Contemporary Resort Theme Park View Room Review
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the most iconic hotels at Walt Disney World! While this isn’t one of our top picks for Deluxe Disney Resorts to stay at, Theme Park View rooms are one of the biggest reasons families consider staying here. These rooms are located in the main tower. And they offer a direct view toward Magic Kingdom, including Cinderella Castle and the nighttime fireworks!
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During a recent stay, we booked a Contemporary Resort Theme Park View room. This room category really is what makes staying at the Contemporary feel special. While Contemporary Resort is not always our top deluxe resort recommendation for families, this specific room type would be an exception.
If you’re going to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, I think the Theme Park View room is the room category that makes the experience worth staying here!
What Makes Disney’s Contemporary Resort Theme Park View Rooms Special?
The biggest reason to book a Theme Park View room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is, of course, the view.
These rooms overlook Magic Kingdom! From your private balcony you can see some of the most recognizable sights at Walt Disney World. Being able to step outside your room and see Cinderella’s Castle is such a unique experience.
But the real highlight is watching the fireworks from your balcony.
During our stay, we were actually able to see two fireworks shows in one night because there was a Magic Kingdom After Hours event. We watched the regular showing of Happily Ever After. Then later also saw the After Hours Disney Enchantment fireworks later that evening.
It was so nice to enjoy the fireworks without dealing with the crowds on Main Street, especially after a long park day. You don’t get the exact same immersive experience as being inside Magic Kingdom, but you do get a relaxed, private view from your own room.
For families with young kids, or anyone who wants to enjoy fireworks without navigating the post-show crowds, this is a huge perk.
Contemporary Resort Theme Park View Room Location
Theme Park View rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are located in the main tower, not the Garden Wing.
These rooms would be our preferred location if you are going to stay at the Contemporary because it puts you closest to the monorail, dining, shopping, and the main resort amenities. Plus the view is what puts it over the top on making it worth staying here!
The main tower is also part of what makes the Contemporary such a unique resort. The monorail runs right through the building, and staying inside the tower gives you that classic Contemporary experience.
The room itself has the updated Incredibles-inspired design, which gives it a more modern Disney feel. The decor is still not as immersive as some of the other deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World. The rooms are still comfortable and functional. Although they don’t have as much drawer space as other Deluxe Resort standard room layouts.
The private balcony is the real star of the room. If you’re paying the premium for this room category, you’re really paying for that balcony view of Magic Kingdom.
Watching Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the Room
Watching fireworks from a Contemporary Theme Park View room is a completely different experience than watching them inside Magic Kingdom.
Inside Magic Kingdom, you get the full show experience with the music, projections, atmosphere, and crowd energy. If it’s your first time seeing Happily Ever After, I do think there is something special about watching it from inside the park.
From the room, it’s much more relaxed. You can sit on your balcony, avoid the crowds, and then simply walk back inside when the show is over. There’s no slow walk down Main Street. No packed transportation. And no trying to keep everyone together in a sea of people!
You may be able to see some of the castle projections from the room, but they won’t be as crisp or detailed as they are from inside Magic Kingdom. From this vantage point, the fireworks are definitely the highlight.
Transportation and Location: Getting to Magic Kingdom
One of the biggest advantages of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is that you can walk to Magic Kingdom. This can be helpful if you’ll be spending multiple days at this theme park, or if you have a late party night at Magic Kingdom.
After a long day in the park, being able to walk back to your resort is a huge benefit. And if you’ll have a stroller along, that means not having to fold up the stroller for getting on either the monorail to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, or walking to Magic Kingdom.
There are also conventions at Contemporary Resort throughout the year, making this a convenient location to stay at if your convention will be happening at the resort.
Monorails at Contemporary Resort
The monorail is also located inside the main tower, but keep in mind that getting to Magic Kingdom by monorail from the Contemporary means riding around to the other monorail resorts first. In many cases, walking is the faster option.
