Last week, many of our Mousekemoms were at Disney World, staying in Bay Lake Tower. Join us for our Review of the Contemporary Resort!
But First, Our Mousekecocktail
The Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary has several sections, all unique in their own right. Bay Lake Tower is to the left. Bay Lake Tower is the Disney Vacation Club portion of the Contemporary. You do not have to be a member of the DVC to book here, but availability varies, as DVC members get to book first.
To the right of Bay Lake Tower, is arguably the most recognizable portion of the Contemporary, the Main Atrium Building. This iconic building boasts the unique feature of having the Monorail run directly though the inside of the resort. Recent renovations in this building re-themed these rooms to the movie, The Incredibles.
To the right is the Garden Wing. These three-story buildings are separate, and a little more quiet. Its location is a little more intimate.
Something to note is that Bay Lake Tower could use a little face lift, but newly renovated portions of the Contemporary are nice.
As we said, Bay Lake Tower is the DVC portion of the Contemporary. The room we got to stay in was the two-bedroom villa. It had two full bedrooms. One had a king bed and ensuite split-bath. The second bedroom had two queen beds and its own bathroom. The villa also had its own additional bathroom. It also included a living space, full kitchen, washer and dryer, and two balconies.
Mousekemom Inside Scoop
Take a look at a video walkthrough of the two-bedroom villa by our Mousekemom Lori HERE.
As the name suggests, Bay Lake Tower overlooks Bay Lake. Bay Lake Tower has its own pool and splash pad, beach, and bar. There is a walkway from Bay Lake Tower to the main building at the Contemporary, that makes the Contemporary’s amenities easily accessible for Guests at Bay Lake Tower.
Note that there are no Quick-Service restaurants in Bay Lake Tower (or the Garden Wing either). It makes it a pain if you love to pop in to get a quick coffee or snack, as you have to trek over the the Main Atrium. However, you do absolutely feel like you’re in an extended section of Magic Kingdom, as the resort is backed up to Space Mountain. It makes for a gorgeous sight at night especially.
Mousekemom Tip
This is an especially great resort if you plan on going to Magic Kingdom often. It is a short walk to the park, with your own security line. No need to park at the Ticket and Transportation Center! You can also take the Monorail from the Atrium. You can also get to EPCOT from the monorail, but keep an eye on the schedules for EPCOT Monorails, they sometimes close earlier.
Dining at The Contemporary
There are plenty of great dining options when it comes to dining at The Contemporary. Some of these include:
- Steakhouse 71 (previously The Wave) and the Lounge offers the full menu, and had no wait. You can also order the full menu to-go, offering gueats at the Contemporary a delicious option to take back to their room, or to enjoy outside.
- Chef Mickey’s is a great Character Dining Option. See friends, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto as you enjoy an all-you-can-eat meal
- California Grill, located atop the Main Atrium. This options boasts fine Californian dining with a panoramic view of Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon
- Contempo Cafe is a Quick-Service option, located on the fourth level, near Chef Mickeys. We loved the paninis, its a great, fast option
The Contemporary also has several great options for fireworks, including:
- Fireworks Cruises from the Contemporary Marina are a great Magical Extra, starting at $399
- The fourth level deck offers a great view of the fireworks for everyone
- California Grill has great options for viewing during dinner, as well as on the viewing balconies just outside the restaurant for patrons
- The Contemporary offers theme-park view rooms, specifically for viewing from the comfort of your own room
So- Hit or Miss Resort?
The vote is in: Great for families with younger kids, or if you are planning to be in Magic Kingdom a lot during your stay.
If you are going to stay, we recommend the Atrium. The convenience of not having to trek between buildings is definitely a deal breaker. Plus, the atrium has the beautiful, newly renovated, Incredibles-themed rooms. For someone who is wanting to stay in a Deluxe resort, this is on the lower end of price per night, which makes it something to try and not totally break the bank (for a Deluxe at least).
We do love that it is conveniently located next to Magic Kingdom and has the convenience of walking or the monorail, but the monorail to Epcot is spotty. If you stay, check the times that the monorail to EPCOT will be running.
We also love the fact that you really can’t beat the views of the fireworks, at any spot (but of course, we’d prefer watching from a theme-park view room… I would love to watch Wishes in bed in my comfortable pajamas instead of fighting off hoards of exhausted people on Mainstreet USA.)
The Contemporary is an iconic resort, making you revel in nostalgia. As one of two Disney resorts operating on opening day, it definitely has some magic in its walls.
Is it for everyone? No, but it may just be part of your own perfect vacation.
Will you be booking this resort for your next trip? Let us know in the comments below!
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