Ultimate Guide to the Best Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for 2024

Staying at a Disney World deluxe resort usually comes with beautiful theming, nice rooms, and perks like Extended Evening Hours. One might argue that one of the most iconic deluxe resorts in Disney World is Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

This deluxe resort is a popular choice for guests wanting easy access to Magic Kingdom, which is just a quick walk or Monorail or boat ride away. It’s easy to decide why guests stay here, but, which rooms are the best?

The Contemporary Resort is a deluxe hotel at Walt Disney World  — an architectural marvel that boasts sleek and modern decor and is most notable to even non-Disney fans as the “hotel with the monorail running through it.”  The Contemporary was an opening day resort, which means it made its debut in 1971 and has been a fan-favorite ever since, and ironic to its name, actually makes it one of the oldest Disney resorts.

Though the towering A-frame is the most notable feature of this hotel, it also has accommodation options in the Garden Wing section as well as Bay Lake Tower, the neighboring Disney Vacation Club villas.

The vibe here is distinctly mid-century post-modern, with abstract art and bright geometric decor. And much like Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, it is a bright, retro vision of the future!

As iconic as the Contemporary is, it’s really not winning many fans with its decor, the love Disney guests usually have for the Contemporary is most evoked from nostaglic memories of childhood vacations or the proximity to Magic Kingdom. And it does have some epic dining options here, like California Grill at the apex of the hotel offering sweeping views and a fresh and inventive menu; Chef Mickey’s with classic buffet comfort foods and a chance to hug to main mouse himself; and the new dining heartthrob, Steakhouse 71, offering hearty steakhouse classics at reasonable prices.

In 2021, Disney completed the most recent room refurbishments, adding bright, Incredibles-themed murals and touches to each room. The Contemporary rooms now have clean, modern furnishings but with dark woods and bright colors that still harken back to its tropical origin.

The resort is comprised of standard guest rooms, club-level suites, and Disney Vacation Club Villas in the neighboring Bay Lake Tower.  The rooms are typically 394 square feet (smaller than the rooms at the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian, also Monorail Deluxe Resorts) and feature two queen-size beds, a daybed, and a desk with chairs. There are some different categories to choose from: Bay Lake View, Garden Wing, and Theme Park View.

Should You Stay in the Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort?

For an extra cost, there are also 60 club level or concierge rooms in the Atrium Club, on the twelfth floor. Those these rooms are basically the same as standard rooms, they do offer access to additional amenities, including:

• An exclusive check-in area
• A concierge cast member to assist with personal vacation needs
• Nightly turndown service
• Access to a club lounge stocked with complimentary food and beverages

Bay Lake Tower Villas

The Bay Lake Tower Villas offer accommodations from Deluxe Studios (at about 339 square feet) all the way up to a Grand Villa (2,044 square feet). The tower is shaped like a half-circle or a horseshoe. If you’re jonesin’ for one of those epic theme park views, you’ll want to request a room right in the “bend” (–15 through –30) of the tower, whereas the “wings” of the tower will provide views of the pool, Bay Lake, or maybe with some neck calisthenics, you could crane your head to see the edge of Space Mountain.

Just remember that any theme park view room is going to cost extra, so make sure you’re going to be in your room enough to enjoy what you’re paying for!

Rooms in the A Frame Building

The Contemporary has rooms in the main A-frame building as well as in the Garden Wing buildings. Rooms in the main building definitely have the advantage of being closer to the restaurants, gift shops, transportation, and in the heart of all of the action. If you staying at the Contemporary because of that iconic Monorail that travels through the building, then you don’t want to stay in the Garden Wing buildings — you’re missing all of the fun! You may as well stay at a cheaper resort and get the same experience.

A little fun fact for y’all. If you’re staying in the main A-frame building, the resort rooms don’t start until the fifth floor, as all of the other floors are dedicated to the lobby, shops, dining, and convention space. And the fifth floor only has room on the east side of the building (facing Bay Lake), so if you’re staying on the fifth floor, you won’t have a castle view.

Another fun fact, because we know that’s why you’re here, there is no floor 13 in either Bay Lake Tower or in the Contemporary, the floors jump from 12 to 14, so those who rely on luck or are extremely superstitious (or have just ridden Tower of Terror too many times) don’t have to worry about that elevator stopping in the 13th floor.

Theme Park Views

If you want to end your evenings with the nighttime sky filled with fireworks but without the crowds of Main Street, U.S.A., then request rooms on the west side of the building, number –25 through –48.

Close to Transportation

If you’re looking to be closer to the Transportation options, then floor 5 might be the goal. Sure, you won’t have theme park views, but you’ll be the closest to the Monorail stop and to the main floor for the walkway and bus stop.

Garden Wing

Now, this isn’t really a recommendation, because we honestly think that if you’re gonna spend the moolah to stay in the Contemporary, you should stay in the main building to get the FULL experience, but if you want the proximity to Magic Kingdom (and some of those great Contemporary dining options) but you want a quieter spot with some serene views, then the Garden Wing might suit you. The east side of building 2, with rooms ending –08 through –23 offer lovely views of Bay Lake.

So if you’re looking to book a stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and want the best room available, keep these in mind! You can also always check out our reader reviews of the Contemporary here.

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Rooms at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? Let us know in the comments!

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