Disney Contemporary Resort Guide and Review

Located right next to Magic Kingdom, the Disney Contemporary Resort offers rooms, restaurants, and monorail transportation close to the magic. But, with a variety of room types, and some of the most popular restaurants at Disney World, this opening day hotel still leaves a lot to be desired. Here’s everything you need to know ( and we mean everything) about the Contemporary Resort and why you should ( or shouldn’t) stay here on your next Disney trip.

Details

As the Disney Hotel closest to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the most popular places to stay at Walt Disney World. Whether you’re at MK for a late night After Hours event or Party, or just avoiding the Disney buses, and want to walk home, there are reasons to stay here. And a bunch of reasons not to.

• Check in: 3 PM
• Check out: 11 AM
• Address: 4600 North World Drive Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8413, (407) 824-1000
• Transportation: Disney Bus, Monorail, Boat Transportation to Magic Kingdom
• Category: Deluxe Resort
• Club Level Concierge: The Atrium Club
• DVC Villas: Bay Lake Tower

Many people can spot the Disney Contemporary Resort right away thanks to its unique A-frame structure, and Brutalist architecture style. And if you’ve ever ridden the monorail from Magic Kingdom, then you know the monorail goes right through the atrium pf the resort. Featuring a Grand Canyon mural designed by Mary Blair, this opening day Disney Resort is an icon at WDW. Plus, it’s close proximity to the park, means you can watch and listen to the Magic Kingdom Fireworks, from the 4th floor balcony in the evenings.

Atmosphere

A contemporary hotel design at the time, this resort opened in 1971, with a 1980’s take on design. Lots of concrete, and a multi-story atrium to allow the monorail to travel through was a big deal at the time. Unfortunately, that means that the building feels more dated than vintage. And while there have been some mid-century modern accents added to the lobby, and an Incredibles Super Hero theme throughout the theme here feels inconsistent. With a simplistic modern design, you can see why this resort is often home to business conferences.

Additionally, the atmosphere here feels chaotic. From the long lines of strollers waiting to get into Chef Mickey’s Restaurant, to the always busy elevators, there’s more hustle and bustle here than we like. Of course, this is also due to proximity to Magic Kingdom.

Disney Contemporary Resort Grounds

The grounds at Disney’s Contemporary are pretty basic. There’s some landscaping, a couple of beach areas, one with a beach volleyball court, and a walkway that goes along the water. Unfortunately, it’s all a bit lackluster here. You can play life size chess on the lawn, and take a break at a tables near the dock, but for the most part outdoor features, and activities here are very limited compared to the other Disney Resorts.

Rooms

The resort rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Rooms were recently renovated and reimagined to the Incredibles. Quite spacious, these rooms can sleep five with 2 queen size beds and a sofa sleeper bed. The design isn’t too in your face Disney. And we actually thought it was fairly well done.

You have the choice of Water View, or Theme Park View if staying in the Main Tower. Or you can stay in the suites and Garden View Rooms, in the outer buildings. Tower rooms come with balconies which is such a treat and the window and balcony are quite large. 

Being able to see Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain from our theme park view room was such an amazing experience and one I know many people appreciate.  The beds were comfortable and even the sofa bed was more comfortable than some of the Murphy beds we’ve experienced at Walt Disney World. 

The bathrooms at the Contemporary are the most notably dated due to the layout. The shower and vanity share a room, and you have to walk through the shower room to get to the toilet. Not the most functional design, and not great for families all trying to get ready at the same time in the mornings. 

Laundry Facilities at Disney’s Contemporary Resort 

If you’re taking a longer Disney vacation, or just enjoy doing laundry on vacation, you can do laundry on the second floor of the Garden Wing. There is not a laundry room in the main tower though. 

Pools

There are two pools at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The feature pool is located right behind the main lobby. And features a 17-foot waterslide. It’s….ok, but really just looks a bit boring, when you compare it to other pools at Disney World. In truth the lack of guests using the pool on our 95- 100 degree trip was a good indicator that people don’t book this resort for the pool. 

There is also a quiet pool, Bay Pool, located pretty much right behind the feature pool, and overlooks Bay Lake, which is fun. You can also find a splash pad right next to the feature pool. Again, this is really just ok, and not nearly as cool as many of the splash pads we’ve seen at other Disney hotels.

With a very outdated Spaceship theme, and only about half the splash pad working at any moment, this is just another part of the resort I feel needs a major overhaul and update. Honestly, smaller kids probably won’t care. A water play area is fun for them regardless. But as the grown up who paid for the resort, you might be a little disappointed. 

Restaurants

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is home to many popular dining options. California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, Steakhouse 71, and the Contempo Cafe are all favorites. You can also find drinks at the Outer Rim, a resort bar on the 4th floor. And at the Sand Bar near the pools.

Steakhouse 71

Found on the ground floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Steakhouse 71 serves a budget-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring specialty brunches, a full bar in the restaurant, and a 15 layer chocolate cake, this is a good restaurant if you’re looking for a sit down meal at Disney that won’t break the bank. With subdues theming, like the rest of the resort, it’s not the best for kids, but the food is great, and the service fantastic. Take a look at the Steakhouse 71 Menu.

Chef Mickey’s

The Contemporary Resort is home to the Disney Character Dining Restaurant, Chef Mickey’s. Dare we say this is one of the most overrated restaurants in Walt Disney World? Aimed to families with young children, this is a buffet dining experience that is about $60 per adult for breakfast, and $70 per adult for dinner. Mickey and Friends are dressed in chef outfits, and do visit your table for a pic and autograph, but it’s all very harried. Most families are rushed in and out in about 45 minutes. Which for sub par food, at these prices, makes this is a restaurant we recommend skipping. See the Chef Mickey’s Menu to make your call on this one.

California Grill

One of the fanciest restaurants at Disney World is California Grill. With rooftop views overlooking Magic Kingdom, you can see the fireworks from here. This restaurant has a bar that offers some things a la cart, otherwise, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for an Prix Fixe meal. About $90 per adult and $40 per child (age 3-9). Check out the California Grill Menu.

Activities

Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a Campfire each night, where guests can roast marshmallows, or purchase a s’mores kit. There’s also an Arcade, as well as Basketball courts. Beach Volleyball and Tennis Courts are also offered here. And guests can Rent Boats and go fishing on Bay Lake as well. Like most deluxe resorts, there is also a Fitness Center located on the third floor. You can learn all about Disney’s Contemporary Resort recreation here. 

Movies Under the Stars

Movies Under the Stars is always a fun way to spend a night in at the resort! At the Contemporary Resort, guests can watch the Movies Under the Stars in the courtyard, which is located directly through the back entrance of the resort. You can find the schedule for Movies Under the Stars in the lobby on the first floor of the resort. 

Electrical Water Pageant Parade

And our favorite, The Electrical Water Pageant, runs every night (weather permitting) at 10:05. This is such a cute little water parade and only lasts about 5 minutes.  You can see it best from the beach or the marina. 

Transportation

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the hotel closest to Magic Kingdom, and about a 5-10 minute walk to the front gates of the park. This deluxe resort is also located on the Disney Monorail, giving you easy access to the other Monorail Resorts and the transportation at Magic Kingdom. That being said, guests staying here have access to the monorail for both Magic Kingdom and Epcot, Disney Buses, and boat transportation.

The Contemporary is the first stop when coming from the Magic Kingdom, making it also the longest ride to the Magic Kingdom. So, if you’re in a hurry, walking may be faster. To get to EPCOT, you’ll just take the monorail to the next stop, get off at the Ticket and Transportation Center, and transfer to EPCOT on the EPCOT monorail. Just follow the signs and you’ll be good!

Resort Map

Disney’s Contemporary Resort consists of the Main Tower Hotel, home to rooms, restaurants, the gift shops and monorail stop. There is also a set of rooms in the “South Garden Wing,” a Convention Center, off the Tower, and the DVC Villas connected by a walkway to Bay Lake Tower. Check out the map for all the details.

Cost

The cost of a resort room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will vary based on room type, location, season, and availability and demand. Garden Wing Rooms average $550-$988 per night. Whereas rooms in the Main Tower, range from $788-$1348 per night. We were able to get a phenomenal deal with the Disney Visa Credit Card discount and were upgraded for free, so we got a theme park view on a discounted lake view rate. But in no way, shape or form, did our resort stay warrant the high price.

