Resort Review: The Contemporary

I've done it again! Here is another Epinions review on a Disney Deluxe resort! If you would like to see it in it's original form CLICK HERE.

There are a few key memories that I have from my first "real" trip to Walt Disney World. Chief among them is riding through the Contemporary Resort on the Monorail. I remember thinking that there is not a cooler hotel in the world. First of all, it is right next to the Magic Kingdom. Secondly, the freaking Monorail drives right through it! The last thought I had was, "Wow! What kind of rich do you have to be to stay here?" Those thoughts continued to run through my head as we drove back to the Econo Lodge (or something like it) we were staying at in nearby  Kissimmee. 

You can imagine how excited I was when I got to stay at the Contemporary 24 years later! Staying at the Contemporary had been a goal of mine since I was 10 years old. The goal became almost an obsession when I "rediscovered" Disney in 2007. Could a hotel that I had been building up in my mind for 24 years possibly live up to the hype? Yes and no... The Contemporary Resort was built as one of three opening day resorts (along with the Polynesian and Fort Wilderness Campground) at Walt Disney World in 1971. It's A frame design is unmistakable, and it is nothing short of a Disney icon. Another cool fact is that the resort was built similar to how cruise ships are constructed, all the rooms are compartments that were installed into the main building. There is also a Garden Wing that is separate from the main building, and the Bay Lake Tower on the same grounds, houses Disney Vacation Club villas. 

We got a great Annual Passholder rate and stayed for three nights. When we booked the room I was afraid that we would be sent out to one of the Garden Wing rooms, but our room was in the main building, on the 5th floor, with a view of the pool and  Bay Lake. The room had two queen beds and a pull out sofa (that tried to eat my then 2 year old son). There was a flat screen TV mounted on the wall, and the decor was very modern. The bathroom's were equipped with big flat square sinks, and doors that slid inside the walls when they were opened. It was a really cool room, in a really cool hotel! 

No other resort at Disney World can make the claim that it is walking distance to the Magic Kingdom. It is so close that my daughter and I were able to walk from Space Mountain Tomorrowland, back to our room in just over 15 minutes! If you want to take your time, you can hop on the Monorail, and get off at the next stop. Coming back is a little more time consuming because you have to make stops at the Grand Floridian and Polynesian. If you are travelling with small children who nap in the afternoon, there is no better resort on property. 

Even if you aren't staying at the Contemporary, there are three restaurants and a food court that you can visit for a bite to eat. 

At the top of the resort is the California Grill. This is one of Disney's Signature restaurants, and although I haven't had the opportunity to dine there, it gets great reviews! This is fine dining with a great view! If you're lucky you might be able to snag a reservation for dinner during the Magic Kingdom fireworks. 

Chef Mickey's is one of the toughest reservations in Disney World. Here you can enjoy a breakfast or dinner buffet, with the Fab 5 of Disney, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. We have had breakfast here a few times, and it has never disappointed in terms of food or character interaction. It;s a bit pricey, and incredibly loud, but when you see your kids meeting their favorite characters, you forget about everything else! Another cool thing about this restaurant is that it is located just below the track of the Monorail, in the Grand Canyon Concourse of the hotel. 

The third restaurant in the Contemporary is The Wave... Of American Flavors. The good news is that it is pretty easy to get a reservation here, that is also the bad news. The menu here has a big focus on healthy, sustainable food. I'm all for that, but the quality just doesn't cut it. Kevin Klose, the restaurant reviewer for for the Dis Unplugged Podcast described the restaurant as "beige", and I can't think of a better way to describe The Wave. The food is just ok. The decor is just ok. Even the service was just ok. We probably would not have eaten here had we not been staying at the resort. I have heard that the breakfast is quite good here however, and the wine list is very extensive! 

The Contempo Cafe is the quick service option at the resort. By food court standards I found the food to be pretty good. Nice sandwiches, and a good selection. You place your order here at a self serve kiosk, and then take the printed receipt to the kitchen counter. The food is prepared fresh and comes out hot. I had no complaints about the meals we ate here. This is also where you can purchase and put to use your Disney refillable mug.

In addition to the restaurants and food court, there is a coffee bar at the resort. Contemporary Grounds serves up your favorite latte, tea, frozen coffee, and pastires. My wife says that this is the best coffee on Disney property (not a high bar to clear), but with Starbucks coming to the parks soon, we'll see where it stands! 

