Disney's Contemporary Resort

The 15-story, A-frame Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a long-familiar landmark. What used to be considered modern is now pretty darn austere with its soaring. open interior and its sharp edges and angles. Love it or hate it, its accessibility to the Magic Kingdom can’t be beat, and a resort makeover has given the term “contemporary” more meaning. Of course, the sight of the monorail silently gliding through its core is simply magical. The property consists of a high-rise tower, a three-story wing, and a next-door convention center, making this resort a favorite choice for groups.

Wacky trees cut in futuristic forms line the entrance leading to a marble lobby with sleek, chocolate colored, chenille sofas and woven grass chairs. To feel the grandeur of the resort, you’ll want to head to its centerpiece, the fourth-floor Grand Canyon Concourse, whose soaring space boasts floors of guest rooms surrounding the vast atrium. At its heart stands a charming 90-foot mosaic mural of Native American children, which is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and the monorail station, all constantly buzzing with traffic. High above it all sits the fifteenth-floor California Grill, one of Disney’s best restaurants, with a bird’s-eye view of the Magic Kingdom® Park.

1,008 rooms. 4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830; 407-824-1000; Fax 407-824-3539. Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.

 

Accommodations

Guestrooms

Upscale, elegant decor with dark, rich wood furnishings, beds covered in cream-colored down duvets topped with celery green bolsters, soft triple sheets, comfy mattresses, and loads of pillows make these some of the nicest rooms in Disney’s repertoire. If it weren’t for the dated low ceilings you would think you were in a brand new resort. Other nice touches include a gold-and-taupe-toned, suede-covered headboard stretching to the ceiling with soft built-in lighting, a flip-over sofa bed in a soft celery green, a sleek, frosted-glass-topped desk withergonomic chair, contemporary pendant lighting, and a soft green armless sofa sitting under a copper-lined mirror. Carpeting and wall color are a lovely shade of taupe, and the 32-inch LCD flat-panel TV, set in a shallow wall unit, is a real bonus.Baths are elegant with chocolate brown and cream marble floors, and elongated sinks in a stainless steel and frosted glass vanity. A bath/shower adjoins the two sinks with the commode in a separate area. The foyer’s two closets are designed with frosted glass panels trimmed in rich wood with a granite vanity that hides a refrigerator and coffeemaker. Amenities include a laptop-size electronic safe, fluffy towels, non-lighted makeup mirror, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, IPOD clock radio, and morning newspaper.

Tower rooms, all with balconies, are the ticket here and worth the additional cost with knockout views of either the Magic Kingdom and glorious sunsets (for a higher price) on one side, or Bay Lake on the other. The higher the floor, the quieter the room and the better the view. Rooms can be noisy due to their suspended position over the Grand Canyon Concourse where the clamor of Chef Mickey’s character breakfast begins in the wee hours of the morning– request a room on the opposite side of the tower.

The three-story Garden Wing guest rooms offer the same decor and basic configuration as Tower rooms, but they come with a bit of a walk to the main building and the monorail. Bottom-floor rooms have a patio, but the top two floors are minus balconies. Spend a bit more for a Garden View with vistas of either the gardens, the marina, the pools, or Bay Lake instead of a parking lot.

Garden Wing Deluxe Rooms sit in the corner of the building, making them angular in shape with both the king bed and the living area all in one large space. The living area holds modern furnishings including a sleeper sofa, cool-looking but not-too-comfortable chair with ottoman, coffee table, entertainment center, and desk. The bath is slightly oversize with two areas: two sinks and tub in one area with a shower and toilet in a separate space. A wet bar is in the foyer.

Cara's Tip: Although tower rooms on the Magic Kingdom® Park side have a marvelous view of the park, they also come with a not-so-marvelous view of the parking lot; however, it’s worth it for front-row seats of the nighttime fireworks display.

Concierge Rooms

Disney’s Contemporary Resort has two concierge levels: one on the twelfth floor and another on the fourteenth floor. Guest rooms here have the addition of desktop computers.

