(Updated: September 3, 2025)
“Please Stand Clear of the Doors!”
Fans of Walt Disney World resort know exactly what this means – you’re riding the iconic Monorail around the Most Magical Place on Earth. The Monorail is not just another means of transportation – it represents the essence of Walt Disney’s ideas of innovation, progression, and urban planning. And it runs right through the center of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
The Contemporary (which was originally planned to be named the Tempo Bay Hotel) is one of two original resorts that opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971, along with Disney’s Polynesian Resort. The skeleton of the unique A-frame building was constructed in place, but the individual rooms were actually built off-site, then lifted by crane and slid into place in the frame, with the intention that rooms could be replaced when needed, based on the need for updates.
The cavernous Grand Canyon Concourse hosts the Monorail station, as well as a giant mural created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. The Pueblo Village mural wraps around all four sides of the Contemporary’s center support (which also functions as the main elevator bank). The mural stands 90 feet (or nine stories) tall, and includes over 18,000 one-foot-square tiles. This masterpiece defines the look and feel of the concourse.
Bay Lake Tower was added to the Contemporary Resort in 2009, bringing the total number of resort rooms to over 1,000, as well as offering Disney Vacation Club opportunities.
Home Sweet Home: Rooms at Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower
Rooms in both the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower range from basic 4-5 person rooms to Club Level suites and villas which can sleep up to twelve guests.
Most of the rooms in the Contemporary are located in the Main Tower, though the nearby Garden Wing extends the room options out even closer to Bay Lake. Club Level rooms offer VIP-level treatment, with personalized guest services and access to the designated Club Level Lounge. Some Club Level rooms have spectacular views of the lagoons and Magic Kingdom. The largest rooms in the Contemporary Tower can sleep up to ten guests.
Bay Lake Tower hosts many Disney Vacation Club members, but also offers rooms to non-DVC paying guests. Rooms in Bay Lake Tower range from Deluxe Studios sleeping 4, all the way up to 3-bedroom Grand Villas that can accommodate up to twelve.
Last – but certainly not least – the rooms in the Contemporary are themed to Pixar’s The Incredibles! From the hallway decor, to bedding details, and even the closets – this charming superhero family (and a few of their friends) accentuate the rooms in a mid-century modern vibe that only they can bring!
The planDisney PDF Pocket Guide offers many more details on the different room types.
Who’s Hungry? Dining at the Contemporary
Dining in this Deluxe Level resort is top notch, making the Contemporary a dining destination unto itself.
Guests can catch a glimpse of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the fifteenth-floor California Grill. The views from this place are absolutely stunning at any time of day. But at night – specifically when fireworks are erupting from Magic Kingdom – California Grill’s entertainment value goes through the roof. The prix fixe menu format isn’t cheap, but the upscale menu – inspired by the Golden State – is worth the price, featuring a presentation of classic surf, turf, and plant-based options. California Grill sports an extensive wine selection, a robust offering of mixed drinks, and a healthy selection of allergy-friendly options.
The hugely popular (and quite accessible) Steakhouse 71 offers a retro-chic spin on casual dining, with a distinctly Disney selection of art and paraphernalia adorning the walls. The menu here is an appealing combination of comfort food and finer fare. Walt’s Prime Rib Hash for breakfast or a 6-oz Filet Mignon for lunch or dinner highlight the classic tastes of Walt himself. But the most popular item on the menu is the Stackburger – easily one of the best burgers in all of Walt Disney World.
The family favorite Chef Mickey’s gives guests the opportunity to meet the main mouse and several of his pals while dining. Throughout your meal, Mickey and friends make appearances in each of the restaurant’s dining rooms. They also parade throughout the restaurant, dancing and waving at their happy guests. Buffet-style dining makes for a friendly menu for even the pickiest eaters, but also adds enough upper scale options to satisfy a fancier palate.
Contempo Cafe is a quick service location, serving a selection of prepackaged and made to order food. It also hosts a drink station, perfect for refilling those ever-popular resort mugs.
Coffee lovers can grab a cup to go from Contemporary Grounds, and night owls can enjoy an evening beverage at Outer Rim.
Quick-service locations are offered by the resort pools as well.
Time to Relax: Recreation at the Contemporary
Wanna take a quick dip? The Contemporary offers two primary swimming options – the Feature Pool and the Bay Lake Pool. The Feature Pool offers kids (and kids-at-heart) the opportunity to splash down a 17-foot high curving water slide. The Bay Cove Pool is a third option only available to guests staying in Bay Lake Tower. The Contemporary also offers a host of other water recreation options, including the ability to rent a boat or take a guided fishing trip.
If you want to get in a couple of runs during your visit, walking trails wind around the Contemporary grounds. You can also run most of the way around the Seven Seas Lagoon, passing by Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian Resort, and Polynesian Resort en route to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Just be advised that you cannot complete the connection from the TTC to the Contemporary, so you will need to double back on your journey to get back to the resort (good for a couple extra miles!). Or, you can hop on the Monorail from the TTC to the resort (just don’t expect other guests to stand too close to you).
The Contemporary offers several gift shops, including Bayview Gifts and Fantasia. The nearby Fantasia Market) also sells smaller grocery items and other sundries.
This Deluxe-Level resort offers many plush spa experiences as well. Just check the Contemporary’s page to inquire about how you can pamper yourself.
A World of Transportation Options
Options for getting to and from the Contemporary are plentiful. Aside from the Monorail, guests can use complimentary bus transportation, water taxi boats to Magic Kingdom and other resorts, or my personal favorite – the ability to walk over to Magic Kingdom. It’s a quick ten-minute stroll to the front gate!
If you don’t get to Walt Disney World very often, consider splurging and staying at the Contemporary Resort/Bay Lake Tower at least once. You deserve this top-level Disney treat.
planDisney Pocket Guides are especially helpful to guests who are considering staying at a resort they’ve never before experienced. The Pocket Guides take the form of 5-14 page PDF slides, which are easily printable and savable to smart devices. They offer efficient snapshots of the resort basics, including:
- Transportation options
- Room sizes
- Food and beverage options and locations
- Pools and recreation activities
- Shopping
- Tips from the planDisney panel
Check out the full list of planDisney Pocket Guide summaries here.
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