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Contemporary

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Last updated: November 19, 2024

Overview

One of Disney's classic designs, the Contemporary A-frame design permits the Magic Kingdom monorail to pass through the building's immense, open lobby. Don't miss the 90-foot tall tile mosaic in the lobby.

Cost Range

$609 - $6,142

Lodging Area

Magic Kingdom

Category

Deluxe

Transportation

Bus, Monorail, Walk

Guest Overall Rating

Based on 213 surveys. (See our Ratings and Research page for details)

Our Overall Rating

Room: A-

Pool: B+

Lighting: A

Pillows: A

Room Quality
Check-in Efficiency
Quietness of Room
Park Transportation
Hotel Pool
Staff
Food Court
Resort Strengths

Iconic architecture: the only hotel that the monorail goes <em>through</em>

Large rooms with views of Bay Lake

Redesigned rooms are very functional

Easy walk to Magic Kingdom

Convenient parking

Best louge at Walt Disney World (Top of the World Lounge)

Recreation options on Bay Lake

Excellent staff/service

Resort Weaknesses

Overpriced, especially so-called Magic Kingdom-view rooms that mostly look out onto parking lots

Hallway decor can feel institutional

Bus transportation to Studios, Animal Kingdom, water parks, and Disney Springs can be shared with other monorail resorts

What Readers Are Saying About Disney's Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary was a lovely hotel - nothing to fault and perfect on paper - I just didn't get "the feeling" from it compared to the Yacht Club. I will say that the busses were really reliable and smooth in the morning when we wanted to rope drop and of course the Contemporary walking path is amazing.

K

Kate L

August 24, 2022

Highly recommend Contemporary resort; the walking path to MK is a nice walk and the monorail home is quick and convenient when you're tired.

A

Andrew W

January 3, 2021

The Contemporary was a surprising delight. We have stayed in most of the other deluxe resorts, club level, and the Atrium Club is my new favorite for traveling with kids. The views were spectacular.

L

Lori

October 7, 2018

While we loved the proximity of the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom (can't beat a 7 minute walk!), the hotel was always extremely busy, even at 10 pm.

R

Robyn R

January 2, 2018

We chose the Contemporary for its proximity to MK and its walking path. It worked out well for that purpose. Walking to and from the park in the Florida Sunshine was so much more pleasant than being on a long crowded bus or monorail ride.

T

Tim S

April 15, 2017

Rooms

Standard rooms in the A-frame main building afford fantastic views of Bay Lake or the Magic Kingdom, and all have balconies. At 394 square feet each, they're only slightly smaller than equivalent rooms at the Grand Floridian Resort.

  • Room with Queen Bed(s) and en-suite bathroom
  • Balcony or patio
  • Dresser with drawers
  • Full-length mirror
  • Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi)
  • Flat-panel TV
  • Coffee maker and starter supply of coffee pods
  • Ironing board and iron
  • Hair dryer
  • Digital thermostat
  • In-room safe
  • Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and bar soap

A nice touch from the Contemporary's last refurbishment is that the new tile floors have rugs around the beds. Also, soundproofing from outdoor noises has been improved.

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Couch and TV

Contemporary Resort Couch and TV

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Standard Room

Contemporary Resort Couch Bed

Contemporary Resort Couch Bed

Contemporary Resort Balcony

Contemporary Resort Balcony

Contemporary Resort Closet

Contemporary Resort Closet

Contemporary Resort Bathroom

Contemporary Resort Bathroom

Contemporary Resort Bathroom

Contemporary Resort Bathroom

Contemporary Resort View From Room 4746

Contemporary Resort View From Room 4746

Pick the best Disney resort room possible

We’ve mapped and taken photographs of the views from every single room on Walt Disney World property! Our Room Finder helps you find the perfect room for you and then request that room from Disney.

Hotel Room Finder
Dining

You'll find many good dining options here, from quick-and-casual at Contempo Cafe, to upscale California Grill, and character dining at Chef Mickey's.

California Grill In spite of the noise, California Grill is one of Walt Disney World’s top dining experiences. Disney has’t said what it’ll entail. It’s our guess that given the high ratings and high prices, Disney may not change much here.

Chef Mickey's

Steakhouse 71 Steakhouse 71 is located on the first floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort. It is a casual steakhouse serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with decorative reminders of 1971, the year the hotel opened. The lounge keeps the large, rectangular bar from the previous tenant and serves a few food options as well.

Contempo Café Faster service and less expensive than The Wave, and the food is fresh and tasty. There are some grab-and-go items and cashiers waiting to take orders for meals, which are brought directly to your table. Noise from the nearby Chef Mickeys can drown out all but the most enthusiastic conversationalist.

