q. Reviews - 30/94 - yourfirstvisit.net

Yesterday I published an updated version of my review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge based on my December stay there.

The main difference is that there’s a more consistent emphasis on booking a Courtyard view room while the refurbishment on the woods view sides is going on.

Otherwise it’s largely new photos, an updated floor plan, and a revised organization.

The first page of the review now has some components added to make it serve better as a one page overview of the resort.

This way people can get all the core info on one page, and only have to look at the other pages of the review if they wish for more detail. I’ve been doing this with all my updated reviews lately, and should have thought of it a long time ago.

The second page of the review, a photo tour of a standard room, has almost all new photos–the exception being the bunk bed photo, about a million years old.

Also here (and on some of the other pages) is an update to the floor plan–cosmetic, capturing the new bed stripe and correcting the table shape and entry/bath flooring.

The third page is the new version of the old amenities page. The new amenities page has a lot of new photos (though I need to get a few more on my next trip).

I also cut from it the whole beach/marina/fishing scene that’s now disappeared under the refurb, and moved the material on dining to its own new page, to be consistent with how I’ve been doing these reviews lately.

I updated the main pool page a little bit, but largely left the accommodations and theming pages alone.

I’m behind again on updating reviews–I still have updates to do for the Beach Club and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness (though see this). But those will be out soon!

The updated review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge starts here.

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, click here.

DINING AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has two table service restaurants, one of my favorite hotel bars at Disney World, and depending on how you count them, two or two and a half quick-service offerings. The quick service options were either newly-offered or refurbed in 2017.

On the opposite side of the lobby from check-in is the table-service restaurant Whispering Canyon Cafe.

This is the more family-oriented of the Wilderness Lodge’s two table service restaurants, and a hoot for little kids.

The review from our book, The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019:

Further down on this same left side is the bar the Territory Lounge–one of my two or three favorite bars at Walt Disney World (it’s darker and more romantic than my image implies).

Beyond it is the restaurant Artist Point. Formerly a spot best (and well-) suited to couples, it is transforming into a Snow White character meal. Co-author Josh has a review here, and below is the review from our book, The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019:

The walkway on this side descends a ramp, and down it and around the corner you’ll find one of the Wilderness Lodge’s quick service locations, Roaring Fork, which can be very good, but can be overwhelmed at peak dining times.

Roaring Fork was redone in 2017, and now features a more extensive outdoor seating area.

Inside are two spaces–this eating area…

…and next to it the place where you order hot food and pick up grab and go food. There’s two ordering points, one at the entrance and one at the back. If you see a cash register, you can order there. Cast members will then bring your food to your table.

At first glance the menu is pretty limited–a brisket burger but no bacon cheeseburger?

But they will make much more than is listed on the menu. Want a bacon cheeseburger? Just ask.

The new quick service dining venue is Geyser Point.

Located near Bay Lake conveniently between the two pools, it combines a very nice sheltered outdoor bar with its own menu …with a fairly classic walk-up food window with a different menu. Those at the bar can order from either menu.

Some images of the bar:

Some of what we ate from the bar menu–the Shrimp on a Wire (not pictured) and Chocolate Brownie Mousse were particular hits:

And some views of Bay Lake from Geyser Point:

The walk-up window is attached to the main bar building, a little closer to the Boulder Ridge Cove pool.

It has a refillable mug station.

It offers one breakfast menu and another lunch and dinner menu. Click the “meal period” button at the upper right of this for what’s on offer.

Geyser Point is a vast improvement over the former pool bar at the Wilderness Lodge. Offering both a delightful setting for a drink and both casual and slightly more formal alternatives to Roaring Fork, it represents a huge improvement in Wilderness Lodge amenities.

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, click here.

THE POOLS, BEACHES AND WATERFRONT AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

There’s two pools, a kids water play area, a hot tub, and extensive beaches at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. All are found on the Bay Lake side of the Contemporary tower.

The main pool is large but un-themed.

The main pool at night.

It includes an extensive open water slide.

On the far side of the slide is this kids water play area. My last few visits it has not been active.

Also here is a small hot tub.

A second good-sized pool just steps away from the main pool seems to perch over Bay Lake.

The second pool from a darker day.

Cabanas are available for rent at both pools.

Neither pool has special kid-appeal, but this simpler second pool tends to see more adults, and the main pool, with its slide, more families.

On the side of the main pool you’ll find the pool bar and snack bar…

…and watercraft rental.

There’s also a lot of beach here…

…some of it tucked behind the South Garden Wing. When we were little, my sister and I loved this secluded beach.

