Disney's Contemporary Resort is located in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, adjacent to the Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake. Disney's Contemporary Resort is an ultra-modern Disney Deluxe Resort, made up of a towering A-frame high-rise building—the iconic Contemporary Tower—and complemented by one garden wing annex. This lakeside Resort is the only hotel in Walt Disney World Resort to have the Walt Disney World Monorail System pass through the main concourse. The Contemporary Tower houses most of the resort's key facilities, including resort registration and the guest service concierge. The main hall, named the Grand Canyon Concourse, is also located in the main tower and houses restaurants and a variety of shops. Approximately 500 guest rooms line the outer walls of the Contemporary Tower. The Walt Disney World Monorail System runs through the inside of this building and a monorail station is located here for resort guests. Adorning the concourse walls is a multi-story mosaic designed by Mary Blair. One three-story wing flanks the south side of the tower and houses an additional 250 rooms.
Boasting views of nearby Space Mountain attraction and Cinderella Castle, the Resort overlooks 4.5 miles of shoreline along Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon and is the closest hotel to Magic Kingdom theme park. At the hotel's award-winning California Grill restaurant on the 15th floor, dine in comfort as you behold nightly fireworks from the park. You can also pick up the monorail on the fourth floor to easily make your way to Magic Kingdom theme park and Epcot theme park.
The sprawling grounds include a marina, pools, restaurants, recreational facilities, a health club, tennis courts and convention facilities. Whether your wish is to relax on the white-sand beach by the pools, indulge in a revitalizing massage or savor sensational food as you take in stunning views, Disney's Contemporary Resort is sure to meet all your needs.
Guest Rooms
Tower rooms are located in the original A-frame building, through which the monorail runs. The south garden rooms are detached from the A-frame as a separate wing. Some parts of tower have views of the Magic Kingdom and others have a view of Bay Lake. As one of the original resorts on property, the Contemporary Resort has some of the largest guest rooms in Walt Disney World, matched only by Disney's Polynesian Resort which also opened in 1971.
Standard tower guest rooms contain two queen beds or one king bed, a day bed/couch, a sitting table, a credenza with a TV and a coffee maker, a small refrigerator, bathtub and dual sinks, and a closet. The Contemporary Resort also offers suites, as well as two levels of concierge (sometimes referred to as "club") service on the 12th and 14th floors.
Disney announced that the entire 14th floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort will be converted to a health-and-wellness theme, complete with a private yoga studio, custom-designed menus, and concierge services, to attract health-conscious travelers. Guest rooms will be outfitted with amenities such as bamboo floors, low-allergen pillows and mattresses, exercise equipment, and massage tables.
Dining
- Chef Mickey's - Chef Mickey's is a buffet restaurant serving breakfast and dinner flavors—and your favorite Disney Characters!—at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The whole brood will chow down in smiles while the likes of Mickey or any assortment of his pals roams the restaurant. You never know who might show up! Delicious seasonal specialties make for a spectacular spread in this bright, happy space located beneath the quiet whisks of the monorail. Breakfast includes a premium fruit bar, cereal selections, American classics like pancakes (with fun toppings!), Mickey Mouse waffles, eggs, omelettes and pastries.
- The California Grill - California Grill is a Signature Dining restaurant that serves up award-winning gourmet dinners and sweeping views atop Disney's Contemporary Resort. Venture into this vibrant and charged atmosphere and watch the creation of culinary masterpieces in the on-stage kitchen. Choose your view—the shimmering Seven Seas Lagoon, the enchanting Magic Kingdom theme park, the fireworks bursting over Cinderella Castle or, perhaps best of all, each other. Linger over the unforgettable vistas as you taste refined flavors influenced by the cultural melting pot of the American Pacific Coast.
- The Wave - The Wave...of American Flavors at Disney's Contemporary Resort is a casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here, you can enjoy American-style dishes with international flavors, healthy dining options and trendy cocktails. Choose from a la carte breakfast options or a bountiful buffet and enjoy a delicious start to your day at The Wave...of American Flavors. The a la carte menu features traditional American breakfast fare, like egg dishes, Muesli and Omega Berry Smoothies. For lunch, light eaters can choose from chilled Laughing Bird citrus-marinated shrimp, lump crab-Florida rock shrimp cakes with cucumber tomato salsa, crispy salads, or a delicious vegetarian wrap with seasonal vegetables and fajita-seasoned tofu. Evenings bring distinctive dinners that combine American and world flavors, such as a sustainable fish selection paired with corn and edamame (soybean) stew and cilantro chutney, grilled beef tenderloin with shallot butter, potato gateau and summer ratatouille, or naturally raised, oven-roasted chicken with locally sourced seasonal vegetables.
