A review of Disney's Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. Including rooms, dining and amenities.
Most recognisable by it's unique A-frame structure, Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of Walt Disney World's oldest hotels. Originally built for the grand opening in 1971, the resort has recently undergone a refurbishment, resulting in fresh and modern rooms themed around Disney's The Incredibles.
The resorts location on the edge of Seven Seas Lagoon makes it one of the few from where guests can view the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It's also an easy 10 minute walk to the front of the park.
Disney's Contemporary Resort offers some of the most diverse dining options of all the hotels on property. It also encompasses a number of shops, a large pool area, a beach, and even the iconic Disney World Monorail travels through the main hotel building.
We stayed in the Garden Wing area of the resort during the summer of 2022, and this review covers what we thought of the location, rooms, and amenities on offer.
Location
Situated in the Magic Kingdom Resort area of Walt Disney World, Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of 3 complexes situated around Seven Seas Lagoon. The other two are Disney's Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Both therefore provide extra options for drinking, dining and shopping nearby.
Contemporary Resort is the closest to Magic Kingdom, which can be easily reached on foot. This is seen as a huge benefit to guests, and the reason it is one of the more expensive Deluxe Disney Hotels.
Guests travelling to Epcot can catch the monorail directly from the hotel to the Transportation & Ticket Center, before transferring to the Epcot monorail.
For Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs, the Disney Buses pull up right beside the main Contemporary Tower.
Layout
There are 2 main areas to Disney's Contemporary Resort. The Contemporary Tower and the Garden Wing, with a pool complex conveniently situated between the two.
The Garden Wing mainly consists of bedrooms. Whereas the Contemporary Tower also houses the reception lobby, shops, restaurants, a conference centre, plus the monorail station.
Due to it's structure, these facilities are found on different levels of the building.
Level 1 (Ground Level)
The main lobby is on the first floor at ground level which provides easy access for dropping off guests.
This wide open space is a colourful combination of murals, pictures, carpets, and wooden flooring, creating the perfect place to grab a coffee from Contemporary Grounds before relaxing in one of the many seating areas dotted around.
It's also home to Steakhouse 71 (formally The Wave), a casual dining Table Service Restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Continuing through to the back of the lobby brings you to the pool area and pathway to the Garden Wing rooms.
Level 4 (main atrium)
The 2nd floor of Contemporary Tower mainly comprises the rather dingy surrounds of a Conference Center, with a Health Club on the floor above. Then at Level 4, the large and lively Grand Canyon Concourse is situated.
Here, a huge Mary Blair mosaic provides an impressive backdrop to a number of shops, more restaurants, a small bar, plus the monorail entrance.
Outside, there's also an open platform with views across to Magic Kingdom, plus a covered bridge which provides a walkway to Disney's Vacation Club Bay Lake Tower residence.
Looking up from the main concourse, you'll see doors to the bedrooms of Contemporary Tower. Then at the very top, on the 15th floor, is one of Disney Worlds best loved signature restaurants, California Grill.
There are pros and cons to staying in either location. The Contemporary Tower bedrooms are obviously more central to most facilities. Plus, they offer views of Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon at one side, or Bay Lake on the other. However, an open corridor is the only thing separating the noisy Grand Canyon Concourse from the bedroom doors.
Whereas the Garden Wing rooms are in a quieter area, which is a few minutes walk away from the main tower, but closer to the pool complex.
Personally, we loved our Garden Wing room. The slight inconvenience of a 5 minute walk to the main tower was far outweighed by the fantastic Bay Lake view. I mean, from how many other hotel bedrooms can you to watch the Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat gliding in to place each morning, or the nighttime Electrical Water Pageant during the evening.
Bedroom features & fittings
Another element we loved about Disney's Contemporary Resort were the recently updated The Incredibles themed bedrooms.
There are fun touches throughout the hotel, with many evident in the bedrooms themselves. The furniture, lighting, cushions and curtains all centre around the theme, and there's even a surprise 'hanging' in the large wardrobe.
Light colours help create a sense of space, plus the long sofa converts into a day bed if required. This meant our family of 2 adults and 2 older teenagers enjoyed a very comfortable stay.
A Keurig coffee machine and coffee pods are provided for your morning caffeine fix, plus a small fridge to store milk and a few extra perishables in. Around this area are a couple of handy shelves where we kept our snacks, with more shelving available in the wardrobes.
There's also a safe, ironing board, iron, and hairdryer.
The large bathroom is all clean lines and big mirrors. In here you'll find a double sink, walk-in shower, towels, toiletries, plus separate toilet area separated off with a sliding door.
Overall Opinion:
As Disney hotel bedrooms go, these were some of the best we've stayed in. Helped by the recent update, they were clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed as our home for the week.
Disney's Contemporary Resort Facilities
Pools and surrounding area
The Contemporary Resort pool area is situated at the back of the main tower, between the Garden Wing and Bay Lake Tower.
Its location on the edge of Bay Lake means it also encompasses a white sandy beach with a volleyball net and sunbeds. Further sunloungers are available around the main Feature Pool, as well as the quieter Bay Pool. There are also private cabanas to rent for an added sense of luxury. Complimentary towels are provided for all guests, and some loungers have parasols for extra shade.
