Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort was one of the original hotels built at the Walt Disney World Resort and is within 5 minutes walking distance of the Magic Kingdom (or a short monorail trip).

Rating: 3.5 stars
Rooms: 1008 rooms & suites
Rates: from $280 to $835 Check rates

Address: 4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Magic Kingdom Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

It sits between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon and you can use the ferry services, buses or monorail to access the rest of the parks.

A rolling renovation program took place during 2005/2006 and the North Garden Wing has been demolished and replaced by the new Disney Vacation Club resort, the Bay Lake Tower.

The retro look of the Contemporary Resort would not look out of place on the set of the Thunderbirds TV show with its unique A-frame shaped Tower building with the monorail running right through the center of the building.

Rooms/Suites

The Contemporary Resort has some the largest rooms in the whole of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Standard rooms are around 394 square feet and will sleep 5 (plus a baby in a crib) on two queen beds and a day bed (some rooms are available with a king sized bed instead).

In the Tower building, there are two views; Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom/parking lot. As well as the standard rooms there are also the Concierge Atrium Club rooms on the 12th floor and the Concierge Tower Club rooms on the 14th floor.

In the remaining Garden Wing there are two types of standard room; Standard View or Garden/Lake View.

There are also a number of suites available sleeping up to 8 guests; one bedroom with kitchenette and separate seating area (sleeps 6), two bedroom with kitchenette, separate seating area and 2 1/2 baths (sleeps 8) plus the Vice Presidential and Presidential suites each with two bedrooms.

The rooms in the Tower have balconies, those in the Garden Wing do not but those on the ground floor do have a small patio with a table and two chairs.

Dining

Disney's Contemporary Resort has three full table service restaurants, all serving American style cuisine.

The award winning California Grill is situated on the 15th floor of the Tower building and as its name suggests, serves Californian-style cuisine (dinner only) from on open kitchen.

The adjoining California Grill Lounge serves cocktails, appetizers and desserts for dinner. The lounge and outer balcony area make excellent locations to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks if you time your reservation right; they even pipe the music into the lounge. From this vantage point you also get good views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, Bay Lake, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney's Polynesian Resort.

The newest restaurant is the Wave Restaurant on the lobby level and it offers casual dining for both breakfast, lunch and dinner serving healthy food and original cocktails.

The final full service restaurant, called Chef Mickey's, and this offers character buffet breakfasts and dinners. It is situated on the Grand Canyon Concourse

If you are after a quick service option, then there is the Contempo Café also on the Grand Canyon Concourse which offers a chic open dining experience from 6 a.m. to midnight. Menu items include the Concourse Steakhouse salad, hot sandwiches,  pasta, and vegetarian items.

On the first floor lobby level there is the Contemporary Grounds gourmet coffee bar serving various coffees, juices, smoothies, beer and wine, specialty liquors and imported bottle water.

Recreation

At the Contemporary Resort there are two heated pools. The main Contemporary Pool is shaped like Mickey's ears and has a 17-foot high water slide with jets and there are also two spas (whirlpools), fountains, and children's water play area.

The nearby Sand Bar and Grill is open seasonally for snacks, burgers, sandwiches, ice cream and drinks.

There is also a second smaller and quieter Bay Lake Pool plus a children's wading pool and playground near the marina.

You can hire a Sea Raycer, Pontoon boat, Canopy boat or a sailboat from the marina or you can visit Sammy Duvall's Watersports Center where you learn to water-ski or go wakeboarding, tubing or parasailing.

You can also go fishing on a guided Bass Fishing Excursion or the children can take a Kid's Fishing Around the World trip.

If you prefer your sports on dry land, then why not play tennis on one of the six clay tennis courts (the Contemporary Resort is home to the WDW Racquet Club), basketball or beach volleyball. You can also go around the 1.1 mile jogging path.

There is also a large video games arcade at the Food 'n Fun Center.

The Olympiad Fitness Center has Cybex and cardio equipment plus a dry sauna plus there is a hair salon and Swedish, aromatherapy or deep-tissue massage.

The Mouseketeer Clubhouse closed indefinitely on October 1, 2004 but other deluxe hotels still operate daycare clubs for children aged 4 to 12.

You can watch the Electric Water Pageant that circles the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay; the beach on the Bay Lake side of the resort provides the best view.

Amenities

The Contemporary Resort offers a host of amenities including:

• room service
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• free parking, valet parking (charge applicable)
• minibar, iron and ironing board, wall safe
• coffee maker and microwave (available on request)
• refrigerator (available on request, charge applicable)
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• bath robes and hair dryer
• voice mail, wireless internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• health club/spa
• barber and beauty shop
• plus a number of shops; the Fantasia Shop selling Disney merchandise, Bayview Gifts for souvenirs and flowers, Contemporary Man and Contemporary Woman for casual clothing and beachwear, Kingdom Jewels and Concourse Sundries & Spirits

Meeting Facilities

The Contemporary Resort also has a 90,000+ square-foot Convention Center split over two levels with a Business center and meeting planner's office, large pre-function areas, four ballrooms, an executive boardroom and 35 breakout rooms.