According to a Disney employee, this resort is approaching its 50th birthday in just a few years, since it was built in 1971. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the longest running resorts at Disney World Orlando.
When new, it was a futuristic glimpse, one that included a marvellous thing – the mono-rail runs right through it. Yet these many years later, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is still quite contemporary, and ensures that those with a technical and futuristic bent are satisfied in its design and function.
In the image below we get a look at the exterior of Disney’s Contemporary Resort from the window of the mono-rail as it approaches the portal.
This next image is taken from the mono-rail as well. The mono-rail is an excellent way to visit Disney’s Contemporary Resort, along with the others on the mono-rail path.
It’s not a bad looking resort, despite it’s age, if you are into a more sterile visage than those offered by the many other Disney resorts.
Inside the lobby, which – as we mentioned – is the tunnel for the mono-rail itself, the feeling is also of sterility, with an overtone of harshness from the tons of concrete visible within the structure of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
A huge mural, applied to the sides of the central elevator shaft, impart color to the hotel. According to one resort employee we spoke to, the artist ( Mary Blair ) felt that all artwork is flawed, and to ensure this work of art was flawed too, one of the goats in the huge mural has five legs. We looked, but didn’t see it.
On the main floor, as well as the mono-rail level, stores abound. A number of restaurants are found on the ground level as well, including the famous Chef Mickey’s.
Guests are invited to eat and spend time with some of their favorite Disney characters, including:
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Pluto
- Donald Duck
- Goofy
You generally need reservations for this buffet spot, and appearances by the Disney characters vary, so do check in advance.
A main-level store, Fantasia, is pictured below.
And if video games are your children’s thing, particularly if they haven’t go enough on their phone or tablet, they can visit the main floor Game Station as shown in this next image.
Like all Disney resorts, Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Orlando Florida has outdoor pools, access and an overlook to Bay Lake, splash pads etc.
It’s a nice resort, soon to become a Walt Disney Vacation Club resort too, if what we were told was correct.
The styling isn’t our cup of tea, yet there is no denying having the mono-rail run through the lobby has a certain cache to it, which you can enjoy starting at $356 per night, rates in the spring on 2015. It’s only one stop on the mono-rail to the Magic Kingdom, as well.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
4600 North World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8413
(407) 824-1000
W: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/contemporary-resort/