A 17ft high waterslide at the Feature Pool, as well as a great children's water playground just outside the gates to the main pool entrance, provide lots of fun. Plus, Cast Members appear at various times throughout the day to help entertain the youngsters with poolside activities.
A little further along, there's a giant checkers board, as well as the famous Mickey Ears sculpture which creates a great photo opportunity.
Poolside dining
The Sand Bar keeps guests refreshed with a limited food menu. This mainly consists of burger, hotdog, or salad, plus ice cream snacks and a variety of drinks.
What the menu lacks in choices it makes up for in portion sizes. The burgers we ordered were huge and came with a generous helping of fries.
Soft drinks, including Refillable Mug top ups are available here. Or if you fancy something a little stronger, a number of beers, wines, and cocktails are also included on the menu.
Overall Opinion:
In our opinion, there are better Disney hotel pool areas with more appealing surroundings than the rather exposed Contemporary Resort pool. However, we still spent a pleasant few hours enjoying the facilities one hot and sunny afternoon.
Contemporary Resort Dining
Although the pool area might not live up to the level of some other Deluxe Disney Hotels, Contemporary Resort dining offerings are some of the best on property.
From the varied menu at Contempo Cafe Counter Service restaurant, to Character Dining at Chef Mickey's, and even the chance to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks from your California Grill table, Disney's Contemporary Resort has options to suit most budgets and palettes.
Contempo Cafe (Counter Service Restaurant)
Situated on the 4th floor at one end of the Grand Canyon Concourse, Contempo Cafe opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A takeaway service is available. Or you can dine in courtesy of the large seating area which offers one of the best views of the monorail entering the hotel.
On the Contempo Cafe menu are a good selection of healthy options alongside some tasty sandwiches, burgers, and flatbreads.
Personally, I love the Kale Power Greens Salad from here. The Hot Turkey Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich are also recommended. And don't forget to look out for the Limited Time Offerings. During our last trip this included Chef Gina's Lemon Grass Chicken Banh Mi, which was absolutely delicious.
There's also a large Refillable Mug station inside the restaurant for any guests who purchase this option during their trip.
Hint: Contempo Cafe can become quite busy at certain times of the day, so to avoid a long wait, I recommend Mobile Ordering your food prior to arrival. This is done via the MyDisneyExperience App.
Chef Mickey's (Character Dining Table Service Restaurant)
Situated right next door to Contempo Cafe is Chef Mickey's. This popular Character Table Service restaurant features Mickey Mouse, alongside Minnie and Goofy, all dressed in their chefs attire.
A small barrier is all that separates the 2 dining areas, which enables Contempo Cafe diners to spot the odd Disney character as they greet guests at nearby Chef Mickey's tables.
Breakfast and dinner are served family style, so you can sit back and relax as your meal and the various characters come to you.
Due to its popularity, booking is highly recommended to guarantee a table at Chef Mickey's.
Outer Rim (Bar)
Situated to one side of the 4th floor is Disney's Contemporary Resort Outer Rim bar.
This small bar is completely open to the rest of the concourse, making it's quite noisy and lacking the cosy feeling of some other bars on Disney property.
However, it does offer great views, enabling guests to sip cocktails, wines and beer whilst looking out over the main pool and Bay Lake in the distance.
Outer Rim opens daily during the afternoon and evening. Hours differ according to days of the week, therefore it's best to check before you head over here.
Steakhouse 71 (Table Service Restaurant & Lounge)
Further dining and lounge bar options can be found on the ground floor level, just off the main lobby.
Steakhouse 71 (formally The Wave) is a casual Table Service restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For those who don't want a full meal, there's a large lounge bar where guests can order from a limited selection of snacks whilst enjoying one of the many alcoholic or soft drinks on the menu.
California Grill (Signature Dining Restaurant & Lounge Bar)
For the ultimate dining experience, Disney's Contemporary Resort also has a Table Service Restaurant situated on the 15th floor of the main tower.
Restaurant
California Grill serves a set price 3-course fine dining menu which includes dishes such as sushi, steak, and tortes.
As well as the delicious food, another big draw is the fabulous view which gives diners the opportunity to watch the Magic Kingdom evening fireworks. This makes California Grill a popular choice for guests wishing to dine at one of Walt Disney World's Signature Restaurants.
Lounge Bar
If you don't manage to snag a reservation, or if you'd prefer to dine at California Grill without the costly price tag, try securing a seat at the Lounge Bar.
We did this during our 2022 visit, and it was one of our most enjoyable dining experiences. Our amazing bartender, Ray, mixed us cocktails and mocktails, then organised our food as we chatted about all things Disney.
The bar menu is mostly limited to sushi dishes and pizza, with a few other options. However, its delicious, and makes the perfect accompaniment to all the drinks.
Our sushi orders were the Spicy Kazan Roll, plus the Blue Crab California Roll, which were both delicious and provided generous portions. As did the tasty Duck A L'Orange Pizza. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Chef's Selection of California Cheeses. I recommend choosing a different option if you're hungry.
