Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Standard rooms at the Contemporary were refurbished in 2013 and sleep five on two
queens and a sofa that flips into a twin bed. Most rooms are about 400 square feet, among
the largest at Disney World. Besides the two queens and couch, you'll find a very large L-
shaped desk that is too large to fit gracefully where it is placed, with a small rolling table
underneath, a desk chair, mini-fridge, TV, two closets, and a coffee-maker. Clothes storage
drawers are in the corner of the desk area, making them a little less usable than those in
rooms with more central storage. The spacious bath includes two sinks and a hair dryer, but
is not divided, making it less family friendly than you'll find in more recently built hotels
(the Contemporary was built in the early 70s). Views from the Tower rooms of the Ma-
gic Kingdom or Bay Lake are marvelous, and, because it is Disney World's only high-rise
hotel, guests in Tower rooms will also find it the most compact Disney hotel to navigate.
All Tower rooms have balconies. Garden Wing rooms have similar size and furnishings to
Tower rooms, but are much more spread out, and without the views—or balconies—of the
Tower rooms. They are also much less expensive. Of the four room types in the Disney
Vacation Club at Bay Lake Tower, studios are most comparable to Tower rooms, but sleep
only four in a cramped space with a queen and fold-out couch. All rooms are accessed from
interior corridors. Like the other deluxe resorts, you can also reserve concierge-supported
Tower rooms (“club” rooms) and suites in both the Tower and the Garden Wing.
The Contemporary has three table service restaurants and one quick service option. All
dining is in the Tower. The first floor Wave of American Flavors focuses on locally grown
and organic offerings. Chef Mickey's on the fourth floor offers a wildly popular buffet at-
tended by Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. The top-floor California Grill was
revamped in 2013, and offers fine modern American and sushi dining with a great view
of the Magic Kingdom, especially if you are there during the fireworks. The quick service
location is the fourth-floor Contempo Café. More great dining is just a monorail ride away
at the Grand Floridian and Polynesian, and a boat ride away at the Wilderness Lodge and
Fort Wilderness. There's a weak-looking and mis-placed bar on the fourth floor, a fine set-
ting for a bar at the California Grill, and a pool bar.
The fourth floor of the Contemporary is the center of much of its action, and elevators
there can be quite crowded. Guests headed from there to the first floor should consider the
escalators.
The Contemporary has as broad a set of amenities as you will find at a Disney resort.
They include beaches, nightly movies, campfires, jogging trails, playgrounds, boat rental,
bike rental, parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, tennis, fishing, a spa and fit-
ness center, hot tubs, a Pirate cruise, a volleyball court, and an arcade.
At the Contemporary, you can pay extra for views. Standard (Bay Lake) view five-per-
son tower rooms are $579/night on weekdays and $659/night on Fridays and Saturdays
during the 2015 Fall season. 2015 peak prices for these rooms are $761 and prices bottom
out at $542/night.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search