The pool complex is behind the main building, and was a bit of a disappointment. Considering that this is one of the most expensive resorts to stay at on property, the pool just doesn't compare with other deluxe resorts. There is a water play area for the little ones, and a lack luster slide but that is about it. Our kids actually preferred to just play in the sand by the lake. The pool at Bay Lake Tower next door is much better, but you can only access it if you are staying in the villas. In addition to the pool there is a marina where you can rent boats for tooling around in the lake, or if you are feeling adventurous, book para-sailing. 

Surprisingly enough, the Contemporary Resort did live up to the 24 years of anticipation. I would love to be able to hop in a Delorean and go back to 1986 and tell 10 year old me, "one day you will stay here!" Or maybe I'd still keep it a surprise...   

Resort Review: Wilderness Lodge

The following review is another review that I have written on Epinions.com. If you would like to see it in it's original form CLICK HERE.

If your idea of "roughing it" is pretending to be in the great outdoors, but actually being in an amenity rich resort, then you are a lot like me! If you enjoy the idea of a vacation at a national park, but would prefer a theme park, then have I got the place for you! Disney's Wilderness Lodge resort! 

The Wilderness Lodge is themed like the great lodges of the Pacific Northwest, and the themeing is amazing! Whenever I visit this resort, I feel as if I have been transported from central Florida, to a land of towering trees, bubbling brooks, and thundering waterfalls. 

Just walking into the lobby of this gorgeous resort is an experience. As soon as you step foot through the doors you hear sweeping songs from the west. You look around and see totem poles, big comfortable rocking chairs, a gigantic fireplace, and enormous animal skin (no buffalos were harmed in the construction of this resort) chandeliers hanging from the several stories high ceiling. In the distance you might see a wooden bridge that crosses an indorr creek that flows outside to the pool. You forget you are at Walt Disney World, until your eye catches a few of the well integrated hidden Mickey's, and until you are greeted by a friendly cast member ready to help you find your room. 

The Wilderness Lodge is one of Disney's Deluxe resorts, located near the Magic Kingdom theme park. By deluxe resort standards it isn't in the most convenient area, but it is just a short boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. In some ways this is a big advantage. Because it is very slightly off the beaten path, the Imagineers were able to really go big on this resort. An example is the geyser that lies just past the swimming pool overlooking the lake. While you can't see the Magic Kingdom from the Wilderness Lodge, you are close enough to hear park's opening ceremony in the morning, and the fireworks at night. 

There are several different types of rooms, but we stayed in one of the rooms facing the woods (and a kind of sad pond) with a queen bed and a set of bunk beds. The kids loved the bunk beds, so much so that they never tried to sneak into our bed! The room was not as large as other rooms in the deluxe category, but it was still very roomy and very comfortable. The beds are made to look like they have been built from trees, and the colors are dark woods and American Indian inspired designs. A flat screen TV mounted on the wall gives it a feel of modern comforts, and there is a small refrigerator to keep your drinks cold. 

Outside of the room there is a lot to do! One of my favorite things to do is explore the resort. The theming is so immersive that they offer free tours of the lobby just to tell the stories behind the design elements! Check at the concierge desk for times. The pool is more aesthetically pleasing than others on property, but otherwise it is about average. The water flowing in from the lobby over the rocks is really cool though. There are a couple of hot tubs at the back of the complex close to the geyser, but unfortunately, like most hot tubs at Disney they are very crowded. 

Out past the pool there is a rental hut where you can rent bikes and surry bikes,  and a great playground for the kids, right on the beach at the lake! There are also a bunch of lounge chairs on the beach where you can sit, relax, or catch a glimpse of the Electrical Water Pageant each night. There is also a bar where you can grab a soda or your favorite adult beverage! 

Dining is a definite highlight at the Wilderness Lodge. Roaring Fork Snacks is the quick service "food court" at the resort. It isn't very big inside (there is a lot of outdoor seating), but there is a lot of good food to choose from, and it has a fixins bar for your burger or sandwich. We really like the made to order flat bread pizzas. If they are offering it, try the BBQ Chicken flatbread. 

In addition to Roaring Fork, the Wilderness Lodge has two sit down restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and Artist Point. Whispering Canyon is a loud and rowdy cafe that is great for a fun dinner! Be sure to ask for a large drink, and ketchup! You can order off al a carte, but I recommend getting the all you care to eat family platter! All the ribs, sausage, potatoes, and salad you can eat! This is not a place for a romantic dinner! If that is what you are looking for try... 

