The Top 5 Things to Love about Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort has been an icon at the Walt Disney World Resort since the very beginning. The A-frame structure hotel was part of Walt Disney's vision for Disney World and opened in 1971. And, to this day, riding the Monorail through the hotel is a highlight of any visit to the resort and to the Magic Kingdom.


Top 5 Things to Love about Disney's Contemporary Resort


As a kid, one of my favorite parts of a visit to the Magic Kingdom was the Monorail ride through the Contemporary. There's so much to love about the Contemporary, and today we'll check out the top five things that make it one of our favorite resort at Disney World.

5. The Mary Blair Mural: The 90-foot high mural is not only one of the most iconic pieces of artwork at Walt Disney World, it's also the focal point of the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary. This mural was created with 1,800 hand-painted tiles and the most popular image is probably the 5-legged goat. The goat symbolizes that nothing is perfect and that sometimes we all make mistakes.

What's your favorite part of the mural?

4. Location!: Not only is the Contemporary on the Monorail loop - making it a fun stop if you're just taking the Monorail around for a while - but it's also within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom! When you're staying at the Contemporary you're a quick boat ride from Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, and a quick Monorail ride away from Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian. And while you can also hop on the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom, it's always fun to just walk there too.

The most magical walkway!

3. Views: We're pretty certain that nothing beats sitting on your balcony gazing out at the Magic Kingdom. The views at the Contemporary are incredible and include Bay Lake, Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom, the Poly, and the Grand Floridian. Also, sitting out on the balcony and hearing the train whistle at the Magic Kingdom never gets old.

You can't beat the views

The views inside the hotel aren't too shabby either. Whether you're gazing at the mural on the Grand Canyon Concourse or looking at out the glass walls, the views just can't be beat.

Love this view at the Contemporary!

2. Holiday Decor: One of the highlights of a holiday season trip to Disney World is visiting all the holiday displays at the resorts. And a favorite is the Contemporary's gingerbread display. The display has been a Frozen-themed display during the last few years with Mary Blair-inspired figures from the film including Anna, Elsa, and Olaf.

This display is created with 311 pounds of honey, 514 pounds of flour, 273eggs, 67 pounds of spices, 35 pounds of sugar syrup, 222 pounds of icing, 423 pounds of chocolate, and more than 1,500 gingerbread shingles. Guests can also search for 15 hidden Olafs! You'll find the gingerbread display on the Grand Canyon Concourse near the Fantasia gift shop.

The gingerbread display at the Contemporary

1. Dining: The Contemporary is home to several great dining locations including California Grill, one of Disney's signature restaurants. You'll also find The Wave...of American Flavors, and the ever-popular buffet Chef Mickey's. The Contempo Cafe is a great grab-and-go location where you'll find delicious cupcakes year-round. And, you can get your coffee fix at Contemporary Grounds. The Outer Rim Lounge is a nice spot to relax after a day at the parks. And if you're looking for a snack while at the pool you can stop by the Sand Bar.

Chef Mickey's is always a fun spot to eat!

So there it is - the top five things to love about Disney's Contemporary Resort. We'd love to hear what you love most about the Contemporary. Leave us a comment and let us know what brings you back to the Contemporary.

What do you love about the Contemporary?

Thanks to DisneyContemporary.com for use of their photos.