Buckle up because we are about to take you on a tour of one of Walt Disney World’s most popular hotels, Disney’s Contemporary Resort. If you have ever taken a ride on the monorail and you recall going THROUGH one of the hotels, this would be this one! What makes it a fan favorite? Let’s dive in!

Rooms:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort consists of two sections: the Main Tower and the Garden Wing. Guest rooms can be found in both sections however all indoor dining and amenities will be found in the Main Tower. The rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort have all just been refurbished with an INCREDIBLE makeover (which just so happens to be themed around the Disney Pixar Incredibles movies!) so you can ensure you are getting the most modern conveniences with your stay. This includes a double vanity, a mirror with a Monorail design on it, double shower heads, outlets as well as USB ports, bedside light fixtures, raised beds to hide your suitcases and so much more. The room configurations are include 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed.

Aren't these room just INCREDIBLE!

The location of this resort brings gorgeous views from many of the guest rooms. It is nestled right in between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon and is just a short walk away from the Magic Kingdom. When choosing your room category you will have the following options:

Garden Wing - Resort View
This room category is located in that secondary Garden Wing building and includes views of the Parking Area or Obstructed Views of Bay Lake.

Main Tower - Water View & Garden Wing - Water View
The Water View rooms consist of views of the Pools, Marina or Bay Lake when located in the Garden Wing. If located in the Main Tower with a water view this is exclusively a lake view! In addition to waking up to the beautiful sights of Bay Lake, an amazing  feature is being able to enjoy the Electrical Water Pageant from the comfort of your room! The Electrical Water Pageant consists of a processional of floats lit up with twinkling lights that make their way through Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon to a medley of classic tunes.

Main Tower - Theme Park View
A Pure Magic Vacations favorite is of course, a room with a view of Magic Kingdom. Is there a more magical way to wake up then enjoying a cup of coffee on your balcony looking over the most magical place on earth? Additionally, you can enjoy nightly fireworks without the crowds right from your room while your TV pipes in the soundtrack. The Electrical Water Pageant can also be seen from these rooms - it’s always fun to spend at least one night of your vacation enjoying a cozy night in with these views of the nightly entertainment!

In addition to the above room categories Disney’s Contemporary Resort also provides a variety of different suites for varying family sizes as well as Club Level rooms. Club Level rooms are another Pure Magic Vacations favorite! Here is what's included with a club level stay:

• Access to the exclusive club lounge, the Atrium Club
  This includes: Continental breakfast, Evening wine and beer selections, Desserts and cordials
  The Atrium Club also provides views of Magic Kingdom making it another great place to enjoy a cup of coffee or an alcoholic beverage which is included with your stay as a club level guest (typically limited to beers and wines)

• Easy accessibility to a Club Level Concierge Cast member
  The concierge cast members work exclusively with club level guests and can assist with park information, dining reservations, transformation information and ticket sales.
   

You can have a balcony with a view of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Dining:

As with any deluxe resort there is a wide variety of both quick service and table service dining options. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is home to some of the best restaurants on property as well as a very popular character meal!  Let us give you a quick review of each option:

Steakhouse 71 & Lounge
One of the more recent restaurant additions to Walt Disney World is Steakhouse 71 which opened in 2021 in celebration of the 50th anniversary. The walls in the entrance to the restaurant are filled with photos of the building Walt Disney World and is such an interested display of Walt Disney World history.  The restaurant offers casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our agents agree that this is one of the best places on property to grab a delicious breakfast but the food at anytime of the day is phenomenal.

Pure Magic Travel Tip: DO NOT skip out on dessert. Be sure to order the Steakhouse 71 Chocolate Cake. It is made with “15 layers of whiskey-infused chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberries – one layer for every floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.” It’s definitely big enough to share but we wouldn’t blame you if you decided to keep it to yourself!

California Grill & Lounge
Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort the California Grill serves California inspiried cuisine and a menu that changes frequently based on the season. This is because the chefs use market fresh ingredients to cook delicious meals at their on stage kitchen. This a pre-fixe three course meal that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert with the option to add on a wine pairing as well.

We believe this may be the restaurant with the best view in all of Walt Disney World as it overlooks the Magic Kingdom making evening reservations in high demand. Each night, the lights will dim and the music will be piped in throughout the restaurant for the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Restaurant guests are also invited to enjoy the show from the open air observation deck.

Chef Mickey’s
At Disney’s Contemporary Resort you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat character buffet hosted by the mouse that started it all, Mickey Mouse! This restaurant is located right in the heart of the grand concourse where you can enjoy views of the monorail coming and going through the hotel! The buffet is open for breakfast and dinner reservations. 

