Disney’s Contemporary Resort: An In-Depth Review

Do you like magical views and short walks to Magic Kingdom? If so, you’ll want to check out our in-depth review of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

It’s part one of a six-part series we’re calling the “Resort-Hopper Tour.”

Each stop on our tour offers a magical review about one of Disney World’s most popular resort destinations. We’ve made sure to break down important aspects of each resort, including, theme, room types, amenities, restaurants, transportation, and more.

We’re positive it will help you make an informed decision for your family’s next Disney getaway.

So, without further ado, let’s travel to our first magical stop on our Resort-Hopper Tour — Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

An Overview of Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Nestled within walking distance to one of Disney World’s most iconic parks, Magic Kingdom, is a deluxe resort that celebrates the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest with breathtaking views and 655 magical rooms for your next Disney vacation.

Located in the north-central part of Disney’s sprawling 27,000 acres of fun, your family is sure to find something that suits their needs at the Contemporary Resort. Choose between several dining options, swimming pools, and other recreation activities. Finally, be our guest on the monorail that runs right through the hotel!

Consisting of two wings, the A-Frame Contemporary Tower and the nearby Garden Wing, you’ll fall in love with the Contemporary’s charm and fun Disney atmosphere. Given a 4 out of 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, this resort checks all of the boxes for a fun, family-friendly Disney World Theme Park vacation.

What Type of Rooms Does Disney’s Contemporary Resort Have?

If you’re a fan of variety, you’ll love the wide array of room types available at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. When you plan your stay within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom, you have your choice between four popular room options:

• Rooms & Suites that sleep up to 5 adults
• Rooms & Suites with Club-Level Service that sleep up to 8 adults
• Deluxe Studios which sleeps up to 4 adults
• One, two, and three-bedroom Villas that can sleep up to 12 adults

Deluxe studios offer a kitchenette and sleeper sofa and queen-sized bed for at-home comfort.

Villas feature a fully equipped kitchen, spacious living room, and dining room areas, separate bedrooms, and a washer and dryer. For three-bedroom Grand Villa guests, you can enjoy a private porch or balcony to take in the magical sights or just relax after a long day at the parks.

No matter what room type you choose, you still enjoy the same great amenities and Disney theme. And all rooms are still within walking distance of Magic Kingdom.

What Amenities Does Disney’s Contemporary Resort Offer?

Regardless of what room you choose for your family, you’ll love the wide array of amenities that Disney’s Contemporary Resort has to offer.

Each guest at Disney’s Contemporary Resort enjoys complimentary WI-FI access, air-conditioned rooms, and the following amenities:

Pools, Waterslides, and Hot Tubs, Oh, My!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a variety of swim destinations for all ages. Relax as you soak up the sun and beautiful Marina and white sand beach views in their heated Feature Pool. Your kids will love to swoosh down the 17-foot tall curved water slide for a rip-roaring, splashing-good time.

Create your own private oasis by the pool with cabana rentals. Reserve your outdoor lounge area by the hour or by the day.

Each cabana comes with a:

• Fruit tray
• Ceiling fan
• Flat-screen TV
• Padded furniture
• iPod docking station
• Complimentary resort phone
• Complimentary miniature fridge

It’s the perfect spot to kick back and just enjoy the day poolside. Your family will love the laid-back, relaxing vibe!

While your littles splash it up at our fountains and waterspouts within our futuristic playground, you can conquer the day at our Bay Lake Pool. This all-ages pool gently discourages loud noises and splashing. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the sun — and some peace and quiet.

As the sun goes down, you can take refuge in one of our two hot tub areas or have a drink at our seasonal poolside bar.

Recreational Activities Galore

After you take some time to relax, get your body moving and break a sweat at any of our outdoor or indoor recreational amenities.

They created a list of fun activities that are sure to meet the needs of any family. As a guest at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you’ll enjoy recreational activities like:

• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Boat rentals
• Jogging trails
• Gaming station
• Fishing excursions
• Indoor Fitness Center

Your family will love spending quality time getting active and enjoying all that Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers.

Create Memories With Family-Friendly Activities

Build memories that will last a lifetime with Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s family-friendly activities.

Here is a quick list of great family-friendly activities you can enjoy:

• Specialty Cruises
• Movies Under the Stars
• Electrical Water Pageant
• Contemporary Resort Campfire

So whether you’re planning a specialty fireworks cruise, eating s’mores around the campfire, or taking in the sights and sounds of the water pageant or movies under the stars, you’re sure to create lasting memories.

What Types of Restaurants Does Disney’s Contemporary Resort Have Available?

Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a variety of restaurants to meet any family’s needs. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat on the way out to the parks, a sit-down meal made for kids, or sophisticated dining, they have everything you need.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the dining options available at Disney’s Contemporary Resort:

Casual, Family-Friendly Dining Choices

For family-friendly dining choices that won’t break the budget, Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a wide array of choices for fun dining experiences.

Here is a list of our favorite family-friendly dining experiences:

Chef Mickey’s Family Feast

Nothing says Disney quite like a character breakfast and dinner. At Chef Mickey’s your family will enjoy a family-style all-you-care-to-eat meal as Mickey and his friends make surprise appearances.

You’ll even leave with an autographed card signed by Mickey himself as a keepsake. While you eat, you can take in views of the monorail, a 90-foot tall mural created by one of Disney’s beloved artists, Mary Blair, and enjoy unending views of Bay Lake.

Steakhouse 71

Named after the year the Contemporary Resort opened, and food selections inspired by Walt Disney’s favorites, your family is sure to enjoy this American-style, casual dining experience.

Your family will eat steakhouse fare as you take in the retro 70s vibe. Enjoy steakhouse favorites like:

• Walt’s Steakhouse 71 Feast
• Walt’s Prime Rib Hash
• French Onion Soup
• Filet Mignon
• Pork Chops

Available for casual dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, your family will love the food and stay for the atmosphere.

Quick Hits for Noshing and Fast Food

If you’re in a hurry, or just looking for something fast, we recommend trying out some of these Contemporary Resort choices:

• Contempo Cafe – the signature cafe for Disney’s Contemporary Resort, it’s the perfect spot to grab a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner meal with plenty of options to choose from.

• Contemporary Grounds – need a pick-me-up or a quick snack item, they have a variety of coffees, teas, hot chocolates, and baked goods for a grab-and-go treat before heading to the parks or back to the room.

• The Sand Bar – Got a hankering for hot dogs and hamburgers while you’re out by the pool? It’s the perfect pit stop between swimming sessions.

Sophisticated Dining Experiences

If fine dining is your idea of a good time, you won’t want to miss the spectacular views and world-class food at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Keep in mind that the California Grill is only open for dinner, so if you’re looking for breakfast or lunch, you’ll have to choose one of the other restaurants on the list.

Your family will enjoy a 3-course meal prepared by culinary chefs inspired by California cuisine. Choose one appetizer, entrée, and dessert for your meal as you enjoy breathtaking views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom.

With plant-based options available, it’s a restaurant that caters to your specific diet choices and pallets.

PRO TIP: Due to its sophisticated ambiance, there is a dress code in place, so make sure to wear proper attire.

When dining at California Grill, make sure to wear:

• Khakis, Capri pants, skirts, dresses, or dress shorts
• Jeans can be worn, but only if they are in good condition
• No tank tops, flip flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats, cut-offs, ripped clothing of any kind, or t-shirts with offensive language or graphics

While the California Grill has a dress code in place, bear in mind, it’s anything but stuffy and a great place to have a relaxing, chef-inspired meal.

Bar & Lounge

For those nights when you have a free moment to yourself, Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a variety of bar and lounge spots to grab a quick cocktail or bar food.

You have your choice of a few options:

• California Grill Lounge – perfect for before/after meal cocktails
• Steakhouse 71 Lounge – perfect for before/after meal cocktails
• Cove Bar – private poolside bar for Bay Lake Tower guests and Disney Vacation members
• Outer Rim – enjoy bar cuisine, cocktails, and lavish sunsets

What are the Transportation Options at Disney’s Contemporary Resort?

One of the great perks of staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is its close vicinity to Magic Kingdom. Guests can enjoy a short walk to Magic Kingdom.

Monorail

Don’t feel like walking? No problem. You can take the monorail over to Magic Kingdom. You can also ride to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to go to EPCOT.

Buses

From the Contemporary Resort, you can travel using Disney World resort buses to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, or the Transportation and Ticket Center. Buses run regularly, so your wait time is only a few minutes.

Boats

If you want to spend the day in the great outdoors, there’s no better way than to hop on the Blue Line to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

You can spend the day riding bikes, hiking, or riding in canoes.

Conclusion

While no resort will check every single box, Disney’s Contemporary Resort comes pretty close. With tons of amenities, plenty of transportation options, loads of dining options, and beautiful views, it’s a great Disney World Destination Resort.

If you’re sold on Disney’s Contemporary Resort, we don’t blame you. We hope you have a magical time!

If not, stay tuned for the next stop on our tour when we visit Disney’s Polynesian Resort.