Why We Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Walt Disney World’s oldest hotel continues to astound more than half a century after the fact.
The wondrous sight from 1971 remains an integral part of a visit today, as guests still marvel at a monorail driving straight through a hotel.
That visual is but one of many reasons we love Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Let’s talk about why you’ll love this resort, too.
The Monorail Station
Since I already mentioned it, let’s get right to it. As you approach the Contemporary, you’re not imagining anything.
Yes, that’s a monorail that travels through a gap in the middle of the building.
Imagineers designed an A-frame hotel that included this open space for precisely this reason.
After Disneyland Park introduced the monorail in 1959, guests associated it with Disney vacations.
So, park officials leaned hard into the idea when planning Walt Disney World.
For more than 50 years now, a monorail line has used the Contemporary as one of its central stations.
You’ll find the monorail security entrance on the fourth floor, a place called the Grand Canyon Concourse.
From this location, you can board the monorail and ride to one of the monorail resorts, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
More importantly, you can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom, providing you with quick, reliable transportation during your hotel stay.
You can also switch to the EPCOT tram at the Transportation & Ticket Center, giving you easy access to two different Disney theme parks!
These logistics prove incredibly useful when you vacation at the Contemporary!
The Grand Canyon Concourse
Speaking of the Grand Canyon Concourse, the fourth floor of the Contemporary hosts a stunning number of amenities.
You’ll find two restaurants, a bar, the monorail entrance, three stores, and even an arcade here!
During your station, you’ll think of the Grand Canyon Concourse as the place to go when you need anything.
I’m not even joking. The general store offers all the basic supplies you’ll use during your visit.
At the restaurants, you’ll have your choice of grab-and-go meals or a character meal, the latter of which we’ll discuss next.
Then, you can do all the souvenir shopping you need at the other two stores here. And that’s not even the best part!
Guests who stay in the main building remain just an elevator ride away from the Grand Canyon Concourse!
You won’t fully appreciate the convenience of the Contemporary until you stay here.
The Character Meal
You’ll find one of the most popular character meals at Walt Disney World when you visit the Grand Canyon Concourse.
Chef Mickey’s has remained one of the most challenging Advanced Dining Reservations to book for MANY years now.
That statement is true because everyone wants to experience the joy of dining at a restaurant where Mickey Mouse is the chef!
Yes, the conceit here is that Mickey Mouse and other members of the Sensation Six work together to run a restaurant.
At least four of them will visit your table during your meal, providing you with adorable photo ops, the kind you’ll remember for years after the fact.
I mean that, too. Right now, I’m smiling as I recall several magical moments that have happened at Chef Mickey’s over the years.
While other character meals serve better food than this buffet, Mickey Mouse and friends elevate the experience.
My Disney vacations feel incomplete if I don’t eat here.
The Shopping
On the Grand Canyon Concourse, you’ll find two locations that merit plenty of exploration.
Fantasia is an open-air walkthrough shop that feels like a pop-up, but it’s been in that space for as long as I can recall.
At this store, you’ll find all sorts of Disney merchandise, especially plushies, dolls, trinkets, and monorail gear.
I bought a monorail set here that I probably shouldn’t have. It’s probably in a box in a closet somewhere, but it made me SO happy at the time.
Right beside Fantasia on one side is its sibling, Fantasia Marketplace.
That’s the general store I referenced, although it also sells books and DVC merchandise for some reason.
The best part about this place is that cast members sometimes post a Disney movie quiz on a chalkboard by the entrance.
You should always walk by here just to see how many answers you can get!
If you don’t want to loiter, take a picture with your phone and then piece together the answers all day!
Still, the best store at the Contemporary – and one of my favorite three stores overall at Walt Disney World – is Bayview Gifts.
This place sells an entire wall of clothes on one side of the store and a massive amount of desserts/candy on the other.
In between, you’ll notice cash registers that have drawings on the walls behind them. Friends, you can buy those drawings.
No, they aren’t cheap, but they drive home the point that you can buy anything here.
There are like five entire rows devoted to kitchenware and other housing accessories.
We’ve bought luggage here before. The inventory is that comprehensive. It’s like Wal-Mart but with Disney prices.
When I stay at the Contemporary, I spend a LOT of time here.
The Incredibles Rooms
In 2021, the Contemporary modernized and re-themed some of its hotel rooms.
You may not have heard much about it because the changes occurred during the pandemic when fewer people were paying attention to theme parks.
That’s a shame because I feel strongly that people should be shouting from the rooftops about how exceptional these rooms are.
Disney has used The Incredibles as the theme, and the Parr family has inspired some of the best designs ever.
I previously reviewed these rooms in 2022. If anything, my heart has grown fonder since then.
I should admit that The Incredibles is my favorite Pixar film, and that probably does play a factor here.
Still, I cannot imagine anyone staring at those Edna Mode pillows for the first time and not smiling. They’re beyond adorable.
From the superhero costumes on the closet walls to the (illustrated) Jack-Jack cookie crumbs in the drawers, every touch will charm you.
I highly recommend that you choose an Incredibles room during your next stay at the Contemporary. It’s a must for Pixar fans.
The Rooftop Dining
Since the beginning, the Contemporary has hosted some form of rooftop restaurant.
In the early days, it was more of a dinner club experience that reflected the era’s love of Rat Pack-style gatherings.
Over the years, the concept evolved, and Disney eventually dropped the live entertainment. After all, it was redundant.
The selling point of California Grill has remained the same since its opening.
You can gaze out one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and savor a bird’s eye view of Magic Kingdom.
In fact, some of the seats on one side of the restaurant come with a view of EPCOT as well!
At night, diners can witness Magic Kingdom’s fireworks presentation in an unprecedented way.
You’re basically on the level of many of the fireworks exploding in the air around Cinderella Castle! It’s breathtaking!
Oh, and the food and drinks are exceptional at California Grill as well. It’s one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Florida.
Wine lovers, in particular, will adore the place as California Grill staffs a world-class sommelier to pick the wine lists.
Don’t sleep on Sunday brunch here, either! It books quickly, but that’s because Disney fans know it’s spectacular.
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Feature Photo: Disney