Pure Magic Travel Tip: Character meals are a fantastic way to meet some of your favorite Disney Pals! This will allow you to meet multiple characters at one time without standing in any lines.

Contempo Cafe
The counter-service dining location at this resort is the Contempo Cafe, also found in the grand concourse! Here you will find plenty of delicious grab and go options and features an array of sandwiches and salads.

Contemporary Grounds
Located on the ground floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is this small and very convenient coffee shop for those looking to get a caffeine boost before heading out to the theme parks. You can find coffee at the Contempo Cafe however, at Contemporary Grounds you will find a gourmet menu of coffees, iced teas, and smoothies!

The Sand Bar
The Sand Bar is located right along side the main “Feature Pool.” Here you will find a selection of food and beverage options that will compliment the perfect pool day. Choose from menu items such as burgers and hot dogs as well as specialty cocktails!

Outer Rim
Looking for the perfect spot to take in an alcoholic beverage and beautiful views? The Outer Rim is the hotel’s lounge that offers specialty cocktails like the famous Pina CoLAVA as well as a full bar for just about anything you can think to order! We recommend checking it out around sunset as the seating area is enclosed by floor to ceiling windows that overlook Bay Lake!

Chef Mickey's is one of the most popular character meal locations on Walt Disney World property.

Transportation/Location:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the closest hotel to Magic Kingdom! You can leave your room and be inside the Magic Kingdom in just under 10 minutes and less time en route means more time making memories in the park! If you would like skip the designated walkway to Magic Kingdom you can always jump on the monorail instead! The convenient access to the monorail is not exclusively for  transportation to the Magic Kingdom. The monorail has a route that will take you to EPCOT as well! All you have to do is hop off and transfer monorails at the Transportation and Ticket Center!

If looking to visit anywhere else on Walt Disney World property such as Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs or the Water Parks you'll find bus transportation running continuously throughout the day.

Recreation & Amenities:

Guests staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will want to schedule a day to enjoy all that the resort has to offer in terms of recreation and amenities. To start off, there are two pools for guests to cool off at: The Feature Pool & the Bay Lake Pool.

At the Feature Pool you can soak up the sun and scenic views of white sand beaches along Bay Lake while choosing to cool off the in the large pool or relaxing in the hot tub. The Feature Pool also has a 17 foot waterslide! Here you will also find the Recreation Team Cast Members who spend their afternoons organzing fun poolside games and activities for guests to participate in. These are geared towards younger Mousekateers however, if you are feeling competitive enough to join in on Disney Trivia or Name That Tune, we encourage it! The Bay Lake Pool is going to be a much quieter pool for those just looking to relax. If looking to maximize your relaxation, consider renting one of the poolside Cabanas! These include comfortable lounge chairs, a mini fridge including cold beverages, a ceiling fan and more!

The Contemporary Resort pool is a perfect spot so soak up some sunshine and to rest from a busy park day!

Surrounding the two pool areas there is a kids splash area, a volleyball net, jogging trails as well as the marina that offers motorized boat rentals and fishing opportunities!  Some additional recreational offerings are the basketball and tennis courts found on the opposite side of Bay Lake Tower, the Game Station Arcade found in the Grand Concourse as well as the Olympiad Fitness Center.

When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, each hotel is going to have a designated recreation team. In addition to organizing the fun poolside games and activities however, they also put on daily evening entertainment as well. Most nights you can participate in a campfire with complimentary marshmallows (and s’mores kits available for purchase) followed by a Disney movie under the stars played on a big blow up screen! This is why our Pure Magic Agents love to suggest a day to enjoy your resort and everything it has to offer. It acts a nice rest day yet, still filled with lots of fun things to do!

Shopping: 

The last category on our list is one we could never forget, the shopping opportunities found at Disney's Contemporary Resort! Here you will find three merchandise locations all located in the Grand Concourse. 

Bayview Gifts  is where you will find most of luxury goods along with adult apparel, jewelry, framed artwork, housewares, sweet treats and more.

Fantasia is geared more towards the younger Mouskateers as it is primarily filled with toys and souvenirs such as pins, pens and keychains!

Fantasia Market  is home to any additional packages foods or drinks you'd like purchase for the duration of your stay. Here you will also find a selection of beers and wines to bring back to your room with you!

Our Pure Magic Vacations agents are ready to help make your next vacation magical and memorable. The magic is calling you, so reach out to an agent today to get started on booking your dream vacation! 

Planning magical vacations for families since 2011, Pure Magic Vacations is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency - EarMarked Platinum Producer.