At night, movies are shown either on the beach or near the main pool.

Also in this area is the boat dock, with service to the other Bay Lake resorts, Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND THEMING OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

This review continues here.

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, click here.

DINING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

Except for some lackluster counter service offerings, dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is about as good as it gets at Walt Disney World.

The top floor California Grill offers fine and family-friendly dining with great views of the Magic Kingdom (and its fireworks, if you time it right)
The fourth floor Chef Mickey’s is one of the most popular character meals on property
The under-appreciated first floor Wave of American flavors offers fine value for money, and is almost always reservable on short notice

The first floor has at one corner a small coffee bar…

…and at the opposite diagonal is one of the three table service restaurants at the Contemporary, The Wave of American Flavors.

Below is the Wave’s menu from my most recent visit–as always on this site, click it to enlarge it.

Here’s the review of The Wave from our book, The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019, the best reviewed Disney World guidebook series ever:

Back in the main Tower, on the 4th floor–accessible via elevator, or often more quickly on escalators–you’ll find most of the rest of the offerings at the Contemporary, including Chef Mickey’s, a loud family favorite. (I mean that the setting is loud, not that it is a favorite of loud families, although the latter would explain the former.)

Here’s the review of Chef Mickey’s from our book, The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019:

Near Chef Mickey’s you’ll find a weak but adequate counter service offering, the Contempo Cafe.

The thin menu:

At the Contempo Cafe you pick your cold items from the fridges and make your hot selections at the cashier station (not at electronic kiosks, as used to be the case).

You’ll then be given a numbered placard, and a server will bring your hot food to your table.

Nearby is a poorly located and weak-looking bar.

At the very top of the Contemporary is the storied California Grill.

A great place for a family meal, celebration, or to watch Wishes after (or during) dinner, it’s often booked up months in advance, but its bar is not reserved, and does serve the main menu. The bar may not be open to new guests, though, as the later dinner crowds gather.

The podium to check in for your reservation or to see if you can go to the bar is on the second floor.

Here’s the review of the California Grill from our book, The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019:

THE POOLS AND BEACHES AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

This review continues here.

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, click here.

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of eight Disney-owned deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World.

In their recommended order for first time family visitors, they are

(Many of these also offer Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) studios and villas, all for rent to the general public–see this for more on the Disney Vacation Club resorts. The DVC offering here is Bay Lake Tower.)

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, check in and some dining is on the first floor, more dining and shops are on the fourth floor, and there’s one more restaurant on the top floor. Bus and boat transport is on the first floor, and the monorail stop is reached from the fourth floor.

You enter the Contemporary Resort into its first floor lobby, unless you are coming by monorail.

On the left you’ll find the check-in and concierge area. At Disney World, “concierge” means help with tickets, dining reservations and such.

On the right there’s a small coffee bar…

…and a somewhat abstract kids area.

Also on the first floor is one of the three table service restaurants at the Contemporary, The Wave of American Flavors (more on it is later in this review).

Outside towards the parking lots and to the right you’ll find the bus stop, with service to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney and the water parks.

Here you’ll find an electronic board indicating the arrival time of the next buses.

Also here is the walkway to the Magic Kingdom, which is 5-10 minutes away depending on your pace. The ability to walk to the park is probably the best single feature of the Contemporary.

Behind the tower you’ll find the boat dock, with service to the other Bay Lake resorts, Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge.

Also here are the pools, covered in more detail later in this review.

Back in the main Tower, on the 4th floor–accessible via elevator, or often more quickly on escalators–you’ll find most of the rest of the offerings at the Contemporary, including counter service dining, the buffet Chef Mickey’s, a family favorite (more on dining at the Contemporary is later in this review), and lots of shops.

The fourth floor adds much needed drama, color and vibrancy to the otherwise somewhat sterile environment.

At the north end of the fourth floor you’ll find a connector to nearby Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Tower…

…and a patio from which you can watch Wishes.

Back inside, up a dedicated elevator or escalator you’ll find the Contemporary’s monorail stop.

The resort monorail serves the Magic Kingdom and the other two monorail resorts, the Grand Floridian and Polynesian, and also the Ticket and Transportation Center where you change monorails for Epcot.

DINING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

This review continues here.

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, click here.

THE GARDEN WING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

There’s three accommodations buildings at Disney’s Contemporary Resort:

Bay Lake Tower, a Disney Vacation Club Resort that is largely its own thing, but shares all the amenities of the Contemporary
The main fifteen story Tower itself, which is what most people think of when they think of the Contemporary, and
The three story South Garden Wing, where the room interiors are identical to those in the main Tower, but pretty much everything else–including price–is lesser.