Hint: Seats at the bar cannot be reserved, and are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
California Grill check in desk is situated on the 2nd floor of the main Contemporary Tower, so I recommend arriving here 30 minutes before the restaurant opens to add your name to the Lounge Bar waiting list.
Activities and Entertainment
As with all other Disney Hotels, Contemporary Resort offers a few extra activities. In addition to the pools and beach volleyball at Contemporary Resort, there are tennis and basketball courts over at Bay Lake Tower which all guests are welcome to use. Complimentary sports equipment is available at both locations.
4 nights a week, Movies Under the Stars are shown (weather permitting) on the grass area between the main pool and Bay Lake Tower. With marshmallow toasting taking place daily around the nearby campfire.
The resorts location on the banks of Bay Lake means there's more fun to be had on the water in the form of fishing excursions, boat rentals, plus speciality cruises to coincide with the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
These are all paid extras. However, if you wish to watch the fireworks without the additional cost, there's a viewing platform situated off level 4 of the main tower.
This doesn't offer the best view of the nighttime spectacular, therefore, I wouldn't recommend this as the only way you see the show. However, it's an alternative if you don't wish to traipse back to Magic Kingdom. Plus, if you're lucky, you might be treated to a pre-show by Mother Nature as the sun sets over the park.
And don't forget the Electrical Water Pageant which takes place each night (weather permitting) on Bay Lake. It's pretty tame, but definitely worth a watch if you're around the hotel as it glides in to place.
Contempoary Resort Shopping
Contemporary Resort has some great stores, all brimming with Disney merchandise.
Situated right in the middle of the 4th floor concourse, and recognisable by the huge Mickey Ears entrance, is Fantasia. The shop mainly sells a variety of toys and pins, so kids will love this place.
For clothing and homeware, head next door to Bayview Gifts. Here, there's a wide selection of mugs, t-shirts, shirts, backpacks, bags, towels and more.
Fantasia Market also stocks a few souvenirs, including MagicBands and autograph books. In this shop, tucked away in the corner of the 4th floor, there's a range of food and drinks, as well as other toiletry essentials.
Transportation & Parking
We found a real benefit of staying at Contemporary Resort was the ease with which we could travel to all the parks. This was our first Disney World trip without a car, so it was a relief to discover how great the Disney transportation system is.
There are a number of options according to which park you wish to visit from Contemporary Resort.
Monorail
The hotels monorail station is accessed via the escalator or lift on the 4th floor, and all guests are required to pass through security before boarding.
There are 2 monorail loops. The one which travels through the hotel is the Resort Monorail. This continues to the Transportation & Ticket Center, onwards to Disney's Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian, then Magic Kingdom before heading back to Contemporary Resort.
Guests travelling to Epcot need to disembark at the Transportation & Ticket Center, then transfer to the Epcot Monorail which runs on a different line to the park entrance. There's no requirement for security screening again at Epcot, which means heading straight to the turnstiles instead.
Walking
The same applies when walking to Magic Kingdom from the hotel. There's a small security station on the path which runs between the perimeter of the park and the Magic Kingdom bus depot. Once through, you simply continue along the walkway toward the park entrance.
Disney Bus
For Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs, the Disney Buses pull up right beside the main Contemporary Tower.
There's a handy board at the bus stop with estimated arrival times of each bus. Alternatively, you can check these on the resort section of the MyDisneyExperience App.
Car
If you're planning to use a car during your trip, there's plenty of parking available at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
The main parking lot is handy for Contemporary Tower, and there are more spaces further along for guests staying in the Garden Wing.
Tip: Walt Disney World charge a nightly parking fee at all resorts. For guests staying at Contemporary Resort, the charge is $25 per night. So you'll need to factor this in to the overall cost of your stay.
Disney's Contemporary Resort Review at a glance:
Pros:
- Proximity to Magic Kingdom.
- Recently refurbished rooms with a fun theme.
- Range of dining options.
- Extra pull-down bed.
Cons:
- A popular resort for non-hotel guest, so the Grand Canyon Concourse can become extremely busy at times
Star Rating: 
(4.7 / 5)
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Disney's Contemporary Resort Review Summary
We really enjoyed our first stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The main building may not have the cosy hotel feeling some others do, but its proximity to Magic Kingdom can't be beat.
The refurbished rooms are fantastic, housing everything we needed in spacious and fun surroundings.
Although there are better pools at other Disney hotels, Contemporary Resort restaurants and shops are some of the best on property. With the added bonus of extra options available just a short monorail ride away.
Some of our highlights were waking up to the sound of the Magic Kingdom Ferry Boats, watching the Electrical Water Pageant before bed, and enjoying wonderful service at the California Grill Lounge Bar.
For all these reasons, if you're considering a stay at one of Walt Disney World's Deluxe Hotels, Contemporary Resort would definitely be high on my list of recommendations.
Up to date information, current room rates and availability can be found by visiting the Contemporary Resort pages of the Walt Disney World website.
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