Top Reasons to Stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is AAA Four-Diamond modern/contemporary style hotel featuring 655 guest rooms & suites in a 15-story tower and adjacent three-story garden buildings.  Although one of the original hotels (opened in 1971), this resort is one of the higher quality resorts at Walt Disney World due to its proximity to the Magic Kingdom and its location along Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Nightly room rates for Disney’s Contemporary vary based on time of year and individual room and range from less than $500 to more than $1,000 per night.  At times Disney offers promotional rates and discounts to Annual Passholders and certain club members like AAA and Costco.  

Immediately adjacent to the resort is the Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort which is part of Disney’s Vacation Club (similar to time share ownership).  This 15-story property addition opened in August 2009 a site that housed the North Garden Wing Rooms.  There is a skyway bridge that connects Bay Lake Tower to the Contemporary Resort.

The Contemporary is located along the “Monorail Loop” with stops not only at the hotel and the Magic Kingdom, but also Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.  Since you are located right outside of the Magic Kingdom park within the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, guests will enjoy all that Disney has to offer right at their door step.

When arriving in Orlando it will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes to get to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Space from the Orlando International Airport and about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the Orlando / Orange County Convention Center.  Other Orlando area theme parks and local attractions are also a short distance to the hotel and per Google Maps, travel time is as follows (non-peak hours):

• SeaWorld Orlando: Less than 15 minutes.
• Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort: approximately 12 minutes.
• The Universal Orlando Resort: approximately 25 minutes.
• Downtown Orlando: Approximately 35 to 40 minutes.
• Vineland Premium Outlets: Approximately 20 minutes

Why stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? 

The Endless Summer Florida family has stayed at most hotels at The Walt Disney World Resort and depending on our plans for the individual visit, we choose an individual hotel for specific reasons.  If the current hotel rates are within our budget, the Contemporary Resort is always near the top of our list.

Here are the seven reasons we like staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

• Walking Distance to the Magic Kingdom Park
• Outstanding Views
• Amazing Outdoor Amenities
• Chef Mickey’s Character Dining
• The Monorail
• The California Grill
• Electrical Water Pageant

Walking Distance to the Magic Kingdom

The best reason to to stay at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort is it’s proximity to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park.  When guests walk out the front door of the hotel they are within a 5- minute walk to the front gate.  There is a walking path that crosses World Drive and passes alongside the Bus Terminal.

The only other way to be closer to the Magic Kingdom is to stay in the Cinderella Suite where you are actually within the park itself.  

In addition to the walking path guest can take the The Walt Disney World Monorail (which literally passes through the Contemporary) as well as Disney’s water taxi service.  The water taxi picks up guests on a regular basis at the rear of the hotel along Bay Lake.  If you are not pressed for time, this is an enjoyable ride where guests can experience great views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and the Magic Kingdom.

Amazing Views

The Contemporary Resort is uniquely situated along the shores of Bay Lake and has stunning views of both the lake as well as the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Guests can enjoy nightly fireworks right from their room (those facing the Magic Kingdom) or from the Sky Bridge connection the Contemporary to Bay Lake Tower.   

Endless Summer Tip: If your budget can swing it, we highly recommend getting a room facing the Magic Kingdom on the eight floor or higher.  It is completely worth the additional cost.

Outstanding Pools and Resort Amenities

Guests staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will enjoy some of the best amenities of any resort hotel at Walt Disney World.

These amenities and recreational offerings include:

• Resort style pool with water slide
• Poolside cabana rentals
• Children’s splash pad with water play area
• White sandy beach facing Bay Lake
• Motorized boat rentals & specialty cruises
• Fishing excursions
• Basketball, Tennis and sand Volleyball courts
• The Game Station (on-site game room)
• Numerous organized activities

In addition to those items shown above, guests of the Contemporary can take advantage of a number of Disney benefits which include:

• Early Theme Park Entry: 30 minute advance entry to the Disney theme parks.
• Extended Evening Theme Park Hours: guests staying at the Contemporary and other select Disney resorts will enjoy extended hours at the end of the day on select nights at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks.
• Complimentary resort wide transportation:  Free transportation to all four theme parks, two water parks and Disney Springs.

Chef Mickey’s

Guests looking forward to meeting Mickey Mouse will love that character dining is available right on-site at the Contemporary Resort.  Open for both breakfast and dinner service, Chef Mickey’s Family Feast is the perfect place to meet Mickey Mount and some of his friends.

The buffet style breakfast  includes standard American fare including scrambled eggs, bacon, Mickey Waffles, potato-cheese casserole, mickey pancakes, banana bread French toast, sausage and beef brisket.  Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s costs $42 per adult and $27 per child (plus tax and gratuity).

Dinner  is served family-style (like Chip and Dale’s Harvest Feast at Epcot) and includes  salads, prime rib, roasted salmon, roasted turkey, tofu, carrots, asparagus, a variety of potatoes and a dessert selection.  Dinner at Chef Mickey’s costs $55 per adult and $36 per child (plus tax and gratuity).  Wine, beer and specialty cocktails are also offered at an additional cost.

The Monorail

As previously indicated, the Walt Disney World Monorail goes right through the Contemporary.  Guests can take the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.   In addition, guests can transfer to a different Monorail at the Transportation and Ticket Center and head over to Epcot.

Learn more about Epcot at our Ultimate Guide to EPCOT at The World Disney World Resort.

The California Grill

Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the California Grill is one the best dining experiences in all of the Walt Disney World Resort.  From this vantage point, guests will enjoy spectacular views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom park.

Accessed only by private elevator, this fine dining restaurant is open only for dinner service from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.  The menu consists of a variety of American fare, seafood and sushi.  

In honor of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World, the California Grill is offering a special three-course tasting meal starting October 3, 2021.  The meal beings with an appetizer choice of a sushi classics trio, braised beef short rib wontons or dock a’ l’ orange pizza. 

Entrée choices include the oak fired filet of beef, grilled port tenderloin or Florida black grouper.   The experience is finished with one of the spectacularly themed desserts to highlight the 50th anniversary celebration.

The Electrical Water Pageant

The Electrical Water Pageant is a nightly parade which runs in the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Typically starting around 9:00 PM to approximately 10:30 PM, guests staying at the Contemporary have an excellent view pageant from the shoreline along Bay Lake or from the rooms facing the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Hotels Rates at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary is one of the premium hotel’s at The World Disney World Resort and unfortunately it does not come cheap.  

Depending on the time of year, nightly hotel rates start from around $500,00 and can exceed $1,000 for rooms with premium views during peak times.

Discounts are available for Annual Passholders as well as certain club memberships (AAA, Costco, etc.).  There are no resort fees at Disney’s Contemporary Resort but there is a 6% resort tax on top of a 6.5% sales tax on rates for each of these hotels.   Valet parking is available and costs $39.00 per night.