See the map:

On it, Bay Lake Tower is the roundy thing at top left, the main Tower is circled in yellow, and the South Garden Wing is circled in red.

The interiors of Garden Wing rooms have fittings, fixtures, fabrics, and dimensions identical to those of rooms in the main Tower–I confirmed this with my trusty tape measure–and so except for the absence of balconies have the same pros and cons covered in detail here.

See that link for a full photo tour of a Contemporary room, but the basic photos are below.

On pretty much every other measure, though, except parking convenience, Garden Wing rooms are lesser than the Tower rooms, and as a result are a good bit less expensive.

While savings vary depending on the price season, in 2016 typically Garden Wing rooms are around 70% to 2/3 the cost of other Contemporary rooms–around $200 less expensive per night than Bay Lake view Tower rooms, and $250 less than Magic Kingdom view Tower rooms.

The main negatives of the garden rooms are their absence of balconies, and the distance of most from the main Contemporary tower and its services.

PATIOS AND BALCONIES IN THE GARDEN WING

The three story buildings that make up the Contemporary Garden Wing have patios for first floor rooms, but no balconies on the upper floor rooms.

Here’s the patio from my first floor room, from the inside…

…and from the outside.

Note that there’s no privacy barrier between the patios of neighboring rooms.

Now the absence of a balcony will not be a deal killer for some. After all, only two-thirds of standard Polynesian rooms have a balcony or patio, and many Beach Club rooms have balconies too small for any use but drying towels.

DISTANCE OF GARDEN WING ROOMS

The other issue with the Garden Wing is the distance of many of its rooms from the main Contemporary services.

The high rise makes Tower rooms the most easy to access Disney World hotel rooms, with no Tower room more than 200ish feet from the elevators that also give access to the dining, shops, and transportation points.

In contrast, the Garden Wing rooms are all further than that, and some are as far as a thousand feet from the elevator bank in the Tower.

You get back and forth to the tower along a shaded path that parallels the back Bay Lake side of the Tower.

Now a thousand feet sounds like a lot–and it is a lot, after a long day at the parks, or if you are hurrying to get to Magic Kingdom rope drop–but it’s no further than the farthest rooms at the Polynesian or Grand Floridian from their respective centers.

Rather, like the balcony issues, it’s just something to keep in mind when you choose these rooms…

PARKING AT THE GARDEN WING

One place where the Garden Wing shines is parking. Most parking at the Contemporary is off on the Bay Lake Tower side, and getting from your car to your room can be a hike.

The Garden rooms, however, have their own parking lot. Keep going past the Tower and continue around and behind the convention center and you’ll find a lot just outside the Garden wing.

There’s even a little (un-staffed) lobby here, a much prettier way to enter the Garden wing than the kind of tatty entrance to the wing that’s closest to the Tower.

VIEWS AT THE GARDEN WING

Some Garden Wing views are of the parking lot, but most are of grassy areas or the waters.

This is the area near the canal from Bay Lake to the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom, with Bay Lake in the background…

…and this is the view from the patio of my room.

Now some have been known to get excited by the tranquility of these views, but I don’t think they can match the interest or beauty of the Tower views.

This is from one of our stays in a Magic Kingdom view Tower room…

…as is this…

…and this from one of our stays in a Bay Lake view Tower room.

The Contemporary overall has a lot of positives, with dining and easy access to and from the Magic Kingdom being at the top of the list. The South Garden Wing rooms participate in all these positives at a lower price than Tower rooms, at the cost of some extra walking, missing balconies and much weaker views.

Most first time family visitors will be better off in the Wilderness Lodge–about the same price point, much better theming, and balconies. But if you are aching to stay at the Contemporary, but can’t, or won’t, pony up for a Tower rooms, then the Garden Wing is a good option!

Category — q. Reviews

Updated Wilderness Lodge Review

Dining at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

DINING AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

The Pools and Beaches at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

THE POOLS, BEACHES AND WATERFRONT AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

ACCOMMODATIONS AND THEMING OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

Dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

DINING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

THE POOLS AND BEACHES AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

Amenities at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

DINING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

The South Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

THE GARDEN WING AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

PATIOS AND BALCONIES IN THE GARDEN WING

DISTANCE OF GARDEN WING ROOMS

PARKING AT THE GARDEN WING

VIEWS AT THE GARDEN WING

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

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