While the Contemporary is technically a monorail resort, I don’t think the monorail makes it equally convenient to all parks. It is really only convenient for Magic Kingdom.
Getting to EPCOT requires taking the resort monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center. There you switch monorail lines, and then take the EPCOT monorail. This can take a while, and it’s not nearly as simple as people would imagine when they hear “monorail resort.” It’s one of my least favorite transportation switches in all of Walt Disney World. And I typically try to avoid it by just calling a Lyft!
For Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, you’ll be using Disney bus transportation. During our experiences at Contemporary Resort, those buses have not always as quick and reliable as I would like. We have found that using the buses at the non-monorail resorts always tends to be quicker for some reason.
So while the Contemporary is excellent for Magic Kingdom, I would not choose it as our top resort for a trip that is evenly split between all four parks.
If your trip is focused on Magic Kingdom, the location is a major benefit. If you’ll be spending a lot of time at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom, I would probably recommend looking at other deluxe resorts first.
Room Pricing: Is the Theme Park View Worth the Upgrade?
Contemporary Resort Theme Park View rooms are among some of the most expensive rooms on property.
We booked our room with an Annual Passholder discount and paid around $675 per night. Without a discount, this room category can run upwards of $800 per night depending on the season.
That is a significant price point, you are paying a premium for the view.
But if you are going to stay at Contemporary Resort, I do think the Theme Park View room is the category that makes the stay feel worthwhile.
Without the view, I would personally be more likely to choose another deluxe resort ahead of the Contemporary. But with the view, especially if you plan to watch fireworks from your balcony, it is a much more memorable experience.
We personally opted for a split stay, spending one night at Contemporary Resort in the Theme Park view room and then moving over to a Deluxe Studio room at Riviera Resort. Where we find the transportation to be more convenient when going to and from the parks a lot during the day. The view wasn’t quite as good, but the per night price was also substantially cheaper!
Dining at Contemporary Resort
Dining is one of the better parts of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Even when we are not staying here, we enjoy visiting the resort for dining. Chef Mickey’s is a classic character dining option and is especially fun for families with kids.
California Grill is a great choice for a more elevated meal with beautiful views, and Steakhouse 71 is a nice option if you’re looking for something hearty and convenient.
Contempo Cafe is also located in the main building and works well for quick-service meals.
If you’re staying in a Theme Park View room, you’ll be in the main tower. This makes it easy to access all of these dining locations.
Who Should Book a Contemporary Theme Park View Room?
A Contemporary Theme Park View room may be worth booking if:
- You plan to spend most of your time at Magic Kingdom.
- You are attending a late-night party or After Hours event at Magic Kingdom.
- You want to watch fireworks from your private balcony.
- You are attending a convention at Contemporary Resort.
- You specifically want the experience of staying in the main tower.
- You are booking for the Theme Park View or Club Level experience.
If those situations apply to your trip, this room category can be a really special splurge.
But if you are planning a balanced trip across all four parks, or if immersive resort theming is important to you, I would probably choose several other deluxe resorts ahead of the Contemporary.
Video Tour of the Contemporary Resort Theme Park View Room
Watch our full room tour of the Contemporary Resort Theme Park View room on YouTube to see the layout, balcony, and Magic Kingdom view.
This room tour can give you a better idea of what to expect before booking and can help you decide whether the upgrade is worth it for your family.
Would I Stay in a Contemporary Theme Park View Room Again?
Yes, I would stay in a Contemporary Theme Park View room again, but only for the right kind of trip.
This is not the room I would choose for every Disney World vacation. It is expensive, and Contemporary Resort still isn’t our top overall deluxe resort for families.
But if we were planning a Magic Kingdom-focused trip, attending a late-night event, or wanted a special fireworks-view room experience, then yes, I would absolutely consider booking it again.
The view is what makes the stay.
So if you are already considering the Contemporary and wondering whether to upgrade to the Theme Park View room, I would say this is the one room category that makes the resort feel worth it.
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Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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