Disney’s Contemporary resort is an iconic resort, as it was one of the two original resort properties that was open on opening day. The Contemporary is one of three hotels that is on the monorail loop, and it is the only hotel in which the monorail actually travels inside of the hotel. The main tower is 15 stories tall and has an A-frame design. The Contemporary also includes a separate, 3 story, “garden wing,” that contains rooms outside of the main tower and lobby. The third building, Bay Lake Tower, contains suites or “villas” that have up to 3 bedrooms. This was built for the Disney Vacation Club, but rooms can also be booked directly with Disney without being a member (if available). Bay Lake Tower can almost be considered a separate resort. It does share almost all amenities with The Contemporary, but, to make things simple, this post won’t be focusing on anything that is specific to Bay Lake Tower.
As stated, one of the most unique aspects of this resort is that the monorail travels, and stops, right inside of the lobby. The guest rooms of the A-frame line the outer walls of the tower. The guest rooms in this building either have a view of the lake, or the theme park (Magic Kingdom). This is where the lobby, shops, and most of the restaurants are located. So, if you want to be near the action, the Main Tower is where you want to be. If you want a more private, quieter experience, and you don’t mind walking a little further to the lobby, then the garden wing offers the same Contemporary style rooms, but they are contained in smaller, 3 story buildings, right outside of the main tower.
Lake view from the Contemporary Tower showing the Garden Wing on the right
Shopping and Dining
There are three shops inside of the Contemporary. That’s right. Three! There’s Fantasia, Bayview Gifts, and Fantasia Market. Fantasia carries the more traditional Disney merchandise, such as, clothes, pins, park souvenirs, stuffed animals, etc… Right next store is Bayview Gifts. This shop is slightly more “upscale,” in that it offers jewelry, watches, figurines, art, and home décor. It does also still contain some traditional merchandise that’s not in the shop next store, and it also has a little dessert counter. The Fantasia Market is the “convenience store” of the Contemporary, offering snack items, over the counter medication, and other traditional convenient store items.
Fantasia
Aside from the several bars and lounges at the Contemporary, there are three sit down restaurants, and one quick service restaurant. First, Chef Mickey’s is a character meal that features the “Fab Five” (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto). This is a buffet that is open for breakfast and dinner. Second, The Wave…of American Flavors, is a nice sit down option for traditional American cuisine. Third, the Contempo Cafe is the main quick service restaurant, and it is located right next to Chef Mickey’s. Finally, for a higher budget meal, you can dine on the 15th floor at California Grill. If you hit it at the right time, you can view the Magic Kingdom fireworks while you eat!
Pools and Other Activities
The Feature Pool at the Contemporary is sizeable and has a 17-foot-high, curving waterslide. Their is also a hot tub right in the middle of the pool area. For a quieter experience, there is a smaller pool closer to Bay Lake. All ages are allowed, but splashing and loud noises are discouraged at this pool. The pool area also features a poolside bar, and cast members will play games with the kids during the day.
There are plenty of recreational activities set up around the resort. You can play basketball, do lakeside yoga, go fishing, play beach volleyball, play tennis and rental motorized boats. For more information on the recreation that Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers visit the recreation section on the Disney website under the Contemporary.
Electrical Water Pageant
The electrical water pageant displays nightly around the seven seas lagoon. It travels by Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Magic Kingdom, and, of course, Contemporary resort. The electrical water pageant is a, relatively short, display of lights and electronic music that takes place on the water. This simple little show is a great way to wind down your evening, when you are just hanging out at the resort. You can watch it from along the shore, or from your room’s balcony, if you have a Main Tower Lake View room.
Transportation
The obvious choice of transportation here is the monorail. The monorail will take you to the Magic Kingdom, with stops at the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. You can also use the monorail to get to Epcot by transferring at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Their are buses available that will take you to the other parks and Disney Springs. You can also take a boat to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
One of the biggest benefits of staying at the Contemporary it is also close enough to just walk to the Magic Kingdom if you so choose!
Fun Historic Fact
One of the most famous, American, political speeches of all time actually took place at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is where President Richard Nixon’s “I’m not a crook” speech happened. In the midst of the Watergate scandal, Nixon held a press conference in the Ballroom of the Americas. His full statement, after being addressed about claims that he profited from his public service, was “I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice… People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I am not a crook. I’ve earned everything I got.”
Final Thoughts
The allure of Disney’s Contemporary Resort comes from the fact that it is one of the original resorts on the monorail loop, the design, and that it is closest to the Magic Kingdom. This is one of the most iconic resorts at Walt Disney World. From the monorail and the busy lobby, to the spacious rooms and the beautiful setting, there is a lot to like about the Contemporary. There are plenty of resorts that have more immersive theming, and where the price tag won’t hit you as hard. That being said, if being in midst of the magic is important to you, and it is in your budget, what better place to stay than right next to the Magic Kingdom? I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the inside of the room that I’ve stayed in.
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