Artist Point, one of Disney's Signature restaurants. I have never eaten here, but you can bet that you will get a great Pacific Northwest inspired meal. Their specialty is the Cedar Plank Salmon, and I have heard that it absolutely melts in your mouth! 

With all of these things you may need to extend your vacation by a couple days! 

The only real negative that I see with the Wilderness Lodge is that for a deluxe resort, it is not walking distance to one of the theme parks. The location is good, but not as good as the resorts on the Monorail, or in the Epcot resort area. 

One more thing... If you are planning on visting Disney World during the holidays (mid-November-January 1st), there is not a better resort to stay at for Christmas decorations! The Christmas tree that they put up in the lobby is jaw dropping! It is just a great resort to stay at for a wonderful family holiday, or vacation anytime of the year! 

Resort Review: Beach Club

Before I had my own blog to force my opinions on people, I did a lot of writing on Epinions. When the website was started in the late 90's people were making some pretty good money writing reviews on the site. In fact, there was a lot of "dirty pool" by some people to maximize their earning potential! While I never made the big bucks like some posters, I did my fair share of reviews, and was able to gain a little extra spending money for myself. 

Over the years my commitment to doing reviews there has ebbed and flowed. Recently, there has been no flow at all for me at Epinions. Before the review I will post below, I hadn't written anything there in over four years! The site is a good place to find out what real people think of products and services. When I was writing there a lot, most of my reviews were of tennis products, but I think I might start doing some Disney reviews over there. 

Well anyway, I just finished writing a review of my favorite Disney resort the Beach Club resort and I thought I would share it here as well. If you want to see it on the Epinions site, CLICK HERE. 

We have stayed at most of the resorts on property at Walt Disney World, and the Beach Club is our favorite! It was also the first of Disney's Deluxe resorts that we stayed at, and suffice it to say, it set the bar high! 

Originally I wanted to stay at the Beach Club because of it's proximity to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot, which is only a five minute walk from the resort. Little did I know that the resort would become the benchmark that we would judge all Disney resorts by! The rooms are spacious, the sand bottom pool is amazing, and the service is great, even by the high Disney standards you expect! 

Upon arrival we were greeted at the door by a cast member who showed us to the registration desk. As it turned out she was from the same small town in Ohio where my family comes from. She could not have been more plesant, and check in went very smoothly.   

We stayed in a first floor room that looked out on Crescent Lake, and the sand volleyball court. The room was very nicely sized and our family of five was very comfortable. The light blue beach motif was very comfortable, yet it had a very luxurious feel as well. 

The room was equipped with a flat screen TV, two queen beds, and a day bed/sofa. The furniture was of a high quality, and thanks to a recent refurbishment of the resort, in great condition! There was also a small refrigerator and a coffee maker, albeit with below average coffee, but if you have been to Disney before, this will come as no surprise!

Whenever we stay at  Beach Club we build in a resort day to our vacation. In my opinion,  the Beach Club, and Yacht Club (which is attached to the resort) are two of the few resorts on Disney property where you can spend an entire day at the resort, without ever leaving to hit one of the theme parks. The main reason for this is Stormalong Bay, the resorts main swimming complex. I say complex, because just calling Stormalong Bay a swimming pool is like saying that Disney World is just a theme park! One part of the inter-connected swimming area is a sand bottom pool. This is where the smaller kids hang out and make sand castles, and climb on the rocks. The water is shallow, and there are lots of chairs to relax in while the kids play. There is also a more traditional swimming area, and a small lazy river that is deep enough to play dolphin or mermaid! The last part of the complex is a shipwreck themed slide. There is a big slide that starts at the mast of the ship and empties out into the main pool, and a smaller kiddie slide that is in the hull of the shipwreck. You could easily spend a whole day here at this mini water park! Something else that is very nice about Stormalong Bay is that it can only be used by people staying at the Yacht and Beach Club. You must show your room card to enter the complex and get towels, and they put a wristband on you that you need to re-enter. Throughout the day there will be poolside activities and games for the kids as well.

Next to the pool on the Crescent Lake side is Hurricane Hannah's, which is essentially a snack bar. It's a nice place to get a quick burger or a beer, but there isn't anything really special about it. 

