom hotels because it’s just a short walk to the park and you don’t have to wait for a monorail or ferry when you want to leave. But if I wanted to spend more of my time at Epcot (which I would today), I’d look into the Beach or Yacht Club. They cost about the same amount as the Contemporary and are located a decent walk from Epcot’s back entrance. The Swan and Dolphin hotels (which I think are operated by Westin?) offer the same perks as Disney-operated hotels, are in the same area as the Beach/Yacht Club, and often cost less. </p>

<p>Disney hotel reservations are a complex philosophy unto themselves. There are 4 seasons and it’s definitely worthwhile to go during the value season. The Contemporary has recently opened a timeshare resort adjacent to the hotel. You might be able to buy points from a timeshare owner and enjoy those roomier accommodations.</p>

<p>I’m looking forward to following your thread and vicariously enjoying your trip.</p>

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<p>Another board you can read for lots of great information is disboards.com. There is a forum titled Resorts that has a thread dedicated to the Contemporary. Plus there is information on whatever deals may be available. </p>

<p>We went to WDW for our 30th anniversary last year and it was great. We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter which was very nice. We have also stayed at the Swan, the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. My favorite area now is the Boardwalk area which includes, Yacht and Beach Club, the Boardwalk and the Swan and Dolphin. You can walk (or boat) to 2 parks and bus service to the others was fine.</p>

<p>Good luck and have fun planning!</p>

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<p>Even with season passes, I never stayed at the Contemporary. Location is great. I have stayed at many others, including Polonesian(great beach) and New Orleans (nice hot tubs and slides). Animal Kingdom was fun, tho that is not my favorite park. I make reservations in advance at Epcott restaurants, like France. Will you take a day to go to Universal and see Potter’s world?</p>

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<p>[MouseSavers.com</a> - Disney Discount Source - Disney World Discounts, Disneyland Discounts, Disney Cruise Discounts](<a href=“http://www.mousesavers.com%5DMouseSavers.com”>http://www.mousesavers.com) is a good site. The sites purpose is to help you find deals on anything Disney.</p>

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<p>Another great website for info and savings: [MouseSavers.com</a> - Disney Discount Source - Disney World Discounts, Disneyland Discounts, Disney Cruise Discounts](<a href=“http://www.mousesavers.com%5DMouseSavers.com”>http://www.mousesavers.com)</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks for all the sites! The Contemporary is one of those childhood dream places we’ve always wanted to go to, so we’re trying for that one, but I would love to stay at the Boardwalk or the Beach and Yacht Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge one day. We couldn’t do Potter’s World or Universal Studios without son, so we’ll save that for another time. We’ll be heading back again, at a cheaper venue, with son, now that Legoland is open. Also, since it will be just us adults, would love to hear some restaurant recommendations, and how far in advance reservations need to be made. I hear Cat Cora has a restaurant there, and although son will be jealous, H and I will have to go to that one. (Son is a big Iron Chef fan).</p>

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<p>We had reservations at Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian for the night of our anniversary. We had a wonderful meal! They treated us very well with personalized menus to commemorate the occasion. After dinner we went out on the dock to watch Wishes fireworks at MK and then the electric water parade. It was not a cheap meal, but it was excellent.</p>

<p>Other restaurants people like for that type of occasion are California Grill (at the Contemporary), Citrico’s (at GF), Victoria and Albert’s (also at GF). Then there is Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, Shula’s at the Dolphin and Yachtsman at the Yacht club. I believe you can make reservations 180 days in advance (180 + 10 if you are staying at a Disney resort). But again, you can find that up to date info. on the sites listed here.</p>

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<p>Welcome back to Florida, Montegut! One thing to consider for your visit to Disney World is the time of the year for your visit; if you can visit during the cooler months do so because it can be not as pleasant spending full days walking around the parks in 95+ degrees summertime. If you come when it’s hot, stay in the shade outside and stay hydrated.</p>

<p>My hometown isn’t too far a drive to DW and I’ve been there many times. When I was 3 years old though, before ever going there, a Wal-Mart Super center opened in my hometown and my dad told and convinced me the new Wal-Mart was Disney World. It took me a few weeks to wise up. My pre=school teacher remarked to my mom one day at school that our family must go to Disney World often because I was always talking about visiting ‘Disney World’ (Wal-Mart!) My folks fessed up the truth after my teacher’s remark.</p>

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<p>The Grand Floridian now looks like the best Disney hotel to me. I remember my BFF in grade school stayed at the Polynesian when it opened in the 70s & I was jealous. </p>

<p>We were married when we were 20, so we did a short honeymoon in Virginia Beach. 2 years later we went to Disneyland on our first flight as a married couple.</p>

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<p>We’ll probably be going in October, if Family Weekend is in September again next year, and before Halloween. </p>

<p>Thanks, Lizard, for chiming in, as you are a great resource for Florida attractions.</p>

<p>On our honeymoon, we stayed offsite, so it was our dream that when we “grew up” and were successful, we would be able to stay onsite. As husband had already stayed at the Polynesian on a youth group trip, the Contemporary is our goal.</p>

<p>Since we had to cancel a Grand Canyon trip this year, I’m looking forward to the Grand Canyon mural there. I hope it’s still there.</p>

<p>I’ll admit, I’m tempted to stay in the Animal Kingdom, with a view of the animals outside my room, but fear it will be too far from the parks.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t mind a view of the Epcot lake, though, if there are any resorts that offer that.</p>

