If you’ve ever dreamed of staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, one of the most classic and timeless resorts in all of Walt Disney World, you’re going to want to read this.
We were able to spend a few days at the Contemporary and while we are so grateful that we finally were able to fulfill a life long dream, we’re very glad we did so on a very short term basis.
For anyone looking to stay at this deluxe resort, here’s what you need to know.
Contemporary Resort Review
We’ll start off with our review and then get into more specifics about the resort. My husband, our 3 kids and my parents got 2 rooms at the Contemporary. Obviously with 7 people we need to split into 2 rooms so thankfully we were able to get into 2 rooms next to one another.
If you’re new to the Contemporary, there are 2 main areas where the rooms are located. The first is the main tower, which is where the monorail goes through and where Chef Mickey’s is located.
There’s also the Garden Wing which is adjacent to the main tower so you won’t see the monorail but you also won’t hear Chef Mickey’s (more on that later).
The rooms were a good size with 2 beds and a pull out couch for people to sleep on. We loved the balcony overlooking the water and it was SO fun to see the monorail soar in and out of the building.
It was super easy to get around – we actually walked to Magic Kingdom but hopping on the monorail was just as easy. The buses are easy to find and another great transportation option.
Check In
The check-in was easy and our kids loved hanging out in the kid approved section with kid sized chairs and Disney movies streaming. We got our room numbers and headed on up!
Theme
The theming of the Contemporary Hotel is taken from the Incredibles movies. Open the closet doors to discover super suits, enjoy the fun character-themed pillows and close the curtains for even more surprises! If you stay there, be sure to watch the movie to thoroughly enjoy the decor!
We always love noticing Disney’s attention to detail with the theme included in everything from the art to the night stand to the bathroom.
Location
The Contemporary Resort is located right next to Magic Kingdom – as we mentioned before, you can walk right to it!
Rooms
When it comes to the Contemporary rooms, there are a few options. There are:
- Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 5 adults)
- Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 8 adults)
- Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 4 adults)
- 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas (sleep up to 12 adults)
Amenities:
- Wifi
- Hairdryer
- Coffee and tea station
- In-room safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Mini fridge
We stayed in a regular room right off of Chef Mickey’s and were very comfortable. The room was spacious enough for 4 people (we split up so there was 4 in one room and 3 in the other). Deluxe rooms are larger than others so we had plenty of space!
We had a water view of Marina Lake which was beautiful but noisy at night (more on that below!) It was so nice to have a balcony where the kids could take in the full view. It felt very spacious – we all loved it!
Transportation
There are many ways to get to and from the parks when you stay at the Contemporary. You can walk right to Magic Kingdom, or hop on the monorail to get to either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom
There are also buses that will get you to the other parks (including water parks) and Disney Springs.
Dining
There are a few dining options at the Contemporary. They are:
- California Grill – upscale fine dining
- Chef Mickey’s – character dining, buffet
- Contempo Cafe- quick service American food
- Contemporary Grounds – coffee shop
- Cove Bar – pool bar
- Outer Rim – bar lounge
- The Sand Bar – pool bar
- Steakhouse 71 – steakhouse
- Steakhouse 71 Lounge – bar lounge
Pools
There are 2 pools – the Feature Pool which has marina views and white sand beaches. This pool is heated (which was perfect since we were there in January!) and has a 17 foot waterslide that my kids loved!
There was also a fun kiddie splash pad area that my younger kids loved playing in! It was a great way to transition into the pool on chillier days.
One thing that I love as a mom to little ones is that Disney has complimentary life jackets. I was able to use them with my kids and have major peace of mind. And also, the life guards are FANTASTIC. They are constantly moving and checking every inch of the pool. I once heard that in training their supervisors count how often they move their head and they have to meet a certain quota!
There’s also the Bay Lake Pool which is an all ages leisure pool which we fondly refer to as the “quiet pool” since loud noises and splashing are “gently discouraged”. Check out all the different pools here!
Recreation
In addition to the pool, there’s a lot of other activities going on at the Contemporary. To be honest, we didn’t do most of these since we were there for such a short time but we did see most of these!
- Campfire Activities
- Roast marshmallows with the whole family to close out your day at Disney! Just a note – there is an extra fee for s’mores making kits.
- Movies Under the Stars
- Didn’t get enough Disney that day or just want to relax and enjoy a classic Disney movie? On select nights you can watch a movie on a large screen.
- Game Station
- Inside the Contemporary Tower is an arcade room! If you love video games or need a break from being outside, you’ll love this area!
- Jogging Trail
- Didn’t get enough steps in or training for a Disney Race? Hop on the jogging trail that goes around Bay Lake Tower and the South Garden Wing that is just under 1 mile.
- Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis
- There’s sports of all kinds at the Contemporary!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Larger rooms
- Both bus and monorail access
- Fun theming throughout the resort
- Walkable to Magic Kingdom
- Classic Disney resort!
Cons:
- More expensive
- LOUD!!
Benefits of Staying at the Contemporary
- Extra magic hours
- Transportation to and from parks
- Ability to make dining reservations 60 days in advance of your check in date
- Eligibility to make lighting lane purchases at 7:00am ET one week before check in
- Complimentary parking at your Disney resort, the Disney Parks, water parks and Disney Springs
What You Need to Know Before Booking
We learned a few things during our stay at the Contemporary. If you’re planning on staying there, these might help!
1. It is LOUD in the main building.
We were so excited to be in the main building so we could watch the monorail glide in and out but what we didn’t realize was the sounds from Chef Mickey’s would go right up into our room…even after our little ones went to bed.
Every 10ish minutes, the songs and clapping from downstairs would fill our rooms. Our poor kids had such a hard time falling asleep!
And then if that’s not bad enough, the Electric Water Pageant started up which we heard from the other side of the room! My husband and I were excited to see the floating lights far off in the distance only to realize they get super close to the Contemporary. Fun, yes, but VERY noisy. We could hear it clear as day from bed.
This was a huge turn off for us and a big factor in why we wouldn’t stay there again.
2. The Bathroom is a good size but everything is connected
Our bathrooms had a double sink and a separate area for the toilet. The one issue was that you had to go through the sink/shower area to get to the toilet so if someone was taking a shower and you needed to use the toilet you wouldn’t be able to get in.
Should you stay at the Contemporary?
All in all we enjoyed our stay at the Contemporary but sadly we can’t recommend it to families with kids. If you’re on an adults only trip and you don’t mind a little noise or using a sound machine to sleep, it’s a fun, classic place to stay in an incredible location! But just keep in mind the noise factors if you’re someone who loves their sleep.
Or, be sure to book a room in the building not connected to the monorail and Chef Mickey’s. I feel like most of the fun of staying at the Contemporary is walking out of your room only to be welcomed by the monorail entering in so personally I wouldn’t love to stay in another building and would much rather stay at another monorail resort (we love the Polynesian).