On the resort side of the pool there is a large video arcade, and one of the best reasons to stay at Beach Club, Beaches and Cream! Beaches and Cream is an undersized for it's popularity pool side diner that serves typical diner food like burgers, hot dogs, and yummy onion rings. They also have (and you're probably getting tired of me saying this) the best ice cream on Disney Property! My favorites are the No Way Jose, which is a chocolate-peanut butter sundae (big enough for two people), and the Kitchen Sink (big enough for the whole family), which is 8 scoops of ice cream, all of the toppings at the bar, and a whole can of whipped cream! We have tried twice unsuccessfully to finish it. They only allow walk ups, and it is not unheard of to have 2-3 hour waits for a table. There is a walk up ice cream counter where you can get a couple scoops or a milkshake, but not the signature sundaes or non ice cream items. 

There is a sit down restaurant at Beach Club called Cape May Cafe. In the mornings it is a breakfast buffet with character meet and greets. The characters that are usually there are Minnie, Goofy and Pluto, but I have also seen Chip and Dale show up as well. The food is pretty good, but your kids will be too excited to eat. It is one of the easier character meals to get reservations for, and we have always gotten a lot of attention from the characters when we eat there. 

At night the restaurant serves a seafood buffet that they call a clam bake. My wife is allergic to seafood so we have never tried it, but I have heard mixed reviews. 

There is also a quick grab and go market/deli in the resort gift shop, The Marketplace. This is where you can buy and refill your refillable mug, pick up some small grocery items, and of course souvenirs! The shop has a lot of great stuff in it, and a few resort specific items, but we have never had much luck with the food here. 

To be honest, that is the one negative thing about Beach Club. The food options can be limited. It is the smallest of the Disney Deluxe resorts, so it doesn't have as many food options as the larger resorts. There have been a couple times when we have just wanted something quick, but couldn't easily get what we wanted. The other side of this criticism is that you have the larger Yacht Club literally next door, and the Boardwalk Resort a short walk away. Not the most convenient solution, but it's an option. 

One very good reason to walk next door to the Yacht Club is the Yachtsman Steakhouse, one of Disney's signature restaurants! This is probably my favorite Disney restaurant that isn't on a cruise ship! The steaks are great, the service is professional, and while it is a bit expensive, totally worth the price! A couple years ago my wife and I had Valentine's dinner here. She is a recovering vegetarian, and still not a big meat eater, but she loves it to! It's usually pretty easy to get a reservation, and I recommend asking for a table with a view of Stormalong Bay. Try not to rub in the face of the people walking by what a great meal you're enjoying! 

So I think that just about covers it. I wish that the beach vacations that I used to take as a kid was as great as staying at the Beach Club!            

Thanks for reading!      

Favorite Disney Resorts

What are your favorite Disney Resorts? Over the years we have stayed at several on site resorts at Walt Disney World, and just like the attractions in the parks, we have our favorites, not so favorites, and the ones in between. But even our least favorite resort isn’t really that bad, after all it is on Disney World property!

For those of you who are not familiar with how Disney groups their resorts, they use three levels of accomodations; Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. I’ll explain what makes each level different from the others, list what resorts fall into each category, and share with you which ones we have stayed at (in italics), and finally give you our favorites and why!

Value:

These are your basic run of the mill hotels, but with a touch of Disney magic. Things you can expect in a value resort are, oversized decorative icons, a large themed swimming pool, a couple of less themed “quite pools”, a food court, arcade and of course gift shop. These tend to belarger resorts, and further away from the theme parks. Also all of the rooms open up to the outside. The resorts on property that fall into this category are: All Star Sports, All Star Music, All Star Movies, and Pop Century.

Our favorite: All Star Music

Our family enjoys All Star Music mostly because of the feel of the resort. The resort is very large, but the walkways and landscaping make it feel very subdued. I especially enjoy walkingaround at night. The fountains and walkways are lit as if you were out exploring an old city, looking for some live jazz to listen to. The oversize icons are present, but they don’t feel as in your face here. While we have not experienced them, All Star Music offers family suites, which are good for families larger than four people.

Moderate:

Moderate resorts also have outside facing exits, but the rooms are larger, and have more upscale trimmings. These resorts are themed, but with decorations, and landscaping. Some resorts have specially themed rooms, like pirate ships, and Finding Nemo. At moderate resorts each room comes with a small refrigerator. Most moderate resorts have a food court and a sit down restaurant. The pools have slides, and might be elaborately themed, depending on if they have been recently renovated. They tend to be closer to the theme parks compared to the value resorts. Disney’s moderate resorts are: Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Coronado Springs. Plus the Swan and Dolphin resorts are included in this category.

