Deluxe - Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Address: 4600 North World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 32830-1000
Telephone407) 824-1000
Fax: (407) 824-3539

This resort truly reflects the legacy of Walt Disney’s monumental vision. ; Step off the monorail into a metropolis exploding with color and daring angles. ; Experience the amazing views, beaches, wide open spaces, and the style of the resort with the convenience of easy access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Resort Layout:
The Contemporary Resort is one of the two original WDW hotels. It is located between Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon on the monorail loop that services the Magic Kingdom. It consists of a large A-frame section (the Tower) and two wings (called Garden Wings). The fourth floor of the Tower is known as the Grand Canyon Concourse where you will find a variety of shops and restaurants as well as the monorail station. The Contemporary offers many recreation options and also houses large convention facilities. ;

The Contemporary Resort has two sections. The Tower is 14 stories tall and has approximately 500 guest rooms. The Tower rooms have 2 views, Bay Lake or Magic Kingdom/Parking Lot. The Garden Wings are located to the North and South of the Tower and have a combined total of approximately 500 rooms. The Garden rooms have either a water, garden or parking lot view.

As one of the Monorail hotels the Contemporary Resort is very well located. The Magic Kingdom is only a short monorail ride (or walk) away and getting to Epcot simply requires transfer from one monorail to another one. Also, the rooms at the Contemporary Resort are among the largest at WDW. There are several dining options within the resort itself and a wide variety of recreational activities are offered.

Services & Amenities:
 Room Service
 Concierge desk
 Health Club
 Babysitting and child services
 Pak-n-play crib available
 Room and facilities for guest with disabilities
 Self parking
 Valet parking available for a nominal fee
 Laundry facilities/services
 Barber and beauty shop

Guest Rooms:
The Contemporary has standard rooms and suites. Standard rooms have two queen beds and a day bed or a king-size bed and a day bed. They can accommodate up to five people plus a child under 3 who would use a crib. Suites, in various configurations and price ranges, are also available.

The Tower rooms are much more convenient to the shops, restaurants, front desk and monorail station. These rooms also boast fabulous views of either Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. The rooms in the Wings are closer to the tennis courts, marina and swimming pools. The views from the rooms in the wings vary. On the downside, some of the Tower rooms can be noisy as they are located directly above the Grand Canyon Concourse and the rooms in the Wings are quite a hike from the Monorail station and other facilities. The Tower Rooms are more expensive, so if you want to take advantage of the location for the lowest price, inquire about the Garden Wings.

There are no balconies in the Garden Wing rooms. If you are on the first floor, there is a small patio with two chairs and a table (beware of bird droppings). ; These patios are not private, you will share them with your neighbor. However, if you are in a room at the end of the wing, you will get a private patio overlooking the bay or pool area on the first floor.

The North garden wing is closest to the food court, monorail, walk way to the Magic Kingdom, and bus stop. (The North wing is 100% nonsmoking, by the way). The South garden wing is closest to the pool, and the convention center. The second floor in the South wing is nonsmoking.

The Concierge Floors - 12 and 14 - have two types of rooms - standard and suites. The standard rooms are identical to the Tower rooms below, only with a larger balcony area. Standard rooms are available on the 12th floor only. The 14th floor has both standard and suite rooms.

There is a BIG difference in the concierge services between the two floors. The 12th floor is called the Tower Club, which is basically Contemporary Concierge Light. ; Concierge services are available from 7am to 4pm on the 12th floor. Special services on the 12th floor include: complimentary continental breakfast, and concierge services during 7-4pm.

Now, the 14th floor concierge is a full service concierge. There is a FULL continental breakfast (much bigger than the 12th floor), daily appetizers catered by the California Grill, and nightly desserts catered by the California Grill. There is a nightly turndown service, and they leave a little chocolate Mickey (solid chocolate) on your pillow every night. The concierge is available from 7am to 10pm to make dining reservations, plan outings, answer questions, everything.