The Contemporary’s relaxing Atrium Club on the resort’s twelfth floor is one of Disney’s standout concierge lounges where you’ll find continental breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening appetizers and wine, and after-dinner desserts and cordials as well as private check-in/checkout, robes, turndown service, DVD players, and the services of a concierge staff. The best part is its lengthy balcony and unbeatable views of the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon. At breakfast are the usual suspects of fruit, juice, pastries, cereal, toast, donuts, croissants, cinnamon rolls, mini-muffins, and bagels, and afternoon snacks are cookies, brownies, mini-cupcakes, Hello Dollys, pecan bars, goldfish, pretzels, fruit, coffee, sodas etc. What used to be pretty lackluster offerings in the evening are now quite savory with two hot items like kefta skewers, rock shrimp with hummus and lavosh, macadamia nut chicken, tamarind spiced short ribs, beef tenderloin skewers with balsamic drizzle, prosciutto flatbread, conch fritters with spicy remoulade, mini blue crab cheesecakes with chipotle mayo, crunchy chicken lollipops, prosciutto wrapped scallops, beef flatbreads with caramelized onions and goat cheese, duck confit with apple slaw, spring rolls, and pot stickers with soy glaze along with cold items such as smoked tomato jam bruschetta with fresh mozzarella, cheese, crudités with dip, hummus, and PB&J sandwiches. Excelsior Cabernet, Rock Rabbit Syrah, Fess Parker Chardonnay, and Beringer White Zinfandel are the wines of choice along with a nice variety of beer. Desserts are mini-tarts, cannoli, chocolate-covered strawberries, and petit fours with cordials–children enjoy gummy worms, pudding, and cookies.

Fourteenth-floor rooms and suites have been renovated in a nice modern-day style with new furnishings and contemporary lighting and accessories. Regular guest rooms on this floor are larger than the rest of the tower’s, with leather headboards, deep balconies, larger baths, and spectacular views, but most of the accommodations are suites. All have the exclusive use of the Tower Club concierge lounge offering the same amenities as the Atrium Club above, but in a more intimate setting. And because it is the only guest room floor not suspended over the Grand Concourse it is quieter, that is until the California Grill just above it on the 15th floor closes and the clean-up begins and continues until the wee hours of the morning; totally unacceptable for any room muchless suites at this price tag.

Suites

One-Bedroom Suites have 1,428 square feet and come with either a Bay Lake or a Magic Kingdom view. The living area has a modern décor with soothing charcoal-toned carpeting, four easy chairs, sofa, six-person dining table, oversized flat-panel TV, desk with computer, wet bar, and a deep balcony. A full bath with single sink and shower sits off the marble entry hall. The suite’s bedroom is similar to a standard-type guest room with two queen beds, but with a bath slightly larger than a standard with tub and sink in one room and a toilet and sink in another area. A king bedded guest room can be added to make this a two-bedroom suite with 1,892 square feet.

The two-bedroom, three-bath Presidential Suite sports 2,061 square feet. Deep balconies span the length of the suite and afford spectacular Magic Kingdom views. A spacious living room decorated in a neutral color scheme comes with a wet bar and microwave, sofa bed, two easy chairs with ottomans, large flat-panel TV, desk with computer, and six-person dining table. Off the dining area is a two-person bar that opens into the suite’s kitchen with full-size refrigerator, wet bar sink, and microwave. Guests love the huge king-bedded master bedroom with its large sitting area, TV, oversized bureau, two easy chairs with ottomans, and full-size working desk, as well as a mammoth whirlpool bathtub, separate marble shower with wall jets, double sinks, two closets, and vanity desk inside the walk-in closet. The second bedroom comes with two queen-size beds and single-sink bath. An additional full bath is off the marble entry hall. 

The two-bedroom, three-bath Vice Presidential Suite at 1,985 square feet has fun contemporary furnishings, fantasy lighting fixtures, and divine dove gray carpeting. Off the foyer is a single-sink full bath with shower and in the living area (believe it or not it’s smaller than the living area in a one-bedroom suite) is a six-person dining table, wet bar and microwave, two easy chairs, sleeper sofa, desk with computer, oversized flat-panel TV, and deep balconies spanning the length of the suite with views of Bay Lake and Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. There are two queen-size beds and working desk in the sizable master bedroom and a king in the second bedroom. The master bathroom’s tub is sans a whirlpool, but there is a shower with wall jets, bidet, vanity desk, and walk-in closet.

You’ll find complete information on dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney's Contemporary Resort in The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort.