Opening with the Magic Kingdom in 1971, the Contemporary Resort is unique in several ways. Not only does the monorail run right through the resort, it is the only resort that has a walking path to/from the Magic Kingdom! The resort was built in a modular fashion, with pre-constructed rooms lifted into place. With rooms overlooking Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom, a stay at the Contemporary is one of the best ways to pamper yourself while at Walt Disney World!
Accommodations
There are several different room types, and the rooms at the Contemporary are among the largest in all of Walt Disney World. The Garden Wing rooms are off to the side of the main tower building, and while they do not offer grand views of the lake or theme park, they have excellent access to the pools and outdoor areas. This wing has about 250 rooms and suites.
The main Tower has rooms and suites with excellent views of Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom. When booking the Contemporary you can choose which view you’d like to have. The Tower has approximately 500 guest rooms.
Club level access is available as well, with a lounge offering food and beverages most of the day.
Tip- The Electric Water Pageant can be seen from many Bay Lake view rooms, and the Magic Kingdom fireworks can be seen from the Theme Park View rooms.
Restaurants and Lounges
There are three full-service restaurants at the Contemporary, as well as two counter service restaurants. Chef Mickey’s is a fun character meal for breakfast or dinner with Mickey and friends. The Wave is on the first floor of the hotel and offers three meals each day, with a wide variety of food and cocktails. And the California Grill, located on the 15th floor of the tower, is a signature restaurant offering not only great food but also great views! The California Grill is open only for dinner, which makes it even better for Magic Kingdom viewing!
The two counter service restaurants are The Contempo Café (located next to Chef Mickey’s) and the Sand Bar (next to the main pool). The Contempo Café is a really good place to grab a quick bite before or after heading to the parks. The Sand Bar is a full service bar in addition to offering burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream.
Amenities
There are two pools at the Contemporary. There is a quiet pool that is much smaller, and a large pool (the main pool) with a high water slide and hot tubs, as well as a children’s water play area. Cabanas are also available for rental.
The marina has watercraft rentals, fishing excursions, and parasailing. There is a game room/arcade, a jogging trail, 24-hour fitness room, and white sand beaches. (Please note – there is NO swimming at the beaches.)
Transportation
Guests of Disney’s Contemporary Resort are just three stops away from the Magic Kingdom on the monorail line, or one stop on the way home at the end of a long day! And this is the only resort with a sidewalk path all the way to the Magic Kingdom! Boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom as well as Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge is also available.
To get to Epcot, guests take the monorail to the Ticket & Transportation Center, then change to the Epcot monorail line. Bus service is available to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks. Disney’s Magical Express offers free airport shuttle service. Guests can also use Minnie Vans to get anywhere on Walt Disney World property and to or from the airport.
With all that is available at the Contemporary Resort and its proximity to the Magic Kingdom, it’s easy to see why this is a Disney Park Princess favorite place to be pampered!
(Select photos courtesy of Disney)