If the rooms had been closer to $350/night, then we would absolutely be more enthusiastic about it. But with all of its issues, we feel this one is extremely overpriced, especially when comparing it to other deluxe resorts.

Is Disney’s Contemporary Resort worth the price?

In a word, no. If you’ve read other Disney resort reviews of ours, you probably know that we usually say, it depends! We did not feel that this is the case at all for this resort. Is the location unbeatable? Absolutely! But considering you can often find much better resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk Resort and Animal Kingdom Lodge for much less, we just can’t find any reason to justify the cost. 

Pros and Cons

Since our resort stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort was disappointing we’ll break down the Pros and Cons of this resort if you’re seriously considering spending your money here.

Location

You can’t beat the location. The location is incredible and if you can manage to get a room with a theme park view, having a view of Cinderella Castle is pretty darn magical. Being able to walk to and from Magic Kingdom in less than 10 minutes is amazing. Especially if you’re staying here during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, not having to deal with the miles long transportation situation that happens after a party is a huge perk.

Soundproofing

We did worry being in the tower that we would be able to hear the monorail or the loudness of Chef Mickey’s from our room. But the soundproofing is quite good. And we never had an issue with noise. That being said, there was a little bit of rumbling vibrations in our room from time to time. But nothing that was overly noticeable or disruptive.

Monorail Access

 Having access to the Monorail for easy trip to the resorts, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT were huge for us. As travelers who prioritize being able to get to and from the parks easily, this was a huge benefit of staying here.

Rooms Sleep 5

And the fact that standard rooms at the Contemporary can sleep five adults is a big benefit for larger parties. A lot of the standard rooms at Walt Disney World only sleep 4 adults, so being able to have extra space for one more is definitely something we appreciate. 

It’s Dated

This resort is tired, outdated and even the newly refurbished rooms are already showing signs of wear. Strangely, several things broke in our room during our stay, and nothing was ever done to fix any of them. We say “strange,” because as a $700+ per night hotel stay, we shouldn’t be experiencing broken things. We blame this on hurried renovations, done cheaply. And it’s not like we’re aggressive travelers with tons of rowdy kids either. We’re literally just three smaller women, travelling. And when we say something would break, it would be like you pull the sliding door open, and then the handle comes off in your hand. Very weird. 

Bad Functionality

This resort has a huge layout problem, which is something I don’t see ever being fixed, because, well, I think the initial design was a disaster to begin with. The elevator problem is HUGE. And exacerbated by the fact that the resort just cannot support the number of guests who stay in the Tower, let alone the crowds arriving for meals and shopping here. 

Chaotic

Due to the fact that the Contemporary has two very popular restaurants, the 4th floor atrium is always busy. Either with guests going to Chef Mickey’s, or guests confused about how to get to California Grill, the atrium is packed and chaotic pretty much all the time. As a result, as a guest, you often just feel like there’s not much room for you to enjoy the resort. 

Lackluster

The grounds, decor, and atmosphere are all very lackluster. There’s not a strong presence of anything here. The decor is minimal, it just feels bland. The other resorts, especially at the Deluxe level, have clear strong themes to inform the design decisions, but here, it’s just like “business casual.” Frankly we expect at least some magic on a Disney trip and it was hard to find here.

It’s Not Good for Families

We would not recommend staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for families. The theming at deluxe resorts don’t often tend to be heavily themed Disney, and it’s not here either. But it’s more the layout that would have you reeling. Waiting 30 minutes for the elevator, going up 4 flights of escalators, or battling the crowds in the atrium, are just not things you want to do with children or strollers. The pools and splash pad areas are a bit blah, and the hotel feels acerbic, not fun.

Disney Contemporary Resort Review

Would we stay at the Contemporary Resort again? Probably not. We have stayed at almost every Walt Disney World resort, and this one is at the very bottom of the list for us. As the Disney hotel closest to Magic Kingdom, the ease of getting to the park is truly magical, but Disney’s Contemporary Resort itself is a disappointment as a resort guest. The price is just too high for long waits at the elevators, consistently crowded atrium spaces, and lack of ambiance.

Hopefully this Disney Contemporary Resort Review has helped you get a good idea of what to expect on your next visit.