Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review: Is This Deluxe Hotel Worth It for Families?
Disney’s Contemporary Resort has one of the most recognizable silhouettes at Walt Disney World, thanks to its A-frame design that allows the Magic Kingdom monorail to glide directly through the building’s atrium. For families weighing whether this deluxe resort earns its premium price tag, here is a full breakdown of the rooms, dining, and location that make this hotel stand out.
What Makes Disney’s Contemporary Resort Unique
This 655 room deluxe resort sits directly on Bay Lake, just a short walk from Magic Kingdom’s front entrance. The signature A-frame Main Tower features a soaring atrium with a 90 foot mosaic depicting American Indian children and nature, and the monorail runs straight through the middle of it on its way to the park.
Guests can walk to Magic Kingdom in about 5 to 10 minutes, making it one of only a couple of resorts where walking and monorail access are both realistic options for reaching the park.
- Location: Bay Lake, walking distance to Magic Kingdom
- Room count: 655 rooms across the Main Tower, Garden Wing, and Bay Lake Tower
- Room size: Around 394 square feet in standard rooms
- Transportation: Monorail, boat, and bus service available
Room Types and What to Expect
Rooms at the Contemporary come in a few distinct flavors depending on which building you book. The Main Tower puts you closest to the monorail and dining, though it typically comes at a higher price point and requires elevator access to reach upper floors.
The Garden Wing offers a lower cost option with a quieter feel, though it requires a short outdoor walk to reach the main building. Bay Lake Tower, connected via a sky bridge, offers Disney Vacation Club studios and multi bedroom villas with kitchens, making it a strong pick for larger families who want more space.
View categories also make a real difference here. A Theme Park View room overlooks Cinderella Castle with fireworks music piped in, while a Bay Lake View room offers water views and sunsets, typically at a lower price point than the theme park facing rooms.
Dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Dining options at this resort punch above their weight, ranging from quick service to a rooftop signature restaurant. Here is a quick rundown:
- Chef Mickey’s, the resort’s all you care to enjoy character dining restaurant, where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto make their rounds beneath the monorail track
- Steakhouse 71, a table service restaurant located on the first floor
- Contempo Cafe, the quick service option for a fast bite without leaving the resort
- Fantasia Market, a grab and go spot for packaged snacks and drinks
Chef Mickey’s is easily the resort’s most popular dining draw, and reservations disappear quickly. Booking right at the 60 day Advance Dining Reservation window is strongly recommended if this is on your must do list.
Pricing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Entry level rooms at the Contemporary typically run in the $500 to $700 per night range, putting it toward the higher end of Disney’s deluxe resort lineup. Discounts for Florida residents, Disney Vacation Club members, or seasonal promotions can bring that down somewhat, but rates rarely dip below $300 per night even during slower travel periods.
As with all Disney pricing, these figures shift throughout the year and by season, so treat this as a general benchmark and confirm current rates directly with Disney or your travel professional when booking.
Pool and Recreation
The resort features two pools right along Bay Lake, including one with a 17 foot slide and a pair of whirlpools. There is also a dedicated playground area for younger kids, along with recreation options on the water including boat rentals.
The pool experience here is solid but not the most elaborate on property. Families chasing a themed water play area might find resorts like Art of Animation or Coronado Springs more exciting on that front.
Who Should Stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This resort is best suited for families who prioritize walking access to Magic Kingdom and quick monorail connections over immersive theming. If your family wants to minimize transportation time above almost everything else, the Contemporary delivers.
Families who prefer a more themed, escapist feel might lean toward the Polynesian Village Resort instead, which we cover in detail in our Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review. For a broader comparison of where the Contemporary lands against the rest of the lineup, see our Disney World Resort Hotels Ranked for Families guide.
Final Thoughts
Disney’s Contemporary Resort earns its premium price tag primarily through location and convenience. Between the walkable path to Magic Kingdom, the monorail running through the building, and a genuinely strong dining lineup anchored by Chef Mickey’s, this resort makes sense for families who value time savings over deep theming.
If your trip includes multiple Magic Kingdom days, the time saved on transportation here can add up to real extra hours in the parks, which for many families justifies the higher nightly rate.
