greebil wrote:mousetraveler,
can you tell us more about the contemporary? i have always wanted to stay there.
Hey, I'll bore ya to death with this stuff!
I love the Contemporary, as it was the first Disney Hotel I stayed in 35 years ago. Cost thirty bucks a night back then! At that time it was the main tower and two wings. Of course, one wing was torn down to make room for the Bay Lake Tower for DVC. To be honest, if I was booking I probably wouldn't stay in the wings, but thats just personal preference. The 'Contemporary Experience' is best felt within the tower when you can walk out and hear the hustle-bustle of everything going on beneath you, and to hear that Whoooooooosh as the monorail flies through.
I agree with all that was said by others. It is original, and is in remarkable shape to have the mileage on it that it does. I've had some great memories there. Years ago at the old 'Top Of The World' Club (now California Grill), I saw Della Reese in concert. Back in those days, the Club featured noted acts like Ms. Reese.
Years later, I was lucky enough to have a Concierge room, which was the closest to the Magic Kingdom. Being able to watch the fireworks with a group of guests from there was fabulous.
I'm really not sure that a non-Disney fan will get the Contemporary, but the fact that it IS indeed "cool", and the history behind it make it a favorite in MY book. If you get a chance, try it out!
OK, well known trivia here. The Contemporary was built as a "modular hotel". The framework was put up, then the rooms assembled elsewhere and slit into their slots by crane. The plan was to then be able to update the rooms in the same manner. The soft soil in Florida ended that dream, as the building shifted making the sliding in and out of rooms impossible.