<p>While we really want to take the monorail to the MK, I wouldn’t mind taking a boat ride, either.</p>

<p>But, at the end of a long day, I’m sure I’ll be happy we chose the monorail.</p>

<p>The Living Seas had not opened yet when we honeymooned at Disney, and I hear it’s more of a Nemo attraction now. I do love Nemo, but I am sorry I missed the Living Seas. It was something I had hoped to return to see. </p>

<p>I was crushed when I heard they dismantled Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but I’m sure I’m much too big to go on it now, as well as Peter Pan, though I loved when the ride rode the ceiling and you viewed the pirate ship and alligator below.</p>

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<p>You’ll have lots of fun planning your trip – but definitely consider the Grand Floridian. Also a monorail hotel, it doesn’t seem quite as crazed, or as huge, as the Contemporary. </p>

<p>My most recent visit, aside from trade shows, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and dined at Artist Point. Delicious!</p>

<p>I can strongly un-recommend Coronado Springs … have stayed there too many times due to conventions, and it’s too spread out, and too far away. Very happy my group is going elsewhere for next year.</p>

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One of the reasons I’ve lost my fondness for Disney over the years is because they’ve closed so many favorite attractions. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was one; Horizons and World of Motion at Epcot were others I miss.</p>

<p>You might find this section of allears.net (another excellent site) reassuring: <a href=“http://allears.net/tp/ridsiz.htm[/url]”>http://allears.net/tp/ridsiz.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>IMHO, if that was your dream of the perfect place to stay–go for it!! Don’t regret it later that you didn’t do what you’d always planned! It’s a great resort!</p>

<p>There are other great ones, too, but for me I didn’t really like the one with the animals right outside your room-- it was cool and all but to keep the animals, I guess on normal sleeping/feeding schedules, they dim the lights outside pretty early in some places we had to walk and I like more of a livelier place-- that resort is kind of quieter and more subdued for the animals sake, I think. But maybe that’s what you might like!</p>

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<p>If this was in response to my comment about when staying in the Epcot/Boardwalk area resorts you can access 2 parks by walking or by boat, I just wanted to clarify. The 2 parks you can access that way are Epcot and Hollywood Studios, not MK. You can get to MK by boat from the 4 resorts around it (Poly, GF, Cont. and WL), but from the Cont., it would probably take longer than walking!</p>

<p>The Living Seas was wonderful. I’m not as fond of it now as I was in the past, but it is still pretty cool. We can sit and watch the aquarium for a long time!</p>

<p>Another newer attraction that we love is Soarin’ which is in The Land pavilion in Epcot [Soarin</a>’ | Walt Disney World Resort](<a href=“http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/soarin/]Soarin”>http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/soarin/)</p>

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<p>I see I didn’t answer many of your questions!</p>

<p>Yes, it’s much easier to book in the Contemporary, my brother last time maybe two weeks in advance! Most likely because there are so many nice resorts now. My brother and sister in law do the meal plan, and it is quite flexible and can be used at different places throughout the park, but we never get one, sometimes we’re just lazy and order a pizza! Last time I think the Comtemporary was maybe $350 a night? I could be way off. And we have plus size members in our extended family and they go on most if not all rides. I can’t remember a ride my brother didn’t go on.</p>

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<p>Besides disboards.com, look up mousesavers.com. She’ll let you know just about every discount that is out there.</p>

<p>I’m also a fan of tourguidemike.com. He teaches you how to never wait in line. But it requires getting up early every morning, so if that isn’t what you have in mind, TGM might not be for you.</p>

<p>I think the Contemp is a FABULOUS location. You can walk to and from the Magic Kingdom, take the monorail and connect to get to Epcot, etc. The decor is more “modern hotel” than hugely Disney themed. If you look on allears.net, there are a lot of pictures of the rooms of the hotels (a whole lot more than on the Disney web site.)</p>

<p>The Polynesian is also lovely and very convenient…short monorail ride to the MK. Easy monorail stop to get to Epcot. The Contemp is more “hotel-y” and the Poly is more “tropical resort-y.” On the Grand Floridian, correct me if I am wrong everybody, but don’t you have to pay for a suite or concierge if you want to be in the main building?</p>

<p>You should be there in an uncrowded time. You can decide whether to rent a car or rely on Disney transportation later.</p>

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<p>My favorite time of year to visit Disney is the week after Thanksgiving. It has been a few years but, as I recall, it is an off time so the rates were a tad more reasonable. The part I liked the best is that they were in the process of decorating for the holidays so everything looked extra festive!
Have to say that the Contemporary is not my favorite place to stay but can see why folks would want to stay there. Favorite Disneys hotels are - Polynesian or Grand Floridian (for mono rail hotels) and Yacht & Beach Club (can walk to Epcot) and the pool is awesome!</p>

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<p>A great resource for a trip to Disneyworld is the book “The Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld.” Tons of information and hints - what rides are best for kids or for adults, best food, suggested daily schedules to help beat the crowds, etc.</p>

<p>Definitely take a look at the Grand Floridian - it is THE place to stay at Disney.</p>

<p>Have a great trip!</p>

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<p>I would just add one thing–for a visit to Disney World, obsessive advance planning can really pay off in terms of avoiding lines and crowds, getting reservations to the restaurants and shows you want, etc.</p>