Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review | Disney Resorts for Families
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the most iconic hotels at Walt Disney World. It has a sleek A-frame design and the monorail runs right through the center of the building! This is a memory that I fondly remember about visiting Disney World as a child. It was super cool that the monorail could go through a building!
Some of the information below includes affiliate links. When you click these links Moms with Mouse Ears may make a commission from your purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Contemporary Resort offers a unique blend of character inspired style and classic Disney magic.
During a recent stay, I enjoyed most of the perks associated with the location and the nostalgic charm. However, I did also notice a few drawbacks that may help others decide if this deluxe resort is the right fit for your family.
What Makes Disney’s Contemporary Resort Special?
As one of the original resorts that opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971, this resort is truly a part of Disney history! Riding through the resort on the monorail is a unique experience for kids.
It also offers wonderful views of Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake, and the ability to walk to Magic Kingdom in just minutes is a major perk. Its blend of modern design, convenience, and nostalgic Disney history creates a one-of-a-kind experience that combines the magic of the past with the comforts of today.
They also have two lovely well-stocked gift shops on the 4th floor that are worth stopping into even if you’re just visiting! One has a bakery section with delightful treats. There are also special holiday displays, so if you’re doing the Holiday Resort Tour make sure this is one of your stops!
Pool and Lake Area at Contemporary Resort
One of the amenity highlights at Contemporary Resort are its lake views from almost every side of the resort. It has a resort boat launch where you charter boats for night time fireworks cruises (highly recommend!) and these are a great way to see the fireworks from a unique vantage point!
There is also a nice pool that is positioned so that it overlooks the lake, so if you love water this is a great resort to built in some time to enjoy water activities. Also, during my stay the pool never really felt busy, so that is a bonus!
There’s also an adorable splash pad adajacent to the pool for little ones to enjoy!
Transportation and Location: Getting to Magic Kingdom
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is its unbeatable proximity to Magic Kingdom. You can simply walk to the park entrance in about 5 to 10 minutes via a dedicated pathway, making it one of the most convenient resorts for Magic Kingdom access.
For those who prefer not to walk, the monorail also offers direct service to the park from the resort’s fourth-floor concourse. Just remember you’ll need to swing past all of the other monorail resorts on the way there.
You can find out more information about the Disney Monorail system in this article!
Bus transportation is provided to get to both Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios from Contemporary Resort.
Room Options at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a variety of room types to suit different family sizes and preferences, from standard rooms to club level suites. One standout option is the Incredibles themed standard rooms.
These are both in the main tower, and the Garden Wing where I stayed during my trip. I had a great view of the monorail from my first floor balcony, and that was one of the highlights.
The room was a great size and I enjoyed the Disney Pixar Incredibles theme. The Garden Wing is also super close to the pool area and convenient if you’ll be spending a lot of time at the pool.
Bay Lake Tower Rooms
Bay Lake Tower is a Disney Vacation Club property located right next to the main Contemporary Resort building, connected by a convenient sky bridge. It offers deluxe studio rooms and multi-bedroom villas with kitchenettes or full kitchens, making it a great option for larger families or longer stays.
Guests staying at Bay Lake Tower enjoy all the amenities of the Contemporary Resort, including walking access to Magic Kingdom and use of the monorail. Many rooms also feature excellent views of Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom, especially from the upper floors.
You’ll see rooms pop up here in the regular resort reservation system quite frequently, so even if you are not a Disney Vacation Club member you can reserve rooms here as well.
Dining at Contemporary Resort
Dining is really a bright spot of the Contemporary Resort! Our family loves the dining options here, and we frequently come over to visit the restaurants even when we aren’t staying here!
Chef Mickey’s is a classic character dining experience and it is one of our kids’ favorites! It offers a buffet menu throughout the day, and you’ll see classic characters here! Including Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy!
On the top floor, you’ll find California Grill which is perfect for a date night. It has beautiful views overlooking the Magic Kingdom. And as a bonus, if you dine earlier in the day you can return that evening to watch the fireworks from their balcony!
In the lobby area, there is Steakhouse 71 which is a great meal if you’re looking for something hearty. My favorite part of the meal here was the sauce flight! It was a great way to try a number of flavors at one time.
Also, the quick service at Contempo Cafe is really great as well. This is another place I’ll stop by to grab a meal sometimes even if I’m not staying at the resort! They have a great selection on their menu and it is centrally located within the building.
Staying in the main building will put you closest to all of the dining options!
Would I Stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Again?
As it turns out, I may actually enjoy visiting the Contemporary Resort over actually staying there! Watch my experience on YouTube!
So here’s the thing, this is an iconic Disney Resort that is fun to visit, but I’ve ranked it just middle of the pack on the ranking of Disney Resorts for families. I actually stayed here during a conference, and it feels like a conference resort as well.
If you’ll be spending most of your time at Magic Kingdom, then the close proximity should definitely be given more weight. However, if your trip is balanced between the four theme parks, or if you’re spending a lot of time at the resort, other resorts would be my top pick.
While Contemporary is iconic, but the theme feels more immersive over at a resort like the Polynesian Village Resort or Wilderness Lodge.
And for families, we love the amenities like the Stormalong Bay pool area at Disney’s Beach Club Resort and the Disney Skyliner access (which conveniently gets you to TWO theme parks) at Riviera Resort.
Also it should be noted… if you read that last line and went “but the monorail!” – yes, the monorail is technically attached to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. However it really is only convenient to get to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary Resort.
The Monorail “Convenience” Issue
I found getting from the Contemporary Resort to EPCOT to be quite the ordeal, so you really need to pack your patience and allow extra time. Over 45 minutes at least, to wait on the monorail to arrive at the Contemporary, ride it over to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then wait for another monorail to arrive there. To finally make it to EPCOT.
If you’ll be spending a lot of time at EPCOT, there are other resorts we would recommend right in the EPCOT resort area that are convenient. A location like Disney’s Beach Club Resort is also close to the Disney Skyliner in addition to having the boats, so it maxes out both convenience and location. Or if you’re intent on staying at Contemporary Resort, just call a ride share service to get over to EPCOT.
So would I stay at the Contemporary Resort again? Probably, but there are just other resorts that edge out the Contemporary in the Magic Kingdom resort area (both Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge) and resorts like Disney’s Beach Club Resort in the EPCOT Resort area would be higher ranked for overall experience.
That being said, if you just want a resort that is close to get to after a long party night at Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort would be a great option for families looking for that! View our full ranking of the Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World at the linked article!
More article to help you with your planning:
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
Let's Get Magical!