Contemporary Grounds

The Sand Bar The Sand Bar at the Contemporary Resort is one of the strangest pool bars at Walt Disney World. For one thing, it is not all that close to the pool. Second, it’s indoors... well, sort of. Essentially, Sand Bar consists of a few stools and a wall of glass behind the stools, and that’s pretty much it. What it represents is a way to get out of the Florida afternoon sun while enjoying a drink. That drink will be one of the few selections available from the standard Disney menu. A few food items are available from a walk-up window on the backside of the bar along with a few tables. It’s hard to recommend the Sand Bar to anyone not staying at the Contemporary since there are many more interesting options along the monorail loop.

California Grill Lounge You generally can order food from the full restaurant menu.

Outer Rim Lounge

Bay View Gifts

Contemporary Market

Private Dining at Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower

Refillable Mugs Allows guest self-service soft drink refills from quick-service locations in hotels (NOT in theme parks) for $22.99 for the length of stay.

Amenities

SWIPE TO EXPLORE

2 Pools

The Contemporary's main pool includes a 17-foot tall, twisting waterslide. A second, quieter pool, is a short walk away.

Arcade

The Game Station arcade is on the Contemporary's 4th floor and features relatively recent video games of all kinds.

Outdoor Movies

Free Disney Movies Under the Stars are shown most evenings, weather-permitting, near the Sky Way Bridge between Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary Resort.

Business Center

A small business center offers computer and internet access, including printers, on the Contemporary's first floor.

Jogging

One loop around the South Garden Wing of the Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower is just under 1 mile.

Fitness

On the third floor of the Contemporary's Main Tower is the the Olympiad Massage & Fitness Center, where you will find cardio machines (treadmills, regular and recumbent bicycles, and ellipticals), free weights, and weight machines. It's open 24 hours a day.

Boat Rentals

Pontoon boats that seat up to 10 adults can be rented at the marina. Check with the marina for cost and operating hours.

Early Theme Park Entry

Disney resort guests get into each theme park 30 minutes earlier than off-site guests, every day.

Buy Individual Lightning Lane Early

Those staying at Disney's Deluxe and Deluxe Villa hotels can buy Lightning Lane via Individual Purchase at 7:00 a.m. each day. Others cannot make that purchase until the official park opening time.

Extended Evening Theme Park Hours

Disney's Deluxe and DVC resort guests get two extra hours in select theme parks on certain days of the week. The schedule changes, so check with the front desk.

Monorail

Board the Walt Disney World Monorail on Floor 4 of the Contemporary Resort's Main Tower for convenient access to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and the Grand Floridian and Polynesian hotels.

Electrical Water Pageant

Performed at nightfall on Bay Lake, this show is a stunning electric-light show aboard small barges and set to nifty electronic music.

Resort amenities at-a-glance
Disney-owned
Early Theme Park Entry
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours
Book Lighting Lane Single Pass Early
Suites
Club Level
Room Service
Wireless Internet
Fitness Center
Water Sports
Marina
Beach
Transportation to Parks
Tennis
Biking
Airport Transportation

Practical Matters

Check In/Out Time

Check-in is 3:00pm
Check-out is 11:00am

Online Check-In

All Disney resorts participate in Disney’s Online Check-In program. If you’ve checked-in online and provided a mobile phone number or email address, you will receive your room number electronically. Then you can go straight to the room and use your smart phone or MagicBand to open the door, skipping the lobby altogether.

MagicBand

These rubber and plastic wrist bands can function as your room key, park admission, charge card, and more! MagicBands cost money, but if you'd like a free option you can use the official Disney World app on your phone or request an RFID-embedded card at the front desk.

Theme Park Tickets

Park tickets are best purchased online in advance either directly through Disney or via our Least Expensive Ticket Calculator. However, if you arrive without park tickets, head to the concierge desk in the hotel lobby.

Dining Reservations

Dining reservation are best made online in advance or on your phone or tablet during your visit. You can also use our Disney World Reservation Finder.

Laundry

Washers and dryers are availabile in laundry facilities at each Disney World hotel. Cost is $3 per wash, and another $3 per dry cycle. A small selection of soap, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are also sold, for around $1 each. Only credit/debit cards can be used for payment. For more information, see our Disney World Laundry Facilities page.

Lost and Found

If you lose something in a theme park or during your stay at a Disney-operated hotel, visit Disney's Lost and Found website or call (407) 824-4245.

Shopping

Disney hotels have gifts shops near their lobbies with a decent collection of Disney-branded souvenirs. You will also find basic pharmacy items such as sunscreen, aspirin, allergy and cold medicine, baby diapers and formula, shampoo, and the like. Resort hotels with Deluxe Villa rooms offer an assortment of groceries, as well.

Child Care

Disney recommends a third party company, Kid's Nite Out, to provide babysitting services at the resort hotels. See our Disney World Child Care page for more information.

Transportation

Driving to the Resort
Getting to the Parks
and Disney Springs
Getting to Another Hotel from Contemporary
Getting to Universal Orlando

More

Top 5 Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Pools
Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks Review
A Review of California Grill’s New Plant-Based Menu
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review: Part II
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Room Review

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