Disney's Contemporary Resort
A flagship monorail resort next to Magic Kingdom, recognized for its A-frame tower and quick walk to the park gates.
Photo: Disney's Contemporary Resort
My Take
The verdict
I think the Contemporary is mostly a location play. If your trip is centered on Magic Kingdom, the walking path is genuinely excellent, and the monorail makes EPCOT days and monorail-resort dining very easy. The tradeoff is that the price is hard for me to defend once you get past the location.
Best for
This makes the most sense for adults, older kids, or families who are very focused on Magic Kingdom convenience and do not mind paying a premium for it. I also think it works better for people who are into finer dining than for families who want a lot of casual, easy resort time.
Skip if
I would skip the Contemporary if you are traveling with younger kids and want the hotel itself to do more of the heavy lifting. Outside of Chef Mickey's and the monorail access, I did not think there was much here that really benefited younger kids. I would also skip it if value matters to you at all, because this is one of those resorts where the price starts to feel pretty wild.
Why it worked
When I stayed at the Contemporary, the main tower and lobby were definitely cool to see. The monorail running through the hotel still has a real wow factor. The room itself was a letdown for me. The Incredibles theming was supposed to be a selling point, but it was barely noticeable. What really delivered was the location. We used the walking path to Magic Kingdom multiple times, and it was especially great when it rained because we could just walk back to the hotel, wait it out, and head back without much hassle. We also used the monorail for EPCOT and for dinner at the Polynesian one night, which was genuinely convenient.
Pause points
The main issue for me is that the Contemporary does not make everyday resort life very easy for the price. Chef Mickey's is fun for a character breakfast, but it is still prix fixe. Steakhouse 71 felt limited, especially for kids. California Grill is obviously more upscale. That left us with Contempo Cafe for most practical meals, and that felt more like a backup plan than a real dining lineup.
Still worth it?
I would have a hard time calling the Contemporary worth it unless someone else was paying. If I were spending that kind of money myself, I would stay at the Polynesian instead. I think it is better in just about every way that would matter to most families. The Contemporary still has a real case if Magic Kingdom access is your top priority, but for almost everyone else, I think visiting the main lobby and eating at Chef Mickey's or California Grill gets you most of the appeal without paying the room rate.
Pros
- Walking path to Magic Kingdom — the closest hotel to the park, with the bonus of being able to walk back to wait out rain and return easily
- Monorail runs directly through the hotel, making EPCOT days and monorail-resort dining (Polynesian, Grand Floridian) very easy
- Top-tier dining including California Grill and a Chef Mickey's character breakfast
- The A-frame tower and lobby with the monorail running through it still have real wow factor
Cons
- One of the most expensive resorts at Walt Disney World
- Everyday dining is thin — most options are prix-fixe or upscale, leaving Contempo Cafe as the main practical choice
- Room theming feels underwhelming — the Incredibles touches are barely noticeable
- Bus-only access to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
- Not much here that specifically benefits younger kids outside of Chef Mickey's and the monorail
Amenities
Recreation
- Pool
- Playground
- Quiet Pool
- seven seas lagoon — enjoy fishing, boating and more
- Marina
- Children's water play area
- Arcade
- Running Trail
- Tennis Courts
- Volleyball
Wellness
- Fitness Center
Rooms
- rooms and suites with club-level service
- Club Level
Other
- Laundry Facilities
Transportation
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Monorail
Magic Kingdom Park
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Walk
Magic Kingdom Park
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Boat
Magic Kingdom Park
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Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
On-Site Dining
10 restaurants at Disney's Contemporary Resort
- View menu
California Grill
Table ServiceAmerican, Seafood, Sushi · Dinner
- View menu
Chef Mickey's
Table ServiceAmerican · Breakfast · Dinner
- View menu
Contempo Café
Quick ServiceAmerican · Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- View menu
Contemporary Grounds
Quick ServiceAmerican, Quick Service - Coffee · Dinner
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Cove Bar
Quick ServiceAmerican · Snack
- View menu
Outer Rim
Quick ServiceAmerican · Snack
- View menu
Steakhouse 71
Table ServiceAmerican, Steakhouse · Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- View menu
Steakhouse 71 Lounge
Quick ServiceSteakhouse, American · Snack
- View menu
Steakhouse 71 To Go
Quick ServiceAmerican, Steakhouse · Lunch · Dinner
- View menu
The Sand Bar
Quick ServiceAmerican · Snack
Community Discussions
- Contemporary Resort is the best resort on property r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Convince me to stay at the Contemporary... r/WaltDisneyWorld
- People often wonder why the Contemporary Resort is a ... r/WaltDisneyWorld
- The Contemporary Resort : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Contemporary to the theme parks?
You can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom Park. You can walk from Contemporary to Magic Kingdom Park. You can take the boat to Magic Kingdom Park. For Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney Springs, you'll use Disney buses. That setup is usually easier than relying on buses for every park day.
What dining options are at Contemporary?
Disney's Contemporary Resort has 10 on-site dining options. Sit-down options include California Grill, Chef Mickey's, and Steakhouse 71. Quick-service spots include Contempo Café, Contemporary Grounds, Cove Bar, Outer Rim, Steakhouse 71 Lounge, Steakhouse 71 To Go, and The Sand Bar.
What pool and recreation amenities does Contemporary have?
The pool setup at Contemporary includes Pool, Quiet Pool, and Children's water play area. Beyond the pool area, you also have Playground, seven seas lagoon — enjoy fishing, boating and more, Marina, Arcade, Running Trail, Tennis Courts, and Volleyball. For workouts or downtime, there is Fitness Center.
Does Contemporary have Extended Evening Theme Park Hours?
Yes. Because Contemporary is a deluxe resort, guests can use Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select nights, usually about two extra hours after regular closing. That is in addition to the standard 30-minute Early Entry benefit all Disney resort guests receive.
Is Contemporary a good fit for families with young kids?
Contemporary is a solid fit for families, and the biggest reason is transportation. Contemporary has monorail, walking distance, and boat access, which is usually easier with a stroller than depending on buses for every trip. Kid-friendly amenities include Pool, Playground, Quiet Pool, Children's water play area, and Arcade. There are 3 on-site table-service options, which helps on nights when you do not want to leave the resort for dinner.
What are the biggest drawbacks of staying at Contemporary?
The main trade-offs at Contemporary are these: One of the most expensive resorts at Walt Disney World. Everyday dining is thin — most options are prix-fixe or upscale, leaving Contempo Cafe as the main practical choice. Room theming feels underwhelming — the Incredibles touches are barely noticeable. Bus-only access to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Not much here that specifically benefits younger kids outside of Chef Mickey's and the monorail.
Similar resorts
Other deluxe tier resorts at Walt Disney World.
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