Conference koolit::disney

	We've stayed there three times, and been on both sides.

	I found it much quiter to stay on the lake side and was able
	to see the music/light show boats at night.

	But you can see the evening fireworks(depending on the
	time of .year you stay there) from the Magic Kingdom side.

	In general I liked it, but make sure your visit is not
	disrupted by construction work. On our last visit we
	we're woken up at 1am by construction outside our window
	area. We complained and get a small rebate.

						KL

	

    I've stayed on the Contemporary side (across from GF). The view was
    great. If you're in your room during the day you'll see Goofy,et al
    waterskiing. One thing I didn't like about the room (not the view) was
    that the deck was too small. You could fit a chair on it but no room
    for your feet! I would have liked to fit a lounge chair to read the
    paper,etc. Another thing about the hotel and not the room...
    The rooms don't use keys: they use pass cards that are programmed when
    you check in. they have no numbers on them (I've seen these in Vegas
    and other hotels). Shortly after arriving, I went downstairs to get
    some change and buy some cokes from the machines. I went back upstairs
    and back to room number .... what room number... what floor ..let's
    see.. it was kind of "pinkish" walls.... they all are !!! ARRGGHHH !!!
    Sooooo write down your room number somewhere - once you leave your room
    they all look the same, especially at the end of a day at the park.

In the Contemporary,  the views toward the Magic Kingdom and lake with
the water pageant are ONLY in the tower, facing that direction. The
other way faces the bigger lake (I'm so ashamed I can't remember which
is Bay and which is Seven Seas).  The tower rooms are always much more
expensive than the North and South Garden Wings.

Note that in November there are no Fireworks, so don't buy up to the
tower for just that!  Even the Magic Kingdom looks spooky and quiet
in the evening since it's closed after 7pm.

I liked the Contemporary for its newly remodeled rooms, marina, character
buffet breakfast, and convenience to the monorail.  But I don't think the
$$$$ they charge for the tower rooms are justified.

Bill

    My wife and I and kids (16yr old boy, & 12 yr old girl) are going to go for 
    4 nights in August.  We've been quoted $150/night at the Contemporary and 
    $250 at the Polynesian(sp).
    
    Is it worth the extra $100/night for 100 sq feet more room (400 vs
    300), and the fact that the Contemporary has two twin beds vs the Poly.
    having two queen size beds and a day bed.
    
    Both are on the monorail and near the front of the Majic Kingdom.  Does
    the poly. have a much better pool? Is it that much nicer?  I imagine
    that the $150/night price is not in the tower of the contemp.  Is that
    OK?
    
    Thanks for your advice.
    
    					Jeff
    				(A first time visitor)

Jeff,

>    My wife and I and kids (16yr old boy, & 12 yr old girl) are going to go for 
>    4 nights in August.  We've been quoted $150/night at the Contemporary and 
>    $250 at the Polynesian(sp).

$150 is a bargain rate for the Contemporary.  $250 sounds about normal for
the Polynesian.
    
>    Is it worth the extra $100/night for 100 sq feet more room (400 vs
>    300), and the fact that the Contemporary has two twin beds vs the Poly.
>    having two queen size beds and a day bed.

In my opinion, the $100 is worth it; the four of you will be more comfortable
although I have always found Contemporary rooms large and comfortable.
    
>    Both are on the monorail and near the front of the Majic Kingdom.  Does
>    the poly. have a much better pool? Is it that much nicer?  I imagine
>    that the $150/night price is not in the tower of the contemp.  Is that
>    OK?
    
The Poly has TWO nice pools, the Contemporary has the two least desireable
pools in all of WDW...until the now in progress pool area renovations are
done (around next spring) when the pool area will be up to grade with all
the other resorts. By next August, this would no longer be a knockoff.
If you'd rather have that extra $100 per night to spend, go with the 
Contemporary (it will be a garden wing room) and you won't regret it.  If 
it's worth it for a bit more comfort, then go with the Poly.  Let us know
what you decide!

Bill A.

    Jeff,
    
    If it's your first time then I would go for the Contemporary. When you
    see how big the room is you'll immediately forget about how much more 
    space you'd get at the Poly and will appreciate the extra $400 you'll
    have to spend on things like souvenirs, food, etc.
    
    Just my opinion.
    
    Mike

    I've got three nights at the Contemp in a Garden Wing room at
    the AP rate in mid-January.
    
    There's something about two different garden wings and one being
    more accessible to the tower and the path to the MK?  Can someone
    elaborate?
    
    Also, in AOL someone recently staying there said they were actually
    invited to use the pools at the Poly, WL, or GF because of the 
    'pool area' renovations going on at the Contemp.
    
    One other thing I'm curious about is the layout of the room.  We
    planned sharing the room with another couple (good friends) and figured
    we could manage 3 nights for being right on the Monorail.  I'm afraid
    the bathroom configuration won't be like that of the newer resorts with
    the double sinks and mirrors outside the main bathroom.  I have a
    feeling it wasn't something they considered when they built the place
    in 1971.  8^}
                                                               
    My wife is just dying to go to the Pooh Character breakfast in the 
    Concourse Steak house.  The WDW info line actually told me they
    are still taking 60 day advance dining reservations from anyone,
    whether they have onsite reservations or not.
    
    --Bert

    Bert,
    
    The north wing is closer to the MK and the path.  The south wing is
    near the water bridge and convention center.  We've stayed in the
    north wing and the tower.  When you walk from the north wing to the
    tower you enter the tower at the snack bar/arcade area.  The north
    wing is very quiet.
    
    The last time I stayed in the Contemporary the bathrooms were not
    like the newer resorts.  Everything was in the bathroom.  We stayed
    with my sister and her husband once - getting ready in the morning took
    a long time.  Each of us used the bathroom separately so it must have
    taken about two hours to get ready.
    
    Ruth

Bert,

If you have access to the web, you can see a layout of the rooms by:

   * Opening URL "http://www.disneyworld.com/vacation.html"
   * Clicking on " Walt Disney World@Resorts"
   * Clicking on "Disney's Contemporary Resort"
   * Clicking on "-Rooms-" (which is at the very bottom of the page)


also,

                                                            
>   My wife is just dying to go to the Pooh Character breakfast in the 
>   Concourse Steak house.  The WDW info line actually told me they
>   are still taking 60 day advance dining reservations from anyone,
>   whether they have onsite reservations or not.
   
I recently (Nov 12) went to character breakfast at the Concourse.  Although,
it wasn't bad, I thought the Pooh breakfast at Olivier's was better (FYI,
we thought the Character breakfast at Artist Point at the Wilderness
Lodge was the best).

Also, since we had seven free character breakfasts with my package, I ended up
making three calls for reservations.  None of the receptionists asked for
verification of our stay.  Although, two requested where we were staying,
arrival date, and length of stay.  One requested a credit card number in the
event we didn't show up or cancel.


Steve

I've stayed in the Contemporary's North Garden Wing twice, and I remember
sinks being outside of the bathroom.  Toilet and bath/shower inside bathroom.

Bill A.

    There's a wasp problem at the Contemporary. You'll only be affected if
    you decide to take a stroll on one of the catwalks (California Grill).
    
    Mike