The concierge lounge on the 14th floor ONLY has free beer, wine, soda, and bottled water all day. Each 14th floor level room has a refrigerator stocked with free soda and juice. Room rates are double the average tower room, so you can determine if the service is worth the added expense. Discounts are sometimes offered on the 12th floor rooms, such as Annual Passholder discounts. Discounts are rare for the 14th floor suite rooms.

Check-In & Check-Out:
Check-in is at 3pm. ; Your room may be available prior to that time, but it is not guaranteed. ; If your room is not available, you can leave your luggage with the Bell Services where it will be delivered to your room with it is ready.

Check-out is at 11am. ; If you pay by credit card, you do not have to go to desk to check out. ; An itemized bill will be hung on your door by 8:30am on the day of your departure. ; The electronic room key which was given, will be automatically deactivated at 11am. ; You can use Bell services to take luggage to your car. ; If you are taking a bus or taxi to the airport, Bell services will keep your luggage until your transportation arrives.

Dining:
Visit the Food and Fun Center located on the first floor of the Tower. The snack bar here is open from 24 hours a day and offers a variety of snacks and other light fare. The Contemporary Resort also offers a somewhat limited room-service menu. Items from room-service are, of course, at a premium.

The California Grill - This is the premiere restaurant of the Contemporary Resort. It is located on the 15th floor of the Tower building and offers California-style cuisine. The views of the Magic Kingdom and surrounding areas are breathtaking and the lounge or outer balcony are perfect spots from which to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. ; California Grill serves dinner only.

The Concourse Steakhouse - This restaurant is located on the Grand Canyon Concourse and offers a wide variety of steaks, burgers and prime rib. The Steakhouse offers full service breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is open and adjacent to Chef Mickey's so can be loud at times.

Chef Mickey's - This is the spot for character meals at the Contemporary. A buffet breakfast with Mickey and the gang is offered every morning. In the evening a buffet featuring prime rib, seafood, and a variety of other dishes is offered, also with Mickey and Co. ;

There are two counter service areas:
The Food and Fun Center is located on the first floor near the check-in/guest relations area. The Food and Fun Center is open 24 hours. Breakfast is served from 7am to 11 am and includes fruit, cereal, continental breakfast items, and other breakfast specialties from the grill (such as eggs, bacon, etc.). The grill is open from 7am to 11pm. Lunch and dinner items include grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, hamburger, hot dogs, pizzas, and deli sandwiches. Beer and wine is also available.

The Sand Bar is located by the pool and is open with seasonal hours. It serves mainly burgers, deli sandwiches, and ice cream. The Bar serves beer, wine and cocktails.

Tip:
The best beverage deal is the refillable mugs, available for approximate $12 at any of the food court vendors and through pizza delivery. ; The mugs are 16-oz, sturdy, dishwashable safe containers with lids. ; Mugs are refillable for the length of your stay at a self-service beverage island in the center of the food court. ;

Beverages include soft drinks, coffee, tea, iced coffee and tea, and hot chocolate (but not milk or fruit juice).

Recreation:
Pools
There are actually two pools at the Contemporary. The large pool is a freeform pool complete with a 17-foot high curving slide. There is also a round, quiet pool which is shallow around the edges and deeper in the center. Two whirlpools have also been added, one of which is located on a peninsula which juts out into the freeform pool area. In addition there is a toddler wading pool located near the North Garden Wing.

Beach
Soak up the sun on the white-sand beach

Fitness Center
Work out on the exercise equipment and treat yourself to a massage.

Arcade
Play a variety of pinball and video games at the Food ‘n Fun Center

Playground
Climb, slide and play on this 24-hour playground adjacent to the marina

Boats
Rent a watercraft and spend a lazy day on the water or sign up for professional instruction at the watersports centre

Tennis
Hit the clay courts for a set or two and don’t forget to bring your own equipment.

Volleyball
The courts are calling you for a great game.

Jogging
Take a scenic 1.1 mile run around the resort

Shopping
The Contemporary Resort offers six unique shops.