Our favorite: Coronado Springs

This is the level of accommodations we have the least experience with, and we love both of the moderate resorts we have stayed at, but Coronado Springs edges out French Quarter. Again we love the theme of Coronado Springs. It has a very American Southwest/Mexico theme. It reminds us a lot of Arizona, where most of my wife’s family lives. The Mexican ruins themed pool and dig site is awesome! We also really love the Pepper Market food court (with a twist). The rooms are recently renovated with queen size beds, and you get the benefit of the nicer H2O Plus Spa toiletries here. A couple of months back I wrote about our first experience at Coronado Springs, for more details click here to check it out!

Deluxe:

These are the crème de la crème of Disney resorts! Their location is great, the Theme Parks are usually just a short monorail, or boat ride away. Some are even walking distance to a park or two! The resorts feature elaborate themes, lots of activities, multiple dining options (quick service or sit down), and awesome pools! The rooms are interior, and much larger than lower categories. The jump from moderate to deluxe is much greater than value to moderate! Many of the resorts are also part of Disney’s Vacation Club, so one and two bedroom villas might also be available! Disney’s deluxe resorts are: The Contemporary, The Polynesian, The Grand Flordian, The Yacht and Beach Club, The Boardwalk, The Widerness Lodge, and The Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Our favorite: Beach Club

This was a tough one to decide. We also love the Contemporary for its location (walking distance to Magic Kingdom), and we love the feel of Wilderness Lodge. What makes me know that Beach Club is our favorite? The feeling we get when we walk in. It just feels like home. The sights and smells, and Beaches and Cream… Ummmm No Way Jose Sundae… Sorry, I lost my train of thought! Oh yeah, and the location! A 5 minute walk to Epcot’s World Showcase… Plus the entertainment of the Boardwalk across the lake. Plus the attached Yacht Club with it’s signature restaurant The Yachtsman… Oh and the best pool on property, Stormalong Bay, with it’s sand bottom and awesome waterslide! The Beach Club is also home to one of our favorite character meals at Cape May Café. Here you can have breakfast with Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald, and getting a reservation is usually pretty easy.

I hope that we share some favorites with you. One day I'll stay at all of them, for research purposes of course!

New Specialty Rooms Coming to Walt Disney World

The Official Disney Parks Blog has just announced that there will be two new specialty rooms available for vacationers looking for a little extra magic or relaxation on their next trip to Disney World.

Health & Wellness Suites at the Contemporary Resort:

These guest suites will offer the best in relaxation and healthyliving. According to the blog the suites "will feature bamboo flooring, 100-percent cotton linens, non-allergenicwrapped mattresses- as well as great views of Magic Kingdom Park and Bay Lake." The bathrooms will also be equipped with special rainwater showers and tea tree oils. Guests staying in these suites can also enjoy having cardio equipment in their room, and access to special organic food options in the concierge lounge. Take a look at these pictures for the updated decor as well!

I think it is fair to say that these suites will come with a premium price tag! Magic Kindom views, and access to the concierge suite doesn't come cheap! It will be interesting to see how these room book when they are made available this summer.

I like the idea of another suite option on property. Our family of five really has limited options, but I'm not sure if this is the right fit for us. I really like the decor though, and we love the convenience of the Contemporary, but I think we will just stick with the villas over at Bay Lake Tower for now.

Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter:

Down in the Bayou guests will soon be able to book a special Royal Guest Room, and be a guest of Princess Tiana! Over 500 of the guest rooms at POFQ will get this special Princess makeover featuring ornate bedding and decor, as well as special fiber optic headboards. These rooms are set to be ready for March of 2012. Just in time for the Spring Break crowds!

I think these rooms will book really well, and Disney must think so too if they are willing to renovate half of the rooms at the resort to this theme. The pirate themed rooms at Caribbean Beach have done well, there is no reason to think that these won't surpass those.

French Quarter was the first moderate resort we stayed at and was our favorite resort until we experienced deluxe resort living. I am glad to see that Disney is investing the money to bring life into the resort that seems to get lost in the formidable shadow of its Port Orleans neighbor Riverside.

The blog also throws in a little hint about the upcoming Art of Animation Resort, saying that there will be more specialty rooms coming online when it opens in May of next year. That should be very interesting, especially since half of the rooms of that resort have been said to be family suites.