- The Sand Bar - Located poolside, the Sand Bar is a counter-service eatery and bar that serves up various meals and snacks for the entire family, including hamburgers and ice cream.
- Contempo Cafe - Wave at the passing monorail while you order on touch-screen kiosks. Menu items include flavorful flatbreads and hot and savory sandwiches, like honey lime chicken.
Touring Tips
- Disney's Contemporary Resort is conveniently located within walking distance of Magic Kingdom theme park.
- The Contemporary Tower is home to most of the Resort's facilities, including Registration, Guest Services and the 4th floor Grand Canyon Concourse. In addition to the monorail station, this main hall houses 2 restaurants, various shops and a 90-foot, floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural created by Disney Legend, Mary Blair, celebrating the Grand Canyon and the Southwest.
- In addition to fishing excursions, watercraft rentals and a 24-hour, high-tech game room, the larger of the 2 pools offers a 17-foot high curving slide for endless fun. There's also a wading pool for little ones.
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort is a 15-story major addition that officially opened on August 4, 2009. Bay Lake Tower's 5th floor is connected by a skyway from the main tower's 4th floor.
- Located on the third floor of the Contemporary Tower. This spa and salon offers massage therapy, skin care, body treatments, steam rooms, saunas and the latest in fitness equipment including free weights, treadmills, ellipticals, bicycles and stair climbers.
- Together with independent childcare provider Kids Nite Out, Disney's Contemporary Resort offers you the convenience of one-to-one in-room babysitting for an additional cost. You can even reserve a childcare specialist to accompany you and your family during your visit to the Parks, providing a helping hand where needed.
- The concierge at Disney's Contemporary Resort is available to Resort hotel Guests 7 days a week, from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. Located in the main lobby of the Contemporary Tower, the concierge can help you purchase Disney Theme Park and Disney Water Park tickets, make dining reservations and secure show seats.
- Computers, fax machines, copy machines and secretarial services are located on the first floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort Convention Center next to the East Registration Desk.
History
The Contemporary Resort was one of the two resorts located on property when Walt Disney World opened in 1971. The Contemporary Tower, the most prominent of the resort's four stand-alone buildings, was built as an A-frame with outer walls which slope inwards around an inner atrium. This design was a collaboration by Disney, the United States Steel Corporation, and Los Angeles architect Welton Becket. To construct the building, steel frames were erected on site and modular pre-constructed rooms, designed by California architect Donald Wexler, were lifted into place by crane. Most of Disney's Polynesian Resort was also built the same way except for once major difference, instead of sliding the rooms, they stacked them.
Before the construction of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Contemporary Resort was considered Disney's flagship resort. On November 17, 1973, President Richard Nixon delivered his famous "I am not a crook" speech in a ballroom at the Contemporary in front of reporters from the Associated Press.
Between 2005 and 2009, Disney completed an extensive renovation of all guest rooms and many public areas throughout the resort. The decor changed little through the hotel's history, but has been replaced with a more modern design and sleek furnishings. In the lobby of the Contemporary Resort, the front desk and sitting area were updated to complement the new design of the hotel, and new lighting and modern furnishings were added. The Wave, a new table service restaurant, was constructed in the place of a former quick service restaurant and arcade.
Guest rooms of the resort received a major update with modern design. New carpeting, beds, headboards, marble bathroom tile, flat-panel televisions and more were added. As part of the major construction at the Contemporary Resort, the north wing of the hotel was demolished to make way for a separate Disney Vacation Club resort at the Contemporary complex that opened in 2009.
The Grand Canyon Concourse was updated with new tile and carpeting, along with a new arcade for resort guests. The Concourse Steakhouse was removed to make way for a new quick-service restaurant. A new gift shop was built in an open area between existing shops and opened on November 21, 2007. This is the "Fantasia Gift Shop" that was formerly located under the Monorail station, where the new arcade is currently located. Large Mickey Mouse ears flank both sides of the store.