Quick Tip - Shooting from the Top of the Contemporary

That's the way we do it too. We ride the elevator up to the 11th floor. Then we go to the stairs on the end of the building closest to the park. We have done this a lot of times and have never been stopped or asked to leave. One time we even walked into the California Grill before they were open, but normally that door is locked.
Another tip, to go up there during fireworks with a tripod I have walked down to the bay side steps on the 14th floor. It is a pretty big balconey, but very few diners or people think to go down there.
One time when we were on the roof, someone was setting up for a professional film crew,with lights and everything, and we still were not asked to leave.

 

You know, this reminds me of Disneyland.

There is a path (maybe 1/2 mile) from Downtown Disney tram stop to the Mickey and Friendsâ„¢ Eisnengineeredâ„¢ Parking Structure. It is for those who want to walk to the parking garage, or to Disneyland Drive.

About 25 feet into the path, there is a gate to Downtown Disney - half height (fence is half height) swinging gate with a sign on it.

What does that sign say?

"Cast Members Only"

Where does it lead?

To the public path.


I've ignored the sign forever. Yes, that path goes behind the shops and under the Monorail tracks, but there are no signs on the other side advising of a specific CM only area until you get a lot closer to backstage of Downtown Disney. But that sign on that gate leads to a public path, which leads to another walkway to get backstage.

To this day I'm still surprised that the sign exists, since it isn't a CM only area

 

here's another photo from the roof. I love the view from the Contemporary and never get tired of it.

 

Definately it's one of the best spots for sunsets and dusk shots!:



I love shooting from up there, not just the wide view, but using telephoto to zoom in on details:

 

I can give you some idea - this is an old pano - it was one of my first, and I still didn't have the technique down real well (I wasn't using a tripod, and there's some really bad cloning at the bottom to compensate for where the horizons didn't line up) - but it might give some idea of the view from the outside area of the Contemporary roof:



That's standing on the outside wing.

The reason, BTW, that this should work fine is because the outside staircase goes up directly to the outside roof wing area, not connected to the restaurant in any way - the California Grill has doors that can access the wings of the Contemporary, and that's the area that you can access. I've not tried the stairs myself. Last time I was there in January, I was able to head up by asking the reservation desk (I'm the one that suggested it). I'll be there again in a month...so I'll try out both methods and report back!

 

that's what i've always been told also.

 

they have blocked the elevators from going to the 15th floor. You cannot just walk into an elevator and hit the 15 button. They have disabled it. During dinner they even take over one elevator just to go from the second floor check in desk up to the restauarant.
But, the more I think about the steps, I don't think they can block off the steps. I would assume that would be a fire code violation.

This June, I will go the roof and take some pictures of the access and just to see if it still works.