The Fantasia Shop - Offers Disney character merchandise and clothing.

Bayview Gifts - Offers souvenirs and gifts. This is also the spot for fresh flowers.
The Contemporary Man - Offers casual clothing for men. This is the place to stop for men's bathing suits as well.

The Contemporary Woman - Casual clothing and beachwear for women is carried here.

Kingdom Jewels, Ltd . - A jewelry shop which also offers jewelry items featuring the Disney characters.

Concourse Sundries & Spirits - Offers a variety of reading material (newspapers, magazines, etc.), snacks and liquor. This shop also stocks health and beauty items guests may need.

Transportation:
Magic Kingdom - The Magic Kingdom is the closest park to the Contemporary Resort. Simply board the monorail at the station above the Grand Canyon Concourse for the ride to the park. ; You can also walk the short distance to the Magic Kingdom -- simply cross the street (near the guard's entrance gate) and walk along the pathway. Careful, though, this is a busy intersection. At park closing time, walking will usually be your quickest and easiest way back to the resort.

Epcot - To get to Epcot take the monorail from the Contemporary to the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC). At the TTC transfer to the Epcot monorail for the trip to the park.
Bus transportation is available at the bus stop beginning 1 hour prior to park opening to one hour after the park closes.

Disney MGM-Studios - There is a bus stop in the front of the hotel, just off of the main lobby. From here catch a bus to the Studios.

Animal Kingdom - There is a bus stop in the front of the hotel, just off of the main lobby. From here catch a bus to the Animal Kingdom.

Downtown Disney - Bus transportation to Downtown Disney (Marketplace and Pleasure Island) is available from the bus stop after 4pm to one hour after Pleasure Island closes. Check the schedule upon check-in, the buses to Downtown Disney often begin earlier in the day.

In addition to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom monorails can also take you to the Grand Floridian Resort and the Polynesian Village Resort.

Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach water parks can all be reached by bus. Other resorts can be reached by taking a bus to Downtown Disney and then transferring to the bus for the resort you wish to visit.

Fort Wilderness (Hoop Dee Doo) can be reached by taking a launch from the Contemporary's marina which is located on the Bay Lake side of the resort. Seasonally, a boat also runs between the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary Resort, ask at the front desk for hours of operation.

Strollers can also roll onto the larger boats that run from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom, and also the larger boats that do the Contemporary-Wilderness Lodge-Ft. Wilderness Loop. The smaller boats from Ft. Wilderness and the Grand Floridian, can be rolled onto, but the children are asked to remain in the stroller for safety reasons--if the boat sinks, we don't want junior strapped to his sinking stroller. ; They also roll on fine and kids can remain seated on the ferryboats between TTC and Magic Kingdom.

Rates:
Rate Just like the other WDW hotels, there are Value Season, Regular Season, Peak Season and Holiday Season rates. Rates at the Contemporary begin at $239 a night. These are regular rate prices and do not include the 6.5% Florida Sales Tax nor the 11.5% county resort tax. Rates are based on double occupancy. No charge for children under 17 years old when in the same room as the adults. For each adult over 2 there is a $25 per night charge per person. Maximum of 5 persons per room.

Extra Information:
The Magic Kingdom Fireworks can be easily viewed from the resort. One of the best spots for this is the 15th floor California Grill Lounge (you must be dining there to view the Fireworks from there). The music which accompanies the fireworks is piped into the lounge so guests don't miss a thing. Guests with Tower Rooms facing the Magic Kingdom can also view the show from their terraces. If you are a guest on the 14th floor Concierge, you can watch the fireworks from the balcony off the lounge.

The Electrical Water Pageant circles the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake so guests at the Contemporary have ample opportunity to see the show. Again, the California Grill Lounge offers a good view, if somewhat high up. The beach on the Bay Lake side of the resort is also a good bet. Check with Guest Services for the approximate time the pageant will pass by the Contemporary.